Private Pleasant Surprise

[Raya Krayt]

Talo seemed concerningly unconcerned with the fact he was welcoming outsiders into their base, no matter how trustworthy Shai seemed, she was a risk they couldn't afford but her expression quickly changed to one of surprise after the situation was explained to her. "Oh, really?" She sounded pleased and offered Shai a smile then watched in confusion as Shai tried to express herself and she quickly realised she was trying to articulate in Mando'a and then smiled again. "No worries. You'll get the hang of it." She encouraged her.

"Woah!" She exclaimed as she was given a surprise hug and was lifted from the floor, though her thoughts immediately turned to being impressed by Shai's strength. "I've been good, thanks. How about yourself?" She replied once she was back on the ground. Raya looked between the two who appeared familiar with each other and gave them a quizzical look. "How do you two know each other?" She asked.

"That's great! We need all the vod we can get." She mused, pleased they had appealed to another person to join their cause and hopefully fight for Mandalore beside them when the time came. "They've really worked you hard, huh? Good to see." She replied before laughing at Shai's following comment. "So... Where are we going?" She asked after realising she had accidentally joined whatever activity they were partaking in.

Shai Maji Talo Krayt

 

[Talo Krayt]

Talo stood back and watched the two, one corner of his lip was raised as he did so. It was a pleasant sight to see. With the way Shai greeted Raya in a massive bear hug, he would have believed they'd been close friends for years... or it could simply be the fact that Shai was much more emotive than he was, Talo had known Raya since childhood but was never this expressive with their greetings.

Once that was over with, attention was brought to him again - he looked back at Raya "Who said you were coming? No one invited you." Talo said teasingly, although it was obvious when Shai had grabbed her hand and began to straddle her along, continuing to lead his head was facing forward when he would answer both Raya and Shai's question in regard to where they were headed "You'll see soon enough." he said monotonously.

Talo remained silent throughout the duration of their short walk to the worn down hut, as they got closer Raya would begin to recognise and realise where they were headed. Finally stopping in front of the structure, Talo unlocked the door with the security panel beside the door frame and inside would be a three storey home, despite the structure being small in width, its length was average. The interior itself was well-kept as Talo hadn't visited in some years for whenever he returned to the outpost he would practically leave again.

Placing his helmet on a table, he introduced Shai to the home "This is where I grew up." Talo revealed "Haven't been here in a while. Second floor is the bathroom, third floor is the bedroom. Make yourselves at home." he concluded, rather bluntly. It was strange being here, so strange in fact that he had to get used to the surroundings again... which required him being alone for the time being. Wordlessly, Talo climbed the ladder that would lead to his old bedroom upstairs.

Shai Maji Raya Krayt

 

[Shai Maji]

Shai flashed Raya a bright smile at her question. "I'm great! I've been busy but it was pretty damn worth it. Especially when I look in the mirror. You guys know what I looked like last time. I can actually feel good about myself when I look in the mirror." she admitted as she glanced between the two of them.

They finally reached a battered old hut and Talo earning him a skeptical look from Shai. But once they were inside, Shai's demeanor shifted completely. "Oh this isn't bad at all." she muttered as she set her bag down on a counter. When Talo mentioned the location of the bathroom, Shai snickered to herself. "I feel like putting a ladder between you and sweet relief is asking for trouble after eating something bad." she quipped.

As they left to do their own thing, Shai explored the kitchen and quickly started to prepare their meal.

A pan was placed on the stove and drizzled with oil and soon sizzling could be heard with the smell of sausage filling the air. Shai pulled out her datapad and put on a playlist as she worked on preparing the buns, dancing around and singing along to herself as she worked.

Raya Krayt Talo Krayt

 

[Raya Krayt]

"Yeah right, like you could stop me." She teased in response with a quick playful jab of the elbow in the nearest exposed part of him she could find. Raya was accustomed to Talo's attitude as she had grown up with him for a large portion of their childhood which was both a blessing and a curse as both knew how to work well together but also how to annoy the other, though luckily Raya was fairly easy-going.

Raya offered Shai a smile and a nod in agreement. "I bet. We're pleased to have you here." She told Shai, though she knew she would have to get used to her friend's touchy-feely nature that she wasn't used to. Mandalorians weren't exactly known for their displays of affection.

Once she realised where they were headed, Raya smiled to herself at the memory of the place she thought of so fondly which held happy memories from her childhood. Upon Talo's declaration to make themselves at home, Raya ditched her helmet on the nearest surface and kicked back into a chair. Her eyes followed Talo as he climbed the ladder but then returned to watching Shai for a few moments until she settled on following Talo while Shai was occupied. The Mandalorian climbed the ladder after her friend and gave him a quizzical look. "Everything okay?" She asked.

Talo Krayt Shai Maji

 

[Talo Krayt]

Characteristically, Talo didn't react to Shai's quip and continued to his old bedroom. Upon reaching it, the young Mandalorian scanned the contents of the sleeping quarters - his bed sheets were still unkempt and lounge wear was scattered across the floor with memorabilia plastered across shelves and a small bedside table. Making his way toward the bedside table, Talo picked up a bead wristlet and let out a downcast sigh while scanning its contents.

Then he heard Raya's voice. Remaining stood over the table, Talo slowly turned his head and met Raya's gaze with a sideways glance "It's... strange being here." he admitted before turning his head back to the wristlet "The Clan taking me in... was the best thing that ever happened to me. You know that, but..." Talo started before letting out a sigh, pausing to clench the beads around his fingers "... I have mixed feelings about this place. Yes, I had a roof over my head but it was no less lonely than the streets of Mos Eisley" he confessed, referring to the hut. Completely turning his body around, Talo wandered over to Raya and displayed the wristlet to her, uncurling his fingers "This was my mother's, you know how she and my father disappeared when I was young. Every night I'd sit here and think about where they were and how I wanted to find them when I was old enough."

Then he abruptly stopped, when he left Teth and lost himself in his bounty hunting work - it was to stop himself from beginning a search for his parents. But now that he was here, longer than he'd hoped, his drive to find them had returned and now he had the skills and resources to find them... what was stopping him? Well, his loyalty to the Clan of course. He still needed to think things through and opted to withdraw this information from Raya for now. Placing the beads over his wrist, he flicked his head, gesturing to the ladder "We should go. Shouldn't leave Shai alone down there." Talo suggested, killing the topic.

Climbing the ladder back to the living room, the smell of what Shai was cooking filled his nose and he couldn't deny that it smelled good. Making his way into the kitchen, the music from Shai's playlist managed to drown out the sound of his footsteps and with a genuinely surprised face - he witnessed the

Shistavanen singing and dancing along to the music. Casting a puzzled sideways glance to Raya, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.​

Shai Maji

 

[Shai Maji]

Shai was oblivious to the conversation going on upstairs. She was in a world of her own as she listened to the music and prepared their dinner. "Oi, it's almost ready!" she hollered over her shoulder before flipping the sausages once more. The rolls were buttered and the sauces set aside if they wanted any. All she had to do now was give the sausages a last grill on both sides.

The music jammed from her datapad and she sung along happily with a hushed voice. Her head bobbed with the beat as her rear bumped along as well from side to side. The sausages were finally done and she shut the stove off with a flick of her finger. "HEY MOTHER KRI-" she barked as she turned, but shut up when she saw them standing there. "Oh hey! Great timing. Dinner's ready." she greeted happily as she gestured to the readied food. "Now this isn't a restaurant, so come get it yourself." she quipped as she held out the spatula for them to use. She took a step aside and shut off her music with one hand as the other took hold of a bottle of beer.

She popped it open and took a sip as she waited for them to get their dinner. Finally she could get her own and loaded in four hot dogs onto a plate, all smothered in sauces. Mouth watering, the Shistavanen wasted no time in digging in as soon as her rear hit the couch. She only calmed down by the time she was done with the second hot dog and glanced at them. "I don't remember who told me my metabolism is low but I'll tell them straight they were lying." she joked with another sip of her beer. "So! What's your plans for tomorrow? I'm dying to check that temple out but I don't wanna go doing it alone." she asked them with a bright smile as she got ready to devour another hot dog.

Raya Krayt Talo Krayt