Two feline figures walk through the entry to Drezzie's Bar. One, a female Zygerrian standing tall for her kind at 1.8 meters. She might be described as attractive, if she didn't cover her body in chitin armor, sparse gaps giving way to glimpses of blue-grey fur. Her hair pulled tight, providing just enough purchase for a hair band to create a sprig of a ponytail. She stood next to particularly peculiar Farghoul monk. She gave him a nod as she approached the bar.

After waving down the bartender, "Food. Something savory. Drink. Something alcoholic. Please," she said economically. Nelk wasn't much for wasted words and felt being direct and measured provided her with the social interaction she typically hoped for. In other words, don't bother me with formalities and small talk. Time was money, and niceties were rare in her line of work.

The itinerant monk let the pretty one pass kindly then stumbled through the door after her. Taking in the scene he smelled the air and savored the musty scent of old bar and cheap food. The bar stool next to the Zygerrian was empty so Torr happily filled it. Then with a smug grin said, "Barkeep, your finest Airag please!"

At the bar, curiously without food or drink of their own, sat a rather large fully armored humanoid. No trace of their species could be seen except that they had two arms two legs and one head, which to be fair narrowed the list a little.

The armored figure shifted and looked at the feline pair "New in town." Came a deep gruff voice. There was little inflection so it was hard to tell if it was a statement or a question.

The voice caught him by surprise. In the time it took for him to turn and gawp at the armored stranger a drink managed to find its way in front of him. "Indeed," Torr answered smugly, "But every day is a new day, and every you is new too. I've been new for a good ten minutes. My bed the stuffing of a freight canister I stole my way into. Whichever town this is it's all new to me."

He eyes the drink greedily, "To your health, inquisitive stranger. As for myself, you may call me Torr."

Nelk looks the stranger up and down as Torr gives his introduction. She was still getting used to her new companion's choice of words. "your armor... looks battle tested," she said. "And you stand here alive. Either you looted a corpse or know how to handle yourself. I don't care either way. Resourceful is resourceful." She blindly reaches for her glass and raises it to the man without saying more and takes a sip. Her eyes lite up for a moment, and she begins to greedily lap the drink a good while. "How have I never tried this before?"

Torr's nose crinkles after downing the gin. He quickly realizes that the pretty one lucked out with his order. "It has other names of course, but Airag is what an old acquaintance used to describe it as." He downs her drink then orders another Airag.

A vibroknife is produced in Nelk's hand, the motion was quick, and most would not have seen where she kept it, unless they were trained to notice such things. She holds it at Torr, "Those who steal from me never get a second chance to do so." Her voice became rough, her blue-grey fur standing up and she hissed her words. "Buy me another or pay the price."

Torr doesn't react to the blade at his throat but instead looks at the barkeep and casually says, "Make it two more, matter of fact her tab is on me."

She had just been passing by... when that *feeling* emerged again; informing her of a familiar presence that could be found inside. She still hadn't decided what side of the fence to come down on in regards to that feeling. But either way, ignoring it was impossible. So, she drew the hood of her black robes down, and walked inside.

It took but an instant for her to spot Deonis. In the presence of unfamiliar sentients.

She watched the interaction for a few moments; though she had no doubt Deonis at least was already aware of her presence. To her, it seemed as if he was about to be the victim of some kind of scam. Or attempted scam, anyway. Of course, she could be wrong; and she wouldn't know unless she was going to be listening in.

Might as well.

She made her way over and sat down next to Deonis, and flagged down the barkeep.

"Tsiraki, small."

Torr Po wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 9:31 am

He eyes the drink greedily, "To your health, inquisitive stranger. As for myself, you may call me Torr."

"Deonis." Came the terse reply as he looked between the two

Nelk wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 10:12 am

A vibroknife is produced in Nelk's hand, the motion was quick, and most would not have seen where she kept it, unless they were trained to notice such things. She holds it at Torr, "Those who steal from me never get a second chance to do so." Her voice became rough, her blue-grey fur standing up and she hissed her words. "Buy me another or pay the price."

He regarded the female with the cold, black stare of his visor "don't cause trouble." His voice had an inherently intimidating quality to it but it wasn't aggressive

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 1:50 pm

-snip-

"Good to see you." He hadn't turned to look at her even as she sat down keeping his eyes on the two new comers but his words were clearly meant for her

Nelk realized she was causing a bit of a scene, when she should be blending in. Too much time spent in the underbelly of outerrim worlds.

“No trouble” Nelk said as she slid the knife away. Her mouth crept into a smile before she let out a low purr and laugh, slapping Torr on the back. “It was your drink after all, Torr.”

“And, I’m sorry, friends. Torr and I go way back,” she lied. “Only a bit of fun. I’m Nelk.”

Nelk wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 3:22 pm

“No trouble” Nelk said as she slid the knife away. Her mouth crept into a smile before she let out a low purr and laugh, slapping Torr on the back. “It was your drink after all, Torr.”

"Still it was rude of me to rob you of its pleasure... old friend." Torr grinned mischievously.

Casually turning to Deonis, "You'll have to forgive her - she's rough around the edges and generally expects me to do the talking."
Two more drinks are placed in front of them and Torr immediately snatches his up and drinks heartily.
After wiping away the foam he smiles a toothy smile and sighs satisfied. "New city, new company! So tell me friend, what's what in the city?"

She'd considered simply hanging nearby, pretending to not be a part of the conversation; but when she was greeted that plan had gone out the window. So she simply turned, and nodded a greeting. Both to Deonis, and to the overly 'friendly' aliens.

There was a shrug from her; neither Tyllia nor Deonis were likely to tell a couple of strangers what's 'what' in the city, she imagined.

"Just another glorious day in the glorious empire," she said. One might expect there to be a tone of sarcasm to her voice, but she managed to make it sound neutral enough that it could be interpreted either way.

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 4:06 pm

"Just another glorious day in the glorious empire," she said.

"Well I never enjoy hearing that." Torr downs another then shrugs. "Still, there's always bounties to be had I guess."

“For the Empire,” Nelk says, making sure her words carry in the bar. She raises her glass and touches her fist to her cold chitin armor over her heart before taking a swig of the frothy gin. “Say what you will of the Empire, but for many it is a bastion of hope and sanctuary from the anarchy of the stars.” Nelk stands and looks at the armored man and the hooded woman, “I don’t believe I caught your names?”

"Deonis" He said again his voice a little rougher than before. Listening to Nelk talk. "Not many non-humans like the Empire." He commented

"Tyllia," she said as she regarded the two. She wasn't sure which of them was the smarter, at this point; her previous opinion having flipped around from the wildly different opinions they had reflected back at her just now.

Deonis Harik wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 9:47 pm

" “Deonis”

Not many non-humans like the Empire." He commented

Nelk leans in to avoid being eavesdropped on, “like, my new friends, is a strong word. The Empire has many ears in many places.”

Tyllia Demici wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 9:52 pm

"Tyllia,".

Nelk gracefully pulls back to an upright position, “Deonis, Tyllia, please forgive my previous outburst. I’m known as Nelk,” she purred. My good friend Torr Po and I were looking to get our feet wet here on Bellionas, it’s been quite sometime since I’ve been here, do either of you know if Tybalt is still around? Or perhaps Nera? They were always able to provide work in the past.” She casually sips at her drink. “As well, like Torr has stated, we may be in the bounty business if either of you have any leads in that direction.”

Deonis Harik wrote: ↑

Mon May 17, 2021 9:47 pm

"Not many non-humans like the Empire."

Nelk wrote: ↑

Tue May 18, 2021 12:07 am

The Empire has many ears in many places.

Torr smirked, "I've always been of the opinion a mask that poorly conceals should be left unworn. I'll simply say that I prefer collecting bounties for other clients." Torr polishes off another glass and waves for another. "This ish good shtuff!"

Deonis shook his head "I do not know Tybalt or Neera. Names are familiar but I know nothing of them." he said regarding them for a moment then his visor dipping a touch toward Tyllia and back to them "There is work in town. If you know where to look."