Private Retaking Lost Treasures

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

"Seems a smuggler found some old Force artefacts on Bogano not too long ago, artefacts that could be dangerous and have some connection to the Jedi Order." Lily mentioned as she went over the mission brief, "also seems they fled with the items to Zygerria to sell them on a black market there. Which given how close the world is to the Sith Order, means there's a risk that the Sith could get their hands on these items if we don't act soon." Lily added as she looked over the map and referenced the territory that the Sith held as well as checking how much longer they would be in hyperspace for.

Looking over to Rayia, Lily gave a polite smile. "So, any ideas on how you think we should approach this?" Lily asked, curious to see what the other woman had in mind and what talents she had in comparison to Lily as well. It was good to know where they were strong and where they weren't. Especially since this could be a mission that goes sideways and they need to kick some slaver butt or strike down some Sith if they ended up catching wind of this as well.

"Seems we got a bit of time to kill as well, so gives us time to get to know one another a little more." Lily grinned, "if you of course wanted to chat and get to know one another. I get it if you would prefer to keep things professional and focus on the mission." Lily mentioned with another polite smile.

 

[Rayia Si]

Lily Decoria
Location: En route to Zygerria

---

Endless blue hues swirled past each other outside the viewport, dizzying Rayia with their unnatural arrays. She sat, curled up on the chair with her left arm wrapped around her knees. Her motion/vibration-sensitive tail was burrowed protectively in its sheath at the base of her spine, and Rayia’s tapered, conical ears remained alert. Her right hand was currently using her sharp claws to unconsciously carve jagged rents in the durasteel arm and faux-leather upholstery of the seat. Her entire body was taut with the fire that poured through her veins at the onset of a shift. She could practically feel the perspiration wicking her skin. Rayia knew that she needed to ask Lily to return to realspace for a bit. But that would mean admitting something potentially embarrassing to her newest mission partner. She had only waited this long due to her desire to make a good first impression. ‘Things will get a whole lot more embarrassing… and dangerous if you don’t,’ she reminded herself.

Rayia’s ears perked up at the sound of Lily’s voice, tilting forwards slightly as Rayia swiveled towards her. Her golden, feline eyes would be alight with a primal fire and the sensation that something alien and feral was watching from within. The smile Rayia gave Lily was strained, but warm as she waited for Lily to finish. “Could we take a small break? I… don’t do well… in hyperspace? I-I’m sorry.”

If Lily allowed it, Rayia would slump into her chair the moment she felt the stumbling reverberation indicating that the ship had returned to impulse power. Her tail, on feeling the change and the now buoyant motion of the ship through space, would emerge curiously from its sheath. It bristled with the vibrations of Lily’s and the ship’s motions as Rayia caught her breath. Closing her eyes, she let a soft hiss of relief escape her.

There was a pause as Rayia turned her mind to Lily’s original question. “It would help to know what the artifacts are. When hunting prey, you must understand the prey’s needs and desires. So too would we find the smuggler if only we knew where they need to go.”

Then Rayia opened her eyes and gave Lily a proper smile. Maybe it was her need for a tribe after she had fled her old one, but she would never turn down the invitation to connect with more people. “Mother would say I need to make more friends,” she grinned.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

Seeing the discomfort on clear display for Rayia, she was dropping out of hyperspace before being asked. It didn't take an Echani to see how uncomfortable the journey was making the other Jedi. "Must be rough not being able to tolerate longer jumps in Hyperspace. Especially with how much a Jedi can travel around places." Lily mentioned as she the engines die down as well, offering some quietness to their environment around them.

Nodding her head, "well artefacts relating to the Force, they aren't going to be things too common on the black market. Guessing with it coming from Bogano, we can narrow it down to likely either something Jedi related, or potentially something connected to the Zeffo." Lily mentioned, there were not exact details on what had been taken. "That could narrow our search down. But Zygerria is also an independent world as well, storming around as Jedi. That might not go down super well."

"Well, depends on if you want more friends." Lily leaned back in the pilot seat, looking over. "Parents can mean well but overdo it as well. If you are content as if, you shouldn't feel forced to seek out more. That will just work against you and your nature."

 

[Rayia Si]

Location: En route to Zyggeria
Lily Decoria

---

A sigh of relief hissed out as the thrum of those engines slowed to a simple buzz then stillness. As stars bloomed across the windshield, Rayia closed her eyes. “There’s a few reasons my people remain so isolated. That’s one of them,” Rayia conceded at the remarks regarding the difficulty of travel. Especially to fulfill a role which seemed to be needed across the galaxies nowadays. A slight chuckle slipped past Rayia’s lips. “You should have seen the room on the Reaper, Mother Jonyna’s ship. I had to chain mys—“ Rayia trailed off as she realized she was definitely oversharing.

“Anyways, that was just an idea. But I agree with you. With tensions as high as they are, and this close to enemy space, rampaging down the cobblestones would not be the best way to attract the right sorts of ears,” Rayia paused and cupped her cheek in her palm. Tilting it to one side, she shrugged. “What do we know of Zygerria? Any potential disguises that might work? Something people won’t pay too much attention to, like an occult-collecting whimsical noblewoman and her pet or that sort of thing? The more it blends in to the general psyche of the tribes on planet the less likely they are to view it with suspicion.” And as an added bonus, the more likely they are to lend credence to the idea that we’re just the sort of people to show strange artifacts to.

Rayia blinked as the intent of the statement went over the Echani’s head. She wondered if she hadn’t properly emphasized the undercurrent of meaning behind the words. Basic could be so confusing at times. With a flick of her ears, the Felacatian shook her head. She decided to try again, reining herself in to the most concise question. “I mean, would you want to be?”

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

Nodding her head, "sounds isolating but makes sense if it is something your people are not a fan of doing in general. Nothing you can do to help it, I am guessing?" The idea of chaining oneself down seemed aggressive in the approach but if it was the only way to deal with the issue then it would be the price to pay in order to serve one's duty as a Jedi.

"Well, Zygerria seems to be the type of world that attracts the crueller side of the galaxy. Especially with slavery being legal there." Lily mentioned aloud, "however, I don't think me playing your pet is the best idea." Lily mentioned, not even considering the fact that Rayia might have been mentioning that she should be the noblewoman. "I think travelling merchants, perhaps looking to trade some items with heat on them should be good enough disguise? Lets us be on equal standing as well as being a simple story to keep track of."

Gesturing to Rayia, "but I am happy to default to your choice in the roles we play. There should be some outfits somewhere on the ship to change into."

Hearing the offer of friendship, Lily grinned, "I would be more than happy to be friends. Though I will warn that being one of my friends comes with the benefits sparring matches!"

 

[Rayia Si]

Location: En route to Zyggeria
Lily Decoria

---

Rayia’s mouth pursed as an expression flashed across her face. Though she had worked to better control her beast, it was still quite a conversation to had. A conversation had at a better time perhaps. The pair would need their wits about them, and Rayia didn’t want to inspire any unnecessary paranoia in Lily. “No. Nothing we can change. And somehow, I feel the galaxy would punish us for daring,” Rayia confirmed. She closed her eyes momentarily and snuck in a deep breath. “Okay. I should be fine to continue now.

Rayia blinked at Lily’s response to her idea. Her feline pupils dilated and and narrowed as she tried to process the fact that it had gone completely over Lily’s head that she was suggesting she be the pet. Not the other way around.

Did it speak poorly of her that Rayia was used to the act in one way? She supposed it did, and in this sheer moment of self realization Rayia couldn’t help but laugh at herself. It started as a slight tremor in her chest that caused her tail to bristle with the movement. But soon a flaring pain stitched her side as Rayia began to chuckle. “Ahh, that sounds- like a good idea. Ow,” she managed. “I actually was a smith before this. So playing a steel merchant shouldn’t be too far outside my wheelhouse.”

Rayia grinned at the fact that Lily cautioned that when she accepted her friendship, it came with sparring matches. “One more thing to look forwards to then,” Rayia replied. Though if that was the case, they really would have to have a talk about her Felacatian nature.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

Entering Hyperspace once again, Lily noticed that there were changes in the body language of Rayia that she wasn't sure about. Rayia was a new friend so there was still plenty that she had to learn in terms of body language meaning and minor details that could have larger meaning. Especially since Rayia was also of another race, so things could have differing meaning in movements to Lily than it actually meant to Rayia. However, that was going to be something that time would solve and fighting one another would help Lily understand it more further along.

"Good to know. I will stick to a jewel merchant. I have some knowledge on jewellery and precious stones." It was a limited knowledge but it was the best she had, weapons were something that Lily also knew but she did not have a range of weapons available to sell or exchange. At least not on the ship yet. Something to invest in for the future for missions like this and to offer friends in the future if they need a weapon for a mission. "It is cool that you worked as a smith, how was that work?"

Being from a very wealthy family, Lily didn't really have experience in working jobs like that, being a Jedi was the most she knew in terms of working.

Nodding her head, "definitely. I always believe sparring was the best way to truly understand a person and connect, whether that is as friends or more intimate ways. It is a most honest form of communication. At least, that is how I always see it." Lily giggled as she checked to see how close they were to Zygerria.

"Should be exiting Hyperspace any moment now." Lily prepared Rayia.

 

[Rayia Si]

Lily Decoria

---

Rayia’s golden eyes flitted over towards Lily when she picked up on the fact that her friend had turned her head towards her. Her tail twitched as she sensed the motion, followed by the movements required to engage the hyperdrive again. Gritting her teeth, Rayia drew her tail back into its sheath as electrical charge seemed to flow into her veins. It always accompanied a sense of wrongness whenever she breached hyperspace.

Studying her… that too was its own can of worms. Rayia was grateful for the distraction as Lily asked her a question she could answer easily enough. “It was nice. Having something tangible at the end of a job to give to someone. And well it paid for food after… nevermind. But I still remember how to make them, so I took that with me.”

Rayia glanced around. If they wanted their disguise to be inconspicuous, they needed wares. After all, a merchant with an empty inventory was suspicious indeed. Her eyes widened as she remembered something. Reaching into her pouch, she drew forth a small, hermetically sealed, hexagonal box. One of her clawed fingers traced over the box’s surface. Was she really considering this?

But the risk that Dark Side artifacts could unleash if not properly contained lingered in the back of her mind. She could make this sacrifice and it would save lives. “Are you planning to buy some stones to sell to support our story?” Rayia asked as the system loomed back into view before them.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

Lily nodded her head, while she never had worked a proper job so the specific joys of building something that could be given to another was an experience that Lily did not have. However, she did always enjoy giving gifts and spoiling those who were her friend. The smiles on their faces and the joys of sharing the wealthy that she had, it was something that Lily thought was deeply issue.

Once the ship exited the hyperspace, Lily left them hanging in the space to sort things out before landing, shaking her head when asked about buying the stones. "Shouldn't need to since I got some jewellery that I no longer wear on the ship, so selling that should be easy enough. Nothing important either so don't have to worry about me selling family heirlooms." Lily grinned, another benefit of her previous lavish lifestyle was having expensive items on hand already.

"What's in the box?" Lily nodded to the hexagonal box that Rayia had pulled out of her pouch, it looked important the aura around Rayia had a sense of this item being crucial to her friend but Lily wasn't sure what it was. "I should also have some fun outfits that could sell us as offworld merchants too." Lily mentioned as she rose up from the pilot seat and headed deeper into her ship. Finger tapping her chin as she thought about what style would really shout out merchant and not someone who just looked fancy.

That was going to be the real challenge now. But anything fashioned based had Lily excited since she thoroughly enjoyed figuring out an outfit to wear. "Any particular style that appeals to you? I figure you have plenty more experience in being a merchant than I do so you should have some clearer ideas on this." Lily mentioned with a friendly grin to Rayia.

 

[Rayia Si]

Lily Decoria
Location: En route to Zygerria

---

Rayia visibly relaxed when Lily revealed that she had jewelry that she no longer wore that could serve as their merchandise. It was a stark contrast to how she had been wound up earlier. Lily’s assumption that it was important to her was evidently true based on the way that Rayia’s claws inadvertently tightened around it before she responded.

“It’s a pendant. I was going to offer it for your stock if there wasn’t any other option,” Rayia said before slipping the box back into her pouch. With that settled however, there next came the matter of selling the part… starting with their clothing. Rayia followed Lily towards the interior quarters of the ship presumably towards the Enchani’s dresser.

“Well, when I was apprenticing, my mentor always said that blacksmiths should dress in a manner befitting the type of audience they wanted and how they wanted their work to reflect,” Rayia started, before scanning through the outfits presented. “In that case, that meant functional clothes that placed an emphasis on our expertise; in other words that we knew what we were doing and we didn’t want any gaudy noble types loitering around.” Rayia grit her teeth. Honestly, just thinking of some of their wall hanger requests made her blood boil.

“In this case though, I suppose it’s the opposite. You still want to appear knowledgeable but you want to attract those with money primarily. We should wear accessories, with yours a step above mine as master and apprentice. And our outfits should be designed around accentuating said accessories,” Rayia said then blinked. A mischievous, snaggletoothed grin appeared on her face. Posing in an exaggerated fashion while fanning her face with one hand, she asked “Any ideas? I’ve always been partial to the reds myself.”

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: En route to Zygerria
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Rayia Si

The visible relaxation solidified more than words could the importance of what Rayia was willing to sacrifice for the mission. Lily was thankful for her wealth and privilege in this moment since this it meant that she could save her friend from the greater sacrifice. A cost that Lily would have always considered to high to pay. "It's more than a pendant, I don't need to know more about it. I can tell it's importance already, but never feel you have to surrender it for a mission. There will always be less personal options." Lily didn't want her friend to sacrifice such an important object in the future where someone else might not be as observant as Lily in the importance of it.

Tilting her head from side to side as she listened to Rayia, her mind thinking over the different ideals and possibilities. Something a little grander and flashier than a blacksmith, that made sense but nothing that showed real wealth. She wouldn't be a merchant who held generational wealth, that just wouldn't make sense. Especially on a world like Zygerria. "Hmmmm... Well, I think we might have a few options, feel free to select something that you find suits you." Lily mentioned, not wishing to decide what looked good for Rayia.

Fashion was personal and subjective so she wanted to see what her friend chose, would help her know what Rayia liked in the future when she sought out gifts for Rayia for the holidays and birthdays.

There were outfits she had stored away for working the undercity on Coruscant, for portraying herself as someone much gruffer but from what Rayia had mentioned, going for that style of look might not be a good tone narratively for a jeweller. Something somewhat regal fitting with Zygerria, a dress but nothing made as elegant or delicate as the dresses she wore to balls and galas. Those were very expensive and tailored for her figure and preferred style that involved still being able to fight in them.

Instead, she selected what she seemed to think was a simple blue and white dress, no where near as ornate or decorative as the dresses she had worn before. The dress was more modest than Lily usually went for as well, which was probably for the best since she wasn't trying to show off her figure during this mission. Smoothing out the dress, Lily checked herself in the mirror and ensured that her dress was adorning her body correctly and not wrinkled. While she suspected some might not notice this or see it as an issue, Lily herself viewed any jeweller with a ruffled appearance to be someone who was not worthy of her attention.

"Did you find anything that suited you or to your liking?" Lily called out to Rayia.