A Ton of Bricks [zett]

[Mara]

(((Apologies for taking so long to get to this…
Anyway, my thought for this is that Ryla is asking around in various cantinas and finally finds one that Ean had recently been in and later catches up to him in the street after speaking to the bartender. I’ll play the bartender for your first post or two, so it’s easier…
Any questions, ask.)))


[…from Testing, Testing…]


Having finally gotten himself a pilot for the Hope, Ean had made an exception to his recent self-imposed exile aboard his ship and gone out to the nearest cantina for a celebratory drink or two. He usually wasn’t a big drinker, imbibing whenever a cover mission or business meeting might require it. But since he had decided to take a break from his current line of work, casual dalliances had increased, however briefly, during his extended stay on Corellia. Along with dalliances in other forms of pleasure. Plus, he was planning on departing Tyrena within the next day or so and wasn’t sure when he’d be back to his home city. A few ales for the road couldn’t hurt.

He had sat at the bar, knowing that if he had parked himself alone at a table, strangers might be tempted to join him and involve him in stale, banal conversation. Up here by the drinks, patrons generally kept to themselves, especially being so close to the spaceport. Various beings were lined up, gaining courage for a trip or de-stressing from a trip. Ean had nursed his second glass of ale slowly, savoring it, taking in all the atmosphere of Tyrena and packing it away to ease his soul for the next few months or even years. The Corellian still wasn’t sure where his life and career were headed, but it was time to depart the homeland to keep an old promise.

Eventually he had tilted his head back and finished off the rest of his ale and set down his glass with a satisfied sigh. Briefly he considered asking for another but changed his mind. There was work to do if he was going to meet his new pilot in the morning back at his ship. Ean had allowed the Twi'lek a couple days to get whatever affairs in order he needed to before fully committing to their unofficial contract. Feeling generous, he tossed a few extra credits on the bar before sliding off his stool. The Aqualish bartender nodded his appreciation at the big man before pocketing the tip and turning back to his other customers.

Ean moved through the cantina and out into the street. He pointed himself in the direction of the nearby spaceport and started ambling towards his ship. Generally he walked more with purpose, and in a way he still was, but it was a completely different purpose. This time he wasn’t striding towards a target, but instead he was trying to take in all the sights and sounds and smells one last time. Satisfying his craving for his homework and clearing his mind for whatever lay ahead for him. His decision could wait at least a few more hours. For the moment, he’d just enjoy himself.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Three days...

Three, Blasted, Long, Days. That's how long it had been sense Ryle had landed on Corellia and been looking for her father, and she starting was getting a little tired of searching. She currently sat in the back of a shop with a small power converter sitting on her lap, and i hydro spant in her hand, doing monor repairs to the device. After quite a while of working on it, she walked back up to the front and returned it to the owner of the shop. She had made a deal with him and was currently doing small job. The Bith Grabbed it and looked at it for several seconds, inspecting the parts that had been broken before, he gave a nod, "You actually fixed it, haven't seen someone who could do that 'sides myself in quite a while."

Ryla gave a smile, she liked to be complamented on her work. It really ain't that hard. The Bith shook his head, Nope! It really isn't... The Bith shop owner reached under the table and pulled out 143 credits setting them on the counter for Ryle. Ryla snatched them up and sat them in her boot pockets. Thanks! She said collecting her pay-ment before waving to him and walking out of the shop.

She had checked all the bar/resturaunt combos in the city, and she had decided if she was going to find anything about her father, she would need to go into some of the other joints that she normally wouldn't be able to go into.

She snuck in and slid through the crowd until she was at the bar, she sat her self down on the stool and asked the Aqualish bartender a question. Hey, i'm looking for someone, think you might be able to help me out? She asked holding up a 50 credit chip.

[Mara]

(((FYI, edited my previous post for silly spelling errors…)))


Startled, the Aqualish bartender turned around at the sound of a child’s voice. Sure enough, there was a human girl sitting at his bar. For a few moments, he just stared at her, blinking his eyes. He was used to some strange things, this close to the spaceport, but this was certainly new to him. There was no precedent for this, as far as he could remember, but he was pretty sure children weren’t allowed inside. Especially not unaccompanied by an adult, parent or master or otherwise.

He appeared to come to a decision as he absently wiped the glass in his hand with a rag. Glancing around the establishment for signs of his boss, he sidled down to where the blonde girl was sitting. And he now saw, holding up a cred coin. She was holding out more than he usually made in tips for two or three customers. If he got her the information she needed, and quickly, and then sent her on her way, his boss would be none the wiser, and he’d be 50 credits richer. Triple-win situation, if the Aqualish had ever seen one.

“Yeah? Who’s that, kid? We get all types in here. It’s a busy place.” He spoke gruffly through his thick accent and indicated the three-quarter-full room. The alien didn’t want to come off too eager to please this girl. After all, he had a reputation to protect. Plus, it’d cover him in case his boss did appear and come over, seeing the underage customer. Bending over, he added in a lower voice, “In fact, you shouldn’t even be in here, kid. But for you, I’ll make an exception, if you make it quick.” Deftly, he plucked the credit from her hand and tucked it away.


* * * * * *


Ean had almost walked by the place, so much was he enjoying his tourist-like stroll through the city. He hadn’t originally planned on making any more stops on the way back to the spaceport and his ship. But that was the great thing about having no commitments until the morning. Plans could change on a whim. The Corellian had the whole rest of the day free to do whatever he wanted in order to take a satisfactory leave of Tyrena, sending himself off with a proper farewell of his hometown. There was no reason requiring him to spend it all aboard the Hope. It wouldn’t take very long to get his affairs sorted out in order to leave. They could wait.

With a grin, he spun on his heel and took the few strides needed to come back to the nondescript door. Not needing to knock, he just went in. A young woman with a mass of golden-brown curls smiled as she came up to him and locked the door behind him. Ean let her take his hand and lead him further into the dimly lit room. On his way, he pulled out some credits, more than his usual, and tossed them on a piece of furniture before they disappeared into another doorway. First it had been the pleasure of some home-brewed Corellian ale; now it was time to enjoy the company of a homegrown Corellian woman.

* * *

Two or three hours later—for he really had paid extra this time—Ean was back out on the streets of Corellia. He hadn’t thought his upbeat mood could get any higher, but there he was, feeling almost giddy, almost a bounce in his step as he pointed himself in the direction of the spaceport once again. This was turning out to be a good way to spend his last full day in Tyrena. Though the last couple weeks had been really draining on him, and he was glad to be finally getting away, a tiny part of him was feeling a little bittersweet at the prospect. But he shook the feeling quickly away. If he stayed on, he knew he’d just get cranky again.

Now it was time to get down to business and be serious. Unless he got distracted by any other last-minute indulgences. Hopefully not, for the sky was beginning to darken, late afternoon merging into early evening. Ean needed to get back to the Hope and start preparing her and himself for departure. Supplies and fuel had to be replenished by takeoff in the morning. He had to finalize the plans that were still only in his head and figure out where exactly his next destination was going to be. There was a fair amount to do in order that the departure went smoothly enough, but he wouldn’t take back his earlier decisions. The Corellian had no regrets, at least when it came to this day.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

“Yeah? Who’s that, kid? We get all types in here. It’s a busy place.” the Aquilish asked as he leaned against thee bar and lowered his tone while he took the credit chip in her hand. Ryla still wasn't 100% sure she could trust him yet, but she seemed to have one him over with the money. “In fact, you shouldn’t even be in here, kid. But for you, I’ll make an exception, if you make it quick.” Ryla understood and thought it best to speak quickly for the same reason that he had pointed out. His names Ean! You wouldn't happen to have a record of customers would you? She asked, realizing yet again how little she actually knew about her father, his name was just about it. Her mother never actually told her anything else.

She looked around the room one time to make sure no one was actually paying attention to her, then returned to the Aquilish, hoping he would have something for her.

((OOC--Sorry shorty short, short, short!))

[Mara]

(((No worries…
Also, I think we may have to do this by his ship, not out in the street. I can’t keep Ean out much longer, lol.
But I will try to hurry things up a bit for Ryla in subsequent posts.)))


The bartender snorted. Coming through his cheek flaps, the noise was closer to flatulence than a sound of annoyance or surprise. Was the girl completely stupid? This was not exactly a high-class establishment. And customers at the cantina generally preferred anonymity. Those few with running tabs went by assumed names or nicknames. If he had even suggested taking down any of their true information, he would have been shot on sight. His boss would have shrugged it off, cleaned up the mess, apologized to the offended patron, and hired a new bartender. No harm done.

“Sorry, kid. We don’t keep records here. I’m sure you can figure out why.” And if she couldn’t, well, it was her fault for even wandering into this cantina in the first place. Or perhaps he should blame her parents for not watching her well enough and letting her go off into the wrong section of the city. Just in case she really was thick-headed, the Aqualish added, “Bad for business, you know.” He discretely indicated the rest of the room with his head and the variety of beings inhabiting it.

He turned around to put away his cleaned glass and picked up another to wipe down with his rag. “And Ean? Well, that’s a fairly common name around these parts. You got a description or any other information?" The bartender should have just sent the girl on her way, but he was holding out, in case she was willing to drop another of those 50-cred pieces his way. Plus it was just possible he’d know who she was looking for, if the man in question was a regular patron to this cantina.


* * * * *


At a shop just outside the spaceport, Ean had stopped to look in a shop window, something he had never done in his life. But his life was changing now. There was a very real possibility of reinventing himself, new experiences to be experienced. Though not exactly a fashion connoisseur, he had noticed a display of leather products. His own leather jacket was getting worn out, and the one that had caught his eye was awfully nice. And he could also use some new boots, while he was thinking about it. He didn’t even bother to look at the price; whatever it was, he was sure to be able afford it.

But after a few more minutes of staring through the glass, he had finally walked on without even entering the store. This wasn’t the time to go on a frivolous shopping spree. The clothes he already owned worked well enough for his purposes. They might be worn, but he liked them that way. Ean had to get to the spaceport and his ship. He wanted to leave right away in the morning, and that meant getting everything prepared the night before. If he got back too late, it would be more difficult to get the supplies he needed. Not impossible with some monetary lubricant, but he’d rather avoid such tactics.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

It wasn't until he ask his question that Ryla realized how little she knew about her father. She thought for a few seconds about anything else she knew about him.

Well, ummm... she started, He's been here a while, so he's probably come in more then once, and he has his own ship, from what i can tell he doesn't stay in one place for very long so it's odd that he's still here, maybe he's leaving any day now.

"Or maybe he's already gone, or was never here in the first place" She thought to her self with a sigh.

I know he's Corellian, but i really, don't know to much more... Ryla concluded hoping with that tiny gleam of hope that he always had, that something he said had sparked something in the Bar-mans memory...

[Mara]

(((Sorry for the delay in getting to this…
Anyway, this should help get Ryla back on her search and on to the meat of the thread…)))

As the girl continued talking, the Aqualish bartender's regret at even engaging her in a conversation grew exponentially. She obviously had no idea who she was looking for, and there was no way he'd be able to help her. Even a few more possible credits shoved his way wasn't worth stringing her along any more than necessary. He was beginning to wonder if the girl had parents or at least a guardian; even the most deadbeat adults in this area wouldn't send such an uninformed child to do their errands for them. The bartender had met slaves who could do a better job than this girl was attempting.

With a wet sigh, he set down the glass he had been working with and rested his finned hands on the bar, leaning over to look at his strange customer. For some reason, a tiny part of the Aqualish felt sorry for the sad and pathetic little girl. But only a tiny part. The bigger part of him just wanted to clear her out for some real paying patrons and quickly. "Kid, you just described almost every human who comes into here. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to ask you to make your way out of here. You won't find any help here." He made a shooing motion with the hand holding the rag and then turned his back on her, going back to his business.

"Psst... hey, you, girl." A deep, husky but yet feminine voice wafted up from a nearby table. It came from a middle-aged, overweight Twi'lek with skin of a dark brown hue. She clearly had seen better days and was clad in less clothing than many of her counterparts half her age. In one hand she held a cigarra, smoke curling away from it; the other was waving a pointed finger at the girl at the bar, inviting her to come nearer. "I get around. I hear things... more than that Aqualish over there. I could help you out... for a price."

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ryla didn't argue with the Bartender, instead she just slid off the stool, she had been told the same thing by at least a hundred people before, beside she was chasing a rumor right now anyways.

Just as she was walking past a table ready to leave the bar, she heard someone trying to get her attention, "Psst... hey, you, girl." Ryla looked at the Twi'lek who was in her middle ages, yet wearing the same skimpy clothes that many other Twi'lek slaves wore while in there twenties. Ryla felt bad for the older woman, but she almost didn't want to go anywhere near her.

Ryla bit the inside of her cheek before sitting at the booth, "I get around. I hear things... more than that Aqualish over there. I could help you out... for a price." Ryla understood the want for credits, she was holding on to her last 50 cred chip, but Ryla thought it would be worth it if she knew something.

She held it up to the Twi'lek before putting it on the table just in-front of herself. OK, what do'ya know-- Ryla was assuming she over heard the conversation, the table wasn't to far from the bar, but at the same time her and the bartender tried not to talk to loudly. 'Bout a man named Ean, been around for awhile here in town according to the rumors, he owns his own ship, and i realize this aint much information, but any help is welcome.

[Mara]

Though the Twi’lek was hardly a fortuneteller or even gifted with the Force, she knew the girl wouldn’t be able to resist her offer and come over. The child was obviously spending a good deal of time and effort on this foolhardy mission, alone, and appeared willing to do anything to find this man or gain any information about him. She had seen desperation plenty of times and could almost smell it coming off of this girl. Sensing easy pickings, the older being had pounced; whether or not she actually could help out didn’t really matter. Only credits did.

Greedily, she reached a brown-skinned hand across the table and snatched up the coin from in front of her new companion. Quickly, the Twi’lek tucked it away before turning her full attention to the girl’s request. “Hmm…” She took a long puff from her cigarra and slowly blew the smoke through her cracked lips. “An Ean in Tyrena, huh?” There was only one human she knew by that name, but like the bartender had said, it was indeed a fairly common name around these parts. The chances of the one she was thinking of being the one this child was searching for was as likely as her winning Miss Corellia next week. But she had to earn her tip. False information was still information.

Without saying anything else, the Twi’lek pulled out a battered datapad that had been new about a decade previously. Where and how she had been hiding it was any being’s guess. Setting it on the table in front of her, she tapped at it for a couple minutes, taking brief drags of her cigarra while she worked. Finally, she stopped and grinned at the girl, showing a row of sharp, yellow teeth. She pushed the device across the table, turning it around for the young human to see. It showed a somewhat grainy still image taken from a holonewscast of an unremarkable-looking 30-something human male with short brown hair, brown eyes. “Could this be him, hmm?”

Satisfied with her efforts, she sat back in her seat to finish off her cigarra as the girl studied the image on the datapad. It’d be quite a long shot if she had actually gotten the right guy. Especially considering that the man she was showing the girl was an infamous bounty hunter who had recently been involved in a fairly high-profile case. And this child before her didn’t exactly look like one of the man’s usual clientele. But the Twi’lek didn’t care all that much about the girl’s purpose. This Ean had caused her a bit of trouble in the past at her place of business, and she didn’t mind sending this girl on a wild gundark chase after him. To herself, she smiled. Payback could be sweet.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ryla sat across the table from the Twi'lek, still not trusting her fully. Especially not after the credit chip was no longer hers.

“An Ean in Tyrena, huh?” Ryla became a small bit more hopeful, but still was skeptical. A Data pad that must have been as old as Ryla was placed on the table. And over a few moments, a image that seemed to be a natural face appeared. It wasn't a face she had ever seen before in her life, but it seemed to be her best shot.

“Could this be him, hmm?”

Ryla perked up just a bit, Very Possibly, you know if he's still in town? Ryla asked quickly as she stood quickly about to thank the Twi'lek, it was then that Ryla realized that she would have had a better chance if she has just asked around the hangers and docking stations. Still she was extremely greatful for the Twi'lek's help.

[Mara]

The past-her-prime Twi'lek slowly exhaled smoke from her cigarra. The girl had excitedly asked her a question about the Ean she had shown her, but the older woman was never one for being too hasty. There could perhaps be more credits in it for her. So she took the time to finish off her cigarra as the child slide out of the booth and got to her feet, fairly vibrating with anticipation at meeting this famed bounty hunter. Obviously this couldn't be the same man the girl was looking for; the Twi'lek had never known anyone to show such feelings in meeting such a being as this particular Ean.

Finally, she stamped out the stub against the table, not bothering with the dish at her elbow, already filled with other cigarra leftovers and ashes. The Twi'lek peered up at the girl, leaning forward and placing her arms in front of her. "Chances are." In fact, she had it on good authority from the rumor mill that the man in the datapad image was still stuck on Corellia and looking for a pilot. Why a man such as he would need one, she didn't know. But then again, rich people could be eccentric, no matter how rough around the edges they were.

"If he is, his ship'd be berthed here. Ask around for him. Someone's sure to point you the way." A brown hand gestured vaguely in the direction of the spaceport. She was fairly sure the girl would end up gravely disappointed, but that wasn't her problem. Another certainty was that Ean would be greatly annoyed, and that would be something she could enjoy for a few days. One thing she wasn't positive about was whether the girl would divvy out some more credits. The Twi'lek put on her best toothy smile.


* * * * *


"Be careful with that!" Ean was supervising the loading of supplies onto the Heleen's Hope for his pending departure in the morning. A group of spaceport-employed Gamorreans and Ugnaughts were hurrying about, and one of the mangy beings had almost dropped a crate full of fresh vegetables. It had been some time since he had had such luxuries aboard, and it had been pure luck that he had stumbled upon the market on his way back to the ship. They wouldn't last, but for a few days, he would be able to desist from dried and flash-frozen ingredients for his meals.

Thankfully the rest of the process went fairly smoothly as the rest of his chosen perishables and other edibles were trucked into the ship along with other various necessities. He wasn't sure when he would next have the chance and time to shop for such things, and so he was stocking up while he could. After his long-neglected visit to a friend to patch things up, his next location was still up in the air. There was no telling where he might find himself, and it was best to be prepared for any eventuality.

Finished, the Ugnaught and Gamorreans departed, except for a couple who were still working the fuel lines. And once the Hope was all filled up, they left as well. Satisfied that he was ready to say farewell to Tyrena and Corellia in the morning, after his new pilot arrived, he turned towards the ramp and headed inside his ship. He closed up and locked the cargo bay before darting into all the rooms and cabins to make sure everything was in its place. Happy that the foul creatures hadn't messed up too badly, Ean stepped into his cabin for an early night.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ryla's eyes went wide with the news that her father might still be on this world. Thank You soooo much! I've been to a lot of places and out of all of them you've been the most help, so thank you! Ryla said excitedly as she slung the bag around her shoulder and then tried to gather herself. I wish there was more i could do to help you besides that, i really do. She pointed to the credit chip, and in a vain attempt to find even one more credit chip on her whole person, she gave a sorry look to the Twi'lek, one that Ryla didn't think she had received in a vary long time. And then had one more act that she thought the Twi'lek had forgotten what was like... She leaned over and gave the Twi'lek a quick but meaningful hug, before quickly hustling away, THANKS AGAIN! She shouted before leaving the bar.

Then upon coming into the sunlight she was quickly encompassed by a tall, well built bruit, who wore the badge of the bar right behind her. He knelt over and gave a smile. Hello little girl... You know you aren't allowed in there right. The big man said as he reached out quickly to grab her arm so she couldn't escape.

OH sithspit... Where Ryla had learned that curse she had actually forgotten, probably on some freighter or back water planet like Tatooine now that she thought of it. The bouncer looked a little shocked for a second, What?! Ryla looked up at him, instantly sorry for what she said, but her mouth still engaged before her brain, Nothing, just commenting about your breath... His face changed from a somewhat welcoming smile, to a rather unhappy one. Just let me go please, i was just heading home... She said in an attempt to get away from the man. Who retorted down to her. Oh you will, where i'll talk to your parent about where you've been hanging out! He said as he started to pull her arm.

Ryla looked a little shocked, she didn't want to take this man to the hanger to talk to her father whom she didn't even know, and she defiantly didn't want her fathers first impression of her to be "trouble maker!" After a short struggle that Ryla put up and failed miserably, as a last resort, she twisted her arm into a rather painful position and raised her foot kicking the man where it hurt. Then as soon as the grip was let away from her arm, she spun and ran for the daylights for the direction the hanger was in.

Eventually though he ran after her and began to pick up speed, with a bit of a limp, but speed none-the-less. She made a sharp turn into an ally way, where she quickly jumped onto a trash can, then from there climbed a latter that lead up to the top of the building. He attempted to follow her, but failed at the trash can lid, which collapsed under his weight. She went down a fire escape that was on the other side of the building and continued her way to the hanger, successfully loosing the brute.

---

She had talked to the hangers manager who had told her the docking number of the ship, by the time she arrived two Ugnaughts where leaving with fueling equipment, and when Ryla turned the corner she saw the man walking up the gangplank, Ryla fallowed after him and made her to the ramp as it was shutting behind the man whom now that she could see closer, could tell it was Ean from the holo.

The gangplank just just as she got a good look at the man, but she still didn't remain seen apparently, she took out a tool from her backpack and banged on the hall to avoid hurting her knuckles. When it finally opened her words where to the tall man: Hi dad!

[Mara]

(((Thanks again for editing.
Might not be my best work... but that's just me, nothing that should bother you...)))


Her lekku twitching, the middle-aged Twi’lek watched with wry amusement as the girl’s excitement bubbled out. She briefly wondered to herself who the child really was looking for, the real Ean she needed to find. For various reasons she was almost positive that the bounty hunter would not be the correct one being sought after. This girl was far from the man’s usual clientele. And even if she, for some reason, needed Ean’s services, her giddiness was way out of place. But it wasn’t her business, and she would likely forget this encounter within the next day.

Even so, the Twi’lek waited with bated breath as the girl looked around for more credits but didn’t find any. Trying not to let the disappointment show on her face, she forced out a smile. It wasn’t as if she had given the child a good deal of information, or even the right information. Her smile was soon changed into a gasp of surprise, though, as the girl ran up and hugged her before hurrying away. She remained frozen in place, unable to speak, for a few minutes. The Twi’lek blinked and finally sat back, unsure what had just happened and briefly feeling sorry that she had sent the girl to Ean Stenner. But then she remembered the man’s transgressions and smiled to herself, making a note to sleep somewhere else for the next few nights in case he retaliated.


* * * * *


He had just closed his eyes only to have them open again reflexively at a noise breaking in at the edge of consciousness. Coming fully alert almost immediately, he focused on the sound, a muffled clanging. It went on for a few moments longer then stopped. Wondering what was going on and knowing that he wouldn’t be able to fall asleep until he figured it out, Ean groaned to himself and sat up in bed. Bending over, he grabbed the trousers he had discarded on the floor a few minutes earlier and stood up, heading out of his cabin.

Though he thought the sound had been external, judging by its relative softness, he did a brief check throughout the inside of his ship, pulling on his pants, as well as belt and holstered blaster, along the way. It was possible something had been stacked irregularly and had fallen over. But no, everything was still as it had been before he had retired for the night. And he was almost positive it hadn’t come from the ship itself; nothing was powered on except the essentials, and only the engine could have made such a noise as far as he was aware.

Convinced of this, he padded with his bare feet into the cockpit. With habits born over the last few months, he sat in the copilot’s chair and powered on the console. It took him a bit to find and access the security cams, but he eventually did so. Ean slowly went through both the interior and exterior views, softly cursing that he hadn’t installed them in more locations, as well as higher quality products. The images were gray and grainy but empty, until he got to the one focused over the ship’s ramp. He rubbed his eyes and peered closer, still seeing what appeared to be a child standing there holding something in its hand.

Letting out an exasperated sigh at this interruption, he made his way to the ramp. Ean had thought to ignore the kid, but a part of him thought it could be important. Perhaps a messenger or errand boy sent by his newly hired pilot or someone else he knew or who knew him. But then he remembered the less-than-clear image from the security holocam. Just because it had looked like a child didn’t necessarily mean it was one and not a diminutive alien. Or that some enemy of his hadn’t used an innocent just to get his attention, hiding in one of the blind spots waiting to attack.

Wary of a possible trap, the Corellian let one hand fall to his blaster as the other pressed the controls to open the hatch and lower the ramp. He had made it about halfway down when he stopped in his tracks, frozen in place by the kid’s unexpected exclamation, a sudden tightness developing in his bare chest. After he took a deep breath, he dissipated the sudden bout of terror and regained control of himself, focusing his brown eyes on his visitor. Ean saw now that it was a human girl, red hair, maybe 10. Though he didn’t sense any danger—any ambushers would surely have jumped out by now—he still kept his fingers on his weapon. “You have the wrong ship, kid,” he said gruffly, again impatient with this distraction.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ryla hadn't looked for those past couple of years for this man just to have him say she was wrong. She would decide that for herself in due time. For now though she still had to at least convince him to let her stick around for a bit.

I can explain pops. She said as she slung the back pack over her shoulder. My name's Ryla Luna, you probably don't remember that last name, but it's important... She pointed out as she took one step onto the ramp in order to prevent the man from closing it on her while she spoke.

It was then that the guard that was chasing her could be heard shouting not far from the spaceport. Ryla looked back at the entrance, relieved that he wasn't here yet, but she still didn't want to be caught by him.
Could i please explain inside? She asked desperately.

[Mara]

(((Sorry for getting to this late... I hadn't realized how long it had been.)))


Ean had expected the girl to just apologize and go on her way once she realized she had been mistaken, but in his defense, he didn’t really have any experience with children, unpredictable creatures that they were. Instead, she remained focused on him and held her ground, even daring to come closer, stopping a few steps from where he stood. Whoever this Ryla kid was, she definitely had some guts. Perhaps a bit—or a lot—naïve but she didn’t shy away from him, intent on whatever goal she had lodged in her misguided head. A realization that made him grimace inside, knowing that she wouldn’t be as easy to get rid of as previously thought.

And she was right; he didn’t remember the name Luna, couldn’t recall ever hearing it before, had no idea who in the galaxy this girl could be. Though the Corellian knew he wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, his memory had always been one of his few strong points. Well, stronger, comparably. Whenever he had come across anything important enough to remember, he went over it countless times in his mind—using images to aid him, since he was a more visual learner—until it stuck, and there it stayed. Ean double-checked his mental stores of the various beings he had run into and still came up empty.

Growing frustrated as this strange child continued to waste his time with this nonsense and about to voice this out loud to her, she spoke again, this time pleading with him. Ean’s brown eyes narrowed at her. This girl thought she could just drop out of nowhere, wake him up, ramble meaningless things at him, and then have the gall to think he would just let her inside his ship? In the background, he could hear what sounded like a man shouting, but the spaceport was a busy place; the Corellian didn’t make any connection between it and the kid standing in front of him.

Moving his hand away from his blaster at his side, he folded his arms over his bare chest. Before he answered her, he paused to count silently in his head, a trick he used to keep his temper in check. Though he was real fed up with this distraction keeping him from his sleep, he would accomplish nothing if he snapped at this girl. The last thing Ean wanted was to be responsible for a crying child; she’d be even harder to dismiss. Still, there was a hard look in his eyes when he spoke, his voice even. “Sorry, kid. I don’t know why you’re here or have any idea who or what you are. But I suggest you figure it out soon before I call security on you. You’d best be on your way.” He lifted a hand from his upper arm and made a shooing motion.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

((OOC---No prob mara))

He's as stubborn as i am! Ryla thought as she remembered a bit of a grumble her mother had said a few years back. But she didn't take his warning.

Ryla didn't get a chance to count that was a good sign, but rather a bad one. But she was hard set on getting this man to listen. Fine! Then i'll explain right here. Ryla said as she raised an eyebrow and smugly grinned, still not moving off the gang plank.

12 years ago, you where right here on Corellia, during that time you where in between jobs but also that was the time you met my mother 'Cassandra Luna' who worked at the Corellian Engineering Corporation... Ryla said hoping that sparked something, or the fact she knew quite a bit about him would make him at least consider the possibility that this Ryla was in fact his child. If not Ryla had more to ramble off.

[Mara]

(((The last couple paragraphs feel convoluted to me... but I guess that'll match up with how Ean's feeling, lol...)))


He stood there, a bored expression on his face, waiting for the girl to finally leave now that he had threatened to call the authorities on her. Just the spaceport cops, hardly enough to frighten an adult, especially on Corellia, but she was only a kid, and he had hoped the mere mention of them would give her pause. Though, perhaps another oversight of his limited experience of children. It took all of Ean's willpower not to tap his bare foot against the metal of the ramp in impatience, and he settled for rapping the fingers of one hand against a bicep.

When the child instead reacting by just grinning at him with that stupid smile of hers and expressing her intent not to move an inch, Ean swallowed a sigh and rolled his eyes up to the hangar ceiling, wondering what he had done to deserve this. At any other time he might have been impressed with the unwavering focus that a child at such a young age was employing, quite stubbornly, and maybe given a few pointers. But he had had a long last couple of days, finally hiring a pilot and getting his ship ready for its long overdue trip off planet. All Ean wanted was to get a decent night's sleep and depart bright and early the next morning. There was no time for further delays in his schedule.

"All right..." The Corellian reached for his comlink in order to contact spaceport security, relieved to be able to dispose of this nuisance once and for all. But then two things happened almost simultaneously that stopped him cold. First, he realized when his hand slapped against his bare chest, he was not currently carrying his comlink, having briefly forgotten he hadn't taken the time to get fully dressed. And second, the girl kept talking, explaining herself, the words spilling out of her mouth so fast it took him a few extra moments to digest what she had said.

Ean blinked at her, his hands slowly falling to his sides. The girl's mention of Cassandra had jostled something loose in his long-term memory. Cassie... A vision blasted out of the fog of his mind and his gazed turned inward, momentarily replacing his vew of the child in front of him: cantina hazy with smoke, raucous drunken laughter, jaunty music playing overhead... and a red-haired beauty with creamy flesh whose bright green eyes stared into his soul and melted it. There had been other women during his bodyguard training days in Coronet City, but she had been the only one whose company it had been hard to say farewell to.

The vision left almost as quickly as it had came, and Ean found himself once again looking at the young girl standing in front of him, something very familiar about her all of a sudden. There were differences, certainly, but he also saw traces of Cassie in her.  Those same vivid eyes were looking out at him with something he couldn't quite discern. Hope, maybe. All the implications of the evidence he was currently seeing overwhelmed him then, and he sat down heavily at the top of the ramp, halfway inside his black freighter, resting his arms on his knees.

His mind spun. What was he going to do? He wasn't prepared for this. He couldn't--Wait. The man's practical side kicked in, sort of the opposite of a conscience. He had no real proof that this girl was any relation to him--Ean couldn't even, in the privacy of his mind, refer to her as his 'daughter.' And even if she was, in some strange twist of fate, he needn't have any obligation to her. After all, her mother hadn't told him about her; obviously didn't want him to know about her. This girl's appearance, alone, was beginning to make sense.

Unless... Ean's head snapped up to peer at the child again. Maybe the girl's mother had finally hit a financial wall, was using her daughter as a way to extort money from him, true parentage or not. Well, that was fine; he could play that game, had done so once before, now that he thought about it. If it would get this girl away from him, he'd throw as many credits at her as was necessary. A hard look came into his eyes, and he cleared his throat, keeping his words measured and neutral, not giving anything away. "If you're after credits, you can have as many as you want to take back to your mother." He made to stand up. "I'll get them for you now, and then you can be on your way home."

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

((OOC--- No prob mara.))

Ryla's expression went flat at the mention of credits, She sighed when Ean got up and began walking inside, But she stopped him before he could get his money.

"Listen, She's fine, she's got money, it was 'me' who came to you, i left, i don't live at home anymore, didn't like it there..." She hoped those words where enough to at least make Ean stop, while she thought about what to say. By this point she had a feeling that she might not only need to convince him that she was his child, but also impress him with something that would cause him to think she was valuable at least for a little while.

She looked around the outside of the ship, not seeing anything in drastic need of what repairs she could offer, likely due to the repair crews that she had just seen leaving, She thought for a few more seconds on something, "Ya' know i spent the last couple of years looking for you, and not just here, I've followed you to other worlds too." That seemed impressive to some, and to herself when she told herself what she had been through, but to this man would it come off sounding desperate?

Ryla heard more shouting, not exactly getting closer, but still as persistent on finding her. Ryla looked back up to him, giving a bit of a puppy look, "Can i please come in?" She asked hopeful now that she could tell there had been a slight change in Ean's mood.

[Mara]

(((Sorry for getting to this so late…)))


Ean heaved himself back to his feet and turned around to head back into his ship. He was resolute in his decision to wipe any traces of imagined responsibility away in one fell swoop and felt no guilt in the choice. Why should he, based on the lack of hard evidence? Any and all thoughts of and feelings for the Cassandra he had known over a decade ago—the girl’s supposed mother—and what this child’s familiar but sudden appearance in front of him meant had been erased in the face of common sense and practicality.

Whether still a case of mistaken identity by a naïve girl, false rumors spread by a crafty mother looking for a handout, or the slim chance the child was actually his own flesh and blood, a stack of money would settle it once and for all. The ex-bounty hunter would be able to go about his business as if nothing had happened. It would disappear into his past along with all his other prior experiences. A moment to reflect on a few years in the future but hardly anything galaxy-changing.

The girl spoke again, desperation evident in her voice, and he paused mid-stride, a few of steps past the top of the ramp and into the short corridor leading inside. His exasperation growing, Ean exhaled sharply through his nose. It appeared he was a bit rash in his conclusion that a woman--who may or may not actually be Cassandra, he suddenly realized--had sent a child, not necessarily her own, after him for credits. No, now he was confronted with a delusional girl who had run away from home looking for some kind of idealized adventure brainwashed into her from watching holovids. This was a whole new problem.

With a sigh, he changed directions, rotating back around to face the ramp and stepping back to the top of it and looking down at her. Though still frustrated and impatient, all traces of hardness had left his face, and his brown eyes had softened somewhat. Strangely, Ean actually felt sorry for the girl, though it was the tiniest feeling. Even if he didn't completely believe her story, she was obviously far from home and lost in an impossible dream.

"Kid... I don't know what crazy idea you've got stuck in your head, but I'm not your answer. Really. Whoever you really are, you belong with your mother, your real family." Surprising himself with a gesture of kindness, he added, "Look, you shouldn't be out wandering Tyrena alone, whatever your business is here. Where do you live? I'm leaving in the morning, but I could drop you off on my way out. Tonight even. Least I can do for..." He shrugged, unable to describe what had just transpired between them.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ryla's face went flat, with a bit of annoyance. She blinked a couple of times before taking advantage of the extra ramp space Ean had Provided as he walked further up. She sighed a bit before continuing in another attempt to convince her father.

Look, i don't wanna go back home, she got married to someone and between awkwardness with him and i, and us simply not gettin' along well, i couldn't spend much time there knowing that i actually had a flesh father out here somewhere. If this didn't work she could try telling him about what she had been through in order to find him, possibly a guilt trip, but something told her neither of those would work well.

By this time the same bar bouncer that had been looking for her passed the hanger, but didn't see Ryla because of her being up the ramp further. She let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding, and then finally the shouting ended as the Bouncer finally ended his search and went to walking away... Ryla sighed with with a bit of joy. Good, one less problem to worry about... She echoed in her mind before trying to inch her way up the ramp a bit more...