Something Unexpected

[Solone Wren]

Solone stood quietly watching the holo-cam crew prepare filming, she felt horribly awkward and vulnerable without her armor or her bucket to shield her face from onlookers. Which with the holo-cam crew, it seemed appropriate, a Mandalorian without her armor, and instead, she dressed causally comfortable. To an extent she was glad she was not in her armor, the heat and humidity of the jungle world, Felucia, was miserable compared to the chill of Krownest and space. Though, this was going to be interesting and was certain her family would cut all ties from her after this display; the warnings had already come, but like her, she ignored them.

As she waited for the Emperor to arrive, she fidgeted with her bracelet , walking in a slow pace, a few steps to her left and then again to her right as she worked to calm her nerves. They were scheduled for a safari and Solone had no clue what to expect to see, it sounded like a child's adventure since she was certain they were unable to hunt these animals present. His staff were very adamant she was unable to carry any of her weapons and insisted she would make it through without them; she was certain they thought she would hunt everyone, safari animals and set crew indiscriminately.

Solone let out a sigh, settling to focus on the timid looking safari guide who would chauffeur them through this adventure, but his jittery nature made her even more so uncomfortable; perhaps this is what it feels to be dar'manda.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

All of his dates up until this point had been with Sith, so the fact that this one wasn't was odd. That should quickly be combined with the fact that she and her unexpected appearance had made the Emperor nervous. But his guards had assured him that it would be fine, that she'd been checked thoroughly for weapons, and she'd been vetted equally as thoroughly.

He was still dubious.

The muggy heat of the world may not have made for the most romantic location, but he did have to say the event planned sounded interesting. A safari to find exotic animals was pretty exciting, but he couldn't settle his nerves that something was going to happen. He just didn't know what.

Although he had worn his mask, his robes were a bit more casual than some of his more formal wear. It was a safari after all. Then he saw her, and she looked... uncomfortable. Almost like a fish out of water, but not in a bad way. Cameras often didn't bring out the best in people.

Solone? he asked as he drew closer. Was he supposed to shake her hand or something else? He still wasn't used to this... I'm Varyn, he said with a slight bow, trying to get the "Your High Emperor Excellencies" and other silly titles swept out of the way early. It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you're looking forward to our... expedition, he said, still stiff about this whole thing.

 

[Solone Wren]

She heard her name and turned around to see the Emperor approach, he was wearing his mask and wondered if she should have insisted to wear her helmet in response. It was odd to see him wear a mask while she did not and wondered if others in the galaxy thought the same about Mandalorians always wearing their armor. He introduced himself, Varyn, not by his Sith title or Emperor, just his first name and bowed to the mandalorian woman. She bowed in response, not too certain of his witch customs as he finished his introduction and the corner of her lip curled upward in a small smile, "Varyn is much easier to say than trying to remember all the titles they said I could call you." she spoke with a small accent.

"I am, I have never done anything like this." she said letting out a slow exhale to calm herself and turned toward the guide who was waiting for them next to the speeder, "Shall we then? I think if we make him wait any longer he'll have a mental breakdown," Solone glanced to Varyn with a grin, a part of her wanting to see the guide break under nervous pressure on a galactic broadcast.

Solone begun to walk slowly to the speeder, "Ever go on anything like this? This is something Mandalorians certainly do not do unless we get to hunt too." explained the woman while rolling the cuff of her jacket's sleeves gaining some relief from the heat without having to take her jacket off yet.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn snorted slightly in amusement at the mention of the titles she'd been told to address him by. It was bad enough these poor women were being put through an endless battery of security clearances, but they were being put through some sort of horrible etiquette program as well? He had to feel bad about that... or at least, he probably should have. But then, she had volunteered to be here.

Hmm... I suppose that wouldn't be very kind, he said as she mentioned their guide having a mental breakdown. The comment was made to be something of a joke, but it wasn't very funny, so there was that.

They climbed aboard the vehicle, and the guide seemed more than eager to take off on their way. Varyn didn't object given that small talk was... really not his specialty. The vehicle took them deeper into the jungles, and Varyn wondered how much bug repellent they had covered the vehicle in beforehand to get the moderate relief the "couple" was enjoying.

I don't think so. My experiences with wild animals... well, they sound about as unfriendly as Mandalorian experiences, he said, thinking back to his run in with wild animals that almost cost a small village. They could be vicious beasts, and he didn't often go out to see them for themselves.

If you don't mind my asking... he began, and she would probably be able to see where this was going. It was the obvious question that had to be lingering on not only his mind but the viewers as well. What made you come out for this show? It seems like you'd be... not a fan of me, he said honestly. He wasn't particularly squeamish about the fact that a good chunk of the galaxy - particularly Mandalorians - didn't like him.

 

[Solone Wren]

She couldn't argue his analogy, the Mandalorian warriors were fierce and more often, deadly especially for those belonging to the Empire. Solone leaned back in seat, feeling a bit more relaxed as the speeder was navigated through the jungle until Varyn asked about her reasons for being on this show. She knew the question would eventually come, but didn't think he would ask so suddenly; it must have been bothering him though and she didn't mind getting it out of the way, maybe it would even an annoying enough reply that would end the humid and hot expedition to see animals.

"I am told I should not be a fan of you, but I think for myself and would like to decide for myself." she looked at the Emperor, "Besides, Mandalorian men can be dense, so I should keep my options open," she gave him a small smile and then glanced away into the jungle as the speeder slowed down, the guide pointing off in the distance to a clearing where a jungle rancor rested next to its recent kill. Though what she didn't share with Varyn was the consequence of participating in this, to decide for herself and against the wishes of her clan. However, he was probably smart enough to figure that one out on his own. She was quiet as they stopped for a better view of the beast, letting the couple see it before the guide quietly inched the speeder away from the rancor.

"I hope though, I can form a more favorable opinion not just for my perspectives, but yours as well." she told him even with her elders disapproval ringing in her mind as she could hear them calling her a fool. The speeder begun to slow down again and Solone leaned back in her seat, glancing through the canopy of the trees to see colorful birds resting above them, "Maybe a little deep for a Mandalorian though." she softly added.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn could appreciate her line of thought, though he wondered if it wasn't a bit open minded for a Mandalorian. But then, he'd discovered that many of them were so different from him. Perhaps his opinion on them was a bit too narrow.

Well, hopefully I'll change your mind, he said. He hoped he could change many people's minds, but to do so would require overcoming a monumental amount of prejudice. He wondered what type of prejudice she'd have to overcome with her family for even coming out here. Perhaps they'd given their blessing? That seemed rather radical.

He looked over at the rancor that was roaring not far away and tearing into its victim. Fine, so this may not have been the most romantic date.

We're all sentients, he said with a shrug as she mentioned that it was too deep for a Mandalorian. While there were some people he'd met who were so stupid that they weren't worth much, putting an entire people group in that category seemed unwise and unfair.

Maybe we'll... his voice trailed off as the rancor apparently spotted them. Wasn't this guide supposed to know how to stay at a safe distance. Apparently not, because there was now a rancor... angry... and charging.... splendid. @GABA

 

[Solone Wren]

He seemed to have taken her response well and Solone felt relieved, though the moment she felt herself relax, something had gone terribly wrong as Varyn stopped speaking. She followed his eyes to the Rancor and the holo-cam crew that was also on board let out a small gasp realizing what was about to unfold on their show. Solone cursed under her breath, and of course, she didn't have any of her weapons to take care of this. The Mandalorian turned in her seat to see the rancor charging after their speeder, the guide had also saw what was unfolding and hit the accelerator.

The speeder jerked forward as it picked up speed, the holocam crew struggled to steady their equipment trying to get as much as they could and Solone watched the rancor quickly gained ground. It roared in its furry and swiped at the speeder, sending it into a spin before t-boning into a tree; Solone yelled in shock, instinctively grasping Varyn's forearm as it slammed into the tree, her vision blacking out for a moment before she looked to see the beast still coming. The guide anxiously tried to get the engine to turn as the rancor came closer, however, another roar greeted them as a second rancor charged at the one that had attacked them. "Varyn, we should all get out of here before they realize we're sitting appetizers." she spoke, her voice low and her eyes wide as she was still also regretting not having her armor or weapons to protect herself and the others, including Varyn.

She glanced at the Emperor for his response, she was beginning to regret volunteering for this show.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

The speeder zipped off down the path, but before it could get clear, the speeder was sent careening into a tree. Varyn was nearly thrown from the speeder, and he felt her hand clamp down around his forearm. Not only did it stabilize her, but it counter balanced him falling out of the speeder.

It didn't stop him from slamming into the seat in front of him. He grunted as the air was nearly knocked from his lungs and pushed himself back up.

Yeah... I think so... he said as he glanced nervously back at the guide trying to get the engine running again. Kriff, he mentally spat. He reached out to the Force and grabbed ahold of the speeder. He had no delusions about quickly moving it, but if they managed to get the engine running again, at least he could get them a clean speed away from the tree. The nose swiveled around and away from the tree just before he heard the engine fire up.

Go! Get us out of here! he said, hand gripping his lightsaber out of instinct, though he had no interest in facing down a rancor like this. He glanced back just as the speeder began zipping off, and barely missed the second rancor. Unfortunately, the speeder was not going in the right direction, and there were supposed to be more monsters and beasts up ahead.

 

[Solone Wren]

Solone quickly looked between the rancor and the driver as he worked to get the engine to turn and then eventually the camera crew where she gave one of the filmers a gaze that warned bad choices were made. The holo-cam crew quickly adverted their own gaze to the Emperor and the rancor. The speeder then moved from the tree the engine fired, sending them off, continuing with the tour and just not a moment sooner as the second rancor appeared. The mandalorian woman leaned back in her seat and let out a long sigh of relief that they were not turned into rancor-snack; she rubbed her face, "I take back what I said earlier, I am no longer excited about this expedition." she said now rubbing her temples to relieve her head throb, she would have taken the girly girl dancing or picnic, but facing rancors without a weapon or armor, this was suicide.

Though, the situation seemed so humorous it was existing and grinned at the thought, "So, Varyn, are all your dates this intense?" she asked looking over her shoulder just to make sure the rancors were long behind them. Though this bad luck was much of what she was warned about with Hod Ha'ran and his tricks, but she didn't believe they were meant for her to suffer from, perhaps this was a test. Solone sided with that idea over the superstitious suffering her clan would warn her of what could come.

They would exit the jungle and into large open plain, birds scattered upward as the speeder startled them from their resting spots. However, there was something else that would catch the Mandalorian's eye and it was certainly not the white feather tips from the wings of the birds. "I ask because Mandalorians like low key...I like low key....I would hope you like low key, relaxation, too..." she said, trying to salvage some small talk while turning her seat, seeing if she could spot the thing she saw more clearly, but pursed her lips trying to determine if she saw something she should be more weary of being a threat. For certain, she was more paranoid about this whole expedition now.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

It eventually seemed that the rancor was going to stop pursuing them, and Varyn let a sigh of relief out and plopped back into the seat heavily.

Mandalorians don't like low-key! he objected, thinking of how they were all mercenaries, big game hunters, bounty hunters, spacers, and more. They were pretty much the definition of "not low key," but she had already torn away from her people on a certain level to come out here, and that meant that perhaps she really did like things that were low key.

He could feel the adrenaline still finishing its course through his body, and he clenched and unclenched his fist several times as he tired to force his muscles to relax. No, the other dates haven't been this... "exciting," he said. The hadn't been quite prepared for things to turn out like this, and his senses were still tingling that he needed to stay alert. But they were moving, and things seemed fine for now.

So... he said, still trying to calm himself down a bit. Anything you think I should know about you in particular? Something interesting that no one knows? he asked at first, before realizing something else. That's like a terrible ice breaker question, isn't it? He wasn't going to apologize, but he also wasn't going to force her to answer such a horrible question if she didn't want to.

 

[Solone Wren]

His protest about low-key Mandalorians made Solone smile; it was also quite possible their definition of low key was much different from the rest of the galaxy. She watched him make fists, trying to settle his nerves as he further explained the other dates have not been as exciting as this one. Solone started to wonder if this particular event was chosen because she was Mandalorian and their thinking laid on the basis of other events would be a bore. The Emperor moved the conversation, coming up with a line so scripted that Solone made a face that spoke "really?" as she glanced to Varyn. It seemed though, as soon as he said it, he realized how terrible it sounded, giving her the option not to answer.

"It is a terrible ice breaker question, but I'll bite." Solone smirked, and turned slightly in her seat to face him, "I'm not sure how widely known this is, but you know Leandros Solus?" she asked, though she knew he would know of the Mandalorian warrior, "My A'lo-" she paused, quickly thinking of the basic language term, "Clan leader, and I took his armor. He came seeking an alliance, had an ego big as any of the largest systems in the galaxy," there was a shake of the speeder's engine and smoke started to poor from it, halting their travel just before they would enter the forested area again. Solone sighed as the guide comm'd in to his headquarters for back up as now the group was stranded and the guide apologized repeatedly to them for the series of bad luck.

The sun had reached the highest in the sky and beat down harshly on the group; Solone climbed out of the speeder to stretch her legs, forgetting to finish her story to Varyn, "There is no way I am sitting in this sun..." she said in Mando'a while taking off her jacket and leaving it on the seat as she went to the front of the speeder, popping open the hatch nearest to the smoking vent to see if anything was repairable.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Rask]

Varyn nodded as she asked if he knew who Leandros was. Most of the galaxy knew that name as one of the leading Mandalorian generals, and Varyn most certainly did. The story took a very sharp turn when she explained that they had taken his armor. The idea of it actually forced Varyn to make a little bit of a quiet chuckle.

I have to admit I wasn't expecting that. You seem to be full of surprises, he said. And it was true. Just the fact that she was here didn't seem to fit with her people. Now she had this story, and Varyn found that he was more and more interested in her story. Someday you're going to have to tell me your story from start to finish, he said.

She muttered something, and with his limited Mando'a, he recognized the word "sun" and a couple others, but before he could figure out what else, she was jumping out of the vehicle and popping the hood. Just as she was starting to look inside a gizka jumped up on the engine next to her, then another and another.

Great, gizka... lots of them, he said. Want a pet gizka? he asked.

 

[Solone Wren]

Solone smiled to Varyn's response, his tone told her as much as he inquired about her story at some point, his mask made it hard to determine what he was thinking, to get a read on how his eyes spoke. Though, she like many other Mandalorians wore their T-visors frequently, judging the attitudes without a face to read was simple since Mandalorians spoke their mind, whatever it may be, but she was uncertain for someone of the Sith empire. "I think I could accommodate, but no more safaris." she shook her head, glancing at him with a serious look on her face that told she meant it before turning her attention to a handful of wires she pulled out gently to examine. Solone though did her best to keep her head bowed, biting her lip in order to not to giggle in girly giddiness that the Emperor wished to see her again - possibly.

Though, those thoughts were short lived as something hopped onto the hood, startling the Mandalorian as she let out loud gasp and more creatures quickly joined. She begun to click her tongue to shoo them away as Varyn expressed his joy of seeing them. "No, I don't want them as a pet...They...they" she said chasing a couple out of the engine while a couple more took their chance to gnaw on the wires she had pulled, "Nooo..." she said seeing them spark, startling one gizka as the others now swarmed onto the engine. "Kriffin'" she stepped back, her hands on her head in disbelief watching them feast. The holo-cam crew seemed to be enjoying this shot and the guide, if he could be anymore nervous, probably was dying on the inside now.

"I clearly displeased Hod Har'an..." she sighed finding some explanation to the string of bad luck, she looked at Varyn, "If you want a pet Gizka, take your pick..." she gestured to the gizka covered speeder before letting her arms fall to her side in defeat. However, as she watched and thought about her trickster god, a coy grin spread across her lips, but kept her thoughts to herself.

"So now what..." she glanced at Varyn, and raised a curious eyebrow, "What does an Emperor do when he's stranded in the middle of a jungle?" she asked.

@Phoenix