Any Port in a Storm

[Ruby Bliel]

It was bright on Cloud City, painfully bright. With one fuschia pink hand pressed to his equally pink brow, Antho Moorheart groaned. “We couldn't have made port somewhere a little less... offensive to the eyes?” the Zeltron groaned, wincing at the feeling of his brain sloshing about inside his skull as he turned to look at the woman walking along beside him. “This is just inhumane.”

“Tell that to the Empress,” the redhead countered, her head high and her eyes – or rather, eye – clear and bright. She looked down at Moorheart, whose outlandishly flamboyant green jump-suit seemed ridiculous when it wasn't worn with his usual swagger and bravado, and shook her head. “Alternatively, you could learn the meaning of the word enough.”

Moorheart peered through his long fingers with a look that might have been contempt were it not on such a handsome face. No matter how hard he tried, the young Zeltron could not pull of a convince look of menace, even if his life depended on it. “Corellian rum is a harsh mistress... almost as harsh as you, Ruby Bliel.”

The barbs in his words didn't sting even a little. “That's Captain Harsh Mistress to you, Moorheart.” Ruby just compressed her lips into a thin line, which might have been mistaken for a smile. “Go find yourself a dark corner somewhere and sleep it off. We've got a few hours here at least.”

With these last words, however, the smile faded. There were Imperial cruisers in the space nearby and although the Empire had no jurisdiction in Cloud City, a few well-placed crates of credits would go a long way to helping the Baron Administrator ignore Imperial presence in the City. Glancing through the crowds that surrounded her, Ruby couldn't see any of the infamous boys in white - the Imperial Stormtroopers - just yet. Small mercies, she thought to herself, watching as Antho slipped off into the throng of people, trying to lose himself and his hangover. Ruby moved in the opposite direction, with the flow of the crowd rather than against it.

[Antho Moorheart]

It felt as if he was not walking so much as being elbowed and jostled along the walkway, propelled solely by the momentum of colliding with other people. It was not a particular efficient way of getting anywhere, but Antho Moorheart didn't exactly have a destination in mind. His head was bowed, eyes half-shut in a so far fruitless effort to shut out the daylight. Being that Cloud City was, as its name would suggest, amongst the clouds, this wasn't exactly any easy thing to do.

Ordinarily, the City would have been a playground to the young Zeltron, offering a chance to blow off some steam and more besides, but even he couldn't enjoy himself with half a keg of Corellian rum hanging over his head. That'll teach me to bet against a Wookiee again...

Unfortunately, it seemed the only darkness to be found on Cloud City was inside its many bars. Ducking into a doorway, Antho felt a moment of relief – before the smell of ale brought bile rising up his throat. His face contorted into a mask of anguish as he swallowed, hard, and skulked his way towards an empty booth. To go unnoticed was something few Zeltron's ever suffered, and even in a smoky bar-room this was not different, no matter how much Antho might have wished otherwise.

A droid rolled up to his table and whistled, so he slid a menu across the tabletop and jabbed a finger at the first things that didn't make his stomach flip-flop. The droid booped and wheeled away, leaving Moorheart free to cradle his head in his arms.

[Vishan Korogoth]

"A'right! Who wants it dis round?!" came a boisterious voice amongst the cheering crowd that was huddled around the Binspo table. A tall, muscular man with unkempt brown hair shook the dice before the gaggle of ladies surrounding him.

One devilishly clad blonde grabbed his wrist and blew a lengthy soft breath over his fist. Compelling him to come closer with a curled finger, she whispered something into his ear that made baby blues widened and lips curl in delight. She pulled away, hands lingering over exposed skin that his t-shirt did not cover. "Good luck."

He chuckled, "T'anks, Ma'am."

And without and pretense, chucked the dice over his head and down the length of the table. Blue translucent dice bounced against the back of the table and rolled to a stop. The young male human shook his head as everyone cheered the main attraction's victory.

"Slots once again!!! WINNER!!!"

Vishan Korogoth, Jedi Padawan, leaned against the table with a smug smirk. Chugging back another shot of whiskey, he retrieved the dice and watched everyone placing their bets once again. In those few brief moments, he felt the alcohol burning down his throat and warming his insides. A slight buzz was starting to take shape, eyes grew blurry and he felt a reflexive step forward to keep himself from swaying. At least he knew one of a few things wasn't going to happen tonight.

One - Get drunk and pass out.
Two - Get drunk and pass out after getting laid.
Three - Get drunk and pass out after finding someone to get laid, but unfortunately start a brawl with a Stormtrooper on leave and get busted as a Force User, thus ending his existence.

Considering what he had found to live for had bailed on him over six months ago, the last option didn't seem so bad after all.

[Antho Moorheart]

“WINNER!”

The word was like a jack-hammer into Antho Moorheart's skull. He had been staring at his plate for a quarter of an hour, trying to convince himself to do more than just nudge the scramble nuna eggs around in circles. He bought a cup of caff too, but that was cold now and just the thought of drinking it made the Zeltron's stomach turn. When he tried to convince the droid to bring him another on the house, the tin-can just bleeped and rolled away, as if it hadn't even heard his request.

“Damn it.”

The last of his credits had gone on the eggs, in a feeble attempt to pretend he wasn't ill. After the last pay load, when he'd managed to spend almost ten-thousand credits in the space of three hours, Ruby was playing tight-fisted with his share of the ships loot. It was a good idea really, but at that very moment he wanted to poke her in the eye for the inconvenience. Instead, he dragged himself to his feet and – straightening out his posture as best he could – sauntered over towards the Binspo table where a human with a shit-eating grin was doing shots of whiskey.

Leaning one hip against the Binspo table, one ankle crossed over the other, Antho smirked. Ruby most likely wouldn't approve of what he was about to do, but what the Captain didn't know couldn't hurt her – not yet at least.

“Lucky, but I bet you can't do it again.”

It didn't matter that he had nothing to bet with. The odds were stacked in the houses favour, always. The sucker's credits would be in the young Zeltron's pockets in no time.

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan leaned over the side of the table, big arms keeping his chest afloat from the alcohol inside his system. He still had yet to roll and acknowledged he Zeltron with a long face and nod. "Ah've heard tha' several times tanight, bu' so fer, Ah've gotten everytin ya kin t'ink o' cept one."

Not waiting for any good luck to be blown across his hand, Vishan shook the dice once, twice, and then tossed them against the middle of the table. They bounce harshly against the green mat and rolled to a perfect stop at the end of table.

"BINSPO!!! WINNER!!!"

"Now Ah've done everytin." He spun his finger around towards the dealer, indicating that he was through. He might be close to drunk, but Vishan wasn't stupid. Food and lodgings were just as important. Plus if he blew all of his winnings, how the hell was he going to get more alcohol to numb his heart?

[Antho Moorheart]

“Everything, huh.”

The words came out slurred and much less of a challenge than they had been in Moorheart's mind. When gamblers won big, they'd often get flash with the credits as they rode on a chemical high. Perhaps he could score a freebie, whilst the guy was still feeling at peace with the galaxy. A little hair of the dog, as the saying went.

The young Zeltron swayed then steadied himself with one hand on the dice table as he eyed the lucky bastard up. Perhaps it was the hangover, but the guy didn't look so bad. Almost handsome, in a block-headed kind of way.

“The drinks are on you, then, hm?”

[Vishan Korogoth]

Vishan slapped the table with a hand and expelled one, short, laugh. "Hell yeah!"

Grabbing the credit chit that contained his winnings, he gave the Zeltron a smug, playful look, "A' least ah couple." But then in his inebriated stated, extended his arms outwards as if trying to engulf the entire group of people surrounding the table, "An' fer th' whole table!"

The group erupted with applause as the Padawan snapped his fingers at the nearest waiter. "Ah round o' yer best ale fer everyone!"

[Antho Moorheart]

Ale wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind when shuffling his way into the cantina, but it would do. Free was free, and some stout was practically thick enough to be a meal anyway. Whilst mugs of ale were filled, Antho kept his eyes on the real prize: the credit chit. A little sleight of hand, a little misdirection, and he could pick it straight out of block-heads pocket.

“Who am I thanking for this?” the Zeltron asked, by way of trying to get the man's name, as a pint of ale was slid over towards him. It had a foamy head and just the sight of it made Antho a little queasy.

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Vishan, enjoy," came the reply as the credit chit was hidden within a fist. Another hand came to rest around the hip of some random girl, Vishan didn't care, and walked towards the bar for some comfort. As in a stool for his ass. Standing for as long as he did at the table, they needed some time to recuperate. Especially when the lovely blonde enjoyed standing between his legs as he sat down.

She was drunken then the Jedi was and made no qualms about whispering what she was willing to do to him once they left the bar, which elicited a lustful grin from Vishan. "Is tha' right?"

The blonde nibbled on his neck in enticement right before kissing him properly on the lips momentarily as if to say, 'Does that answer your question?'

Hands riding lower over her backside, he placed the credit chit in his inner vest pocket before the two of them clinked their ale glasses together and drank deeply.

[Antho Moorheart]

Moorheart simply watched over the edge of his glass, not yet brave enough to do more than smell the ale. It looked like someone else was seizing the opportunity to make a quick credit off of block-head. Forcing himself to gulp down a mouthful of the best ale the cantina had to offer, Antho shuddered. It was strong stuff, but his species were built to handle much larger amounts of alcohol than the average human could. A fruity cocktail, loaded with liquor, would have been ideal – but beggars couldn't be choosers.

The pirates eyes wandered, looking for any other potential marks, but his hangover was hampering his ability to focus. He couldn't be bothered with the effort to set someone up, all he wanted was a quick fix – and as he looked back down at his ale, and then to the girl wriggling her way between Vishan's legs, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him.

It wasn't much of a stretch to put on a semi-drunken swagger, with his head still swimming a little, as he weaved towards the pair. More difficult to make authentic was the fall, but a passing Rodian gave him just the prop he need. With a yelp, he stumbled forward and crashed into the blonde, tossing the contents of his mug right into the side of the skank's head, drenching her in ale.

Immediately, he plastered a look of horror onto his face, his pink lips a gasping O – whilst she shrieked furiously.

[Vishan Korogoth]

Over the rim of his glass, a spectacle occurred that Vishan thought, briefly, was an alcohol induced illusion. Yet the blonde that was his conquest tonight was just ran over by the pinked haired Zeltron. Drops of ale fell against him like rain as the blonde starting laying into the near-human.

"You son of a frelling bitch! You've ruined my dress! MY HAIR!" Hands outpoured underneath thick, wet locks, flicking alcohol drops everywhere in disgust. After her outburst, she shoved the Zeltron away as hard as she could before stalking off, muttering endlessly about her entire night was ruined with this embarrassment.

Vishan, on the other hand, thought it was funny as hell. There was a time when he was right where that Zeltron was, horribly drunk and clumsy, knocking into patrons like an imbecile. "No worries man," Vishan said and hopped off the stool to help the poor guy up with an outstretched hand, "Might as well take ah load off wit me."

He really didn't care that his score was gone. There was still alcohol and plenty of night left to replace her.

[Antho Moorheart]

A steady breeze would have toppled Antho at that moment, so it was no wonder that the blonde took the boy clean off his feet. His vision swam, and it felt like his brain had come loose and was sloshing around inside his skull. The dizziness persisted even as Vishan pulled the young Zeltron to his feet. He swayed his way into a barstool and plopped down onto it, one hand restlessly swiping hair from his face as a wave of self-consciousness swept over him. The bartender gave him a disapproving look, but Antho merely wrinkled his nose in reply. He propped an elbow against the bar and turned to face Vishan.

“Please tell me we're drinking something other than ale.”

[Vishan Korogoth]

"Ha!" He chuckled and waved the bartender over. "Ah'm gettin' an ale. You can get whateveh ya want. Though ah 'ave ta say ..."

Brow raised curiously at the Zeltron, Vishan wondered how many shades of pink he was going to turn before the contents of his stomach were going to be revealed. He looked horrible and utterly drunk, and not in a good way. "Ya sure ya want another round? Might wanna hold back ah bit, no?"

[Antho Moorheart]

“I'll have.. whatever you're buying, handsome.”

It might have been a smooth line, if not for the fact that Moorheart's chin slipped out of his hand, so that his forehead crashed into the bar-top with a painful thud.

[Vishan Korogoth]

Blue eyes bugged out at the line. Vishan was too drunk, or dense, to realize that the Zeltron was hitting on him.

Of course, the realization of that and the shock was short lived as he watched the guy hit the counter.

Um ... yeah." The Corellian looked towards the bartender with a hand waving alongside his neck, waving the him away. "T'ink yer cut off man. A few centimeters closer ta th' edge, an' ya woulda knocked yerself out."

[Ruby Bliel]

“That'd probably be for the best. I'm beginning to think he was born with only one liver. Useless excuse for a Zeltron..”

The voice came from behind Vishan. Dressed from head to toe in black, her fire-red hair pulled back into a pony tail. She gave the slumped body of Antho Moorheart a passing, and somehow knowing, glance before settling her eye on the man who appeared to be his drinking companion. Her mouth set into a thin line as she fished out a small purse of credits.

“Will this be enough to cover whatever he's been guzzling?”

[Vishan Korogoth]

The Corellian chuckled and leaned over the counter, one foot set against the bar stool. Though intoxicated pleasantly, he wasn't a drunken fool like the Zeltron passed out cold. He didn't quite get to that point yet, saving his wits enough until he found a warm body to spend the night with. Maybe this fiery red head was the answer to that riddle, but with the way she handled herself, confident in poise and tone, Vishan had a feeling she picked the bed mates.

"I kin cover it, bu' t'anks kin'ly" Blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So 'ow ya two know each other?"

[Ruby Bliel]

Ruby hesitated a moment before returning the purse to her pocket. Being in debt to a stranger was only marginally less appealing than having to pay to clean up after her crewmen, no matter how good they were at their job. Ruby would have trusted Antho with her life, but her drinks cabinet? Not a chance.

“Old friends,” she said, sighing as she heard Moorheart groan against the bar counter. She gave him a pat on the back before taking hold of his left shoulder. “Bed-time, pinky. On your feet.”

With a tug, she pulled the Zeltron to his feet, where he swayed perilously before collapsing against Ruby like a marionette with its strings cut. Lifting her eyes to Vishan, Ruby smiled as she pulled one of Antho's arms around her shoulders.

“I don't suppose you'd like to continue your generous streak and help me get him to a speeder-cab?”

[Vishan Korogoth]

She Jedi smirked, almost on the verge of laughing at the sight before him. Antho was as done as a rac deer on a spite. 'Pinky' was going to have one helluva hangover in the morning.

"O'course Ah kin," he said as his head lowered in a gentlemanly fashion. Or at least, as best as he could. Vishan had his fair amount of drinks tonight and he moved far too fast, causing his head to spin momentarily until he righted himself on the other side of Antho. Clasping an arm around his shoulder, he felt steady and the redhead didn't have to have all the weight on her.

"Where to?" he asked amidst a forest of pink hair that blocked the woman from view.

[Ruby Bliel]

Ruby glanced at her new-found accomplice and wondered if he was holding up Antho, or if they were both holding up each other, in a precarious drunken balancing act.

"There's an air-cab rank a few streets over. We can get a ride there."

Ordinarily, it would have taken only a couple of minutes to get to, but that was without having to drag the weight of a near-unconscious Zeltron along with you.

[Vishan Korogoth]

Highly inebriated himself, it was a comical routine of slippery feet and wobbly knees as the trio attempted to march the three blocks without falling - and with success. If not for the red head, their would have been at least one fall ...

Odd looks were thrown their way, others were tipping their drinks in salute to the party, some were even lewd with their comments. Two males, and one a Zeltron at that, and a female - well, the mind could wander.

Soon as they were close enough and with a mighty groan, Vishan propped the Zeltron against the streetlight before leaning over to catch his breath. Drunk made him winded lately, but that was the price he paid for casting aside his training ...

[Antho Moorheart]

Antho began to slid down the post of the street-lamp, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. Ruby caught him by the arm before he could hit the ground, but sudden halting motion made his had swim.

“Easy... tiger,” he slurred. “S'zorry. Capt'in tiger!”

[Ruby Bliel]

Ruby give Antho a pat on the head, “Good boy.”

When she looked up, Vishan was bent double and gasping for breath. A speeder-cab driver was eyeing the three of them from the street curb, evidently weighing up the pros and cons of taking such a fare: in all likelihood, they'd pay above average because they were thoroughly soused – but he would run the risk of having to get the upholstery dry-cleaned if the skinny little Zeltron puked all over the back-seat. In the end, greed won out, as it always did. He jerked his thumb into the cab.

Ruby pulled one of Antho's arms around her shoulders, trying to steady him.

“This is our ride.”

She eyed Vishan for a moment. He had just won a lot, and he was drunk. Once again, greed was rearing its ugly head.

“Are you collapsing, or are you coming?”

[Vishan Korogoth]

Where the hell did he have to go? Back to his rented hotel room and return to getting hammered on ale and jacked up on spice all alone? It was a dismal existence but at least in this fleeting moment, Vishan wouldn't have to be alone. Plus, Antho was some dead weight and it would not be chivalrous to allow the lady, a capable Pirate Captain of course but a lady none the less, to cart his pink ass back to the ship.

He smiled and held out his arms in a mock bow, "If'n ya insist."

Straightening up and walking with more balance then should be possible, he assisted Ruby by putting Antho in the cab followed by them. With a exasperated sigh, Vishan stretched out as much as he could, arms across the back of his seat and rolled his neck around several times to loosen up.

[Antho Moorheart]

Antho sat between the pair, his head alternately falling onto each of their shoulders as if all the alcohol he'd consumed had literally gone to his head and was now making it too heavy to hold up. Finally, he settled against Vishan and, with a squiffy smile, sighed dreamily.

[Ruby Bliel]

With a sidelong glance at Moorheart, Ruby was hard-pressed to get vexed at the boy, not when he had elicited such an amusing expression from the man he was now draped over. She smirked.

“I wish I could say he isn't always like this – but he is. Life's one long series of hangovers when you're a Zeltron, I suppose.”

[Vishan Korogoth]

Antho's cuddling didn't bother him at all. He found it rather humorous and patted the drunk Zeltron on the head.

"Eh, least he's happy an' quiet an' not fallin' all over himself anymore." The view was far more appreciative where the Zeltron was laying anyway - at least to Vishan's baby blues. He hadn't had the time to properly admire Ruby's body and made up for lost time as eyes wandered.