Private Family Gathering

[Silas Westgard]

Location: Coruscant
Objective: Figure out what to do with the kids
Tag: Shai Maji / Valery Noble

It was mid afternoon at the Jedi temple and Silas had just finished some gym work. All he wanted to do now was go to the mess hall and gobble down some soup. However, the force sometimes had more things to throw at him even if he couldn't explain at times. As he was walking down the huge hall he could see the sight of Valery and Shai walking over to him from the distance. The difference was that two kids were with them.

"Shai? Master?" he said cautiously before Shai dispersed her kid into his arms. Silas looked down at the fuzz ball with a cold stare, unknowing it was actually Shai's son who seemed to not like the look of the padawan one bit "Stuffed? you'll be lucky I don't hang you out the window by your ankles with that comment" he teased to the kid with a wink down to Vera to show he was only playing around.

"Fine, I'll keep an eye on them. I've got a few things that will keep them busy" he said with a smile, allowing the kid in his arms to safely get to the floor <<"If you guys are good, I think some pizza will be on the cards>>" Silas said to them both secretly, his eyes looking back to both women with a nod.

"Have fun you two, I'm sure my Master will look after you Shai" Silas said with a light chuckle before bowing to his master and motioning the two kids in the direction of the exercise hall.

"Let's go, I have a feeling your mothers will be out for quite some time" ​

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Shai Maji

"Keep laughin', sis, I'll bind you to the temple walls with 'em."

Valery rolled her eyes while she braced herself just a little inside the speeder, "I'm sure I could make it work with him," She grinned in return and turned her eyes back forward. She didn't seem to really mind the way Shai piloted through Coruscant's fairly dense traffic, and the reason became clear when Vera chimed in to respond to Yuri.

"Auntie Shai drives just like mommy!" she called out, and Valery looked over her shoulder with slightly narrowed eyes, "Hey, I'm not this bad," she said a little defensively, but Vera just smiled innocently and looked at her best friend, who was tightly hugging the plushie she had gifted him. That really made her happy to see. "Can I have a podracer too?!" She asked with big, excited eyes, and Shai would likely see the Oh god look on Valery's face. She was just like that as a kid herself but now that she was a mother, it was difficult to accept it all.

"So who's the bad guy? You take take turns on week days then flip a coin for the weekend or what?"

Valery blushed and really wanted to know why Shai decided to bring that up. "I uhh... they were meant for just me." She coughed and smiled a little nervously but luckily, they reached Silas soon enough and that helped distract her from the very uncomfortable topics.

"Silas!" Vera called out before she ran over for a quick hug. "Thanks for keeping an eye on them, Silas, and feel free to treat them to something nice for dinner." Even though they had gone into her bedroom, she didn't want to go out and have fun while the kids were forced to only eat veggies.

"Have fun you two, I'm sure my Master will look after you Shai"

Valery snorted, "We'll see about that~"

---

"If this ever gets out, I'll set your fur on fire," Valery grumbled as they went down into the underworld. For some reason, she had been expecting a nice restaurant or cafe at the top levels, but this was Shai... she should have expected something very different instead. The Shistavanen then turned to Valery with an offer, and after everything that happened today already, she was a little hesitant to potentially reveal more sides to herself that she kept private.

But between sisters, a deal was a deal.

Valery shook her hand and nodded with a grin, "I prefer not to use the Force for these types of things, anyway. So you got a deal but Uhm, what kind of place are we going to exactly? What is your idea of fun with a night out?"

 

[Shai Maji]

Yuri went from fearful wailing to dead silent in a matter of seconds the moment Silas mentioned pizza. Grey eyes stared up at him in wonder as he followed after the tall man, sticking close to Vera. There wasn't a rude word or remark coming from the young Shistavanen as he behaved like a saint... at least until he got bored and Vera's hair looked like a good object to yank on. The result from that was a laughing Yuri running on all fours to try and get away from the speedy girl...

---

"If this ever gets out, I'll set your fur on fire,"

"I prefer not to use the Force for these types of things, anyway. So you got a deal but Uhm, what kind of place are we going to exactly? What is your idea of fun with a night out?"

At the shake of her hand, Shai looked ahead once again as she guided the speeder into the lower levels. The air grew hot and the stench of industrial works and poverty fought to get past the environmental filters of the vehicle. "The kind of night out that'll likely give the pressed and dressed folks you usually hang with a a heart attack." She remarked with a wide grin.

"Real fun, Val. Ain't the same if there ain't a chance of gettin' shot for cheating at Sabacc. Plus the drinks in these places are way cheaper. I nearly got into an argument with a shop owner the last time I bought something on Coruscant. Prices are ridiculous in this city!" She continued with a chuckle as she set the speeder down and shut it off. Once she stepped out, she took a deep breath as a nostalgic glimmer filled her eyes. "Ah man... haven't been here in decades. Just uh... one thing. If someone seems to recognize me and not in a good way... just play along." She led the way for Valery, venturing into the Rancor's jaws. "Deals didn't always go smooth back in the day and some of these animals got a real good memory... if they're still alive."

The echoes of music grew louder until they reached a club that could only be described as a crime against sentient life. The dance floor was packed along with several booths, dancers were defying physics on poles, smoke hung like a cloud in the air and strobe lights flailed around to the beat. It didn't take a Jedi to know that there would be numerous illicit substances making rounds through the building.

The sight of it all had Shai smiling ear to ear. She looked at Valery and wrapped an arm around her to drag her along to the bar. "Two shots of jet juice." She ordered the bartender before turning to Valery. "Gotta start off strong." She flashed a wink as she picked up her shot glass and raised it towards Valery in a toast.

"Aliit ori'shya tal'din."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Shai Maji

"I don't think you know what types I hang out with..." Valery grumbled but Shai wasn't entirely wrong. She didn't spend time with nobles or royalty, but her friends were still not the types to go into underworld clubs, casinos, or bars. If it wasn't for the Shistavanen bringing her here, Valery probably would have never been here either unless it was for her Jedi duties. Then again, she didn't exactly go to more fancy clubs either. Her time with Aldric was spent mostly at home or wherever they were comfortable.

Soon enough, the two parked the speeder and climbed outside to see their destination — The Rancor's Jaws. Valery shivered a little at the smell and already heard the type of music she associated with crime and trouble in her mind. Her undercover work to bring down dangerous criminals or rogue Sith had often brought her to places like this, after all. "I'll play along but I do hope we won't be shot at today. Every time I've been out lately has turned into a disaster... I really need this," Valery said, her tone just a little more serious for a moment.

When they entered the club, though, all of her inner tension seemed to fade instantly. The music, while somewhat terrible for her taste, drew her in and she spent a moment looking at other patrons, eyeing the dancers, and searching for where they could get their first round of drinks. "Yeah... this will work..." she said softly, finally with a grin on her face that would make Shai proud. An arm was wrapped around her, and they made their approach to the bar.

"Thanks, Shai, you're the best. This one is to my sister," she winked and raised her glass for the toast, before slamming the whole thing down instantly. Her cheeks reddened and she coughed once or twice, but still held it in. "Geeze... the hell is this stuff?" she chuckled and looked around again, her eyes wandering a bit to take in the things she liked. "Hmmm, another round? This one is on me."

 

[Shai Maji]

Despite her rather harsh and rough attitude that one might expect from someone in the lower levels, Shai paid careful attention to her sister's behaviour and mood. She wasn't going to shove her into a spot that made her uncomfortable... and she certainly wasn't planning on ending the night early with a fight if she could help it. Luckily she seemed to ease into the vibe rather easily.

Granted, a laugh escaped Shai as she watched Valery chuck the drink back and fought to not cough her lungs out. "Jet juice! Dunno what it is, but the name's pretty fitting." She cackled as she looked around. Valery suggested another round, earning a daring grin from the Mandalorian as she turned to face her. "Okay... deal!" With a light nudge, she waved the bartender over and signalled for another round.

With the second shot in hand, Shai turned and leaned against the counter as her crimson eyes wandered over the dancers and patrons. The scents and smells were heavy and sharp in her nose, no doubt that a few substances were making rounds. However, it was the Nautolan and Weequay a few seats down the counter that earned a smirk from Shai. "Sword actual, two tangos to our three." She remarked before knocking the shot back. She turned back to Valery with a mischievous smirk, the gears already turning. "For the record, I know both of those guys. If they come over here, just mention the Rodia job of fifty-eight then sit back, watch the fireworks." She snickered as she waved the bartender over and ordered another round of the potent liquid.

"Anything standing out to you?" She asked as an elbow leaned on the counter.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Shai Maji

"The name is fitting alright..." Valery mumbled but with a grin. It was rare that she got to do stuff like this, so it was amusing and exciting all at the same time. So much so, that she ordered them another round and began to look at the other patrons and dancers again. She had no special kind of smell to understand people were either drunk, high, or both, but she could tell easily enough from the way they felt through the Force.

Everybody was having a good time and while she still felt like she didn't quite fit in with the crowd, she'd have to make an effort to get in the right vibe too.

After they got their second round of shots, Valery leaned back against the bar and downed it almost immediately, this time without coughing or choking on it. Her eyes came to rest on the pair that Shai pointed out, and that fiery gaze narrowed with a dangerous sparkle to it. "Not in the mood for trouble, but if they try to start something, I'll be the one making the show," Valery assured her sis.

Another round was quickly ordered, and Valery was already feeling tipsy, so her filter was starting to fade already. "A few things..." she said with a smirk after eyeing some patrons and dancers, before looking at the dancefloor. "You want to dance? I'm not sure if this music is the right style but can't just stand around all night, right?"

 

[Shai Maji]

Shai flashed a wide grin at Valery's comment, her crimson eyes shifting back to the two gangsters. "Oh don't worry, they'll try... but they won't be good at it. Last I dealt with 'em, they couldn't eat properly for a long while. Busted their jaws up." She remarked with a shrug. She looked at Valery again as the Jedi suggested they hit the dance floor. Without a word, Shai finished her drink and ordered a tall glass of beer for both of them before giving Valery a nudge. "Let's go, then!"

Despite the amount of people, Shai navigated the crowd with expert precision. The drink in her hand swirled violently, but luckily she managed to preserve it all until they found a good spot. Through the crowd around them, the Shistavanen kept an eye on the people around them, particularly the two that were watching them. She couldn't get the smug grin off her face despite all attempts. Watching them realize Valery's identity would be nothing short of perfect.

The Mandalorian's moves left a lot to be desired as she weaved around with drink in hand, though her enthusiasm was at least making up for it. The music, the company and the lack of responsibilities had the Mandalorian going all in as she danced around the place.

---

Yuri's worries and concerns over his mother's whereabouts were non-existent as the child snuck through the temple with wide eyes. "This place is amazing!" He commented as he admired the sheer size of the temple. Apparently they weren't supposed to be walking around the place, but that didn't stop the troublesome Shistavanen from finding a way out of their corner and away from Silas. Naturally he dragged Vera along for this expedition to see the rest of the temple.

"Hey... do they keep those cool laser swords around here?" He asked her with a hushed voice as he hid around a corner. He didn't have a clue where they were going, only that the smell of food was getting closer.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

​

Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Shai Maji

"Alright, but I'm keeping my eyes on them," Valery said as a warning they couldn't hear. "I don't want to deal with crazy people tonight," she said before she accepted the tall glass of beer and followed Shai over to the dancefloor. The type of music didn't really matter to Valery — she had been taught a variety of dance styles a long time ago, and still practiced some alone from time to time. But with a beer in her hand and Shai moving somewhat... chaotically, she kept things simple and mostly swayed around her hips while she moved to the rhythm.

It was the enthusiasm and company that mattered the most, and with those shots and the beer hitting her pretty hard, she was completely losing the powerful filter that always kept her in check. So when her eyes turned to one of the dancing poles positioned on one of the platforms, she began to grin.

"Hey, Shai?" She asked as she turned to her sis. "Hold my beer."

After pushing the glass into Shai's hand, Valery climbed her way up the podium and rolled her shoulders to get ready. Just getting up there was enough to already draw eyes to her, but what really got people's heads to turn was the dance she was beginning to perform around the pole. As drunk as she was, Valery was very flexible and knew how to move as if she had given dances like this many times before.

The sway of her hips, the dips she made, and the way she spun around the pole — it got people fired up and Valery noticed none of it. She was completely in her own world and until the alcohol in her blood lowered again, she didn't care about how much she'd regret this later.

---

"Yuriii..." Vera whined a little as he dragged her along into the Temple. She had already started her training there, so she could get inside without a problem, but Yuri using that to get in as well was troubling. If her mother found out about this, she wouldn't be allowed to watch her favorite shows for at least a few days!

"Hey... do they keep those cool laser swords around here?"

Vera shook her head, "No, Jedi make their own," she said with a nod. "Only training lightsabers but they just sting." She continued to follow Yuri, who seemed to be guided by his nose, which meant they were heading towards the cantina with the massive kitchen full of snacks and food.

"We need to be quiet."

 

[Shai Maji]

Between the music and Valery, Shai was having an absolute blast of an evening. What she wasn't expecting, however, were the magic words that meant nothing short of something incredibly dangerous or hilarious. Without skipping a beat, Shai set her glass aside on a nearby table and took Valery's to watch what the Jedi had in mind.

It didn't take long for that to become evident.

An enormous smile and widened eyes formed as Shai pulled out her datapad to record it all. If nothing else, she figured that Valery would get a kick out of it once the alcohol wore off. "Oh man, this is gold." She commented to herself as her eyes fixated on the Jedi on the pole, making moves that would likely have the entire order blush.

But through the recording feed, the Shistavanen noticed a bunch of guys closing in on them. "Ah kriff..." She downed the beer in her hand and shoved through crowd towards the stage. "Val!" She called out, but her voice disappeared in the cacophony of cheers, whistles and music. The bouncers were getting closer by the second. With a huff, Shai slipped her datapad back in her pocket and got onto the stage to try and pull Valery off.

What happened instead was a wave of cheers from the crowd around them. She immediately realized what was going through their minds.

"To hell with it..." She muttered before spitting on her hands, rubbing them together and clambering onto the pole, matching Valery's movements with careful attention. If they were getting thrown out, she was going to make sure to join in on the fun.

Luckily nobody could hear the strain on her body with each move she made...

---

At the mention of training sabers, Yuri paused and looked at Vera with a maniacal grin. He didn't have to explain what was going through his mind.

Food could wait until after, right now thry had to score a few training sabers. The amount of pranks they could pull wuth those would be legendary. "Where do they keep 'em? Some kind of special room?" He asked Vera as he looked around.

Moving ahead, he paused as they passed the kitchen. Maybe a quick snack couldn't hurt. Not everyone could say they snuck into the Jedi kitchen. "How far do you think those sabers are from the kitchen?" He turned to look at Vera before peering into the kitchen room. It was quiet from the look of things.

Valery Noble