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Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 10:57 am
by Najira
The Red Sun was a Human-operated nightclub, accessible by questionably-legal maintenance access off the lower rungs of Caledan Station's habitat-zone. The lights were low, pulsing with the thumping synth of the night. Figures in long coats and cloaks offered bliss in small baggies, or the kind of drugs that allowed the brute-forcing of Mem-net security protocols. Bodies pressed together in the central dance hall, and the smell of stale sweat filled the shared air. Laughter, fighting, and even the sounds of drug-induced pleasure-groans formed a baseline hum of noise that bled through even the softest of lulls in the harsh music.
Najira was out of his element.
He was smaller than his kin. Shorter than even some humans. The stamping of feet, the push of bodies, and the clumsy stagger of inebriated hotspurs forced him to remain at the rim of the Red Sun. Standing no more than five feet in height, Najira's golden eyes widened, as he pressed back against one of the closed booths. Canine ears perking at the sounds behind it, before pushing off, and scurrying further within. Weaving between legs, he was out of sight and mind to his far taller brethren. His dark fur, and darkly-dyed tunic and wraps blending him against the harsh shadows cast by neon lighting, did well to ensure he was concealed.
But it had the side-effect of being easy to step on.
Letting out a soft breath, Najira stumbled forward, towards the bar. The booths to his left were sealed: locked from within; Mem-net dens, places to connect to the neural network of Caledan Station. Of course, it wouldn't take long at all for him to have his foot squished by a passerby, making him flail, and stumble forward onto the sticky floor below.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 11:35 am
by Jon
The smell of sweat, blood and various substances mixed reminded Jon of home. Today was this hulking behemoth of a Kharguin's day off, so he was planning on enjoying it as much as he could. He entered the place looking for trouble, pushing people aside with his body as he walked in a straight line. The end point being the bar.
The music rang strong in his ears, the ambiance was perfect to pick a fight with the first idiot that tried somehing. He moved with a grin, waiting for someone to strike first. But it never came. His enormous stature was impressive even among other of his species, much to his dismay since it seemed that this night no one would step up to him. Or so he thought until something hit chiseled belly.
He looked down, but it was not the sight of a fighter or a punk that met his gaze. It was but another canine... Maybe? He was far too small and seemed lost among the people fighting and/or dancing in the background. Without any care for the small one's personal space, Jon grabbed the mall Kharguin by the scruff of his clothes and slowly raised him to look at him in the eyes.
"You looking to start something, short stuff?" He shouted so his voice could be heard over the music. At the same time baring his fangs.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 11:46 am
by Najira
Lifting Najira was easy. He virtually weighed nothing. There was a yelp-- Though it was lost, among the blaring music and the white-hot tensions in the air. Najira was lifted off the floor by a distance that seemed to be his entire height. His golden eyes widened, as he squirmed, futilely: his piercings jangling as he came face-to-face with Jon.
He glinted his teeth in the world's most awkward smile, "P-please-- Please don't eat me."
Trying to ease the tension with a joke, Najira fumbled his words. His head sank into his shoulders as the weight of his situation started to sink in. His little hands-- Such soft paws-- Went to try and free himself from Jon's grasp, but the disparity in strength was far too great. He was already in the man's grasp. There was no escape.
"I-- I didn't mean to!" He tried to plead with the larger man, silky fur catching the harsh neon, "I-- I got pushed!
The poor thing seemed to panic, as reality settled. His eyes darted, as though looking for help. A little whimpering whine leaving his lips like a pup.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 12:10 pm
by Jon
At first a frown could be seen in Jon's face. Not only he did not find what he was looking for. But also stumbled upon the most pathetic creature in the club, maybe even the whole sector.
He let out a sigh of disappointment.
If there's no one willing to entertain him, maybe this one would keep him company. Still grabbing him by his clothes, and completely ignoring the desperate plea, he walked towards the bar top. He pushed someone to the side and took his seat, then placed Najira on an empty stool beside him. With an elbow resting on the top, and his muzzle over his fist. He looked at the diminute boy in front of him, still looking a bit frustrated and not muttering a single sentence.
Jon tapped the table to get the barman's attention without saying anything, then raised two fingers and made a gesture of drinking something. If not specified, this was usually an universal sign for "bring me two of your cheapest." Then moved his sight back at Najira, watchful.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 12:54 pm
by Najira
It was dizzying. The colored lights seemed to streak across Najira's eyes as he's moved and jostled. His legs scrambled, as the world seemed to bound and pull beneath Jon's movements. By the time that he's placed onto a stool, he's too dizzy to even think about running. His eyes blink, as his head slowly bob, hands gripping the lip of the bartop.
The Hakkan working the bar peered at Jon, her hydro-mask obscuring her features except for an under-lit outline from internal lighting. She doesn't even directly face Jon once she gets the 'something cheap' order. Her quad-arms work with ease, pouring out a synth-brew that smells like gasoline. The glasses are deftly slid across the surface, over to the two.
Najira gave Jon a nervous little smile. Still woozy, he tries to brace himself against the bar.
"Are you with--" He has to blink out his dizziness, "-- Ough. Are you with the... Local clan?" Trying his damndest to hold conversation with an actual, masculine, member of his own species. Unknowingly flashing puppy-eyes at the far larger man.
He glanced at the booze as it's slid over. Najira's tiny body was not at all prepared for something formulated for the larger of his kind. He almost audibly gulps.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 1:44 pm
by Jon
Jon catched the glass as it sled across the table. In a swift motion he downed the whole thing as if it were a shot of any common spirit. Put the glass back at the top, then directed a toothy grin at Nazira.
"Nah, part of the coalition's regular army. If you are looking for a devout follower of Khorit or the Omens. That ain't me." he played with the glass as he talked."But if you ask me. You are the one who seems the most out of place here."
The club's light bounced off of his white fur, yet his blue eyes stayed the same in the shadows. Locked on the smaller Kharguin. Awaiting an appalled response at his clear lack of knowledge, respect or even belief at their shared culture. Seen it before a thousand times. But none the less he found it amusing every time.
What would this one say? Should he be coy about it? All this questions in his mind, yet he desired to taunt Nazira just for the fun of it. The night seemed to be getting interesting. And it was showing in his smile that he was expecting conflict in this small talk.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 23rd, 2026, 3:23 pm
by Najira
Najira tried to follow in Jon's example. The glass looked comically large in his hands, having to use both to keep it held. Fists were thrown on the dance-floor as a particularly inebriated Rattakar crossed swords with a Kharguin, both trying to woo the same target of their affections. A pile of three Humans spilling out from a closed Mem-net booth, augmented beyond baseline, with the shortest bordering on seven feet; attempting to wrestle each other to the ground over a neurajack's cord. Blood spattered against the dance floor, before the bouncers even began to intervene.
His eyes tried to keep on Jon, but he kept giving a worried side-eye over to the scene unfurling between colored strobes.
Taking a sip of the glass, Najira can't down it the same way Jon can. His ears perk over the din, listening to the man's words. His eyes flick over, before giving a soft nod. He barely gets a quarter-way past his drink, before putting it on the table. His face scrunching up like a dog taking a bite out of a lemon. He was a lightweight, if there ever was one.
"Ough-- Shit-- That burns..." Najira rasps out, eyes watering a bit as he coughs, "... There is nothing wrong with following your own path."
He's swaying. He's only a third through his glass and he's swaying, "But-- Out of place? Is-- Is it that obvious?" He hiccups.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 24th, 2026, 10:22 am
by Jon
A sigh of defeat was drowned in the music. Either Najira was too stupid to be taunted or truly did not care. Either way he just accepted that the night would not be as fun as he thought. At least got a glance of some violence happening at the dance floor. But ultimately rolled his eyes back at the conversation. "Amateurs" he thought to himself.
"Yeah, you are way out of your element here. You look like a lost critter in a den of predators." The more he looked at Najira, the more pleasant the sight of him was. Delicate, exotic and even a bit alternative. Those piercings were really attractive to Jon. Did not know why exactly. He raised an eyebrow. "What brings you here, pretty boy?" asked as he leaned on the table. He got an inch or two closer to the other. Barely noticeable..
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 24th, 2026, 11:05 am
by Najira
❚ Something moves within the bartop's reflection.
❚ For a second, faces blend like fish in a pond.
"I attend the shrine..." Najira has to blink out of the booze's hold over his perception, for just a moment. Though he tried to behave nonchalant, it was obvious: he wasn't a regular drinker by any stretch, "... Out by the port. Hic. Mnh. Ah... The one near the Tenth Ward."
"I wanted to see... Hic. ... More of the station than just... Well. You get it, right?"
Najira flashed Jon a smile. In the harsh club lighting, the neons seemed to burn streaks through his silky fur. And what the light did not touch, was lost in the deep and inky dark. His piercings glinted in this light. Catching and refracting light. It speckled him, and his surroundings ever-so. His eyes looking almost magma-gold, as he nursed his drink.
He traces a soft finger against a well-worn part of the bar's surface. Where names had been carved into it with knives. Worn down with what had to be years of spill and cleaning. This part of the surface did not reflect, like the better kept parts of it. The burning rim-light was less harsh there.
"I'm Najira." He introduces. A smile on his dark lips. Teeth cast the color of a dying star; pearly whites hued from colored lights.
Re: Far From Home
Posted: June 24th, 2026, 12:44 pm
by Jon
To Jon the Kharguin in front of him was like a lightshow everytime the neon flashes hit him. The silky black fur with all those small details made him look like a starry night. His gaze went soft, intrigue brewing inside of him. Eyes wondered at Najira's hand playing with the top.
A genuine smile slipped out of him, when he heard the name. Then nodded and instantly went back to his stern yet bored look. "The name's Jon." He gave his rather human and common name.
"Can't say you chose the best place to start exploring." Looked around, violence and excesses of all kind wherever he looked. A smal shake of the head. Then back Najira. "You could get hurt around here. Or worse. Also stop drinking that, pretty sure it was synthesized with rubbing alcohol." Pointed at the glass that was being sipped from Then rubbed the back of his own head, did not meant to sound so worried for a stranger. Blame it on the alcohol that did not particularly faze him. Cleared his throat then continued.
"Or at least don't drink so fast..." His eyes wondered again. Looking for an exit this time. It would be better to get this one out of here before something happens to him. Though the idea of using him as bait to get into a fight was tempting. But no, he did not want to put this one in danger. Met him 30 minutes ago and already trying to protect him. Stupid insticts. But you could not blame the man, look at how small Najira was. He could get picked up and thrown out the window at any moment.
"Here. Let's go get some air." Extended a guiding hand.