#I'ts 3 am and we are 30°C WTF

[wolfgirl-valentine]

Hob feels him before he hears him, just as he was relaxing with some of his friends, a weird feeling tickling in the back of his neck, something that has happened in the past and have saved his life more than one, he resisted the compulsion of turning back, so as to not alarm the others.

"Hob Gadling?" The voice, obviously using a modulator, makes the conversation halt.

"Uh? Yes that's me" finally turning around he can see the entity attached to the voice was covered from head to feet "can I help you?"

" I heard you can get anything or anyone to the Outer Rim…discreetly "

Hob frowned, before nodding " let's discuss this in private, see you later guys!" When they were at a safe distance he finally asked "you need to be more careful, that kind of question can attract the wrong kind of attention" 

"I will have it in consideration" they came to a stop in an empty alley

"Now, what do you need to be delivered?"

"I need to reach the Outer Rim, but I need to do it without the Empire knowledge "

This guy seriously don't seem to get what discreetly means.

"Ok, I can do that, it wouldn't be cheap tough, I also need to know if there are any bounties on you, I don't like surprises"

The stranger makes a sound that's probably of exasperation, is difficult to say with the mask and voice modulator, then he raises a hand, and the weird feeling at the back of Hobs head is back.

"You would take me to the Outer Rim, without asking questions" the audacity makes Hob snort

"Yeah…I don't work like that mate, I need to know what I'm getting into" the other tilt his head to the side, it remind Hob of a confused massiff 

"You can say I am being…politically persecuted…"

"Mmh…and do you have a name?"

"You may call me Dream"

"Right…and the destination? The Outer Rim is a very big place, or you just want to get out in general?"

"I will tell you when we are near to it "

Cryptic little shit.

"Look, if you came to me is because someone else send you to me, because I'm good at what I do, but  because I'm good, I need reassurance that I'm not helping a criminal get away, and honestly, you are anything but discreet, the voice modulator and the mask are basically screaming fugitive, and in this type of port everyone would know that" the other makes a little sound of distress at that " so don't treat me like an idiot, the only reason I can think for someone to want to go under the radar, is because the Empire is actively looking for you, so what are you? Someone that decided to try to fight back against them, or someone that committed a crime serious enough that they can't let it pass?" 

The stranger paused for a moment, and Hob can feel the intensity of his gaze through the mask lenses, before he sighed in defeat.

"I have underestimated you, and for that I offer an apology. You would call me Dream, for your safety more than mine. The Empire is searching for me, but not for nefarious reasons, I'm not lying when I said I'm being politically persecuted, but it is a little more complicated than that. I'm trying to get to someone in the Outer Rim, and for their safety I can't tell you much at the moment.

They stand in silence for a moment, looking at each other, Hob can't feel any deception now, just a lot of information missing, but he can work with that, he actually has worked with less.

"Alright, one more thing, are there active bounties on you?" 

*....Perhaps"

"Kriff…look I don't…"

"I will pay you two hundred thousand credits, half upfront" 

Hob stares speechless, it's a ridiculously high amount of money, to had that sum he must really be a politician from the former senate, that would explain the way he talks and his inability to be inconspicuous.

"I don't really like trouble…"

"Two thirds pay upfront"

"Alright! Alright…just…I need some time to prepare everything, meet me at bay 15 in an hour"

"Very well, I will be waiting for you Hob Gadling "

"Just Hob it's fine, I'll see you later, 'Dream' "

Hob watches him move towards the end of the alley, to the principal street were he get lost in the crowd, sighing as he makes a quick mental list of what he need for a journey of indefinite time Hob walks in the opposite direction.

"What you just get yourself into Hob…?"

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More from my Star Wars AU!!! Their meet cute! As I said this wouldn’t be a linear narrative, I’ll post the scenes as they come to me, sometimes with art, sometime without. Also how do people achieve consistency when drawing characters, every time i do it their face always is different, anyways.

Previous post Here and Here

I don't think a knowledge of Star Wars lore is necessary, but for more information I’m focusing just in the movies and tv series(I’m not really well versed in the expanded universe lore, now called Legends), this is like 10 years after the Order 66, Hob spend 4 years as a Imperial Officer, he has a very low sensitivity to the Force, he thinks is like a 6th sense, that’s how he feels Morpheus (he is actually decent at not being noticed), when Morpheus tell him about not asking questions he is trying to use a Jedi skill of persuasion, strong minds are immune to it. The quantity of money he offers is high, I'm planning to explain later why he has access to so much cash.

Photos taken with my phone, English is not my first language.

If you like this and have ideas or questions I love talking to people and my Asks are always open :)