D2, ME - Vipers in Dresses

[Alysele Cortess]

"Well, with a body like that, you don't have much space to put it away." She gestured to one of the waiters, a scrumpy looking man who seemed to hate life on principle.

"What do you recommend?" She asked Arsele.

[Arsele Girard]

"Well... if you're thinking drinks, they have a good tap selection here. And they have a cocktail called a Hutt Drool that is much more appreciable than it sounds..."

[Alysele Cortess]

"Well... that doesn't sound appealing, but you know what? I'll trust you on this." She ordered two of the drinks for themselves. "So what do you do here, on Nar Shadda?"

[Arsele Girard]

"What do I do? Well... I suppose that gets back to you possibly being disappointed in me; I actually spend most of my time working part time jobs. Or at least it feels that way."

She ticks off fingers, "Lets see... I mainly work as a crooner at various lounges and bars around here, though it doesn't pay much. So on the side I also dabble in playing Huttball, exotic dancing, taking bounty hunting jobs from the local guilds, and dance downstairs here at the Viper. It pays the bills, usually."

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly extended her hand towards Arsele. "Arsele... I'm not disappointed." She looked around. "This is a different world that what you, we, grow up with. And here you are, fighting through day by day. I know how that feels." Her smile widened. "I may not fully agree with your decision to leave, but I am not disappointed. You're doing what you're doing. That is important."

She looked quizzical for a second. "Crooner?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Mmmm... a crooner is like a jizz wailer, but it's for jatz music. I don't know why the different terms and all, but..."

She gives a small shrug of her shoulders, but Arsele is smiling, "Anyways, thank you for understanding, Aly; It may not be everything I've dreamed of, but I'm proud making it out here on my own. No family name, no inheritance, no arrangements... just me using what I have to make a place for myself in this big crazy universe."

[Alysele Cortess]

"Oh? Singing.. .that sounds fun. You always had a good voice. Perhaps we should try a duet sometime? See how Nar Shadda can handle the two blondes from Alderaan?" Aly's mood was improving as they were moving away from her own heavier topics.

"It's... I'm proud of you. And I'm here if you want to talk, or hang out, or if you need some help."

[Arsele Girard]

"You know I've never been good at asking for help; I was usually better at bossing people around when I had problems, like getting poor Nini to take care of things. Either that or hiding from problems. I will consider it though; I like to think I've at least grown up a ~little~ after all."

[Alysele Cortess]

"You know I've never been good at asking for help; I was usually better at bossing people around when I had problems, like getting poor Nini to take care of things. Either that or hiding from problems. I will consider it though; I like to think I've at least grown up a ~little~ after all."

"Don't worry Arsele. You know me, I'll butt into your life either way." She smiled teasigly. "Oh, poor Ni... I'm surprised he doesn't hate us after all we did to him when we were young."

She put her chin in her palm, and giggled. " You've certainly grown up dear."

[Arsele Girard]

"Have I? Sometimes it doesn't feel that way. Like I'm still some irresponsible kid, just one that occasionally does more grown up things."

Speaking of which, two green drinks in martini glasses showed up at their table just at that moment.

[Alysele Cortess]

Alysele smiled. "Be happy about that. I feel I have been a adult since I was a child." The Jedi had a way of doing that. "Mhm, this does look better than what the name implied." Of course, that was a low standard . She took a sip. "Tasty."

[Arsele Girard]

It tasted faintly of tart apple schnapps, tropical syrup, and citrus; Somewhat sour and refreshing.

"Yeah, I suppose there are good parts to that too; My life would probably be much more boring if I was more strict, for instance."

[Alysele Cortess]

"Well, you certainly wouldn't be the Arsele we know and love." She took another sip. "Are you happy with where you are at now? With your life?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Sorta; I wish things were a little less precarious credits wise certainly. And having a bigger place would be nice. But I like most of the work I do )maybe not the bounty hunting so much), and I meet all sorts of interesting people too..."

She sipped her drink thoughtfully, "What about you with where you've ended up?"

[Alysele Cortess]

Alysele frowned. "It is... what it is. I have my duties." Her enthusiasm was very convincing.

"Not exactly where I pictured myself I'd be, but there is not much I can do at the moment."

[Arsele Girard]

"Do you have any goals? Or opportunities at least?" she asked, leaning back in the seat a bit.

[Alysele Cortess]

"Not much at the moment... well, besides the situation with House Thul. Which.. I don't know what it is." She looked down at the table, and took a larger gulp of her drink. "I'm... a part of me wants to retire, to rejoin my family, and take over when my time comes. But at the same time, I feel that is something a young me wanted. Now... I don't know what I want."

She took another gulp. "Well, almost. I know I don't want to be a patsy. I'm a tool now. For the Order. For Father. For... everyone. Just someone pretty and skilled to do what's needed, but to be left out of the decision making."

[Arsele Girard]

Arsele frowned as Aly talked, chin in her hand and fingers on the other gently twirling her glass, slowly by the stem.

"Would... the Order even allow you to retire so young? With all they went through... with all ~you~ went through..."

[Alysele Cortess]

Alysele frowned. "I tried. I was disallowed. Retirement is a moot point." Sh took another sip. The drink was half gone!

"Do you have any plans for the future?" Something concrete?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Nothing concrete, no. I mean, there are a lot of things I want out of life, but I have never managed to pin down any sort of big goal or vision for my life. It's almost like I avoid thinking about that sort of thing really."

Her own glass only had a few sips out of it, though that prompted a longer one.

[Alysele Cortess]

Alysele let out a chuckle. "Well, the Force works in mysterious ways. I am sure you will find what you want to do. And I'll be there to help along the way." She looked up and smiled. Again. "We've come a long way since Alderaan, haven't we?"

[Arsele Girard]

"Mhmmm; Both figuratively and literally. A toast to that perhaps?"

Now that it had been brought up explicitly, a lot about Arsele's future was running through her head.

[Alysele Cortess]

"To a better future." Alysele said hopefully, and took another sip... well, more of a gulp. "What do you think of the Hutts? Do you work with them often?"

[Arsele Girard]

"For, not with. Fortunately and unfortunately."

Arsele had taken quite the gulp herself.

"Most of the time their jobs are given through intermediaries. And I'm certainly in no hurry to go meet any. Honestly though, they're fair as it gets around here, mostly; They seem to have more vested interest in keeping order than any of the gangs or other organizations."

[Alysele Cortess]

"That is good to know. Trying to figure out what to expect, honestly. These peace talks... it's so weird. It still doesn't feel real." Her fingers were toying with the glass. "Still, I at least get to see you. That makes me happy."