Private A good Diner

[Lyssara Thrynn]

Today, I had an appointment on the planet Generis, in the Atrivis sector, for a simple, friendly business meeting with my guys regarding an advanced mining plan. Recently, I've been interested in space resources and everything that space has to offer; it's wrong to underestimate these resources. With my conference over, the sun is already low on the horizon, and it's getting late. I properly arrange my black and gold Diarchy costume and leave my main building.

Place my hand over my eyes to avoid being dazzled by the sun, I decide not to go back right away. The officers who cross my path bow low and don't even bother to ask questions. Here, I'm the authority, since I represent an official member of the Diarchy. I head to a small speeder stand and take one to return to the commercial zone, heading there to look for a place to land. Right in the city center, I park my speeder in a designated space, and I start walking through the alleys looking for a good restaurant to have a bite to eat, I'm hungry.

This kind of meeting has made me hungry, I stretch quietly, yawning, putting my hand over my mouth and I look around, looking for a sign. On my datapad, there are several restaurants nearby and well-rated.

"So which one should I choose?"

I continue scrolling to check out the specialties and reviews, preferably a relatively discreet spot, out of sight, where I can eat in peace. I lean against a wall to check my data phone. It's very practical, because I have a map and a detailed plan of the place too, which allows me to easily navigate through all the crowds.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Lyssara Thrynn

Scherezade was a great supporter of food. She loved it. Not all of it, but one could always easily impress her with a good meal, and she herself had a history of preserving meats as well. What had once been a way for her to survive the brutalities of the galaxy, was now a hobby and a passion.

So naturally, when she was told a vendor would be available on Generis, she came almost immediately. There was a stock of raw meat on her ship that needed treatment, and this guy had promised her new powders and means to process it for extra flavor. In truth, she had been somewhat skeptical. New didn't always mean better. But she'd come anyway, only to be disappointed to discover it was just a salt shake.

Still, she was on a nice planet. Sunshine. She always loved sunshine. It wrapped around her like a lovely blanket as she walked own the streets, trying to find a good place to eat, because if she was on a strange planet anyway, why not taste what the locals had to offer?

A few rumors and whispers later, and Scherezade had found the place. It was a local worker's food place, hidden in an dank alley, with an open kitchen and an endless array of tables and stools to sit on. The pots on the stove bubbled with various types of broths. She had a feeling she would absolutely love it here.

As she sat down, a few different types of flat breads and dips were automatically tossed onto the table, making the Sithling all too giddy to actually sink her teeth into it. Her initial meeting had sucked. The food was going to be good, and that was totally going to make up for it.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

After much hesitation, I opt for a small local restaurant, also hidden in an alleyway. There's this place with stools, grilled food, beer, and unlimited desserts. It's pretty well rated, too. So I walk casually, hands in my pockets, towards this restaurant. Now that I'm paying attention, I sense an aura unknown to the battalion. Perhaps I've already encountered it from afar? This signature is unique in the force.

Arriving there, I look at those already present, sweeping the room with my gaze, I head to the counter to take my order from the menu. I also order a Generis beer and go find a seat, almost sighing as I wait for my order to arrive. I'm hungry. The smell of grilled meat from the other tables catches my attention, I almost want to steal some, but I behave properly.

This is a restaurant after all. No room for violence here, just eating and enjoying a good meal. The woman who caught my eye was already eating. I walked over to her and noticed her eyes, a beautiful, hypnotic green gaze. It made me smile.

"Hello, lady, may I sit at your table? I just ordered."

Crossing my arms and waiting for his response, I glance at the waiter from time to time as he continues to run between the various customers. I don't say anything else for the moment.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade had been lost in thought, chewing on a piece of flatbread that had been dipped in what she could only guess was one form or another of animal fat mixed with some local flora, when she realized someone was speaking to her. The Sithling looked up in surprise, glowing green eyes landing on Lyssara Thrynn .

An instinct of the past made her look around them for a moment, feeling the need to double check that the woman's words had been aimed at her and not to someone else who happened to be sitting nearby. But no, there wasn't anyone that fit the bill for lady. It was all dudes… Or at least various species that she assumed had their males present there at the time.

"Sure," she said after quickly swallowing her food, motioning to the empty chair with her clean hand.

Was she… Was the woman sure she'd wanted to sit here? People rarely approached Scherezade out of the blue like that. Last time she was in Diarchy space, it had been one of the leader guys who wanted to remove her from the planet for the sin of being a Sith. Granted, Scherezade had eventually won him over with a heart to heart conversation and an offer of bantha wings, but still.

"I'm Scherezade deWinter," she introduced herself a split of a moment later, and gave the other woman a smile that she hoped was charming.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

"Oh, thank you!"

Surprised that she accepts, I sit down at her table, curious to see and discover. The force has led me here, so I might as well take the opportunity to get to know her. I smile at her as my order arrives. I've ordered a traditional local dish with meat and other items.

I grab my cutlery and begin to eat, drinking some delicious wine. I look up at my interlocutor, who tells me her name? Scherazade deWinter? It doesn't ring a bell, I'm a complete stranger. I assume it'll be the same for mine when I tell it to her. I give her a warm smile to show my sympathy.

"My name is Lyssara Thrynn, nice to meet you. I'm a scientist with the Diarchy."

That way, she knows who I am, what I do, and which faction I belong to. No, I didn't come specifically to chase her away. Taking a bite of the delicious dish before me, I sense she's a little nervous? Perhaps my presence is disturbing? I'm probably imagining things, relaxing, savoring my glass of wine and my meal, eating elegantly.

Eager to learn more about my interlocutor, I come to ask her a simple question.

"What brings you to Generis? I'm here for a meeting, a business deal. Nothing particularly exciting. But important for the Diarchy's economy."

Actually, I'm done with this meeting and was about to go home, but I couldn't resist trying one or two local specialties. I love food, alcohol, and partying. It relaxes me after work.

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Lyssara Thrynn . Scherezade committed the name to memory. It wasn't one she knew, but that didn't matter; new people were always fun, unless they tried to stab her, but that only made it more fun. Not to mention, she had, as per usual, multiple blades stashed across her body, some easily visible to others, but many that were not. She didn't feel unsafe in any way.

A scientist with the Diarchy. Now was her turn to let out a low whistle. This was a serious person! Though, Scherezade loved to pick the minds of scientists. She was somewhat in the field as well, though her brain power was used mostly for uncommon means of mass destruction and related weaponry. Most of the more serious science names around the galaxy took her more as a joke because her stuff usually came dyed in pink and covered in glitter. People just had no imagination these days, nor any love for whimsy.

Following Lyssara's example though, the Sithling bit into her own food, slurping a few noodles that had come in a broth made of bones she didn't recognize. She wasn't going to question the source of the food. Any dead animal was a dead animal that could be consumed as far as she was concerned.

"Someone promised me tech," she shrugged, "I preserve meat as a hobby, and a certain contact said there were new ways to do it that I hadn't heard of yet, so I came to check it out. It was a scam though."

Of course, there was now a fresh corpse where the vendor had been, but her lunch time companion didn't need to know about that. Especially not if she was going to run to Diarch Rellik and spill the beans on her.

She leaned back in her chair, glowing green eyes checking the other woman out without any attempt to hide it. "What does a scientist in the Diarchy do?" she asked, her face showing genuine interest.

 

[Lyssara Thrynn]

Someone promised her tech? Her revelation makes me raise an eyebrow a little. What could be more normal? The rest of her speech is just as amusing, I sink my teeth into it while listening to her; she's obviously been scammed. It's not just bad luck; it can happen to me if I'm not careful.

"Tech? What kind of tech? You see, I'm the R&D manager at the Diarchy. If you've been promised tech, you won't find a better person than me to guide you."

Taking another sip of wine, savoring every morsel of my meal, I order something else. I'm hungry. This time I order yakitori-style meat skewers. I take one skewer and savor it. Anyway, I have enough money to pay the bill, so money isn't a problem. Especially considering my scientific projects, my wallet would make more than one person jealous.

His question about what I do in the Diarchy as a scientist makes me smile. I'm actually very free, no prerequisites, just a sprinkling of science, my taste for weapons of mass destruction can be fully expressed. In fact, I already have everything I need down here.

"He's having fun, he's experimenting, and he's making the Diarchy stronger. I have white card to play with their equipment. Oh, of course, now I have my own lab, where I spend most of my time."

For now, I'm avoiding saying too much about my experimental subjects, but what I can tell him is this.

"During the month, the Diarchy is organizing a free party on Bastion. Will you come and join us?"

I hand her a small flyer, a leaflet; it will serve as an invitation, if she wishes.

"And you? What do you do? I have a strong taste for mass destruction."

Scherezade deWinter

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Scherezade noted that spark of excitement in Lyssara Thrynn 's eyes when she mentioned the tech. It made sense. She was a woman of science, after all. Still, it was no fun admitting that she, the great bouncy pile of chaos and glitter, had been scammed. But still, the offer was a lucrative one.

"He claimed he had powders and whatnot to sell me," she answered, "stuff that makes preserving meat more efficient, makes it taste better, all of that. I don't really need it in any way, but the idea was fun enough. When I was younger, I didn't have any money to buy food most of the time since everything went on fuel and bacta, so I hunted a lot. And learned how to make it last."

Of course, these days were not her younger days, even if she was still young by some standards. But what had once been means of survival was now a passion and a hobby, and she didn't want to give it up just because she could now afford to eat whatever she wanted to.

She also noted that Lyssara had… A healthy appetite. That made Scherezade smile. Usually she was the one who just ate and ate and had people staring. Now, here was someone who was finally up to par with her. While the other woman had her skewers, Scherezade ordered another portion of bantha wings. Once they arrived, she dipped one of them into the dressing that it came with, and placed it in her mouth. A few moments later, she pulled clean bones out of her mouth, all the meat being deliciously chewed on.

And… Wait, a party?!

Had she against all odds somehow managed to find a new super friend? What else could she do but nod enthusiastically?

"I have my own labs," she grinned from ear to ear after swallowing her food, "but hey, if you show me yours, I can show you mine," she winked.

And the hobbies…. Ohhhh. Scherezade wasn't sure she knew how to handle this load of good luck that was in front of her.

"I own Whimsy and I make the prototypes for all our products on our own," she beamed with pride, "we do uncommon means of mass destructions, and we organize children's birthday parties. But I leave the party planning to my droid, he's so much better at it than I ever could be."

Parties, joined interests in weaponry and ways to do damage… What more could one ask for?

"No but like, look," Scherezade asked, leaning forward, "Are you for real? Is someone playing a joke on me? Because you just totally randomly sat here, and now it looks like there's a buttload of things we share. If it's coincidence, or the Force, I'm so not going to question it, I just want to know it's not a prank. Because if I'm being pranked, this is just cruel."