[right][h3]Khulbe's Palace - Nima Tarkona[/h3][/right] [hr] Nima caught the glass with ease and carefully sipped the drink. She typically wasn't one for hard liquor or heavy drinking as it doesn't take much for her to start feeling it's effects. She also isn't a fan of how it causes one to lose control over their mind and body. "Touching, at this time, isn't an issue since permission was expressly given by Master Khulbe. If you want to touch me, you will be free to do so. Otherwise, if that permission wasn't extended, just me being in this room would have spelt trouble for the three of us were I to be found here." She took another sip of the brown liquor, "Drinking also falls under the same category." She held the cup in her hands, almost unsure how to continue. She was afraid, but she wasn't sure if she was afraid of his answer or how it might change her. Subconsciously, she started to spin the glass cup between the tips of her fingers as she finally brought herself to ask him the question that has been bothering her since the hangar incident. "Why did you stand up for the girl?" Jast took a long drink, draining half of the liquor from the crystal glass before setting it down and taking a seat on one of the several high rise stools that flanked the marble counter. He motioned to the seat beside him, extending an invitation to sit. "You mean the Zelosian?" he asked after the moment's pause, his words slow and deliberate. Guarded, maybe. "Seemed like the right thing to do, I guess." He took another sip of the liquor. At his invitation, she took the seat next to him, arranging her skirts carefully around her. Nima continued to play with her glass. "This is Nar Shadaa, Captain, no one does anything because it's the right thing to do. Especially when some stranger nearly screws up a business deal for them..." "That's not how it is where I come from," Jast answered, leaning on the counter as he considered the liquor. He turned the glass in a slow circle. "I've been doing this for a while," he continued, "but I've never found it easy to leave the ideals of the Republic in the Republic. The worlds and the people out here are different, but I'm not." He took another sip, set the glass down again and returned his eyes to hers. "I don't know what happens to a girl who falls into Khulbe's hands, but I had a chance to keep it from happening. So I kept it from happening." "Master Khulbe is probably the best a slave could ask for, which I know is surprising. He makes sure we are looked after." She never had to explain what it meant to live under Khulbe before, but most times her guests weren't concerned about holding a conversation with her. "I only hear comments here and there about the Republic. What exactly are their ideals? Is it really so different as here?" Jast smirked, exhaled something resembling a small, mirthless laugh. "I don't know. It's a big place. Individual rights, though. Liberty. Freedom. That kind of thing." He took another drink, pausing to collect his thoughts. "There's no slavery. Well, I mean, there is, but it's illegal. Mostly. Like I said, it's a big, complicated place. Generally speaking, though, you're allowed to do what you want. Drink what you want to drink. Touch who you want to touch." "There are free Twi'lek women here Captain, they are just few and far between. Most are sold by family, some sell themselves, and others..." she trailed off, taking another sip of her drink not wanting to finish that trail of thought. This was a door she hasn't opened in a long time. "How many twi'leks have you seen look like me?" “A few, maybe? I couldn’t say.” "And how many of them still have their freedom? Can live their lives how they choose to without fear? “Maybe not so much here. But back home, for me, yes,” Jast answered. “The laws protect everyone in the Republic. So yes. If they lived on Coruscant, Corellia, Alsakan, yes. They could.” "Here there is no freedom..." Nima ran a finger across her collar as she spoke. "What if she betrays you? Would it still be worth it?" Jast shrugged, uncorking the liquor and pouring another glass. “I don’t know.” He put the harsh liquid back with practiced ease. “It’s not a crazy idea. We’re taking precautions with her while we’re in the air, just in case. It’s not safe bringing strangers aboard, but I think it’s worth giving her the chance. Considering the circumstances.” He rolled the crystal glass on the rounded edge. “What makes you so curious, Nima?” Nima leaned back into the stool, crossing her arms as she spoke, "I have spent nearly my whole life on this moon being reared to be a class 1 slave and I have seen the darkness it holds. I have seen fathers, mothers, brothers sell their sisters and daughters. Some of these people would sell their own mother for a few credits. No one has offered kindness without wanting anything in return and would definitely not have offered it earlier in the hangar. I'm trying to understand you Captain. I have never met someone with your ideals..." She paused, afraid to voice what she felt for the first time in her life. It was hope that brought her here. Hope that someone would extend her that kindness, but there was fear there too. Jast offered her a small smile. "I haven't met a lot of people like me here either. I'm not sure I understand myself half the time. Why I'm here, I mean. Why I work with the people you know," he said, voice seemingly thoughtful. "All I know is some things are right, and some things are wrong. I try to do the right things when I get the chance. So maybe that's helpful to you." "It is." She replied, offering back a sad smile of her own. "That girl is lucky she snuck aboard your ship. I am starting to wish someone like you was there for me all those years ago..." “She is. Hopefully she sees it that way.” Jast reached out to give her a brief, reassuring touch, hand to her shoulder. “I’m sorry I wasn’t.” Nima laid her slender hand on top of his, savoring a touch that was given in reassurance, rather than lust. "Thank you for your time Captain. I will leave so you can rest for your trip tomorrow. I wish you safe travels and hope you return with your bounty." She removed her hand from his and stood, using the counter for support. She didnt drink enough alcohol for her to start feeling tispy, the conversation itself was draining on her. She stepped towards Jast and laid a hand on his broad shoulder. "For luck." She said before laying a soft kiss on his cheek. "Good night Captain." "Thank you," he answered. "Good night." Nima didn't remember the walk back to her room. She barely heard the security system recognize her collar and open door to her chambers, she simply walked into the space when it was made available to her. Once the door shut behind her, she pressed her back against it and slid to the floor. It was then that her emotions were allowed to bubble to the surface and for the first time in years, she cried, hugging her knees to her chest for comfort. [@Jackdaw][@The Wyrm]