(Pregame) Look Down, Look Down...

[Varina Ordo]

Crud. She hadn't really thought about how long protection rackets last. "Let's say... A week!"

Varina shrugged. "Isn't that why you crush your enemies so badly that nobody messes with you afterwards?"

[Roxi]

She shrugged as well, and smiled. "Anything really worth doing is gonna be trouble, right? I don't mind it. Bring it on!"

[Tosath Nazora]

"That's not a good strategy. Even if you try to make an example, those that care for the victims may still come back at you on principle, even if they don't expect to win. And may keep on coming back over and over. Violence creates enemies, but being part of a community creates allies."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

Jyvress laughed at the response caught off guard, "A week? For 7 credits? My dear girl....most criminals wouldn't take 7 credits for...." She straightens up, "I mean. Fair enough."

Her expression becomes darker as they speak on crushing enemies and she looks to Tosath. In a tone that was perhaps shocking considering the nervousness then bemusement of before, she spoke, "The thing is if your enemies have friends or, more like, part of something larger...well crushing them invites disaster. There are many who would forget a little roughing up of a subordinate or maybe even his death. Write it off as nothing worth their time. But for them power is often maintained through appearance and to hand them a crushing defeat...well then they will use all the power they can muster to end you. Not because you are a threat, but because you damaged their image. They have to do it or then the others they have cowed will begin to question why they are afraid."

[Varina Ordo]

"Only because I like ya! And when I see you around these parts in a week, I expect my seven credits."She crossed her arms, getting a little cranky.

"Yeah! So they do it because they're strongest. All I need to do is be the strongest."

[Roxi]

She crossed her arms too, though for slightly different reasons perhaps.

"Violence protects allies and families and communities," she said with a confident and triumphant nod. "*Everyone* knows that!"

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"And it just as easily, no more easily, destroys them." Jyrvess remarks, "And sometimes, often it does so carelessly. One side wants something from the other and they use their strength to take it. But neither gives a thought to the innocents caught in the middle. Just acceptable losses or 'collaborators' getting what they 'deserve'."

A lot of old and very bad memories were being stirred up, and guilt. Always guilt. She took a breath and then released it, letting the seriousness slip. "Just you know....be careful I guess."

[Tosath Nazora]

"Also, bringing violence into the community that you are a part of is a good way to upset the community. It's also likely to make you an outcast to the community. If you demand protection money in the community you are part of, nobody in that community is going to want you around."

[Roxi]

"Like, whatever, eyeta," she said, using a word from the Jawa language that meant friend. One might've gotten the impression she was being obstinate and insulting, if not for the fact no emotions associated with such a mood could be found on her face.

"No offense or nothin', but you two look like you ain't ever been in the position where you need to employ some violence for you, know, whatever reason."

[Tosath Nazora]

"I'm a doctor. I heal people, not hurt them. I'd be pretty bad at what I do if I put blaster burns and vibroblade holes in people," he says with a smile. "I try to fix those up when I come across them, not make them worse."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

Jayvress just smiles at the comment, or well her lips turn up ever so slightly that probably qualifies as a smile. It certainly didn't make it to her eyes.

After a moment she does speak, "A far harder task to heal then hurt, I imagine Doctor." She gives Tosath a meaningful nod. "I have just stuck to data slats and...ahh tourism."

[Varina Ordo]

"I don't bring violence to the community. I take it to outsiders." Varina shut one eye and stuck out her tongue. "Like tourists."

The young gal stepped back and flicked out her knife. It was a fragile little thing, perhaps indicative of her own position. But it certainly could cause damage if it was stuck in the right places. "Point of a warrior culture is to have the strong at their rightful place." A little flourish with her blade. Seemed like she had practiced more in tricks than reading any books... or much practical stabbing. "Not sure what my mom would do with doctors and... data people, come to think of it."

[Roxi]

"I mean, *we* only fought the people who deserved it. Like, sleemo's and imps and rich folk like I said. Otherwise you might as well be Black Sun, and they're lame-o like Kessel."

[Tosath Nazora]

"It's a bit selfish to say so, but I think the best thing to do with doctors is to listen to their advice. It's almost always meant to keep you healthy," he says with a chuckle. "Even when my ship was taken by pirates back in the day, they had the good sense to keep me alive and healthy so I'd be able to patch them up after a scuffle. Wasn't the best time in my life, didn't want to be there, but it happened and I made do."

[Roxi]

"Pirates?" Roxi's attention was instantly drawn by that, not letting anyone else get a word in. "Which ones?"

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"I am not surprised. A doctor is worth his weight in blasters and armor to people living on the fringe." Jyvress added, "I am surprised they would let you go....one assumes they don't operate anymore?"

[Tosath Nazora]

"Called themselves the Blaze Raiders, their ship being called the Blaze. Not very imaginative. They don't operate anymore and are all still in jail here. They brought me to this system about a year after taking the Arkanian trade ship I was doctoring for. Kamda didn't have an Imperial garrison the previous time they visited. It didn't work out in their favor, or mine really since I was initially arrested as part of there crew. Took a few months to clear up the fact that I was captured," he explains. "Violence didn't work out so well for them in the end."

[Varina Ordo]

"The Blaze is a stupid name for a ship," Varina declared. She wasn't sure what she would have called her own ship but that didn't matter.

A small knife twirl and then it was back in its sheath. "They weren't very good at fighting if all they did was pick on undefended people."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

Jyvress blinked, "Well...I mean they were pirates. Most pirates don't want a tough fight they want an easy or no fight so they don't have to waste plunder fixing their own stuff."

[Roxi]

"The Blaze Raiders? *Those* sleemos? I heard about them. Totally small fry. Imagine only having one ship!"