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There's nothing wrong with just one more.

Just one...?

C'mon man, the night is young.

“Thas what I said.”

The Corellian murmurs in a slightly affronted (and slightly slurry) tone.

“Try telling that to a fuzzy nursemaid.”

“Now ...”

Han points over at Josh enthusiastically and then falters, as if he can’t remember what he wanted to say.

“You got some money on you, pal? I’m awfully thirsty.”

And the head lifts to cast a gaze towards the only thing that closely resembles the description.

"I would rather not, he doesn't seem like the type to be tender." And they would prefer the tender tonight, it accompanies the warm drunk buzz of paladin.

"Maybe you best mind."

“You’d be surprised. He’s nice when he’s not angry.”

It’s a little too loud to be under his breath, but all the same, Han also casts a glance over at Chewbacca. For some reason he seems kinda surprised that he’s there. Or perhaps Han is having a little trouble focusing those hazel eyes.

Captain Solo, overdramaticslly, slumps on the cantina table.

Usually the reflexes are a bit quick but now there is no movement from the Tiefling at the slump, such is the powerful magic of the drink. Instead Paladin leans forward after a delay, chin still firmly planted on palm of hand in order to focus on the human. An amused look crosses her face.

"That's one way to mind I suppose, because I don't plan on help you drink anything when you're in that position." A bold idea. "Perhaps you should save the next one for tomorrow."

Han picks his head up off the table. Smirking in a very self-satisfied way that looks very at home on his face in particular.

“Oh, positions are kind of important to you, huh darlin’?”

Then he sags back into the back of his chair again. Looking around the bar without focusing on anything and drumming his finger against the faintly sticky table.

Are they? Well of course they are and not just in the: lets-hint-about-sex kinda way. It's just that in one context they are more practical than fun to contemplate on.

"Extremely," is the final decree in a way that is truthful in all ways because Paladin strives to be equal in fun and practicality. Life as a demonoid is best lived when a balance is found, truth be told.

"Are you waiting for someone? Or do I make you feel uncomfortable?"

What Han is waiting for is a drink. Though he doesn’t seem to want to push the point around his present company. He apparently hasn’t been acting pathetic enough to get Paladin to soften her stance and he knows he won’t change Chewie’s mind when he gets like this.

“I think you’d have a hard time making me uncomfortable.”

It’s a lie. There are some pretty easy ways to make Solo uncomfortable, but it’s not by her appearance or her proximity. He grew up around aliens and a coupla disfigured humans, so. It’s hard to rattle him with him in that way.

"Good," because there's no point trying to be cool and care free about it. The question is often ask to try and avoid any discomfort, to assuage it. Not having to work for a conversation is a relief.

The drink will come, born aloft by and delivered by what must be an angel of mercy and blessing.

"No matter where one goes in the universe it's nice to know that there is one constant occupation." Every culture, every world, will always need a server of drinks.

It is very clearly a mercy that Han Solo has gotten another drink, because despite Chewie’s displeased huff, everyone at the table will benefit from him being mollified in the short term. The drink is brought by a serving droid and so, the young Captain doesn’t feel the need to be as congenial as if a sentient was handing him a glass. It does brighten him up, though ...

“Anyway there’s a way to make money doing something, someone’s gonna find it.”

That, Han thinks, is more likely the constant at work.

"Providing service makes the world go 'round, so they say." This they do not say, but maybe, somewhere they do. Seems reasonable, the possibilities are endless.

Paladin lifts the cup, half full, half empty - (actually the last quarter, the worst part of the drink) in a toast. It's not fit to do so with, but it will have to do, anything else and the Tiefling won't make it to the door. The man can drink.

"Something I've heard you're good at."

Han may or may not be a great drinker, but he’s certainly tenacious. Right now? He’s so eager to get started on his new glass that he virtually misses the toast, half nodding to her in acknowledgment an instant before the spirt starts to hit his tastebuds.

“Me?” He murmurs, when he finally sets down the glass. “You must be talking about the smu- ...”

He shakes his head and starts again, “the shipping work that I do.”

It hardly matters, the Tiefling doesn't even think about bringing the cup to her lips, instead there is a brief pause of breath and Paladin sets the cup back down but fingers don't leave it.

"I am looking for two things," well, more than two things but two is a good place to start. "One possibly involves you," finally the fingers leave the cup and reach into the opposite sleeve. The piece of paper is folded four times but unfolded and refolded more than can be told.

"All I want to know," the parchment is offered to him low over the damp bar table: a subtle pass. "Is if you've seen it," on the paper is a rough sketch, an uneven rectangle statue a series of symbols etched down the length. "Please speak truth to me," irises and scarred flesh deepen in blue hue at the entreaty.

"Yeah, yeah. You're lucky I got a steady job these days."

Josh claps his friend on the shoulder and gets up to get them another round. He's even mostly steady on his feet.

"I feel pretty lucky right now."

Mainly, and almost entirely, because Josh is going to bring him a drink that he doesn't have to pay for.

If Han was being 100% honest, he'd own up to the fact that sudden glow of the other gives him the creeps. He's not sure if it's magic or a normal thing for her type of sentient to do, but he doesn't like it either way.

"Settle your horns, lady. I've seen it."

Han takes a slow sip of his drink and waits for Paladin's reaction. She's so damn serious about that little thing-a-ma-jig that he's gotta believe she'll be somewhat relieved.

And she believes him. Of course Paladin would not spend time on a lead that would no pan out, but one can never truly tell. For instance he admits that he has seen it but the information he gives after could be false. Great lies are partial truths.

Regardless: horns aren't totally settled. Because there is an eager hunger thereafter at the prospect of being just one step closer.

"Aye, you say true. Pray, tell me where and when you last laid eyes on it."

"Two whiskey Old Fashioneds coming right up."

Josh set's Han's drink down and clinks his own to the pilots before taking his seat again.

"To fun times and a hell of a good night."

Edited 2017-11-12 16:45 (UTC)

"I can drink to that."

Han, right now, could drink to just about anything. He was on the verge of something big. He could feel it. As sure as anything he'd ever been sure of before. He just ... had to get over this run of bad luck.

"I guess things are going well enough for you at work." He says after knocking back a hearty sip from the glass.

It's not an unprecedented move for Han to lie about something when it suits him. In this case, it's hard to imagine that he would be. He doesn't owe Paladin anything. As far as he knows, she doesn't have a lot of coin to part with at the moment. She's not threatening him ... or working for someone who wants to threaten him.

He doesn't have a lot of reason to lie about having seen her artifact.

"I will." He says agreeably ... before adding the less agreeable caveat. "When I know why is so kryffing important to you."

He will: for a price.

And that's fair, kinda. Kinda not a fair in the way it's not fair that she is the one that has to give up something she guards. Lips purse and there is serious consideration going on. What to give, what not to give, what is safe...

"It's a sigil, and it is important to my god." But certainly not her quest, nah, nothing that serious.

Han feels like it’s a pretty fair trade. Never mind that the only reason he cares at all is because he doesn’t want to miss out on a big score if the thing is valuable. When paladin explains it’s a religious artifact, he can’t help but roll his eyes.

Pieces that are valuable because of sentiment are not something he likes to deal in. Besides having a profoundly bad experience with collectors in his experiences, artifacts are always more difficult to liquidate. Not that he’d have to line up an interested party. Or even haul the thing anywhere. He has someone interested right in front of him ...

He just needs to make sure he’ll be fairly compensated.

“My expenses get covered by you while we’re getting this thing.” He murmurs. “And a little finders fee wouldn’t hurt, neither.”

There is always an immediate need to haggle when the opportunity presents itself. And Paladin isn't entirely sure why, it's the principle of the thing primarily. There is also the fact that Paladin is not sure if she should be accompanied on this quest, especially with a non-believer.

Eyes remained narrow in thought, resting lightly on the smuggler, as her brain turns over the options and conditions.

"I'll cover your expenses," is finally the beginning of her terms and then she pauses. "Do you have this item in your possession?" She was concerned with if he had it would trace it back to who he gave it/sold it to but if he still has it....