A Disdain for Destiny

[Jodaus]

((This is an open RP. I have a vague idea for a story but it's pretty much by the seat of my pants, so feel free to tell your own, just be respectful. Ciao!))

--------------------------------

Sitting alone along an abandoned stretch of lonely tavern stools, Jodaus Baas swirled the bitter liquid in front of him and frowned. Wearing the splotched uniform of a swoop monkey and exhausted expression to match, he halfheartedly listened to the lone wail of a klatuu player marching through some foreign dirge, oblivious to the universe. It was a day like any other.

Jodaus was a handsome Zabrak, if not overly remarkable. Seven dark horns pierced and surrounded the crown of his pale head, circling the single black top-knot ponytail that trailed between his shoulders like a withered vine. Subtle blue tribal tattoos crossed his cheeks and browline, signifying himself as the last of his bloodline. Tall but not towering, his posture slumped in the stool with familiarity, hunched and beaten far beyond the sum of the years on his youthful face.

Finishing his drink, he ordered another. A sloven humanoid bartender (Fenrick Jodaus thought, or maybe Jix; he couldn't keep them straight anymore) slid him another glass of liquid enlightenment but said nothing.

"Jodaus Baas?" The voice cut through the somber atmosphere with sharp precision, but Jodaus didn't even flinch. "Yeah, that's you all right. The boys at the shop said I might find you here."

Proceeding as if she owned the place, an attractive Twi'lek with soft yellow skin slid into a seat next to Jodaus, her lekku twitching with a casual playfulness. For his part, Jodaus examined her from the corner of his eye but continued to say nothing. The woman didn't seem to notice as she extended a hand in greeting, knuckles up. "Hello, Jodaus. My name is Ri'anni."

Jodaus looked at the slender hand, looked at Ri'anni, and grunted. "It's not my birthday, so I don't know why the boys would have paid for the services of such an obviously expensive working girl," he said. "B'sides, they don't got the money for it and I don't got the time. Thanks but no thanks."

Ri'anni's cream cheeks flushed, her confident smile faltering for a moment. But only just. "Prostitution is illegal on Corellia. If it puts you at ease, I'd just as soon slap you as sleep with you, which needless to say is not the reason I'm here. I am here to give you a message."

"Yeah, from who?"

"The Fel'noli."

Jodaus' spine stiffened instantly. He turned on Ri'anni then, truely looking at her for the first time, his eyes burning. His fist clenched around the rim of his drink and it took all the restraint he possessed not to throw it at her. Ri'anni simply matched his gaze with calm confidence, her face an unbroken lake of natural beauty. How did she know that name? How could she possibly?

Choosing his words carefully, Jodaus spoke: "You have one minute to tell me how you know the name of my tribe, thirty seconds if I don't like what I hear and ten unless you get yourself a drink and pretend like you belong here."

[Jodaus]

The woman smiled. “I’ll take Buena Vistan tea, just a spot of milk if you would,” she said, directing her attention to the bartender. The attention was well received.

“That’s not what I meant by a drink,” Jodaus all but growled. “Seven seconds. Go.”

Ri’anni stammered. “I… I think it would be best if we spoke in private- ”

“Six.”

“ –really, I think you might want to- ”

“Five.”

She sighed audibly. “Look, I don’t give a wookie’s tookus whether you care about your heritage, your history- ”

“I was born on the slope of a volcano half a galaxy away, but I grew up down the street,” Jodaus snapped. “Four.”

“Your tribe- ”

“Is dead. Three.”

“But you aren’t dead, Jodaus.”

“Two.”

“And neither is your father.”

Jodaus stopped counting.


~<>~<>~<>~

The ground trembled against their approach, loosening rocks and pebbles along the beaten path and shaking them around like snapcorn kernels on a hot plate. Dark shapes rose in silhouettes against the ashen volcanic rock, emerging from the canyon in single file. Soldiers marched alongside like silent white insects, their helmets reflecting the harsh Iridonian sun long before the transports had emerged from the mountainous shadows.

They huddled in small groups, taking shelter away from the piercing soulless gazes of the Republic helmets, standing on settlement porches and shop awnings. The village was small, no more than a loose collection of hovels and huts on stilts of stone. Twice a day they rode through; twice a day the Fel’noli cowered. The mighty cloud of dust in the Republic caravan’s wake would eagerly consume the village whole.

A native man walked into their path. He did not shout, did not curse, did not scream or make a gesture of any sort. He simply walked to the middle of the road, turned to face the Republic transports, and held a sign firmly above his head. It read:

Free Fel’noli, a World Without Clones

Jodaus was four years old when he watched his father get crushed up into those Republic treads.


~<>~<>~<>~

Blaming the intoxication, Jodaus shook his head savagely to clear his vision. “You know nothing about my father,” he spat at Ri’anni.

Patiently, Ri’anni took the tea that the barkeep set out for her and sipped at it. “I knew his name, at least. Can you say as much?” She leveled her cold green eyes on his unreadable expression, somehow managing to sound both consoling and condescending.

Jodaus held her stare for a moment, his teeth grinding new grooves into one another. “I was young,” he started, but then couldn’t find the words. He looked away.

Ri’anni’s expression softened. “Gorr’ik. His name was Gorr’ik.” She hesitated, allowing Jodaus time to absorb everything she was about to tell him. “He was a teacher, you see. A very well respected teacher, and he helped a great many people. You don’t have many memories of him because he was rarely around, Jodaus. But he was always watching; always protecting you. He still is.”

His jaw slack with disgust, Jodaus shot to his feet, sending his bar stool to clatter into more chairs behind him. One or two of the subdued denizens of the tavern gave him a glancing look, but mostly ignored the outburst. “Wh-what is this? Who put you up to this? Who could? That’s a damn cruel lie, lady. I want you to leave, now.”

“He didn’t want this for you, Jodaus. I’m so sorry.”

“I said get out!” he roared. This time the groggy regulars perked some noses out of their lum.

The woman stood, placing a few credits on the bar top as she did. Her lekku twitched irritably. “You are better than this,” she said. “He was better than any of us. He watches you, Jodaus, he watches and he is ashamed- ”

It happened too fast for Jodaus to contain it. A surge of anger so fierce he thought his ears would pop lashed out with the back of his hand and struck Ri’anni across the face. The blow knocked the Twil’ek’s head around a quarter turn, shocking her and those watching into silence. A few headstrong customers stood up in the sparse crowd, waiting to see if the situation would escalate, ready to step in if need be.

Placing a delicate palm over her reddened cheek, Ri’anni adopted a worried look. “You have a lot of force built up inside you, Jodaus. Too bad it isn’t the right kind.” Collecting herself, she spun on the heels of her athletic slippers and made for the door. A moment later she disappeared into the steady bustle of Coronet nightlife, leaving an entire bar holding their breath.