Velira’s piercing crimson eyes were obscured by black sunglasses, hiding them from view. A light hue of rose blush was dusted across the high points of her cheekbones, to give the illusion that some semblance of life lurked beneath her pulseless skin. Her dark waves of raven hair were carefully secured into a modest bun, with a few loose wisps framing the elegant features of her heart shaped face.
Resting in the civilian level of the city, at an unassuming cantina, an empty seat sat across from Velira as she skimmed over her menu, blending with the rest of the patrons. She figured this would be an ideal place for them to start their hunt, depending on the flavor profile preferences of her soon to be accomplice.
From her comlink, Velira pinged her location through the secured Syndicate network, a signal intended only for the mysterious woman she had come to know as Dusa. Based on their prior messages, it was more than enough to let Velira know that this individual certainly hungered for ‘the soup’. While she found the common phrase of soup among her species to be unrefined, and preferred the terminology of ‘life essence’ instead, Velira did not want to waste a rare opportunity to meet another of her kind.
With the majority of the Anzati either remaining in concealment like herself, or hunted to the brink of extinction, she did not wish for another to potentially meet the same fate.
While awaiting Dusa, Velira ordered a glass of wine for herself, if only for the sake of not leaving the table empty. However, she could feel her tendrils pulsing beneath her skin, in pure anticipation for the hunt they were to go on.
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“Well, well, well, I must say, you look ax-ceptionally beautiful.” The half-Rattataki grinned as she winked at Velira and then sat down across from her. She was wearing her usual grey-ish work pants with a blaster holster on her right and a dagger holster on her left. She sat down her axe by her as there was a soft clang when it hit the ground.
Her comm had been quiet today. She assumed her boyfriend was busy doing what he does the best. Which was jazz hands. Her Merqaal hopped down from her shoulders and squeaked at Velira.
“Oh, that’s Lady Hatchetina, but you can call her Lady T.”
With a blur, the menu was already in Dusa’s hands as she tried to find the soup section. Oh. They had quite a few! She grinned and glanced over to Velira and then her eyes went up to the server. She then looked back to Velira, “which soup did you recommend?”
Her crimson eyes slid to the weapons that the female carried with a slight smile. This Velira could appreciate. Though at the sight of the merquaal, she blinked curiously.
“Lady… Hatchelina…?” Velira repeated slowly, unsure of what to do with this information. She had never bothered keeping pets before, though there was a small part of her curious about the notion of owning a krykna.
At the mention of soup again, her eyes slid to the patrons at where they were, and a small smirk curled across her lips as she gazed at Dusa.
“I should have you know, the best soup is not found here, despite what it may seem… No, the soup here tends to be…. average, at best, and leaves much to be desired….” She began to say, her voice dropping an octave lower.
“No, for the best sustenance, we’ll have to venture to other parts of the city… The upper levels have some delectable soup options, though they are under higher security… The lower levels have some great options as well, though for that soup, it can be somewhat harder to track down in that area…. What is your preference for the hunt?”
Lady Tina sniffed at Velira then gave a small growl. Dusa scoffed.
“Well, if you’re not gonna be nice-” She yanked her merqaal off of the table and put her in her bag. There was a rustle sound and a whine.
“She’ll be finnnnne. She got blankets and stuff in it.” Dusa listened as she seemed a bit disappointed at first finding out the soup here was mediocre at best.
Her grey eyes glinted with excitement when Velira gave her options. Man, oh man!
“Maybe the lower levels? I have found some hole in the walls soup to hit that favorable bullseye!!”
Velira eyed the merquaal curiously, grateful that Dusa stashed away. She had never been fond of small creatures, though the krykna had been enough to capture Velira’s fascination at one point or another.
“Very well,” she began with the curve of a smile across her red lips. “We shall venture to the lower levels..”
Without another word, Velira set her menu down and rose, casting a glimpse over her shoulder and giving the gentle wave of her hand for Dusa to follow. She removed her hat and donned a series of black silks instead, enough to cast a faint shadow over her face.
After a few sharp turns through various alleys and narrow streets dimly lit by flickering neon signs, they approached the lower levels— a bustling array of various seedy markets with stolen weapons for sale, cantinas featuring exotic dancers as the main entertainment, and a few decrepit vacated buildings.
“Huh? Oh! Now?” Dusa got up suddenly and too fast as her leg bumped the table and the items on the table rattled. A salt shaker tipped over.
“Oh, sorry!” Dusa said as the server returned with her drink. She snatched it from the server’s hand and quickly gave her credits.
“Keep the change,” the Rattataki grabbed her bag and slung it over, with a rather startled squeak from Lady Hatchetina.
Odd. Why did she need to be so heavily hooded and hiding herself? Dusa stuck out like a sore thumb. White pale skin with white hair and striking grey eyes?
While Dusa was the one slightly drawing attention, she had a posture that showed she shouldn’t be mess with. With an axe over her shoulder and her blaster at the hip, it was clear that she was not the one to trifle with.
Yet, like all rules underground, don’t bother anyone and there wouldn’t be a bother. She was, however, very curious to what kind of soup they must be serving.
Velira paused for a moment, considering to herself. Her crimson gaze slid over to Dusa for a long moment, as she debated to herself. The thought of fresh, warm soup entered her mind… And just as quickly, Velira tamed her hunger.
“Tell me, where are you from?” She slowly asked Dusa instead, turning to her this time with curiosity. And yet, something else tugged at Velira’s suspicion, her lips pursing into a frown.
“I… have a confession, Dusa,” She finally sighed as she looked at the woman, though a slight smirk came to her lips. “I, in fact, do not know where the best soup is… And yet somehow, I believe you do. I would very much like for you to lead the way.”
“Oh, that depends. Was born in Ratta-” Dusa paused when the woman said she had a confession. There was a moment of stare down between the tall and short woman before Dusa let out a soft ‘huh’.
“Wait- wha- Miss Velira!” Dusa protested as a few passerbys raised an eyebrow at the odd woman.
It didn’t help that her skin and hair was like a becon in this shady district.
“I dont even know this place. Okay, it’s fine, we’ll get the bessssst soup EVER. Don’t you worry. You’re on a break, as a doctor I’m assuming? I’m ax-ing questions that isn’t even related. Let me just-” She pulled out her datapad and started to feverishly try to find the best soup in this area.
“Oh, so there’s this odd hole in the wall -he he, hole,” Dusa giggled under her breath, “that supposed to have really good selection.”