Alone In The Station [Nallia]

[Syravari Elik]

Seated in a comfortable, high backed chair, reclined with his left ankle perched atop his right knee, Syravari pondered all the numbers now coursing across his small datapad screen. Credits made from the last few strikes, the pirate and slaver was finally starting to see the level of profit that he had expected some years back. Being on the spacelanes instead of one town on a backwater was like night and day when it came to the money that could be made. Taking a sip of his Corellian Whiskey, the older ship captain set the glass back on the table before him as other crewmembers and private businessmen went about their dealings around him.

A buzz from his comlink grabbed the well dressed gambler's attention, reaching into his jacket pocket and removed the slender, white device and glanced to the frequency. A furrowed brow denoted his surprise as he then accessed the message:

"It's Nallia...

I don't know if they found you yet. And I don't know if they ever will. But if this message ever finds you, I forgive them.
I was left at the Station because they said the help they would need to find you wouldn't put up with a new member of a ship where the Captain was missing. Without you to vouch for me, my life was in danger.

True or not, I forgive them.

I hope you read this someday. I worry for you. I keep my ears and eyes peeled for information on where you went and how to get to you. Perhaps, someday, I can rescue you as you did me.

If you ever want to find me, send a message to the station cantina. I work there now and sleep in the back when they aren't busy.

I hope you are well...

I never prayed before now... I can only hope it works.

Sincerely
Nallia

Grinning at the greeting from someone that he had nearly lost track of over the past three months, Syravari finished off his drink, turned off his datapad and pushed himself up from the chair. Knowing he had to find her and bring her back into the fold, the ship's master chef and up and coming executive officer would be welcomed back to the crew as most of them had been asking about her since they left the Core. Leaving the cafe', Syravari casually headed for the cantina knowing how rough this station's lower levels could be.

[Nallia Oberon]

Take the glasses to the kitchen... wipe the table... slap away a stray hand... Repeat

Her days and nights had begun to blur together. Listening to anyone, and everyone, who may lead back to the descriptions she had received the day Syravari had been escorted from the station. She was dressed as she always was. The sapphire shirt a new addition to her wardrobe, but the sleeveless cut tank top design was similar to the rest in her small bag. She had a bag shoved under the bar with all her possession in it. She slept on the bar floor when they closed each cycle, and she worked here when they were open. She didn't get paid much, tips and room and board. Once a day she got her choice of anything to eat. Beyond that, she had resigned herself to working here till she managed to save up for passage elsewhere.

Sighing as she came back from the kitchen with a rag in her hand, she began wiping down the table she had just cleared. Suddenly a hard slap on her backside echoed in the air around her. Out of reflex, her right hand swung up to hit the offender as a growl if indignation left her lips. "Why you..." But the hand was anticipated and a grin stared at her as the fingers that had captured her weapon tightened on her wrist. She bit back a yelp and bit her lip as the man smiled. "Now is that any way to treat someone who tips so well? You should know better than that, little nexu."

"No, it's not." She growled as he tightened just enough to make her gasp. "No, SIR!" she added as the eyes that glared at her began to darken with displeasure.

"Then next time, I suggest you smile and say thank you like a good girl." He twisted just a bit more and Nallia bit her lip till she tasted copper, her body backed the final few inches to press against the forgotten table behind her. "After all, you work here as a gift. I can't imagine someone as pretty as you having to sleep in one of the lower levels with the scum and ruffians." His laugh was deep and malicious as if he wished just such a thing to happen.

Nallia's silence seemed to anger him even more, and she liked that. Suddenly stubbornness filled her mind and body. Eyes glistening with fought back tears, suddenly shone with determination. As the grip of the man tightened till even his own knuckles were turning white, the young woman found her strength. She felt for the small season shaker on the table behind her and balled her own fist around it. As she braced her feet, her left hand rose as if in slow motion hurtling towards the man's head. If it connected, her improvised weapon would make her simple slap become an iron punch. His temple would be rattled and she would suffer the wrath if she didn't knock him out. If she missed, the consequences would probably be more severe.

She wasn't thinking about either... only that she had had enough and no one around seemed to care.

[Syravari Elik]

Already imagining the greeting they were both going to get, Syravari smiled to himself as he opened the door to the cantina, a regular dive appeal that had seemed to be prevalent on this station. Though he had every intention of making his own club and brothel the talk of Cloud City, what he saw when his eyes noticed Nallia washed all that excitement away. Dressed more like a businessman than the thug that he was, the tall, older man in black leather jacket, round hat and dark sunglasses moved with purpose toward the scene that seemed not to catch the attention of the owner. Another point that would be addressed when this was over, he determined. Weaving through the crowd of busy tables, Syravari approached from behind the man who's hand was gripped tightly to Nallia's wrist. Drawing his Morellian pistol from his belt, under the coat, he planted the barrel into the man's shoulder muscle, at the base of his neck, then leaned in.

"Wise men would remove their hand from the lady or get their ass blown out of their chair," he hissed. "Now."

Glancing sidelong to the pirate, the equally seedy looking male grinned, lightening his grip. "You make the rules, boss."

"Damn straight. Now apologize to her," Syravari stated, his teeth bare as he also watched the man's three friends take notice of the discussion.

[Nallia Oberon]

The fist heading for her assailant's head stopped a hair's breadth from the man's skull as a ghost appeared behind her attacker.

"Syra!" The gasp of his name was filled with relief, and disbelief. How... when... Her mind spun more from the shock of his arrival than the pain in her captured wrist.

As the regular customer, and harasser of most of the women in the cantina, released Nallia's arm, the rush of blood was almost as painful as the grip had been. Dropping the seasoning shaker, she cradled her arm and watched the scene unfold at an almost surreal slow speed.

As the man's jaw ground in anger, his gaze turned back to the brunette leaning on the table just before him. "I apologize." His lips made the words but the sarcasm was clear. He was saying it only cause a gun was to his head. Leaning forward slightly, the man grinned with a malicious purpose that sent ice down Nallia's spine. "Your hero won't always be here. And I'll be sure by tonight you have no corner to rest your head in, much less hide in." Knowing no one was going to shoot him in cold blood, the man stood up, winked at Nallia and nodded to his buddies as the three left the bar.

Nallia shook her head and fought the anger, surprise and relief that flooded through her. And not one of those emotions were tied to the bully who had just manhandled him. Her instinct was to throw her arms around his neck. He was alive! That made up for all the other things she had endured in seeking him. But the look in his eyes, as he followed the strangers walking out, made her think twice. Instead, she turned to pick up the dropped shaker and finish wiping off the table. As she winced at the pain of her nearly crushed wrist, she switched the rag to her left hand. Tears filled her eyes, unseen by Syra as she suddenly felt a need to finish what she was doing. Her voice cracked as she tried to be nonchalant. "So they found you...."

Squeezing her eyes tight a moment as she paused to gather herself, she shook herself and took a shaky breath. "I am glad..." Her voice was barely a whisper. How long had he been free? Had the crew told him she was here? Or was her message, sent a week ago, the reason he had come here? She squared her shoulders and turned around with her best tough girl face. She crossed her arms to enhance the look, but the shot of pain stopped her short and she let her arms drop to her side. Her jaw tightened at she looked at him in silence, unable to think of what else to say.

One of two things were about to happen... a tongue lashing from him for allowing herself to be caught that way. Or a suggestion to change her occupation, because obviously she wasn't cut out to make it here. It was just a matter of which it would be.

[Syravari Elik]

Syravari knew that wasn't the last he had seen of these thugs, either by his own design or theirs. He had seen his share of those types and no doubt, Brannoc would state that the captain of the Grosetto was one himself. Holstering his pistol now that the quartet was gone, the pirate returned his gaze to the magnificent chef, now turned waitress and he grinned as she commented about his status being alive. Sniffing with indifference, he stepped toward her taking her wounded wrist in his gruff hands, caressing it to try and massage away some of the pain. At least temporarily.

"It's good to have friends in low places," he grinned, his deep voice product of many cigarras while drinking his expensive brandy aboard the yacht. "Got back with the crew and left that place for good. Found our way here after some lucrative hits, sold most of them and now getting ready to sign paperwork on a warehouse. Been thinking of starting a casino and brothel on the side, just to have another avenue for some credits." Still mindlessly massaging her wrist with his strong fingers, he grinned. "My ship had this great chef at one point, but she bailed on us. Happen to know where I might find a replacement?"

As Nallia was about to reply, a suited human male approached, "Hey," he glared at the waitress. "Tables need cleaning. I don't pay you to talk."

"You the manager," Syravari's demeanor darkened quickly.

"Yeah," he nodded, indignantly.

"Don't care that your staff are being abused by the clientele?" Syravari's tone growing deeper and angrier by the minute as he felt his blood boiling.

"Comes with the territory," he scanned the crowd as more listened in on the conversation now. "They know what they're signing on for," he motioned for Nallia to get back to work. "But, she has things to do, so let go of her."

"**** off. She doesn't work for you anymore. Pay her what you owe her, then she's leaving," the pirate turned his attention back to Nallia knowing now there was no way he was leaving her here.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia tensed as Syra took her hand, but as soon as he began to rub her sore wrist, despite the hiss of pain of that seeped through her lips, she relaxed a bit. When he spoke of having friends in low places, she managed to smile at him for the first time since he had come to her rescue. “Seems I am in a pretty low place, huh?” She winked, teasing.

She had been about to comment on his need of a new chef when Denco, the owner of the cantina, came up and growled at Nallia to finish the table, she flinched as if he had actually struck her. She jerked her hand back and had reached for her rag out of pure reflex as Syravari turned to face her current boss.

When Denco said the girls here knew what they were getting into, she could almost feel Syra's rage roll off him like a heat wave against her back. She closed her eyes and was about to turn to say something when her hero came to her rescue once more.

“She doesn't work for you anymore. Pay her what you owe her, then she's leaving.” The deep set voice at her back caught her attention and snapped her out of her habitual motions.

“Take her! Good riddance. And she got room and board. She didn't finish her shift today and I lost 3 customers cause of you and her! She should be paying me to leave here.” He nodded to the bartender who stepped down the bar, grabbed her bag and tossed it over the counter to land on the bar floor. “Take her and go before I call the station authority and tell them you are inciting a riot.” The man turned and laughed as he started to move away from Syra.

Fearing Syra would put the man in his place as he had Tarn when he man handled Nallia a moment ago, the young woman put a hand on Syra's arm. “Don't.... It's all right. It wasn't that much credit anyway. Let's just go?” She had tried not to say his name. If Denco didn't know it, she wasn't going to hand it to him.

If Syra turned to look at her just then, he would see a difference in his little stowaway's eyes. There wasn't weakness, or even a beseeching. There was a knowledge that she knew if she let her friend go, he'd do something to the cantina owner they would both regret.

But the other thing he would see was a light that betrayed her desire to do that exact something to Denco, herself. She let go of Syra long enough to take the few steps to her bag and swipe it up in one motion. There wasn't much in it. And she only took it because her leather jacket was in it.

[Syravari Elik]

"Haven't seen a riot yet," he shot back as Nallia grabbed her bag and moved to follow. Knowing he would mop the floor with the manager, Syravari also knew that most of those in here were either crimelords or those that had connections and the pirate had already made his impression on them without more preamble. Time to leave, he mused and led his friend from the cantina, opening the door for her and following her out into the busy, interior avenue. Glancing either way, his right hand falling to his pistol once more, steel-blue eyes looked for the thugs from earlier, but didn't see them in the light crowd. Sighing, he turned right and guided his chef away from her old life. "Sleeping on the floor, huh? Your bed in the Grosetto not to your liking? Thought you would miss it," he teased, grinning as they walked.

It was good to have her company once more.

[Nallia Oberon]

She followed Syra out in silence, glad they hadn't shed blood... either of them. She had punched a customer once when first arriving. His blood had been all over the table and chairs in the vicinity from the surprise shot. She had received a harsh enough punishment that she had learned to take what happened, smile sweetly and move along. All she had been focused on was finding Syra.

And here he was...

As he asked about her bed on his ship, she couldn't help but smile. "I preferred the floor..." The joke was an inside one no one but they would understand. It had taken over a week on his ship, in the company of good people, before she slept on the bed in the luxurious cabin she had been granted. And even then, it had taken Syra placing her on it in the middle of the night, two nights in a row, before she began sleeping in it on her own. But she doubted she would need nearly a week before relaxing in its softness again.

As they rounded the corner, she slung her bag over her shoulder. She had a million questions running through her head and a million explanations for him as well. She decided to start in the middle. After all, it gave plenty of chance to ignore the painful spots... more or less. "They said I had to wait here. The people they needed help from to find you wouldn't understand a new crewmember." Her jaw tightened as she remembered the day Brannoc, the Grosetto cargo chief, had told her they were leaving, but she wouldn't be joining them. But her own insecurities had made her wonder, on many nights afterwards, if it had been a good excuse to get rid of the little minx who had stowed away onboard and distracted their Captain and turned them all a little soft.

Her deeper mind knew that wasn't true. But alone, on the floor of the cantina at night, or even with each backside tap of her bum, or wink of disgusting offers, she still wondered. And the whisper of doubt had grown loud enough to overpower the reasoning that she was being foolish. She bit her lip after the statement. It hung between them like a question. Was it the real reason? Or had they wanted her gone? And if it was the latter... why was he here now? Was it only because of her comm, or again, was there some other reason?

She took a deep breath, realizing she had been holding it, and keep following him as she matched his stride.

[Syravari Elik]

Chuckling at the choice of sleeping on the floor as they passed a quartet of Weequay and Twi'lek, Syravari glanced to his companion. "I know the carpet's nice, but come on." Had he never carried her to the bed and tucked her in that night, she probably would've remained on the floor, though he understood her background and being used to that sort of life. Deprived of nicer things, she had assumed that would remain the way life was and though the pirate and slaver wasn't an outwardly sentimental type, he did care about those that ran with him.

Crossing a narrow avenue, he kept his senses alert and shook his head at the crew's decision to make Nallia remain behind when he had been captured. "Have to have a talk with them about that." He had a feeling they were just trying to protect her, but sometimes the crew were overly protective of one another. Especially those that had been traveling with him the longest.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed, for probably the first time in a long time. “Well, I admit I will probably sleep on the bed tonight. Had enough of floors for a while. And something besides soup would be a nice change of venue for dinner.” She nodded to the musicians as they passed them.

Turning the final corner as they headed into the berthing wing of the station, Nallia touched Syra's arm lightly as he mentioned needing to talk to the crew about leaving her behind. “Please.... don't.” She smiled reassuringly at him. “It's ok. You....” she wasn't even sure what word to use about his absence and looked back the way they were walking as her voice dropped slightly. “Without you, everyone was lost, Syra. We... they... managed to get a hold of a woman, family member of some kind, I forget. She went on ahead, told Brannoc to meet her someplace. We all knew that favors would need to be called in. And with me being the newest on the crew, and them losing you, I can't blame them for making it a family issue. I understand. Honest I do.”

She managed to look back up at him and tried to smile again, but it missed her eyes. “Please, don't make a big deal about it... for me...” She wondered what kind of homecoming she would receive. Perhaps that would be the best tell of all. “I'm back now... and so are you. That's all that matters.”

Nallia looked forward again. It was several heartbeats before she asked quietly, not looking at him. “Where were you.....?” The pain in her voice was evident, if Syra listened. Her heart raced with nervousness, scared to hear the answer but needing to know. She sucked in her bottom lip, a habit when nervous, and the hand not steadying her bag was alternating between being balled in a white knuckled fist, and stretching itself out to keep from cramping.

She had missed him more than she was outwardly willing to admit. And her concern was far more evident without words, than she could have spoken out loud.

[Syravari Elik]

His mood softened considerably, not usually taken by any female as he had grown up around those that worked in his mother's brothel and knew how shrewd they could be. Sometimes worse than men. Nodding he finally relented to her pleading. "Yeah.... fine." Grinning over at her as they walked, he knew the Grosetto wasn't that far now.

Her query about his capture and subsequent interrogation by those thugs brought him back to a sore point, though his revenge on them for what they had done more than made up for it at the time. But, some scars would take longer to heal. "Don't worry about that anymore." His tone equally pleading, as far as his deep voice and cooler demeanor would allow. "It's in the past. They all paid for what they've done, so," he shrugged. His signature grin arced as he glanced at her momentarily, "Just be good to have you back in the kitchen aboard the ship again. Wouldn't believe what we've had to endure since you left. Plumbing'll never be the same." Syravari chuckled recounting some of the comments made over the past few weeks on that subject.

Soon, he noticed the entry to the hangar complex as crewmembers filed in behind one another, waiting their turn at the security station. Slowing his pace, he glanced back out of habit, then to Nallia. "Food's stocked and your room's been left untouched. I have some more business to attend to here on the City with that contract and some other things, so relax. Get reacquainted with everything and go spend some money," his shaded eyes scanned the clothes she had been wearing now for probably the entire time.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia laughed at the fact they had suffered without her cooking. “It will be good to be back. I did miss everyone.”


A slight frown creased her brow.Perhaps another time, over some of his favorite drink, he will explain where he had been. But in all honesty, she was willing to wait because she was just glad to have him back, safe and sound.


Then he said he was leaving again and the growl that tightened her throat wasn't muffled. Her hands tightened to near white knuckles in worry and anger. She spun fast enough that her bag banged the wall beside her. “How can you? No!” She shook her head as fear filled the large eyes staring at him. “Not again! Syra, please... let me go this time. I'll stay out of the way, I'll even wait in the hall. But please, Syra...” he would hear her heart racing as panic filled her. “Don't go alone. I couldn't stand to lose you again.”


Realizing that a little girl tagging along probably was the last thing he wanted, she quickly added, “Or take Brannoc... but please... you can't go alone...” She even tried to bargain with him. “I'll be good, I promise. I'll stay out of the cantina, I'll get new clothes, anything... just promise you won't go alone this time!” Her voice cracked as she stood there, defiant and pleading, her body so tense in concern and panic it was almost tangible.

[Syravari Elik]

Hands outward and angled toward her, "Okay, okay. Relax," he chuckled again. "This station isn't that big." Feeling again more like her big brother, her feelings for him obvious and suddenly endearing her to him as more than that. He also tried to keep in perspective that she had basically been an indentured servant for so long without family, so giving her a home and life no doubt ensured that Nallia would protect he and the crew when the need arose. "We get you situated on the ship again, we can go out and hit a shop or two, then come with me to finalize the forms for the warehouse. How's that?"

Stepping closer toward the security station as they talked, he took out his ident card and palmed it.

[Nallia Oberon]

“Thank you...” She whispered as a response. As he chuckled and reassured her he wasn't leaving without her, she sighed, nodded and relaxed. “The other station wasn't that big, either... and they still got you.” She mumbled under her breath.


As they turned back down the corridor,she exhaled and bit her lip. She had acted like a petulant child and it embarrassed her now that she had started to calm down. She suddenly wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hug him for relenting. Instead, she fell into step just behind him. When he palmed his id card, she slid hers from her back pocket and tapped it after him. “I won't be any trouble, Syra. I promise. I just...”


She shook her head. “Never mind...I'm sorry for getting hysterical.” She moved down the short hall to the ship connecting ring. “I won't be a minute.” She murmured as they boarded the ship. She had taken a couple jogged steps when Brannoc stepped around the corner and she nearly plowed into him.


“WHAT THE...?” The man grasped Nallia's shoulders to keep them both from staggering.


Nallia's eyes widened. “Syra found me. Said I could come back.” Her glance darted back at Syra to make sure he was behind her and hadn't ducked out in the moment of awkwardness.

[Syravari Elik]

Ignoring the fact that he had basically been caught unawares by the bounty hunters the last time, they made it through the security station and eventually to the awaiting ship docked within it's own hangar. Out beyond the sleek yacht, puffy white clouds and pale blue sky painted the backdrop. It's docking collar and tubeway open, he continued on and into the plush interior of his ship. Grinning as Brannoc and Nallia were reacquainted, Syravari continued into the main entryway. "Yep, found our cook that way we don't have to keep enduring Tomas's new concoction in the kitchen."

"I could kiss you right now," Brannoc replied without missing a beat, then glanced to the cute girl in his grasp.

"Easy there," Syravari interjected before the loadmaster and gunner went through on that promise.

"Great to have you back, Nalli," the rugged, dark haired pirate smiled. "Definitely be great to have someone that know's how to put up with this rabble," he motioned to their captain now heading for the main sitting room and the bar.

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia went three shades of pink a tBannoc's proposal, but two deeper shades added themselves when Syravari's voice overode the man's motion above her. “You heard the boss...” She laughed and quickly ran off down the hall to drop her bag in her room. She was worried that if she didn't scurry, Syra would take off without her. “And I like this rabble,” she called back over her shoulder with a light laugh. It was good to be home.


The panic of getting back to find her boss gone, again, made her toss her bag into her room and head back to find him as quickly as she could. Glancing into the bay when she arrived and seeing no one there, she frowned a moment. He wouldn't leave, would he?


She took a deep breath and turned around to head back into the depth of the yacht. Moving through familiar corridors she found herself at the sitting room. Stepping in, she smiled at Syra. “Thank you for not leaving.” She closed the door behind her, perhaps thinking to keep him from leaving at all. She couldn't have said if asked. She moved to the bar to get his favorite decanter and turned to see if he had a glass yet.


“If you take Brannoc, I'll stay here if you don't really want me going. I just don't want you going alone. No one would question him being with you.” She leaned on the bar a moment and watched him. It was like seeing him for the first time all over again, but without the fear. His face, lines she had dreamed of every night since finding he had been kidnapped, was just as she had remembered. His eyes, that could glare with such rage she sometimes wondered if he was a Sith in a previous life, had also looked at her with a calm that had stilled her panic on more than one occasion. And his body, like a finely tuned weapon, had filled her memory as well. She had vague images of being lifted by him, perhaps the night he had carried her to the bed from the floor where she had slept those first few nights. She remembered, or liked to, that they were strong arms that cared more for her than merely lifting a timid mouse to the comfort that she was due.


“You haven't eaten today... have you?” Her head tilted in query as the old question rolled from her tongue. She had learned, the first week she had been on the GROSETTO that he had rarely eaten. She had changed that quickly enough by making sure he ate at least two time a day. One always being dinner. His evening drinks sat better on a full stomach. Even she knew that. Something told her no one else had figured that out... or seen to making sure they all ate while she was away.

[Syravari Elik]

As he sat there in the large living room, reclining on the long leather couch, Syravari swirled the ice in his drink slowly thinking on how nice it was to have a female doting on him again. It had been so long, he mused, since that feeling had been in his life. Now that things had become so convoluted and hectic, his mind was more on survival than anything else and being a part of the Tenloss Syndicate now, he was going to have to keep looking over his shoulder. Their reputation on this station was growing and sooner or later Black Sun thugs were going to come calling.

Glancing up, his steel-blue eyes now revealed as his dark glasses sat upon the small table at his right, he grinned as she leaned against the bar. "He's going to be supervising a transfer of goods to one of our new customers, so it'll have to be you." Taking a sip, he then pondered her next question. "Lunch at one of the cantina's on the fifth level, so," he glanced at the chronometer on the wall, over the large fireplace. "Guess we could eat first and then leave after, if you wanted. Should give us more than enough time to get to the real estate office."

[Nallia Oberon]

Nallia set the decanter down seeing he still had plenty. She moved to sit beside him, one leg curled under her as she turned to face him just at arm's reach. It felt good to be here again, with him. And the rest of course. “I can make something if you want. I don't know who else is on board to cook for, though. But I can make enough for them to eat later if they aren't here, too.”


She bent her arm and leaned against the back of the couch. Last time she had been on it, she had gotten drunk and embaressed the hell out of herself. “Can I ask what the real estate broker is for? I mean you mentioned getting a place. Are you planning on settling down then? Or having someone else run it?” She couldn't imagine him not flitting around the galaxy and doing the things they did. But she could imagine that at some point it would be more mundane than fun.


“What made you decide to want a permanent place? I mean, thought you always said not being known was something of an imperative. Won't this place be tied to you?” The thought of more people coming after him made her heart skip a beat. Biting her lip she took a breath and calmed down. Syravari was shrewd and cunning. He wouldn't do this if he hadn't already thought about that. But it still didn't sit easy with her. She had just got him back. The idea of people coming after him again scared her.

[Syravari Elik]

"I've got a warehouse that I'm buying for a casino and brothel," he stated, thinking he had already told her that earlier. "I have one guy that's going to help with security so far, and another that may run the brothel for me." Molly hadn't actually said yes yet, but he had a feeling that she had already decided to have a piece of that pie.

Taking another sip of his drink keeping his focus on her, Syravari knew in a way he was breaking his rule about settling down. "Yeah," he shrugged. "But, this place'll be a waystation that I can secure some money in to. Cloud City's got a lot of promise and future, so why not invest a little nest egg for later? Might want to think about that as well," he grinned. "You've got some money sitting in your account now." He had made it a point to ensure that her cut was always input to their private account along with everyone else's.

[Nallia Oberon]

She was feeling mixed about his choice of semi settling. And it troubled her that people will know how to get a hold of him easier. Realizing her paranoia was getting the best of her, she smiled. “You have a good head for business, Syra. I have no doubt it will be more than a little nest egg for very long.”


When he mentionedshe had money in her account, she frowned slightly. Shaking her head, she tried to correct him. “I used it up since coming here. That's why I was working the cantina. I have about 20 cred left. I saved it in case I seriously needed something, but that's all. The rest went to rooms and meals till I realized, or thought anyway, that no one was coming back for me.” It sounded rather rude when said out loud and she looked down at her leg, tucked under her on the couch, and started picking at invisible pieces of lint. “Sorry... I should have known you wouldn't leave me once you were back.”


She looked back up and hoped he would forgive her lack of faith. He had done so much for her, and after only a month, she had given up on being back with him. Somehow, now that she was finally back, she was ashamed like she hadn't been in a long time.


“I can earn the money back, you know I can. And I have learned a thing or two as well. There is a Weequay who loved the Twi'lek girls. He spend tons at the cantina. He offered me a chance to come on his ship about three weeks ago. Said he was tired of always having to come out herefor a nice lady friend. I bet if you could get word to him of your place, he would choose to use you instead. And I bet he would bring a fair amount of friends as well.”


If it helped even a little, it made her happy. She wanted him happy and successful. He deserved it.