Session export: The Shame Corner: 025

Weyr had taken a taxi to the familiar space station; however, he was still a bit nervous. After giving Marius his number, the man suggested coming here to pick out some nice outfits for the date they had agreed to go on later. He had promised the Ranger that he would help him and wasn’t about to go back on his word. After all, honesty was a rarity in the Galaxy, and few people abided by it. Plus, he did not want to disappoint or pass up an opportunity to see Marius again. A small smile curled upon his lips as he made his way into the main hub in search of his future date. As he walked, he sort of had little confidence in his steps. “Keep your eyes peeled, Laoch; he has to be around here somewhere.” He replied to the small keeradak on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Syk and Salni both had arrived at the station by a small transport and had gotten off. They rarely saw each other, but acknowledged the other with a nod and went into the hub. Both going separate ways. Salni was after a nice pampering at the salon and spa, and Syk wanted to look at the pies.

Soza tripped over his own feet getting out of the shuttle. Way too easy to lose track of himself with a whole new space station to admire. He looked back into the shuttle entry and raised a hand to wave, though hard say whether the pilot even noticed the gesture and thanks through the exiting line of passengers. Soza just pulled higher and called it louder. They totally caught it.

Where was he going again? There had to be a sign or something. ‘Envoy Corps here’ would be easy enough to spot. Nothing quite stood out to Sova’s twitching ears and darting eyes. He poked a clawed pinkie into an ear to make sure his headphones hadn’t blown an eardrum again. Good tunes were worth the trouble until they weren’t. Wait, why was he listening for text? Goof.

He only wandered a few steps in before the smell hit his nose. Good sprouts, that already hit the spot. His snout led him leftward, toward this cozy-looking Golden Griddle place. Huh, neat. They must’ve been cooking something fierce, if his nose was getting all of that right!

Wait, did he need to check himself? His mother never let up about how to look his best off home. Wary spacers and weird paranoia or something. Eh, couldn’t hurt. Not that he had a mirror, but Soza at least parted his lips to pick for any debris in his fangs. His overgrown mane was mostly kept down under a red beanie, just the ends flaying out, so good there. All the humanoids like their beards and such, so no one minded a bit of scruff around the jaw, right? Supposedly everyone liked hoodies, and his extra-large one had more than enough to go around over his scrawny frame. Yeah, he was totally good for this.

Soza hopped, adjusting his large backpack and everything affixed to it, then stepped into the door after those lovely scents.

Syk was already inside looking at the pies, when suddenly she felt a sharp pain near her tail. She immediately looked and saw this rather scruffy looking individual with a backpack and hoodie had stepped directly onto her Jade scaled tail. She was surprised more than anything and so very shy. “Uh sssir, you mind not stepping on my tail?” She tried so hard to sound softer, her ‘s’ were trailing as she was also trying hard not to just disapear. She really did want a pie and did kind of want to talk to this person, but she was so nervous. <@152256842473406464>

Soza’s ear twitched. His head turned even before he knew the words were directed at him.

“Hm?” Wait. His eyes darted down. Immediately, he skipped his feet back. “Oh! Ooh, I am so sorry. Won’t happen again!”

Real smooth. First chat with a stranger here, and he’d already misstepped - literally. On the bright side, she didn’t seem angry. His fingers snapped as he thought to at least make it up to her.

“Here, maybe I can get you something!”

Soza shrugged off his bag, placing it on the counter, and started rummaging through. The contents inside shifted as he dug, mainly showing a few changes of clothes, actual pens and notepads, an outdated communicator, and the kind of cheap stock headphones found at a run-of-the-mill fuel stop.

Whilst Celevon Werd'a, Aryn “Jade” and Rowena “Rowan” Erinos-Magnuri headed toward the intoxicating scents emanating from the Golden Griddle Diner after leaving their ship, Marius Edraven was on a mission. As such, he had quickly separated from his father, his twin sister and her wife/Aunt-by-marriage.

… Okay, so it wasn’t an actual mission. But he was treating it as such, keeping his senses heightened in order to seek out his future date for their shopping excursion. It had been a pain convincing HK-72 to go along with his father, but the blast-friendly Gladiator Droid had nearly shot the Evereni’s companion (or was it a familiar?) when they had first met at a Noodle Shop on Nar Shaddaa.

Sadly, he couldn’t bring Garm along. A gigantic Wolf tended to inspire fear in other sentients who weren’t aware of how sweet the canine actually was.

Thus, the former Force Cultist was walking to the Main Hub, electro-staff making a clank with every other step. Whilst it served as a weapon, it was mainly a tool to aid the Shadow in avoiding what obstacles he couldn’t see well through the Force.

Before the Phrik Electro-staff had been gifted to him by his father, Marius had used a wooden staff that had been given to him by one of the Elders. The vibrations allowed him to ‘see’ with his remaining four natural senses.

Syk looked at Soza in mild shock; it was the first time anyone had ever just apologized and didn’t run away from her in fear. She kind of..liked that. It made her feel sort of happy. She tried to smile and hoped it wouldn’t frighten him as her oceanic blue eyes sparkled in curiosity. “Oh? Sure, I would not mind. Uh My name is Syk.”

As Weyr continued to search, Laoch sniffed the air for a moment. “RAWWWRP!” The little keeradak roared in happiness as he dived off Weyr and flapped his little wings, making a beeline past the main desk. “Laoch!” Weyr instantly ran after the little creature, moving past people until he saw him. It was Marius, walking alone and using his electrostaff to guide him. Weyr smiled, his heart skipping a beat. “Laoch, you…” He chuckled as the keeradak softly and gently landed on Marius’s shoulder and began to nuzzle his neck. “Hello, Marius. I see Laoch found you before I did."He then walked over to the blind man and gently took his free hand with his and squeezed the Ranger’s hand softly. "It’s nice to see you again.”

“I’m Soza,” he replied with a fang-bearing grin.

As he reached the bottom of his bag, the sheen of a metallic hilt briefly appeared between the other contents. All if it disappeared back under the clothing as he triumphantly pulled out a pouch. “There it is…”

His claw popped it open, making no effort to hide what it held: Credits. Actual physical credits - an assortment of low-value ingots, at that. He knew off the top of his head the ingots totaled a value of 53 credits. Pining through them, he plucked one of fivers.

“This should do! I think. How much do these go for?” He glanced down at the pies on display, looking for some sign of a price.

The half-Sephi had been pondering whether or not he should wear a blindfold for when people inevitably assumed he wasn’t blind due to his confident stride when a now-familiar chirp gained his attention. Marius caught sight of the Keeradak familiar of his… would it be too early to think of Weyr as his boyfriend?

The weight of the Reptavian landed on his shoulder and the Shadow chuckled, reaching up to scratch at the scales beneath Laoch’s chin. “Hello there, my little friend.”

When the Keeradak started a growling-purr, the physically blind man heard the voice of the Evereni he sought and smiled as he caught sight of Weyr. Marius smiled as the other grasped his hand and, in a quick movement, pulled the Doctor to him, rotated his hand ninety degrees and placed a kiss on the knuckles.

“It’s nice to see you too, lovely Weyr. In a manner of speaking, anyway,” the half-Sephi whose Echani heritage had sprang to the forefront of his genetics grinned crookedly. “Yes, the winged one beat you to saying hello by a matter of seconds.”

The grin grew as Marius sensed amusement from the Reptavian on his shoulder. It hadn’t been until after meeting the Evereni that he had learned that Keeradak could sense emotions.

The Doctor’s face turned a darker, ashen color for a moment as he felt the soft lips of the half-Sephi press against his knuckles, the man placing a gentle kiss and greeting him warmly.

Though mildly surprised at first, the Evereni’s mouth pulled back into a toothy grin while he relaxed his body. His dark eyes glanced over the Ranger, looking him up and down as his left arm hesitated a moment, a little unsure whether he should dare to push a little further.

“You know, Marius, since we are here now.” He felt his nervousness build as his right hand began to tremble slightly against the Half Sephi.

“And we are on, what I can sort of say is, a small date. Uh, well, I do fancy you quite a bit, er, what I mean to say is” He felt himself tripping over his words, and that irritated him slightly. “Grr, why is something so simple as talking so difficult? You would think a doctor like myself, well versed in dealing with individuals’ varying relationships, would be able to handle one he is getting into. I mean…”

He felt his collar get a little warm as his left hand began to fidget from nervousness. “Uh, that is to say, are we in a relationship, Marius? Er, would you like to be in one with me?” He now felt as if he had shot himself in the foot while his mind began to overthink things.

You are really kidding yourself today, aren’t you, Weyr? Good going; he’s probably just gonna say no because you are so karking weird.

Syk’s eyes sparkled again. “Ooh thosse are very shiny. I am not ussed to ssseeing actual creditss. That iss very interessting. Hey do you like uh..trinketss?”

Soza’s ears flicked up. “Yeah! They can be anything, right? All kinds of neat stuff.”

His brow quirked. “Wait, back it up - you don’t have any of these?” He lightly waved the ingot in-hand. “Are yours just digital like at spaceports and stuff?”

“Yes, trinketss can be anything and…"She actually blushed a little. "I like to make thingss out of wood. I whittle.” She shook her head. “Yeah, all thisss ssilly digital money. It’s kind of ssad.” She then smiled softly. “But today is nice; I found a friend who hass very nice practical objectss.”

How kind of her. “You’ll have to show me your work sometime! Oh, but before I forget - that happens a lot–” Soza turned and peered close at the food display again. “What kind of pie do you want?”

Whilst the half-Sephi former Force Cultist was speaking to Weyr Suil — and the somewhat mischievous Reptavian on his shoulder — his other family members had followed their noses to the Golden Griddle Diner. Celevon Werd'a had gone up to order the essentials and gather menus whilst his twin sister and her wife located a free corner booth.

Though they wouldn’t admit it out loud, for all his paranoia, the male with their party did have a tendency to be right once in a while. In this case, it was due to the fact that it offered an excellent view of a majority of the Diner, with the entrance in clear view.

The Seeker waited patiently as he had swiftly gathered the menus, then moved to stand by where orders could be placed or paid for — there weren’t many signs within the establishment, unfortunately — to wait for an employee to be available. He was hardly going to complain; it gave his sister and Oath-sworn the time to find seating, which would make some early ordering easier on the staff.

After just a minute, a younger-looking Pantoran approached Celevon with a smile. “Already know what you would like, sir?”

“For our actual meal, we’ll wait until we’ve perused the menus,” the Shaevalian-Umbaran explained pleasantly, with a small smile of his own in return. The heaven-sent aromas, especially the scent of freshly brewed caf, never failed to put him in a better mood. “However, we would like a pot of Corellian breakfast blend tea. And one cup of caf…” His organic eye flitted up to the menu above the Pantoran’s head and his eyebrow rose in surprise — the other had been utterly eradicated in a severe injury he received years earlier that resulted in the need for a cybernetic replacement of his left eye, the entire brow section, half of his lower left cheekbone and part of the forehead above it — at the amount of available options. As he caught sight of one in particular, that brow rose even more. “The Kyataran Mild with lavender-infused honey.”

Syk looked at all the pies so many choices, she wasn’t sure. “Uh you can choosse one for me, please. I have a really hard time deciding. ”

“Oh, that’s okay. Here, let me just…”

Soza held up the ingot, manipulating it gently into his claw tips. Then, he focused. Its mass was low, easy to fully encapsulate in his mind’s eye. With a deep breath in, he pulled back his fingers, and the ingot remained suspended in place, floating loosely.

“We’ll call that end the arrow.”

He pointed, then brought a claw to his thumb, pulled it tight, and gave the ingot a good flick right at its edge. The loose strip of metal spun in place, whirling around through air thickened by his effect on it, until its momentum finally slowed. When it came to a halt, Soza followed his makeshift arrow, then grinned.

He snatched the credit ingot from the air and raised a hand, trying to wave over anyone behind the counter. “One apple-cinnamon pie, please! Is this enough?”

“Aye, I’ll be with them. And that sounds quite lovely, thank you,” Celevon replied, reaching into the side-pouch of his tactical shoulder-holster. He started counting out ingots, then gave the slightest shake of his head as he overheard the response toward the other two who were ordering.

The Seeker shifted his hand to the opposite side and retrieved three, one-ounce silver pieces. He slowly withdraw his hand, making it clear it was not a threatening gesture and levitated the coins toward the employee at the host’s stand. “One of these are for the young gentleman serving those two,” he murmured just loud enough for the Pantoran to hear, nodding toward Ray, then continued in a normal pitch. “This should cover my party. Let me know if more is needed.”

~(|)~

-# <@1385116824814878940>

Back with Marius, Weyr and Laoch, in the Main Hub area

As the Evereni began stumbling over his speech, clearly flustered, the part-Shaevalian’s grin softened into a smile. He could sense the uptick in the Doctor’s anxieties and near-equal levels of embarrassment.

Before it could begin to reach panic-level nerves, Marius released the hand he had previously grasped lightly, stepped into Weyr’s personal space and gently cupped the other man’s cheek. “Yes, I would love to be in a relationship with you. I was planning to ask if our dinner date went well, but your mind and body answered any remaining questions I may have had well before.”

The Shadow’s smile brightened as the Medic began to visibly calm down. “Though, you’re still going to have to wait until after we eat to steal any kisses.”

All at once, Weyr’s fears dissipated while he leaned his head softly against Marius’s hand and caressed the man’s hand with his thumb in gentle circles. His body finally relaxing before kissing the top of Half-Sephi’s hand . Chuckling softly, Weyr’s heart soared at the Ranger’s declaration as his dark eyes softened. He then smiled fondly at the man.

“I am a patient man, Marius. How about we get some nice clothes for our date and then find somewhere to eat?”

He stepped near the Ranger’s left side and snaked his right arm around behind Marius. Wrapping it around his waist, the doctor pulled him close as he whispered.

“Boyfriend does have a nice ring to it.”

Laoch had curled up on Marius’s right shoulder and was now taking a peaceful nap, his little tail twitching softly. Weyr then smirked at his companion.

“I am glad he has taken a shine to you Marius. You are one of few I’ve ever seen him be comfortable with. So my dear boyfriend shall we make our way to the clothing? I would be glad to guide the way.”

He grinned as he then let go and took Marius’s left hand in his. “Ready?”

Soza’s attention followed the server’s gesture. “Heated seats? What the heck, what’s awesome!”

He handed over the ingot to the server, then stuffed his pouch back into his bag. With a twist and a shuffle, he looped his body back into its straps and shoved off the counter. “Come on, let’s check it out!” <@1385116824814878940> <@244244163002892288>

Syk raised an eyebrow. “Heated sseats sounds nice.” She then followed Soza out to look at these heated seats, her serpentine body slithering across the floor.

The bag slipped back off and slumped atop the table. Soza settled onto the heated bench cross-legged. Ever curious, he leaned and twisted around, looking for any sign of a flame, engine, vent, whatever made it work. A leg fully extended out to counterbalance as he tried to look underneath.

Ah, he’d figure it out later. Soza straightened out and pulled himself upright, then started rummaging through his bag again.

“So what kinda stuff do you whittle? The folks back home do decorations and trinkets and all that sometimes, but most of our wood goes to like… homes, and tinder, and bowls - you know, the kinda stuff they just make with metal and glass out here. Gotta be that you make some neat things if you don’t have to worry about all that, right?” <@1385116824814878940>

Syk smiled at the inquisitive Soza while she slid in next to him and coiled herself up into a more seated position, taking care not to have her tail dangling out where people could trip over it.

“Well, a lot of times I would make small animals, toys, plants or individuals, just depends a lot on how I felt or what seemed right.” In the small pouch she carried, she pulled out her whittling tools and placed them on the table along with a piece of wood. “And yeah, if you didn’t have to worry about making things to survive, though, making little things takes far less wood than, say, a house.” She chuckled softly. As she looked at Soza, she took her knife and began to whittle away at the wood as she started to carve; her second set of arms slipped out as she used all four to work on the new project. “Tell me Soza, what sort of things do you enjoy doing as hobbies or for fun?”

“Well, I guess I spent a lotta time back home with all the animals - at least the friendly ones. The not-so-friendly ones are kinda tricky to visit. And I like music! Not like making it, I can’t really do that, but listening is good.”

On that note, Soza finally fished out his cheap headphones and an outdated music player. He pulled them over his head but offset so only the ear away from Syk was listening, and hit play. His other ear tilted toward her to better focus.

“And, you know, just hanging out. Walking. Being places. New places especially.”

He started to reach back in for something else, but caught sight of the wood on the table. “Oh, wow, are you carving something right now?”

She nodded. “Yess, though whittling something more intricate and detailed does take a lot more time. Ssometimes depending on difficulty 30min to even weeks.” She replied softly. “Music! Yesss, I like music, especially to lissten to while I whittle.” She smiled as she continued to whittle away at the wood. After a few minutes, she stopped and sharpened the whittling knife on her leather strap in her lower left arm. She then turned to face him as her tail swished happily. “Hanging out with you is nice, Soza; walking and adventuring in places is a lot of fun.” She then sort of quietly added. “I just never had a friend to share an experience like that with.”

Marius continued smiling as he listened to the Evereni, giving the slightest nod when he felt an impression from the Reptavian that Laoch was going to take a nap. “Yes… yes, it does, doesn’t it?”

The Shadow glanced over at the Keeradak and his smile softened before he looked back toward Weyr to reply. “I’ve always gotten along with animals moreso than other sentients. Even before I learned to use the Force consciously, I could understand them… It’s difficult to explain. But, yes, let’s go shopping. I’ll have to trust you to on whether or not something looks good on me.”

He grinned suddenly, rested his staff against his shoulder, then waved his right hand in front of his face gently to avoid waking or dislodging Laoch. “I don’t exactly know how I look or any coloration of my features… which, let me tell you, makes disguising myself with the Force a pain.”

Marius squeezed the warm hand in his left lightly as the pair started to walk, the electrostaff once again clanking with every other step.

The Seeker inclined his head in what seemed like a half-bow, half-nod with a small smile, then turned to stalk over to the table.

The moment he arrived, Rowena quirked an eyebrow in silent inquiry, which made her twin chuckle. “Yes, I ordered a pot of your favorite tea. Someone will be along with it, my coffee and to take our orders once the drinks are ready.”

That said, while Jade laughed at her wife’s predictability, Celevon slid into the booth, taking the open spot in the corner. This way, his back was to the wall and he could see everything.

Then the Shaevalian-Umbaran passed the other menus to the two females to peruse.

Weyr’s grin became a little wider as he walked alongside his boyfriend. I have a boyfriend now. He chuckled softly, this giddy, happy feeling welling up in him. So this is what it’s like to be what’s the phrase- on cloud nine. He mused to himself, enjoying the feeling as he happily walked, holding his boyfriend’s hand, making sure he wasn’t walking too fast as they made it down to the clothing store.

The doctor stopped for a moment and opened the door before guiding Marius inside. He then walked him up to the counter before ringing the bell. As they waited for the store employee, Weyr got a bit closer and looked over the Ranger a bit. “Well, Marius, you have some very lovely dark blond hair, gorgeous pale silver eyes, and some delightful bronze skin. I dare say you would look amazing in blues, purples, soft browns, and some greens. Of course, white, gold, and black would also look amazing on you.”

He beamed. “I think that we should get you a really nice regular travel outfit and a formal.” He grinned. “I say formal cause well, Tasha’vel is gonna be having this masquerade party, and I sort of wanted you to be able to come.”

He took the ticket that Tasha’vel had given to him and placed it in his hand. “This is what she told me to give to anyone I wanted to come, and well..I would like you to come.” He smiled. “So I want to help you pick out something that looks amazing, dashing, and downright handsome on you, Marius. So it may take us some time, but by the end you will be walking out with nicer, more comfortable wear and something to dazzle the eye of everyone around you.” He grinned as he murmured. “And to take my breath away.”

Since Karracca, Treel, Reece, and everyone else he knew was off doing their own things, Kalen had to do the rounds and pick up the cash drops for the laundry business and meet with clients for the Peach Cider Brewery. Considering he pregnant fiance had also given him a long grocery list, it was shaping up to be a very long day for the Plagueian Jedi.

He and ine of the Ugnaught loaded the 10 cases of Cider onto a grav slev in the Shame Corners docking bay and made their way inside.

“Alright, you go refill the drink coolers and pick up the cash drop from the store, I’ll go grab the cash box from the laundromat and chat with the manager. Let’s try and get out of here as quick as we can, we got alot of stops to make today.” Kalen said.

His Ugnaught companion, who was either Deel, or Makeel(he could never tell the the apart) snorted an affirmative reply and peeled off with the sled as Kalen continued on past the Seven Sins Bar and walked into the Dry Cleaners, hoping he woukd be able to quickly grab the cash and head back to the ship.

Newt steps into the station, dressed in a much more relaxed outfit than normal. She still kept her helmet and armour plates over the vital spots, but switched out the bodysuit for a more comfy pair of cargo pants and hot pink jacket.

She looked back out to the docking area yelling “Good luck with the race Adi, and try to bring my speeder back in one piece this time okay!” Before wandering deeper into the station.

It was rare for Newt to find herself in a bar, despite being stationed on Coruscant she often avoided the bars and kept herself sober. But the galaxy is new and maybe she’d been missing out all this time. But helmet set she pushes in further to see what she can find.

With nothing is catching her immediate attention, Newt wanders up to the bar and takes a seat. She waits patiently for the bartender, drumming her fingers on her vambrace.

A very tall teal colored bird-like lady with rainbow feathered hair, two red tendrilled antennae, and a pair of magnificent batlike wings folded neatly like a cape around her, came shuffling into the seven sins bar. Her scarlet eyes scanned the room as she made her way up to the bar counter. Clacking noises could be heard with each step of her digitigrade taloned feet while she walked. Salni finally made it to the barstool of the Seven Sins Bar and hopped up on it, waiting now for the bartender.

Newt looks up towards Salni “Ma’am” Nodding her head towards her. “Not sure we’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”

The 7'3" lady turned her head, looking down towards the female human. Newt watched as her rainbow feathers changed to completely green as her purple beak smiled and scarlet eyes seemed to sparkle a bit more. As she spoke, her voice has this melodic soft to it, along with a sort of small squawk sound before she talked. “Rarrk I don’t think so either, my name is Salni.”

“Newt Dara, what brings you here?”

“Rawwrk I came in to relax, enjoy a drink or two and..” She smiled warmly. “Get to know folks. I sort of been a lone mercenary kind of lady and thought it would be good for me to perhaps socialize a bit more.” her black clawed right hand rested on the table as she began to drum the counter herself without thinking about it.

“Socialising does sound like a good idea, any ideas on what drinks are served here? I’ve not exactly taken the time to drink before.”

“Rawrk Makes two of us.” She chortled a bit. “I don’t even remember what drink I got here last.” She tapped a clawed finger against her beak. “I think they have a drink menu.” She scanned the counter and caught sight of a drink menu. “Here we are lets see…” She began to pour over the list to Newt. There were all kinds of ales, wines, lagers, and mixed drinks such names as Whyren’s reserve, Tatooine Sunrise, Correllian Ale, Black Sun Pilsner, and Shame Corner IPA, one of their home brewed beers. For wines, they had Moscatos, Spritzers, varied Reds and White wines. “Well this certainly makes choosing more difficult.”

“It does…” Newt spends some time scanning the menu, reading the ingredients of each drink. “I think I might go with a Tatooine Sunrise.”

“Certainly new, but my face is rather old. What can you tell me about the Tatooine Sunrise?”

“Sweet is good, means I won’t have to taste the alcohol. And yeah, it was nice that we were allowed to express ourselves to some degree.” Newt takes off her helmet, her green hair falling messily over her face, small shoots of grey amassing at the roots of her fringe and temples. “But it was somewhat comforting knowing there were others like you.”

“*Rawrk*Thank you, I still love the tattoos you have on your golden skin.” She smiled as her hair now turned an beautiful shade of orange. “I think I will also have a tatooine sunrise.”

The man known as “Saint” sat a few seats down from where Salni and Newt were. He was sipping on a glass of Tevraki whiskey, mostly keeping to himself despite occasionally glancing over at the duo with a pair of orange compound eyes. A S'yktri and a Clone sitting at a bar sounded like the beginning to a bad joke, but it made him crack a grin nonetheless.

“Sir” Newt nods her head towards the man. “You can sit closer if you wish, I most certainly don’t bite. That and it’d be easier to have a conversation.”

“Hm? Oh. Sure. Wouldn’t mind a bit of company while I enjoy my drink.”

Taro rose from his seat to a lofty seven-foot-two. He wore an armor that was rugged in appearance, reminiscent of the kind of attire that many cutthroats operating in the Outer Rim did, but the beskar plates were unmistakably Imperial in design for those who know what they were looking for.

A pair of star-spurs clinked and rattled with each step he took. “Thanks,” he said while sitting next to her. Then, he nodded to the other patron she had been speaking to as well.

<@1385116824814878940>

“Fancy armour, not sure I’ve seen anything like that before”

“Thank you, let’s see what my brothers were talking about every time they invited me to a bar on Coruscant.” Newt will start sipping on her drink.

Salni was actually impressed. “Wait, you are tall as well!” and was actually excited that someone else was about as tall as she was. She stood up briefly to show her full seven-foot-three height to Taro. “See?”

Newt slinks down, shadowed by the taller people sat around her.

Taro quirked a hairless brow at the bartender before shaking his head. Then, he returned his attention to his fellow patrons. “Thanks. Picked it up off a real drukhead of an Imp. Puttin’ it to better use, too.”

His eyes drifted up to Salni when she rose to her full height. “Impressive. Not many folks’ runnin’ around as tall, or taller, than me.”

“What brings you ladies to this shameful nook of the Hydian Way?”

<@421348712673968142> <@1385116824814878940>

“Conversation, drinks? I’m not entirely sure… just something to do after not really being around in the galaxy for a while.” Newt stares into her drink.

“As an aside what’s an Imp?”

“I just kind of came in here for a drink and to see basically who I might run into. Sort of just trying to get by in the Galaxy, but thought it might be nice to perhaps make a friend or two in this life.”

“An Imperial,” he said, “The bastards who murdered a whole host of folks and enslaved even more after the Republic and the Jedi fell.” He found it odd that a clone didn’t know these details, but she did say she hadn’t been around for a while. “You been out of commission for sixty-some-odd years?”

Taro paused for a moment or two to consider Salni’s words. “Havin’ a few friends you can trust is good, especially dependin’ on your line of work,” he said, raising his glass. “To friendship.”

“Something like that, I’ve only been awake you could put it for a couple of years. I was frozen around 20-21 BBY to my knowledge”

“That’s rough, bud,” he said, “But at least you missed out on a lot of terrible druk that the galaxy had to go through.”

“I’m surprised to be honest, It’s hard to believe the Jedi fell, that and the republic being destroyed.”

She raises her glass. To friendship! So wow, you were frozen for so long you don’t remember a lot.“ She replies turning to Newt. "Huh, that is rough, Me I just been on the run for a long time.” She sits there twirling her cup. “I still have some bad blood after me, always have had to stay one step ahead cause I never had anyone to help me with them.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, hopefully it’ll be resolved”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Governments come and go like the weather now. Republic falls, Empire rises. Then the New Republic, then the First Order. Now the New Republic again.

"It’s why I keep my business far from the Core where things are more insulated from the new regime of the decade.”

He took a long sip of his whiskey to finish it off, then tapped a finger on the glass to signal to the bartender that he wanted another.

“What kinda bad blood?” he asked Salnk.

<@421348712673968142> <@244244163002892288> <@1385116824814878940>

“I wonder if that New Republic has space for someone like me. I don’t know why but I just have the need to be with them as a soldier…”

Taro visibly tensed at that admission, but did his best to play it off. “Plenty of opportunities for soldiers that don’t involve rubbin’ elbows with the Pubs.”

“I know that, Adi and I have been drifting recently, one race to another… I don’t know, It just feels like I’m missing something.” Newt continues to sip on her drink. “Are you okay?”

A drink couldn’t be the worst thing, right? Ellisyn Kendis pondered the excuse as she walked through the Shame Corner towards the Seven Sins Bar. Her broad shoulders were slouched lower, an invisible weight pushing her down. The woman crossed the threshold and made her way towards the bar and took a seat, the stool creaking as she tried to relax. She raised a hand towards the bartender, reserving her words.

While she waited, she listened to the various conversations surrounding her. The voice of a certain green haired individual stole her attention near immediately, their accent more familiar than her apartment. It was one she grew up hearing from her aunt and uncles, and it piqued her curiosity, as well as worried her.

Newt takes notice of the woman walking into the bar. “Nice to meet you,” Newt smiles at Ellisyn, “Would you like to join us?”

For a moment, Elly thought the individual was talking to someone else. Surely they weren’t that friendly. But she looked around and the only one Newt could be talking to was her.

“Oh, uh, sure,” the Kendis said, barely managing to hide her hesitance. Seeing some of the other individuals in armor made her all the more aware that she was without hers, dressed simply in her casual wear.

“What brings you to a place like this? We’ve all been passing that question about.”

“Well it’s a bar so I thought I’d treat myself to a drink while I was passing through. What about you?” Ellisyn couldn’t help but be withholding, but she made sure to keep her tone light to try and come off as friendly still.

“Well it was on the way between races, and I thought I’d see what drinking was like, after all my brothers often made a lot of fuss about it.” Newt takes a sip of her drink, before passing over the menu “What’s your poison?”

With a voice like that and the mention of brothers, Elly’s mind drifted to stories from her family about their shared nights at 79’s long before she was born.

“Once I can get Ira’s attention, I’m hoping cider. Do you usually drink before you race?”

“Oh I don’t race, I’m more there to fix the things that break, and no I don’t, Adi said she wanted to do this one alone so, I asked to be dropped off here.”

“Well I’m glad to hear you aren’t endangering the other racers. I’m assuming you and this Adi are partners?” She made sure not to specify whether or not romance was involved, allowing the stranger the opportunity to explain.

“We sure are, she’s been great. Keeps me busy and helps with dealing with the nightmares. That and she enjoys having someone to help keep her cybernetics in check.”

“What’s a mechanic doing wearing armor plating in a bar?” Elly asked, finally going for something less surface level. “The ones I know usually go for overalls.”

“Could call it tradition… but it’s more that I just feel most comfortable in my old armour.” Newt looks into the visor of her helmet. “I just like keeping a bit of the past with me, that and a connection to my brothers…”

Salni drank for a moment before answering. “Bad family blood. I’ve been hunted since birth.” She replied before looking and seeing that another had joined and was conversing with Newt.

“Ibic Manda,” he said in response to Newt’s words about honoring the past and her brethren. A quick nod acknowledged the newest patron’s presence. Then, he tapped the bottom of his cup on the table and lifted it to his lips to take another swig.

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To Salni, he shook his head. “That’s a raw deal. Sounds like you need to introduce them to the business end of a blaster.”

<@1385116824814878940>

Ibic Manda - This is the Way.

“Indeed perhaps then they will learn to stay away from me.” She smiles to him. “It’s my mother sending bounty hunters after me constantly. I’m..” She sighs. “A freak of nature, abomination, something to be purged and cleansed from the galaxy…or from what she always tells me if she happens to figure out my comms.” She took another drink. “I am so tired of running away to just live.”

“Ke’pare! Gar jorhaa’ir Mando’a?” Newt looks towards Taro confused.

Ke’pare! Gar jorhaa’it Mando’a? - Wait! You speak Mando’a?

The language the strangers used was familiar to Ellisyn but came at a surprise. It wasn’t one she heard often, and wasn’t one she always trusted. Her mother was a Jedi, and from her experience, most Mandalorians didn’t like Jedi.

“Assuming that’s Mando'a the two of you are speaking, makes sense. I’ve been told their armor is very important to them.”

She nodded back at Taro, feeling bad for not joining in on the drink.

“I believe so, at least from the small bits of training I revived from the Mandolorian instructors.”

“Mandalorian instructors?” Ellisyn asked, her voice curious. “Are you a soldier?”

“I was, unfortunately the GAR isn’t around anymore.”

“That I do,” he replied in Basic, “Closest thing to a father was Mandalorian. Taught me that and plenty more about it. Most people don’t know much about us, though. Clan Priak’s a small one. Not popular like the Vizslas or the Wren’s of the Galaxy.”

“That’s fair, I never had a familiar connection to the instructors they mostly just acted like unattached trainers.”

“Have you met many Mandalorians outside of your trainin?”

“Not really, beyond training I mostly was on coruscant especially after I was moved to the guard… I have more knowledge of dealing with Senators” newt gives a small chuckle

“We may have to fix that, then,” he said, “Some think the clones don’t count, but we’re always tryin’ to exclude someone or another. Consequence of nearly bein’ wiped out, I think.”

Then, Taro turned to the other woman who had remarked that she understood Mando'a. “And what about you? What’s your clan?”

Finally, he looked to Salni and offered a smile. “Sorry, this kinda thing always happens when we run into each other in the wild.”

<@301514304845381632> <@1385116824814878940>

The lawyer drummed her fingers on the table as she thought of something, anything, that she would be able to add to the conversation that wouldn’t give her away.

Then Taro asked her clan and she tensed. She was out of practice, he could tell she didn’t just know some words but understand it. “Kendis,” she said, not seeing a need to hide it much longer. The staff here knew of her history and the place was empty enough that she could share.

“And, in our book, clones are as Mandalorian as the rest of us.”

“Kendis… would I know that from somewhere? It sounds like it could be familiar.” Newt takes a moment to think, “but then again could be from being on ice for a couple decades..”

“My uh… My mother. She was a general in the clone wars. The 723rd was her unit,” Elly’s hesitance was palpable. She had grown up being told to never share but the clan was in the open now, she didn’t have to hide everything

“723rd… I think I might have gotten caught up with them for a mission once. Well back then I didn’t have the name Newt, I was Hazard for a rather unfortunate reason.” She thins over the hazard stripes on her helmet.

She just looked over and chuckled, then went back to working on her Tatooine Sunrise.

“Your armor looks very similar to the colors they wore during the war, so I could see why,”

“What happened to them? Surely they’d be about 60 something by this point…”

“They’re around still, living their lives. Nothing special,” Elly said, not wanting to reveal too much

“That’s nice to hear, it’d be great to see them again, or any clone to be honest…”

“Well… If you’re ever on Selen, it’s the planet most of us ended up on when we’re not out in space.”

“I’ll mark that down, should be able to visit once this racing tournament is done.”

“I’ll give you my contact information so you can let me know. They’re a paranoid bunch so I’d rather not surprise them.”

“I appreciate it, thank you.”

The former Force Cultist smiled to himself at the compliments from his new boyfriend, and decided to spare the Evereni the token reminder that he had been born blind; Marius had only learned what each color appeared as through shared memories via Telepathy. It was easy enough to forget, considering how his senses had compensated for his lack of natural sight, even without the aid of the Force.

The half-Sephi did briefly wonder why there were no sales attendants on the floor. He could sense their life energy in the back rooms, but some of the materials he had run a hand along had felt expensive.

However, the other male’s excitement was exceedingly adorable and endearing. It was only right that he return the compliment, even if it was not what most would expect to hear. “You yourself have an amazing lavender aura at the present moment, my lovely Weyr. And I shall take your word on what colors would compliment my appearance. You do plan to get something for yourself, right?”

Meanwhile, the trio of the married couple and Celevon had just been served their drinks. Now, the server stood with a pad of flimiplast, ready to take their meal orders.

Both Jade and Rowena had immediately set about preparing their tea to their preferences, so it was the Seeker that the employee of the diner focused on.

“I’ll have the number 3 breakfast special.”

The server smiled, wrote that down, then set about the specifics in their own way. “Any particular kind of eggs? Also, would you like the smoked, roasted or fried bacon?”

Celevon frowned momentarily, having missed that part as he had quickly skimmed the menu. He took a small sip of the Kyataran Medium Roast Caf. “Whatever is the cheapest, but higher in fat content and protein in the egg itself. And would it be possible to get a piece of each type of bacon?”

The younger sentient wrote that down and nodded at the question. “Certainly, doll. Did you want the optional fruit salad bowl?”

“Indeed I do.”

Grex landed his shuttle in the docking area and stepped out after the doors slid open. He stretched a bit, glad to be free of the ship’s interior. It was comfortable enough, but most ships just weren’t meant to accommodate those of his height. He’d gotten used to it, though. Mostly. But it was always good to stop and stretch his legs. He’d been busy, having previously made stops at Batuu and Takodana. Refueling as needed, as was a break. He’d done his job, so he knew the boss wouldn’t care if he lingered a bit.

As he entered the station proper, the smell of fresh caf was calling his name. Just a little wouldn’t hurt. There was always something relaxing about it for him.

“Yes I will get something as well my dear Marius. Now let’s see here.” He began to peruse through the formals. “Oh, I think I found something!” He rather joyfully pulled out a navy blue tailcoat with ornate metallic embroidery on the lapels and cuffs. It was paired with a matching waistcoat, formal trousers, a high-collared shirt, and a tie.

“Yes, I think this will look dashingly handsome on you Marius and it is a most perfect color to compliment you.”

As he looked about, he also found a rather nice traveler’s garb with a breathable brown cloak. Having found a formal and a comfortable traveling outfit, he now needed to find a salesman to help fit them properly on his boyfriend. He again went up to the bell and rang it, hoping someone would arrive. In the meantime, he went back to Marius and handed him the traveler’s clothes first.

“Here feel this and tell me if you like it or not? I want you to have something that is nice, but allows you to move and walk freely. <@248237225202941964> <@244244163002892288>

“Thank you,” Marius smiled at the earlier compliment, staff rested against his shoulder as he ran the clothing through his hands, item by item. “It feels nice. Not horribly itchy, like whatever plant-based material the Monks made their robes and other clothing from.”

After they had been waiting for a few moments, a thought struck the half-Sephi. “You know, this is only the second time I’ve ever gone shopping for clothes. I often went on grocery runs with the Monks, though they tended to buy in bulk what they couldn’t source themselves. With my father and the rest of the family, not so much; I’ve noticed they like to hunt and gather. Though Artemis — my twin sister, by the way — and her wife Ruana often take me along for their own shopping excursions. Part of Ru’s diet means they have to buy rather than source from natural materials… or it’s easier to just buy it than make it.”

Marius frowned for a moment as he realized something. “Come to think of it, other than making sushi or a sandwich, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ruana actually cook…” He shook his head then, smile returned as he glanced back at Weyr. “Sorry, my mind went off on a tangent. I like this… cloak? Or is it a coat?”

Within the Golden Griddle, Celevon Werd'a stirred a second spoonful of honey into his Kyataran Caf as his sister finished with the details of her meal order; as per usual, Jade had kept her own simple and to the point.

Whilst his own order would be considered breakfast, Jade had gone for a salad with grilled, sliced porg and some kind of crushed tree nut mixed in with the other vegetables. Rowena, on the other hand, had chosen a small spread of items that normally would be found between breakfast and lunch. Bagels, slices of cured fish, thin-sliced meats… essentially, all things he normally would use to make a sandwich with, just to annoy his twin sister for his own amusement.

As Grex ventured into the station, he changed his mind, deciding to get a quick drink instead. He could always grab some caf on his way out. He switched direction and headed to the bar.

Kalens Ugnaught engineer arrived at the Dry Cleaner Shop with an entire cart full of jerky, fudge, and various alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages and patiently waited for his ‘Captain’ to get done with his business.

He took a seat on one of the crates of chocolate fudge, ripped open a bag of jerky and cracked a bottle of Peach Cider.

He was instantly drawn to a commotion outside of the 7 Sins bar, which appeared even busier and more boisterous than usual.