Ask That awkward moment....

[Dolworth]

Lothal...it was once a backwater place, nothing but farmers, miners, and the local criminal hiding from the law. Then the imps of old came, tried to bring “order”. Lot of good that did. But it did birth legends, like Saint Ezra: Jedi hero and liberator. A statue still stands in the heart of the capital city, a remembrance of the patron saint of the planet...

But the history and landmarks were not what brought the Mandalorian Dolworth to this jewel of the Outer Rim. Nope, he was in a crew...a crew that needed cash. And Dolworth decided to bring in a local bounty. Sounded like a local punk was hassling decent folks not only here but in the surrounding systems. He was told by his informant, Benny, that the guy was a small time crook who would have at least one or two guys with him...nothing Dolworth couldn’t handle. As he stepped out of the Raza, letting the hatch close and lock before he moved out, he surveyed the port and beyond taking in the planets natural beauty before taking in a heavy breath.

“Damn”, he spat with a smirk on his face, “Should have checked this place out sooner before we sat up shop.” He said out loud, throwing a brown poncho over his orange and black Beskar’gam. Without another word, he began his hunt where else? The first cantina he could find...

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Lothal was an impressive sight for any wayward travelers and interested tourists. For the Mandalorian, it was just another Outer-Rim world where low-tier criminals hid and cowered from Rangers and bounty hunters alike. She had been in the area when she received a report of a crook on the run. A petty thief starting a rising gang.

Something the local inhabitants keen to have.

Fortunately, Song was there to kill the concept in its crib. Nothing like a few easy credits and another name added to her list of completed bounties. In due time, she’d be a notorious hunter in the Guild, with enough of a reputation to honor her late brother River and enough connections to find his killer and put them to the sword like they had to her brother.

Revenge would be hers, sooner or later.

While she had to start out small, Song was patient. Vengeance made no difference in terms of waiting, only as long as it was accomplished. The same went for the target, someone by the name of Yolanda. She’d been wandering the streets looking for the mark for sometime, but decided to settle down in a cantina to ask some questions.

Sitting at the bar, she flagged down the bartender to see if she could squeeze some information out of him. That was, until an unexpected guest arrived.

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth walked into the bar, sitting himself down into a corner and simply sat. If he was a betting man Yolanda would come to him, whether they wanted to or not. It was during the wait he spotted the most curious thing in the cantina: another set of Beskar’gam gleaming in the dim light.

Huh, he thought to himself, I thought I was the only Mandalorian this far out. Interesting he noted before waving a waitress down, “Whatever my vod at the bar is having, its on me.” He informed her before asking for whatever was on tap. He sat back and sighed, hoping he was right and the acquisition came to him...

@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song turned to see another Mandalorian enter the bar.

Though nobody would see it, surprise rippled across her face, and through her tinted visor, she stared at the strange man as he seated himself at a corner table. Mandalorians were a rare breed, uncommon and stretched thin across the Outer-Rim. If she were honest, she hadn’t seen another one outside of those in Clan Wren. Not in a long time.

To see one now, she wasn’t sure whether to be suspicious or relieved.

She tilted more towards relief at hearing her Mandalorian brother buy out her drink. A kind but unneeded gesture, because she wasn’t even looking to drink with her helmet tight on her frame, but she knew he had done it more to show respect than simple gentleman generosity. It was a subtle way of saying hello.

And Song was much too curious not to answer back.

At her request, the bartender gave her a glass of sparkling, blue Spotchka. With a touch of thanks, the Mandalorian left her seat at the bar and drifted over to her brother’s. She set the drink onto his table, opposite of him, and glanced over to him.

“This seat taken?” she said, her low voice ringing out.

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth looked up to see the fellow Mandalorian step forward and stand before him. At first he thought he had insulted him in some way but that disippated when the low voice asked if the seat was taken?

"Not at all!" he said as a waitress came with a cup of Lothan Tea...and a straw. Very curious for the uninitiated, but for someone who only took his helmet off in front of other Mandalorians...and only other Mandalorians in private...A straw was a godssend for those who by tradition never took their helmet off in public, "Am I to assume from the Phoenix on your pauldron you are of Clan Wren? If it's any of my business mind you" he asked in a low but cheery voice so that only they could hear the conversation, "I've only met two other Mandalorians outside of my own clan so to find a third is a real treat!" he explained. Even with the helmet was on, you could almost feel Dolworth was smiling underneath...
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song slid into the open seat across from the man, back slumped against it and head fixed onto the stranger who had so generously paid for her drink. And though he too couldn’t see what her reactions were underneath the thickness of her helmet, she was smiling at the mention of her Clan. It seemed he wasn’t some pretender in Beskar.

He was a real Mandalorian.

Relaxing further, Song said, “Yes, it is. Where I go, the Phoenix goes.”

A moment later, the waitress arrived with not one but two straws, handing one to each. It was clear the young woman was stricken by their appearances, and she gave a particularly long stare at Song with a smile. If only she knew.

Taking a quiet sip from her spotchka, Song continued, “I’ll admit, you’re the first Mandalorian I’ve seen outside of my Clan since I left. It’s good to know I’m not the only one out here.”

It was even better knowing the man had met two others. It seemed they were not a dying breed after all.

“But the name’s River, a son of Ghent Wren, if you’ve heard of him.” She doubted he had. “By your colors, you must be a Solus, right? Can’t say I’ve ever met a Solus even during my time on Krownest.”

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

“Aye, very observant Vod.” he stated as Dolworth sipped on his tea, "And yes there are more Mandalorians out there. Granted they are still in Hiding a hundred years after the Great Purge but we are still thriving. So long as we adhere to the Reslon'are Mandalorians will live on." he declared as he sipped another bit of his tea, "Speaking of thriving. I heard the Clan Wren is one of the strongest, still holding Krownest as their Ancestral home." He said as he finished his tea, "Though the cost of that is they never venture far from Krownest...hence the peculiar sight before me". When River asked if Dolworth ever heard of his father Ghent, from under his visor Dolworth cringed, "I've heard of him, but only second hand" He warned, "My late adopted father used to tell me stories about Ghent Wren" He paused for a moment, his hand moving the glass in a display of uncomfortableness, "Though out of respect for you and the rest of your family, i'd rather not repeat any of them." He said, hoping River didn't want to know.
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song drank from her spotchka anxiously as her Mandalorian brother went on. She was glad to have met him, relieved she was not simply a lonely outsider on the backwater world, but a part of her wondered if he knew what had transpired between her and Clan Wren. Between her and her father.

It came as a great relief to know he didn’t. Just stories from his father.

Stories which, Song had to admit, was interested in hearing.

Resting her drink onto the table, her head tilted as a sign of curiosity, urging him to continue. “No, please. You can tell me. My father and I… we were not on good terms when I left Krownest. I’m curious to see what his own Mandalorian brothers thought of him.”

She settled into her seat, getting comfortable, like she were in the seat of a theater watching a drama unfold. Because, by the tone of the Solus’ voice at the mention of Ghent, Song figured the stories of her father weren’t particularly good, and she found that incredibly entertaining.

But if the stories were good? It made no difference to her. Any story was a story worth hearing.

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth sighed, realizing that he opened a can of space slugs. He shook his head and cleared his throat, “Well there are many stories ranging from his drinking botched a negotiation, how he let some punk get the drop on him during a bounty mission, how he got his Beskar’gam stolen and the theif left him her dress...” He looked back at River, “Keep in mind my dad was telling these stories and they may or may not be a tiny bit exaggerated.” he said in his defense, “Though there’s only one not from my dad that is most recent...and it sickens me.” He said as his voice became rougher...

 

[Song Wren]

“Drunkenly botching a negotiation?” Song said, cracking up all the while, her laughter deep and mechanical through her helmet. “Stolen Beskarr? Oh, that’s rich.”

She was pleased to hear everything the Solus was telling her, reveling both in the delight of her father’s failures and the stories she had never been lucky enough to hear. Now that it was coming into light, she might now see her father another way. Not as the hard, cruel man who threatened her into self-exile, but a man barely worthy of the Mandalorian name.

But that wasn’t all. The Solus had more to offer.

Sipping the last of her spotchka, slightly buzzed and rather pleased with herself, she gestured for her brother to continue. “Please, vod. Continue. I’d love to hear more about what my great and honorable father did in his travels.”

Underneath her helm, she smiled, ignorant of the sudden roughness in the Solus’ tone. Not ready for what would come next.

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth took a heavy breath before he looked back at River, “Before I tell about my thoughts on that I have a personal question to ask...” He took another deep breath before opening his mouth. However who he saw coming through the door stopped him, “and like I said he comes to me.” He said looking at Yolanda before looking back at River, “I’m afraid I’ll have to wait on that question.” He said keeping an eye on Yolanda...
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song leaned forward in bated breath for what the Solus had to say, but she was interrupted by the arrival of Yolanda, her mark. The petty crook was openly walking around in public, and the fact he had come to the very bar she was staking out in, made her job much easier. It also made her target that much dumber. Might’ve been the easiest bounty she ever turned in.

Little did she know her vod was after the man too.

“Not a problem,” she said, glancing over to Yolanda, not noticing that the Solus was doing the same. “You’d have to wait on an answer anyway.”

Her hand drifted down her blaster. “I’m in the area because of a bounty. Some crook named Yolanda.” Her eyes moved away from the man, who was now seating on the other side of the room next to several others, and back to the Mandalorian.

“Funny how fate works though,” she said. “Because he just walked in.”

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth froze for a moment before he released a nervous chuckle, “See? That’s funny, cause I’m after Yolanda.” He said as they sat there. Dolworth stared at River, really hoping this mans nothing like Ghent....
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song stopped, frozen. A frame cut out of a rolling film. Her thoughts rolled around in her head as she turned over to the Solus, unsure of what was going on, what he was thinking, behind that helmet too. Already, she connected the dots.

Of course he was at the bar because he was looking for information too. He was waiting for Yolanda too. Mandalorians don’t just hang around worlds like Lothal to simply hang around. They were all after the same thing: credits, bounties, careers.

It shouldn’t have surprised her the Solus was after the same person she was.

Although her hand was already hovering over her blaster, she still maintained a lax posture. She didn’t want to get into a fight with her Mandalorian brethren. It wasn't right, especially for the Creed.

“Looks like we’ve hit an impasse,” she said. “Let’s see… who was here first?”

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

“That we are” noted Solus, staring at River for a moment, knowing full well that both were hovering over their blasters. He was about to answer the question postulated by River when a thought popped into his head. As he looked at Yolanda to make sure he hadn’t noticed, Dolworth slowly moved his hand from his pistol.

“I have a better question.” He responded, “What do you need more? Credit for the bounty, the cash, or both?” He asked.
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

As the Solus man led his hand away from his blaster, so did Song. Especially with Yolanda in the room, the tension in the air was thick and heavy. It was better not to escalate things between them when the bounty was just within view. No way would she risk fighting a Mandalorian brother over a criminal so petty and irrelevant as to ruin her reputation.

If the Solus had a better idea, she was open to listen.

She paused to think about his question, then finally said, “I’m already initiated into the Guild, and the bounty I took in was enough to set me up for the next couple of weeks, credit-wise.”

“I’m always looking to improve my reputation in the Guild,” she said. “But I don’t care for which. If you want to split the bounty, I’ll split it. You choose how it’s done, vod.”

Her voice now had an inkling of respect to it. Any suspicions she might’ve had against him was dissipating quick, now that they could unite together against a common enemy, much like the Mandalorians of old had.

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth began to relax as he put both hands down on the table, “My thoughts exactly.” He stated, “I’m in the guild as well but given the team I’m in needs overhead we need some serious cash.” He explained as he kept looking at Yolanda and River, “However I’m not desperate enough to hinder a vod and there’s always the next bounty...therefore you get the credit and we split the bounty.” He proposed, “50/50?” He asked as he waited for River last acceptance...or counter offer.
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

“A crew?” she said, raising an eyebrow beneath that helm of hers.

Her curiosity was piqued, though she knew she would feel guilty for taking both the credit and half the bounty. If the Solus man wasn’t alone, if he had others relying on him, especially other Mandalorians, she couldn’t take a single dime off him.

They were both after Yolanda. It didn’t matter who was on Lothal first. They were brothers in arms, and what they did, they’d do together.

“Alright,” she said, but before she could take his hand, added, “I’ll take the credit, but the bounty is all yours. I don’t need cash as much as I’m sure you do. Besides, I went out on my own to bring honor and glory to Clan Wren, which is exactly what I’ll do.”

“And like you said, there’s always the next one.”

Her smile widened and she shook his hand. A deal was a deal.

“So,” said Song. “What’s next?”

@Kenico

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth shook Rivers hand, but shook his head, “Expect at least 20% Vod” He said with a chuckle, “The next thing now is to bring chuckles in...” He stood up with River, both turning to both walk up to Yolanda. Dolworth let River tap Yolanda on the shoulder as both placed their hands on their blasters.

“Don’t do anything stupid bub. We can bring you in warm...or we can bring you in-“

Suddenly the front doors swing open, revealing not on...not two... but four heavily armed men with rifles in hand, “...cold.” It was now at this awkward moment Dolworth was regretting not bringing his rifle with him, “Well...shit.” He said as Dolworth grabbed River and threw him over the bar to help him take cover. Without another thought he hit Yolanda as hard as he could, grabbing the mans now unconscious body and kicking a table over and taking cover himself just as the thugs started shootings, “Tion'jor garay ibic taylir banar at ni?! (Why does this keep happening to me?!)” he roared out loud.
@Feng Mian

 

[Song Wren]

Song followed after the Solus before they stopped inches away from an oblivious, mildly drunk Yolanda. She tapped him on the shoulder, then gave her vod the stage.

That’s usually my line, she thought to herself as the Mandalorian spoke, but even her thoughts were quickly interrupted by the arrival of four heavily-armed men. Decked in armor and sporting a few high-tier rifles, they were not easy to overlook.

And by the way they were looking at the Mandalorians, nothing good was in store.

With the Solus’ helping hand, though a little unwelcome, Song cruised over the bar and into cover. Moments later, blaster fire ripped through the cantina. Patrons shrieked and stumbled for the exits, while a few veteran drunkards blinked before hobbling out. Everything had quickly gone to shit in the span of seconds.

Her blaster pistol in hand, Song peered over the bar to get a good vantage point. She could hardly get a glance before the counter was riddled with shots.

“Ibac cuyir jorcu mhi cuyir Mando! (That’s because we’re Mandalorians!)” said Song, and even to her surprise, she laughed. “We go where trouble always finds us!”

@Kenico