Questioning Questions that shouldn't be Questioned

[D A N T E]

He cocked an eyebrow to her statement of once being a jedi. It intrigued him actually, that he had met someone similar, yet different, then himself. He lifted his fleshy right hand to the chin of his 'pretty boy' face, and scratched it, pondering on all the different ways she could've fallen.

"Well, lets see... you were a youngling, yes, and you had a friend. You're friend of course, was not the wisest of fellows. He, actually, was a big part of it, am I right? Maybe he persuaded you, despite any feelings you might have had toward the Jedi Order."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Very good," Var complimented. "I see you heeded my words about friendship and trust. For the most part you were right, with a few details changed. I was a Padawan when I fell. Young, impressionable, and far too trusting."

She absentmindedly ran a hand over her lekku. "Of course there's far more to that story. But I'm not about to pour out my secrets to you. Nothing personal of course you'll understand." She downed the rest of her drink and didn't refill it, though it was tempting. She hadn't actually talked socially to someone for a long time, and she found herself enjoying it. It was a surprise, but not an unpleasant one.

[D A N T E]

He downed his drink, laying the empty glass in front of her as she spoke. Her hand sliding over her lekku. A strange gesture for her to make, but not an unfamiliar one. He smirked slightly.

"Of course there's far more to that story. But I'm not about to pour out my secrets to you. Nothing personal of course you'll understand."

He nodded.

"Of course I understand, and I could care less. So why are you off to Tantooine?"

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Ah, remember what I just said about my secrets? That's one of them." Var idly drummed her fingers on the counter, obviously guarded about the topic. "I'm not asking you about your childhood or your lover you'll notice."

The Twi'lek stood up. "Besides, I've been standing around here too long chatting away about nothing."

[D A N T E]

He noticed he had hit a cord, and it struck an interest. He watched her fingers drum up and down, and then his gazed moved up her arm to her body as she stood up. He sat there, watching her.

"Besides, I've been standing around here too long chatting away about nothing."

He stretched his arms out, letting out a slight yawn.

"I guess your right, it is getting a little late. Isn't it about your bedtime?"

He was egging her on. He had finished his contract here, actually, he put a hole in his chest during that brawl, so he really didn't have anything left to do until another contract was sent his way via the link on his wrist.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

An amused expression flickered across Var's face. "You could say that in a manner of speaking. I can tell you're trying to bait me. And it won't work. Like I said, this isn't my first swoop race and I wasn't born yesterday. Trying my patience will only result in your own embarrassment."

She slid over the counter again, taking the bottle with her.

"If you ever feel like finding a better purpose to your life, consider visiting us on Korriban. I'm sure you'd prove... useful."

[D A N T E]

He rotated his body, sliding off the chair just as all four legs hit the table and stood up right. Standing up, he stretched his arms. Peering around the room.

"Why should I join the Sith?"

He hadn't had any intention of being anything other then independent. He wasn't fond of listening to rules, or orders. He was better off by himself then having a clique of religious nut cases worshiping dark lords. It just wasn't his kind of thing, though, these contracts were getting rather dull and monotonous.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Varulla'aba chuckled softly. "Isn't it obvious? You can only further your skills and rise so far on your own. You need a Master in order to advance to your true potential. Power, order, and the chance to do something on a galactic scale with your skills. You can only live so long in the shadows."

She stopped in the doorway. "But by all means, if you'd prefer to continue your life like this go ahead. I certainly won't stop you. But like I said, pay us a visit on Korriban. We'll help you find your true power."

[D A N T E]

He watched her move to the doorway, and then leaned up against a glowing dance pillar and watched her. He wasn't sure exactly what he should do. He couldn't chase her down, and he certainly couldn't ask her to stay. He wondered if the Sith could really do anything for him.

"Korriban eh? Have a master over me? I don't know if I like that idea. If you hadn't noticed, I'm not one for orders and obedience."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Var Ullaaba could tell Dante wanted an excuse to continue talking. She'd oblige him. She motioned for him to follow and stepped out the door into the night. "Walk with me," she called over her shoulder as she entered the street and took a breath of fresh air.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. It was almost like being followed by a kath hound puppy, tagging along at her heels. She was sure the assassin wouldn't like that characterization though.

"Orders and obedience extend only as far as they must. In the end the Sith value results. In fact, the way of the Sith is for the Apprentice to eliminate the Master. This is how we better ourselves and grow. The strong survive. If you're strong you could do well among us. But if you're not up for the challenge..."

[D A N T E]

Not in obedience, but in curiosity, he stepped outside. He walked slightly behind her, knowing she'd have to turn her head to look at him. This left him open for an unnoticeable examination of his surroundings, while she explained the master/apprentice concept.

"Something tells me that it won't last long."

He knew what she was playing, trying to make it look like some kind of sport. It wouldn't be hard for him, but did he really want to put an effort to try? He wasn't exactly content with his life, but this, master and apprentice. It wouldn't survive. Either he'd kill the 'master', or he'd walk away and tell him to go screw himself. None-the-less, he wasn't about to be pushed around by some dead worshiper.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"It lasts however long you make it last. If you can stifle your misplaced pride, then you can learn. Then when the time is right you can make your move. So what if your rivals need to be killed? That's the way of nature. It's as much a part of you as any other instinct. You can't deny it, so you should embrace it."

From time to time Var gestured to accent her points. "And in the end of course, if you never try then you'll never know. You have to test your limits to perfect yourself."

[D A N T E]

Dante stopped walking, and just stood there. They were standing in the desert, the cantina behind them, the lone building in the entire area, surrounded by an endless sand. The wind picked up, and it started to pull on the fabric of his pants to his right in the direction of the gust. Sand picked up, hitting his skin, and then died away, the gust disappearing. He put his hands on his sides and leaned back, his sides popping as he stretched.

"I might check it out, just don't be surprised if I walk away."

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"You wouldn't be the first. And you wouldn't be the last." Var held up an arm to deflect the blowing sand away from her eyes. Once the gust died down she blinked the grit out of her eyelashes and stared out across the desert. Far ahead were the lights of the nearest settlement and the site of her ride off the world and to Tatooine. And destiny.

She eyed the row of swoops parked along the side, quickly spotting the one she'd rode in on. In a few minutes she'd ride away, but first she had to admit she was curious about something.

"You keep sticking around. Are you hoping for a sparring match or do you really have nothing else to do with your life?"

[D A N T E]

He followed her eyes to the swoops, and then to the settlement in the distance. He knew what she was thinking, Tantooine. It didn't bother him though, he wasn't here to create a permanent engagement, just curious on who this twi'lek woman was.

"I lost my ship in a gambling match, so I'm stuck here. Not to mention, I don't have any contracts open."

He was never good at gambling, had a horrible sense of luck. He put his hands in his pockets, the gritty sand still stuck into his chest from the gust.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Gambling is a bad habit. Looks like you're stuck here then. Unless you want to try finding passage at the space port." It was obvious from her tone that the Twi'lek really didn't much about Dante's situation.

She stared at the swoops again, contemplating her departure. "You could follow me to the port if you want. After that you're on your own though."

[D A N T E]

He smirked.

"You go on ahead, I might see you around."

He stepped back, and turned around back towards the cantina where he started. He might be able to find a dead pilot in there, or a large sum of credits. Anything to help him, he was pretty good at winging a situation.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Var nodded, and without another word she straddled the swoop and headed back to the port.

---

A few minutes after the Twi'lek had left, another figure joined Dante in the empty cantina. Sherasti Rin reentered it and leaned against the wall unobtrusively. Though she'd left initially, she felt the Force calling her back. She still had work to do. Or to try to do.

The Togruta smiled wearily. She knew helping the man wouldn't be an easy task, but she would try. Her melodious and lilting voice spoke up again. "Hello. I could sense you needed help, so I returned here to do whatever I can for you. If you'll let me that is."

[D A N T E]

Dante didn't even look up at her, he just continued to loot the body for anything that he could use to get off of this rock. He could smell her though, that temple smell.

The Jedi smell.

He kept his guard up, and his senses heightened. He didn't trust jedi, and the only thing stopping him from assaulting her was the fact that he just was far more engrossed in what the twi'lek Sith had said. Challenging him? How could the Sith challenge him? They're no better then the Jedi.

"You can't do anything for me Jedi." There was hostility in his voice.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

The Togruta sat on the edge of the bar, swinging her legs up into a crossed position. "How could you know until you ask? If your mind is already made up how can you learn, or find the path forward?"

Her accent seemed to convey an extra peace to her voice, making up for the hostility in Dante's. Nothing at all about Sherasti said 'threat.' And that was the way she liked it. "Don't think of me as an enemy," she advised, "if you must, simply think of me as any other person on this world. Or as any Togruta, or any woman. I am all these things as well."

She closed her violet eyes and reached out with the force to get a feeling for Dante. His turmoil was palpable, rippling off of him like ripples in the water. And maybe precisely for that reason Sherasti Rin's heart went out to him.

"You must know I mean you no harm. Reach out with your senses and check me for deception. My only desire is to help you. But you have to let me."