Hod Haran’s Folly Gethsemane Dajorra System 42 ABY
“Kelviin, everyone is going to be here soon and we need to finish up the sign. What if we get our first potential investor!”
A rumbling roar responded, followed by a robotic voice projecting from a datapad.
*[DID NOT BRING VEST. AM SORRY] *
Zig pinched the bridge of her nose. “No, buddy, investors like the folks that will pay us credits and back our business so it can grow.”
[SHOP SMALL. NOT ROOM GROW] Kelviin’s datapad explained, but then grayscale Wookiee shrugged and went back to working on the shops overhead sign with a blowtorch.
Behind the metallic, smooth counter, Zig chewed on one of her nails nervously. Everything was happening so quickly. She had spent all night arranging the displays- a mixture of prototypes and completed designs, reconditioned chronometers, neatly organized auxiliary couplers and droid accessories, and of course her pride and joy, her collection of modifications.
The scavenger from a small backwater junker town wore her best clothes…which happened to be the black nerf-leather jacket Vez had gotten her with the choker-like neck-collar, a clean white shirt with no smudges on it, black leather pants and matching boots that would be comfortable for her to be on her feet for long periods of time.
She had set aside a few bottles of spirits, as well as some different kinds of motor oil for any mechanical-patrons that might stop by as well.
She had run out of things to keep her hands busy, so now she glanced at her comm, glanced out towards the arrival docks, and anxiously waited.
Alex checked himself one more time briefly in the mirror. He was wearing a more traditional “formal” outfit this time - a simple black tuxedo with silver Mythosaur skull cuff-links and an azure blue ruffled shirt, worn over a pair of igua-jaw leather dress shoes capped and heeled in polished beskar. Nodding to himself that everything seemed to be in order, he stepped into the private turbolift that ran down the central spine of the station, headed for the first level to attend a store opening on the market level - both because making an appearance was important as the owner and proprietor of the Folly and also because it was personally important to him to support Zig’s endeavors.
Zig fidgeted a bit with her hydro spanner. She wanted to send a few more messages, but tried to keep from sending too many.
“Scooter, make sure to stay out of the way, but get some snapshot still for the holosite and advertising.”
Mune handed over a datapad to the dock hand while their younger sibling chirped some nonsense or another behind them. The Voidbreaker II loomed over them. The worker’s eyes scanned the information he was presented with before eyeing the white-furred Shistavanen.
“Captain, she far exceeds the recommended cycles before undergoing a proper maintenance check. If you would only permit our team…”
Mune arched a brow, ruby eyes gleaming. The man fell silent. “Are you suggesting my Head Engineer’s maintenance routine is inadequate?”
Carr snorted somewhere behind them.
“Not at all, Captain. I just mean…”
“Run whatever diagnostics you need to satisfy your misgivings,” Mune turned to walk away, only halting their stride to shoot over their shoulder, “Touch nothing, or you’ll get to hear from Kaliska, directly.”
“How do you think Draconis will react when he catches wind you were scaring the maintenance crew?” Carr grinned.
The older Shista gave a light noncommittal shrug, their eyes scanning the shops as they strode past. Together they walked the Market District. It was their first time on the Hod Haran’s Folly, and the sights were new and interesting. Ultimately, if it took spooking the maintenance crew a little to convince them to keep their hands off their crew’s work… Mune also knew well enough they were not all that intimidating. Caleb would have broken the man with a look. “I trust our Engineering team and Zig to keep on top of them… and you.”
“And you don’t trust these guys.”
“Not necessarily. I do not know them. I do know our team. And I do know Zig,” Mune explained, attention wandering as they studied one of the many storefronts.
“I am super stoked to see her shop!” Carr exclaimed with a widening grin.
“Did she say where her shop was?” Mune inquired.
“Near the public transit docks. I doubt she thought you’d dock the Voidbreaker II.”
“The crew could benefit from some R&R, not to mention it encourages them to take the opportunity to support our Executive Officer,” Mune explained.
Carr snorts, “R&R?”
“Rest and…”
“I know what it means. Hearing you use it on the other paw,” Carr teased. “Next you’ll be using contractions.”
Carr’s BD droid poked its head over the younger Shista’s shoulder and chirped.
“I am sure he is taking your side…” Mune asked dryly.
“Of course he is,” Carr exclaimed.
They rounded another corner, the public transit docks coming into view further along. It would not be long before they were nearing Zig’s shop.
Zig still didn’t understand how the Force worked. Yet she had learned to pick up, at least, on the faint pings to her awareness when it came to the people who made up her world. Other feelings, emotions, were too vaugue to really translate, but her friends?
She could sense Carr’s unwaivering, hyper-kinetic energy like a beacon. Mune’s presense was calm and steady and even by contrast. Still, she could tell both were coming.
She started to re-clean the already cleaned counter, like an NPC in a holovid game remembering it should be doing its idle animation.
As Zig went about her idle animation, a heavily armored figure sidled up to the counter. A highly modified, green T-visored helmet clunked onto the counter as a voice, gentle and almost melodic, but confident spoke.
“I’d like to buy the most expensive thing in the shop. But I only have about fifty credits and a crisp high-five. Can we make a deal?”
A woman with green skin, much lighter than that of her helmet leaned on the helmet, having to push up onto her tippy toes to strike this pose. She allowed a single lekku to fall over her shoulder and drape over the shopkeep’s hand.
“L'ara!” Zig squeaked excitedly, her entire face lighting up. She seemed to quickly remember herself, however, and coughed into her hand.
“I mean, hello…good patron! 50-credits and a crisp high-five go a long way at…” she hesitated to say the business name and instead moved to grab a trinket from one of the organized boxes.
“Could I interest you in this here gadget? It’s a chemical compound that’s safe for visors and vidscreens alike, but also leaves behind a thin layer of weather-proof protection in case of rain! Water will just bead right up on that sexy T-Visor and keep your targets in your sights no matter the weather!”
She fidgeted the entire time she spoke, despite her heart fluttering with excitement at not just her first customer, but also getting a L'ara sighting out of it.
L'ara always liked or reacted to the short-form clips of silly things she sent her, but they didn’t actually text or talk much beyond that.
“Hmm, that sounds pretty useful. How much can I order to have delivered? I want to hear about some of your other stock, but consider that sold.”
The Twi'lek flashed a smile and held up a plasti-card that bore the name of one of the major banking guilds in the galaxy as well as the name Irian'Jaxerias Erinos Settgré.
Jax had said the card was “FoR eMeRgEnCiEs OnLy,” but helping a fellow Arconan in her ventures seemed pretty emergent. Plus she was acquiring useful resources for the Erinos efforts. It was a win win.
It was true that she and Zig had never become overly close, but she knew the woman by reputation, and could remember every mission that they had both worked on. Things always worked better when Zig was around.
As the turbolift doors opened, Alex’s personal autorickshaw awaited him. The two-wheeled device swiftly carried the station owner out through the roadways of Hod Haran’s Folly toward the market district, coming to a stop just outside the public transit docks. He checked his datapad quickly, and looked up at a shop whose sign was somewhat obscured by the foliage of one of the many semi-artificial trees which lined the avenue. Trusting in his administrative staff to keep the records correct, he stepped through the entrance boldly.
“Well then, I am given to understand that somewhere around here is a shop where one may come across all manner of knick-knacks, doodads, and thingamajigs of a technological nature,” the jovial tone of his booming voice filled the entry space of the shop.
“For you, hot-lekks, I’m sure we can work out a volume pricing discount for the ‘Erinos’,” she made air quotes with one hand, but then quickly winced.
She couldn’t be so formal with customers. What if they were easily offended by having their Lekku referenced as “hot”? Was that rude? L'ara wouldn’t mind, but maybe another potential customer would be put off. Grr.
She heard the Captain’s–er, Quaestor now but still chain-of-authority–voice and stiffened her posture.
She quickly slid sideways towards Alex’s approach. “Nice suite, boss. And yessiree, we’ve got all your knacks for the knicking and gizmos and gadets galore! Welcome.”
She made a mock curtsey despite the fact that she was wearing nothing remotely a dress.
“Dude, blocking the entrance,” Carr called out from behind the Quaestor.
The older Shistavanen raised a paw and waved from behind the Human before slipping past him at the entrance to get into the shop proper. “Hello Zig, the shop looks exceptional.”
Carr followed, the one out of the two siblings that could explain what each item in the shop did. His eyes were practically alight as he took in the setup. It was definitely what he expected and he loved it, “Oh man, boss, the place looks awesome! You’ll totally kick tail with this setup!”
“Carr!” Zig exclaimed, moving deftly past Alex to address the young Shista.
“Glad you’re here, but if I catch you re-arranging, re-jiggering, re-programming, re…anything my stuff, I will turn you into a droid puppet for the display window. Ya ‘ken?”
She then immediately made a high pitched noise and threw her arms around Mune to give them a hug. “Oh Captain my Captain, thank you for coming by!”
She took a step back, and gestured to all the different assortment of “Things” and “Stuff”.
Carr huffed, ears splayed, “Aw… come on… we come to support an’ you’re already makin’ me out to be a troublemaker.”
“And?” Mune asked, attention turning toward the Zygerian. The embrace was returns, the high pitched noise was not. “I would not pass up the opportunity to support my friend. I have actually docked the ship so that everyone be given the opportunity to visit if they wish. Or to enjoy the station in its entirety,” they noted to Alex.
Zigs ears flattened slightly. “T-the whole ship? Oh…I didn’t want to distract from operations, I’m sorry,” she bit her lip.
She idly ruffled Carrs hair as she noticed him eyeing one of her stacks of circuitry.
Mune grinned, “If there ever were an occasion to dock the ship… support of her Chief Engineer is definitely among them. Not to mention, the crew could do with some R&R.”
“Mune threatened the maintenance crew on the dock if htey touched anything. They wanted to do maintenance,” Carr threw in conversationally while studying one of Zig’s doodads without touching. “I thought they were going to bite the guy.”
“I did not even bare my teeth!” Mune argued.
“Your hackles were up and your ears were at half mast.” Carr muttered, “And your tail went rigid… the only thing you didn’t do was bare your teeth.”
“Like I said… I did not even bare my teeth,” they sighed and muzzle palmed.
“You should have just bit him.”
“Ugh…”
‘Hot-lekks?’
That was pretty familiar, not that L'ara minded at all. The Twi'lek absentmindedly twirled the tip of her lekku and picked up the bottle to inspect it.
“Does it work on all surfaces? Or just screens and visors?”
“There is no amonia in it, so it’s safe for most screens, datapads, etc. If you wanted to use it more for larger-scale things like viewports and such, you would need…this!” she pointed over at a new section of solutions and solvents with various colored liquids stored in repurposed barrels, tanks, and jugs.
“Whose lekku are feeling feverish, exactly, Zigar'ashe?” came a growling timbre from the door. It was accompanied by a massive figure ducking underneath the frame, straightening on the inside with a quirked brow. Large wolven ears stood tall and cocked forward in attention, a glorious head of silver-streaked reddish-brown hair tied up neatly in a bun of the “man” variety with a few pieces falling free to be hip and loose. A one-sleeved novelty T shirt hugged a furry, wide chest and was screen printed with Zig’s face as she fixed something, clearly a candid shot, and subtitled by the text Best Engineer In the Stars. Below that were loose slack pants that ended before one robotic and one furred lycan foot.
Jax Erinos Settgré looked between his ade and his former Captain with bright blue lupine eyes.
Alex casually drifted off to the side, ostensibly perusing the various goods on display, but in actuality just observing the goings-on in the shop. There wasn’t a lot on sale here that was of particular appeal to him - he generally had little use for technological odds-and-ends - but it was important to keep a finger on the pulse of the station in order to best meet the needs of its clientele. One good way to do that was to hang out amidst the market shops and pay attention to what the chatter was about, and then translate that into needs or wants that could be addressed. And so, he stood, and pretended to browse, and watched, and listened.
L'ara quickly secreted the plasti-card away as her other hand dropped from her lekku when she heard the familiar voice.
“Jax! Great tooo… see you. Just browsing? Checking out what our friend has available?”
Mune shifted towards Alex. They leaned in and whispered, “Any idea what any of this stuff does…?”
Carr stayed out ofn the way, checking out the different bits and pieces. Careful not to ruin any of the displays. He was practically beaming with excitement for his friend and mentor.
“Other than ‘Makes Zig happy’, not the slightest clue,” the older Mandalorian replied. “One of the most important lessons I have learned in my long life is to never ask a techie what something does, lest they choose to demonstrate.”
“YOU WORE IT!” Zig squeed, her emotions welling up into a radiant warmth that spread through her body. She almost bodied past the others to hug the towering hybrid.
“Thank you for your patronage,” she said in Zygerrian.
Her ears perked slightly at the conversation.
“The goal is to hopefully be able to cover anything you would buy in a regular store… with similar quality, but not the markup. The cost-saving for our EBITA is powered by my willingness to refurbish and recycle perfectly good parts, as long as folks don’t mind it being a bit..imperfect.”
She gestures to a DL-44 blaster with a modified stock on the rack. It was a very common weapon so a good example. “So for example, this not only has a better hair trigger and stock, but I can sell it for 5,000 credits less because I could build a DL-44 in my sleep and all it takes is some good old elbow grease.”
She paused and looked at Carr and whispered conspiratorially, “No, there isn’t actually a bottle of elbow grease here…just skill-z”.
That was what Marick had told her, at least, and he was smart and did spreadsheets for fun.
As the others browsed and talked she checked her phone. She had sent a message to Zuza but mostly just to let her know everything was okay and not to worry.
The more nervous text she sent still was unread.
“` Hiii Vez. I’m sure you’re super busy, but just wanted to invite you to my shops opening. Rocking the jacket, hopefully the customers dig it 😎
Attachment: <Zig.Selfie-14.image> ”`
“Caleb said he’d be around later. He and Ro were running diagnostics… mostly Ro… on his ship.” Carr pulled out his datapad while eyeing another component, “They’ll be picking up a potential investor to introduce to you.”
Mune rolled their eyes, “Maybe do not make our venerable host more nervous than she already has been.”
“What? Better than springin’ it on her. Who likes a surprise business contact… kinda lame.” Carr argued.
The older Shistavanen looked to Alex almost pleadingly. “This. This is what I deal with. All this. Right there. In an annoying package that is short an inch of being taller than me. There is no decency in this universe.”
Zig shook her head. “Having all of you here helps,” she said in earnest. “Investors sound awesome, great work Carr,” she ruffled his hair again.
“Also…would anyone care to share a celebratory drink? I made a batch of Mos Kenny Moonshine to make the occasion. Also have good old sparkling water for those that don’t…”
She moved behind the main counter to take out a ceramic and glass jug with a small tap, a bottle of sparkling water that she placed in an insulated “bowl” filled with smokey-ice, and a row of tiny glasses all made from different shapes and colored glass that she had repurposed from larger and other broken transparisteel sheets.
Carr spun on the spot and grinned, “I’ll take some moon—”
“You will not,” Mune did not even turn from Alex to cut off their brother. “You will enjoy a glass of sparkling water.”
“Oh come on! This is a celebration!” Carr huffed and rolled his eyes.
“Sorry, son,” Alex chuckled a bit. “Drinking age on the Folly is ‘any, or whatever their legal guardian says.’” He moved over to grab a glass and inspected it for a moment before going for the Moonshine. “Interesting artistry. Good aesthetics, though I imagine it must be hell on the measurment…”
Zig’s comm beeped the beep of an incoming message. It read:
That jacket looks great
Then:
It would look even better on me
Then:
Just like your girlfriend
The last message was accompanied by a moving image of a small reptile, captioned ‘heheheheheheheheheh’ in a scrolling marquee.
But yeah, just tell me where
Zig hummed to herself as she started to pour, glancing at Jax for his preference and L'ara as well.
Then she saw her comm buzz on the table. Then the notification was pushed to her wrist chrono. Then she read the messages.
It was a good thing her skin was already a pale auburn color, so her only reaction to the message was a slight darkening under her cheeks. She shook it off, focusing on the task at hand, and sent a quick reply back by swiping out the message on her wrist with a thin finger.
Phrasing-boom!-but probably intentional! as well as the docking bay and coordinates.
In walked a slim figure in subtly elegant dress, a cowl with tall ears peaking through and a slender muzzle. A beautifully kept white-furred tail flowed freely from the soft fabric of the canine’s attire. Eyes, one a striking ruby, the other wicked amber in a soft and delicately featured face. Behind her strode the imposing figure of Caleb. They spoke to one another in familiar tones before she was left to her own devices and the Togorian approached Mune from behind.
“My love,” Mune greeted, turning with a soft smile.
“Hey, Cal! Mune won’t let me have any moonshine!” Carr grumbled.
The stranger approached Zig. She was maybe 5'6". Slender with the slightest of weight around her middle, telltale of one who has borne children into the world. It only made her more beautiful. Looking into her face was like looking at a slightly more delicately featured Mune. White fur and all, even her way of smiling and how her eyes sparked. “Lady Kaliska, I presume, proprietess of this shop?”
Her gaze shifted to take in the shop with another look reminiscent of the Voidbreaker II’s captain.
Zig blinked. The family resemblance was unmistakable. She frowned only because the name didn’t immediately jump to her mind. Was she a bad friend?
Zig was pouring a small glass but forgot to stop, distracted, and it overflowed. She made a little squeak and quickly moved to clean up the mess.
“I er, yes, that’s me! Hello there!” she smiled and waved awkwardly.
She arched a brow, her smile widening, “I wished to introduce myself. Aimi Cinteroph,” she extended a hand.
Mune glanced past Caleb, an impish grin splitting their muzzle. Carr nearly snorted trying to hold back a giggle when Zig overpoured. Caleb could only roll his eyes at the two and their amusement.
Zig blinked, her memory serving her better now as the mechanical part of her brain actually decided to make itself useful. She took the hand gently and shook it. “Oh. My, Lady Cinteroph it is an honor!” the Zygerrian bounced in place. “Carr and Mune have become so important to our crew,” she quickly added, “and Caleb, of course,” before the weapon specialist could give her a look. “
She was beautiful, and if she had the same heart as Mune and Carr, she knew she was in good company.
The older woman’s smile brightened that much more, even her mistmatched eyes shone with warmth. “I’m glad you and others have come to accept them so readily. Such kindness is often difficulty to come by in this galaxy.”
Her smile dimmed back down to something a little sterner and her eyes steely. She cleared her throat softly and spoke in a business-like tone, “I’ve come to understand you are looking for investors. To that end, I imagine you are prepared to present your mission and business strategy?”
It became clear who Carr was referring to when he had mentioned a potential investor. She may have stood only 5'6", but her presence seemed all the larger. “Of course, that can wait until after celebrations. Already, I’m pleased with what I’ve seen, with shop and proprietor both.”
“I-I’d be happy to share the presentation deck, but would love for you to simply join in an take a look around and maybe I can talk about some things.
She nods, “Of course, after the celebration of your grand opening. This is a day to enjoy.
"Mom! Mune won’t let me have any of Zig’s moonshine!”
“We’ll talk business, I’m certain if I am uncertain about your range of products, I can approach you or my son, Carr.” She pitched her voice so Carr could hear, “You are fourteen and are not touching the moonshine.”
“Told you so,” Mune muttered.
“Laaaame,” Carr whined.
Caleb rubbed at the bridge of his nose, “I need something for my head…”
“Really, thank you, Lady Kaliska, for mentoring Carr as you have. He never had real friends until you and the Tenbriss Ya-ir siblings.”
“He has a good head on his shoulders, all I have to do is make sure it stays there,” Zig grinned at the Cinteroph Matron. “He’s already better at slicing than I was at his age. But he has access to better resources so…”
Alex raised his glass of moonshine and inspected it again in the light. With fluid filling it, the colored glass it was constructed of shone a bit differently in a fairly fascinating way.
“Just so long as he does not try to test those slicing skills around the station. I am afraid my Chief of Security is a rather humorless sort, even for the innocent mischief of youth. I genuinely do not believe Berik was ever a child.”
Zig slid her sandy eyes towards Carr.
“I can feel you looking at me,” Carr grumbled at Zig. “I promise not to mess with the station’s systems.”
“See? He promises,” Zig grinned. She made sure everyone had a glass.
“Anyway, thank you again to everyone for attending. I appreciate it more than you know,” she smiled as she took her shot. It was clear and smokey, but not too sharp as she’d diluted it a bit for the sake of others.
“If everyone doesn’t mind, Scooter’s going to take some pictures for the holovid ads we’re going to try out.”
Scooter did just that, and from her wrist comm, Zig sent a picture or two to Vez with a [🤓 ] emoji next to it.
Carr mumbled something under his breath and accepted a glass of the sparkling water while Aimi, Caleb and Mune accepted a glass of the moonshine. Each reasoned it was only proper etiquette at a business function or polite when offered. Caleb was a soldier, one did not turn down a drink with a comrade.
Alex threw back the shot and then blinked heavily. “That..was…delightful,” the look on his face made it clear his opinion of the drink was anything but. I’m pretty sure I’ve siphoned rocket fuel that tasted better than that…
Aimi and Mune threw back their respective drinks. If the drink were awful, they made no indication whatsoever. They handled the alcohol like pros. Caleb drank his down and exhaled harshly. It was a good thing he enjoyed the burn.
“That is some strong stuff,” the Togorian commented with a chuckle.
Carr sipped his water and made a show of pouting.
“It’s a…hometown specialty,” Zig explained. “Again thank you all for coming. I will make sure everyone gets a goodie bag with some samples, RIGHT KELVIIN!?”
There was some rustling and shuffling and a Wookiee growl. Then, a datapads text to speech voice:
[ONLY USE GOOD BAGS. OF COURSE].
Zig exhaled slowly.
The door slammed open.
“SORRY IM LATE-” The ball of energy that was Arcona’s Consul barrel led through the entrance, pausing enough to kick it with her heel behind her to shut it again.
Zuza grinned, wearing her usual garb and other than the touch of exhaustion on her features appeared as she always did, albeit flushed from rushing. She crossed the room, coming up beside Zig and pressing a kiss to her cheek, before settling into place.
Alex set the glass down, internally vowing to never order a drink in Zig’ ‘hometown’, and turned calmly as the door burst open. “Boss, you do realize you could have taken one of he VIP autorickshaws at the dock and did not have to run all the way here, right?”
Zig had a moment of brief panic, that was instantly replaced by a flood of warmth and excitement as she realized instantly who the voice was coming from trailing the kicking of the…sliding door. Her heart fluttered, and then skipped a beat when the smaller woman kissed her without any concern for everyone gathered and flushed. She did, however, remain composed and shift her eyes towards Alex.
“She does, but then she wouldn’t be Zuza,” Zig replied with a glowing smile she couldn’t really hide. “Also she finds it amusing as it keeps the Summit Guard in shape chasing after her…”
She knew that it wouldn’t be Bly, but someone similar, positioned outside of the shop.
“..I do?” Zuza asked, quietly enough it was meant to be discreet but enough out of breath that it was audible to anyone actually paying attention.
She did beam at the notion of the summit guard.
“Ruka gave ‘em good practice, I think they did get the thingi though before I ran so.. I dunno where they are.”
Zig sighed slightly. She was perfect.
“Yeah, I worked with a few of them on security systems around your accounts, we vibed, told them that anyone trying to target you would have a hard time since you’re hard to pin down…” Zig replied quietly, but did smirk a bit.
“Plus they would have to aim down,” Alex mumbled under his breath as he returned his attention to browsing the shelves.
Zig burst out laughing but covered it with a cough into her hand.
Zuza snorted, laughing more than Zig did.
“Karkin’ dammit. I’m here for 2 ticks and I’m already being targeted. I sign your paychecks.” She directed a finger at Alex, though the grin on her face betrayed any threat that that could potentially begin to create.
Alex peered out the window at the luxury resort and casino space station the shop was situated in, watching the dense crowds wandering the streets and enjoying their holidays - a station which operated under his ownership and proprietorship. “An income which I am clearly deeply reliant upon.”
The topic had come up before and it was well known - openly even - that Alex had not taken on the Quaestor position out of need for a job, but out of a sense of duty and responsibility to help where he was best able and suited to do so.
.
Zig listened to the banter and just enjoyed the company of her friends. This was a big departure for her. She had never really owned much that was…hers? Business was scary but she knew she had good people around her to support her. And that was what made hanging out with a bunch of space mages ruffians.
“I appreciate it. Maybe you can help me work together the goodie-bag gifts,” she started to make herself busy after she gave Zuza’s fingers a squeeze.
She had made, and started to work on small metallic-molds of each of her friends she had thought would arrive.
“Awesome. I’d love to help,” Carr responded without hesitastion, glad to help his friend.
The Shista slipped behind the counter and awaited instructions from the boss!
Jax had absorbed everything with a less and less rare teeth-showing smile for Zig, obviously happy she was happy and proud of her and the t shirt. His ears flicked this way and that as she moved around the room and spoke to Carr, Mune, and the other various guests like Alex and then the one called Aimi.
He felt bad, that he didn’t have more free money to invest with Zig, but he and Kobign’s combined expenses and worth were considerably tighter after the everything. The treason, the service, the trial, the pardon. So many irreplaceable and priceless things damaged or destroyed when his apartment had been raided. Their military pensions gone, given their dishonorable discharges, making the medals of valor seem hollower. He hadn’t put them up in the new apartment yet; he didn’t know how to look at them again. To feel the pride and the shame.
But he had made his choice. And he would do it again, and again, and again.
They were going to decorate their daughter’s room.
Welona was too far away.
Lost in his thoughts, Jax took the shot poured for him with a classic Mandalorian toast of, “Oya!” and downed the moonshine. It burned all the way, pricking tears and lighting his sensitive sinuses on fire, but he was used to it and not coughing, putting on a tough show, as it were.
Zuza arrived in quite a loud rush, drawing amusement. Nonetheless, she was the Consul that had allowed him to live free, and so his posture was ramrod straight and beskar strong, and he saluted her despite the t shirt and distressed soft shorts – Kobign’s sweatpants, actually, stolen ✨❤️ – and watched for an opportunity to mingle.
Then Zig pulled out some figurines with Carr, and his ears perked.
“Zigar'ashe…could perhaps…we fashion one for the baby?”
His blue lupine eyes did their best to be puppyish and begging despite being 8 ft tall.
“I was promised alcohol and easy women and I just heard a Mando rando take a shot.”
Vez sauntered into the shop with the swagger of a woman aggressively faking confidence, a feat made significantly easier by the massive murderbot hulking behind her. She wore a jacket not unlike Zig’s over a shirt with “average tiddy goth gf” printed on the front in Aurebesh.
Zig beamed at the much taller hybrid. “Say less!” she exclaimed and gave him a knowing wink.
When she heard Vez’s voice, she make a slight “eep” like noise and turned to see the Miralan saunter in. Her eyes only flashed to the words on her shirt briefly, then remembered where her eyes were and moved her attention up there. “You made it!”
Zig squeezed Zuza’s hand, gently bumped past Jax, and threw herself at Vez for a quick hug. “Well, I still have a batch of Mos Kenny Moonshine I made m'self, so I guess I could spare one. Can’t speak for the easy women part though-”
Zig seemed to take a quick inventory of her surroundings as her brain caught up to her words. She glanced at Zuza, who simply smirked and wiggled her eye brows. Mune, Carr, Alex, Jax and Caleb didn’t seem to react. But then she remembered Mune and Carr’s mother, who was patiently and gratefully observing everything with a keen set of maternal and widened eyes.
Zig’s flush crept up her neck to her cheeks, making her auburn skin a faint shade lighter.
“Soo, let me get you that shot!” Zig blurted quickly and retreated behind the shops counter.
Zig scampered off and quickly poured a shot for Vez. Her attention was so spread that she fortunately didn’t have a lot of time to do her usual starry-eyed stare at the Mirilan.
She gave Zuza’s hand another quick squeeze, then started to tinker with something behind the counter. There was the smell of burnt metal as a micro welding tool was put to use.
After some time, Zig wiped beads of sweat from her brow and smiled proudly. She padded over to Jax, and, keeping her hands covered at first, opened them.
Though briefly distracted by coveting Vez’s excellent t shirt and needing to ask her where she got it, Jax’s attention soon turned down to his dear friend, and an excited whimper escaped him as she showed her hidden hands.
The anticipation was incredible. His breath was held. His eyes widened. A manly rumble squeak escaped him when they opened.
The little figure was more like a set of three: interconnected lines of metal that formed into a space elephant head and trunk that cradled a small crescent moon with a wolf head on the opposite side. It was very obviously symbolic of both parents and the baby. And Zig, how lucky to have her he knew he was, had been one of the most steadfast of any of their friends to not only support their ‘ship’ but not give a damn about their treason and treat them just the same after the trial. She was not close to Kobign, but she listened and cared enough to know their little inside joke of pet names for each other, to remember, to make… this…
The figure blurred as he took it in his single, much larger hand, making it look so tiny. Just like the baby in the tube they were waiting for.
“Zigar'ashe,” he started, and lost for words, stopped as his voice cracked. “It is– ptrrrrfect–”
Zig’s smile blanked as she blinked twice, sighed, and then broke out laughing which tumbled into a fit of giggles.
As the laughter and voices mingled and drifted out towards the rest of Harons Folly, a gray Wookiee on a ladder put the final touches on the sign displayed outside, made up of different repurposes lights, bulbs, and circuitry to spell out: