Ask Corellia Ramen and Muscles

[Natalie Hope]

"Ah so we're going to lie to ourselves and say it's weird instead of cool," Natalie quipped. "Classic." Her eyes stayed closed. Hopefully their trip was almost done, at least for the skiff. A small ache was starting to settle into her temple from her constant sensing through the Force. She was running pretty low on stamina to use it; which wouldn't be a bad thing if they weren't surrounded by high-rises that could hide ambushes.

His little cry of pain shouldn't have been as entertaining as it was, but it earned him a smile from Natalie. Better watch out, Muscles, the big bad Jedi girl is gonna get ya! Chop you up with her non-existent plasma cutter, and cook you in a stew! Freaking him out, her? Neeeeeeever. She was a damn angel. "Forget dinner, now I wanna see you handle one of those fake haunted houses. Get freaked out by a homeless, pajama wearing girl."

There was a fairly long pause from Natalie as she focused on the Force, and you know, not getting shot. "Are we there yet?"

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Well duh, that's 'cause you're the one doin' it," Kotru snapped back, leaning back in the chair. The skiff had begun to slow down, their gold-skinned driver beginning to count each garage as he got closer to the destination. The Zabrak drew his pistol, checking the cylinder's subtle red glow and finding where it stopped. Almost empty. A slight press is given to the hinge, the DG-34's midsection popping open as the Zabrak extracted the spent cell and popped in a new one.

A tactile and satisfying click was made as Kotru flicked his wrist, snapping the weapon shut and slipping it back onto his thigh. "Nah, I'm too damn jumpy f'those. I'd end up pluggin' the poor gal'," He retorted with a short chuckle, the skiff making one last turn into a docking bay.

"Alright. We're here," The Twi'lek sighed, gloved hands running across his stressed out Lekku as the ends tapped against his shoulders nervously. He took a small case, offering it back to Kotru who would briefly open it to check the chits within and close it. "Boys'n I will take it from here. Case closed." The Zabrak nodded his head, trying to play off that nagging feeling at the back of his head. Seriously, what was she looking at?

Grasping the railing and crawling up and over the skiff, Kotru placed his feet down on the asphalt and took a moment to steady himself. "Good hunting out there, you two."

As the pair stepped out into the street, Kotru returned his hands to his pockets and slipped the payment into his coat. "Y'make a fine scope, Nat'. Good work." He complimented with a nod, starting to backtrack their path from the sidewalk. "What now? Guessin' you're here on some business."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

Plugging. The. Gal. Natalie did a double take. Did he really just say that? What good had she done in the galaxy to deserve this silver platter floating down for her from the heavens. A platter of ammunition of a caliber she hadn't had since that time her boyfriend at the time passed out in the punch bowl at prom. Oh Muscles, you sweet, innocent man, you. The wrath you have brought upon yourself with such an off-handed comment.

Of course, Natalie had to catch herself laughing. "Already talking of plugging me, huh?" she couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Maybe you should be demoted to HornyBoy again. Wanted me to tug a different kind of trigger." She was still laughing when they arrived and Natalie hopped lazily over the side of the skiff.

"A fine scope. You looking through my face or my ass?" she quipped, still running on the high of a innuendo he'd never live down. She fell into step with him. "Nope, no business, Muscles. I just came here for some fun, some good food, and if I happened to stumble upon evil- take care of it like the good little Jedi princess I am." He gave him a shit-eating grin. "What about you, Muscles? More jobs? Taking a pajama girl to dinner? Or do you got some hot date?"

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

Having grown up speaking Zabraki, Kotru had learned basic in his teenage years so that he could actually talk with others. While he had picked up his fair share of slang over time, this had the additional effect of sometimes confusing innuendos for something else. He was familiar with the concept of 'plugging someone full of laser bolts', but plugging some-

'Oh. Oooooh. Oooh, shit,' Kotru mused internally as he watches Natalie break into a full blown wheeze, gears turning in his head as it finally clicked.

"I take good care of 'em, y'know," Kotru smirked back, a thumb tracing along the groove of his front-facing horn once the Jedi had finished completely busting her gut at his mistake in wording. "Keep forgettin' that Basic has so many damn meanin's fer' each word," He couldn't help but air at least a little bit of frustration. Why was the most common language so damn complex at times?!

Stopping at an intersection, the Iridonian looked around to confirm there was as little traffic as he presumed and jaywalked across. "Ehh, face. Ass is kind of too flat ta' magnify anythin'," The Zabrak flashed a shit-eating grin right back at her, teasing right back as they passed through the four-way road and back onto the duracrete walkway. "Nah, that was the main one I came for. Might bolt a few others for chits if it comes up, but otherwise knocking those last two out in one go."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

"I'd hope so, Muscles. I bet you're a real class act in the sack," she said. She wanted to put her hands in her pockets. IF SHE HAD ANY. Maybe she should have taken the hint by now that she needed something that wasn't so, Jedi-y. Most of the time, she just put the black robes on because they were clean. She'd never quite been a fashion queen. Maybe it was time to- Wait WHAT.

"Touche, Muscles. Touche." He had gotten her good. It was only fair, after his slip up earlier. "Gonna get those ribs checked out before your next jobs?" she asked. "Or do I have to be a good little Jedi and drag you to the hospital?"

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"I'd say so. Besides, can't exactly talk 'bout it y'self. Ain't you folks got problems with tusslin' in bed? Surprised y'know what sex is." Kotru's lips curl into a mocking grin, cackling when he had gotten her back just as well. He wore that grin all too happily as they walked, now on somewhat equal grounds with Natalie. For now, anyway. It was just a matter of time until he said something easily exploited again.

When she asked about his ribs, the Zabrak grinned smugly. "Oh, so you do care. Yeah. Might pop by a clinic on our way t'get somethin' to eat. Think there's one a few blocks away. Make sure nothin's broken, then get a bite. Sound good?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

"You know we had lives before being Jedi, right?" She raised a brow at him. "I just helped hired muscle probably commit at least two or three crimes. I'll let you imagine what I was like before I took up the nun-robes." She paused, looking back down at her black robes. "They're really unflattering aren't they? Would you believe I wore fishnets once? Even held a boys' hand."

It was good he was planning to go to a clinic. She really didn't want to have to drag him. The "sound good" at the end threw her off guard. Muscles still wanted to hang out. He was alright. "Oh I only care because you're gonna get some good shit for those ribs and I want some," she said, flashing him a grin. "Yeah Muscles, that sounds good."

The walk probably wouldn't be a long one. Just when the silence was about to get awkward, Natalie broke it. "So where you from?"

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Ehh, I dunno. Speeding, Public endangerment, first degree murder just ta' name a few... I'd say more like five or six crimes, personally," Kotru mused aloud as he looked back to the robes. "Hmm, nah, I could see it. You haven't arrested me, so you ain't a total prude. I'm with ya' on the robes. Real borin'. Y'should get somethin' better," He agreed, tugging on his own navy blue coat. Was he biased? Absolutely. Was it going to stop him? Absolutely not!

The grin was met with a small laugh of his own, turning into one of the main streets. On the other side of the block was a signature green cross, no doubt a clinic of some kind. "Hah, yeah. Job like that? I'd say I can treat m'self for once," Kotru hummed thoughtfully, still indecisive of what to actually get. Barbecue, maybe? Or perhaps something more well rounded to help himself recover?

Setting those thoughts aside from now, his icy gaze flicked to Natalie as she broke the silence of his thoughts with a question. "Elrood. Grew up in the manufacturin' sectors. What about you?"

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

"Call me for another job like that, split the cut, and I'll get something better," Natalie said. Why not? Muscles was a fun guy. It'd be good to get back into her old fashion sense again. Still wouldn't impress Mr. Jawline, but that was okay. "Could be convinced to mind trick the payer to double the rate since there's two of us." Having some money did sound pretty nice. Very un-Jedi-like, but what was the council going to do? REAPPEAR!?

Green cross, good. One step closer to drugs and then food. It wasn't that she had a one track mind, it was that there were too many tracks to pay attention to them all. Plus, Muscles owed her for the two prescription strength pain killers she gave him. Add another crime to the list. She pulled out her EZPhone and swiped, sending her contact details to Muscle's comlink. It was especially hard not to open up an app and watch GalaTicks.

"Ord Mantel. Inner city kid. Grew up dodging Hutts, gangs, and pirates," she said. There were times she missed the thrill of leaving a gang in the dust through the alleys, only to drive them off with rocks and debris. Probably why she loved ramen so much. When it only takes a couple minutes to heat up, and you can throw whatever you want in the broth and call it good, it was an easy pick for scarfing down and dipping.

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Huh. They don't even pay you enough for a change of wardrobe?" Kotru asked, a bewildered brow perked up as they walked. "Damn. That shtick is just soundin' worse all'a the time," He commented. The Zabrak was familiar with the rumor of Jedi being able to manipulate minds, the possibilities of getting someone to hand over more money was certainly interesting. She certainly would be a valuable contact. The small device on his hip chirped a few times, a cheaper EZPhone alternative plucked up into his hands as he noted down the comm frequency.

Thankfully, he had no such temptations with his cheap can of communication. Kotru stepped into the clinic, the festival across the city leaving the doctors relatively free to take him in. Natalie was allowed to follow the pair into an office, inspecting his injury.

"Yeah, that's some blunt force trauma alright," The azure skinned Patitite commented, taking a bacta patch off a nearby medpac. He would hover the fabric over the wide bruise in his waist, sticking the cerulean-tipped needles into his skin with a small hiss of protest. "Oh, don't be such a baby."

"Yeah, yeah, jus' sore," Kotru slowly exhaled, letting the adhesive bind to his skin as he took a moment for the doctor to give him one last check as he listened to Natalie to keep the pain distant. "Y'sure fight like one," He smirked. "Been there once or twice on work. Y'ever been to Elrood, sister?"

 

[Natalie Hope]

"Pay us?" Natalie said. Oh if only they were paid! The life of a Jedi was sacrifice! You don't need credits, you only need the Force; or so the Masters of the Order would say. If only Muscles knew the absolute terror of waking up every day on a space station that served cardboard and viscus yellow liquid for breakfast while calling it steak and eggs. If only they knew that a Jedi's payment was knowing that they had "served the Force well!" "I fucking wish."

She watched the doctor poke and prod, but otherwise start patching up Muscle. Natalie did her part in the process by silently mimicking a baby crying at Muscles while the doctor wasn't looking. She waited for the doctor to leave before answering him. The doctor would be back soon though. Her shit-eating grin faded as she finally answered.

"You either learned to fight, run, or hide. If you got lucky you'd live long enough to learn all three," she said. She shook her head to his question of being to Elrood. The doctor came back in to do the final checks, and offer some pills. The urge to get more out the doctor was very high. No, Natalie, we're being a good little Jedi right now. There will be no Jedi mind tricks to score better drugs tonight. Maybe a free drink though. Natalie could go for a free drink.

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

He asked that question as a joke, they seriously weren't even paid? Kotru narrowed his eyes at the statement.

"Voa-damn, no wonder y'ran off to cause trouble 'n hassle mercs for a meal," He mused in response, leaning back on the wall next to the bed of durasteel he was set on. Each time the Patitite turned their back, the Zabrak returned the gesture in the form of his middle finger and a mouthed curse-laden insult.

Once the tests were complete, the doctor returned to the room only to see Kotru flipping off his companion. Rolling their cerulean eyes, they offered some extra painkillers for the road and a sheet recommending the Zabrak to keep it easy and to advise his boss. So yes, he will happily approve that time off. The palm-fitting bottle was placed into his coat, and Kotru hopped up to his feet to handle payment.

It wasn't the worst clinic bill he'd gotten, but the Zabrak was not happy about nearly instantly dipping into his well-earned payment. Whatever, he still had the rest of it to enjoy.

"Sounds like y'did," Kotru spoke as they made their way out from the building, stepping out into the streets of Coronet. And of course, some of the local enforcements were inspecting some of their work that was further up the way they came. Namely the mess of metal and gore that was the rider who'd had met their end against the side of a building.

Turning on a heel and continuing, Kotru spoke up. "Spent most'a m'life bouncin' between jobs since I could fit in machines to unclog 'em. Got good at keepin' my head down 'n gettin out of dodge. As fer' shootin'? Came after I joined the planetary corps. Used ta' be a badge, funnily enough."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

Natalie ignored the security checking out the gore down the way. With Muscles cleaned up, it wasn't like they were going to be able to pin it on them. Besides, wasn't there a thing a self-defense clause or something? Eh, didn't matter. They were headed in the opposite direction anyway. It was the story of her life now; find trouble, get into it, finish the job, and leave it all behind.

"A badge, huh?" Natalie asked. It was clearly rhetorical. She couldn't imagine Muscles as a cop. Granted, she'd just met the guy. Something told her that Muscles looked just as unflattering in a uniform as she did in robes. What was his schtick, she wondered? Corrupt underhand deals with crooks? Made a little money on the side selling drugs to street urchins? Natalie found herself hoping on a very serious level that it was nothing evil. It'd be a shame to have to end such a cool guy.

"Can't imagine you with a badge. Maybe like a participation trophy, or one of those ribbons you get in kindergarten for going a week without getting into trouble," she said, the shit-eating grin returning.

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

The security forces were occupied trying to piece together the rider's identity from the way their helmet was caved in with the impact to ask around. Kotru spared only a short glance, turning his gaze back down the street as he walked. He got paid, it wasn't his problem anymore. As they reached the end of the street, the Zabrak made a left turn and let the flash of their lights become hidden behind the building now at their side.

"Yeah. Turns out I ain't good wit' orders," He commented, not elaborating from there. The last thing he needed was to end up giving Natalie his life story. So he made it short and sweet. "Bein' a merc is better anyways."

After all, he didn't need to pay local taxes anymore!

Her shit eating comment drew a short chuckle from the Zabrak. "Y'had one of those? I ain't got one ribbon for good behavior," He smirked back. "Anyways, y'feelin' anythin' in particular? I can't decide."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

"I can see that. Probably pays better too," she said. Natalie could have totally been a mercenary instead of a Jedi. Get to lay around all day, shoot shit, smoke things. Would have been great. Of course, her parents would have had some choice words for her. No, it was that damn empathy that reared it's ugly head that kept her a Jedi. If only she could block it out. Always gotta play the nice little Jedi, instead.

"Me? No, I watched all the other kids get them while sitting in timeout," Natalie said. Even with a fairly decent role model, Natalie had been a rebellious child. Still was, for all intents and purposes. If her record of not strictly following Jedi rules were anything to go by, it was safe to say she was going to be rebellious for a good long while.

But of course there were more important things to think about. Like food! What did she want? They had ramen earlier, and Muscles did mention stew. If they're going out to eat though, maybe something a bit less bowl related. Burgers sounded nice. Yeah, a big juicy burger. "Burger joint?" she asked, turning an inquisitive look to Muscles. "Two burgers, share the fries. Call it a night."

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Judgin' by what you've told me, workin' a grocer would pay better," Kotru remarked smugly. He was vaguely familiar with the idea of the Jedi, having read about them when he was younger. Much like all of the heroic posters about local police, he was quick to become disillusioned to them by the time his innocence had expired. Incredible selflessness? That just sounded silly to him.

Natalie, on the other hand, seemed to come from a similar background. So just what was she doing, with a group like the Jedi? "Hah!" Kotru cackled with a grin. "Looks like we ain't far off. You're an 'aight gal, for a magical cop."

Her suggestion hung on the fair for a moment, the Zabrak bouncing the idea around in his head before nodding. That'd work alright, a big burger to round off their day. "I can work wit' that. C'mon, I know a place," Once again taking the lead, the pilot began to lead them onward. Having passed the storefront on their way in, it didn't take long for the door to a local diner to slide open. A Human manning the counter looking up and giving the two a short wave.

Returning the gesture, Kotru slipped into one side of a booth and rested his arms on the table. Motioning to the other side of the bench, he got comfortable and slid the menu across. "I got what I want in mind already, s'all yours sister."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

"Think I'd suck-start a blaster if I worked at a grocer," she said with a laugh. "Only so many times you can hear the same old story from the same geezer while bagging their groceries." Not to mention it was the most boring job in the galaxy outside of watching grass grow. She always thought that it had been a joke job created in the sadistic mind of a teenager until one day she had actually seen someone standing at a field of grass, watching it grow. Her mind had never been the same.

"Not so bad yourself, Muscles. For someone without any muscles," she said, flashing him a grin. She followed him to the diner. A human more milk-toast than Natalie was working the counter, but luckily Natalie didn't have to spend much time looking at them before Muscles took her to a booth. She took a quick glance at the menu and knew. Reek burger, all day every day. The decision was confirmed when she tossed the menu into the middle of the table.

A waitress came around and they ordered. Natalie leaned back into the booth as the waitress went to relay the order to the cooks. "Gotta say, Muscles. This was a nice get away from playing good girl nun."

@FreelanceGarbageMan

 

[Kotru Eabrod]

"Couldn't be faulted. Hell, I can't even stick 'round in one place fer' long," Kotru agreed, a short chuckle following. If there was one job he avoided like the plague, it was customer service. His tendency for bluntness or outright aggression would guarantee that his first shift would be his last. Even when working in mechanics, he was relegated to the garage.

The last thing they needed was a feral teenage Iridonian cussing out their loyal customers for a second time.

A toothy smirk was given back in kind. "I... don't think I'll be takin' body buildin' advice from someone who dresses for a nap," The Zabrak quipped back before turning to the Rodian waitress as he gave his own order. She stepped behind the counter soon after, the Zabrak leaning back into the well-worn cushion of his side of the table.

"Yeah, see; You're either real good at the whole maskin' thing-" Kotru was interrupted when their share of fries is slipped between them, the moderately sized dish piled with the freshly fried chips. The Zabrak popped one into his mouth before continuing. "Ah, hot-" He swallowed. "Anyways. Yer' either really good at that, or yer' a Voa-awful Jedi. N' I can't get a good read on ya'."

@TheDudeMike

 

[Natalie Hope]

Whaaaaaat!? A mercenary that couldn't hold down a single place to live OR a reliable job? Color Natalie shocked! Nay, slain even! It was a shame he wouldn't take her advice on body building. He'd look pretty good with some actual muscles. "Naps are great for body building, actually," she said. "Why workout when you can dream of working out and reap the benefits?" Somehow, Natalie had managed to keep fit, despite never actually truly working out.

The food came. The glorious, glorious food. Natalie dug into her burger like it was the best thing in the galaxy. The amount of times she had taken hot ramen to the face, the burger's heat didn't phase her one bit. She was a one woman garbage disposal of all things food, and the hotter the better. "Well, I may have worn fishnets once or twice but I certainly wasn't emo enough to wear a mask. What you see is what you get, Muscles."

She leaned back and tossed a fry into her mouth. "Plus, I like to think of the Jedi rules as more guidelines than actual rules," she said. "Makes it more fun when I have to kick a homeless hermit's ass out of an abandoned temple."

@FreelanceGarbageMan