[D3 ME] A Taste of Home

[Niall Organa]

Niall knew he would have to be getting back soon, although he had made most of the preparations already. Still, he felt he had time to take a stroll around the streets, looking for... something. Perhaps he'd know when he found it.

He wore his Republic military uniform, as spotless as ever.

[Vec Gunnar]

After taking part in an intense firefight earlier in the afternoon, took his free time to relax and unwind. A few of his squad suggested that he should see a medic about his wounds but true enough to his stubborn self, he was merely going to 'walk it off'. It was a flesh wound, really, and blaster fire did a good job of immediately cauterizing the wound. He threw on a coat and strolled the city, going where the road would take him.

His walk brought him up to the upper levels of the city, most likely from a wrong turn. Upon seeing the man in the Republic uniform, he gave him something of a casual salute, despite not serving the same forces. "Evenin'."

[Niall Organa]

"Good evening." Niall said, nodding in response to the salute. After all, the other man wasn't in uniform. Niall's eyes narrowed as he studied him. Everything about him said career military, or at least some sort of professional soldier.

"Captain Niall Organa, Republic military." Niall said by way of introduction. "Do you know this area well?"

[Vec Gunnar]

Oh, this is the guy? Vec looked at Niall in recognition when he introduced himself. He might have been in passing at the party, but it was something else to put a name to a face.

"Sergeant Vec Gunnar, " he said in response and gave a passing look at his surroundings. "This area? Sorry, I can't say I do. It looks like you have to be rolling in credits or someone with appointments to be here on purpose. Actually, I was about to ask you if your way around here, Captain."

[Niall Organa]

Eyes narrowing, Niall took a closer look at the soldier. Under the jacket, he could see Imperial combat armor. Well... that was fine. So long as they avoided alleys.

Niall's lips twisted. "Perhaps so." He said dryly. "I was hoping to find a shop selling Alderaanian goods. So far, I've managed to find a shop for just about everything else. Many of which did look rather above my paygrade." He raised his eyebrows. "What about you, sergeant? Was there something you're looking for?"

[Vec Gunnar]

Vec couldn't help by smirk faintly, "Above your pay grade? I would imagine that that's the sort of stuff that would take me almost a lifetime to save up for in comparison. Ah well, this part of the city doesn't look quite as interesting. More familiar and less character, yeah? Strange you'd be looking for things from home. As for me, I'm just looking for a change of pace this evening. Some peace, before I hit the bunk for this cycle."

[Niall Organa]

Niall did chuckle a little at that. "Is it the same way in the Imperial service as the Republic? The captains get the pay, the sergeants get the work?"

"Hmmm." Niall's lips twitched again. "Tell you what. You help me find a place with Alderaanian goods, I'll help you find a quiet bar that still has a happy hour. Does that sound reasonable?"

[Vec Gunnar]

Vec stroked the side of his cheek curiously, feeling stubble setting it by this late hour in the cycle. "I don't know, I can't say I've ever gotten close enough to my captain to chat with him or her. Sometimes, they tend to find themselves on a walker or some sort of metal can."

What, do I look like a glorified shopping assistant? "Sure, it would be a good idea to know what I'm looking for exactly? What are Alderaanian good supposed to look like? Made with fur? Lace? Ruffles?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyebrows went up a little. "I wasn't looking for clothing. Plants, actually." He cleared his throat. "I rather hoped that it would would have a sign out front with 'Alderaan' in the title. That would make things easier. I'm looking for a fruit about the size of your fist, and shaped like a star. It's called starblossom."

He jerked his head, indicating a direction. "If we find your bar first, I won't keep you."

[Vec Gunnar]

"No? That makes things easier." he nodded twice now that he narrowed it down. He wasn't too hopeful but it was something he could see himself doing. Fine Alderaanian fashions were likely to go over his head. "Plants are a rarity around here, from what I can see. I could see someone charging an arm and a leg if they're able to maintain them here. I'm sure there's a store short of having your name on it, Captain. Heck, they might even personally greet you if they know you're in the market for one."

He held up a hand to show an objection. "Nah, I'm not in a hurry to hit a cantina. There's a dozen of them here, each with a dozen ways to take your money. Starting to hit my meagre savings really hard. Actually, I found it funny that I've somehow run into you. Apparently, you're quite the popular guy around here. 'could swear your destined for a saga."

[Niall Organa]

Niall chuckled. "Alright, then. We can just wait until we hear someone call my name and offer me some fruit." He said, dryly humorous.

"That's certainly true." Niall said agreeably. As the sergeant continued though, Niall frowned, his eyebrows going up. "Oh really? You've been hearing my name a lot lately, then?" His lips twitched. "I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. What have people been saying?"

[Vec Gunnar]

"I'll be sure to not yap your name too loudly around here then," he gave a sure nod at that.

"Yeah," he nodded with a simple answer at first, perhaps unintentionally keeping him in suspect. "Sorry, I've heard your name from one person. I don't socialize around many circles, so I assumed you were a big deal, especially with the story I've heard about you. Nothing about your reputation or personality, more of your mission here. A personal mission. Apparently, you're looking for someone, or were."

[Niall Organa]

"Ah." Niall said, nodding slowly. That suggested a particular direction, at least. "Was it Lady Shaisha you were speaking to, by any chance? She assisted me on a bounty the other day."

[Vec Gunnar]

"Probably," he said simply. However, his tone probably suggested that he wasn't doing a very good job of being coy about it but covering his back at least. "I don't mean to pry but I didn't think I'd run into you either. That sort of business is between you and whoever you want to involve, seeing that it's personal. Gotta say, it just sounds poetic, you know?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall sighed. "Yes. Well, it's all over now."

He turned to face the soldier, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I suppose it is a bit poetic, in a sense. Ah... can I ask what you heard from Lady Shaisha? Or whoever?"

[Vec Gunnar]

"Only that you intend to put the guy on trial for what he had done," he said with a shrug as he continued to walk at his pace. "If that's the case, it doesn't sound like it's quite over until you see justice done. Sounds like it's going to be a long wait. Doesn't that keep you in suspense now?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall kept pace with the sergeant. "Not too long, I expect. And the case against him is a strong one." His lips twitched. "I suppose that in a sense it's not entirely over. But it feels as though the hard part is done. I'm not sure if I should be feeling suspense. I don't."

He shrugged. "I suppose that I expect that once he's in custody, and safely transferred over to Alderaanian authorities, justice will properly be done."

[Vec Gunnar]

"A sure shot for justice, yeah?" He asked Niall hypothetically, going with his superior knowledge of his own people's justice system. "You must have been at this for a while and built a strong case for it with all of your people behind you. It's good that you don't see any more suspense about this, that's admirable. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but I like to be sure, you know? Sometimes getting justice done on the spot is the only way to do it."

[Niall Organa]

Niall frowned, his forehead creasing gently. "Evidence has been gathered, although I'll freely admit that largely wasn't my work. The man admitted to the crime, as well. There are witnesses... is that what you mean by my people?" It almost sounded as though there was some sort of cultural disconnect.

"But justice on the spot... that's just not done in the Republic." He explained gently. "I understand that it may seem strange to you, and I respect the difference you have. But I believe that everyone deserves their chance to defend themselves, to have their words heard. And if that means that a guilty person sometimes goes free, that's the price we choose to pay so that an innocent one is not accidentally killed. Or so we see it."

[Vec Gunnar]

Vec really meant the Republic and the Alderaanian, along with any other allies he might have behind him. "Your friends, generally. Even if you didn't do all of the legwork, I'm sure you led some sort of grand coordination, Captain."

"Not strange, just not efficient," he shrugged. "I understand it's rather poetic to have the bastard face the music and get what's coming to him in front of everyone the proper way, usually how it goes in high-class worlds. It also allows him to make his peace if that was your intention too. You're pretty sure that you have the right guy. So after all of the hard work you've done, if by some miracle of the Force, he gets off free...you're okay with that?"

[Niall Organa]

Niall's lips twitched. "I will admit, I rather hope that my belief is not tested in that way. But if it does turn out that he is acquitted..." Niall sighed. "If I'm not okay with it, then that mean that I have two standards for justice, one for everyone else, and one for me. That's not how it is, and that's not how it should be."

He stared off into the middle distance for a moment before continuing. "Do you consider yourself a principled man, sergeant?" Niall didn't wait for an answer. "Principles that are discarded when they're hard aren't worth anything. I've kept to other principles when it was hard. I hope that I could keep to this one, too."

[Vec Gunnar]

"Huh, you're surprisingly okay with it," he said on a surprised not. "I understand principles, and they're worth keeping. Each soldier is expected to have them in service. I'm not saying that you should break from them but only saying that nobody would blame you if you took it personally because it is personal. But, there's probably a rule against that, right?"

[Niall Organa]

"You may be right." Niall said, with a crooked smile. "I probably could have shot the fellow right in the head, and no one would have blamed me. And Republic law is a little fuzzy on that sort of thing, here." Niall shrugged.

"But even though I'm not on Alderaan, I carry a little bit of it wherever I go." He sighed. "And besides... my sister was Alderaanian, through and through. I don't think she would have approved."

[Vec Gunnar]

"I'm sure you know best what your sister wanted, you're doing this for her at the end of the day. I think that's something I can respect, Captain," he gave a few nods of approval. When he was told Niall's story, he did suspect that he did it for the sake of self-promotion but he couldn't quite see that in Nial now. Then again, noble types were known to be tricky and his intentions could be hidden.

He vaguely gestured to a shop that seemed to host a number of plants behind glass walls and a brightly lit interior, to better preserve the climate for off-world foreign plants. "I think there's somewhere you can check out. If they were selling the cheap stuff, I doubt they would be open here."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's expression brightened as they spotted the shop. "Ah! You have a good eye, sergeant." He moved towards the door.

Niall paused, turning back, smiling. "I know I promised to help you find a bar once I'm done here, but I'll understand if you were just humoring me, and want to go on by yourself. I appreciate it; us officers need to be humored from time to time."

He offered his hand. "Either way, you're alright, sergeant. I wish we were on the same side. You seem like someone that can really be counted on."