Wishful Drinking (Thad)

[Poludnica]

Windchime euphony lilted through the half-open half of double balcony doors, glass panes each covered in a naturally crafted rime which dips and divots shattered the picturesque carmine sunset into pale rainbows. They swarmed and clung to the walls, and shivered. Cold tendrils slipped into the room, snowflakes licking the marble floor, melting under the distant sun's touch. Anushka watched the silent spectacle, her eyes fixed on the distant point in the horizon as mind fervently raced through the plan. Hastily put together intrigue to get her invitation to the fancy ball downstairs. Few telepathic tricks, some meddling and thieving. The former Jedi now posed as a completely unimportant lady from the Core – a friend of a friend of a friend but at least let into the hotel ballroom. Now filled with Arkanians and their business partners. Some officials, some traders. The mercenary didn't know them nor cared to know, she just needed information on a particularly rare good. After this delivery Anushka planned to retire, waste time playing cards and drinking finest booze. No more cheap bounties, mindless tasks and pointless, boring jobs.

Already tired from the prospect of interacting with those below, Anushka walked over to a tall mirror, making sure this time around her clothes matched the class of the event. Unused to dressing up, feeling rather awkward in high heels and long, flowing dress she had lifted from one of the shops. One built more for a slender, Arkanian female than a short human woman she looked like a teenager in her mother's dress. Green chiffon tangled over her ankles, making every step a haphazard endeavor. Years of harsh Jedi training did leave certain grace in Ana's movements, saving some embarrassment but it wasn't difficult to spot the auburn haired woman didn't belong in this habitat. Her coiffure was rather disheveled, crimson strands clumsily put together into a high pinned bun. Delicate make up looked a bit too pale in the never ending winter light and dark kohl adorning eyes fit a clubbing night more than a fancy party.

Whatever. Anushka commented inwardly, refusing to do more adjustments. She hadn't been raised to be a lady but a knight which did show, no matter how much Ana tried. Counting on the local crowd getting quickly drunk enough for them to ignore her, the human woman left the room, hiding lightsaber in the small purse. Anushka didn't expect any fight but old habits died hard. A Jedi never left their saber just laying around. It had been years since she had stormed out of the Temple but they would always be a part of her. A white noise of thoughts accompanied the knight until she wrapped the Force tightly around her, closing it in a cocoon. It wouldn't end well if people around knew someone like this walked among them – such disclosure would bring attention, and attention almost always led to troubles.

With indifferent, bored expression Anushka stepped into the large hall. Lavish decoration spoke of decadence only humanity of Coruscant could match. Arkanians were snobby, uptight and annoyingly arrogant kind. She caught few intrigued glances, some smirks and lilting words of their native tongue. Ana rarely cared what others thought of her, already expecting strict judgment and demeaning assessments. She never found anything to like in other beings as well, keeping cold, aloof distance. This time, however, Anushka had to play nice. Preferably finding someone important and drunk to charm information from – it could still be an impossible task. As a blunt misanthrope, Ana knew many things but not how to make friends. Especially with snotty Arkanians – not that the species mattered: she had low opinion on everyone rather equally. Mustering up some courage, she found herself near a bar and looked around. There was a lone, untouched glass of beverage standing on the counter. Unattended and seemingly abandoned. Following own, shamelessly kleptomaniac nature Anushka picked it up, paying little mind if the owner lurked near by.

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh had gotten 48 hours special leave to attend his brother's wedding. So the crew of the Aegis had been left back on Coruscant to enjoy some well earned R&R, while Arkoh had rushed off on a shuttle for Arkania. Sero was marrying some member of House Adasca, a perfectly respectable marriage that did appropriate honour to both houses. Sero always did what was best for the family Arkoh thought, their parents would have been proud. The shuttle had touched down just a few hours before the ceremony. Leaving him barely enough time to get ready.

Arkoh was dressed in the finest dress uniform of the Republic Navy - tailored of course, nothing off the rack for Arkoh! It was made from Cyrene silk dyed so deeply blue that it was almost black. Gold and silver was embroidered around the lapels, epaulets, cuffs, collar, and buttons. Several medals dangled respectfully over his left breast, not many by any means but enough to mark him out as one who had actually seen service. Long dress trousers, also Cyrene silk, terminated in knee-high boots. The effect of his attire was only enhanced by its contrast with his white eyes and silver hair. Perfumed just enough that one was entranced by the smell, not enough that it overpowered you, Arkoh set out to the ceremony.

It had been a small affair, after all most of the money was being spent at the large reception at the finest establishment in the city. What was the point of impressing the people at the wedding after all, they knew how wealthy, beautiful, and powerful they were! No better to impress those people outside the families, they could always do with reminding. Or so had went the logic of the happy couple. Arkoh had stood as the best man for his brother, and he was exceptionally proud. Not because he knew the woman Sero was marrying, but because he could see that she was exceptionally attractive, and so was happy his brother shared his good taste. It never crossed Arkoh's mind that what lay between the woman's ears was more interesting than the shape of her figure, or what lay betwixt her legs. No to Arkoh women were objects of art, to be admired or condemned depending on the greater or lesser extent they were beautiful.

At the reception several supposed old acquaintances sought him out. Hangers on, nothing more than social climbers, trying to get a meeting with his brother. Arkoh indulged the little crowd, their fawning and false praise, leading them on. But then with an utterly stunning smile, flick of the wrist, he retorted, "I never wonder to see men beg, but I often wonder that I do not see them ashamed." As the indignant gasps began Arkoh had already set off with a chuckle. He reached the bar, ordering a snifter of Merenzane Gold, taking out his cigarette case Arkoh looked about as he lit.

Sero caught his brother sulking over by the bar, and waved him over. Sighing Arkoh told the barman to have his drink ready, taking a puff of the Corellian cigarette Arkoh strode lazily over to his brother.

"Arkoh! Why aren't you dancing? You should have a dance with my wife, don't you think she is lovely? Villi!" Sero called the woman over, she sauntered over with enormous grace.

"Yes she is truly lovely brother, I could stare at her for days..."

"That is my wife!" Sero laughed genially, Villi was still walking over, "Though she is much more than a pretty thing to look at."

"So you say."

"You know one day a woman is going to wallop you for thinking like that!"

"The day that happens Sero I will run naked around Arkania."

"I am sure that would please more than a few of the bridesmaids..." Sero nodded over at the giggling gaggle of young girls. Arkoh glanced over them, none of them remarkable enough to be worth a diverting few hours this evening alas.

It took nearly 20 minutes for Arkoh to extricate himself from the conversation with his swooning brother and his delectable but all too vocal wife. They were finishing each other's sentences, telling the story of how they met, and wasn't it cute that he did this and she did that. Arkoh through it all just nodded and smiled at the right times, laughed a bit, but kept his cigarette almost permanently in his mouth to avoid having to say much. Wives were, in his considered opinion Arkoh thought as he finally walked back to the bar, the clog of all pleasure and the luggage of life. That is the best one can say of the best of wives. Rolling his eyes and putting out his cigarette he asked the barman for his drink, embarrassed the man pointed at where the snifter had been.

Arkoh didn't have to look far to find the thief, a dainty thing awkwardly foisted into an evening gown. She was not what you would call classically beautiful, but Arkoh thought that the orange in her hair and the rather odd way she carried herself made her stand out at least - and not entirely in a displeasing way. He walked the short distance over to her, he smiled - you could just hear the giggles of a few bridesmaids - and ordering another snifter then clasped his hands behind his back,

"Enjoying my drink?" Another snifter of Merenzane Gold was produced and he took a delighting sip, "Merenzane Gold is a rare drop. So are you with the bride or the groom?" He asked it lazily, and taking seat at one of the bar stools crossed a leg over and nursed the drink. "Regardless not from Arkania obviously. You don't mind?" He asked quickly as he plucked and lit another cigarette, not even waiting for an answer.

[Poludnica]

Commitment...That was something Anushka had never understood. She didn't even know the young couple but already expected their happiness to end. It always started so well: bold declarations, promises that couldn't be kept. Her master had sacrificed everything for that flaky feeling and lost. Anushka treated it as an important lesson – an obvious truth which fed the gnawing loneliness. Often though, she did miss someone's touch and her body held natural cravings. It was winter of her life and men Ana met were a brief, homely summer that quickly passed. That way she had nothing to gain, nothing to lose – no failed expectations. Just an obsession of freedom that pushed the grey jedi to a dazzling nomadic life. There was a small pang of jealousy waking up in her at the sight of the couple but one she quickly stomped out in soothing indifference. This life was not for her – maybe if things had gone different for Faddei family and the fortune stayed with them she would be such socialite, blind to the Force. The young woman looked down on the stolen glass, her senses spread and the souls around came to life within the Force: their thoughts filling the air with the background white noise.

Was this a fair trade? Ana mused, weighing her skills exchanged for a caring family. It was hard to miss what she never had and the human woman shrugged away the melancholy the party stirred. Instead focusing on the pleasantly tickling liquid and the surroundings. The cacophony rose and fell, pressed against her temples. Ana quickly tuned it out, unable to fish anything important from the crowd of souls. Frustrated, she rubbed her neck that began to ache, tension rising in the entire body. Tea...How to find it in all this noise? A snowflake in the blizzard would be easier to peg. Another sip, another wasted minute. Maybe getting drunk wasn't a terrible idea...To forget herself in a semi-conscious haze were all feelings were but a dull echo.

Anushka felt the male's attention on her before any words were exchanged. Hazel gaze rose from the half-emptied glass to the Arkanian – all draped in an exquisite uniform of the Navy and with a pleasant smile of a poster boy the Republic wants to put on their recruitment ads. Handsome, as his species eugenic dictates. Even a scar couldn't disturb this overall, golden ratio impression. Even without a mirror, Ana knew she looked like a poor, maladjusted cousin in comparison. ”I had worse.” Anushka said, turning toward the officer. There were few decorations hanging on the male's chest. Soldiers will fight long and hard for a piece of colored ribbon. She though bemused and tilted her head, trying to assess how important this man could be.

”Neither.” Ana said, knowing the best lies were woven around shreds of truth. ”My date that brought me here bailed.” The grey jedi offered which wasn't this far from the true events as an Arkanian who had given her the invitation didn't want to come at all. Of course after some mental interventions on Ana's part. ”Only if you won't share.” Her gaze pointedly touched the dainty cigarette. Anushka had no shame when it came to mooching such things. ”A soldier, huh?” She asked, leaving the obvious statement concerning her origins without a comment. With all the white haired, slender beings around it was rather unnecessary.

Back in the Order Anushka more than once had interacted with the Republic's finest. Facilitating their missions, protecting delegates. They were a boring, neat bunch focused on discipline and rules. They were equally caged as the Jedi, obliged to do others bidding. Ana detested such life but strangely envied.

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh watched the red-haired woman's eyes flit over his features and down to his medals. He knew when he was being studied and assessed, and he knew that he would of course measure up - was there any other possible conclusion? From behind the light curtain of smoke in front of his face Arkoh's white eyes regarded the woman. She was athletic, clearly her figure would be better suited to a trouser suit - he wondered why she had not chosen thus, there were other women in trouser suits... Looking over her again he figured that she too was another of these women which never really cared for their appearance. A pity, men could get away with the rugged and disinterested look, women on the other hand Arkoh thought must always look cultured and refined.

Arkoh quirked a brow at her reply, 'neither', and something gave him pause. Was she? It was not unheard of, though coming when their client had cancelled was a little odd. Still working girls were usually desperate for credits, so no doubt she hoped to pick another wealthy client who couldn't win a woman by looks or charm. Some Arkanians may have left right at that instance, merely to be near someone they suspected of being a prostitute was unthinkable, Arkoh though... well he enjoyed the more sordid things, he found that in the gutter were only strength and wits mattered you could find something truly beautiful. Because it wasn't fragile, because it wasn't built on silly notions of love, it was a conquest of strength or intelligence, and risked defeat every moment. Arkoh knew most of the working girls (and boys) in every port the Aegis stopped, of course he never had to pay.

"By all means." He opened the silver and electrum cigarette case and extended it towards the lady, snapping it shut and putting it back into his pocket once she had removed a cigarette. "They are Corellian, by no means the best but I have a sentimental attachment to them..." He smiled at the memory.

"A sailor technically, but yes." Putting the glass down on the bar, Arkoh extended a hand. "Captain Arkoh Altunen of the Republic Naval ship Aegis... and brother to the groom." He looked over at Sero laughing and dancing with his wife, he rolled his eyes good naturedly and picked up the glass again.

"So my dear who was to be your companion to this event?" Arkoh doubted he would know them, he hardly knew anyone at this affair - after all for most of his adult life he had been on active duty with the Republic Navy. He took a deep drag on his cigarette letting the smoke lace through his teeth and wind its way down his throat.

The band struck up a familiar tune, and with a wicked smile Arkoh put down his glass, grabbed the glass from the lady and also put it on the bar. His cigarette extinguished, and taking a step towards the dance floor extended an elegant and manicured hand.

"Come let us dance." Let's see how high class you are Arkoh thought delighting in the possibility of throwing the lady off balance. "Your companion refused your company, so let me give you one dance in recompense." The manicured hand waited in mid-air, the toe of one of his boots already pointing to the dance floor.

Not to mention the crowded noise of the dance floor offered Arkoh the perfect opportunity to be more blunt in his inquiries about the red-haired thief. So he waited for her to take his hand patiently, but wearing a face that clearly would broke no refusal.

[Poludnica]

Another woman might blush under the careful, appraising gaze of milky white irises but Anushka was far from coy or falsely shy. She held onto the Arkanian's gaze with daring boldness and challenge. The grey jedi witnessed first hand how short life was, its flame easy to put out. Losing time on pointless social games didn't appeal to the practical human woman who, after years of ascetic, Jedi life craved nothing more but to reach for whatever she wanted. Like the slender cigarette Ana took from the silver case with a thank you spoken in an afterthought. She drew delicately at the tip, coaxing soothing smoke into her lungs. Closing her eyes, Anushka exhaled slowly, taking the cig daintily between her fingertips. Tendrils of smoke slipped past slightly parted glossed lips to curl lazily upwards, towards the softly glowing lanterns overhead. ”I am not picky.” The grey knight offered with an elegant shrug, wondering if he was just a snobby show off or genuinely excused for the cigarette's quality. Probably the former, given the overall appearance. Anushka rarely could afford anything better than cheap Cartel crap but kept this comment to herself.

”Republic must be proud.” Corner of Ana's lips rose slightly, catching her expression between a teasing smirk and playful smile. The hint of narcissism about Arkoh wasn't even subtle but it strangely fitted him, highlighted upper class breeding and well placed arrogance. She didn't offer her name in return unless the interested party inquired – a habit Ana picked up during mercenary life. Don't ask and don't tell. The officer though got interested in the fabled partner's identity of all things. It was tempting to gently nab few thoughts that circled this white head, learning what motives stood behind his friendly demeanor.

Did Arkoh suspect a party crasher or interpreted her presence in a different way? Anushka held back the curiosity, knowing even without the Force some could tell if their mind was being picked apart. Especially disciplined soldiers. Blowing her cover now would be a bad idea. ”Some guy with a weird Arkanian name.” Ana sighed. ”He desperately didn't want to show up alone. Probably found someone more interesting and local by now.” She lied easily, trying to assess if the brother of a groom could have specific knowledge about the tea. Rumored had it was a handful of leaves that came from a planet swallowed by super nova at the Galaxy edges. The only thing rescued from the doomed place and a collector's white crow – something so rare it existed mostly in legends.

Before she could pry some answers, Arkoh ordered a dance. Anushka looked at him sceptically but didn't protest when a glass had been removed from her hands – but only after Ana had taken another sip. Dancing was something the grey jedi rarely engaged and could only rely on own heightened reflexes or the warrior's grace. Nuances of own body weren't a mystery to her, using a lightsaber without cutting off anything required certain skill. There was no escape from this, unless she wanted to lose this possible source of information. With unsure smile, not an expression that often graced her lips, Anushka took the offered four fingered palm and followed the white haired male to the dance floor.

Treat it like a saber training... Ana felt strange anxiety and trepidation creeping in. She fiercely guarded her physical borders as much as mental and had to force own muscles to uncoil when felt Arkoh touch. Sure footing and impeccable reflex did make up for lack of any experience but not to the point she could be mistaken for a skilled dancer. Or any dancer at all.

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh watched as the woman stared at him unabashed, and the corners of his mouth flickered with a rakish grin for but an instant. Oh she may not look like a high class escort, but she wasn't a downtrodden 2 credit girl from some back alley either; Arkoh found himself intrigued, given the rather dull nature of the party her boldness stood out like a flame in the night. His eyes fell after a little while back to his snifter, enjoying the smells of tobacco and alcohol intertwined inhaled with delight.

"A Corellian smuggler once tried to bribe me with these cigarettes, back when I was an ensign..." He told the story lazily, as if just to pass the time "I refused of course, but the habit and the brand has stuck with me."

Arkoh did not even notice that flicker of a smirk that flitted about the woman's features. Not that he didn't know sarcasm when he heard it, he counted himself a man of good wit, but rather his ego would never have allowed him to recognize that there was something about himself that was open to humour. So in supreme confidence he feigned as much modesty as he could manage, which was not much, and shrugged. His ego did let him notice that she did not offer her name, Arkoh smiled knowingly but said nothing just taking another puff of his cigarette.

"He must have been very desperate..." He smirked and then held up his palms in surrender, "Forgive me, I am a slave to my wit." He smiled one of his dazzling smiles, choosing to ignore the memories of other women saying he was a slave to only his own reflection.

"Ah but what is local is seldom interesting..." He gestured to the people around them, "...All of them so very dull, they wouldn't know what was beautiful and interesting if it stood before them." Another long drag on the cigarette, the glowing ember lighting Arkoh's sharp Arkanian features. He pointed to one of the bridesmaids who was making fun of the dress of some other lady, "Look at her, she giggles and says her little barbs, but what is she doing - what are any of them - doing here except just the imitation of what they would like to do! She would if decorum said it was allowed would smother or strangle that woman, but she pretends otherwise. Personally I find that so exceedingly dull..." He quirked a brow as if amused and remembering that he had an audience all at once, "But I fear I am boring you, and risking becoming as dull as them." He nodded his head towards the crowd.

For Arkoh not belonging to the vast mass of people was always paramount, whether in the way he dressed, carried himself, or thought it was paramount that he stand above the crowd. After all it was only proper. He was unsurprised when the woman accepted his offer to dance, he was never refused. He could feel the tenseness in her muscles, and from the way she stood to how she looked around at the other dancers Arkoh could tell this may be the first time she danced. She had a natural litheness and grace which served her well though, so holding her in a close embrace Arkoh lead.

The subtle, arpeggiated music flowed with the melody of extreme melancholy. Arkoh with his hips, hands, and shoulders indicated for the woman to move this way or that, the long-held notes interplayed amid the slowly falling and weaving figures of the dancers.

"So why are you here?" He smiled and spun the woman on the spot, "Clearly not for my brother and his wife, hoping to get another paying customer?" They walked slowly across the floor in the elegant steps of the dance. "If you don't mind older men I believe I know a fellow who would pay well." He teased and pulled her back after he had let her fall away in another delicate move. "Come now I shan't judge, you may not be as elegant or as refined as anyone here... but you are interesting, and I am bored so am intrigued." The music was coming to a close, the notes wavered lush in the cold air, "And I still don't have your name, it would be so terribly unfortunate if I have to call you 'woman' the whole evening." With a quivering note the music stopped, and Arkoh bowed to his dancing partner.

"Shall we take a walk on the balcony?" He crooked his right arm for the woman to slink her's through, and with his left indicated towards the door, "It isn't too cold this evening, and I am sure we can have a more frank conversation far from the maddening crowds." A single corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile, and his eyes rested on the woman easily.

[Poludnica]

”Habit of refusing good cigarettes?” Anushka asked in her trademark, rather indifferent and slightly aloof cadence. Like a bored feline that found something moderately interesting in the man before her. The confidence he oozed would be annoying if the knight cared about it enough. She had met plethora of people: insecure, arrogant, kind and harsh – any of those could be used in furthering her own goals. Pride, self-important men were the easiest to fool as they believed in own flawlessness. Their arrogance was their ultimate downfall, something Anushka had been taught early. Force users with such mentality didn't last long enough, measuring against powers that ultimately crushed them. Arkoh walked similar road and maybe being blind to the powers around would save him. ”What wit?” She asked with an eyebrow raised in a feigned skepticism. Anushka was never a cuddly, little thing and her poor social sense often created unintended insults where should be but a small jab. Arkoh wasn't dull nor dumb but it didn't make him interesting, not that. Not even his overblown ego but a an aura of strong individualism behind the waffling self-praise. Anushka sensed it like a hound as she craved something similar.

Pretending to care about the social games Arkanians played in their little, backwater yard. Anushka's gaze and attention slipped toward her drink. She would add a courteous nod but took another sip instead. Fortunately, Arkoh had enough sense to stop tedious topic before Ana offered any input on how unimportant and irrelevant it was to her life. Sometimes the grey jedi missed simplicity of the Order, on those rare moments the Galaxy around took upon itself to make her life miserable. The idle musings were soon swept away when they began their dance and after a moment of awkward steps Anushka let the Force to flow through her and grant this fabled precognition. Before Arkoh made the move, she already anticipated it, seemingly guessing the steps but still strangely unsure about the dance. Whenever the Arkanian's body didn't leave a clue, letting the woman lead, she got lost all over again.

If we fought, he would already be dead. The thought was unwarranted and odd in its nature. A cold realization they weren't different only in species but entirety of being. He was blind to strings Anushka pulled effortlessly, handicapped almost in comparison. So much time she had spent around the Force users or in solitude, she had taken things for granted. This said, there was certain pleasure in his closeness and Ana relaxed – he was handsome in his own, alien way even if had false sense of grandeur about it. ”Hmm?” Ana hummed when Arkoh finally decided to ask a direct question but the theory he presented didn't come close to the truth. An amused snort left her lips at the implication. There were women who at this point would slap him without another word but for Ana it was the most convenient cover. I should have thought about it earlier... The grey jedi mused. The toy soldier could think whatever helped him sleep and got her closer to the prize.

”No, I am good.” Ana turned down the proposal that probably was aimed to coax some kind of reaction from her. She knew this type of men: they prodded and poked, pushing everyone's buttons. People's aggravation was their reward and Anushka had just refused it. It wasn't an open lie, the grey jedi simply failed to clear the misunderstanding, letting Arkoh cling to this interpretation. Ana gracefully entered the spin before stepping away from the Arkanian who seemed adamant to show her everything around. From the dance floor to the balcony. ”It's Clarice.” Ana offered, quickly thinking about a pet name fitting the profession Arkoh had chosen her. ”Lead the way.” Ana shrugged and took the offered arm, albeit somewhat awkwardly. She was used to walking arm to arm with fellow knights, not prance around like a dame. The poor Arkanian probably believed his flattering worked like a drug and Anushka even tried to swoon. Me? Interesting? Never... It didn't really pan out, but she didn't mind showing off cleavage to get his attention if that did the trick. ”I am not sure what else I can tell you...You seem to see through people with ease.” A blatant, vapid flattery and even a smile to accompany it and this time around without a trace of sarcasm. Kind of.

[Thaddeus]

"In the habit of refusing bribes." Arkoh did not imagine that the woman failed to understand what he had originally meant. He clarified it nonetheless, more in defence of a lapse of good taste than anything else. Arkoh returned to studying the woman for a moment, she was strong everything about her from her muscles to the way she spoke screamed it. But Arkoh considered carefully for a moment, and decided that her strength was good fortune - luck. Strip away that luck, that watchful goddess Fortune, and he wondered how she would react. Arkoh was not fool enough to believe that all her strength was luck, but something about her strength seemed unnatural. His private thoughts were interrupted by her quip at his supposed slavery to his wit, he laughed quite genuinely and smiled.

"Well put!" Like all egotists Arkoh's reaction could have gone one of two ways, insult at his brilliance being diminished, or amusement at the notion of finding another similarly witty and egotistical being. Arkoh for his part looked her over one last time, and decided lucky or not she was at least intelligent (for a woman anyway, he didn't for a moment think she could truly hold a conversation with him) and shared a certain disinterest in belonging to the crowd.

Arkoh was impressed at the ease at which she slipped into step, it boded well for any future partners in the bedroom. Rhythm was more than a musical necessity Arkoh thought. More than a few eyes had turned on the odd dancing couple, pure white dressed all in black stood starkly against the warmth and fire of the woman's hair and dress. Arkoh smiled,

"We have an audience." Another flourish. "We are leopards, and lions; those who will take our place when we are gone will be nothing but jackals and hyenas." The music lingered around their figures as they danced. He laughed warmly in mid-step as the woman said she was fine. "Pity I hear he pays handsomely, more credits than sense."

He saw her stagger a little at the end of the dance, clearly overcome. As she stood properly upright again he noticed Clarice adjust her dress to show off her wares - typical Arkoh thought with an inward sneer. Her arm looped into his Arkoh walked on in his graceful manner, "Not your real name I imagine, but Clarice it shall be." Her attempted flattery achieved some of what she had intended, Arkoh's ego was always an easy way to get what you wanted with the Arkanian. But at the same time he knew better than most the sort of tricks that woman in Clarice's profession used. "Well women are never as wily as they think." A partial acceptance of the compliment, and partially a warning, yes Arkoh was pleased with that response.

The cold air of Arkania hit his face, and his hair fluttered a little. The lights of the city dazzled out before them, hundreds of darkly clustered buildings each of them enclosing a life and its secrets. The high and forbidding peaks of mountains loomed in the distance, and the stars flickered in the ermine night. And the din from the reception wafted through the glass of the windows, the band had struck up again. For a moment, in spite of himself, motivated by the simply stunning view of his home Arkoh had a rare bit of sincerity, "Funny how you can miss what you never really had or knew." Sometimes people liked to imagine that if you penetrated the fortifications and entrenchments that an egotist erected between them and the world you would find an honest man, of course the truth was more often you would find nothing but a hollow ego at the centre of it all. But sometimes even the most dry of creeks could flood if the weather was just right, and so depth could return to where there had only been hollow drought... of course it didn't take long for the water to run and leave the creek dry once more. So Arkoh resumed his usual posture.

"So why Arkania? You must know my species doesn't appreciate beauty outside itself very often, I am a rare liberal." He added the last quite proud again of standing out among the mass of people. "Surely there are easier jobs..." He trailed off waiting for Clarice to pick up the sentence and carry on.

[Poludnica]

Despite eccentric air, Arkoh had little dry, distancing humor. Anushka began to think she had misjudged him and the Arkanian was a typical, self-centered toy soldier from a rich home that thought dancing with a human was already venturing to individualistic territory. That he wasn't truly free but a decadent, spoiled aristocrat. He would know no freedom in this uniform of his, could only dance as frivolous as the puppet masters let him to be. Pity. Anushka concluded. Her leash had been broken years ago and the grey jedi would sooner die than let anyone else decide what she should do. Maybe through own eccentric tendencies Arkoh tried to separate himself from the boring herd but still remained a lamb that didn't see beyond own pen. Slapping etiquettes and categories. Even her prickly remark couldn't break the thick, arrogant carapace.

Anushka knew they had audience even before Arkoh commented on it. She felt their nagging interest, licked surface of their thoughts. There was salty resentment in some, a bit of amusement, judging irritation. The former jedi relished all those, enjoying being one that garnered attention. ”Will I ruin your reputation?” Anushka asked cheekily at his remark. Arkoh could pretend to be a wolf but with caged spirit. Caged by conventions and military servitude. ”Then why won't you claim them for yourself? She smirked, returning the foolish insinuation back at the Arkanian. Watching what he would do with it: take offense? Treat as a joke? Swell in pride and tell her to get lost. Arkoh stole more of her interest than others around but still a far cry from what Anushka really craved. Maybe the man hadn't showed all his cards yet though.

”You don't care about my name.” The grey jedi offered with steadfast assurance of a person that was used to reading minds and intentions. Maybe a guess, maybe a thought plucked from his head. Anushka always cautiously shared unveiled her powers, knowing how those blind in the Force reacted. They were often threatened, scared and their even most bloated ego shrunk. Arkoh didn't seem like a coward or easily dominated but certainly tricky. And misogynist. Anushka held herself from rolling her eyes at the almost insulting statement. The more they underestimated, the easier they were to fool.

Outside cold immediately ruffled her hair, crept under dress. Anushka inhaled sharply, feeling goosebumps rising on the pale, pink skin. She called for the Force to keep her a bit warmer – what for Arkoh felt like a crispy breeze for a human was a bone gnawing cold. A cloud of steam slipped between Anushka's lips. The city before them morphed into eerie game between light and shadow. Arkania was a beautiful planet, alluring despite elemental, cold fury. Arkoh's remark remained unanswered but Anuhska looked at him inquisitively. Something trapped between strange, distant sadness and curiosity. For a moment Arkoh's guard seemed to be down, revealing something more than just brash arrogance. Tempeted by this sudden reveal, Anushka gently touched his mind, trying to sense what had just happened.

A smile graced her lips: brief and Delphic. ”It doesn't matter to me what your kind considers beautiful.” She said, wondering when Arkoh would start to doubt his judgment. It wasn't wise on her part but Anushka did like those games. The human woman rose a single finger to gently move across Arkoh's cheek if he let her. ”There are many mysteries in this place. Lost treasures.” Anushka couldn't help but wonder if there was nothing behind the large ego, did it protect something soft and fragile or was there a hollow husk that fed on flattery and vapid pleasures. Very gently she tried to catch whatever showed a moment before.

[Thaddeus]

The faces staring at them swirled into one mass, how true a vision was that Arkoh thought. Not a single one of them differentiated from the crowd, all of them watching the two true individuals with jealousy or judgement, not that either reaction mattered to him. He flashed a wolfish grin when she asked if she'd ruin his reputation, pulling her close he whispered low, "Let them be all morally righteous, it consoles them for not being anything else." The dance played on and their figures twirled and twined.

Arkoh laughed loudly, enough for it to be heard over the music. "Sharp tongue you have there." One side of his mouth was pulled up in a smirk, but then it fell and with a shrug and disinterested nod he replied, "He is not my type, I like my boys to have a future and my women to have a past. It is the only way for it to be interesting." Arkoh loved the full bodied passion of youth in men, the way they raged and struggled against the shackles of society; and in women he loved the wiser but sadder girl, the one who every decent person would step aside for. In Arkoh's mind there was just one sin in life, that was to allow your nature to be obscured. He was for the full-throated lusty and deadly power of nature, the clawed beast that recognised nothing but domination and power in relationships. All else was just illusion, artistry erected over what you were.

"No I don't care about your name..." He repeated it a little more mantra-like then he had meant to, shaking his head a little and looking askance at Clarice... uncomfortable memories of a certain soldier and a club on Coruscant came to mind, but he shook them away.

He turned away from the sight of the city unfolding before to see then warm breath escape from Clarice's lips. Arkoh unbuttoned his military jacket, and slipping it off revealing an equally well tailored shirt, placed it around the sleeper's shoulders. "Never let it be said that I lack the proper civility." It was in that moment he caught her smile, and for a brief second before the sincere feelings the scene had provoked in him Arkoh thought she looked positively stunning. A dying ember on a cold mountainside. But sincerity was not something Arkoh valued, nor allowed to linger long, and so the creek dried up and he was as impassively aloof as ever.

He did not reply when she stated her indifference to his kind's opinions, good was all the once more restored Arkoh thought. To concern oneself with the opinions of the crowd, the masses, was to pander to low and the mean. What business is it of those meagre half-men to judge their betters and masters? Her next statement though prompted him to look out over the city once more, with a sneer he replied. "There are no mysteries or treasures down there, just the quiet lives of the respectable citizens... well life is too strong a word, mechanical existence would be better." The wh*re next to him was better than them, at least she lived, dared, tried, but they just existed. "We killed all the dragons" Arkoh mused aloud, if there was a better metaphor for the state of Arkania than the extinction of the Arkanian dragon he could not think of it. The triumph of the mean, a rebuke and conquest of the exemplary.

Arkoh lent back against the railing and white eyes looked over Clarice once more. "So Clarice how did you come to this world?" He smiled roguishly, white teeth matching the snow and his hair, "Tell me it was something delightfully seedy, kicked off the ship whose captain you were servicing?" Arms folded across his chest. "Don't let it be mundane, in fact if it is mundane invent a story!" Arkoh laughed, yes better a good fiction than the poor truth.

[Poludnica]

Despite her best efforts, the treacherous body reacted to the Arkanian shortening distance between them. It was involuntary and completely beyond Anushka's control which angered the grey jedi. She didn't like this part of her, the one that craved such contact. It ruined the self imposed, detached loneliness Ana felt safe in. Arkoh was a man that used others, she knew this type that loitered across the Galaxy, transcending class and species borders. The easy judgments he offered, predatory grin that ghosted across his lips betrayed as much. Rising all the red flags in her head. Anushka steeled herself against this, tried to ignore the influence he had. What's with me and white haired men? The woman sighed inwardly, remembering Jaiden and their catastrophic reunion. Realizing how sometimes helpless she was when suddenly being faced with own loneliness, Anushka let the Force to cleanse the body off this influence, numbing it but the body wasn't the strongest skill, leaving tell tales of arousal where should be none. ”Are you free from such chains? Captain?” Ana asked, forcing indifferent neutrality into her voice.

”Sharper than most.” Anushka admitted without a trace of humility, pleased to maybe making a chip in the arrogant armor. Arkoh didn't seem offended, on the contrary. Somehow his tastes didn't surprise her – someone so willingly enjoying conversation about taboos had to be open minded. ”I am afraid I am neither.” That was another lie, this time open and straightforward. Anushka had a complex Jedi past and drifting mercenary story but learned not to boast about them. There were always people around ready to use it, hunting even former Jedi. Making her life miserable even more than it already had been. With an enigmatic smile she greeted his words, like a hollow echo. He would not know this name, nor remembered it. Men were often embarrassingly easy to trick, much less aware than their female counterparts.

A rapid tension coiled her muscles when a jacket was placed on her shoulders. Unused to such gestures, Anushka looked up to catch Arkoh gaze. Doubt and question showing on the oval features. Such things were alien to her, alien to the point of being intruding as they implied she couldn't take care of own needs. Struck directly at the woman's fierce independence. Still, Ana accepted it as it brought some solace in the harsh winter but that wasn't the entire reason for her reaction. He surprised Anushka, while she thought to have him figured out: vapid, self-centered, judgmental. Without a word, as she couldn't find any fitting, Ana looked away, her gaze drifting to the spectacle of light before them. The city was alive, pulsating but quiet. From the tall hotel balcony she could see the speeders, neon signs and holograms – all beautifully crafted. There was certain cold, aloof allure in Arkanian architecture. You could watch it but never truly comprehend nor touch. Arkoh mirrored this quality perfectly. ”Good, dragons bore me.” She stated, eyes still fixed on the horizon.

There could be insult woven in his words, demeaning remark on her ways of getting things. Anushka smirked, deciding not to play his game. ”I paid for a ticket.” That wasn't entirely true as she tricked the captain into believing she had one and vanished mingling with other passengers before the fool could remember own bearings. ”I assume in not the kind of currency you would like to. Or ask from own men.” Anushka commented, taking a small revenge for his prickly words. ”I am looking for an artifact that came from now a dead word. Allessa tea, they call it.” Anushka decided to stop beating around the bush and plainly ask about what she needed. As interesting as Arkoh was, he was not the prize.

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh turned towards Clarice when those bitter words flew into the night air, ‘dragons bore me,’ and his white eyes ran across the profile of her face like two moons. She had been interesting somewhat, not a diamond in the rough as the saying goes, but she had had a quality which spoke of an individuality which loathed to belong – or so Arkoh had thought – but now… now she was just one of those people whose individuality arose only from despising the uniqueness of others, the piddling masses who knew not what greatness is, and never would.

They would tear down all above them, cut down the tall poppies, not because they were foolish and moronic believers in a democratic absolute, no simply out of spite. They could not live in a world they created themselves, and unlike men like Arkoh himself they were incapable of creating their own world – no they still had to live by the little things which governed the masses. Arkoh could never decide if he hated them or the masses who didn’t even know individuality more. At least for the masses they were not aware of their insufficiencies, but those like Clarice they knew their own faults and how their world was not of their own making, and how it did make them seethe with jealousy.

Yes on the whole, Arkoh thought at last, I despise the petty more than the ignorant; though it was but a matter of degrees. He finally spoke, “A pity, the galaxy can endure the loss of everything – all the governments could fall, planets burn, and stars implode, and none of it would infringe upon its dignity – except the loss of beauty. The dragons were beautiful, so impossibly powerful – all the power of death over life – and yet so unimaginably fragile and delicate.” He inhaled sharply a little at the end of his sentence, a final derisive noise at Clarice’s sentiments.

Arkoh brushed away some snow from the top of the stone balustrade, looking over at the snowdrift and icy pond that lay below, he then lazily lent against it. As she told the rather bland way she had gotten passage to Arkania Arkoh clicked his tongue in a disapproving ‘tsk tsk.’ He smiled charmingly, “For shame! I would have thought a woman in your line of work would be a good liar, come now I told you to invent a good story if the truth was bland.” He laughed and rocked on the balustrade. “A beautiful lie is worth more than a dozen bland truths.” Smiling mostly at his own wit Arkoh continued to listen.

Her question about Allessa tea threw him, and it showed; his smug features transfigured into ones of intense curiosity and bemusement. What in the entire galaxy would a wh*re want with that? He could not figure it out, nothing about her seemed to him to be anything other than a woman careless of her own virtue on numerous occasions, and she did not strike him as a connoisseur. Arkoh lent against the balustrade and folding his arms spoke, barely keeping the surprise and derision out of his voice, “What in all the galaxy would you want with that?” He lent forward slightly, “Moreover how could you even afford it? I am sure you are very good at what you do, but I doubt anything you could do would cost that much…”

[Poludnica]

Those disappointed, judgmental glares – Anushka was used to them. Long time ago she had come to terms with a simple fact she didn't belong with the society. Arkoh uniqueness was self-imposed, he chose it but she never had such luxury. A child of a drug addict that should never be born nor survive, Anushka knew her destiny was loneliness and simply ignored the Arkanian who proclaimed platitudes about dragons. The grey jedi yawned though not theatrically, it was an honesty expression of growing boredom. For someone striving to put himself away from common rabble, Arkoh certainly had rather common interests. Dragons? ”Whatever you say.” She sighed, already putting together a careful plan to use the Arkanian in a way he would never approve. Gently Ana began to prod his mind, plucking superficial thoughts that didn't pain a favorable image of her. Caring little about it, the human already pondered how to force him into spilling what he knew.

From the outside Anushka looked unfocused, distant and indifferent as she unwoven strands of the Force that thickened around her dainty frame. ”And what you could possibly know about my line of work?” Ana whispered, recalling her Jedi training” demanding and strict. Every step counted, any unnecessary gesture could be a mistake. Even a soldier didn't know such training, with a weapon so deadly to the user. A toy solider born with silver spoon in his mouth that played war like a game. ”You wouldn't really like the truth.” She offered, her hazel gaze following the disturbed snow.

To make a point and finally break the delusion Arkoh lived in, Anushka raised her hand – along with it rose the snow that gathered on the balcony, responding to the call of the Force. ”You also don't want my stories.” Ana finished before the snow exploded around them into a swirling mist. Decimating in melted, watery droplets. ”Now, tell me, do I still look for who you take me?” A smirk formed on her lips as dangerous darkness danced at the slender fingertips. There was anger in it. She could sense some form of recognition in Arkoh's voice – shock, surprise. ”Tell me what you know.” Anushka said but this time her tone and cadence bore no sharpness, a soft, alluring request. A pale hand rose to caress the man's cheek, trying to force a hazy daze. Pleasant unfocused that clouded reason, senses.

”It will stay between us.” She promised in a soothing whisper. ”Don't fight it.” The Force around them danced, gently licking their thoughts and minds. It was disappointing how despite various hints the Arkanian stubbornly gave her undeserved label and for that he didn't deserve much mercy. Those blind to what stood in front of them never ended well.

[Thaddeus]

Arkoh’s eyes went wide at the snow that swirled around Clarice, only his ego held his mouth firmly closed rather than having it drop open in shock and awe. As the little lacework crystals melted and shattered into droplets of water that fell to the ground Arkoh folded his arms across his chest, and quirked a brow. He may have misjudged here, but he knew he had not misjudged himself (or at least so he thought) and so his arrogant confidence remained unshaken. It was somewhat admirable, if stupid; he had that image of an aristocrat being lead to his death by the mob still serenely composed and sure of his own superiority and inviolability despite the obvious fate awaiting him.

His white eyes looked upon her smirk and he could not help but smile in return, it was an odd look as he brushed his hair into its more perfect position. It wasn’t a smirk that had found his lips it was not so smug, though it had confidence, no it was the smile pleased amusement. The look you might find on someone listening to a new symphony, the themes and colours of which were so daring and new that they could not help but smile amusedly.

“Not at all my dear…” Said in tones so soft and sweet. “… though I was right: apart from myself you are the most interesting person here.” His eyes, as cold as the snow, looked over her afresh with hungry interest – like a winter wolf, or perhaps if they still lived an Arkanian dragon.

Arkoh could feel his mind begin to be caressed and stroked into compliance, and anger and rage filled him. With great speed he grabbed her wrist, tightly but not forcefully, and pulled it away from his face. “I will have none of that, and you shan’t need it.” He had had enough of women meddling with his mind for a lifetime. “Allessa tea may be priceless to some, but to me it is worthless… however I more curious as to how valuable it is to my mysterious woman?” He chuckled, as much to comfort his ego as it was because of it. The great oddity of ego, at least Arkoh’s ego, was that it was almost self-fulfilling. One did something to boost their ego, and in boosting their ego it grows, and on and on.

He knew that no doubt this wh*re, though she may not sell her body in the conventional way she still sold herself and so he had not been entirely wrong Arkoh told himself, could pluck the information from his mind. Whether that would be a painful or painless process he did not know, but frankly he was not in the mood to discover. “It was here on Arkania briefly, at one of the auction houses I believe, someone paid enough to buy a small planet for it and what happened after that I cannot say.”

[Poludnica]

The shock and awe resonated in the force, the Arkanian held it on a short, firm leash. His features betrayed only a slight surprise. Anushka smiled cheekily, even though Arkoh retained composure of an aloof aristocrat. In the back of her head gnawed a thought that if things had been different, she would have belonged to this world. Sipped expensive wines and spent vapid, void life oblivious to the gift the Jedi training honed. Even if Anushka didn’t want to admit it, the Arkanian officer impressed her with how controlled he was. Such displays of power often brewed panic in those blind to the Force. They could become an easy prey in a heartbeat, helpless and weak. No military training would save the Arkanian, he had no realise this but remained unshaken. Cheeky even - still believing in the false sense of security his high born pride granted.

Unexpectedly, he offered a smile and the white eyes lit up with something caught between playfulness and challenge. As a military officer, Arkoh certainly dealt with the Force users. Jedi most likely - stiff fellows that spewed codex before anything else could be said. She didn’t know if the Arkanian had ever faced dark siders or even the greys. ”You like it when you are right, don't you?” She said with a huffing chuckle, more stating the fact rather than asking a genuine question. Anushka looked over her shoulders toward the ballroom from where a cacophony of happy voices seeped. ”Indeed I am.” Ana acknowledged without any humiliate but also nor any pride. She stated a mere fact, noting the predatory interest in the milky clouded eyes.

The magic of the moment evaporated the moment Arkoh realised his mind had been licked by the Force. He grabbed her wrist and Anushka allowed it, intrigued by how well trained this man was. To notice such subtle intervention…His lessees would quickly feed into her siren’s song. Lulled into blissful oblivion while Ana sifted through their memories, savouring the taste of domination and enjoying the thrill it gave. ”Then give me what I need.” The grey jedi said, tilting her head to the side, wondering if it was enough to soften Arkoh. Certainly not nearly enough to break his pride or prickle balloon of arrogance. ”Someone I know wants it.” Ana explained, figuring the officer deserved at least that.

”What auction house?” Anushka inquired, unable to hide excitement. It was the first time she was so close to this damn tea. So this party wouldn’t be a complete loss of time.