Private Something Old, Something New

[Yuri Maji]

TATOOINE | DESERT
TAGS: Vara Rasha | Vren Rook

---

WOLF​

The trip took the better part of a day, and Yuri quickly realized that Vara's energy was far too much for him. After a few hours, the safety and silence of Baby's cockpit was a blessing. Telling her about the onboard sound system was a grave mistake. Luckily he could sleep most of the trip away, though he did find himself emerging to socialize a bit with her throughout the trip. Having someone else onboard to speak to was a luxury he had forgotten about.

Eventually the journey came to an end, as a dusty planet with twin suns replaced the mesmerizing swirls of Hyperspace. Yuri guided them into the Mos Espa spaceport before disappearing into his room for the better part of half an hour. When he emerged, he was covered from head to toe in heavy armour, twin pistols rested against his thighs and a helmet was cradled under his arm. He gave Vara no answers or indications, merely gesturing for her to follow until they were both in Baby's cockpit. The beast emerged from the freighter's cargo hold and took off with a piercing howl, carrying the two hounds deep into the unforgiving desert.

"Guy's name is Vren. He's an old family friend and a hell of a fighter... don't tell him I said that. But more importantly, he's trained dozens of Foundlings over the decades, including me. If anyone can help you, it's him." Yuri finally explained to the girl, sparing a glance over his shoulder. After a while, a small outpost finally came into view in the desert. Yuri made sure to broadcast his IFF before setting Baby down close to the outpost and powered him down. He paused to look at Vara for a moment. "Just stick close, let me do the talkin'... I think he'll like ya." He shrugged, opened the cockpit and hopped out. Once Vara was out, the cockpit slid shut and Yuri led her closer to the outpost.

The two suns beat down relentlessly in contrast to the wonderful world of air conditioning on the ship. Yuri held his hands up as he came to a halt a stone's throw from the front porch. "Old man! You still alive?" He called out, sparing a concerned glance at Vara. It would be a hell of a story if he just rolled over without anyone knowing.

 

[Vren Rook]

VETERAN
ROOK RANCH | TATOOINE
TAG: Yuri Maji | Vara Rasha

BUFFALO GRASS​

He had needed some desert sand under his feet for a change.

The Enclave. and then by extension, the Covenant, was his everything. But Tatooine still spoke to him like no other planet could - even with the damnable Republic pretending that they owned the planet and its twin suns. The fact still stood that no one dared question his armour on the planet - not even the Republicans. He figured some still had to do with Nag that always remained on his heels, her turrets pointing at everyone that even had a thought of questioning him.

Yet, he made it to his ranch.

The banthas were out on pasture, crunching away at the shrubs planted for them. Vren was finally lounging on his rocking chair on the porch, beer in hand with George at his feet while Nag was collapsed in the yard, napping as much as a basilisk could.

Suddenly George lifted his reptilian head along with Nag out on the yard. A few seconds later, Vren heard the very iconic howl heading towards the ranch.
"Girl?" he asked as he sat up straighter, putting down his beer.
://: Friendly. IFF says it's Baby ://: she replied, deploying to her feet as she faced the direction from which the howl now reached high pitch.
"Someone better be dying." Vren mumbled, rising to his feet as well just as Baby crested the rise before coming to rest just outside the yard. The Echo-Speaker briefly retreated into his home to grab a rifle to clip onto his back and grabbing his helmet that rested on the coffee table in the lounge on his way back to the door.

"Old man! You still alive?"

"For the love of..." he grumbled as he shouldered through his screen door again. "You got some nerve, Kid!" he called back as he got back on the porch, yet a smile pulled on his wrinkled face as he looked at the Maji. "How are ya?"

Then George leapt to his feet, Massiff teeth bared and a blood-curdling growl ripping through his throat.

Vren's eyes followed his pet's reptilian gaze to the figure behind Shai's kid. He let out a sigh before resting his hand on George's head and the Massiff relaxed somewhat.

"Who might you be?" he asked the female Shistavanen that definitely did not have beskar on her while giving Yuri a look that said "the hell did you get yourself into now?"

 

[Vara Rasha]

Tags: Yuri Maji Vren Rook
​

He told her to make herself at home.

And so she did!

The spare room Vara was given around the corner from the galley of Yuri’s ship barely contained the volatile and high energy thrash metal pouring through the loudspeakers at an obnoxiously high volume. Her roars proved louder,when she recited the lyrics, threatening to drown out even the music itself on a few occasions.

Whenever she eventually grew bored, she’d leave her room to go and socialize with the other resident fleabag, shoot the chit with him and pass the time together when he wasn’t busy tinkering with something in the galley, or in his room sleeping. At times when he wasn’t around and bored out of her mind, the young mutt tried everything to pass the time in silence, in ways that did not violate the rules Yuri had set for her.

She was to keep her paws to herself, for starters.

That meant she couldn’t go snooping around the ship. She had to reign her curiosity; Yuri had made that very clear, and it took quite the conscious effort for Vara to be aware of where her hands were at all times.

Then, she wasn’t allowed to smoke.

The regular stuff was fine! But her spice laced joints? A complete no go. She questioned the why in her mind, but she knew she didn’t have to know or understand why to follow a simple rule.

She obliged to it all without voicing out an objection, even if she didn’t agree with most of the rules.

His crib, his rules. Simple as.

Though a deep shudder would mark the end of her boredom.

That was the cue she was anxiously waiting for. Her eyes met with their destination when she silently joined Yuri at the cockpit to watch the landing, shortly after the ship translated out of hyperspace; a foreign, unimpressive ball of sand and desert she had never seen before, orbiting a set of binary suns. Punching through the planet’s atmosphere, they were flying over a city before long; her core tightened as excitement gripped her heart when Yuri brought the ship for a landing at a spaceport.

Quickly, she made her way to her room, and prepared for the occasion; in a few moments, the young woman walked out her room wrapped in relatively plain clothes. The girl wore a simple light grey tanktop, dark green cargo pants and a pair of black boots. Her only recent additions to her usual attire was a holster for her blaster pistol, and several utility pouches hanging from her utility belt.

She might as well have been naked in comparison to what the other fleabag wore.

She didn’t bother hiding the awe in her crimson gaze when she saw the man emerge after he took the time to prepare for the day ahead of them; the armor looked a lot more impressive than when she had seen it laid out over the galley table. It looked impervious, unbreakable. The particular armor pattern he wore looked on the heavier side, but that did not seem to impede Yuri’s movement at all, as he moved in it with ease. He threw her a sharp, simple hand gesture: Follow. The mutt responded with a simple nod of her head, and moved to fall in right behind him without a word.

She squeezed herself inside the cockpit shortly after Yuri. At the punch of a button, the canopy closed shut around them. And before long, the steel steed groaned to life. Yuri steered them out of the cargo hold as soon as she strapped herself in, and took off for the clear skies above them in this harrowing shriek. The interior rattled sharply as the sky replaced the openair hangar bay.

A small gasp ripped from Vara’s lips as her back slammed to the seat from the sharp take off, but before long, Yuri had leveled out the steed to steady flight path. Situated behind him at the copilot seat, Vara simply enjoyed the ride in silence, watching as the featureless desert replaced the sprawling city of Mos Espa in a few moments, feeling the strength of the steed under her.

"Guy's name is Vren. He's an old family friend and a hell of a fighter... don't tell him I said that. But more importantly, he's trained dozens of Foundlings over the decades, including me. If anyone can help you, it's him." Yuri finally explained to the girl, sparing a glance over his shoulder.

Vara quietly offered him an acknowledging nod. Before long, she began a shift in altitude; the instruments before her moved to a greater different value than what they showed before, while the sand dunes grew larger and larger. Her eyes found the outpost then, out in the distance. Yuri gradually bled off the speed and landed the steed in the coming moment.

"Just stick close, let me do the talkin'... I think he'll like ya." He shrugged, opened the cockpit and hopped out.

Her head dipped for a nod, and hopped out of the cockpit with him; his boots clawed a shallow bootprint into the arid, dry earth. She took a moment to glance around at her surroundings as she stretched her back and shoulders. She pulled a slow, deliberate breath through her snout, taking in the dry yet equally clean air as the twin suns began to heat her bones.

She could get used to this.

"Old man! You still alive?" He called out, sparing a concerned glance at Vara.

They were in the yard of the old timer’s compound now; the first thing she noticed was another wardroid in the yard, not too far from them. Had to be the old man’s, she thought. It wasn’t for long after Yuri’s exclamation an unfamiliar silhouette emerged from the humble abode. A human on the more older side, yet his stride belied his years. He was clad in his own pattern of mandalorian battle armor, with quite the “walking stick” slung on his back.

"You got some nerve, Kid!" he called back as he got back on the porch, yet a smile pulled on his wrinkled face as he looked at the Maji. "How are ya?"

Vara’s attention shifted from the man as the screen door to his house swung open. Something ran up to Vren in a blur, only to come to a halt by his feet. A massif! It barred its rippers, a concerning growl ripped from its throat. Vara's cautious gaze met the jet-black orbs glaring her way. The sharpness in them dulled only slightly, as Vren leaned down to pet his loyal companion.

"Who might you be?" he asked the female Shistavanen that definitely did not have beskar on her while giving Yuri a look that said "the hell did you get yourself into now?"

The young woman brought her gaze to hold Vren’s as the man referred to her. “Name’s Vara,” the mutt gave him an acknowledging nod. A very brief introduction. It was obvious she took this with the seriousness it deserved. Now was not the time for jokes and quips.

Not yet anyway.

Everything had a time and place.

 

[Yuri Maji]

Yuri couldn't help but watch with amusement at Vara's shock and awe. This trip had been a lot of 'firsts' for the mutt, something he could barely comprehend. At least she wasn't as trigger happy as he had expected her to be, helping her out with a blaster made him a bit nervous. It was unthinkable for the Hound, to be stuck on one planet for an entire life. To think that it could have been him in another life...

"You got some nerve, Kid!"

"How are ya?"

Yuri's thoughts were drawn back to reality by Vren's voice as he called out to him. With a chuckle he waved the question off, at least for the moment. There was a much more important topic to address with the old Rook. George was not too happy to see a stranger on the yard, and Yuri subtly kept his eye on Nag, though he knew that he didn't have to worry about her. At least Vren trained his droid well.

Vara introduced herself to Vren in quick order, while Yuri led the two of them closer to Vren's house. At least they weren't greeted with blaster fire, so that was a win. "Stray I picked up. Can't fight for bantha poodoo, but she's tough as nails. Also got an attitude that leaves a lot to be desired." He explained as he leaned against a pillar on Vren's porch. He had forgotten just how stuffy Tatooine could get.

<"Figured a T-visor might work on her."> He concluded in Mando'a with a satisfied grin and a pair of golden eyes that betrayed the seeming innocence of his statement. He turned to grab Vara by her shoulders and give her a light shake. "Look at her! Lotta potential with this harpy. You could keep Ma in check, this one'll be easy for ya!" He reassured Vren as he made his way over to him to sling an arm around his neck.

"And I can't think of anyone better to help a new foundling than my good ol' Uncle Vren." He spoke with a sing-song voice as he gave him a nudge.

Vren Rook Vara Rasha

 

[Vren Rook]

VETERAN
ROOK RANCH | TATOOINE
TAG: Yuri Maji | Vara Rasha

BUFFALO GRASS​

Kids...

At least this female seemed to understand the situation she was in, her keen red eyes seeming to take in everything around her. She had good instincts, he had to give her that. That and his practiced eye could see she was more at ease with this heat than Yuri was.

“Name’s Vara,”

If only all youngins could be so short and to the point.
"Good to meet ya." he told her before turning his attention back to Yuri.

The lanky mutt had grown into his armour - he definitely carried it with more ease now. He was no longer a boy.

"Stray I picked up. Can't fight for bantha poodoo, but she's tough as nails. Also got an attitude that leaves a lot to be desired."

Yet he still had a maw on him.

Vren's eyebrow shot up slightly at these words but the hound quickly switched to their native tongue to give him the actual reason why they showed up at his door. The old Mandalorian glanced at Vara once more. She had the heart, that was a plus - he could see it in the way she carried herself.

"And I can't think of anyone better to help a new foundling than my good ol' Uncle Vren."

Vren side-eyed Yuri again as he leaned against the pillar.
"Let me be clear about one thing, Mutt - you and I need to talk." he said without preamble, his steely gaze holding the golden ones of the kid that was dealt a shit hand. His tone left no room for argument as all drawl within it disappeared. This was a child he had failed and he could hear Shai bitchin' about it if she were still alive. He had to fix it.

He then looked at the young woman for a moment proper. Shai and Dima were his two hardest mando'ade to keep in check - as much as one can keep Dima in check. This one looked like she held an intelligence that the other two lacked for sure.
"Vara, tell me now - do you want to carry the armour? Follow our ways? Did this lad even tell you what it entails?" he asked her straight. "And don't hold back on his part."

George finally sat down next to Vren, more at ease with the stranger on his yard. Nag seemed to be communicating with Baby at the fence on the other hand. Vren knew she was asking certain questions to paint a clearer picture - she was a smarter model, after all. She knew something was up.

Vren kept his eyes on the newcomer, however. This life wasn't the easiest - not everyone could commit. She seemed a keen one, reminding him of the Wardog in her younger days. She did have the potential, but it had to be her choice. Some spirits deserved a choice.

"I can show you our ways, but I won't do it if that aint what you want."

 

[Vara Rasha]

Tags: Yuri Maji Vren Rook
​

"Good to meet ya." he told her before turning his attention back to Yuri.

Vren would earn another small, respectful bow of the head in the wake of his words. A portion of the shistavanen girl’s attention would then be visibly spared towards the careful observation of her environment, while Yuri ushered her to follow him and Vren towards the shade of the front porch.

Serene.

Vara was a city girl through and through. She found herself listening out for a whine and rumble of a speeder as her crimson gaze trailed the horizon for movement, but she was met with relative silence anytime she tried to hear something out of the ordinary.

All she could perceive with her pointy ears outside her immediate vicinity, were the soft groans of the large fourlegged reptilians grazing outback, and the gust of heat on her face.

But the general quietude was not what began to slowly unsettle her.

It was the fact that she was well and truly in the middle of nowhere, on a planet completely alien to her.

Save for what lay on the front porch of Vren’s outpost, Vara’s eyes saw nothing but the sand dunes that stretched as far as the eye could see; they looked older than civilization itself, and lacked any reluctance from teaching a harsh lesson to those that dared to brave them unprepared.

For the first time in a long time, she felt small. Humbled, at the reminder of her reality around her.

But there was a silver lining to every dark cloud. It all meant she was going to be a lot stronger for choosing this way of life, with so much learning and catching up to do.

And she loved learning.

"Stray I picked up. Can't fight for bantha poodoo, but she's tough as nails. Also got an attitude that leaves a lot to be desired." He explained as he leaned against a pillar on Vren's porch. He had forgotten just how stuffy Tatooine could get.

The pair of crimson orbs rolled with a scoff at the partially dishonest recounting of how they met. Vara slipped her hands into her pockets as she waited to be spoken to again; after realizing the old man’s Massif had gotten more used to her presence, she figured she could relax a little, while still retaining a level of caution by avoiding sharp gestures; it was aware she was not going to pose a threat.

She certainly did not want to give it a reason to think otherwise.

The woman threw one ankle over the other after she leaned her back against the post by the mouth of the brief set of steps. She crossed her arms over her navel, a bright glimmer of curiosity at what was said in the completely alien language Yuri spoke to Vren.

He turned to grab Vara by her shoulders and give her a light shake. "Look at her! Lotta potential with this harpy. You could keep Ma in check, this one'll be easy for ya!"

The shistavanen girl smirked. Without hesitation she threw Yuri a light jab as he went to shake her. Vara’s knuckles harmlessly landed on his shoulder pad with a dull thud.

"Let me be clear about one thing, Mutt - you and I need to talk." he said without preamble, his steely gaze holding the golden ones of the kid that was dealt a shit hand.

Her toothy grin faded quickly as Vren’s attitude changed in a heartbeat. Silent yet unmistakably observant, her ears subtly perked up as the old man’s steely gaze fell upon her once again after addressing Yuri.

"Vara, tell me now - do you want to carry the armour? Follow our ways? Did this lad even tell you what it entails?" he asked her straight. "And don't hold back on his part."

Yes. By all Hells, she did. She wanted this.

Vara spoke with candour. “He told me enough to make the call,” she lowered her muzzle in a nod, never once taking her crimson eyes off the older Mandalorian, respectfully taking the measure of him. The young one could feel Vren return the gesture in kind as he looked deep into her soul in the brief lull after her answer.

"I can show you our ways, but I won't do it if that aint what you want."

The harpy gave the old man the answer he sought without hesitation in her tone. “I didn’t come all this way to waste your time -much less mine, with indecision. Yes. I want this.”

There was no turning back now.

 

[Yuri Maji]

For a moment it was light-hearted and jokes between them, it was something of a hobby to annoy the old man. But when he addressed Yuri with an unwavering glare, the smile left Yuri's eyes as he watched his uncle. With a click of his tongue, he let go of Vren's neck and gave him a tap on the shoulder. "No we don't." He muttered with a glare before taking his leave.

While Vren's attention was on Vara, Yuri took his leave to instead strip his armour down on the far end of the porch. Once the pieces were on the ground, Yuri tied his body glove around his waist and rolled his mechanical shoulder a few times before he began to fiddle with the power supply of his armour. Partially to avoid getting drawn into the conversation, but also to figure out why his suit's regulator wasn't working properly. How the hell did Vara seem so cool and relaxed in this damned heat?

The occasional glance was cast at the two as he finally pulled a burnt fuse and tossed it into a pocket.

He had a suspicion of what Vren wanted to talk about. Most likely the same as every other damn person older than him. He wasn't in the mood for more preaching and "you're better than this" poodoo. One ear flicked as he listened to Vara speak to Vren.

“I didn’t come all this way to waste your time -much less mine, with indecision. Yes. I want this.”

A snicker escaped the Hound's maw as he cast half a glance at the two. "I did warn her, uncle. Told her the smart option would be to leave. She's got our stubbornness." He flashed a wink at Vara before returning his attention back to his armour.

Vren Rook Vara Rasha

 

[Vren Rook]

VETERAN
ROOK RANCH | TATOOINE
TAG: Yuri Maji | Vara Rasha

BUFFALO GRASS​

"No we don't."

Vren looked at him for a second.
"I wasn't asking, Maji. You really wanna go there?" he deadpanned before turning his attention to Vara and having the conversation with her.

“I didn’t come all this way to waste your time -much less mine, with indecision. Yes. I want this.”

A snicker sounded from the other end of the porch.

"I did warn her, uncle. Told her the smart option would be to leave. She's got our stubbornness."

Understatement.
"Bet ya did." Why in all this Galaxy was he the one left to help this kid and get him to actually earn wearing his armour instead of inheriting it? At least helping someone new to become on of them was easier than getting it in Shai's blockheaded kid. So he spared a Vara a smile.
"Very well then. Welcome to the Way, Vara - you're in for a helluva ride." he told her.

He pondered for a moment. He was well aware that he was well past his prime. He was still capable, but most of the time, his body complained in random places. He was no longer the one to actually show a youngin to be a warrior. He was also aware that Yuri had shirked their ways for a majority of his life - why else bring her here?
"Tell you what, Child, all of us here can see I am old. So what I'm going to do is this - I'll oversee your training. Nothing will give me greater pleasure. But I am going to leave the physical aspects of it to a much more capable Mando'ad than that Mutt over there or my creaky old bones." he told her before turning back to Yuri. "Get her to Kestri and introduce her to Rau - tell her I sent ya. I'll be following short behind - just wanna finish up here."

Suddenly realising his manners, however, had him turning back to the duo. Maji did look like a melting-wet dog currently from the heat.

"Before ya go - you two want a cold one first?"

 

[Vara Rasha]

Tags: Yuri Maji Vren Rook
​

"Very well then. Welcome to the Way, Vara - you're in for a helluva ride." he told her.

Yuri would heave earned a smirk from the harpy at his words, before she looked back to meet Vren's gaze. Her razor sharp teeth and the gold plated replacement for one of her incisors were brought to full display as Vara's mirth tugged at her lips to a bright smile in the wake of his words. An air of confidence hung from her like scent; sightly instead of olfactory. Her crimson gaze sharpened as her back straightened, her eagerness to be a part of this much larger family was reigned only by a conscious effort of humility, and awareness of what lay ahead.

The young mutt was aware of the risks.

This was not gonna be some walk in the park. She knew that.

She knew she would be met with many challenges, and she understood most of which would be unlike anything she had experienced before, as Yuri had told her.

But ma’ didn’t raise no quitter.

She was going to meet the difficulties of her chosen Path with her confidence and hardiment, no matter what was thrown at her. The seasoned Mandalorian would have no trouble perceiving her mettle at a simple regard, as untested as it were.

"Tell you what, Child, all of us here can see I am old. So what I'm going to do is this - I'll oversee your training. Nothing will give me greater pleasure. But I am going to leave the physical aspects of it to a much more capable Mando'ad than that Mutt over there or my creaky old bones." he told her before turning back to Yuri. "Get her to Kestri and introduce her to Rau - tell her I sent ya. I'll be following short behind - just wanna finish up here."

“Kestri?” Her sharp ears perked up at the mention of being taken to yet another planet, a place brand new to her knowledge of the galaxy. “Where’s that? What’s there?” Vara asked, after seizing the opportunity of a brief lull in the conversation that followed after Vren’s words.

Suddenly realising his manners, however, had him turning back to the duo. Maji did look like a melting-wet dog currently from the heat.

"Before ya go - you two want a cold one first?"

The youngin shrugged with a small grin. “If it’s no trouble. I’mma be around the back, if that’s okay,” She figured the two could use some alone time. Vara uncrossed her ankles and stood up straight before their generous host pushed the screen door to his humble abode, and disappeared inside. The mutt casted Yuri a glance as he worked on the parts of his armor laid out before him on the porch; she couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the sculpted physique that was presented. The way his sweat traced his sculpted muscles… Before long, she turned around without a word, and walked around the corner, following the rest of the porch out back as he left Yuri to his devices.

The wooden steps creaked under the footfalls of her boots as she left the shade, and took a few steps out to directly meet the scorching wave of heat from the twin suns above them. The harpy filled her lungs with a deep breath as she felt the scalding warmth take her in its embrace. The harpy beamed as she brought her gaze to take in more of her surroundings as she weathered the heat without trouble.

The four legged reptilians, each the size of a land speeder, continued to graze in the distance. The fence kept them safe and secure in the confines of the old man’s ranch. A few water vaporizers jutted from the ground in the lands, their white plating long been weathered to a shade of beige under the suns.

The young woman brought herself closer to the ground, and sat down. She reached to the ground, taking a fistful of sand, watching them flow back into the earth from between her knuckles, scattering in the gentle wind. Vara then leaned forward after tucking her knees close, and began to undo her laces.

She wanted to see how this felt.

Her boots set aside after slipping them off, the young woman dug her feet into the sandy ground. She closed her eyes, and focused on the earthly sensation of the warm sand between her toes, and under her soles. How warm it was. Coarse, yet encompassing like a hug. As scorching as it would likely feel for the others, it felt quite the opposite for Vara. It was the first time she had felt the coarse sand under her feet, yet it did not feel foreign. Not unaccustomed.

Like remembering a distant memory she was never aware she had.

This was nice.

This new-found acclimation to extreme heat came at a surprise to her, too. Quite the pleasant one. The woman’s eyes slowly opened as she hugged her knees close. Her head tilted to the side, ears perked up, Vara watched in silence as the strange beasts continued to graze. The light of curiosity shined brightly in her crimson gaze, even as a million thoughts swirled in her mind.

Gonna be one hell of a ride.

 

[Yuri Maji]

Yuri quietly kept fiddling with the regulator of his suit, trying to jury rig something to bypass the empty fuse slot. An angry glare was cast at Vren with his insult, but Yuri elected to keep his mouth shut for the moment. It didn't last long, however, when Vara asked what was to be found on Kestri. "The opposite of here." He quipped with a chuckle. "If you love it here, you're gonna hate it there. Hope ya got a winter jacket somewhere." He continued.

Kestri was the next logical step, at the end of the day. She was a Foundling now. She was going to have to see the homeland sooner or later.

"Before ya go - you two want a cold one first?"

"No need to ask me twice." He remarked. Vara was far more modest than he was, she clearly tried to present herself well with the old man. He couldn't help but snicker at her bashful response. As Vren disappeared into his house, Yuri couldn't help but notice the mutt's crimson eyes on him for a brief moment before she left to explore the one or two vague excuses for sights. What did she want to go see? He paid her no mind, though a wandering glance was cast at her as she walked around the house. "Don't go too far, sis. Tusken Raiders can nail the eye of a womp-rat half a click away." He warned her.

His armour was finally sorted out, but the attempt was still in vain. He was going to have to find a proper fuse somewhere before he put the armour back on. Patiently waiting for Vren to emerge with some beverages, Yuri made his way over to George to pat him on the head with a smile. <"Glad to see the Tuskens didn't carry your herd off. Heard they've been getting ballsy lately."> He spoke up once Vren returned, electing to stick with their people's language.

Once he had a blissful sip of the ice cold drink, and the pressing heat was quenched from his body and spirit with a satisfied sigh, did he finally glance at Vren. <"Alright, let's hear it. What did you want to talk about?"> He asked him bluntly. He didn't know where Vara went, but he hoped it was far enough for the angry Mando'a noises she was going to hear.

Vren Rook Vara Rasha

 

[Vren Rook]

VETERAN
ROOK RANCH | TATOOINE
TAG: Yuri Maji | Vara Rasha

BUFFALO GRASS​

“If it’s no trouble. I’mma be around the back, if that’s okay,”

Vren nodded at her with a smile before turning his attention to Yuri with eyebrows raised.

"No need to ask me twice."

"Comin' up." he said before disappearing into the house.

Inside, he could hear Yuri cautioning Vara against the dangers of the desert, making him smile as he took out two beers from the fridge. He's really grown up. All of them from that era have. Somehow, it was a blessing to witness it. To see them come into their own. With a bit of guidance, Yuri would make a good mentor himself, maybe even an Alor.

The old Guildmaster stepped out again and handed Yuri his drink before taking a seat again.

<"Glad to see the Tuskens didn't carry your herd off. Heard they've been getting ballsy lately.">

<They'd have a helluva time to do it with Hector and George around. That old Cern'r droid is still a deadly battledroid.> he laughed.

They both enjoyed a cool drink for a minute before Yuri finally spoke up again.

<"Alright, let's hear it. What did you want to talk about?">

Vren leaned back, resting his arm holding the bottle, resting on the armrest as he looked at the Shistavanen.
<Where have you been, Son?> he asked sincerely. <We tried to keep the Ironworks safe as best we could, but the Vong made it very difficult.>

Start with the easier question and explanation.

 

[Yuri Maji]

Vren wasted no time in getting to the meat of the topic. Yuri met his gaze for a second as he thought the question over. <"Making decisions I'll instantly regret."> He answered with a hollow smile, twiddling his cybernetic fingers at the old Rook. He took another sip and let out a heavy sigh, looking out at the rolling dunes beyond the homestead.

<"I'm working on getting the Ironworks up and running again. Lot of missing components and damaged parts that need replacing."> He continued, looking back at Vren. <"In all seriousness, I've... After Ma died..."> He trailed off, struggling to find the right words. His chat with Vara only a a short while ago had opened his mind to all of the evil and weakness he had been wallowing in for the past few years. <"I joined the Crusade. Lost friends, lost an arm and burned bridges all to get to Auntie Valery. When I finally reached her, I couldn't pull the trigger."> He nodded lightly, recounting the absolutely harrowing circumstances that brought them together again.

A hollow chuckle rumbled from his throat, the bottle of booze was finished in a few quick swigs as Yuri's eyes shifted back to his armour sitting on the ground. <"I'm glad Ma's dead.>" He muttered, empty eyes looking back to Vren. <"I get why Auntie Valery did it. But... I couldn't look her in the eye now after everything I've done. I tried to go straight, but it only somehow made things worse. If she had to see me now..."> He shook his head.

He didn't want to have this conversation. He was only thankful that Vara wouldn't be able to understand either of them. An advantage that wouldn't last very long.

<"I'm a coward, Uncle Vren. I couldn't even be there for Ma's burial. I betrayed everyone I know. I kept saying that it's all to help our people... I don't deserve the armour."> He shrugged, a false smile took hold as he faced his uncle. "At least I quit spice!" He declared, trying to find a positive point in this pointless conversation.

Vren Rook Vara Rasha

 

[Vren Rook]

VETERAN
ROOK RANCH | TATOOINE
TAG: Yuri Maji | Vara Rasha

BUFFALO GRASS​

<"Making decisions I'll instantly regret.">

A man of Vren's age could tell that jest was loaded.

Sure enough, the Hound elaborated, touching on the heart of what Vren wanted to know - what he couldn't get from Valery herself when he faced her. But what Yuri said further had Vren take better notice.

When I finally reached her, I couldn't pull the trigger.">

How much this pup echoed his own life.
<You ain't the only one, Son. We both knew there's more to it.> Vren remarked, thinking back on that night on Kiffar on that rooftop when he couldn't pull the trigger either. He had sometimes questioned his actions that night, but he also knew there had to be more to it. Valery had alluded to it.

<"I'm a coward, Uncle Vren. I couldn't even be there for Ma's burial. I betrayed everyone I know. I kept saying that it's all to help our people... I don't deserve the armour.">

That hit hard. Did the kid really himself as that? There might have been a time, a very long time, that he would have agreed Yuri, but after the roads Vren had taken to get to where he was now, he knew better. Some may call it mere old-man's weakness, but he knew better - people weren't droids. Not even Supercommandos. He had seen hardier warriors break down in the face of adversity.

He disregarded the quip about spice.
<If that's the case, there are many before you that were "greater warriors" that don't deserve it, including me, Yuri.> he started. <I know you think you are a coward, Son, but the fact that you persisted this long and finding your way back - minus an arm and friends - says that you are anything BUT a coward. We've all been there, Son - the road of vengeance. It's for each of us to know that it's a fool's game on our own time. You finally realised and you're here now, with a Foundling in tow. You never lost the Way.>

Vren took another deep draught of his bottle.

<Now tell me, Son, before that Girl of yours comes back - what did Valery tell you about your Ma? She just told me that your Ma was at peace.>

 

[Yuri Maji]

Vren's words of reassurance drew a small smile from Yuri, his gaze shifting to his uncle for a moment before looking out at the rolling dunes once more. He struggled to agree with his sentiment, but having someone believe in him like that did a good job of making him feel a little better. Vren finally decided to ask the one question Yuri waited on, and his smile drifted away once more.

Nobody ever spoke to him. By all accounts, the Hound was the only one that knew the truth of what happened. He took another drag of his cigarette for a moment as he gathered his thoughts.

"She wasn't lyin'." He admitted with a shrug. <"I got the chance a little while back to speak with her properly. Ma was..."> A hand gestured at nothing in particular as the words caught in his throat. <"She was tired. I mean... she had me and dad, she wanted to have a family of her own. Dad never forgave any of you. He still thinks it's because of you, uncle Kranak and the rest that Ma came back."> He thought back to a brief conversation between him and his father for a moment. "Truth was she tried to support both families. I remember her tellin' me that she went to see auntie Valery after that mess y'all made on Rodia. She didn't want a war. And when she had to fight auntie Valery on Ryloth, basically choose families, she..." He shrugged again and looked back at Vren.

"She chose you guys." He admitted. <"And when she lost that fight, she wanted a warrior's death."> He crushed the bud between his durasteel digits and flicked the bud into the desert. "Listen, uncle... I don't wanna be rude, but we need to get goin'." His entire demeanor shifted as he hung over the railing of the porch. "Vara! We're movin'!" He called out to the mutt and turned to face his uncle.

His features softened for a moment. "Ma's gone. I made my peace with that. All I can do is try to do right by whoever's still breathin'." He remarked, collecting his armour to clip it all back on.

Vara Rasha Vren Rook

 

[Vara Rasha]

Tags: Yuri Maji Vren Rook
​

Curiosity compelled her.

The sand whispered at a soft crunch with each cautious step. Slowly Vara crept up, her bare footprints leaving a small trail after her on the dry earth. The young woman stared unblinkingly at the center of her wonderment. The big green lizard-like thing continued to casually graze on whatever little shrubbery it found in the lands.

The mutt’s sharp ears caught Yuri’s shout and she stilled.

"Vara! We're movin'!" He called out to the mutt and turned to face his uncle.

A grumble left her lips. Her head snapped and she looked over her shoulder towards the house. ”In a MINUTE!” The girl hollered back. Her attention returned back to the creature in an instant. A wince crept across her features as her eyes locked onto its silhouette again. Her muscles drew taut under her hide, wondering if her shout startled it.

To her silent joy, it seemed quite tame.

Her core relaxed at a breath of relief. The woman took another step forward. The creature turned with a graceful pivot. Its eyes looked straight at her. It had taken note of her approach, but now that she was in its space, Vara firmly held a portion of its attention.

”Ssssh… It’s okay big guy,” Tone a mere whisper for only the creature to hear, she held out a hand towards it, palms outstretched. The other raised the same way, a gesture she meant no harm.

Her touch hovered closer and closer. The creature did not shy away, nor did it act threatened.

A gasp lashed, her snout flared. She calmed herself, as her touch met the creature’s wrinkly, leathery hide. She stilled at the sight of her reflection on the black orb of its eyes. The young woman expected the worst, trying to feel out a shift in its demeanor. It was alien to her. Its habits and temper unreadable.

Or what it read as hostile intent.

But luckily, it met the girl with a relaxed blink of its eyes instead of a lash of its big tail at her midriff, or worse.

A small chuckle poured from her lips. Emboldened by the way it humored her curiosity, Vara began to caress its head. Her touch moved in slow, circular strokes. ”Thaaat’s it… Friend! I’m a friend,” She talked to it in a gentle whisper. Her curious gaze took its features as she brought her other hand to give him a gentle pat. ”..What are you? Are you a boy? A girl?” Vara murmured aloud.

Her eyes widened. Stillness took hold of her once more at the sight of its maw splitting open. But contrary to what she thought was about to happen, the girl was met with a gesture of its affection. A tongue longer than her arm lashed out, slathering her hand in its saliva.

The light of her crimson eyes reduced to a twinkle as a hearty giggle poured out of her lips. ”Oh my god-..! I like you too dude!” Her heels dug into the sand, weight rocking forward as she fought the urge to stomp with giddy excitement. The creature huffed softly under her touch, warm breath washing over her knuckles. Vara lingered there for a moment longer, smiling to herself.

This was nice!