Theed

Theed, House of Ellara

"And lived..? Interesting."

"He was Captain of the House Guard. It was his job to be...efficient." Jashin didn't really elaborate on that, instead watching her as she ignored the crate and walked up to him.

"Only a perhaps? What would you find practical then?"

"You're Mandalorian, aren't you? You spoke Mando'a at least. Beskar'gam would be more befitting. Or nothing at all." Jashin met her silver gaze, a hand coming up to brush her errant locks out of her face and behind her ear. "Thoth Ne'satt." Jashin muttered under his breath. Without explaining what it meant, he walked over to the bed, picked up the crate - an easy feat for a being of his strength - and walked over to the door, kicking it open with his foot.

"I am not a child anymore. The fact that my mother has no been unheard from in two years, somethings gone wrong. I can feel it. Loki said we could find out what."

"If your mother is a Nightsister, then secrecy and elusiveness is second nature to her. Though, two years is a long time, even for such a being." Jashin paused, before eyeing her once more. "And on the subject, how will Loki react to you and me? He attempted to kill me over far less."

Walking back into the hall, inclining his head to Ellara, he waited for Sinina to emerge. "Ellara of Vancil - may you be shielded from the wind." With that traditional farewell, he ducked out the front door, intent on giving the two some privacy. Who knew when they would meet again, after all.

Something was wiggling underneath Dominic, but he could just guess that was Farris complying with his request to turn into Anastasia. Once he, or, she now? Spoke, he looked up at Farris. It looked good, but... "No, you won't be talking..." He had to catch his breath a little from speaking and walking at the same time. Hell this was getting hard. " A... a little more intense face. Wider jaw. Just keep composure, and the old lady shouldn't say anything.." He didn't say anything more, but looked down and to the side when told that he was explaining this later. Maybe he could, to Farris. He might understand. He was also the only one helping him, so he was the only one that deserved to know.

About 4-5 minutes later of walking, of which Dominic was paying attention to nothing but keeping his head up, putting one foot in front of the other, and looking at the signs for the businesses they passed in the city. He didn't spend too much time looking at each sign in particular, just if it didn't look anywhere near what he was looking for, he would move on to the next one. After this short amount of time, they came up to a sign that read "Wink and Kiss Love Hotel". Finally!

The Wink and Kiss was a three story establishment with lots of pink and blue decorations on the outside. Dominic would direct Farris towards there, stand up straight and look as normal as he could. He probably looked as dead as he was feeling, but he literally didn't have time to spare. Walking inside, there was a small foyer before coming up to a counter with an old human lady behind it, with an absurd amount of makeup on. Above her was a large holoscreen with pictures of various rooms, all to do carnal things in private. There was 20 in total, and each room had a small number by it. There was nobody else in the foyer.

As they came to the counter, the old lady seemed to recognize Dominic immediately, and smile at his companion. "Seems like you're back. You want the usual room?"
"Y-yeah, Room 13 please." Dominic replied, reaching forward with his hand for the old lady to drop the keycard into. She would wiggle her fingers at the two as the would walk further down the hallway to an elevator at the end of the hallway. Using the keycard weakly, Dominic would open the elevator door and lean against the back wall, taking in long labored breaths. "Y-...you can change back now."

Farris attempted to make the changes Dominic suggested quickly before the made it into the Wink and Kiss Love Hotel. Briefly his mind qondered what was going on- before it came to the obvious conclusion. Inwardly he smirked, showing nothing of the sort on his outward face. When they walked in, and Dom startted speaking with the overly adorned elderly woman, Farris smiled thinly at her- before he was led to the lift and finally they were alone again. He did not change back- just yet.
I think I'll wait till we're actually in the room babe- I assume, what you need is in there, correct?
Farris asked, with a wink and a tilt of his head. He used his other hand to toss some red hair out of his face, playing the part rather well. After all- he'd been other people so much, that actually taking his silvery form felt almost alien to him- which he personally found sad.

As the lift opened, Farris motioned a hand down the hall.
Point me in the right direction handsome. Yes, it was a dire situation. Yes Dominic was literally falling over. But- the Polydroxol couldn't really help but smirk at his performance. He was sure he'd get scorned for it by the Agent later. but it was worth it.

The lift was a smooth ride, but Dominic just tried to focus on breathing, forcing his diaphragm to expand and contract to bring oxygen to his body. Soon enough his brain would stop doing what he wanted and he would become paralytic before dying shortly after... Farris began speaking in that woman voice of his, calling him 'babe' an-Pain flared in his chest, and he began coughing, hacking, and eventually spitting up dark red blood into his hand.

Well. That was something. He looked back up at Farris. "Yes." He choked out.

The doors DINGED open as they reached the floor, and Dom stumbled outward like a drunk with a hand on the wall for balance. He pointed towards the door with the big metal 13 with the keycard, then slowly made his way towards it. If Farris took the key and unlocked the door Dominic would let him, whatever he chose. If not, Dominic would struggle to get to the door and unlock it himself, turning sharply to the right wall and rushing to get there, where a small table next to the pink cushioned circle bed was, with a low lit lamp and a phone was placed.

Dominic's legs stopped responding just was he got there, collapsing onto the table and knocking the lamp over. It fell and hit the ground, but nothing braking. Dominic would fumble with the phone in a panic to hold it correctly, then pushing 5 numbers in, 2 4 1 1 0. Holding it to his ear, he heard it ring just a one short ring before it was picked up, a voice from the other side immediately speaking. "You've been compromised, Agent Dominion." Then hang up. 

Dominic seemed to freeze, look at the phone he held in his hands, then push in the numbers again. It was just a short ring once more, and the same voice answered. "Unable to open the hatch to compromised Agents. Failure to comply will resul-" "I NEED THE INJECTIONS! PLEASE!" Dominic would scream into the phone and interrupt the man, his vocal cords not seeming to want to work with him. Tears started to form out of confusion and frustration and anger. The man continued like nothing came over the receiver. "-t in termination from the Project by execution." Then hang up once more.

With a yell of frustration and hate, he threw the phone across the room, and it cracked against the far wall. Slumping against the table, he began to weep for just a moment as his body started to convulse uncontrollably. Then he stopped his crying, and looked at the lamp. At this point, survival meant everything, and everything else could be tossed by the wayside.


He pulled out the slugthrower handgun he had tucked in his pants, put it against the cord from the lamp the connected into the wall and pulled the trigger. The loud BANG would ring out and the shell would eject as the cord instantly was ripped from it's natural form and a hole was punched into the floor. He dropped the gun, not caring what happened to it now as both of his hands started to pull at both ends of the cord, splitting it down the middle and separating the two wires that completed the circuit. If Farris helped him, that was fine once more, but Dominic would crawl to the wall adjacent to the table, and start knocking on it. He would find two points that didn't sound hollow, and put one end of each wire on each point. A small ZAP sound was made as some circuit was completed, and a previously invisible hatch right where Dominic was popped open a little.


As frantic as a drug addict with withdrawal would be to finding more drugs, Dominic would fling open the small hatch and bring out the briefcase inside, one more being left inside. The Agent fell onto his side as he put in new numbers to the briefcase, and it opened up to reveal several small syringes filled with some opaque green liquid. His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he fumbled with one syringe, eventually able to pluck the sheath the needle was in. 

With the rest of the strength his body had, he swung it into his leg, passing right through his pants and squeezing down on the plunger. Dominic gasped, taking in a lot of air then lookin towards Farris, wherever he was at this point., then shakily pointing his best towards the door. "O-... La-... dyyyy...." Dominic would trail off, his head thumping to the floor with his eyes remaining open and his mouth hanging open as well just a tad. His heart would then stop.




At that moment, the elevator down the hall would ding, and the sounds of the doors opening would be heard if the door wasn't shut. Then heavy footsteps coming their way.

Well.. before bumping into him on Naboo.. the last time I had seen him I was 5... And has been far to busy to catch up much.. I doubt he'll even notice..

*She nodded simply as he explained the that it was a language of his race. She was glad to know, though she still had no clue what he'd said. She watched him struggle a bit to hold the crate and find the place on his datapad, she tried too help balance it for him, and then frowns slightly as he explains about the person they were meeting to be flamboyant. She wasn't too concerned about it. It couldn't be that bad. Could it? She watched him carefully, but he seemed to be managing her crate easily enough, and didn't appear to even break a sweat.*

I'm sure its fine..

The Ja'raak Inn, Lobby

Nussan breathed a sigh of relief as he held his head with his left hand, the headache still apparently very strong. "Ooh, mee'sa not havin' booze all dat often, but mee'sa remember that for next time. This'n hangover is murdur to mee'sa head." Looking around the cafeteria, the usually graceful hunter began to slowly waddle over to a water cooler he had spotted by the cafeteria's kitchen. "Mee'sa go an' havin' lots of water right now - exqueeze me."

Angel shook her head and chuckled lightly, watching Nussan stumble over to the water tank, before turning back to Tanara and eyeing her closely with a warm smile... "Surely a technique taught on the sands of Tatooine, no doubt. That's where Zalor told me you and Vincent have been lately. How are things with the two of you?"


The small bell at the top of the Ja'raak Inn's front door rang, as a...very strange being, one Vaili had never seen before, emerged. Vaili couldn't help but look up from her duties at the front desk to eye the stranger. He was gaudy, loud, eccentric, and adorned with jewelry of all sorts. This was an offworlder, definitely, the likes of which she had never seen before. "Oh. Wow." The Twi'lek muttered under her breath.

She couldn't help but stare at the strange man as he approached the front desk. She only took his eyes off him long enough to glance at Zalor and Tryn outside, hoping one of them would come and relieve her, if only for a few minutes. As she turned back to the man, she was tempted to say something about his demeanor, but both Zalor and Tryn had taught her that taking care of the customer, no matter where they were from and what species they were, was the key to the Ja'raak Inn's success. With that mentality, the newly appointed Assistant Manager folded her arms across the front desk and smiled at the newcomer. "Good afternoon, sir! Looking for a room? We have vacancies on both floors."

_________________________________________________________________________

The Ja'raak Inn Courtyard, Outside

After another long silent, awkward pause of silence, Zalor felt the urge to break the tension between him and Tryn with an apology. He couldn't stand to see Tryn in this state. "Tryn, I'm really sorry this came up so quickly. Like I said, if not for Master Dash coming and giving me this message, we'd be discussing me taking the Inn right now."

"I understand, Zalor." Tryn nodded his head in agreement. "Honestly, though - that's not why I'm upset. This isn't about the Inn at all."

This didn't seem to make Zalor feel any better. He shot a hurt look at Tryn as he folded his arms, trying to remain calm. "What is this about, then?"

Tryn allowed a tear to fall from his cheek, wiping it away with his shirt sleeve before he continued. His voice sounded shaky, and he was clearly struggling to maintain his composure. "Five years ago, when you came back from the Jedi after bein' away for so long - when you told me what happened, Alonae and I agreed that we would do everything in our power to make you feel back at home here. We've known you for so long, Zalor - you've been frequenting my Inn ever since you was a young lad. I've gotten to watch you grow up and become a man - one of the greatest men I've ever had the privilege of knowin'! When your father and step-mother died, Alonae and I agreed - we would've gladly took you in. I love you, son." Tryn wiped another tear away from his cheek, and he could see Zalor doing the same, also trying to keep his cool. He knew Zalor loved him back. "I love you - like you're my own flesh 'n' blood. So...so, don't you think it pains me to see you go? Back out into the galaxy, fightin' evil? I always worry 'bout you when you're gone, Zalor. How do I know you're gonna come back? What if somethin' happens to you out there, and I never get to see you again?"

Zalor took a few seconds to regain his composure. Emotions between both the men were high. Zalor knew he was taking a risk by leaving Naboo with the Jedi, and he loved Tryn as a father. He was gonna miss him, especially after these five years of working for him. Saying goodbye was always the hardest part.

When Zalor did finally gather the courage to respond, he did so with a calm, collected tone of voice. "I love you too, Tryn. And I know that I will come back. I know it in my heart. The Force is my ally - and a powerful ally it is. It has seen me through many dangers and many dark places, and I know it will see me home again. I've been through this before, Tryn. I will come back home."

Tryn fell silent. He said nothing, only nodded his head, seemingly satisfied by Zalor's response. If his Jedi training could bring him home like it did five years ago, that was good enough for him, he decided.

Tryn finally gathered the courage to walk up to Zalor and give the young man, whom he had considered his adopted son, a big, warm hug. "You do that, then. You do that for me, Zalor. The Ja'raak Inn will be waitin' for you when you do."

"Okay." ...was all Zalor could say as he hugged the old man through his own tear-stained eyes.

Ja'raak Inn Outiside

*Sin had followed Jashin along, she had thought she'd heard of the place, but never been there. As they arrived some strange creature walked up, and with his look of excitement, she assumed it was the being Jashin was here to meet with. She was surprised as he grabbed her hand, and placed it on his chest. As he started to gush about how he found a beautiful girl, which made her blush, and that he'd got married and not told him, she started to blushes more, hanging her head a bit and trying to look small, the last she wanted was all of Naboo to hear such things. What would Ellara think!

When Jashin finally gets a word in to explain that they were not married, she looked up, thinking that their troubles were over, too late she sensed a fit of anger spring forth. As Jashin gets kicked, her crate tumbled to the ground, which she watched to make sure it didn't break open. She heard the slap, and thinking her saber was a poor choice and grab to much attention. Maybe this wasn't the person after all. She grabbed a hidden vibrodagger, she spun around quickly with a burst of speed granted from the force, bringing the blade to stop just hairs from the beings throat, a low growl emanated from her throat, her silver gave narrowed to near slits, her voice hissed in a silent whisper.*

Strike him again, and I will gladly remove head from shoulder.

*Then just as suddenly as the anger appeared it was gone, he slumped down, almost enacting her threat for her. She frowned at the being, then looked to Jashin, then back to the being. What kind of relationship did these two have... The being threw down items apparently stolen from Jashin, gave a lecture and walked away, all the while paying her little mind as she stood confused as to what she just bore witness too. When the being walked away, she made the vibroblade disappear back into its sheath as quickly as it appeared, and crouched down to Jashin, helping to prop him up, cradling his head on her lap. She looked down at him with a raised eyebrow.*

That was... That.. I didn't realize we were going to be part of an impromptu soap opera...

*She stroked a hand gently through his hair as she looked down at him as he recovered, she expected he'd need a few moments. Her thighs would make a better pillow that would the dusty road. She waited until he was ready to move again, using the force to draw her crate to at least within arms distance though.*

*When Jashin started to lift his head, she placed a hand on his forehead, pressing down until he lay back again.*

Just relax a moment. At least take a minute to recover..

*She let him roll onto his back at least, his head rested on her thighs. She looked down at him, aiding him in collecting his belongings with one hand, the other ran along his hair, and down his neck, soothingly. She figured his ego took a bigger hit then his body, but a low blow, shouldn't be cast aside so quickly.*

You did.. I just didn't expect him to strike you. Or steal from you. And I was quite ready to give the flower a pruning. Mentor or not.. I don't think anyone deserves to be blindsided in such a way..

*She sighs as she watched him get up, not standing again until she was quite certain that he was alright. When she was sure he wasn't going to fall over again, she stands up slowly, moving gracefully towards her crate of belongings. She retrieves it and moves back to Jashin. She gave a quick look around to see that they hadn't lost anything important. She then looked up at him and quickly pecks him one on the lips.*

Just to help you feel better. I'm ready when you are.

You did.. I just didn't expect him to strike you. Or steal from you. And I was quite ready to give the flower a pruning. Mentor or not.. I don't think anyone deserves to be blindsided in such a way..

"Poppi is, uh, unpredictable?" Jashin, shaking his head, recovered fully now, moved to take the crate from Sinina. "And his way is the way of thieves. No honor there. Plus I need to learn from him if I'm going to become...well, much of anything in this life I've chosen."

"Just to help you feel better. I'm ready when you are."

"Thanks...let's go. It should be better the second time around." Jashin's eyes got that far off look once more, before refocussing. "It's always better the second time around. Physically. Now we go to get graded."

Slowly, his head hung low a little, Jashin began to walk, walking inside the inn - politely explaining to the front desk they were there to dine, not rent, before heading into the cafeteria.

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Poppi, sitting at a table, watched as Sinina and Jashin walked into the inn, and proceeded to sit down at his table. Stirring his tea slowly, he held up a finger, indicating for them to wait. Slowly, very, very slowly at that, he drank the entire cup in one gulp, before setting it down, and starting the process of brewing another. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he spoke. "Jashin, I'm very disappointed in you. Situational awareness 'C-'. Personal awareness of self, clothes, and personal belongings 'C-'. Awareness that I swapped one of your credit chips with a tracking device and electrobug surveilance device...Poppi fished out the real creditchip, slapping it down on the table as he spoke...'C' karking minus. Kark Jashin, what have you been doing? Eh? Did my drills mean nothing to you?"

Jashin, opening his mouth to respond, was cut off as Poppi slashed a hand through the air, cutting Jashin's words off mid sentence: and there were VERY few people on Jashin's list who commanded enough respect to do that. Poppi, picking up the next cup of tea, similarly drinking it in one gulp, slammed the cup down on the table, a small crack appearing. "Bah! Taken completely by surprise physically 'C-'. Being taken advantage of emotionally 'C-'. Having the shakas to finally stand up to your father, completely and utterly discard all trappings of your past life, and start off fresh on your own...'A+' and well done." At that, Jashin raised his head, a hopeful look on his face. Nodding to Sinina, Poppi poured two extra cups of tea, pushing them to the pair. "Alright...introduce her. Tell me the story. Why have you come here to disappoint Poppi so badly? Hm? And with someone who wants to 'prune' me, eh?"

Jashin, dipping a finger in both cups of tea, apparently testing to see if there was anything in it, took a small sip of his own before nodding in satisfaction - apparently appeased that he wasn't going to keel over paralyzed or some such. Retrieving his creditchip from the table, tossing the fake one - easily identifiable now that he was looking for it - back to Poppi, he eventually made introductions. "Poppi, this is Sinina Riso. We're, uh, exploring cultural differences." Jashin added, deadpan, not offering to explain further. "As for myself, I was sent here on an errand. Dante gave me an out in regards to the life debt. One last job. I'm fixing up a ship - a REAL ship - and after that I'm going to start out as a pirate, like my ancestors."

Poppi nodded slowly, taking it all in, not really all that surprised by Jashin's words. That was, until he said the word "pirate". At that, Poppi burst out laughing, a hysterical high-pitched laugh that grated against the brain like a cheese grater and nails on chalk combined. Eventually, it died, down, Poppi wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, shaking his head. "Oh...oh you're perfectly serious, aren't you? A pirate? Jashy, you can't even pickpocket a half-dead gungan let alone become a pirate. Lords of Lyra, there's more to it than just stabbing someone repeatedly and selling everything at a pawnshop. You have to have a fence lined up for goods, then you have to launder the credits, then you have to invest in the crew, weaponry, etcetera. That's your operating margin. And, between bribes for law enforcement, and bribes for info on new marks, you'll be lucky to even break even. And THEN-"

"Which is why I want you to teach me." Said Jashin, completely serious, interrupting Poppi before he could continue.

"I taught you once. Why would I do it again?" Said Poppi, monotone and deadpan (perhaps hinting on where Jashin picked it up from).

"Because this time, my father won't get in the way, and filter what you do and don't teach me." Jashin fired back, making Poppi's hand freeze in place. "And this time, I'll take every word you say to heart: because it's my one ticket out of my father's world. And you know how much I hate that world Poppi. You damn well know."

For a long while, Poppi was silent, contemplating Jashin's words. His spoon softly clinking against his cup as he stirred his tea. Taking the cup, gently taking a sip from it - a departure from his gulping - he slowly set the cup down. "You have to pass a test." Poppi said finally, perfectly serious, and not at all his typical flamboyant self. "I mean it, Jashy boy. If I'm going to start over with you, you have to prove to me that you're capable of doing this." He held up a hand, stalling any protest. "This is non-negotiable. You half-assed your training under your dad. You half-assed it under me. Granted it's because you were under duress, and that you were a moody adolescent, but that excuse only gets you so far. You pass this test...I will teach you every single thing that I have ever known. I swear it."

"And that would be?" Asked Jashin, warily.

Slowly, taking out a stylus, Poppi scribbled a few words on his napkin, and slid it towards Jashin. Jashin, picking up the napkin, read the words, his jaw dropping at what he read. "I...you...we...you can't be serious!" Poppi, however, simply turned in his chair, apparently done talking to them. He had put forward the test, and apparently would discuss the matter no further. Jashin, leaning over the table, grasping the Zelosian's face, turned the man's head to look him in the eyes. "Poppi. You're not serious. Poppi? Poppi answer me damn it!" Shaking the Zelosian, the man's cheeks jiggling, the cup in Poppi's hand sloshing, the man refused to speak, and, eventually, Jashin released him. "...Damn. Damn it. Kark it. Kark, kark, kark it in the ass, you mother-" And the cursing began, Jashin standing, his hands in his hair, walking out of the cafeteria, back out into the street, various strangers giving him a wide berth. Slowly, Jashin sank to the ground, his hands still in his hair, his eyes squeezed shut.