Dinner at the Junkyard

Dinner at the Junkyard
Date of Scene:	23 August 2025
Location:	Kublop Springs - Tenoo - Outer Rim
Synopsis:	Zetha and Wiis invite guests over for dinner in their modest home.
Cast of Characters:	159, Zetha Rumir, Navi, Cayde Alexis

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Athena (159) has posed:
The group makes their way towards Wiis' extremely humble abode - the hollowed out hull of an old starship whose creation date was probably thousands of years ago. Hopefully Zetha won't be embarrassed when the Zabrak woman (as per usual) has to kick the control panel for the cargo bay twice before it opens.

"Don't mind the mess," she says with a nervous laugh, "The dining area is much more spacious and tidy," She pushes a leaning, rusted holobook shelf back into place. It creaks. "Anyway," she says, "Make yourselves at home. I've haven't anything fixed so it might be a while, but Twozee will bring out some snacks and tea for the meantime."

The cargo bay has been retrofitted to be a living room - but the couch looks dusty and there's bits and pieces of scrap everywhere...

She then heads for the kitchen, and Zetha might wonder if she'd gone to the super market recently - this morning, she'd found only half a shaak shank that's about to expire and a pint of blue milk.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha is trying really hard to just keep smiling and making like this is all fine. It is all fine, really, except guests may not find it to be fine. What's good for the rancor isn't always best for the sand person. Or something like that. In fact, she immediately begins to try and tidy up the scrap pieces that are just laying about on the floor of the 'living room' but that's only good enough to try and stack into corners that already look like they're about to fall over.

"Various projects. And failures. I try to make things work and sometimes I am succcessful while other times I'm not. Wiis always says so long as I don't start a fire..." She laughs, and a hint of nerves likely twinges against the edge of sound before she clears her throat.

Navi has posed:
"I've lived in worse places," Navi observes, looking around the room thoughtfully, hands clasped idly behind her back as she strolls in behind Wiis and Zetha. "If you have a suction-based cleaner, I can help you tidy up a bit," she offers to Zetha.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde follows Navi into the very humble abode, even by Jedi standards. Yes, the Order is very minimalist, but that's not the same thing as just...well, dirty and in varying states of disrepair. However, it doesn't really bother him. He just watches Zetha try to tidy up as much as possible, then starts trying to 'help' her with the scrap metal on the floor by Force-sweeping some of it into a corner.

Athena (159) has posed:
Vons looks around at the mess and opens his mouth to say something, but Thaarin reprimands him. "Don't," he says, frowning.

But then he busies himself admiring the interior of the ship. He traces the worn bulkhead with his fingers gently, in awe. "This vessel must be thousands of years old," he murmurs wondrously, "what a beautiful relic!" He doesn't even seem to notice the mess, at all.

The Zeltron man elbows Cayde playfully, just as he's using the Force to sweep up a pile of scrap. "So, Deputy, eh? Is that something you've always wanted to be?" he asks, wiggling an eyebrow at the young padawan.

Moments later, a glitched out looking droid rolls into the living room. "G-g-greetings, humans. W-Would you like to something. some... some appetizers and drinks while waiting for W-W-Wiis to ... to finish preparing the meal?"

Navi has posed:
"Makes me wish I knew more about starships," Navi observes softly. She watches the interactions between Cayde, Vons, and Thaarin thoughtfully, even when the droid enters.

"I wouldn't say no to a drink. It was a long trip from the colony site," she replies to the droid, giving it a sympathetic glance before looking back to Thaarin, Vons, and Cayde.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
There's a visible wince to Zetha's form - if anyone is paying her attention - before she turns towards Twozee the glitched droid. "Did you get gunk in your wiring again?" Asking that like it's just an average weekly question and then she moves towards the droid. "Hang on..." She grabs a set of hand tools off to the side and does some poking, prodding, and prying for a few moments before taking a step back.

"I'll take a glass of blue milk, Twozee." She then says before looking around once more. "I kinda think that's how this junkyard started. Ship crashed, junk scattered and someone made it work...I don't know when Wiis took over or if she was born into it...but it's a better home than a corner in an alley any night..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde manages not to make a bigger mess than had been there before, even through Vons' prodding, instead sweeping some of it under a low table. Perhaps he saw it coming.

    [No] he answers to the Zeltron's question. [But someone has to] After all, he's the Marshal's padawan, right?

Athena (159) has posed:
The droid's body goes limp for a few seconds while Zetha works on it. But then when she finishes, it straightens up and answers Navi with much more clarity, "Yes of course, right away." And then hurries back into the kitchen.

"I see," Thaarin says, quietly, but his expression suddenly grows very sad. He averts his gaze. Perhaps she'd touched a nerve, somehow?

"Right," Vons says, "well your first order of business better not be to move the laundry basket from refreshers into the hallway. I swear..."

Navi has posed:
Navi notices Thaarin's reaction to what must have been Zetha's comment and moves to his side, gently laying a hand on his shoulder in a silent gesture of support.

"Nice job," she says to Zetha with a small smile. "Your mechanical friend sounds a hundred percent better. Bet Wiis appreciates you."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Brows furrow a bit and Zetha's lekku twitch at the ends as she shifts to get a little closer to Thaarin's side. "Did I say something wrong? I...I was speaking from personal experience...not that that makes it any better I guess..." Then she hears Navi and tries to brighten her face a little. "It's a two way path, really. Wiis has done a lot for me and in turn I try to make her life as easy going as I can..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    The answer remains unclear, as Cayde doesn't really answer that. It wasn't him doing that, anyway. Probably Thaarin. He goes to sit down on the very dusty couch. It creaks loudly as he settles into it.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin offers Navi a faint smile and gazes at her fondly for a moment before moving away from her hand gently. "It's alright," he says softly, probably to both Zetha and Navi.

Vons doesn't say anything when Cayde refuses to answer, but when he sits down and the couch creaks, he snickers. "Don't break anything," he teases.

Thaarin glances over at them, and then glances back to Zetha. His eyes suddenly light up, and he says, "You wouldn't mind showing us around, would you? A tour of sorts? I'd like to see more of this vessel."

Zetha might be about to oblige, but suddenly, Wiis yells from the kitchen. "Zetha! There's barely a lick of blue milk left! Did you drink it all this morning? No way we'll be able to serve our guests a single drop each!"

But Thaarin gives her a pleading look. "It can wait. I don't think any of us mind. Please?" He pins her with that scarlet gaze of his...

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha sighs, holding up a finger to step away from Thaarin and Navi so she can yell back towards the kitchen. "You sure you're not forgetting your own love of blue milk, Wiis? Why not just send Twozee to go pick up some more...I'm gonna show the guests a tour of the house." She's about to stop and then a wicked grin finds her lips. "ESPECIALLY YOUR BEDROOM!"

That line alone causes her to sort of hop-skip back towards Thaarin and Navi. "Come on. I'll show you my favorite room. I promise it's not REALLY her bedroom but we should move before she comes to throw something at me..."

Navi has posed:
"Maybe I'll just pass on that drink," Navi murmurs, off of Wiis's shout. A glance at the creaky couch occupied by Cayde and Vons. She has to stifle a giggle as Thaarin makes pleading eyes at Zetha. "Maybe I'll go along, just to keep Thaarin out of trouble," she says impishly, moving to follow Zetha.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [It is already broken] Cayde replies to Vons, pouting slightly at the jab. He dusts off one of the armrests with his hand idly. He glances over at Zetha as she offers a tour. Was she inviting everyone?

Athena (159) has posed:
"Wha--!!" Wiis cries, "Don't you DARE!"

But Zetha will likely already be on her way out of the living room and down the hallway by the time Wiis says that, so it might just sound like a faint shout.

Thaarin chuckles softly at Navi's comment. "Indeed," he says, "but perhaps -I- should be the one to keep an eye on -you-, my dear! We can't have you parading around in your underwear again~" he teases. He then gestures for Cayde and Vons to follow. "Come along," he says, "besides, don't you all want to see how this ship might have evolved over the years?" He then starts following Zetha down the hallway.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"She's always to touchy...anyway..." It's a hallway. In a ship carcass. "I don't even know what end or side or anything of the ship this would have been. We've got our own rooms. There's a personal storage space somewhere down there...but..." Well Zetha's not the best show and teller that ever was that's for sure. The back and forth between Navi and Thaarin have her smiling, but it's almost a bittersweet thing. All she really has are the droids in the junkyard, Twozee, and the random regular that comes and visits. Hardly anything that could be closely considered friendships. "Uhh... this area should be safe to poke around in...if you want."

Navi has posed:
Navi blushes faintly at Thaarin's comment. "Definitely not. Besides, you know that wasn't my fault," she chides him gently. How is he so glib? She isn't sure she will ever know.

She stifles a giggle at Wiis's shout. "I get the feeling Wiis is a rather random person, following whims without fully thinking them through. Please correct me if I'm wrong?" she asks Zetha. "It really is a nice old ship. Feels like a home."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Does Thaarin really have the authority do that, since this isn't his home? Oh, well. Cayde just shrugs and gets up to follow them into the hallway, the couch creaking again as he does so.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Of course it wasn't," he says playfully, "but come now, don't be like that. No one should be ashamed of how they look, with or without clothing, especially not -you-"

As they progress down the hallway, Thaarin seems enraptured by the vessel. "This ship must have seen quite some action in her day," he says softly, "this was clearly one a weapons control console," gesturing at a hollowed out panel, "radar, comms log..." he trails off, suddenly lost in thought. "It's incredible," he says to Zetha with a faint smile. Then he wanders towards a balcony that overlooks the west part of the junkyard, gazing out at the view, expression unreadable.

Meanwhile, Vons has deviated from following Zetha and wandered towards Wiis' bedroom. "Cayde," he whispers urgently, gesturing for him to follow. "I can't help but feel like Wiis and Zetha might be hiding something..."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
With no idea that Vons and potentially Cayde are wandering towards the bedrooms, Zetha continues to admire Thaarin and his knowledge of things on the junked spaceship. When they reach the balcony that looks over the junkyard, Zetha shifts to walk up sort of beside and behind the Chiss.

"I keep telling Wiis that one of these days some space pirate is going to land here and I'm going to run off with them..." She chuckles softly. "I mean it'll never really happen, but a Twil can dream can't she?" Offering this as they continue to look out. "In all seriousness, sometimes I wonder why she'd like to see me do something with myself. I've got enough on my hands staying here and helping her out..." Which is when she glances back to Navi.

"Wiis is stubborn... and a little random... but she means well enough. Don't take her too seriously... even when we're yelling at each other. If I didn't have Wiis..." The Twi'lek trails off then, shifting her gaze out to the junkyard and a bit beyond - going silent then. Until finally, "She's my only friend. Is what it boils down to."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    As Cayde and Vons start to follow the others, the padawan notices Vons lagging behind and starting to deviate from their little tour. It becomes quite clear to him that there is something on his mind. And not something like the location of the laundry in their quarters. He frowns and follows the Zeltron. [Why is that] he asks.

Navi has posed:
"I'm glad you two found each other, then," Navi replies to Zetha, gently. "It's actually kind of nice, watching the way you two play off of one another. A little heartwarming, actually."

She shakes her head off of Thaarin's comment, still blushing a little. "Geez... you're starting to make me think you /want/ me to take my clothes off. What would our hostesses say?" she protests gently.

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin offers Zetha a faint smile, turning to face her. "Well," he says, "there's the marauders in the Gorge..." Then he shakes his head. "Good thing Wiis isn't here. Even though it's a joke, she'd probably not take kindly to it." His smile broadens slightly. "She seems lovely, even if she is a bit rough around the edges. I'm glad she gave you a home."

To Navi, he says, "Nothing, I'm sure," he teases, remaining unruffled, "we'd certainly all enjoy the view. But not your embarrassment. Now, enough of that, you know I'm teasing, my dear. However, it seems that Cayde and Vons have gotten sidetracked, will you make sure they haven't gotten into any trouble?

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin offers Zetha a faint smile, turning to face her. "Well," he says, "there's the marauders in the Gorge..." Then he shakes his head. "Good thing Wiis isn't here. Even though it's a joke, she'd probably not take kindly to it." His smile broadens slightly. "She seems lovely, even if she is a bit rough around the edges. I'm glad she gave you a home."

To Navi, he says, "Nothing, I'm sure," he teases, remaining unruffled, "we'd certainly all enjoy the view. But not your embarrassment. Now, enough of that, you know I'm teasing, my dear. However, it seems that Cayde and Vons have gotten sidetracked, will you make sure they haven't gotten into any trouble? I'll be along in a few minutes."

Cayde will immediately be able to tell that something had happened that Vons hadn't told him about. "I saw... someone," he says, "look, we'll talk about it later, alright? I'm just thinking that Zetha said Hedicole told her not to tell anyone about that part he bought, but there's no way that interaction happened for free..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Probably not] Cayde agrees. But he still isn't sure how these things are all connected. If Zetha told him about that, then what would they be hiding? He gives Vons a long look, then sighs. [You want me to search them]

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha all but blushes to that comment and then shakes her head. "Honestly, something tells me Wiis is planning something anyway. I'm just not sure what...I'm also beginning to wonder if she's doing okay in the kitchen. I might go and check on her." The young Twi'lek says this much more and then shifts to turn away. "You can't get too lost in this place, really. Go too far one way and you'll reach a dead end and have to turn around. I trust you'll find your way back after admiring more of the ship."

Navi has posed:
"And I was teasing you, too," Navi replies to Thaarin. "Mostly. I don't get embarrassed that easily. I was more worried about embarrassing our hostesses and our fellow guests."

"I'd wondered what sidetracked them. Depending on whose idea it was, it may already be too late," she adds, glancing after Cayde and Vons. "Just what exactly must be on their minds?"

"Take care, Zetha. We'll be back soon," she says to Zetha, smiling, before turning to backtrack and find Cayde and Vons.

Athena (159) has posed:
"No, no, nothing like that," Vons says, "they might know, it'll draw attention," he says, wandering back towards the bedroom. "I just want to have a good old fashioned look around," he says, "in places they want us kept out of." He takes out a pocket knife, one that's clearly meant for lock picking, and starts trying to pick the lock on the door to Wiis' bedroom!

"Thank you, Navi," Thaarin says, gazing after her fondly. "Hopefully not."

But just before Zetha can make an exit, too, Thaarin slides in front of her, suddenly, blocking her way off the balcony. Abruptly, they're now in each other's personal space. Thaarin doesn't seem to mind at all, but does Zetha?

"Zetha," he says, pinning her with that scarlet gaze again, "if you don't mind? I was hoping we could talk privately for a moment. I've... a favor to ask of you, in confidence that you won't tell anyone else I asked."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
There's a soft squeak from Zetha as Thaarin invades her personal space, but at least with him in front of her she can take one tiny step backwards for the breathing room she suddenly needs. Her purple gaze shifts to try and look past Thaarin and ensure Navi is out of sight before those eyes shift back to meet the scarlet gaze from the blue-skinned man before her.

Her confidence had cost someone else something and she told anyway - but that was because it was a very odd thing and she hadn't felt right after it all went down. Something about Thaarin makes her feel like she can trust him more than some Chadra Fan who came whisking in and out being all sneaky and whatever. Not even giving his name! After all the thoughts pass, she gives Thaarin a nod of her head. "Of course, Thaarin. What is it?"

Navi has posed:
Navi reaches out through the Force for signs of Vons's and Cayde's surface thoughts. The Force seems to be with her, and within moments she knows which way to go.

"So, what are you boys up to?" she asks softly, casually strolling up behind Vons and Cayde, hands clasped behind her back. She either has no idea they're up to no good, or is absolutely sure they are...

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <More attention than lockpicking?> Suddenly, that notion just appears in his mind. But Vons is probably at least somewhat familiar with this feeling, having been around Cayde more often than most.

    Even as Navi is able to locate Vons and Cayde easily, if she tries to get any of Cayde's thoughts at all, she will come up dry. And she'll again be able to tell that he's actively blocking her attempts. As it is when she approaches, he turns around quickly, deliberately blocking Vons from her view. [Nothing] he signs quickly.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Ah," Thaarin says, "I'm sorry, I realized that was a bit presumptuous and callous of me to ask for a favor like this, given what has just happened with Hedicole. Please don't feel at all obligated to indulge me if you don't want to." He suddenly smiles, broader than his normal faint smile - winsome, disarming, hard to distrust. It's like a few protective layers have been peeled away. "I was just wondering... well, it's probably quite obvious to you that I'm not from here. 'Not from here' being anywhere close to what you would call known space." His expression suddenly becomes sad and wistful, homesick. "And I'd like very much to go home at some point. But I don't have a ship, and very little credits to spare. I know a bit about starship engineering - not nearly enough to be useful when it comes to rebuilding or patching anything up." He pauses. "I was hoping... that if you know a little, and I know a little, then between the two of us, we might be able to make one of the ships here spaceworthy again. And I could--" he trails off. "I'd compensate you with any spare credits I accrue, though I can't guarantee it will be very much. And I'm acutely aware that this project isn't one that will happen over night, or in a few weeks, or even a few months. But..." he pauses again. "Would you be willing?" he asks, his gaze pleading again.

"Ah!" Navi's sudden appearance ruins Vons concentration, and he drops the lockpicking jackknife. "Uh. Right. Like Cayde said, nothing." He stands up and dusts himself off.

Suddenly, Wiis' voice can be heard from the kitchen. "Alright I hope you all are hungry! Food's... food's here." That fast...?

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Zetha listens carefully. In some ways, this isn't really much of an ask. There's plenty of ship carcass to choose from, to try and make space worthy. She can bang together bits and pieces, Thaarin could do all the programming. It could work. It really could. Without saying much at first, Zetha actually turns to look out towards the balcony again. Beyond it even. It's the kind of silence that can permeate the air and bring on a feeling of...hope? Dread? A bit of both...

Finally the Twi'lek gives her attention back to the Chiss in front of her. Thoughts swirling in her mind but it lands on one that may surprise even her in the long run. "I won't take your credits. We can do it together, like a project. We can call it fun...should Wiis or whomever catch us. Not that it'd be easy to... but I have a counter offer to suggest..." The words flow from her before she can stop them, like the thoughts form and she speaks without considering.

"I don't think I'm from here either. I have memories. Vague ones. But they begin in an alley way. Begging for scraps. For credits. For anything. I won't bore you with the whole story now but....I don't want your credits." She repeats that part. "If we can make a ship space worthy...and it's going to get you far from here. Take me with you. Won't be good for you if we don't load it with more spare parts and there's two brains making sure it /stays/ worthy of traveling the galaxy. And I want answers. To questions that I don't even know to ask yet." She holds out her tattered rag covered hand then. "Deal?"

And Thaarin better think quick cause Wiis is calling for everyone to gather for dinner!

Navi has posed:
"Of course. And I'm an overgrown Herglic bodybuilder... couldn't you tell?" Navi replies impishly, off of Cayde's hand signs. "C'mon, you two. Looks like dinner is served." She shrugs and starts back toward the kitchen area.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <Going to look for what> Cayde asks Vons in the privacy of his own mind. If he had gotten in just now, what exactly would he have been looking for, anyway?

    Anyway, he shrugs and starts toward the makeshift dining room hoping he'll be able to stomach at least some of the meal...

Athena (159) has posed:
Thaarin's expression turns soft and compassionate. He reaches out and places both hands on her shoulders, squeezing them gently. "Zetha, I can't let you do that," he says softly. "You -can't- go home with me," he says, "it's not allowed, and even if somehow it was, you'd never see--"

But then Wiis yells to them that it's dinner time. "Well," he says softly, his expression disappointed, "best to not keeping her waiting." He then turns to leave the balcony. Zetha can probably figure out what his next words were going to be though. She'd never get to see Wiis again. And it may dawn on her why he'd wanted this conversation to be private. When he went home, no one would go with him. He'd go alone, because wherever home was, no one else could follow...

Vons stares after Navi a moment, blinking. Then he leans in towards Cayde and whispers. "I don't know. My instinct just told me to look. He must have paid her, but with what? That guy was poorer than a womp rat without a marsh hole!" Then he lets go of the young padawan and starts after Navi as she heads for the dining room.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
The protest would be that she wouldn't have to go home with him. He could take her somewhere, drop her off. She wouldn't see Wiis again but she'd at least finally start the journey to answering questions. It's a good thing Thaarin turns to leave shortly after because the mental kicking Zetha does to herself once he's gone is intense. Then she gives it a moment and moves to leave the balcony area herself. Composure set. She'd enter the dining room with a smile and a curiosity of just what Wiis was able to put together for dinner to feed the lot.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde arches a brow at that. <With...credits?> What else would he pay her with? The question is where he got those credits, but what good would looking in Wiis' bedroom do for answering that question?

    Then he follows the others into the dining area, sitting down at the table and examining the food. Just what would they be serving tonight?

Navi has posed:
Navi glances back at Vons and Cayde as she hears the telltale hissing sound of whispering. She can't hear what is being said, but there's clearly something being discussed. Then she shrugs and continues on her way to the kitchen or dining area, finding a place at the table. And hoping the meal will be edible...

Athena (159) has posed:
Fish, and mossberry biscuits. Definitely looks like she'd just ordered delivery - there'd been nothing in the cooler, anyway. "Alright, everyone," the old Zabrak woman says cheerfully, "have a seat wherever!" The dining table is clearly just a flatbed hovercart that's been repurposed, and the chairs are passenger seats from a economy class cruiser. "Make yourselves at home.." Twozee zings in, with a tray of some kind of juice that she must have just picked up from the supermarket. However, her coordination is barely there, and she spills a little on the floor. Neither her or Wiis notice, though.

"He doesn't have any!" Vons whispers to Cayde as they enter the dining room. Then he smiles and puts on a good face for Wiis and Zetha. "I realize I haven't introduced myself," the Zeltron man says to the two of them. "Name's Vons. I'm the resident PI. Nice to meet you both."

Thaarin pulls a chair out for Navi, then says to her quietly. "Hopefully Cayde will keep this down, but I don't have high hopes."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <But how will you know from looking?> Cayde counters. Unless he secretly has some form of psychometry, how would he be able to tell where a pile of credits had come from? Or if the transaction had been digital, slicing would be required to find a money trail but you'd need a terminal for that, not a bedroom.

    He eyes the food, not feeling very confident about it. Still, he helps himself to a small portion anyway. He knows those biscuits don't agree with him though so he doesn't take them.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
It would likely look really odd if Zetha suddenly declared she wasn't hungry and left the dining room. It could work if she and Wiis were alone, but not so well in front of guests. Though at least she knows the food is reliable. "Oh. You just sent out for stuff from Hap. Clever." She says this as she moves towards the table, taking a seat for herself.

A formal introduction is made which draws her attention briefly. "Ah. Nice to meet you, Vons." The whole 'resident PI' thing has Zetha looking worried for a brief couple of seconds while she sits and grabs a bit of biscuit and fish for herself. Her gaze very intentionally staying on her food then and not much else.

Navi has posed:
So much for hope... maybe it will be better than at the colony, since it's been professionally prepared, but Navi has a nagging feeling it won't make much of a difference...

"Thank you, Wiis," she replies, with a somewhat forced smile, as she accepts the chair Thaarin pulled out for her. She'd say something nice about how delicious the food smells under normal circumstances, but she can't even summon the wherewithal to tell THAT lie.

"I don't, either," she murmurs back to Thaarin. She takes a mossberry biscuit, only one, and a small portion of the fish, for the sake of being polite...

"Don't worry, Vons is a very good person. He saved my life and freedom when I was once accused of a murder. I wasn't guilty, obviously," she adds gently to Zetha.

Athena (159) has posed:
"The pleasure's mine," Vons replies, though doesn't say anything to Cayde this time, as he's too busy introducing himself to Wiis and Zetha, and now's definitely not the time to discuss such matters with Cayde.

But when Navi mentions that Vons is a 'very good person,' the Zeltron man turns mahogany and his expression crumples. He had to keep reminding himself, that Navi doesn't like him. Not like that.

He sits down across the table from Cayde and gives his food the same treatment Zetha does, staring at it and not looking at much of anything else.

"Now what's wrong with getting delivery from Hap's?!" Wiis grumbles. "They've a perfectly wonderful mossberry biscuit!" The dinner table then lapses into uncomfortable silence, and Wiis attempts to make things less awkward by saying, "So, now that the Jedi have established their presence around here, is there any plan to do anything about those... marauders down in the Gorge?"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Thaarin thinks one of them could come take me away from here..." Zetha comments without thinking about it and then lets out a laugh that's likely only going to make things more uncomfortable. "Also, don't be so snappy. I was trying to give you a compliment. I know they're rare, but I do try damnit..." Her lekku twitch at the tips and then she stabs into her fish to take a bite. Chewing will silence her mouth, but not her thoughts unfortunately.

Navi has posed:
"This is going to sound odd, but the Marauders actually helped the colony recently. They helped Cayde bring in a wanted criminal who had fled the colony," Navi replies to Wiis, though she spares a worried glance at Vons. Unrequited love is a brutal thing, it seems. Once more she wishes that there could be a Navi for everyone who wanted one... which is silly, but the poor girl really does wish that everyone could be happy.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde takes a few small bites of the fish, but it is decidedly unappetizing like most of the local fare.

    Then Wiis asks a question about what Jedi are going to do about the marauders. Well, he supposes, he's the only Jedi here. And...deputy-to-be?

    The young Jedi nods. Sure... will not harm he signs. At least, that's what it looked like he said, although the phrasing seems a bit strange and might cause one to question their interpretation of it. [Not worry] he adds.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Oh, you mean 'Zealot'?" The Zeltron man suddenly pipes up. "Yeah, wouldn't be surprised," he scoffs, "his reputation on Jedha precedes him. The last time I looked him up, I heard him and his crew hijacked a whole vessel and took entire an crew hostage. Was a while ago, but any criminal with a lick of common sense knows to avoid him and his accomplices. Even the constabulary often is loathe to see them arrested, because they're data brokers." He avoids Navi's gaze purposefully, and begins to dig into his food. "Better keep your eyes and ears peeled. The Jedha locals say he's the best damn sharpshooter on this side of the galaxy."

Wiis gasps, and then squints at Cayde. "Why..! Surely the Jedi plan to do something? And are the lot of you crazy? Accepting help from such... savages!? Well excuse me, I can't help but worry. Please tell me what you and the other Jedi are going to do about this ... menace."

Navi has posed:
"Who were the crew of that ship? Do you know?" Navi asks Vons. "And have you heard any reports of Zealot and his crew attacking civilian or Republic vessels? I'm getting a lot of mixed signals about Zealot and his people of late, and I'm no longer sure what to think of them." Especially not after what happened with poor Mal...

She bites into the mossberry biscuit, chewing thoughtfully. It seems to be /slightly/ better than those others she'd tried months ago. Or maybe she's just hungry enough that the flaws don't register as strongly...

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    [Careful plan...no problem...do not worry] Cayde once again tries to assure her, nodding again. Although he flinches a bit, as there is a sharp spasm of pain in his abdomen and he begins to feel a wave of nausea coming on. Maybe he really shouldn't have eaten that fish at all...

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Just keep eating...just keep eating...if your mouth is full of food you can't say anything that's going to wind up biting you in the ass later, Zetha! Wiis didn't comment about the maurauders coming and taking her away which is likely a good thing. Still, trusting savages is better than finding out your local junkyard people sold a bit that caused a lot of misery and some death recently.

Motion draws her attention long enough that she actually swallows her latest bit of food while glancing to Cayde. "You alright there?"

Athena (159) has posed:
"Viasco, I think," he says, "smuggler, but the payload was a person. I don't have a ton of details, but they escaped by the skin of the teeth. It was dangerous, and no doubt the body count could have been potentially high. You also can't forget the time they set up the Temple of the Kyber to be robbed of its sacred artifacts," Vons continues. "Don't defend them Navi. You know they wouldn't bat an eye about killing the colonists."

Wiis looks even more dismayed. "What? What's he saying?!" she demands of Thaarin. The blue skinned man shakes his head calmly. "The Jedi will ensure that no innocent will be hurt by the marauders," he says, "Vons, I think you've said enough about the marauders to make Wiis uncomfortable for the days to come. Besides, I was hoping this visit wouldn't turn into a discussion about colonial politics," he says, demure.

"He'd better get to vactube, and fast," Vons says, suddenly getting up and grabbing Cayde by the arm. He then drags the young padawan away down the hall. Now, whether he's genuinely concerned or had just been looking for excuse to leave the dining room to do -other- things...

Thaarin smiles reassuringly at Wiis and Zetha. "Ah.. he's highly allergic to a lot of things. Don't feel bad. I don't think he even knows his own limits. Regardless, he should be fine in a bit. Vons will take care of him," he says, "there's not much you can do besides." A pause. "Now, enough about us. Wiis, tell me about yourself, do you have any family in the area aside from... Zetha?"

"Well, not anymore," the Zabrak crone says, "these days it's just me and Zetha. What about you? Are you married? If you aren't, well, I know a fine young lady..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde lets Vons drag him back out into the hall. Once they're away from the others, he arches a brow at the Zeltron. [What now] he asks, his gaze going back over to the door he'd been trying to lockpick. [How you find evidence]

Navi has posed:
"Cayde seems to be at least slightly allergic to some of the local cuisine," Navi says, off of Thaarin's comment, nodding supportively. "He should be okay in a bit, with Vons helping him."

She stifles a chuckle as Wiis attempts to set Thaarin up with a local young lady. "Thaarin's a confirmed bachelor, Miss Wiis," she advises gently. "There's a lot of girls back at the colony pining over him."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Oh? Who is she? I've never met her." Zetha pipes up quickly after that last bit Wiis says. "Also, it's rude to ask about someone's relationship status in front of..." What? Strangers? The only strangers to them are her and Wiis! Zetha turns as Vons grabs Cayde to take him towards a vactube. Ship likely has one...somewhere. "...company." She finally manages to finish.

With Vons gone the political stuff will likely stop. So Wiis won't really have much more to complain on with the Jedi away and chaos ensuing over a terribly sensitive stomach. Wiis turning matchmaker - cause Zetha knows that's Wiis' ultimate plan - is thwarted (hopefully) when Navi chimes in with a lot of the girls back at the colony being interested in him. The fact that she - as in Zetha - now knows that Thaarin is trying to get off this planet also tosses those matchmaking plans out the vactube along with the contents of Cayde's stomach.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Don't worry about it," Vons says, "I've... got a plan." He doesn't.

Thaarin chuckles softly, "Navi, what did I say about flattery? How many times must we have his conversation ~" Meanwhile, Navi may discover that Vons definitely plans to go back to the bedroom and pick the lock!

Thaarin then gets up and starts clearing the dishes from the table.

"Stop that!" Wiis cries, ignoring Zetha's comment. "You're a house guest! That's droid work!"

"Where I'm from," he says with a smile, "We don't have droids." Then he gets up and takes the dishes to the kitchen. Wiis wags a finger at Zetha. "Don't just sit there! Go help him! Get Twozee..." Then she turns to Navi, "Don't you dare get up and help him. I'm-I'm about to serve dessert!"

Zetha Rumir has posed:
There should be a fight. A protest. Yelling and screaming and giving Wiis another what for.

There isn't.

Instead, Zetha gets up and collects any other dishes that Thaarin left behind before following him into the kitchen. Once there, she places the dishes on a makeshift counterspace that's likely another hovercart acting as a table of sorts. "You and your friends should probably head out. With Cayde getting sick and Vons getting Wiis' blood pressure up from all the political nonsense plus..." She trails off, glancing back, and then front again. "I'm sorry. For what she said. Wiis means well, she really does. But I...I get it. With what you want. It wouldn't work out even if it was remotely a thought in your head without her...help..." She forces a smile then. "And also... this really is my work to do..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde just stares at Vons for a moment, his stomach still churning. <No you don't> he contradicts, because he almost doesn't even need the Force to know he doesn't actually have a plan. <Money trail...but is not here.> he adds, shaking his head.

Athena (159) has posed:
Wiis seems shocked but doesn't comment, when Zetha just gets up and goes.

Thaarin is washing the dishes calmly, quietly, as if nothing at all had happened. "I suppose," he says, "if you really want me to leave that badly." He looks over at her, putting the dish he'd been washing down, and approaches her. "You know, I was just thinking, you really shocked me back there. When we were on the balcony." He steps closer to her. "Why, you hardly know me. I'm nearly a stranger and yet -- you proposed leaving Tenoo with me, to travel the great unknown back to my homeworld. How brave. How bold, how beautifully reckless..." He keeps drawing closer, until he's almost near enough to kiss her. He even leans towards her like he's about to. "What do you know about what I really want, anyway?" Then he suddenly steps away and goes back to the dishes. "It's certainly not your work. Not if I say so. You know, I was lieutenant commander in the defense force, back where I'm from."

"What! and how would you know that!" Vons exclaims. He keeps heading for the bedroom, reaching for his pocket knife again.

Navi has posed:
"You know better than to say that, Thaarin... you know it's all true," Navi replies, with a hint of a smile. Even as she speaks, she's keeping a telepathic finger on Vons's thoughts. And wondering just why he's so interested in that lock...

"Of course not, Miss Wiis. I'll stay right here," she says agreeably.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <Money trail? Why not at bank?> Cayde asks, following him. Well, but if Vons insists he knows what he's doing, he may as well humor him. He approaches the door and puts a hand on the lock, attempting to manipulate the internal mechanisms with the Force and unlock it from the other side.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
Closer and closer Thaarin comes, talking about reckless beauty, shock, and awe. Zetha doesn't flinch so much as tremble while listening to those words until Thaarin is back again to his spot washing dishes. Her lekku twitch just so and then she glances back, making sure no one is actively listening to them before her attention returns. "It was less about traveling all the way to your homeworld and...maybe finding a place to begin looking for my own answers. You could just as easily drop me off on some random other planet and continue your journey alone..." Though something else strikes her and she broaches the subject. "What do you really want then? If I don't know, and I'm just some practically stranger to you...no harm in telling me when I'm already keeping secrets for you."

Athena (159) has posed:
Wiis frowns, suddenly noticing that Cayde and Vons have been kind of gone a little too long. "Are... you friends alright?" she asks, suddenly looking worried. "They've been gone at the refreshers for longer than I feel comfortable admitting..."

Navi may feel a tiny wave of frustration in the Force when Vons' lockpicking is suddenly interrupted by Cayde's usage of the Force. His lock picking knife drops to the floor and the door clicks open. "Hey! I was working on that! Look, just trust me, okay? I know what I'm doing..." But the PI is definitely just following a hunch, not any real evidence.

"Oh is that so?" Thaarin says. "Well then, in that case all you'd need to do is convince a certain navigator among the colonists to be agreeable to our deal. I'd be happy to take you wherever you want to go Zetha. But have you discussed this with Wiis yet?" There's a pause. "I'm sure you'll find out someday," he answers cryptically. "What do -you- really want?"

Navi has posed:
"It might take a little while if Vons has to help Cayde clean up. But maybe I /should/ check on them. Just in case Cayde needs more help than Vons can give," Navi replies, nodding and beginning to stand.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Can't really discuss it with Wiis if you want me to be all secrets and surprises." Zetha says this and then she scoffs. "Besides, if you weren't able to tell, Wiis wants me gone. Not because she hates me or anything. But she doesn't want to see me wasting away in this junkyard - her words not mine..." The Twi'lek continues. "Which is why I tease that some space pirate will sweep me away..." Then she goes quiet, handing him dishes as they talk so he can continue washing them. "I want away from here." She finally says. "I want to know the truth about myself. Why I was left to survive on the streets of some Outer Rim world...rejected like a random piece of space junk..."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <You want my help or not> Cayde asks when Vons seems frustrated at him for actually -helping- to get the Zeltron where he wants. Why else would he have told him about his suspicions?

Athena (159) has posed:
"Yeah..." Wiis says, "make sure they didn't find my bedroom.. only place I don't allow house guests...!" she mutters as Navi leaves.

Thaarin offers her a faint smile. "Well, I would permit you telling her, besides, I meant more generally. Does she know, that you are actually thinking about leaving? And do you really want to leave, not just for Wiis' sake but for your own? Tell me, if you could stay here and find out the truth about where you were from, would you stay here?"

His expression suddenly grows sad again. "Sometimes, you aren't meant to know, Zetha. Just like I likely will never know for absolute certain why my people did not attempt to extract me, or contact me. I can only guess." He sighs, and begins drying the dishes.

"Okay, okay!" Vons says, pushing his way into the bedroom. He starts rummaging around, albeit quietly. "Now, if you want to keep helping, look around. Anything catch your eye?"

Navi has posed:
"Just in case you two are interested, Miss Wiis is wondering what's taking you so long in the refresher," Navi says in a low voice as she draws up to the open bedroom door. "So whatever you're up to, make it double quick."

Zetha Rumir has posed:
"Then why do you want to go back?" Zetha offers, glancing over to him then. "Posing a question to me about being able to find answers while staying here permits me to ask you the same." The blue-skinned, purple-eyed Twi'lek says this much, setting down the next dish instead of handing it to him. "Truth is. There are no answers for me here. No one knows, remembers anything... I've tried..." She continues. "I've tried here. I think even Wiis has tried. And to answer your question...no...not in any serious notion. But there hasn't /been/ a serious notion until now." There's a breath to steady herself some. "I promise to talk to her. She'll probably be delighted to know that I'm seriously beginning to take making something of myself seriously. But now you need to answer me. What do you want? Honestly. Does throwing yourself back onto your people like haha, surprise jerks, I live! is really the answer to the great story of Thaarin?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde starts shuffling things about with the Force, but as he expected, he doesn't find much of anything of any interest. And it doesn't seem that Vons has found anything, either. He stops when Navi approaches the doorway. <Bank is where money trail is> he repeats, shaking his head.

    Then he turns to Navi. [Done now] he signs to her, and starts to leave.

Athena (159) has posed:
When Navi shows up unexpectedly, Vons startles and bumps into a vase. It falls down with a loud clatter, and he curses grumpily.

"What?! What's going on! Is.. Is someone in my bedroom?!" Wiis suddenly cries out, heading towards the noise. Vons glares at Navi momentarily, but then grabs Cayde's arm and starts dragging him towards the refreshers, "right now would be a good time to start upchucking your dinner!" And he then socks the young padawan in the stomach.

Thaarin's expression suddenly hardens. "Because I have an obligation to return," he says, "it's my duty to. I am a bureaucrat, I was born into power and I should not waste it. The Ascendancy likely needs me more now, more than ever. We're undergoing a massive amount of civil unrest, and that's likely why no one tried to come after me. If there is one thing you should learn about the Chiss it is that our loyalty is unwavering. And I will not forsake my Family for my friends." His expression suddenly softens and grows sad again. "Also I... I miss home. I miss Csilla, the underground lakes and monumental icebergs. Perhaps some wouldn't like think of it as home, but for me, it is the only home I have ever known. One day I hope to see all the civil unrest settled, and my people united. I'd also like to make Admiral, too. None of that can happen unless I go home."

He gives her a wistful smile. "Well I'm glad. Wiis should know sooner rather than later, and you deserve answers. No one in their right mind would leave a gem of a girl like yourself on a strange planet, all alone."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Vons probably shouldn't have done that. Cayde does upchuck his dinner...and more. Onto Vons' shirt and pants. In fact, the force of the projectile vomit seems to have been enough to -only- soil him, and the floor under his feet but not Cayde himself. It was the will of the Force, it seems.

Zetha Rumir has posed:
The hardness that Thaarin shows and expresses then catches Zetha by surprise for a moment. She listens, and then she nods. "I can't imagine...knowing a home and then being away from it for some time..." She offers and then chuckles. "Which makes me wonder how much I'd miss here if I managed to leave...but just like you need to go home and join your family...I need to know...if somewhere out there mine exists. And why they didn't want me." Which is much more of a heartbreak than Zetha is willing to admit even to herself.

There's another pause and then she hears Wiis yelling out which draws her attention again. "No one wants to be in your bedroom!" She shouts and then shakes her head. If only she knew. To Thaarin, once more, she tilts her head in a manner that shows curiosity. "Why is no one allowed to join you? You make your homeworld sound beautiful. Shame that only the Chiss get to admire it."

Navi has posed:
Navi manages not to chuckle at Vons's mini freak-out, only to have to hastily back up as Vons grabs Cayde and drags him out of the bedroom, belting him in the stomach in the process...

And suddenly Cayde erupts, and Vons is covered in vomit! Being behind him, Navi caught the edge of the projectile-hurl, splashing her clothes with evil-smelling gunk that used to be cooked local fish.

"Yuck!" she cries, looking down at herself. "You better hope real hard Wiis has a laundry droid!"

Teasing or not, Thaarin may have just gotten his wish, she reflects inwardly...

Athena (159) has posed:
"Oh -shit-!" Vons yells when Cayde vomits all over him. His shock seems... genuine, which is rather ironic. "Aw, kriff man! You've gotta be kidding me," He mutters, trying to wipe some of the vomit off his jacket. "Gross..."

Wiis runs in, incredulous, dismayed, and angered all at once. She's also speechless for a good five seconds. Then she yells. "Twozee!! Get your aft over here...!"

Thaarin chuckles softly and gazes fondly at Zetha, in a way that's so genuinely heartfelt it might make her melt a little. "We... abide by an isolationist policy," Thaarin explains, "meaning, no aliens inside the Ascendancy, and there's very limited contact with any beings outside the Ascendancy, too," he says softly. "Believe me, if I could show you, I would." He hands her a stack of dried dishes. "I think we should get going... I believe we've overstayed our welcome. Thank you," he says.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sighs, once he's done hurling. Really, Vons was surprised by this? [Sorry...but what you wanted] he signs to Vons, although an apologetic glance goes Navi's way. But now he's actually hungry, and needs to go raid the emergency rations again soon...

Navi has posed:
"I'm sorry about all this, Miss Wiis," Navi says apologetically. "I don't know what they were doing in there." She doesn't miss Cayde's apologetic glance, and returns it in kind.

"I'm sorry to be any more of a burden, but do you have a laundry droid, or laundry facilities?" she asks.

Athena (159) has posed:
Vons just grumbles, but doesn't further comment.

Wiis sighs, "Yes, yes... just..." she sighs. "Get changed, leave your clothing in the refreshers. Twozee! Where--" And then the droid appears. "Yes, Miss Wiis?"

"Our guests have made a mess of themselves, wash their clothes after they get changed."

She glances towards her bedroom, and notices the door is unlocked. "Now, how'd that happen...!"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde instinctively reaches into the older woman's mind, trying to convince her that she doesn't remember whether she locked the door earlier today or not. Therefore, it was likely already open. Yeah, they'd just found it like that.

Navi has posed:
"I'm sorry to continue to be a burden, Miss Wiis, but I may have to borrow something to wear, at least until my clothes are clean... I didn't think to bring any spare clothes with me," Navi confesses, blushing a little. She has no idea what Cayde is up to, or even that he's up to anything...

Athena (159) has posed:
"Wh... Wh..." Wiis' expression goes blank for a moment. "Oh... must've forgotten to lock my bedroom door..." she says absently, and then goes to lock it.

"What? Oh," she says to Navi, "Twozee will find a robe for you to wear in the meantime...don't worry about it..." And then she wanders off.

Navi has posed:
"Thank you so much, Miss Wiis," Navi replies, with a little bow from her shoulders. Sighing, she steps inside the refresher and begins to remove her now evil-smelling clothes...