Nar Shaddaa

Durasay sat in a booth in the corner of the viper. His paired blasters were hidden by his usual trench coat. It had been... an eventful few days. After clean up, after everything else, relaxing was beginning to sound good.

His hand was clutching a glass of Corellian whiskey, eyes half lidded as he looked about the bar. He owed someone a drink, probably more.

So he waited for her to arrive.

Hala entered the bar, tossing a polite salute in the general direction of Corso's usual booth before scanning the rest of the cantina for a familiar face. She was dressed in an officer's jacket but standard fatigues underneath and they were still a bit dusty and creased from her patrols earlier in the day. She smiled politely once she found her host, hefted her left hand by way of greeting, and walked over to his booth.

"May I join you?" she asked politely, her voice still quite fatigued and her skin pale but not nearly as ashen as it had been the day and evening prior.

"Always." Durasay stood as she greeted him, offeeing her a smile. His eyes were drawn to her right arm, a slight sadness showing. "I'm sorry the mission cosr you so much. I can't ever repay you." He invited her to sit down wherever she chose, and wouldn't sit down until she did so.

"I'm glad you came out. I hope I wasn't a bad shipguest last night."

"At least it was a clean enough cut that Cole's work wasn't too difficult. And then he stemmed the tide until I could get to the cyberdoc.... I'm sorry I couldn't do more. Just gave him a dressing down and then secured his primary weapon, really. Not exactly what you'd expect of 'the Empire's finest', I guess?" she said with a rueful smile.

"And you were fine last night, I slept right through. Did you two have an enjoyable evening?"

"It is always pleasant to spend time with Wraith." He smiled wryly, before looking to get the attention of a server. "May I get you a drink, Colonel? Or may I call you Hala?"

"Considering what I've seen his primary weapon do, that may have turned the tide. Tactical accumen is something I greatly respect." He kept his eyes focused on her facial features, his own demeanor warm.

"Of course," she said with a tired but warm smile, "and water is fine for me. I indulged last night, before the bombs, to make a point for people here, but please don't tell Cole that? I wouldn't want him to worry. Now, especially after yesterday, water is quite nice."

She shifted slightly and lifted her right arm to rest on the edge of the table. It moved with a faint whirring of mechanics, but on first glance the synth-skin that covered it at least appeared human if not for the fact that it's normal tones did not match her current pallor.

"Thank you for helping me to him, yesterday."

"It was the least I could do. I wish I could have done more." He ordered a water for her as requested. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." He laughed slightly, before relaxing back into the booth.

He gingerly held the glass against his forehead, feeling the soothing chill of it. "It will be a relief once this week is over. Though I am glad for the beings I've met. A shame after these talks, I wonder if I'll see many again. It's a big galaxy."

"Well, it was pointed out that I'd be easy to find if someone was inclined. I was even called 'politician', how boorish," she said with a wry grin.

"But seriously though, I should be pretty easy to look up, even after things here. And I'm sure you could find others too. Even her, if you wanted.... She could use someone like you. I imagine you could be things for her that others can't."

"Hey. Some of us might be thinking about going into politics." He laughed slightly, setting his glass down. There was a slight purple flush to his cheeks, followed by a small smile. "I'll make sure to look you up. Especially given your own political experience."

A finger barely against the glass of the whiskey. "You think so?"

"What did you have in mind? Mayor? Hyperspace lane comptroller? Something grander?" she asked with a smile then leaned in.

"I do think so. Give it a go, if you feel up for it. Who knows what might come of it?"

Durasay smiled widely, eyes flashing with ambition and pride.

"Senator." He seemed taller as he spoke the words, watching for Hala's reaction. And then he laughed somewhat, breaking the facade. "I think it will do."

As for the other subject, his smile softened. "You're right, what's the worst that could happen?"

Hala spluttered slightly, then thumped her chest with her mechanical arm. This stopped the coughing with a wince and she shot him a questioning look.

"Senator? I could imagine plenty going wrong with that but none of it your fault. The only ones I've had the pleasure to meet were either overly carefree but not idealistic or corrupt and short tempered... But if you can change all that I'd like to see you try."

I can change a lot of things, Colonel...

"Well, lucky for you I am both idealistic and short tempered." He couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. It wasn't a surprising one.

After all, he knew that on the whole, the Senate was a bureaucratic nightmare mired in double talk and back alley deals. But his was a strong voice, charismatic, one that could bring change.

"Elections aren't for a few years. If..." When "... it comes to pass, I'd like you to visit Pantora. If I lose, I'll owe you lunch."

"Sounds like a good combination. Stiff enough backbone and short enough fuse that the point will be raised while it's relevant," she chipped in with a smile.

"I'd be happy to visit the office of Senator Mixo of Pantora."

"See, it sounds better when other beings say it." He smiled even wider at her, finding himself to finally be relaxing for the first time of the day. His eyes watched her facial features closely.

"How can I repay you for your help?"

"I don't know, but I'm not sure that's necessary either," she said with a slight shrug.

Durasay mused for a moment, then started laughing. It was like a wave coming over him. "You know what's funny. We've worked together on a high risk mission, you helped bring me aboard for that negotiation with the Hutts. But we barely know anything about each other."

Leaning forwards on the table. "So tell me, what is it that Hala Moraal likes to do when she's not verbally cutting down her enemies, and being an exemplary officer?"

"I used to say grouse about shitty Navy surgeons and bad batches of kelto, but now I need a new hobby," she said with a laugh before settling into a more thoughtful look.

"I.... I like reading. I like learning.... I finished reading a treatise on nikto culture and psychology the other day and now I'm learning how to program remotes so that they function in an optimized semi-autonomous fashion."

"I think you can always grouse about Navy surgeons. After all their bedside manner is terrible." He chuckled still with her, before resting his chin on his hand.

"You say that as if you weren't sure about sharing that. Why?" He raised an eyebrow. "After all, the pursuit of knowledge is always noble and amazing."

"Well, it's not exactly the kind of hobby one brags about without having a massive library to show off now is it? As opposed to gambling, dancing, singing, or any other sort of artistic or social pursuit?" she said, shaking her head with a self-deprecating chuckle.

"We have objects which can hold all the knowledge of every sapient species. Showing off a library is just a touch of an eccentric affectation, don't you think?" He raised an eyebrow, watching her with close intensity.

"If it's something that you care about, it's just as valid as social pursuits. I may enjoy dancing or cards as much as the next person, but it doesn't devalue the pursuits of those I call friends."

"No," she smiled, "I suppose it doesn't. Still doesn't make it any easier to show off or more interesting to show to someone."

"But that's the thing. It makes it all the more interesting to talk about. You are able to expound on more and more subjects in such vivid detail. And the galaxy grows richer because of that, because of your thirt for learning." She'd easily see his features softening, growing more animated as he spoke, excitement coursing through his words.

"And now I'm learning more about you."

Neutral Destiny Flip

All of a sudden, Durasay felt a sharp stab dowm the base of his spine. His hand drops the glass, whiskey spilling everywhere as the glass shatters.

"We have to go. I have to go. Now." There's rage taking hold of his voice, his eyes flashing it. "It's Moyr... I... I felt her through the Force. She's in trouble." Regardless id Hala came or not, Durasay began to sprint towards the door, to grab the first speeder he could.

Hala picked up and quickly followed behind.