Private A Familiar Shape in the Crowd

[Meri Vale]

The docking concourse was louder than Meri remembered, though not necessarily in the sense of literal noise. Starports were inherently chaotic places, defined by the mechanical whine of engines, the piercing drone of cargo loaders, and the constant, rhythmic murmur of travelers passing through on their way to distant systems. Instead, the sensation of volume came from the space itself, which seemed curiously smaller and more confined than it had during her last visit.

She stood near one of the massive transparisteel panels that overlooked the landing bays, watching the silhouettes of ships as they rose and fell through the precision-controlled traffic lanes of the atmosphere. Her satchel hung heavily from one shoulder, weighed down by a collection of books, datapads, and handwritten notes that had grown significantly over the past several months.

There was a noticeable change in the way she carried herself as well. Over the past year, she had grown just enough for the hem of her jacket to lift away from the tops of her boots, and her posture had shifted alongside her height. She no longer stood folded in on herself, looking like someone who expected the world to collapse without warning; while she knew the world still could crumble at any moment, she no longer moved as if she assumed it was an inevitability.

Scanning the crowd with a quiet, practiced focus, Meri found it easy to locate Maur. Even in a starport overflowing with weary travelers and burly cargo haulers, a seven-foot Togorian stood out with the unmistakable clarity of a lighthouse among drifting ships. For a long moment, Meri simply watched from across the concourse, reflecting on how a single year could feel so much longer when travel stacked new places atop old memories until the edges began to blur.

Seeing Maur's familiar striped silhouette and quiet presence snapped everything back into sharp focus. She admired the way the Togorian moved—with the grace of someone who had long ago learned how to take up space without feeling the need to apologize for it.

Meri began to walk forward, her steps steady as she weaved through the throng of travelers without her old hesitation. When she reached a comfortable distance, she came to a halt and looked up, realizing that it was still a very long way up to meet Maur's gaze. A small, genuine smile touched her lips, and her hands rose instinctively to begin the conversation.

Hello, Maur.

The signs were practiced now, lacking the jagged uncertainty of their early days; they were still careful, but far smoother than the first time they had attempted to communicate in the silence. She studied Maur's face for a moment, her eyes warm with the spark of recognition, before continuing.

It has been about a year since we last spoke.

Her gaze flicked briefly over Maur's gear, noting the familiar weight of her weapons and the way her clothes had been softened by the grit of travel.

You look well, she signed, pausing for a beat as a hint of humor sparked in her expression. And you are, as always, still very tall.

She lowered her hands but remained visibly relaxed, appearing entirely at ease in the giantess's shadow. Seeing Maur again didn't feel like the awkwardness of meeting a stranger; it felt like rediscovering a landmark she had once used to navigate the galaxy, only to find it was still exactly where she had left it.

Maur

 

[Maur]

The message had come almost out of the blue. Work around Togoria had picked up and Maur hadn’t had the time to check in on Meri since their first and last meeting. And that made Maur feel incredibly guilty, given that Meri was a kit without people.

Maur checked her datapad again, the screen scratched a bit but still usable, as she pushed through the crowd. The concourse had changed little over the course of the year since she’d first met Meri and helped her get to Theed. Perhaps the biggest change had been the spiced meat vendor leaving the hub entirely. Maur felt a pang of regret and guilt at the memory. She should have checked in on Meri sooner.

It took her a moment to recognize the young woman that approached her. Meri no longer withdrew into herself, made herself small, but stood with a new sureness. Her hands signed steadily, confidently. Maur smiled broadly and silently chuckled at the girl’s last comment.

All the better to see over people, she signed back. The humor faded into something softer as she looked at Meri. You’ve grown.

She paused, carefully looking Meri over. A year of no communication left her with so many questions. Find any interesting ruins?

Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri watched Maur's hands carefully, her eyes following each motion before the meaning settled in. She understood it, but there was still a small pause while she translated the shapes into words in her head. When she answered, her own signing was a little slower, but much steadier than it had been a year ago.

"A few," she signed.

"Mostly on Naboo."

She traced a curved shape in the air with her fingers as she described the first.

"There is an old observatory outside Theed. The dome collapsed a long time ago, but the arches are still standing. Whoever built it understood load distribution very well."

Her hands paused briefly while she thought about the next one.

"Another one is near the lake country. It is mostly foundations now. The drainage channels were designed beautifully, but they flood constantly. I think the builders cared more about symmetry than practicality."

She hesitated a moment before continuing.

"I left Naboo twice."

There was a small spark of pride in the way she signed it.

"Korriban was one. The ruins there feel… heavier. The structures are tall and narrow, like they were built to make people feel small when they walked inside."

Her brow creased slightly as she remembered it.

"And Daxam IV."

This time, her hands moved with a little more energy.

"There was a research outpost built into a cliff. Not ancient, but interesting. The anchors in the rock were still intact after the landslide, so you could see how the whole structure was meant to distribute weight across the face of the cliff."

She lowered her hands for a moment, then looked back up at Maur with a small, genuine smile.

"It made more sense once I could see it from underneath."

Her fingers lifted again, a little uncertain for a second before continuing.

"What about you? Have you been traveling?"

Maur

 

[Maur]

Maur watched more than Meri's hands as she signed, her expression and body language taken into account as well. The signs themselves were made more confidently than before, which suggested Meri had found time to practice. That alone warmed Maur's heart. Meri talked about two ruins on Naboo and two on other planets. Korriban gave her pause. That was a Sith holy world, and beyond the Blackwall. The furrow in her brow, the slower signs. Maur didn't like it.

The ruins on Daxam IV brought back more of Meri's enthusiasm, a smile brightening her face. The knot in Maur's chest that Korriban caused eased at that.

Always, Maur signed with a smile. I do mercenary work so I go where the jobs take me. Most recently found a lot of work with the Mandalorian Empire. Got in a few fights but nothing I can't handle.

She looked back at Meri, who had grown up quite a bit in the year that had separated them.

How are your studies going? Make any friends?



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri followed Maur's hands with an intensity that bordered on the academic, her eyes tracking the fluid geometry of the signs. There was still that tell-tale pause as she translated the motion into meaning, her mind working like an ancient cipher disk, but the lag was shortening. When she finally moved to answer, her own signs were careful and deliberate, gaining a certain rhythmic grace that hadn't been there in their previous meetings.

"My studies are going well," she signed, and for a moment, the heavy mantle of her usual caution slipped away, replaced by a genuine, small brightness that lit up her expression from within.

She hesitated, her hands hovering in the air as she weighed the honesty of her next words, then added

"Most of them, at least."

A faint, almost embarrassed smile ghosted across her lips, and she looked away for a split second as if confessing a great academic sin.

"Engineering is…very hard," she continued, her hands slowing as if the very concept of the subject required more physical effort to convey. "There are too many variables that the textbooks don't account for. Things in the real world don't always behave with the elegant symmetry they are supposed to have on paper. The friction, the heat, the way metal fatigues, it is all so loud."

She glanced down at her boots briefly, watching the way the light caught the dust on the floor, before forcing her gaze back up to meet Maur's. There was a spark of quiet resilience in her smoky-gray eyes.

"But I am getting better at predicting the chaos. I am learning to see the patterns in the failures."

When Maur shifted the conversation to friends, the atmospheric hum Meri often felt seemed to ripple. She paused much longer this time, her fingers stilled against her satchel strap. A soft, undeniable flush touched her cheeks, creeping up from her collar.

"I think so," she signed, her movements becoming smaller, more tentative, as she navigated the unfamiliar terrain of social validation.

"There is Elian. He is…easy to talk to. The silence between us does not feel like a void I have to fill. It just feels like rest."

Her fingers fidgeted with one another, a nervous habit of a girl who spent too much time in archives and not enough in conversation, before she pushed through the shyness to continue.

"And Kiran."

She hesitated again, her confidence dipping as her natural instinct to remain unseen resurfaced. She thought of the way he had stepped in when the world felt too large and too loud.

"He helped me once when I did not know how to help myself. He is…remarkably kind. It is a strange thing to be seen and not feel the urge to hide immediately."

Her hands lowered, resting against her lap for a long moment as she gathered her thoughts for the final name. When they lifted again, her expression had shifted, growing more thoughtful.

"And Varin. I met him on Korriban."

She did not linger on it, simply stating it as part of her path.

She looked back up at Maur, that small, fragile smile returning like a light being turned on in a distant window.

"So…when I put the pieces together, I think that must mean I have friends. Actual friends."

The realization seemed to surprise her even as she signed it, a new foundation being laid down in the unmarked architecture of her life.

Maur

 

[Maur]

Watching Meri closely, what her hands said and what her body said, filled a gap Maur hadn't realized had formed. Her people were big on family and connection. While she'd been able to visit in between jobs, the brief connection she'd made with Meri had gone unfulfilled. And that was her fault.

I find the challenging things are often the most rewarding ones, she signed back. Meri listed off people she'd met, how she signed saying as much as the signs themselves.

Elian, effortless conversation and comfortable silence. The kind of person that became a best friend or more. Maur wondered if the way her fingers fidgeted indicated more vulnerable feelings.

Kiran, helpful, kind, and perceptive. Maur nodded when Meri said it wasn't easy being seen and resisting the impulse to hide. To be seen was to be vulnerable, and in this galaxy, being vulnerable meant getting incredibly hurt. Most beings never chanced it unless they were sure of their odds. And even then, people could surprise you.

Varin. Maur's face slowly shifted into concern as the pause before it lengthened. No comments about his character. Nothing about their interaction. Just a simple statement about where she had met him. She had to wonder what kind of boy could be met on Korriban. None of her imaginings painted a charitable picture.

But the shy brightness of Meri's face, the delicate smile as realization dawned on her, dispelled the storm clouds Korriban brought. Maur smiled broadly in response, the tips of her teeth showing.

Good! she signed. 'No being is an island,' or so said some poet I once read. We all need people to fall back on. I'm glad you found some. Perhaps one of these days, I'll introduce mine to you?

She made sure the last phrase came as a question, an invitation rather than a declaration. Meri still seemed shy and uncertain when it came to social things, if how she signed when discussing her friends was any indication. And Maur's family, while not large at six children—only four of whom were female and therefore in town for a visit, could be quite loud in many ways, overwhelming even. All of it good-natured, and everyone did their best to accommodate others but sometimes, things slipped.



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri watched Maur as she signed, her attention fixed not just on the literal meaning but on the cadence of the movement itself. She followed its rhythm with the same clinical focus she gave to spoken language, noting the specific shape of each sign and the subtle variations in pacing that carried more weight than the words alone. When Maur finally smiled, the effect was immediate; Meri's own expression softened in return, the usual rigid edges of her restraint easing just enough to let something quiet and genuine through.

After a moment, her hands lifted to respond. They were slow at first, as if she were finding the right frequency, before settling into a more natural, fluid flow.

[[Challenging things make sense to me. If something is difficult, it means there is something to understand.]]

A brief, thoughtful pause followed as she processed the rest of Maur's words. When the topic shifted to the prospect of meeting Maur's family, Meri hesitated. It wasn't quite fear, but a distinct sense of uncertainty; the idea of so many people, characterized by noise and unpredictable movement, was something for which she had no existing structure. It was a concept that did not fit easily into the silent, orderly spaces she preferred, yet she did not withdraw. Instead, she tilted her head, her signs becoming more careful and deliberate.

[[I would like to meet them…maybe not all at once.]]

There was the faintest hint of humor in the motion, subtle but intentional, before her focus shifted toward something more grounded and easier to explain. Her hands began to move with more fluidity now, the familiar structure of her daily life giving her a clearer path to follow.

[[School has been…different this year. Better. I understand more now. Not just the lessons, but how to be there.]]

A quiet brightness settled into her expression, reflecting her progress more clearly than the signs could.

[[I still do not like crowded rooms, or when everyone talks at once, but I don't freeze as much.]]

She paused for a second, her hands hanging briefly in the air.

[[I can answer questions now without…stopping. Most of the time.]]

She glanced down at her own hands, as if verifying the accuracy of her statement, before meeting Maur's gaze again.

[[There are a few people I talk to. Not many. But it is…enough.]]

The final sign was slow and heavy with meaning. As her hands lowered, they stayed close to her chest rather than dropping away entirely. She remained steady and open, her gaze fixed on Maur in a way that was still careful, but no longer closed off. For Meri, that was a lot.

Maur

 

[Maur]

Maur inclined her head, one ear flicking in amusement, when Meri said she'd like to meet her family but not all at once. She caught the undertone of humor but also understood that it was a genuine statement. No, Maur had no intent to subject Meri to the chaos of her family all at once, particularly if it was during the time when the males rejoined civilization for a bit. Her father and brothers would really make things hectic and it was a lot, even for Maur.

She listened as Meri talked about her progress in school, the ways she'd learned to adapt to her new environment. The last word signed had emphasis. Maur could agree with the weight behind it. And in spite of the near-finality of it, Meri's body language stayed open. That alone said more than even sign language could say.

[[Perhaps one day, you could introduce me to your friends,]] she signed. [[But there's no pressure.]]

People moved around them, walking the concourse to where they needed to be. With the spiced meat vendor's absence, Maur felt herself wanting to find a place to sit and eat.

[[Would you like get a cup of tea or ... I don't actually know what you prefer to drink.]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

The suggestion immediately brightened Meri's expression. Tea sounded pleasant. More importantly, it sounded quiet, which was becoming increasingly valuable after spending most of her days surrounded by students, professors, excavation teams, and the general unpredictability that seemed to follow archaeological work. She nodded without hesitation as they continued walking through the concourse, the steady flow of travelers moving around them.

[[Tea would be nice.]]

As they walked, Meri considered the second question for a moment before answering. Unlike many people, she had never developed particularly strong preferences regarding food or drink. Practicality usually won those arguments. If something was available and reasonably pleasant, she was generally content with it. The answer was accompanied by a small shrug.

[[I drink almost anything. Water. Tea. Caf. Milk. Usually, whatever is available at the time.]]

Her gray eyes shifted toward Maur with genuine curiosity.

[[What do you like?]]

When Maur mentioned wanting to meet her friends, however, the faint smile lingering on Meri's face grew a little warmer. She nodded immediately. There was no hesitation there. If Maur wanted to meet the people she had come to know on Naboo, Meri found herself surprisingly pleased by the idea. It felt natural in a way she had not entirely expected.

[[I would like that. Next time I will make sure to invite you down so you can meet them.]]

The thought seemed to amuse her a moment later, and a trace of her familiar dry humor slipped into her signing.

[[Preferably not during a crisis, an archaeological emergency, or the accidental discovery of something that should probably remain buried. That would provide a more representative sample.]]

Maur

 

[Maur]

Silent air whuffling through Maur's nose and mouth and a smile that reached her eyes made it clear that Maur was chuckling at the idea. [[Meeting your friends during regular moments does sound better, yes.]]

Her hands paused and a sly gleam entered her eyes. [[They do say though that a crisis often reveals who a person really is though.]]

She was joking, of course. There was some truth to the saying, as crises tended to push a person to their limits and beyond. It could be enlightening, but if the only impression you got of a person was during a crisis, that could give the wrong impression as well. Better to see what a person chose to present to the galaxy first before the hammer hit the anvil. It could often be just as revealing.

[[I must admit, I'm not familiar with tea houses or cafés on Naboo. I'll have to put my trust in your hands,]] she signed. The crowds seemed to thicken around the entrance to the port and Maur had to put more effort into guiding them out into the city proper. [[Like you, I'll drink whatever. But I do prefer something a little stronger after a job or particularly hard work.]]

She stopped just outside the concourse, looking over the domed roofs that dominated the architecture of Theed and the human-built cities of Naboo. It was very temperate, very sunny, and much of the city reflected it. Balconies took advantage of particularly nice views over rivers and ponds, or distant plains. Maur grunted. It was too nice. She was used to cities of shining durasteel and transparisteel, rough duracrete, and back alleys that led to darker places. It was strange, feeling out of place.

Maur looked over at Meri, betraying nothing behind the surface. [[Where to, my friend?]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri laughed quietly at the mischievous glint in Maur's eyes, recognizing it immediately for what it was. There was truth in the saying, she knew. Difficult moments stripped away many of the masks people wore. Yet she also thought there was something equally revealing about the ordinary moments, when no one was trying to be brave, clever, or strong. Those were the moments that showed who someone chose to be when nothing demanded it of them.

[[I think I'd rather discover that before the crisis.]] She signed with an amused smile. [[It's comforting to know someone enjoys tea before you have to find out whether they're good under pressure.]] Her hands slowed as the thought continued. [[Besides...if the first thing someone learns about me is that I'm panicking while being chased through ancient ruins, I'd appreciate the chance to make a better second impression.]]

Stepping out into the warm Naboo sunlight, Meri paused for only a moment to appreciate the familiar view. Theed felt as though it had been designed to breathe. Sunlight spilled across pale stone, gardens softened the edges of every avenue, and the gentle murmur of fountains drifted through the city with the breeze. It never felt crowded despite the number of people moving through its streets. She glanced toward Maur, noticing the way the older woman surveyed the city with careful, measuring eyes. It never occurred to her that someone accustomed to towering skylines and industrial worlds might find Naboo almost unnervingly peaceful.

Meri smiled and turned to lead them down one of the broad avenues overlooking the river, knowing Maur would still hear her voice even without watching her hands. "There's a little place not far from here. It's tucked away from the main square, so it doesn't usually fill up with visitors." She held her hands behind her back as they walked at an easy pace. "They have dozens of different teas, fresh fruit juices, hot chocolate, and pastries that are probably much too good for anyone's self-control." She glanced back over her shoulder with a sheepish smile. "I usually end up staying much longer than I planned whenever I go."

As they continued through the streets, Meri's expression brightened with the quiet contentment of someone showing a favorite corner of home to a friend. "It's one of my favorite places to study," she continued. "The owner doesn't mind if you stay for hours with a stack of books, and every now and then someone starts playing music out on the terrace." A thoughtful smile crossed her face. "I always thought it was the sort of place where conversations happened naturally." She looked ahead as the café drew closer, its familiar awning just becoming visible between the trees. "Today seems like a good opportunity to find out if I was right."

Maur

 

[Maur]

Breaths of air escaped as Maur chuckled when Meri answered her joke dryly, using a sign with small motions to also show she was laughing. She followed behind her young friend at an easy pace, listening as she talked and always keeping an ear out for trouble. There was a quiet joy in Meri's words when she talked about the cafe. Well-visited but not crowded and quiet enough for studying. Hospitality that welcomed paying customers and those that wanted to add to the atmosphere. A sanctuary from the stressors of classrooms.

But based on her words, it was a place Meri had yet to share.

Maur waited for Meri to look her way again before signing. [[I'm honored to be your lab rodent today.]]

A wine red awning peeked through the trees, hanging just over the door and a large window off to the side of the entrance. As they drew nearer, Maur could see a couple patrons sitting at tables placed just outside the building's front. From somewhere behind the cafe, a faint but light melody drifted on the air. Maur's eyebrows rose appreciatively. Meri spoke true.

Inside, it was exactly as Meri described. One wall was dominated by a transparisteel case, climate controlled sections dividing the goods inside. Twists of steam rose from little teapots at each occupied table and the scent of multiple teas nearly overpowered her senses. Florals, herbals, spices, fruits, Maur could smell them all. Some she recognized and others she didn't. She scratched her chin thoughtfully, following where Meri led in the cafe. It was a long shot, but Maur couldn't help but wonder if they had the smoky tea Togorians made.

[[What do you recommend here?]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri caught the movement of Maur's hands and gave her a thoughtful look, turning toward the selection displayed behind the counter. It was considerably easier to recommend the café than it was to recommend a particular tea. She had tried enough of them to have favorites, but there were still whole sections of the menu she hadn't worked her way through yet.

[[The Naboo blossom blend is really good if you like something sweeter,]] she signed, pointing toward one section of the menu before continuing. [[And they have one with berries and some kind of spice that I keep forgetting the name of. I usually get that when I'm studying because it doesn't get bitter if I forget about it for ten minutes.]] The admission came with a slightly guilty smile that suggested this had happened more than once. [[Which is probably not the quality they intended me to judge it by.]]

Her attention wandered farther down the menu before something unfamiliar caught her eye among the stronger black teas. Meri leaned a little closer to read the description, eyebrows lifting at the mention of leaves dried over wood smoke. [[Oh, this one's interesting.]] She pointed it out for Maur to see. [[It says it's smoked over pinewood. I've never tried anything like that before.]] The description promised a strong smoky character alongside the tea itself, which sounded considerably less delicate than almost everything Meri normally ordered. She glanced toward Maur with open curiosity. [[You said you wanted something stronger after a job. Does smoky count as stronger?]]

Once they had made their choices, Meri led them toward one of the quieter tables near the window, setting her things down before taking the seat that allowed her to face Maur easily while they talked. The familiar surroundings immediately settled around her again, but having someone else there changed them in a way she rather liked. This was usually where she disappeared into books and notes for hours at a time. Today there wasn't a single assignment waiting to be opened.

A grin spread across Meri's face as her hands moved once more. [[I should warn you that if you hate whatever I recommended, I'm going to blame the café.]] Her grin widened with the joke. [[If you like it, though, I'm taking full credit.]]

Maur

 

[Maur]

Maur listened attentively as Meri signed about the teas. Sweeter was a nice option after a good meal, so she was leaning more towards Meri's second recommendation with the berries and spice. But her ears pricked forward when Meri seemed intrigued by an option on the menu. Maur leaned over her shoulder easily to read the name of the tea and the description. Smoked over pinewood. She straightened as Meri asked if smoky counted as stronger, a slow smile spreading on her face.

[[It does indeed,]] she signed. [[I think I know what I'm ordering now.]]

After ordering, Meri led the way easily towards a table under a large window, away from the noisier areas. Maur took the seat that faced the entrance. She didn't expect trouble here, but it paid to stay alert. The smile on Meri's face though spoke of how comfortable she felt here.

[[I should warn you that if you hate whatever I recommended, I'm going to blame the café.]] Her grin widened with the joke. [[If you like it, though, I'm taking full credit.]]

Maur laughed, using her hands as well. [[A wise strategy, in matters of taste.]]

She settled a little more into her chair although she never stopped paying attention to their surroundings. [[Have you thought about where you'd go after your schooling? I know you said you wanted to be archaeologist, but surely there are a lot of different disciplines in that field.]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri settled into her chair while they waited for their tea, turning slightly so Maur could easily see her hands. The question made her pause. She knew the simple answer. Archaeology. That part had been certain for a long time. Everything beyond it was considerably less organized.

[[I'm not completely sure yet,]] she admitted. [[I know I want to do archaeology full time. Go on expeditions, study ruins, hopefully discover things people haven't found before. But I haven't decided what kind of archaeologist I want to be.]]

Her expression became thoughtful as she considered it. [[I really like old buildings and settlements. Not just temples or important places either. Houses, workshops, roads...ordinary things.]] A small smile appeared. [[Finding some famous artifact would be amazing, obviously, but sometimes I think I'd be just as excited finding someone's kitchen and figuring out what they ate two thousand years ago.]]

Meri laughed silently at herself, hands pausing for a moment before continuing. [[That probably doesn't sound nearly as exciting when I put it that way.]]

She glanced toward the counter to see whether their tea was coming before looking back to Maur. [[I think I mostly want to understand people. What their lives were actually like instead of only knowing the important names and big events that made it into history books.]] Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug. [[I still have a few years to figure out exactly what that makes me.]]

A curious smile followed as Meri turned the question around. [[What about you? Did you always know what you wanted to do, or did you sort of...end up doing it?]]

Maur

 

[Maur]

Maur's gaze turned thoughtful and she looked down at her massive hands resting on the table. It had been a while since she'd really given thought about her life before her disease.

[[My life changed drastically when I was young,]] she signed, looking up at Meri. [[But before it did, I had decided in all my young teenage wisdom that I was going to be an officer in some military.]]

She huffed a silent laugh. [[You have to be able to be heard though.]]

[[I was out on a hunt with my father when I got sick.]] The only hunt her father had taken her on. She loved the tactics of it, the strategy, learning about their quarry and using that knowledge to succeed. He'd been the one to suggest a military career with some other government. [[It's why I can't speak. Adjusting to suddenly being unable to say what I needed was hard. On our planet, the women stay in our city and do the agriculture and technology. I had no patience for animal husbandry or growing things, and I was only passingly good with machines and computers. Eventually I landed a job on a foreigner's ship as security.]]

Maur shrugged. [[After that, finding jobs that needed an intimidation factor and skilled gun became my focus. I'm hoping one of these days, I'll have earned enough to get a vocoder.]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri's expression grew more serious as Maur told her what had happened. She hadn't known why the Togorian couldn't speak, and there was something strange about imagining Maur as another teenager deciding what she wanted her entire life to look like. Meri was doing exactly that herself now. Archaeology felt certain to her, but she supposed Maur's military career had probably felt just as certain once.

[[I think you would've made a good officer,]] Meri signed after a moment. [[You still notice everything going on around you. You even picked the seat where you could watch the entrance.]] She smiled slightly, having noticed the choice when they sat down, even if she hadn't mentioned it. [[And security still sounds a little like what you wanted. Just without an entire military attached to you.]]

Her hands paused when Maur mentioned the vocoder. Meri hadn't really considered that Maur might someday want to speak again. Signing with her had become natural enough that she rarely thought about the absence of a voice unless someone else made it relevant.

[[Would you want to use it all the time?]] she asked curiously. [[Or only when you need people who don't sign to understand you?]] Meri glanced down at her own hands before looking back up. [[I know it isn't the same as being able to speak, but I don't have any trouble hearing you like this.]] A little amusement entered her expression as she corrected herself. [[Understanding you. You know what I mean.]]

Maur

 

[Maur]

Meri's confident compliments made her smile. She was flattered, but the points Meri made had more to do with Maur's line of work than any military training or instinct. But hunting, fighting, she'd been good at that. It had been a point of contention in her family: those were the domain of men, the primitive nomads more at home struggling to survive and always on the brink of starvation. The agrarian systems and technological advances of women were what would secure the future of Togoria. A military career in some other fleet seemed like the best way to bridge the gap.

The questions pulled Maur from her thoughts, right as the waiting droid trundled up with their order. The rich aroma from the smoked tea felt comforting. It wasn't exactly like the Togorian's tea but it was close enough.

[[Signing has its uses,]] Maur said, expression thoughtful. [[There are times when silence takes precedence. Signing allows you to communicate valuable information while staying hidden.]]

She took a sip from her tea.

[[But if I'm honest? Speaking is a matter of convenience. No one has to look at me to hear me. And fewer will talk to me like I'm stupid.]]



Meri Vale

 

[Meri Vale]

Meri had just lifted her own tea when Maur's last statement registered. She stopped before taking a sip, staring across the table at her as her expression shifted rapidly from surprise to unmistakable offense. Not at Maur, but apparently on her behalf. She promptly set the cup back onto the table so her hands were free.

[[People actually do that?]]

Her hands moved more sharply than they had throughout the rest of their conversation. [[Why would not being able to speak mean you can't understand them? Those aren't even the same thing.]] Meri frowned, genuinely struggling to understand how anyone could make that connection. Maur had been communicating with her perfectly well since they'd met. If anything, Meri sometimes had to pay closer attention, but that certainly didn't mean Maur had less to say.

She paused long enough to pick up her tea and take a sip before setting it down again, her expression still displeased. [[I think I'd get angry if someone started talking to you like you were stupid while I was there.]] The admission came with a slightly sheepish look, as though Meri realized getting offended on Maur's behalf probably wouldn't accomplish much. [[I'd probably say something. Or sign something, which wouldn't help if they don't understand it.]]

That earned the faintest smile before her attention dropped toward Maur's tea. [[So I understand why you'd want the vocoder. Being able to make people hear you without needing them to cooperate first would make things easier.]] Her curiosity returned along with a glance at the steaming cup. [[Also, you haven't told me whether I get credit for the tea yet. That's very important.]]

Maur