Night Out
I'm so proud of myself! So, for Izzy, with the prompts of:
ETA: Realized I forgot rating, disclaimer and all that, so assuming most have not read this yet...I'd say PG-ish (but can't say why without giving away most of the plot). My usual disclaimers; I make no money here, thanks to Lucas, Stackpole and Allston for the inspiration.
Night Out
Wes Janson turned to face the others walking with him, spreading his arms wide as he began to walk backwards.
'Well, ladies, what'll it be tonight? And remember, it's his lifeday, so Hobbie's paying!' he grinned.
Plourr and Koyi―who increasing found herself included on these excursions, apparently having become Plourr's 'friend' due to her mechanic skills―snickered as Hobbie stopped, an indignant look on his face.
'When did we start that tradition?'
'You did, when you pulled the same stunt on my last lifeday.'
'Oh,' Hobbie's face fell as he remembered that this was indeed his fault, then brightened as he remembered the 'fun' that had been had on Wes' account. 'That's right.'
Plourr looked curiously at the wistful stare on the normally dour pilot's face. 'What exactly happened then? You're smiling Klivian. I've never seen you smile - '
'I do smile -' Hobbie interjected.
'Okay, everyone, back to important things. Like where are we going to get drunk!'
' - sometimes.' As Hobbie finished his sentence, despite Wes interrupting him, he ran into the back of the shorter pilot, who had stopped suddenly when they turned the corner onto the main thoroughfare of the port. 'Oof! Wes, did ya hafta...'
'Problem,' Wes turned to Plourr.
'Yep. Problem.'
'I don't understand. There are two bars right here. Why is this a problem?' Koyi asked Hobbie. As far as she could see, the only difficulty would be in deciding on which place to go to, as each one would appeal to different members of their little group. The establishment on the right side of the street was brightly-lit, with vibrant flashing colours and the sound of up-beat music pulsing out to the street. On the left was a more somber cantina, a simple name etched into the synthwood sign above the door.
'There's only two. With these two,' he jerked his head toward Plour and Wes, who were having some sort of silent debate amongst themselves, 'it's good to have back-up bars.'
'Back-up bars?' Koyi was starting to question her decision to accept the invitation to go out tonight.
'If I'm paying, then I get to decide.' Hobbie started walking to the left side of the street and the quieter, and hopefully with less potential in trouble, establishment. He snorted as he considered his thinking there. Less trouble. Yeah sure.
The place was small on the inside, but not so small as to be claustrophobic. A raised stage at the far end held female beings dancing to the music played by the obviously local band playing to the side of it, and a few tables held groups quietly playing sabacc. Holoprojectors behind the bar were tuned to a variety of programs, mostly sports, though Hobbie caught a glance of Princess Leia and Borsk Fey'la at some awards ceremony in one that displayed a news station. He could just make out a very uncomfortable Han Solo standing off to the side of the princess, glaring vibroblades at the smiling Bothan shaking her hand.
About an hour later, Plourr and Wes had managed to down ten drinks between the two of them in an effort to outdo each other. However, both were as of yet not showing the effects of the consumption of so much alcohol, and were conversing coherently about large-scale battle strategy. Koyi turned to Hobbie to find him staring at the now solitary female dancer, a lithe human with shimmering black hair. She nudged him to get his attention and he started a bit, apparently surprised she wanted to talk to him.
'Huh?'
Koyi nodded toward the two pilots, who had now moved over to a dart-throwing game along the side of the room. 'Is this typical?'
'Yeah,' Hobbie said with a long-practiced sigh. 'They're gonna compete with each other at some stupid bar game until they've drunk enough that they can't see straight. Then they'll keep playing until someone gets hurt.' He sighed again. 'Usually me.'
'And you always go along with them because...?'
Hobbie considered the question before responding. 'I honestly have no idea.' He looked down at the ale he was nursing, took a sip, then looked back at Koyi. 'Those drinks should be hitting Plourr...'
A loud thunk sounded, and Hobbie and Koyi turned toward the source. '...right about now.'
Plourr was on the floor, having tried to sit down on a nearby chair and missed by about half a metre. She glowered at Wes, doubled over laughing in front of her. He wiped a fake tear from his eye, then extended a hand to Plourr. 'C'mon darlin', let's get you back to the table.'
Plourr swatted Wes' hand away and then picked herself up. 'I thought I told you to never -'
'Be nice to you?' Wes grinned at the irate woman in front of him. She growled in response.
'It's your turn. Let's go.' Plourr pointed at the board two metres away on the wall.
'Plourr, maybe we should stop. You're a little...' Wes waggled an outstretched hand from side to side.
'My aim is fine flyboy.'
Wes barked a laugh, 'You couldn't hit the broad side of a bantha with a targeting computer and explicit directions right now.' Despite the playful manner of his comment, genuine concern crossed his face.
'Play.'
'Okay, okay. I can't refuse a request from a beautiful lady now, can I?' We took a spot at the throwing line and began to take his turn, Plourr standing with arms crossed next to him.
Back at the table, Hobbie turned to Koyi. 'This is when it starts to get ugly. Usually doesn't happen so quickly though. Those house specials were more potent than she thought.'
'Should we do something?'
'Nah,' Hobbie shrugged. 'Not much is gonna change the vector of this. Would be a waste of energy.' He pointed to Koyi's own barely touched drink. 'Keep drinking. I'll get us some food.'
When Hobbie came back from ordering at the bar―there didn't seem to be any waitstaff―Koyi pointed to Wes and Plourr, now arguing expressively about who had scored and who hadn't. 'So Plourr is a mean drunk, I take it?'
'Yeah. Not that that's much different from her usual disposition. Wes gets...well, more Wes-like. And stubborn.'
The food came quickly, surprisingly good for the locale. Of course, after ship's rations, most any fresh food would taste good. Hobbie and Koyi found themselves discussing all manner of subjects over the next two hours, managing to mostly ignore the bickering and increasing drunkenness of their other two companions. Koyi had let her lekku drape down in front of her, absent-mindedly running a finger lightly along the length resting on the table as she leaned forward. Hobbie found himself smiling more in that time than he had in the last three weeks.
He was just about to comment on how nicely the evening was going when angry voices reached his ears. Knowing where they came from, he turned his attention back to Plourr and Wes, just in time to see Plour pulling her arm back in preparation for a punch. Her target was a furious spacer, a small red stain blossoming the seat of his trousers―Hobbie squinted for a better look―scratch that, a blood stain. It looked like Plourr's aim had taken her dart to the backside of the other bar patron.
'Now should we do something? This is starting to look like the opening for the MSO's 253rd season, when some of the symphony goers brawled over seats in the balcony.'
'Unfortunately, yes.' Hobbie started for the fracas, Koyi following. By they time they crossed the room, the spacer's friends had joined the dance, each angling toward Wes. Hobbie quickly stepped in to block the right one's swing, deflecting the blow and landing his own into the man's gut, as Wes took on the guy to the left. Years of practice allowed the two pilots to work seamlessly, quickly incapacitating the attackers. As he turned to take in the rest of the scene, Hobbie saw that Plourr was down on the floor, back up against the wall and shaking her head.
Koyi stepped forward, reaching an arm out to Plourr's opponent. 'Gentlebeing, perhaps - '
Before she could finish her plea for an end to the violence, the man rounded on her, eyes angry and hands fisted as he shoved the Twi'lek back.
'Hey!' For the second time that night, Hobbie rushed to jump in front of someone starting to throw a punch. The spacer hesitated at Hobbie's yell, turning slightly to the pilot quickly coming between him and Koyi. Instead of Koyi, his fist connected with Hobbie's cheek. Using the momentum he built-up on his rush over, Hobbie clothes-lined him, knocking the man to floor; he did not rise.
'Are you okay?'
'Yes. He didn't really touch me.' Koyi gave a small smile to show Hobbie she meant it.
'I - '
'Ahem.' An insistent voice caught the group's attention. The bartender was standing in front of them, a large slug-throwing blaster pointed in their general direction.
'Don't worry, we were just leaving,' Hobbie assured him. To Koyi he said quietly, 'This is why I always pay as we go.'
The four filtered out into the night, Wes swiping a nearly full bottle of whisky from a table near the door. It seemed too early to go back to the ship, but there wasn't much else to do in the small port town. After wandering the streets for a while, they ended up at a small park, sharing the bottle and laughing over the most recent adventure and others. Wes and Plourr eventually passed out, snoring quietly as they lay on the grass.
Hobbie sat leaning back on his hands, watching the beginning of dawn creep over the horizon, Koyi sitting cross-legged beside him. 'You know, this turned out to be a pretty okay lifeday. For once.'
'You still got hurt.' Koyi touched the bruise on his cheek tenderly, concern furrowing her brow.
Hobbie smiled and leaned into her touch. 'It was worth it.'
'Happy lifeday, Hobbie.' Her breath was a whisper across his lips. She closed the final few centimetres between their faces, her lips lightly touching his. They sat that way as the sun came up, gazing at each other with the newfound light of the day.
'Ugh, I feel like a krayaat dragon chewed out my head then took a giant - ' Plourr started retching before she could finish the description of her state of health. Luckily.
'Let's get these two back to the ship and into bed.'
'Good idea.' Hobbie and Koyi helped their friends up and began the trek back to Home One.
'After we drop them off, wanna get some breakfast?' Hobbie looked at Koyi with his eyebrows raised expectantly.
She took just a moment to consider, then smiled shyly. 'Sure, Hobbie. I'd like that.'
-Fin-
- 'You couldn't hit the broad side of a bantha with a targeting computer and explicit directions!'
- The Mrlsst Academy Symphony Orchestra presents their 253rd season
- Hobbie's lifeday
ETA: Realized I forgot rating, disclaimer and all that, so assuming most have not read this yet...I'd say PG-ish (but can't say why without giving away most of the plot). My usual disclaimers; I make no money here, thanks to Lucas, Stackpole and Allston for the inspiration.
Night Out
Wes Janson turned to face the others walking with him, spreading his arms wide as he began to walk backwards.
'Well, ladies, what'll it be tonight? And remember, it's his lifeday, so Hobbie's paying!' he grinned.
Plourr and Koyi―who increasing found herself included on these excursions, apparently having become Plourr's 'friend' due to her mechanic skills―snickered as Hobbie stopped, an indignant look on his face.
'When did we start that tradition?'
'You did, when you pulled the same stunt on my last lifeday.'
'Oh,' Hobbie's face fell as he remembered that this was indeed his fault, then brightened as he remembered the 'fun' that had been had on Wes' account. 'That's right.'
Plourr looked curiously at the wistful stare on the normally dour pilot's face. 'What exactly happened then? You're smiling Klivian. I've never seen you smile - '
'I do smile -' Hobbie interjected.
'Okay, everyone, back to important things. Like where are we going to get drunk!'
' - sometimes.' As Hobbie finished his sentence, despite Wes interrupting him, he ran into the back of the shorter pilot, who had stopped suddenly when they turned the corner onto the main thoroughfare of the port. 'Oof! Wes, did ya hafta...'
'Problem,' Wes turned to Plourr.
'Yep. Problem.'
'I don't understand. There are two bars right here. Why is this a problem?' Koyi asked Hobbie. As far as she could see, the only difficulty would be in deciding on which place to go to, as each one would appeal to different members of their little group. The establishment on the right side of the street was brightly-lit, with vibrant flashing colours and the sound of up-beat music pulsing out to the street. On the left was a more somber cantina, a simple name etched into the synthwood sign above the door.
'There's only two. With these two,' he jerked his head toward Plour and Wes, who were having some sort of silent debate amongst themselves, 'it's good to have back-up bars.'
'Back-up bars?' Koyi was starting to question her decision to accept the invitation to go out tonight.
'If I'm paying, then I get to decide.' Hobbie started walking to the left side of the street and the quieter, and hopefully with less potential in trouble, establishment. He snorted as he considered his thinking there. Less trouble. Yeah sure.
The place was small on the inside, but not so small as to be claustrophobic. A raised stage at the far end held female beings dancing to the music played by the obviously local band playing to the side of it, and a few tables held groups quietly playing sabacc. Holoprojectors behind the bar were tuned to a variety of programs, mostly sports, though Hobbie caught a glance of Princess Leia and Borsk Fey'la at some awards ceremony in one that displayed a news station. He could just make out a very uncomfortable Han Solo standing off to the side of the princess, glaring vibroblades at the smiling Bothan shaking her hand.
About an hour later, Plourr and Wes had managed to down ten drinks between the two of them in an effort to outdo each other. However, both were as of yet not showing the effects of the consumption of so much alcohol, and were conversing coherently about large-scale battle strategy. Koyi turned to Hobbie to find him staring at the now solitary female dancer, a lithe human with shimmering black hair. She nudged him to get his attention and he started a bit, apparently surprised she wanted to talk to him.
'Huh?'
Koyi nodded toward the two pilots, who had now moved over to a dart-throwing game along the side of the room. 'Is this typical?'
'Yeah,' Hobbie said with a long-practiced sigh. 'They're gonna compete with each other at some stupid bar game until they've drunk enough that they can't see straight. Then they'll keep playing until someone gets hurt.' He sighed again. 'Usually me.'
'And you always go along with them because...?'
Hobbie considered the question before responding. 'I honestly have no idea.' He looked down at the ale he was nursing, took a sip, then looked back at Koyi. 'Those drinks should be hitting Plourr...'
A loud thunk sounded, and Hobbie and Koyi turned toward the source. '...right about now.'
Plourr was on the floor, having tried to sit down on a nearby chair and missed by about half a metre. She glowered at Wes, doubled over laughing in front of her. He wiped a fake tear from his eye, then extended a hand to Plourr. 'C'mon darlin', let's get you back to the table.'
Plourr swatted Wes' hand away and then picked herself up. 'I thought I told you to never -'
'Be nice to you?' Wes grinned at the irate woman in front of him. She growled in response.
'It's your turn. Let's go.' Plourr pointed at the board two metres away on the wall.
'Plourr, maybe we should stop. You're a little...' Wes waggled an outstretched hand from side to side.
'My aim is fine flyboy.'
Wes barked a laugh, 'You couldn't hit the broad side of a bantha with a targeting computer and explicit directions right now.' Despite the playful manner of his comment, genuine concern crossed his face.
'Play.'
'Okay, okay. I can't refuse a request from a beautiful lady now, can I?' We took a spot at the throwing line and began to take his turn, Plourr standing with arms crossed next to him.
Back at the table, Hobbie turned to Koyi. 'This is when it starts to get ugly. Usually doesn't happen so quickly though. Those house specials were more potent than she thought.'
'Should we do something?'
'Nah,' Hobbie shrugged. 'Not much is gonna change the vector of this. Would be a waste of energy.' He pointed to Koyi's own barely touched drink. 'Keep drinking. I'll get us some food.'
When Hobbie came back from ordering at the bar―there didn't seem to be any waitstaff―Koyi pointed to Wes and Plourr, now arguing expressively about who had scored and who hadn't. 'So Plourr is a mean drunk, I take it?'
'Yeah. Not that that's much different from her usual disposition. Wes gets...well, more Wes-like. And stubborn.'
The food came quickly, surprisingly good for the locale. Of course, after ship's rations, most any fresh food would taste good. Hobbie and Koyi found themselves discussing all manner of subjects over the next two hours, managing to mostly ignore the bickering and increasing drunkenness of their other two companions. Koyi had let her lekku drape down in front of her, absent-mindedly running a finger lightly along the length resting on the table as she leaned forward. Hobbie found himself smiling more in that time than he had in the last three weeks.
He was just about to comment on how nicely the evening was going when angry voices reached his ears. Knowing where they came from, he turned his attention back to Plourr and Wes, just in time to see Plour pulling her arm back in preparation for a punch. Her target was a furious spacer, a small red stain blossoming the seat of his trousers―Hobbie squinted for a better look―scratch that, a blood stain. It looked like Plourr's aim had taken her dart to the backside of the other bar patron.
'Now should we do something? This is starting to look like the opening for the MSO's 253rd season, when some of the symphony goers brawled over seats in the balcony.'
'Unfortunately, yes.' Hobbie started for the fracas, Koyi following. By they time they crossed the room, the spacer's friends had joined the dance, each angling toward Wes. Hobbie quickly stepped in to block the right one's swing, deflecting the blow and landing his own into the man's gut, as Wes took on the guy to the left. Years of practice allowed the two pilots to work seamlessly, quickly incapacitating the attackers. As he turned to take in the rest of the scene, Hobbie saw that Plourr was down on the floor, back up against the wall and shaking her head.
Koyi stepped forward, reaching an arm out to Plourr's opponent. 'Gentlebeing, perhaps - '
Before she could finish her plea for an end to the violence, the man rounded on her, eyes angry and hands fisted as he shoved the Twi'lek back.
'Hey!' For the second time that night, Hobbie rushed to jump in front of someone starting to throw a punch. The spacer hesitated at Hobbie's yell, turning slightly to the pilot quickly coming between him and Koyi. Instead of Koyi, his fist connected with Hobbie's cheek. Using the momentum he built-up on his rush over, Hobbie clothes-lined him, knocking the man to floor; he did not rise.
'Are you okay?'
'Yes. He didn't really touch me.' Koyi gave a small smile to show Hobbie she meant it.
'I - '
'Ahem.' An insistent voice caught the group's attention. The bartender was standing in front of them, a large slug-throwing blaster pointed in their general direction.
'Don't worry, we were just leaving,' Hobbie assured him. To Koyi he said quietly, 'This is why I always pay as we go.'
The four filtered out into the night, Wes swiping a nearly full bottle of whisky from a table near the door. It seemed too early to go back to the ship, but there wasn't much else to do in the small port town. After wandering the streets for a while, they ended up at a small park, sharing the bottle and laughing over the most recent adventure and others. Wes and Plourr eventually passed out, snoring quietly as they lay on the grass.
Hobbie sat leaning back on his hands, watching the beginning of dawn creep over the horizon, Koyi sitting cross-legged beside him. 'You know, this turned out to be a pretty okay lifeday. For once.'
'You still got hurt.' Koyi touched the bruise on his cheek tenderly, concern furrowing her brow.
Hobbie smiled and leaned into her touch. 'It was worth it.'
'Happy lifeday, Hobbie.' Her breath was a whisper across his lips. She closed the final few centimetres between their faces, her lips lightly touching his. They sat that way as the sun came up, gazing at each other with the newfound light of the day.
'Ugh, I feel like a krayaat dragon chewed out my head then took a giant - ' Plourr started retching before she could finish the description of her state of health. Luckily.
'Let's get these two back to the ship and into bed.'
'Good idea.' Hobbie and Koyi helped their friends up and began the trek back to Home One.
'After we drop them off, wanna get some breakfast?' Hobbie looked at Koyi with his eyebrows raised expectantly.
She took just a moment to consider, then smiled shyly. 'Sure, Hobbie. I'd like that.'
-Fin-