A'den'ade
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Post by A'den'ade on Jan 28, 2017 10:51:30 GMT -8
A'den finished his meal. He watched and listened as NCO took care of the bill and tip. He stood and followed NCO out of the 'baat.
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 25, 2017 12:15:31 GMT -8
*A Mandalorian child services representative entered the Oyu'baat, holding the small hand of a young boy who looked to be no older than 4 standard years old. The official began to weave his way through the crowd, gently pulling the child along with him and came to stand beside a Mando'ade wearing blue beskar'gam. The Mando'ade in question was currently engaged in conversation with a female lass and at first doesn't seem to register their presence. The official clears his throat to get his attention and then holds up a datapad.*
"Are you Lorcan Bralor? I'm with the department of child services."
*He paused to let the implication sink in and then continued.*
"I was told in a preliminary report that you have no knowledge of having any immediate family members aside from your elder vod, Faelan Bralor. A few months ago, this boy's mother was killed in a vehicular accident. We were unable to locate any other relatives. Except for you and your brother."
*The agent shifted almost nervously, unsure of how the Mando'ade would respond upon learning about the parentage of the child currently in his custody.*
"You are this boy's buir. The paternity test found in past records as well as recently performed, have confirmed it."
*The young boy's bright blue eyes remained riveted on Lorcan as he craned his head up to look at him. Despite the fact he was still growing out of his baby fat, his facial features were profoundly similar to Lorcan's own. He had his eyes, nose, hair, and what someday might even be his smile...but only time would tell.*
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 19:24:33 GMT -8
Lorcan nods cautiously when asked if he is Lorcan Bralor, an amused and knowing smile surfacing on his lips when the representative explains who he is. After the child services representative is done speaking, Lorcan leans to the side to take a closer look at the young boy the representative is accompanying, tilting his head from one side to the other as he openly scrutinizes the three year old before looking back to the representative and, wagging an index finger at him, laughing heartily as he says, "Nice choice in the adiik, vod. Even kinda does look a bit like me, Lorcan chuckles, then asks, My brother put you up to this, didn't he?"
The diminutive, tan skinned woman with an unruly mane of blonde dreadlocks and a septum ring who had been speaking with Lorcan laughs and asks Lorcan, "Since when did your brother have even a remote sense of humor? Dropping from her stool and squatting to get a closer look at the boy accompanied by the representative, the pointy eared woman, wearing orange beskar'gam showing signs of recent battle, asks the boy in a cheerful, friendly voice, Tion gar gai, ad'ika?"
Lorcan, rubbing the tip of his nose nervously as he watches Fionnuala Priest, an old friend of his recently returned from a bit of mercenary work, talk to the boy, asks the child service representative, "Um, okay, so, uh, let's not be too hasty here. I don't remember taking any test, for one thing, he holds up a finger, his tone not at all confident and more suggestive of someone scrambling for a reason that what is, in this case literally, right in front of them is untrue, And, well, I may not be the only Lorcan Bralor, so maybe there is another one somewhere you should, he makes a shooing motion with his hands, unload this whole tragic story and . . . unable to say child, Lorcan settles for holding up a hand to cover the other hand he uses to motion towards the boy with, then grins uncomfortably at the boy and gives him a thumbs up as he says, Don't worry little dude, we'll find your . . ."
Looking over at Lorcan, which briefly reveals a floral tattoo at her neck and throat when the collar of her flightsuit is disturbed by the movement of her head, with an incredulous and angry frown, Fionnuala growls at him, "Gar taldin ni jaonyc; gar sa buir, ori'wadaas'la!"
Wincing as the words of the familiar phrase are flung at him, Lorcan holds his hands up, telling Fionnuala, "Whoa, whoa, all I'm saying is that I think it would be best, he gestures towards the boy pointedly, if we just make sure that all the facts are straight before we go making any life altering revelations is all, looking at the representative with a pleading look, Lorcan asks, Is there any chance this is all a big misunderstanding bro'?"
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 19:51:39 GMT -8
*The child services representative shook his head in the negative with a frown, although his expression softened somewhat when he noticed Lorcan's distress. His next words were firm but spoken with respect.*
"This is no laughing or trivial matter. Our agency does not make mistakes. The paternity test of which I speak, you agreed to take at the behest of..."
*The agent scrolled through his data-pad and found what he was looking for*
"A Ms. Aibreann three years ago. If it will ease your mind as to the legitimacy of this adiik's parentage, then please place your thumb on this scanner."
*The agent held out his datapad and pointed to the spot to which Faelan was meant to scan his thumb print*
*The little boy partially hid behind the agent's leg, clearly shy, when the strange lady knelt down in front of him. He spoke softly in response as a small chubby hand grasped a fistful of the agent's pant leg. His cheeks were a soft rosy color and his bright blue eyes bashful. He reluctantly responded to her question in fluid Mando'a.*
"Eimhin...tion gar gai?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 20:21:33 GMT -8
Lorcan, beginning to sweat visibly, swipes at his forehead, staring suspiciously at the representative after listening to the explanation of why it is unlikely that this situation is a mistake of some kind and then at the datapad as if it were a Kodashi viper coiled to strike. Hooking a finger under the collar of his flightsuit and tilting his neck from side to side, Lorcan takes a deep breath, veeeeeerrry slow begins extending a thumb towards the datapad, and then, just before he is about to scan his thumbprint, whips the hand back as though withdrawing it from a flame, even cradling it in his other hand as he whines, "But, but, if it is like you say, and I'm, I'm its fa. . . fa . . . unable to say anything further even though he comically struggles to speak, Lorcan shudders, than whines some more, I don't have anywhere to put it, and, and, I'm away a lot, and . . . is it even potty trained yet?"
"Lorcan, Fionnuala growls even though her expression remains friendly and cheerful since she, fortunately for Lorcan, is interacting with EImhin. Shaking her head in theatrical exasperation, the metallic bands around some of her dreadlocks tinkling merrily, Fionnuala cuts her eyes over at Lorcan as though to say to Eimhin listen to that di'kut, and then holds out a gloved hand as she introduces herself to the boy, Fionnuala, but my friends call me Fee, so you can call me Fee."
Standing up ramrod straight as though facing a firing line with pride and dignity rather than fear, Lorcan reaches out and scans his thumbprint, praying for a mistake even as he accepts that, if there is no error, he will have to accept that his life is about to irrevocably change.
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 20:39:34 GMT -8
*Eimhin appeared to relax a bit, his hand slowly uncurling to release the fabric of the agent's trouser. He appeared to be studying Fee a moment, as if silently debating on whether or not to trust her. Her friendliness, exhibited both verbal and nonverbal, erase some of the little lad's doubt and fear and he hesitantly reaches a tiny hand out to grasp her gloved hand. He looks curiously at her dreadlocks and begins to reach for one, his desire to touch and study it etched on his childish features. He withdraws his hand before he has the chance of following through and looks down at the floor, his shy side coming out again, as he chooses to draw little circles into the floor with the tip of his shoe.*
*The agent bristles in anger and nearly growls*
"This is a child...not an it. Yes, the adiik is potty trained...and you would do well to remember that when it comes to--"
*A green light blinked followed by a "beep-beep-beep" sound, interrupting him mid-rant. The agent looked at Lorcan Bralor and delivered the verdict.*
"Congratulations, Lorcan Bralor...you are a buir. It's a boy"
*The agent then rubbed his temple and released a heavy sigh.*
"If you do not wish to keep this child, I'm afraid your adiik would be sent to an off-world orphanage since the very few orphanages here on Manda'yaim are already full. Your son will lose his Mandalorian citizenship. What is your decision, then?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 21:21:50 GMT -8
"Call my friend here an it again, Fionnuala says in a fiercely cheery sing-song voice that does not in any way minimize her threat for those that know her well enough to have learned that her cheerfully delivered threats are no less sincere for being so, and I'll kick your sheb'ika, and then offers Eimhin a bright, warm smile as she says with a wink, I've got your six, Emm."
Smiling nervously with a faintly accusatory glance towards Fionnuala as though both to make sure she is not too close as well as to ask why she is not taking his side, Lorcan nods mechanically as the representative explains what the beeping had meant, and what decision Lorcan is required to make because of it. Looking down at Eimhin, and then back to the datapad the representative carries as though hoping it will make another noise, one that means everything is a mistake, and then around the Oyu'baat as though expecting a holovid crew filming one of those prank shows will jump out at any moment, Lorcan unconsciously reaches for his buy'ce sitting on the bar beside his forgotten drink, almost as though preparing to enter battle. Opening his mouth to speak, Lorcan begins to shake his head, closing his mouth as he looks down at Eimhin again, looking at the boy with a mixture of curiosity, fear, and indecision.
Though Fionnuala says nothing as she watches him and waits for his decision, Lorcan remembers her words about what a man is judged by, and knows that his choice should be clear. Taking a knee beside Fionnuala, who stands and walks away to give Lorcan a moment to say whatever he is about to say to Eimhin, Lorcan clears his throat and says, "Um, well, I . . . shaking his head and looking down for a moment, Lorcan looks up after a moment and says in a decidedly more confident tone, Here's the thing. I'm not sure how good I'd be at being your buir, buddy. But I'm willing to give it a go, and can promise that I'll be the best buir I can be. So, he squares his shoulders as though assuming a more ceremonial posture, if you're good with that, then I think our pal with the beeping datapad there, he nods his chin towards the representative, won't have to worry about any sending off-world nonsense. What do you say?"
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 21:35:14 GMT -8
*Eimhin giggles cutely at Fee. His head snaps around to look up at Lorcan when he speaks to him. His bright blue eyes while still glimmering with intense curiosity, still retain a mild form of serious intensity...a look that to Lorcan would look chillingly like Faelan's. Eimhin listens and nods his head with a serious expression when Lorcan agrees to be his buir and that he promises to be the best that he can be for him. Slowly a tiny smile begins to tug at the corners of his lips. He cants his head to the side and asks an innocent question befitting a three-year-old.*
"Fee is my buir* too?"
*The agent draws up the legal paperwork, mainly the boy's birth certificate and other identification documents and then signs them over to Lorcan. He gives Lorcan a curt nod and gives him a sound piece of advice.*
"Should you change your mind...contact our agency immediately. Here is my card."
*Satisfied that his work was finished, the agent left the Oyu'baat, leaving Lorcan with his newly discovered 3 year old son.*
*Mother/Father
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 22:06:57 GMT -8
Barking an amused laugh as he cocks a thumb towards Fionnuala when asked if she is to be Eimhin's buir, Lorcan asks, "Her? Haran nayc. Pursing his lips as though reconsidering the idea, Lorcan looks over at Fionnuala and says, Then again, I've always wondered if . . ."
"In your dreams, Fionnuala snorts in amusement, then squats to tell Eimhin, Tell you what, you can call me your ba'vodu Fee if you like Emm. Standing and taking the card agent had handed to Lorcan from his hand as he stares at it, Fionnuala tears in shreds and tosses the pieces in the air as she says to Eimhin even though her message is one intended primarily for Lorcan, who stands watching the tiny scraps of the card flutter slowly to the floor with his mouth hanging open, He isn't going to need that, is he? Nope."
Clapping his hands together with a winning smile, accepting Fionnuala is probably right about not needing the card even though something in Eimhin's expression earlier had given him pause, and made him think that there might be another explanation for the test showing that he and the boy are genetically related, Lorcan says, "Wow. So, here we are then, huh lil' dude? Yeah. Waving his hands out to his sides, he says dramatically, It's a brand new day for us both, yeah? Yeah. Scratching the side of his head, he asks as though the answer is one of great and terrible importance, He, uh, wasn't making up that part about being potty trained was he dude?"
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 22:19:46 GMT -8
*Eimhin nods with a shy smile when Fee tells him to call her ba'vodu instead. The small boy watches the tiny pieces of the shredded card slowly fall to the floor with mild interest and turns his attention back to Lorcan when he attempts to strike up some semblance of a conversation. He gave Lorcan a glare as if offended and crossed his tiny arms with a small huff*
"I can go potty by myself! My mommy taught me how..."
*His eyes widened a moment when he remembered his mother.*
"Where's my mommy? Can I see her?"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 22:42:46 GMT -8
Grinning happily when reassured that nappy changing won't be a part of the new day he had been talking about, Lorcan gives Eimhin an enthusiastic two thumbs up as he says with hearty good cheer, "Awesome dude, awesome! His good cheer becoming sheer panic when Eimhin asks for his mommy, Lorcan looks over towards Fionnuala with commingled terror and a silent plea for hope as his brow knits and he says uncertainly, Uuuuhhhhhhh . . ."
Giving Lorcan a glare that manages to eloquently, silently , and incontrovertibly convey her belief that he is useless alongside a warning that she is not always going to be on hand to help solve the many challenges he is likely to have ahead of him as he embarks upon the journey of parenthood, Fionnuala walks closer to Eimhin and rests her hands gently on his shoulder as she says softly, "Your mommy is taab'echaaj'la, Emm. Do you understand what that means?"
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 22:53:13 GMT -8
*Eimhin uncrosses his arms when Lorcan praises him, unsure why his buir was so thrilled with the fact he could do so simple a feat. His face became downcast and tears welled in his baby blue eyes when Fee tried to make him understand that his mother was gone and wasn't coming back. His breathing quickened, indicating that a crying spell might be forthcoming, as he turned his confused, and rather frightened expression from first a terrified Lorcan and then back to Fee.*
"Why can't I see her? Why did she leave?"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2017 23:39:25 GMT -8
Looking over towards Lorcan briefly to see if he has any plan to jump in and help, Fionnuala rolls her eyes at him when she sees he is still looking horrified and has yet to close his mouth, then looks back to Emm and explains in a patient, soothing and gentle voice, passing on the beliefs she was taught as a child, "You cannot see her because she has gone to join the Manda now, as all true Mandalorian souls do upon death. Her body was only a tool for her soul to do it's work here, and to pass on its knowledge before going on to become a part of the Manda. She left because the work of her soul was done, Emm. Death is a natural and inevitable part of life, and some lives are shorter than others, as your mother's was. You can, and should, remember and celebrate your mother every day though, she looks over at Lorcan with an arched eyebrow to let him know that he is going to need to step up to the plate soon, so that you never forget your mother. Lorcan will teach you about aay'han, won't you Lorcan?"
Nodding, giving Fionnuala a grateful smile as she has reminded him that he is not as adrift as he felt, having been taught the same beliefs as his friend, as well as taught the importance of passing those beliefs on, Lorcan says to Eimhin, "Um, yeah, that's absolutely right buddy. I can totally teach you about aay'han dude, so, you know, um, just don't look so sad, okay?"
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 27, 2017 23:46:32 GMT -8
*Eimhin's wide eyes reveal that he understands...sort of...as well as any 3 year old could at least. That still didn't stop the tears or the aching of his heart when he realized his mother was gone and wasn't going to return. Turning to his buir, the adiik lifted his arms up in the universal "pick me up and hold me" sign, as his innocent face, reflected his internal hurt.*
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 0:08:29 GMT -8
Looking over his shoulder with a confused expression when Eimhin lifts his arms up, Lorcan takes a second to understand what his newly found son wants, and is soon walking cautiously towards him, his arms held out at full length awkwardly, his head turned to the side as though preparing for a loud noise given that Eimhin looks like he is about to bawl. Moving as stiffly as a protocol droid, Lorcan bends at the knee and picks Eimhin up from under his armpits, keeping him out at fill arm's length as he dips the boy up and down to try and sooth him, saying, "Ummm, there, there?"
Facepalming at the sight of Lorcan's attempt to comfort his son, Fionnuala shakes her head before she mimes hugging the boy for Lorcan to try and salvage moment.
Lorcan, after skeptically studying what Fionnuala acts out for him, and then looking at EImhin as though he is an explosive that could go off at anytime, brings Eimhin into an actual hug, patting his back as he says, "It's gonna be alright lil' dude. I got'cha."
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Telarial Bralor
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Post by Telarial Bralor on Feb 28, 2017 0:17:09 GMT -8
*Eimhin's tears fall faster as Lorcan fails at first to comfort him the way a buir is meant to. He didn't like being held like something that was dirty. After Lorcan corrects the problem and holds him close in the proper fashion, his small cries soften, and eventually results in a successful tapering off of both tears and quiet sobs. What his buir says to him, comforts him...and the warmth radiating from Lorcan's body through his beskar'gam calms him. Feeling incredibly sleepy, the little adiik cuddles up against his buir, his head nuzzling the crook of Lorcan's neck and is soon fast asleep.*
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 9:35:39 GMT -8
Looking quite pleased with himself when Eimhin has fallen asleep, Lorcan looks over at Fionnuala and bobs eyebrows as though to say not too shabby, eh?
Fionnuala rolls her eyes in reply, reaching for her buy'ce and nodding towards the exit.
Looking confused, Lorcan retrieves his buy'ce and, after putting it on so that he has both arms at his disposal to carry his son comfortably, follows after Fionnuala, asking quietly when he catches up with her, ::Why are we leaving?::
"You have a lot to get done, Fionnuala says, looking at Lorcan as though he worries her. You have a lot of changes to make. Have you thought about where Emm is going to sleep, for starters?"
::Easy,:: Lorcan says proudly, ::I just stick a crib in the corner of my room. Boom! Done. Next?::
"This is the room your brother lets you stay in at his house, right?"
::That's the very one.::
Shaking her head, Fionnuala decides not to point out that Faelan's vheh'yaim is starting to get a bit crowded, and instead asks, "And how are you going to get there?"
::Oh yeah,:: Lorcan says, his swoop bike not exactly the safest way to travel with a child. Looking over at Fionnuala with his best winning smile, he asks in an uncertain tone, ::You'll give us a ride in your speeder?::
"For Emm, yes, Fionnuala says, But you really need to start thinking about all the changes you need to make. "
Stepping outside of the Oyu'baat and following his friend to her speeder, Lorcan nods and says, ::Got it.:: Sounding a bit concerned as he sits in the passenger seat and adjusts his hold on Eimhin so that the lad is comfortably snuggled up, Lorcan asks, ::You, uh, will be helping me with that for at least a little while, right?::
Pretending to bang her head on the steering yoke, Fionnuala asks rhetorically, "How have you survived this long? How?" Starting her airspeeder, Fionnuala shakes her head as she sets out for Norg Bral.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 16:59:04 GMT -8
Stepping into the Oyu'baat Kebiin removes his helmet and stops briefly at the bar to order a small pail of bottled Kri'gee before taking a seat near the rustic log fire. The spacer turned clan leader had nothing on his agenda besides simply relaxing in the tapcaf and watching the coming and going of the patrons.
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Kaine Australis
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Post by Kaine Australis on Jun 16, 2017 22:28:43 GMT -8
Approximately two years had passed, and Kaine was still at the bar. He'd been kept alive by a steady stream of spilled ale and tihaar, along with water and cleaning products that had overflowed the rim of the bar and dripped into his mouth. Enough soggy peanuts and crisps had floated in to keep him sustained while he slept off the mother of all benders. Somewhere in his mind, the scream of what was left of his sanity finally broke through the fog of ale and spirits and woke the slumbering buckethead.
Kaine's head lifted an inch off the hardwood of the bar. Just enough so that he didn't drown in the immediate explosion of vomit that painted the back of the bar, causing the barman to spit curses. Once empty, the big man wobbled unsteadily to his feet, his atrophied muscles screaming in protest at the abuse. A combination of determination and the aid of his armor kept him mostly upright, as he staggered and stumbled out of the exit. As he emerged into the night air of Keldabe, he tripped over a bin and fell. Pawing at his belt, he managed to fumble his comlink up and rasp into it.
Kryze. Vos. Report.
Kaine's commanders, surprised to hear his voice after such a long absence, took several moments to respond.
This is Kryze.
Vos here. Is that you, General?
Kaine coughed for a full minute and then spent time clearing his throat before he was able to respond.
I'm not dead. Status report.
As the senior, and fleet commander, Kryze spoke first.
Not good, sir. I had to put most of the ships into cold storage. We've got two frigates operating with skeleton crews, but that's it.
The good news is we've got two full strength squadrons available. Taris and Enceri can be at Mandalore in two days. Provided we can find the personnel I can have the fleet up and running within two weeks. That was better than he'd dare hoped. Amauri took the shine off the good news.
I don't have a lot of good news sir. Most of the Clan went their separate ways after a year, we declared you dead. Our supplies and arms,
well, there's no easy way to say this, but they're gone.
I cannot believe our commandos would steal from their Clan, even if I was dead.
They didn't, sir. Most of the equipment ended up on Tatooine.
How in blazes did it get there?
Jawas, sir. It was Jawas.
Kaine took a moment to curse before responding. Kriffing JAWAS!
What was that, sir?
He swore under his breath. Never mind. Assemble the fleet. Call in everyone that will come. I want the best you can do here in a week, leave the rest, and meet me on Mandalore. You too Vos. We'll assemble what's left of the Clan aboard the fleet and come up with a plan. Vos, I want two squads to meet me in Mos Eisley. I'm going to Tatooine.
Once they'd acknowledged his orders and cut the connection, Kaine returned the comlink to his belt and rose to his feet, stomping off in the direction of the spaceport. A combination of shock and the cold air seemed to clear his head, and his gait steadied the further he went.The Jawas were going to get a rude shock.
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Post by Aya D'Ordinii on Jun 17, 2017 18:22:12 GMT -8
Aya stepped into the bar. The last time she had stepped into the 'baat, she had been a little squirt of a thing still hovering around her Buir's elbow. No he was passed on & she was the alor after him. She was wearing what she considered her social armor, it was powered like most of the armor in Clan D'Ordinii & the Infinite Imperium, but only to the barest degree. There wasn't much in the way of strength enhancement, but you would power walk for days on the small energy coil, then disengage the system & walk back under your own power. It was also unpainted with two exceptions. A red dot had been hand painted just above her left eye & just below the armored ridge that her horns were within. The other exception was the II crested mythosaur icon painted on her back between her shoulder blades. Her consort & bodyguard on the other hand was fitted in a much heavier suit that was painted a molted array of greens. For the moment, she was just here to mingle. Of course, she had several other things to do while on the planet. There were bonds to build with other clans, allies to reassure, mines to formally inspect, defenses to test & oaths to honor.
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