Back in Business (Baba Yaga)

[Faeruy]

Shanti shifted nervously in her seat. For one, her outfit of choice was uncomfortable. She was dressed to make an impression today; tight, low cut where it needed to be, slit high where it needed to be and heels that earned the name 'stiletto'; all of it in a green/black pattern that brought out her eyes. For another, she was on a planet she'd never been before; Naboo. While she was in the main city, it was still uncomfortably rural for the citybred street rat. The air was fresh, the buildings were mostly white, and there was green foliage everywhere. There was also the fact that she was in a restaurant, one much fancier than she was used to. There was a band; but they were playing something tasteful and classic, quiet enough that people could have real conversations. There was no dancing, no fighting, no drunken shouting or singing. It made Shanti feel very out of place.

But all of these things were minor irritations at best. No, the thing that made Shanti really uncomfortable was her companion for the evening, who still hadn't shown up yet.

Yu.

Golden Boy.

And she was the one who invited him.

She hadn't forgotten their last encounter, and she assumed that neither had he. She didn't even know if he would show up; she had merely given him a time and place to meet her, should he choose. She didn't give him much of a reason either; only that she had found out he was in the area and wanted to see him. She didn't tell him that she had deliberately sought him out and hopped a freighter to Naboo to meet him.

Shanti didn't usually make a habit out of searching out people she had screwed over, but this was more than just a friendly visit. Shanti, in her idle searching of open bounties came across a man named Evvin Yidrathi. The money was good, very good, but nobody seemed to know where this Firrerro was. After further digging, Shanti came across names of family and associates, and one of the names caught her eye; that of his son; Sivan "Yu" Yidrathi. Her Golden Boy. If anybody could help her, he could.

Thus the meeting on a planet she'd never been to, with a boy she never expected to see again. Thus the nerves that kept Shanti fidgeting in her seat and toying with her hair. A part of her was regretting this already and hoping that the Yu didn't show up. A waiter came by.

"Sparkling white, please. The most expensive you've got." She said. Not that she had the money for it, but she never paid for things unless she could help it. Still, alcohol would help settle her nerves while she waited.

Shanti hated waiting.

[Poludnica]

Why am I doing this? Sivan asked himself for the tenth time today as he made his way to the overpriced bar Shanti chose. Probably naively hoping to get some free drinks off him. Certainly not after she had bailed on him back on this watery rock. Then why? Yu considered all his options, finally deciding to tell the girl off. There was also some curiosity there, what business did the younger woman have aside from scamming him maybe. After the meeting he did some digging that came out with nothing. No respected bounty hunters, also former military colleagues didn't know her. She was some rookie without any prior experienced which also confirmed his observation. Still, a cunning adversary if only because no one would take this girl seriously. Yu, a former spec ops with few years of service behind his belt figured he had nothing to fear from Shanti and meeting her would sate this curiosity. A faint glimmer that turned into small hope spoke about maybe some apology, amends she wanted to make. This didn't kill his cautiousness, honed by the last year of bounty hunting: Sivan took his blaster pistols and a knife, just in case the ginger human brought some friends.

The nice looking building grew from the planes of grass, a typical structure in those parts. Naboo felt like home, home he didn't want to remember so his step was slow, deliberate as old memories dug their way to the surface. Always absent father, strict, critical and constantly unhappy mother that shipped her son off to Corellia whenever had a chance. There he stood out among plethora humans with his golden skin and inner eyelids, longer canines that shaped vowels of familiar language so differently. He avoided those feelings, drank to forget himself waiting for his contact. Hungover worked a drilling hammer in Sivan's head, even his clothes reflected it. Normally neat, cleaned up former soldier was wearing a yesterday's shirt and a shadowy stub that added him some years in a rugged, masculine way. Only pants remained rather spotless, the last clean thing but laundry wasn't an option. A shower yes, at least that.

Just before stepping into the bar and mucking its ambiance with muddy shoes, Sivan checked his messages. Evvin sent him good wishes few days ago, a habit of his ever since Yu had left the hospital. From time to time: sometimes once a month, sometimes twice a week, less often than more. His fingers itched to write a reply but he always held back, knowing now about the bounty that rest on his father's head. An old thing, when Evvin dabbled in the dark arts and served as a mercenary for the Hutts seven decades ago. A blink of an eye for a Firrerreo but ancient history. Only long lived races could hold a grudge this long: finally his father's past caught up to him. Evvin felt his son distancing and didn't protest, as always letting things happen. Passive nature earned by hundred of years watching others die. The same bitterness gripped Yu's heart, sunk cold, vile tendrils in the near human's heart.

Deleting the message, Sivan finally opened the doors that led into the bright space. Utterly forgettable music seeped into the background, more like an annoying buzz than anything else. Some patrons glanced at him with a barely kept disgust. He didn't know whether his species mix was so obnoxious or more likely an unkempt look. Feeling suddenly rather self conscious Sivan patted his ruffled, brown hair and looked around. In his mind, the former soldier ran through all the insults he would hurl at Shanti who also didn't belong in such place. Unless met some rich, old fart and married off. That would be funny. Oh, there she was...A bright, red spot against sterile white and blue. The moment Sivan looked at her, all resentful words left his mind, giving a room for simple awe. The woman that sat at the counter, sipping a drink was a distant far cry from the bobbysoxer draped in a jumpsuit he had met. With everything stuck in her stormy curls. ”Shanti..?” Sivan coughed awkwardly, catching bright green of the girl's eyes.

[Faeruy]

Her name. A sound she'd been expecting, yet she had built up no small amount of dread in anticipation and the utterance of her name threw her nonetheless. She almost choked on her first mouthful of wine. So he decided to come after all, and Shanti could only begin to guess at why. Curiousity? Revenge? Lust? Something else? She'd need to figure it out if she had any hope of playing this game right. For now, it would just be hope and blind guesswork. And some legwork as well.

Shanti turned on her stool, resting her foot against the lowest rung. The fast swivel made the fabric of her skirt ride up her thigh a little higher; not entirely an accident on Shanti's part. She ran a hand back through her thick mane, trying to get the curls out of her face.

"Golden Boy!" She exclaimed. Too bright. Too chipper. Her nerves were getting the better of her. Of course they would; there was a lot that could go wrong here, and Shanti wasn't used to such complicated games. She had to get it together though. She let her smile drop a little, trying to make it not seem so forced. "You surprised me. I didn't actually expect you to come."

Shanti drifted off into awkward silence for a moment, trying to decide how to proceed. As she did so, she gave her 'date' a glance over. It seemed like they had switched from their first meeting. He was the one who looked grungy and unwashed this time. He looked tired, and weirdly enough, much older than he did the last time. When she first met him, he looked to be about her age, possibly younger. Now... well, he still didn't look old, but he didn't look quite so boyish. Shanti idly wondered how old he actually was. Hard to tell with Firrerro's sometimes, even the half-breeds.

She'd been staring too long without doing anything, at least it felt like she was. She stuck her hand out awkwardly for a handshake. "You look like a bantha herd's been stampeding over you." She blurted out before she could stop herself. She gestured to the seat next to her with her free hand. "Sit down, have a drink with me. I just got my first, plenty of time for you to catch up. What do you like? Hey!" She called over to the waitress. "A glass of... something... for my friend here."

Everything had been said in a rush, and by the time she had finished calling the waitress over, she had had no breath left. Shanti took a quick sip of her wine to wet her throat and soothe her nerves, then looked at Yu again. She wished she was a Force user; being able to read Yu's thoughts would be extremely handy right about now.

"So, Goldie, tell me. What's new and exciting?"

[Poludnica]

When the girl turned to face him, Yu couldn't help his gaze to wander. He never expected Shanti of stunning, feminine look. She had been a tomboy trying to play big boys game. An moderately pretty duckling that in a span of few months grew into a swan. Sivan inhaled sharply, shaking off the first shock. Her looks didn't change the fact, she had ditched him in a middle of troubles, without looking back. ”You look...different.” The near human summed up, refusing to give Shanti any adorning satisfaction, at least verbally. It was clearly seen on his golden streak features, lurking in warm brown eyes. He didn't like it, the feeling she stirred: there was awareness of own inadequacy and loneliness. Pleasure, anxiety and trepidation. All that without even a sentence exchanged between them.

Her voice bore forced, fake undertones. They hadn't parted ways in a pleasant atmosphere that would warrant such greeting. A warning flared in Yu's mind, whispered quiet notion Shanti was up to something. That he should just turn on his heel and leave. Just strangely couldn't but certainly remembered anger he felt after finally getting out alive from the wet ball of a planet. ”I didn't even want to come.” Sivan offered, pondering on what action to take. ”I am also not sure if I am staying.” He added, crossing arms on his chest, keeping safe distance from Shanti. Despite own words and a growing resolve this would lead to troubles, Yu didn't make a move.

”Charming as always.” The ex military snorted when Shanti bluntly judged his scruffy look but he couldn't disagree. Another bout of nightmares kept him away, another rush of anxiety had to be dulled with alcohol. In quiet moments like recent days, when there was nothing to do but waiting the images from few years back came back. From the place where Sivan buried it or tried to. The massacre, the helplessness but also fear. That had been the worst part: overbearing, crippling fear he had faced among his dying friends. Everything was better than returning to empty apartment, even Shanti's conniving nature.

The young near human stopped the bartender from pouring him anything, the man shrugged and moved away. The thought of alcohol made him even more sick on the stomach after the last night two brandy bottles. ”You mean what happened after you left for those vultures to kill?” Yu asked, not even attempting to hide sarcasm and bitter anger. Nevertheless, the near human eased himself next to Shanti, wariness in his gaze.

”What are you up to?”