Private Lighting the Way

[Zee Caromed]

Whatever was going on on the other side of that hologram, it sounded fun. Zee had a very high opinion of households with a bit of chaos to them - sterile, orderly families that operated more like business made his skin crawl. Somebody who wrangled a beast with their partner or associates and still picked up the holocomm and tried to be nice? Sounded like his kind of people.

"Nice to meet you, Aadihr!" Zee greeted cheerfully, leaning in and folding his arms on the table. "I'm Zalke Caromed - call me Zee. Working with Niysha on a project. Wanted to reach out to you, maybe pick your brain, but it sounds like you're a bit busy!" He laughed. "Is there a better time to make my pitch? I'm planning to head to Alpheridies shortly, if that works for you!"

There was a clattering noise. A squishing noise. He thought about suggesting baking soda for slime-based issues, but couldn't get the grin off of his face long enough to do so. How long would it take one sludgespawn dividing aggressively to cause a problem?

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Location: Sunchaser Yacht, Kitchen Chaos Sector
Status: Mid-Sludge Crisis
Outfit: Still not clean
Nearby: Azurine Varek , Sugar the Sludgespawn(s) Cinnamon the Racyon

Aadihr visibly relaxed the moment he heard Niysha’s voice. Not that he’d sounded distressed before, but her tone had a way of cutting through the stress like sunlight through smoke. Her laugh helped too.

“Niysha. Hey.”
He beamed, actually beamed—wiping his forehead with a rag that immediately stuck to his hand from residual slime. “No, no—definitely not a bad time. Just a, uh... viscosity-intensive one.”

"Nope, don't even ask, I am not flying you anywhere until you help me shave this karking thing! Unless your blind ass wants to try and get a shuttle there all by yourself while we're mid orbit."

The rag came free and landed on Azzie's datapad. He tried to pry the rag off with his other hand, then both hands, then just gave up and stuffed it in a drawer that Sugar probably couldn’t open.

“It’s good to hear from you. Thanks for reaching out, I think can squeeze a Sith ambush into my schedule!”
He said with a laugh.

He... Maybe shouldnt joke about that, but humor quality and cultural sensitivity were taking a backseat to the smaller sludgebud moving surprisingly fast.

He and Azzie agreed that if it had eyes, it was alive - which meant he'd have to donate this one to the Coruscant garbage services. Then the other voice introduced himself, and Aadihr turned toward the holocomm slightly, hair still damp with exertion. He nodded with a tired smile, still half-covered in mystery goo.

“Zee, right? Great to meet you. Sorry for the ambiance. Sugar’s in a bit of a... shedding phase.”

A loud sound of a racyon chittering could be heard, followed by,

"CINNAMON NO!"

The sound of something crashing and shattering on tile.

"...That took me a whole day to carve..."

A tendril of slime flopped against the table leg. Aadihr gently lifted it with two fingers, pinched it off and and set it in a mixing bowl with dessicating powder, along with the other clippings.

“So—Alpheridies? That’s rare. Not many people make the trip unless they’re religious, exiled, or very lost.”
He gave a lopsided smile.
“You sound too friendly to be the first two, so I’m guessing third?”

“I’m absolutely open to being picked for brain stuff, though. I can multitask a bit while I sanitize the kitchen and emotionally recover from witnessing spontaneous cellular mitosis through the Force.”

He rubbed the back of his neck again, this time without goo.

“Or if you've got a preferred time or datapad number, shoot it my way. Always happy to talk shop.”

Aadihr winced as a small splurch echoed from somewhere offscreen.

“...Assuming we haven’t accidentally created another lifeform before dinner.”
He glanced toward the back hallway and grimaced. “Anyway. Pleasure to meet you!"
Quieter as he calls behind him
"Don’t name the second one yet, Azzie, it makes it harder to let them go—"

Zee Caromed
Niysha​

 

[Zee Caromed]

Zee's grin was audible, as was probably the way he leaned into the call as though speaking with an old friend. "Not lost, I promise." He chuckled. "Not in the literal sense, anyway."

"Niysha here was kind enough to take me for caff, and she showed me the datapad she works with. You might be familiar with it - big, blocky thing that has an adjustable voltage-dial she uses to more easily read the display?" Zee explained brightly. "It's a fine and wonderful device, and that got me thinking about ways that I might be able to improve on the design. That's why I'm going to Alpheridies - I can't develop an understanding of what is really needed with just one data point. Lovely datapoint that she is." He promised. "She suggested I reach out to you."

He cleared his throat gently. "As to my bonafides, I run a small charity called CRASH BANG BOOM that designs & develops accessibility equipment and the like. Software, mobility aids, and so on." Zee explained, somewhat more seriously. "Niysha noted that your perception functioned somewhat differently than her own, and I'd like to meet up and run some tests if you're willing. Nothing invasive - a lot of 'is A or B clearer', or really locking in to what is or isn't comfortable for you to percieve in detail." The young man elaborated. "I can't pay you for your time, but I won't waste any of it either. Especially if you say you're not interested."

Zee softened his tone, speaking carefully and delicately. "I'm not trying to fix or repair your people, I promise." He swore. "I do believe think that Miralukans - and other non-sighted species - have been underserved by predominantly Human industries, and I want to address that a little. By making live easier and more convenient, even if it's just a screen or datapad that works as well as anyone else's in an increasingly screen-based galaxy."

Aadihr Lidos

​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Location: Still Slime Sector Alpha
Status: Tactical Regrouping
Nearby: Zee Caromed , Niysha , one (1) racyon and at least two (2) sludgespawn

Aadihr listened with his head tilted slightly, posture more relaxed now as the pace of chaos died down around him. The honesty in Zee’s tone helped. So did the lack of condescension. He could feel that through the comm, even without eyes.

“That’s a good cause, Zee. I appreciate the clarity, and the care.” A nod, even if the holocomm wouldn’t show much beyond vague upper torso gestures. “I’m not the most standardized sample, but I wouldn’t mind helping.”

There was a faint clink as he set down a bowl somewhere off-screen.

“If you’re headed to Alpheridies, that might be the perfect place to widen the scope anyway. I’ve actually been meaning to go back. It’s been... a while.”

His voice softened there, just slightly. He had been meaning to see if his parents would recognize him. Azurine Varek had been encouraging him to do so. He... He still felt unready to confront his childhood. Maybe someday. With Azzie as support, he could survive anything, even a trip back to before.

“Lot of Miraluka don’t leave the planet. You’d get a broader range of perception styles there than with just me.”

Another pause. Thoughtful this time, not anxious.

“But if you’re willing to tolerate one nonstandard Jedi playing test dummy, I’m game. No pay needed. Just let me know where and when you want to meet.”

A racyon skittered across the floor in the background. Something squelched.

“Just have to run a few errands first.”

Zee Caromed
Niysha​

 

[Zee Caromed]

That was a relief. It was so much a relief that Zee breathed an audible sigh of such, though he WAS making an effort to emote more audibly for the two Miraluka present. He wasn't sure if it was necessary, but better to be safe than to subconsciously trust in his body language and fail to communicate effectively.

"I think it'd be useful to visit Alpheridies, and I'd love to meet you there. If I could impose on you to show me the ropes a little, make sure I'm not sticking my foot in my mouth too much." Zee chuckled quietly. "Don't feel obligated - I believe that Alpheridies falls within the Mandalore's reach, so if all else fails my credentials from Taris and membership in the Life-Bearers should help me get introduced at a hospital, gather some data if I can't find volunteers." He explained.

It would also, he reflected, be healthy to spend some time on a planet that wasn't built for people like him. To see how the Miraluka lived, how they'd adapted, and what sort of accommodations they'd built for themselves and into their culture that the rest of the Galaxy wouldn't. There was no doubt some meaningful insight to be gained from it.

"I can send my comms info along to coordinate a little bit better - I'm way out here, so it'll take me a week or two to get to the core." Zee added, propping his chin up on his hand. "Takes me awhile to get places. Troubles crop up. You know how it is."

"So if you're amenable? We reconnect in a few days to work out the details, meet up on Alpheridies. Take some readings, ask some questions. I can at least buy you and your partner? Family? Slimes? Lunch, if you're interested. I'd love to get to know you all better."

​