Shadows of Bankor

Daunt didn't like the city. He didn't even know why he would still be here, already longing for the vistas of the open land... Oh right, he did. After what had been pulled off in the morning the Imps would be looking for those who exit in haste, so it was better to suffer the crowds for some time more.

That, and he felt a slight tether pulling him across the area, as if he was meant to be here for some purpose. For a man who had none he knew of, that was often enough for a motivation.

So he walked down the narrow alley, cowled and observant of the remoulding the Imperial churn had done to the district.

As he made his way down the alley, a figure walked past its mouth ahead, wearing a distinctive helmet and a worn cloth draped over incomplete armor. Despite not looking down the alley as they passed, they paused their suddenly, head turning to look toward the interior as if something had alerted them.

Who the hell is that?

The liquid uranium eyes darted to register the other distinct presence. A Mandalorian. A pull in his skull near the horns might have indicated that his brain fought for an inaccessible recollection. He only knew that his master had worked with them. Maybe he still was working with them... A messenger?

Daunt stopped and leaned against the nearby building, in shade. He waited.

For his part, Djanik was sticking to back alley paths after his own criminal endeavors. Trailed by a gaggle of street kids, he was doling out shares of a cheap candy bar, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of a man feeding birds.

As he made his way up the alleys and toward the streets, he paused, as he saw a familiar dark shape looming up ahead.

What was this all about?

They paused as the figure leaned against the building as though waiting for someone... and then another person appeared. Maybe he was waiting for them? It wasn't their business, really, and they should leave outsiders to their business. But... They wouldn't be where they were if it wasn't for insatiable curiosity. They paused.

Djanik came to a stop.

A Zabrak, a Pantoran, and a Mandalorian walk into an alley...

Handing over the rest of the bar he said, quietly, "Remember to share, all right?"

Most of the gang scampered away back down the alley, though Scrap stayed, loitering behind him and gazing at the Zabrak with curiosity rather than fear.

Djanik wasn't sure if he was intruding on something.

Something was happening. The blue sceptic he recalled from yesterday had just sent the kids off, and the Mandalorian... who had just stopped. His hand went below the hem of his cloak, to his hip where his zhaboka was rested, and - for now - folded. Whatever was about to occur, his body was ready.

Djanik quietly motioned Scrap back another step, but she refused, and instead asked, cheerfully. "Are those clothes made of bug parts!? That's so cool! Do they itch?"

For a moment Djanik glanced at the pantoran girl in shock, and then glanced back at Daunt, one hand hovering by his side, in case the outburst triggered something.

Sacha tensed as they saw weapons revealed, narrowing their eyes under their helmet. Their own hand hovered under their cloak, over the hilt of their sword. Their eyes went down to the child, though, when she spoke up, not quite willing to let things turn to violence with a kid right there. Plenty of kids to exposed to that already. The option available seemed to be to break the tension.

Instead, they eyed the scrap of material visible, looked down toward the kid. "You have a good eye. The material is called chitin. It's good armor - surprisingly tough." They looked up, glancing between the two others present, seeing if they were going to act under the circumstances. "Doesn't seem like a great place for kids here, though."

"This is where I live!"

Scrap took sass from nobody.

Djanik glanced at the two.

"Sorry if we're interrupting - she can't be tamed, I'm afraid."

Scrap beamed with pride.

"Nope! Not me!"

Daunt paused, not knowing if he was making the right decision... he let the flap of his coat fall, hiding the armour and moving his hand away from the hilt.

"They don't." He finally replied, though he wasn't easily won over by just kid being kid. Foolhardiness couldn't be endlessly cultivated with impunity, as the girl would eventually learn, even if not from him.

With a faint sigh of relief, Djanik crossed his arms, leaning against the side of the alley.

"There, you little imp. Any other burning questions?"

Scrap looked ready to barrage away with more, but caught sight of his expression, and managed to restrain herself.

"As I said, I hope we aren't interrupting anything - I was just on my way back from work, I prefer to avoid the crowds."

They resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief, eyeing both from inside her helmet. The one in the cloak reminded them too much of him. They stepped back, shrugging. He wasn't interrupting them.

"I dislike crowds too. And yet here we are, in the middle of a slum." The Zabrak replied sternly. "As for the interruption, ask the Mandalorian. My guess is as good as yours. Unless something has rapidly changed, there's no bounty on my head."

"A fair point - but even in the city, there are pockets of quiet."

Djanik glanced at the mandalorian. "Well? Here on business, or was this just an elaborate misunderstanding?"

It would be shocking if their efforts that morning had already gotten a bounty out and about.

"Not interrupting anything from me," came the reply, tone deliberately neutral. They doubted they'd find out anything more at the moment. "I was just... reminded. Passing thing. Excuse me." They turned to step back out of the alley.

Daunt wasn't convinced. There was something about the Mandalorian that disquieted him. "So we all are on our ways then?"

"We could be..."

Djanik still felt some strange tension, and didn't feel this was a time or audience to discuss his previous meeting with the Zabrak.

"I'll get this scrap outta your hair."

Gently pulling her arm, Djanik led Scrap back the way they had come.

There was simply a nod from the Mandalorian's retreating form, and a sense of presence until they disappeared around the corner. Or maybe it was just paranoia.

/exit

OOC: Just a few things, I have no idea what it is you are looking for please get with me before making the thread if you have something specific in mind so I can better prepare, with people already leaving it seems a little odd to then give people a challenge and are you just asking me to have you make skill rolls you can already do that if you have something in mind but please all I ask if you had something specific or needed my attention please alert me sooner than later.

No need for Destiny flip and there will be plenty to do on Day 2 trust me.