All That Glitters (Jace)

[Poludnica]

Time period: Two years ago.
Location: Coruscant
Participants: Jace, Danica
Other Info:Theme

The past few days had slogged by at a terrible, mind numbing pace. Danica had done what she could to aid her father and 'talk' about her future, but in the end, she knew he would find a way to take his daughter back into the large, uncomfortable office for another lecture how failed and disappointing being she turned out to be. The young woman was fresh out of the graduation party, of course the event had been fully controlled by Cassius, inviting people she had no ties to. As a result, Danica sneaked out from the horrendous VIP club to spent a great many of the crawling hours in solitude, gathering her strength and collecting her thoughts.

Her gallery was opened all day and all night long, it was a part of the sophisticated style that was suppose to reached out to overworked upper class. 'Dawn' had been one of very few places that truly belonged to Danica, something she had earned the money for, without begging her aloof father for one credit. Cassius abhorred this 'tasteless dump', a fact that made Dany very proud and furious at the same time. Creme walls with dark purple rectangular shapes gave impression of modern style typical for corporate worlds incorporated with classical Core World art. The woman refused to see any flaws in the design, after all her 'useless' studies were all about it.

She walked toward the counter, shooing the late night shift of the personnel and reached for the hidden drawer where a bottle of fine Naboo wine rested. Not even bothering to lock herself in the office, Danica uncorked the bottle and took a hearty swing from it, a shocking view for someone who knew her as a proper lady.

Screw them.

So far no one was around to judge her, galleries weren't exactly a place to hang out at very late evenings. She placed her legs on the desk, leaning back in a comfortable chair – an admirable achievement, considering the long, crimson ball dress hanging loosely from bruised, round ankles. When there was nothing left to occupy her time, absinthe eyes poured at the ugly, dark marks marring her pale skin. A memory of not so recent fight with Broca who had dragged her out by hair from one of the clubs. Of course at Cassius' order and with his blessing. Danica's eyes narrowed briefly and knuckles whitened when grip on the bottle tightened.

The expression of anger quickly faded though replaced by pure and untainted apathy. She looked in a mirror hanging on the opposite wall. Few curls slipped from a complex coiffure but Danica didn't bother to put them in place, refusing to succumb the perfectionism her father expected. Small battles to win great wars. Blank, dull expression didn't add to the visage certainly and the woman gave herself another critical look before deciding it was better to avoid glass surface for a while.

The door opened, soft hiss and two tone bell betrayed someone , cutting through lyrical tunes of refined music. Danica sighed, not even looking who had dared to intrude her solitude. ”Go away, it's closed.” The woman voice was sharp, cold and annoyed, even if unwarranted. After all, the gallery was opened 24/7.

[Jace]

Late nights were no stranger to Jace Beleren, Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. He had spent a large portion of his tenure as a Jedi Knight stalking through darkened city streets for some mission or the other. It was not all that unusual for Jace to have been accompanied by rather unsavory characters during such missions. The Jedi had often been pushed close to the darkside and had certainly broken a few laws in order to achieve his mission. He had never committed murder or any such things but dark memories were not his only mementos of his time as a Jedi Shadow. Tattoos littered the right side of his face and traced their way down the side of his neck. He had been tortured or 'initiated' as some organizations liked to call, more times than he cared to remember. There were some scars that even the healers at the temple could not completely erase.

Thus it was not all that surprising that Jace felt relatively comfortable walking the streets at this time of night. He had eschewed the standard brown robe of the Jedi for his blue and white robes which he often wore on missions. Of course his elevation to Grandmaster had made Jace somewhat of a public figure. His custom robes no longer truly served the purpose of helping him travel incognito. At this point it was more of a habit though it did serve some practical value. Jace had found that some were not overly fond of the Jedi and that could make things unnecessarily difficult.

There were few people on the streets at this hour but the Jedi cautiously scanned his surroundings as he proceeded. It was true that he was in upper-class are of Coruscant but one could never be too careful. Jace had not come all the way out here on a whim. He was investigating a series or brutal murders which seemed to have been perpetrated by a culprit that only a Jedi is capable of dealing with. Still, one might find it odd that the Grandmaster himself had taken on the mission. There were two main reasons why Jace had personally decided to investigate. Firstly, many Jedi needed to be sent elsewhere as there was no shortage of people who required the Order's helped. Secondly, Jace could not simply sit idly in the Council chambers; he was not that sort of man. Therefore the proximity of the mission made for a unique opportunity.

Hopefully the other Council members won't mind, thought Jace with some amusement. He had been lectured more than once about his apparent recklessness. The Grandmaster had certainly learned from his experience on Korriban but he would not shy away from his duty as a Jedi.

Jace's investigation had yielded results almost immediately. He had worked closely with the security force on Coruscant before and the Jedi possessed many years of experience in hunting down dangerous individuals, especially those related to the Darkside. The murders had not been committed with a lightsaber or anything so obvious yet there had been signs. Jace had been sure to report whatever findings he made back to the temple in case anything should go wrong. There was still a sloppiness to the crimes that suggested some level of imprudence yet it was often the unpredictable ones that were the most dangerous.

Having finally arrived at this destination, Dawn, the Jedi carefully scanned the area surrounding the gallery. He did not expect trouble here but Jace was a cautious man by nature. It was one of the few places open at this hour but it was far from bustling with life. Ever careful, the Jedi Master completely suppressed his presence in the Force. A skill which he had painstakingly perfected with years of training under life-and-death circumstances. On the off-chance that his suspect was here, Jace could not afford to scare him(or her) away. Jace proceeded into the gallery, satisfied that no ambush waited for him.

The Force pulsed to let him know that there were indeed living beings present in the building. Jace looked around but immediately saw that the place was empty, even of staff. He was sure that the gallery was supposed to through all hours of the day. Had he made a mistake? Jace believed he heard the dull sound of music coming from the back of the gallery and so made his way in that direction. Eventually he reached the source of the music and the name on the door indicated that he had found the person he had come to see. The Jedi Master knocked on the door twice but got no response. With a shrug he pushed the door open slowly.

"Ah that is unfortunate, I was led to believe that the gallery was open even at this hour," responded Jace just loud enough to be heard over the music. The Jedi Master lowered his hood to reveal his tattooed face, azure eyes, and dark hair with a vaguely blueish hue.

"I hope you will forgive the intrusion. My name is Jace Beleren, I'm a member of the Jedi Order. I am currently investigating a series of murders and unfortunately it has brought me to your father's company. Your father was rather...adamant that he wanted nothing to do with me when I attempted to contact him. I was rather hoping that you might be willing to answer a few questions, Ms.Liviana?" inquired Jace of the thoroughly annoyed woman who sat before him. He had made no acknowledgement of her rudeness or her generally inapproachable aura. She had a look of intelligence about her and had the looks to match and unless Jace was mistaken, ability in the Force. The Jedi Master would need to tread carefully. He had heard some rumors about the relationship between this father/daughter pair but it was only speculation. The fact remained that she possibly held pertinent information that could give Jace the evidence he needed.

[Poludnica]

Oh, that sound. Danica opened her eyes slowly and quickly closed again, unresponsive to intrusive knocking. Maybe it was Devon, her father's favorite lackey pretending to care about any form of privacy she had. Then the deep, masculine timbre broke through music, destroying the last shreds of peace left in her. The woman let out an alarmed yelp, instinctively pushing herself up, fighting for more ladylike stance which at the end turned out to be a terrible move. The chair swayed haphazardly back and no amount of agility could save her now. Danica crashed on the floor with the malicious furniture and beastly racket filled the studio.

Breaking glass exploded on the floor, spilling crimson stain on the floor, in which the unfortunate girl landed. She cursed like a drunk smuggler and tried to untangle from the long dress. Few moments of struggle paid off – Danica reclaimed some of her dignity when in one fluid movement jumped to her feet, blowing a loose curl off her face. This didn't help flush that blossomed on the woman's cheeks. ”As an owner of this gallery, I decide...” Danica fell silent immediately the man revealed his face and affiliation. A nasty remark stopped at the tip of her tongue and the young manager paled as quickly as blushed.

Her eyes trailed the man's features, exotic tattoos and black hair highlighted with bluish tint. The Jedi looked more like near-human than one of her kind, or at least someone with foreign features passed down from alien ancestors, though it was possible the markings on his skin just distorted the image. Why would someone cover their features like that? To make them harder to read? Tradition?

Suspicious fellow. Danica's gaze narrowed briefly as she nervously began to wiping ugly wine stain from her ridiculously overpriced dress. ”Of course he would be adamant, he despises your Order.” She snorted, refusing any attempts of charming politeness. Her opinion's on Jedi wasn't so different to be fair, but mentioning Cassius would always get her attention.

Had her too perfect father finally slipped? The man who had always everything under control? One of many things Danica learned from the horrible parent was opportunism. She straightened her posture, tensing her muscles as conflicted emotions stirred within her – the shreds of loyalty held toward Liviana name but need to annoy Cassius was too much of temptation to let it go. ”Follow me, we shouldn't talk here.” Danica said, shrugging gently, strangely appalled by the stain on her dress and angry with the Master for causing this plight. For his luck, today's low mood held any outbursts of anger in check. At least for now – she was just too tired.

The woman turned, maybe with a bit of too much pompous theatricality and gestured at the Jedi to follow, trying to make up for the humiliation he had just witnessed.

[Jace]

The Jedi watched with a slight sense of worry at the woman's reaction to his appearance. She had clearly not been expecting Jace or anyone for that matter. Jace watched as the woman crashed to the ground in a rather undignified manner. Now under normal circumstances, the Jedi would have gone to her side to assist. Yet Jace got the distinct feeling that such a gesture would not be appreciated. His face remained completely passive throughout the ordeal as he waited for Danica to finally right herself. She did so in a surprisingly graceful manner which seemed to reflect her pedigree. The Jedi was unsure of how this initial interaction would impact their dealings to come.

He watched as she began to retort but stopped as Jace removed his hood. The Jedi was no stranger to this type of reaction even among his peers. His was not the appearance that is often associated with a Jedi, let alone Grandmaster of the Order. Jace was a simple human as well and had no hereditary reasons to possess them such as the Kiffar did. He had long since learned to simply act as if nothing had happened and wait for the other person to acclimate themselves. Jace had no intention of explaining to every person he met regarding the various dark places that he had been forced to visit. Even if he wanted to, he could not due to the sensitivity of his missions.

Luckily the person he had come to meet this evening was a professional and quickly recovered. In fact, Jace got the distinct feeling that he was not only being studied but weighted as well. Clearly Ms.Liviana was not just some pretty face as some would like to think. The Jedi had come in with no such prejudices and could not decide if this had been a welcome revelation. Only time would tell if Jace had made the right decision in approaching this woman. He had the distinct feeling that his interactions with Danica would lead to some answers for better or for worse.

"I'm not exactly sure where his hate originates from but surely the severity of the crimes could be considered extenuating circumstances?" inquired the Jedi though he knew it would avail him little. People's reasons for hating the Order were as many as planets in the galaxy. There were those who had legitimate reason to but most tended to stem from either ignorance or fear. Of course if the company was culpable then clearly their CEO would want nothing to do with a Jedi investigation.

"As you wish," responded Jace with an inclination of his head. He was a man of few words and clearly this woman held no love for him yet there was a noticeably familiar gleam in her eyes.

It would seem that the rumors about Danica's relationship with her father were true. Jace believed in the ideals of the Order but he had lived in the real world far too long not to understand certain concepts; one of which was opportunity. Even if this woman wanted nothing to do with the Jedi, Jace was clearly presenting an opportunity. It scraped on his conscience to make use of such a broken relationship but the consequences of not doing so were dire. Of course there was also the chance that Jace was being completely fooled and was now being lead into a trap. He sensed no true malice from the woman but he had been fooled before. Jace would need to keep his wits about him in the hours to come.

"May I ask the reason for such caution?" asked Jace as he made to follow the woman.

[Poludnica]

Cool green eyes, the shade of an ancient glacier, expressed bored indifference as the woman tried to mask her emotions. At the same time knew this lot could somehow read the states of being with the Force. Probably why Cassius hated them so much – he didn't have this upper hand. Not that Danica would tell Jace the truth, lying seemed like more of a fun in its passive aggressive manner. The woman knew she couldn't really get rid off the man without losing a very good opportunity to make troubles for her despicable father. And it somehow angered the labile heir.

”Oh, he sometimes talked to the Jedi but you look more like a Rimmer hobo than anything else and my father is a man of refined taste and can be easily offended by lack of aesthetics.” A tiny muscle spasmed, wrinkling her nose at the sight of very strange looking robes, that didn't really speak – clean, compulsive Jedi. Dany had inner belief all of them had some kind of OCD to spent time in such Order. Generally to resign from pleasures of life required some kind of mental deficit. For sure.

But then, the woman beamed a nice, pleasant smile at Jace. ”I don't really mind myself.” It wasn't really clear if the whole expression of distaste had been an insult directed at Cassius, Jace or Jedi in general but what was obvious for those who knew her – Danica had major problem with men that had any kind of power. Be it as CEO, parent or a master in the Force.

The woman struggled to put distance between the Jedi and herself from the start, even if didn't state it plainly. Her defenses were prickly and always changing like moods. Today would be a day of mean irritation. ”If you have to ask, then you don't know my father.” Dany stated flatly, letting carefully manicured nails to move quickly over a haptic keyboard and the doors to her office opened with a soft hiss.

The interior was much warmer than the rest of gallery with fluffy, blue couch and large cushions. Obscenely expensive rug was placed directly under a large desk. Few classical paintings added to the impression of luxurious elegance. Danica flicked her eyes toward the Jedi, a frown of worry marring her features. ”I trust your boots are clean.” The woman said and entered the room, immediately adjusting an ancient sculpture of the first Republic general. Cassius liked to believe their whole bloodline came from this man, but Danica marked it as terribly pompous family myth. Regardless, the statue got much more attention than other piece of art in the office.

In before the doors closed, she turned to face the man whose tattoos, symmetrical and asymmetrical at the same time caused slight discomfort. ”What can I do for the Order tonight? “ Danica asked sardonically, smiling in a rather cheeky manner.

[Jace]

The Jedi studied the woman before him with growing interest. Despite her earlier slip up, she had displayed a significant amount of control. Jace thought it somewhat unfortunate that he discovered such a person at this stage. She may have made a good candidate for the Order. Of course the Jedi would have needed permission from her parents and that seemed far from likely. It was a potential loss but the Force had ordained such a path for Danica, who was Jace to say any different. The older Jedi was also getting the sense that she may not have been fit for the Order anyways. He gave a mental shrug knowing it was something that he had no control of. Jace knew that the current Danica was enough as a challenge as it was.

"Admittedly I have no eye for such things as aesthetics, one of my many faults no doubt. Surely such a refined woman such as yourself could provide assistance in this matter; a Jedi constantly strives to better themselves," responded Jace without a noticeable change in his stoic expression. The woman had just called the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order a 'Rimmer hobo' which Jace found mildly amusing. He had been called far worse things of which many were not for the ears of such a refined woman. Jace was not sure what he done to offend this woman but he would tread softly regardless.

He was not sure if it was her father's hate which had transferred or if it was something else. Even as she flashed a smile in his direction, he felt slightly uncomfortable. Could he have possibly misjudged this woman's true nature? Jace did not think so but it was dangerous to be overly confident. Hubris was the downfall of not only many great Jedi but also many great men. The Jedi Master had not found himself on the High Council because he was reckless. Jace had taken a risk and now he had to follow it through.

"Clean enough, I assure you." responded Jace as he entered Danica's office. He of course had no idea if they were any such things but he had no intention of rising to the woman's taunts. This woman was about a hundred years too early to try and get under Jace's skin. Of course he found the banter to be somewhat of a novelty and played along to a certain extent. The office itself was far too ostentatious for his liking but the Jedi Master was a man of simple tastes.

Down to business it is...

Jace remained silent for a few moments as his azure eyes scanned the room. He searched for anything out of place but sensed nothing out of place. As far he could tell, it was only himself and Danica within the vicinity. The Jedi had a tendency to be overly cautious but for good reason.

"As I mentioned earlier, there have been a series of murders. They have not been committed in the same place but all the crimes have two things in common. Each of the murders showed similar characteristics which suggests they were committed by the same person and more importantly, they were all done within a two block radius of one of your father's establishments," began the Jedi Master. He did not need to explain further. Danica was far too clever for Jace to be subtle in this matter. She knew her father and the facts were laid before her. He would need to study her reaction to decide if she had any part in these murders.

"What I require are the personnel records for the aforementioned establishments. Your father refused but I suspect you have access to such files. I can go through official channels but such procedures take time and my primary goal is the preservation of life. My presence in this matter should tell you just how dangerous this person I seek is."

There was no telling if his words would get through to this woman. Jace had been struck with a sense of urgency when he had taken up the case and now it had gotten even worse. The Jedi felt a growing darkness yet it remained unclear. Of thing he was certain, the longer he delayed in capturing the culprit, the more people would end up dead. Jace was determined to make sure that another would not lose their life to this killer. He could only hope that Danica Liviana proved to the key.

[Poludnica]

The woman's lips pursed in displeasure when the Jedi didn't respond to her taunts. On the contrary, his expression remained stoic and calm, even when supposedly admitting to his 'faults'. Her eyes kept intent vigil as mind wandered about the reaction. She wasn't prepared for that – the dark haired girl had plenty of veiled insults and backhanded compliments ready to use in a game of verbal jousts but nothing in case of the Jedi refusing to play. For a moment Danica tried to find even subtle signs of sarcasm but the man seemed entirely serious. She snorted softly, betraying irritation but without any more comment on Jace's appearance. Somehow it stung how little this Force user cared about her opinion, probably deeming it unimportant. Dany disliked being shown the Galaxy's indifference to her existence.

That was one of the problems with the Jedi lot – they thought themselves so superior with this controlled detachment. Danica's emotions ran deep and strong, there were rarely any subtle undercurrents and for someone skilled in the Force, in most cases easy to read when the woman's self-control weakened. It made her feel exposed and vulnerable, something Danica abhorred.

With evident skepticism she looked down at the Jedi's boots, biting back an angry retort. Instead the woman shrugged gracefully.”Hopefully.” A part of her even wanted to have her expensive rug mucked up, so the Order could be billed with damages. The woman wasn't above sending them a proper note of who and when ruined such pricey item.

She listened to the tattooed man without the slightest change in polite, mildly bored expression. Only when the murders were mentioned muscles on Danica's surgically crafted jawline tensed and eyes widened, showing anxiety, maybe even fear. The woman inhaled deeply, forcing her breathing under control and walked over to a small cabinet where few bottles with high class alcohol were placed. Pale, dainty fingers closed on strong Coruscanti bourbon. Still silent, she filled one glass with a hearty amount of the golden liquid, then turned to face Jacen again.

”Will you have a drink with me?” Danica asked in much more pleasant tone than before though subtle signs of apprehension were still present there. She knew of course about the murders, anyone connected to Livco and half a brain had been aware of those horrid occurrences but only those close to Cassius had all the puzzles to built one, very unsettling image. One journalist, one former Livco employee and an accountant who seemed like a random victim. All of them found with crushed airways that suggested strangulation but one bold information service suspected a rogue Force user. No connection for someone from the outside, yet speaking volumes to Danica, if only because she had spent with Cassius almost three decades.

Dany paled, her emotions frozen with this strange numbness when all pieces fell into place. Two block radius...She still hesitated, unsure what to do – buying time with awkward sips of bourbon, watching the Jedi with newly found bashfulness and fear. ”You won't find anything useful in personnel files, my father refused you on principal, not because a killer is hiding there.” The woman finally said, wondering if the man was smart enough to get the hint – Cassius wouldn't hire such hitman from his employees. Jace didn't look like the most sophisticated person on the planet but he seemed clever and experienced. This was something Danica would check before relying anything potentially dangerous to some amateur claiming to be a Jedi.

[Jace]

Jace could tell that his lack of reaction to any of Danica's taunts were causing her to grow more irritated. Of course she was far too self-aware to let such emotions be displayed overtly. In hindsight it might have served the Jedi better to simply respond to her taunts. Jace's recalcitrance seemed to be creating a gap between the two which made things increasingly difficult considering their initial differences. The Jedi Master had to admit that he was a bit out of practice. There was a time when he could almost effortlessly assimilate himself into any social group. Constantly deliberating within the walls of the Council chamber had taken its toll. Of course it may have just been that Jace was getting old; he felt old. The Force was often known to extend one's lifespan but the middle-aged Jedi did not feel any younger.

The Jedi watched Danica carefully as he explained his reason for coming to the gallery. She did not show the slightest change until Jace mentioned the murders. He could see the anxiety spread across her face accompanied by what assumed to be fear. Jace watched as the woman managed to quickly rein in her emotions. The Jedi Master could surmise a few things with Danica's reaction but it also raised a few questions. Jace could not be sure the anxiety was because the woman had not heard of the murders or as a result of the Jedi's discovery. The Jedi was more partial to the latter. Danica seemed too clever a person to be ignorant to such matters. It remained to be seen whether she had any connection to the murders.

"I suppose one would be alright," responded Jace to Danica's offer for a drink. Jedi were not really supposed to consume liquor but many did on occasion. Plus it was an attempt to create a bridge between the two. He had noted the change in Danica's demeanor and Jace had the feeling he was getting closer to some important answers. The Jedi could still sense that Danica was a bit tense but had otherwise recovered from whatever initial shock she had experienced.

"That may be true but it never hurts to be thorough. The smallest details can often lead to great truths," the Jedi Master noted. Danica was more or less right in thinking that the killer would not be among those listed in the files but Jace had a different plan in mind. If the killer truly was related to Livco, Cassius in particular, then they would most likely know that the Jedi had taken an interest in the case. Eventually someone would note that the personnel files had been pulled. If they held any useful information then it was likely someone would to and repress it. Even if it did not, they would think Jace was on the wrong trail and possibly become overconfident. The Jedi Master was possibly dealing with a Dark Jedi and battles with them were often won with the mind and not the lightsaber.

"I sense you know more about these murders than you have let on. Personally I do not think you had anything to do with them but your words suggest that you have guessed at who might. Are you afraid of the answer you found or do you fear something else?"

He had been a bit abrupt with Danica but Jace was beginning to sense a growing danger. The Jedi was pressed with an urgency and that usually was not a good sign. There was something dark at work here and he needed to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. It was becoming increasingly clear that someone in Livco was involved in something extremely dangerous.

"Danica, if you know anything, you must tell me."

[Poludnica]

The golden liquid swirled slowly in response to Danica's tremble. She placed the glass in Jace hand and gestured him to sit down on the luxurious couch. Danica forced her coiled muscles to relax. This would be a long talk. Small sigh escaped the woman when the irritation was replaced by worry and fear. The rapid change in mood was reflected in the girl's demeanor as her self-control began to slip. She couldn't really keep it for very long. Sadness and anxiety nestled themselves in the core of Dany's being, showing in small tension of the woman's jaw and subtle move of eyebrows.

She took another sip of bourbon before answering, deciding the Jedi's look was misleading. He was smart, clever and maybe if anyone could bring Cassius to justice it could be someone like Jace. How Danica craved to see her father defeated. This smug, arrogant, untouchable bastard. In a sudden surge of anger, the woman's knuckles whitened when fingers pressed tightly against the glass of alcohol. ”He refused you so the Order can grow sure he is hiding something there, so you would push for warrant, pull favors with important people only to make you look like an incompetent idiot.” She stated firmly, looking at the older man. Could he help her? Did he really know how devilish and sly Cassius could be?

”My father is too smart and careful, he wouldn't keep any records of such thing in Republic space.” Danica leaned in her seat, draping herself comfortably on the couch as the alcohol worked to reduce the unpleasant tension in her body. To the point Jace's next words elicited a melodic chuckle from the girl. ”That is so...Jedi of you. So compassionate, so empathetic.” She smiled delightfully, feeling another shift in emotions pulling her toward new wave of annoyance. ”What are you trying to do here? Tell me everything will be alright? That you can protect me?” The woman sneered, dropping any pretense of being nice. Again. No one so far had managed to help her, no one cared if Cassius had been locking his small daughter in a room for days. Hungry and scared. Where were the Jedi then?

Her verdant gaze lit up with anger and cheeks flushed, brightening in crimson glow. ”My father will have me killed for that. Why would I risk angering him?” She added, turning bashfully away. The Jedi was infuriating, he appeared at her doorstep, demanding to risk everything for some dead sods.

Who the hell does he think himself to be? A damn Grandmaster? Danica pressed the cold glass to her forehead, feeling stress induced headache creeping in. She closed her eyes tightly, trapping stingy wetness behind them, trying to take under control tremble of her body.

”My father is capable of terrible things, his men are even worse. Leave it alone, I doubt there would be anymore killings.” Danica whispered weakly.

[Jace]

The Jedi thanked his host for the glass and moved to sit on the rather expensive looking couch. It was quite different from the simple floors of the Jedi Temple; Jace Beleren was unaccustomed to such luxuries. Therefore it should not have been all that surprising that he sat rather awkwardly on the piece of furniture meant solely for comfort. Of course that was due less to the unnaturalness of the couch and more to the Jedi's rigid personality. It would have probably made for an amusing sight under different circumstances. The Jedi raised his glass and took a small sip of the bourbon while maintaining an uncharacteristic level of grace. He was unused to such a situation but it was far from his first time in the company of those with expensive tastes. Jace could tell from that single sip that Danica truly did not skimp on such things.

"Your father would not be the first to try that," noted the Jedi Master in a tone that said few had ever succeeded in such a task. Jace was far from arrogant but every Jedi held a certain amount of pride and self-worth.

Jace wondered if he should tell her about the countless schemers and deceivers he had brought to justice over the years. Men who constantly sought to manipulate those they believed to be lesser than themselves. Crime lords, corrupt officers, fledgling tyrants; they were all the same. People who had become so immersed in their own lust for power that they became ignorant to all else but their own selfish desires. The Sith often epitomized such behavior but they were not the sole source of evil in this galaxy. Jace had seen evil manifested in almost every form imaginable. The one Danica's father seemed to represent was more common than he cared to admit.

"I am trying to bring a heinous criminal to justice and prevent the loss of further life," stated Jace in a completely even tone. He heard the clear cynicism in the woman's voice. The Jedi Master could tell that Danica was not as comfortable as she would have him believe. There was a subtle fear in her being that she could not completely shake off. The bravado may have fooled others but he had heard more than enough to understand what kind of man Cassius was. It only furthered his desire to bring swift justice upon him.

"The Order will guarantee your safety, Danica. I will let no harm come to you," responded Jace with genuine sincerity. The more he spoke with this woman, the more she seemed to be a victim. He could sense that desperate fear when they spoke of her father. He paused a moment before continuing, "You are a businesswoman. Taking risks should be second nature to you. You've made it quite clear what type of man your father is and I know you strive to be rid of his shadow. People have been murdered. I cannot leave this matter alone even if the perpetrator were never to commit a violent act again."

He had appealed to both her innate ambition and whatever morality she possessed. Clearly the things her father did had not sat well with her conscience. The Force only knew what the man had done to his daughter. Jace was offering an opportunity that Danica may never have again. Part of him felt ashamed to do so but this was the reality of the world. The Jedi's ideals guided him but he was a pragmatic man by his very nature.

"I have spent my life bringing men such as your father to justice," began Jace after a few moments of resounding silence, "There are few in the Order that have more experience than I in such matters. If you wish to be free from the yoke of your father's oppression then the time is now. You must trust me."

[Poludnica]

A slight smile ghosted on her lips, when the Jedi awkwardly sat down on the expensive couch. Danica wondered what made a competent looking Jedi unable to find a proper position so difficult. Considering his upbringing, luxury was something Jace didn't really know well. The woman held a biting comment back, deciding verbal jousts with the man didn't have much point. He had never fallen into any of her tricks – getting reaction from him was maybe even harder than from Cassius. Though one thing Dany had to give him: surprisingly the Jedi knew how to handle the luxurious drink. An odd contrast to be sure.

With repetitive, small motions Danica of her glass, she swirled the golden hued liquid. Her feelings grew to be oddly numb, though a smirk played on her lips at the Jedi's bold words. She raised her gaze from the glass to seek the source of such arrogance. If Danica would have to guess, he had seen many battles and it still irritated the girl how indifferently the man just shrugged at the veiled insults. Such self-control came with experience though – a self-control Danica so obviously lacked. ”You are either very skilled, very brave or very stupid.” The woman sighed theatrically and poured herself another portion of blissful calm locked in a designer's bottle.

”Or maybe all three?” The woman pouted her lips, betraying slight annoyance, though with what she couldn't really tell. After all, Jace seemed genuinely concerned about her safety and the Jedi weren't known for their untruthfulness. Still he was a man and despite his affiliation Danica couldn't forget this, even if it remained outside of her consciousness, brewing mistrust on the surface. ”And you are doing a great job so far.” The girl commented in blank, empty tone of voice without a hint of sarcasm and plenty of defeat.

”You know nothing, Jace Beleren.” She breathed, slowly rising from the couch and glided toward one of the paintings if only to hide a crimson tint that crept up the exposed parts of the young woman's throat and collar bones as she blushed in embarrassment. Thinking how she hated Cassius was something different than to be told of such thing. It was her father after all, flesh and blood. How terrible was to betray your own parent, no matter how terrible he had been all those years.

Her gaze fixed on the painting – an old fashion classical paining of a woman chained to a tree with a golden chain. Links were ethereal thin but the girl refused to get free, holding her hands up in the sky, begging for a rescue but all other figures were mere shadows. Danica loved this painting, one of her most precious positions. ”Amarija in chains...Do you know this piece?” The dark haired woman asked suddenly, disregarding Jace's attempts to convince her. Yes, there was a murderer on the loose, it could be her father's doing and all the appealing to whatever unselfish part of Danica had left wasn't lost on the woman. Neither were promises of freeing her.

Glacial gaze ones again swept over the painting one last time. Which shadow are you... Before turning to face the Jedi.

”What you seek is on Nal Hutta, but you will have to take me with you.” Danica finally stated, feeling her tears drying by now.

[Jace]

"I admit I have been called all three, though not so much of the latter. As to which I am, I'll have to leave that up to your judgment" said Jace humbly in response to Danica's comment. He of course had been called many other unsavory things as well but such comments meant nothing to him. The opinions of a Dark Jedi or simple thug were not something Jace Beleren dwelt upon. He was at least satisfied that he had made some sort of breakthrough with the woman. The Jedi had at least got her to admit that he was more than just some mindless drone of an organization that cared nothing for her. There was the chance that she still thought he was an idiot but that possibility had become rather slim.

"I suppose I am ignorant in some matters but 'know nothing' seems a bit harsh," replied the Jedi with a hint of amusement in his tone. It was difficult to pick up but his seemingly immovable demeanor had softened just a bit. He had asked this woman to trust him and that required him to reciprocate. Jace may said too much, too fast, but time was running out. Unfortunately the situation required that he push Danica into a decision, for good or ill.

He watched with slight concern as the woman finally stood and moved to stand before the painting that hung on the wall. This was a gallery, so it wasn't all that surprising that such things were in the owner's office.

"Unfortunately I do not," said Jace in response to the woman's question. His duties for the Order had left him with little time to enjoy things such as music or art. The Jedi Master was not sure he would be interested even if he had the time. Jace was a simple man at his core. He simply sought to better this galaxy that he lived in and to serve the Jedi Order to the best of his abilities. If he had ended up as a Consular or those better suited for diplomacy then maybe Jace would have acquired a taste for such things. Still, he turned his attention towards the piece.

Amarija in Chains. Aptly named. He studied the painting for a few more moments and noted the shadows surrounding the women in chains. How ominous, thought the Jedi Master to himself. Jace did not for a moment believe that this painting was in Danica's office due to some whimsical fancy. He was not learned in these things but even he could see the strong symbolism that was present. Hopefully if all went well then...Amarija, was it? would be free of her chains. The Jedi could tell that Danica was deliberating and provided the woman with sufficient space.

"That does not seem wise," began Jace as Danica going to Nal Hutta. He let his words hang there for a few moments as a number of options raced through his mind. The Jedi was no stranger to adapting to unexpected conditions and making quick decisions based on whatever information he had.

"...yet something tells me that you will not take no for an answer. So be it," he stated with a tone of finality. Jace noted the woman's tears and the anxiety he had caused by coming to her. The fact remained that even if Jace went to Nal Hutta by himself, Danica would be in danger for her father would know where the information had originated. Short of being harbored within the Temple, the woman was safest with him. That being said, Nal Hutta was unpleasant by every definition of the word. If Cassius learned of their intentions, there were more than enough bounty hunters and mercenaries on the planet to give the Jedi trouble. Plus, who knew what the Hutts would do. Jace Beleren, a man accustomed to working alone, would have a partner for this particular mission.

"Gather what you need, we need to leave immediately."

[Poludnica]

This irksome calm. Nothing would work and it slowly became some strange goal to get some reaction out of the Jedi, though Danica couldn't really tell why it was so important. The woman was used to anger, rapid feelings, ever changing moods and found such emotional indifference almost insulting. Cassius was no different in that regard – this man never shouted but had aloof and cold air around him during any argument. The awareness how much her father was similar to the Jedi only made her more distrustful. How many years she had spent so far trying to make Cassius feel, to break through the chilling wall?

No, Danica didn't like people with emotionality of a goldfish and so far Jace didn't show her differently. Even small flickers of amusement didn't really convince her, though the man's demeanor relaxed ever so slightly, softening hardened shell of dispassion making him almost approachable. ”Careful, my judgment is harsh.” Danica stated blankly. ”As you may know by now.” She smiled sweetly, giving contrast to her words, still trying to see which button to push. To get a key to Jace's reactions. This degree of control gave her an odd sense of safety.

”I figured.” The snippy comment broke the moment of silence. Danica wouldn't expect such unsophisticated warrior to know of art. There certainly were the Jedi who were less simple and nitty-gritty but Jace seemed more like a trooper than a diplomat. At least his rugged appearance would suggest so. At this thought, Dany's eyes moved to the Jedi briefly as if confirming those lingering suspicions. It made her wonder if he got the true meaning behind the picture as despite her own arrogance, she knew Jace wasn't stupid. Poorly educated maybe, comparing to the crowd she was used to but experienced and street smart.

Her expression darkened immediately at the Jedi's words. Ebony brows furrowed in displeasure, ruining image of careful apathy. She disliked being denied things, causing a rapture of harsh anger to boil under the surface. ”No, I don't take refusals kindly.” Danica snapped with much more emotions than initially intended. The woman snorted, crossing arms on her chest in a haughty manner until the demeanor of pure annoyance wasn't replaced by an honest surprise.

”What? Like now?” She asked deftly, looking around frightfully, completely lost. Lack of time to form a solid plan often made Danica to break easily under unexpected pressure and hints of this tendency where now seen in a rather awkward, dumbfounded expression painted on the woman's oval features. ”I don't even have spare clothes here, it's a gallery!” Danica exclaimed, already feverishly wondering what to take. She counted on a day or two to make all the needed preparations, cancel all meetings, make up an excuse Cassius would believe.

”You're not right in the head.” Danica huffed, expecting Jace to make her leave then and there. Damn Jedi.

[Jace]

"Harsh? No, I think 'refreshing' is a more accurate term," responded the Jedi with veiled amusement though there was a darker subtext to his words. In Jace's experience, the phrase 'harsh judgment' meant something else entirely. It meant the hacking of limbs, torture, and ofttimes-death. The Jedi did not think it was something this girl would understand but that would be presumptuous on his part; clearly she had undergone some difficult times of her own.

The Jedi Master seemed to have at least developed a stable rapport with Danica. She still did not grant him much leeway but it had moved on from comments simply made to try and anger Jace. Of course the woman still made a show of such things but it seemed a part of their normal banter more than anything else. Admittedly the Jedi had pushed her away from her comfort zone so he should be more than pleased with their current development.

As he had expected, the mere suggestion of leaving her behind had made Danica quite cross. Jace had the distinct feeling that had he denied her, he may have had to fear for his safety. There were many expensive, heavy objects in the office which would be more than sufficient to cause the Jedi great pain. Luckily his decision to take her along prevented any immediate danger. His suggestion apparently caught Danica off guard. Jace had made it quite clear that time was of the essence. He had no intention of wasting anymore time now that he had a proper trail to follow.

"We're not going on a holiday Ms. Liviana," said Jace with just the tiniest bit of sarcasm, which was noticeably more than usual.

"It is only a matter of time before your father figures out what we are up to, we can no longer delay. I'll give you some time to gather anything you need from here but do not take long."

Jace had left little room for argument with his instructions. Danica would pout and complain but that had no bearing on his actions. The Jedi Master simply nodded to her and turned to head of the room with a flurry of his azure robes. As he walked through the darkened gallery, his eyes searched for an discrepancies. Jace had a good memory and would most likely be able to spot anything that was out of place. Fortunately it looked as if everything was in order.

Good, we still have some time.

Cool breeze was a welcome respite from the various aromas of luxury. He had spent a good amount of time in conversation with Danica but there were still a few more hours before sunrise. Jace removed the small comm device from his pocket and connected to the Jedi Temple. It beeped for a few moments before a voice came over the other line.

"Greetings Master Beleren, how may I assist you?"

It was rather late at night but the Order had a slew of support staff always on call. There were times when Jedi needed information or transport on a moment's notice. Jace could have gone through the procedures himself but the urgency of the situation pressed on him.

"I require immediate transportation to Nal Hutta as well as transportation from my current location to the starport for myself and one other. Make sure to inform the Council of my destination and tell them that I am closing in on the source."

"Very well, Master Beleren."

Connection cut, Jace let out a sigh. He was not overly fond of using resources in such a high-handed manner. The Jedi Master often used to operate by himself with very little outside support. Being Grandmaster did offer certain privileges but he was often uncomfortable actually utilizing his power. Necessity drove his actions though and he had no time to worry about such things. As Jace waited for both Danica and their transport, he wondered just how exactly they were going to proceed once on Nal Hutta.

[Poludnica]

Her nose wrinkled at the backhanded compliment. What else could it be? Danica's gaze darkened for a brief moment but a flicker of something new. A certain dose of begrudging respect. So the Jedi was able to bite back in a similarly snide manner. Good for him. Danica had always believed the Order consisted of terribly boring goody two shoes with nothing more to them than boring lectures and horribly strict morality. Her eyes fixed on the man, following a trail of his tattoos, trying to guess what his intentions were.

The woman inhaled slowly, trying to find a proper retort but she was tired, scared and tipsy so nothing came to her rattled mind. With frustration, Danica pressed a back of her hand – partially to ward off pain but mostly in expression of irritated theatrics. Jace was terribly infuriating being, she knew it by now and his calm would only serve to feed the woman's prism of moods.

Dany decided to let go for now, to just give this whole issue a break until an openly biting sarcasm didn't flare up the anger yet again. Her senses became immediately acute, preparing for another round of this verbal duel. ”That's pretty obvious, since you couldn't afford even a scrape of hotels I am used to.” The woman said waspishly. He could be the most powerful and cheeky Jedi out there, but like most of them, Jace was most likely poor like a Nar Shaddaa rat.

The new feisty attitude pushed the fear away, at least for now and in a way, it was pleasant. Danica liked men who could engage in social games, especially if they were so ...ill equipped to handle them. It was infuriating but somehow thrilling as well and the perspective of a long travel together became this much bearable. Even mentioning Cassius didn't do much to kill the newly found enthusiasm. Maybe Jace could really do it. ”My father may have money, but he isn't a god.” She said with a dismissive shrug, trying to crush the sudden rush of dread that rose in the pit of her stomach. Tying it into a tight knot. Though the man didn't give her much time to dwell on it, when stormed off rapidly, without giving the woman any room to argue and win.

”Hey! Where are you off to?!” Danica demanded when the Jedi turned to exit the room. They weren't finished, oh no! Fuming with anger the woman followed him only to stop at the realization he wouldn't listen. Neither to her shouts, nor angry scolding. The young woman had to face the fact Jace had defeated her. Dany knew walking away could be a viable option and the angry girl was tempted to do just that. To take away this chance she had given him. But this would be a step back from before, where there was no possibility of getting free.

”AS*HOLE!” Danica called out after Jace in unsavory, unladylike manner, betraying her viciously temperamental nature. With that, the woman turned away, determined to take a very, very long time to find all the things for this trip. Looking through all the cupboards and closets, seeking a forgotten nail polish that would be of so much use on this trip. Even taking time to wash off crimson stain off the expensive dress before emerging outside this time around wearing a simple jumpsuit used by the gallery backstage staff. The vivid make up vanished, replaced by much more natural beige colors with only few strokes of sapphire lipstick. The previous glamorous look vanished, leaving rather average looking young woman that could easily blend in with most of the crowd.

Still, the way she carried herself betrayed aloofness and pride that made her stand out a bit. Especially when with angry expression, she stepped toward the Jedi, refusing to grace him with one glance. ”Happy now?” Danica asked with a prickly snark.

[Jace]

"Ecstatic," responded Jace in a tone that was anything but. In truth it was probably an emotion he had not experienced in some time. The Jedi experienced happiness of course yet not to an extreme levels. Absolutes tended to be dangerous but Jedi were not emotionless beings as many people are falsely led to believe.

He was a bit surprised to see that Danica had dressed down a bit. At least she understood the danger they were throwing themselves into. A pretty girl in a fancy dress would have made sneaking about Nal Hutta quite difficult. Luckily Jace would not have to deal with that thankfully, but he was sure the woman had more than enough eccentricities to keep his hands full. The Jedi wanted to let out a heavy sigh but restrained himself. It would do no good to brood on an unchangeable situation. Danica would at least make for a better companion than some of those he ran with in the underground.

It was only a few minutes later that their transport arrived. A simple cab but a company trusted to get things done when required. The Jedi motioned for Danica to enter the vehicle and he followed in after her. Without a word, the driver simply put the speeder into gear and headed towards the spaceport. Now that is a true professional, Jace thought to himself as he shot a quick glance over to Danica. Being cooped up into the Council chambers for hours on end had clearly not done the Jedi any favors. He took a deep breath and cast off any idle irritation he may have been feeling at the time.

The pair reached the spaceport in what Jace may have thought was record time. He simply nodded to the driver before hopping out of the vehicle, payment would be left to someone else. On a planet like Coruscant, the spaceport was never really empty and was always bustling with some action. The Jedi was no amateur though and deftly made his way through the crowds with Danica in tow. There were certain landing pads that would be used for such emergencies and Jace had received the specific data while in transit to the port. It did not take him long to navigate through the spaceport and to their waiting transport.

Perfect.

Jace had been hoping for some unassuming transport but it seemed that he was completely out of luck this evening. The ship before him was what the Jedi would define as a 'gaudy monstrosity'. It was a sleek thing but it's custom design and bright colors made it hard for even a Miraluka to miss. Jace wanted to cringe but only let out a small sigh. The sheer flamboyancy suggested that it was owned by some by someone rather rich. He had that the distinct feeling that this ship was going to be to his companion's liking. Jace could only shrug it off and approach the man who stood at the ramp.

"Welcome aboard Master Jedi. This here is the Golden Crane. She may be a bit difficult on the eyes but she goes like a stabbed rat."

"I'll take your word for it captain," said the Jedi with a nod as he headed into the ship.

Unsurprisingly, the ship's interior was lavishly furnished and uncomfortably colorful. The Jedi Order had many connections throughout the galaxy as well as assets at their disposal. Every so often in such cases of haste, friends of the Order are called upon to assist. Those who wished to help the Jedi in their tasks for one reason or another. These people could range from a network of homeless informants to business magnates. Clearly the owner of this ship was closer to the latter. Jace made his way to what would normally be considered the common room and found himself a seat as the ship began its ascent. He would have liked to meditate but Jace needed to discuss the particulars of their task with Danica. Whether or not she was in a mind to do so was a complete toss up.

[Poludnica]

”Unbelievable.” The woman sighed in frustration at the indifference to her goading Jace presented. She feel silent, deciding not to breathe a word unless coaxed into speaking. This childish stubbornness gave her a sense of control the Jedi had taken away so easily. Giving the man rather cold and aloof gaze, the woman slid into the speeder that obviously lacked luxuries she was used to. The girl nestled at the far end of her seat, putting as much distance between herself and the Jedi as possible, giving him very clear signals she was still angry. To the point whenever the speeder took a turn and Danica was pushed by a restraining force toward the man, she would quickly, almost frantically move away. Like a furious, prickly feline.

Finally the flickering lights of spaceport appeared and Danica exhaled. Coruscant was a magnificent place and its spaceport shown like a gem in a crown of the Galaxy. There weren't many things she agreed on with Cassius but the capital of Republic was indeed the most beautiful place in the Galaxy, especially at night.

The place was thick with people and somehow it made her feel awkward to blend with those peasants. Normally she would land in private Livco docking area where no one else would have access but the high profile CEO, this side of the spaceport was something rather new. ”Ew..” Left her lips when a large, hairy alien walked pass them. Danica's nose immediately wrinkled – ugly thing! Disgruntled and even more unhappy, the woman followed Jace who seemed to know where to go. Hopefully the trip wouldn't take much longer, her father could send the chase at any moment.

They stopped in front of a absolutely hideous ship. It looked expensive and sleek, but whoever painted that thing had no taste whatsoever. The screaming colors immediately made her head to pound. It was something her family used to call 'cheap luxury' and happened when simple plebe got their hands on money they didn't deserve. ”Mh..that is heinous.” Danica muttered, rubbing her forehead with two fingertips.

Maybe there was a chance for good drinks inside that thing or at least comfortable bed. Reluctantly, she followed the Jedi into the ship, snickering at the title he withheld. ”Master Jace...Never would have guessed.” The woman commented, breaking her silent resolve to stay quiet, though the rather biting and harsh remark wasn't kind in any way. She still didn't forgive him for before. Though he wasn't the only victim there, the woman's bad mood would always spill to innocent bystander.

”Saying she isn't easy on the eyes is too generous, that thing looks like a cat vomit.” The woman stated before walking up the ramp. Certainly the captain by now hoped she would slip and break one of her long legs. Whoever this man was, he seemed wealthy but absolutely lacking taste which spoke he didn't really come from money, probably made his fortune smuggling and helping the Order.

Pathetic.

Loudly, almost angrily, the woman put her small bag on one of the fluffy coaches. The interior was much more bearable than the outside, still signs of poor taste were visible. Too much lavishness wasn't really something Danica liked, a good designer new limits after which things turned ridiculous. It was possible her nasty attitude toward the ship just stemmed from smoldering anger still flickering under impassive demeanor but for the woman it was purely rational conclusion.

She quietly sat down, crossing her legs in a lady like manner, placing hands folded in her lap. For a moment a thought appeared to look for alcohol but it quickly faded when Jace appeared in the doors to the common room. Danica's lips formed a thin line as the woman still expected apologies for making her pack in a hurry like that. The raven haired woman graced the Master with a sidelong glance before aloofly turning away. It wouldn't be her to speak first, not at all.

[Jace]

The Jedi had simply chose to ignore all of his companion's comments on the way to their transport. In fact Jace had become quite adept at brushing off Danica's comments, much to the woman's chagrin. Of course he was not purposely trying to instigate her but getting into pointless banter wasn't an option he wished to explore. Jace did not think ill of the woman for she undoubtedly had experienced her share of troubles but Danica was still young and had a lot to learn. It was not his place to educate her on the difficulties of life. Jace could not really blame her for being spoiled. One of the many reasons that the Jedi had no desire for any great wealth.

It seemed that there were two things that they both agreed on. One was that Cassius needed to be stopped and the other was their mutual dislike at how the ship had been painted. Jace had noted that the woman had almost been offended by it. He had more pragmatic reasons for his distaste but that was neither here nor there. There was nothing to be done about it and the sooner Danica realized that, the better. He would need to be on the same page as her if they were to get through this situation without incident. A glance towards the woman told him that the chances of that happening were slim. He let out a sigh and reminded himself that Danica was a victim in all this.

They were well out of Coruscant's atmosphere by now and would be making the jump to hyperspace any moment now. It would still take some time until they reached their destination considering they were heading from the Core to the Mid Rim.

"I know this is all rather uncomfortable for you but I'm afraid this is how it must be," said Jace, breaking the silence. He had got the distinct impression that Danica would have remained quiet the whole journey if he did not speak. She was acting quite childish but he supposed that she was little more than one.

"Now, while we have time, I must ask a few questions. The first of which is why we are heading to Nal Hutta. I suspect your father owns something there but I need specifics to plan appropriately."

Jace could only hope that Danica had calmed down by now. In all honesty he was unsure of how to placate the woman. He had agreed to let her come along but other than that he had little else to offer. The Jedi looked around and spotted a bar off in the corner of the room. Jace suspected that usually this vessel was staffed with a number of people but not this evening. There was only a skeleton crew to get them to their destination. The Jedi Master much preferred it that way. Excess made him rather uncomfortable. He had been guests of high-class politicians and similar types; Jace was a fish out of water in such situations.

His main concern though, rested on their current destination. Nal Hutta did not welcome Jedi with open arms. In fact they were highly likely to refuse a Jedi entry. The Cartel did make a bulk of their fortunate through semi-legitimate means but their hands were more than dirty. Hutts of the Cartel tended to be unpleasant in the extreme. They were not likely to openly kill a member of the High Council but could make life very difficult for Jace if they were aware of his presence. The Jedi Master did not doubt that his adversary had connections with the Cartel, some form of agreement if he was operating on Hutta. It was not an enviable situation that Jace found himself in; it rarely ever was. Speed and secrecy would determine the success of his mission.

[Poludnica]

Being ignored always hurt. Danica didn't take well such things. She could deal with anger, had done it most of her life. Fury even, but not a cold shoulder. Jace was frustrating like that. It seemed he just didn't deem worth to comment on her purposeful antics. It didn't mean the raven haired woman would stop trying. It only strengthened her resolve to push his buttons until getting at least a semblance of human reaction. She decided to just sit there quietly, though the urge to talk and fill in tensed silence was slowly becoming unbearable and Danica began to fidget in her seat - not really sure what to do until Jace finally spoke up.

The woman stopped a sigh of relief escaping her lips and just glanced at the Jedi master who didn't seem to be neither angered nor amused by all this. ”Why would you think I am uncomfortable?” Danica asked cheekily, turning to face the tattooed man. Again she pondered how old he could be. There was something exotic to his features, especially blue shin to the hair and part of her wondered if the man was fully human. Dany clicked her tongue in displeasure, unable to make any consensus about that. So many mutts came from slums, tracing lineage of many Jedi was nearly impossible which didn't sit well with the woman. She liked to have closure in everything, including ones age.

Her gaze glanced back to the bar and after a moment of pondering, Danica pulled herself up, lazily gliding toward the nearest bottle filled with a luxurious liquid. Swiftly, the woman prepared herself a hearty drink, for a moment thinking about offering one to Jace.

No, she was still angry with him.

Casually, she leaned against the bar, enjoying the burning taste of decadent whiskey. Her attention focused on the curious man. So, business it is. ”My father owns many businesses, one of them is a chocolate factory. Making the cheapest form of sweets to sell them in poorer, alien parts of Mid Rim. Spicing it with things illegal in the Republic but allowed in Hutt space” The woman raised her glass in a mocked toast. ”Isn't he a true bastion of morality?” Danica smirked, washing down this bitter irony with some alcohol.

The emptied glass landed back for a refill, before the woman spoke again, watching the Jedi closely. A sudden inquiry bubbled at the surface of her thoughts , turning into a loud question before Danica could stop and think. ”You look like someone who doesn't know what fun is, this will give us away on Nar Shaddaa sooner than anything I can do. How old are you anyway? One hundred?“ Of course Jace looked more like someone in late thirties, but only physically. His behavior betrayed someone much older.

”I heard you Jedi just can't enjoy life. No alcohol, luxury scares you. No sex. How can you even live like that?” Danica asked, feeling the whiskey loosened her tongue quite a bit. More than she'd ever wanted...Though still managed to keep herself from saying 'stupid hermits'. It wasn't really this snarky, the woman was genuinely curious how one can chose to be miserable their entire life and genuine interest could be caught in the inquiry.