Private The Girl Who Has Everything

[Jacen Nimdok]

The Conestoga
Shortly after the events of Library Hours...

"Well, here we are," Nimdok said, gesturing with both arms toward the old freighter parked in the hangar bay of a Coruscanti starport. It was late afternoon by now, and the sun was setting on the horizon. Once all the racket in the Jedi Temple archives had been dealt with, he'd taken it upon himself to escort the hoverchair-riding, mask-wearing Melodie he had met earlier that day to meet his daughter, as promised.

"Now, I did call ahead and mention you were coming, but she's pretty shy, so you probably won't have to worry about her squealing." Walking toward the loading ramp, he paused and glanced back at Laraine. "Uh, would you like to stay for dinner?" He wasn't sure what her species ate or if the environment would prevent her from taking off her mask, but given that they had a couple guests aboard with similar diets, they might be able to accommodate her relatively easily. He hoped she wouldn't have any problems getting her hoverchair aboard, at least.

Laraine​

 

[Laraine]

Laraine nodded, smiling. "I'd love to. I can go without the mask for a few hours. It's mainly a precaution. And we have pretty much the same diet as humans," she said, sensing Jacen Nimdok 's unease.

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Satisfied with her answer, Nimdok resumed walking, leading the way into the ship. As was his custom, he started rambling on like an enthusiastic teacher to his students. "We did meet some of the Finfolk on Chaldea not too long ago - they're not biologically mermaids, you see, they just dress the part, wearing what amounts to magical diving suits. Very interesting culture, although the fact that they can simply peel off their tails and gills is a little disappointing--"

The moment he stepped aboard the Conestoga, he was greeted by his daughter Miri, who ran down the hall and launched herself at him. He wobbled and had to put one hand on the wall to catch his balance, bringing his lecture to a merciful end. "Are you trying to knock me over?" he asked, almost laughing.

Her attention had already shifted from him to Laraine. The girl took a step back, partially hiding behind her father.

"Miri, this is Miss Laraine," Nimdok introduced them. "She's a Jedi Knight, and she's staying for dinner. Where's your mother?" Too stunned to speak, Miri could only point in the direction of the main hold. "I'll tell her we're having another guest, then."

Nimdok started toward the hold, leaving Miri to get acquainted with Laraine. The girl stared after him, then turned to the Melodie with wide eyes.

"Are you... a real mermaid? A really real mermaid?"

Laraine​

 

[Laraine]

Laraine didn't mind the lecture, listening as Jacen Nimdok spoke and laughing as Miri launched herself at him. She removed her mask, setting it in her lap and smiling as the girl approached her. "Technically, I'm a Melodie, but yes, I'm a really real mermaid."

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

"Your tail is pretty," Miri said. Growing a little bolder, she asked, "Can I touch it?" It was blue-green and covered in shimmering scales, but she wanted to know if it was wet or dry, rough like a fish or smooth like a shark. Or maybe it was squishy, though she wouldn't dare squeeze it for fear of hurting Laraine.

Laraine​

 

[Laraine]

Laraine nodded as Miri asked if she could touch her tail. "Of course." As the Melodie had been out of the water for a while, her tail would be on the dry side, but still slightly damp. Her scales were more akin to a fish's than a shark's.

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Miri tentatively reached out to touch Laraine's tail, although at first it was more of a light tap of her fingertips. She reached again, holding the contact for longer, then eased her palm over the scales. "Wow," she remarked.

She was still rubbing that tail when Nimdok returned. He stood there and watched for a few moments, struggling not to laugh, until she looked over her shoulder at him. "Her tail is wet and scaly," she announced. "I want one."

"Not until you're older," Nimdok replied, only half-joking. Given the weirdness of this galaxy of theirs, she might very well be able to acquire a tail one day, should she so desire. "We're having sushi tonight."

Miri stuck out her tongue.

"I thought you liked sushi?"

"No. Is gross."

"Well, this is new. What do you want, then?"

"Not sushi."

Nimdok rolled his eyes. "Why don't you ask our guest if she has any preferences?"

Miri turned to Laraine. "Do you have any preferences?"

Laraine​

 

[Laraine]

Laraine smiled as Miri got comfortable with touching her tail, laughing softly as the girl announced to Jacen Nimdok that she wanted a tail. When Miri asked her if she had any preferences, the Knight shook her head. "I don't have any preferences, but I will say that Melodies usually eat fish since there's not much else, so sushi wouldn't be too different. I'm fine with whatever you want."

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

"See? Even she likes sushi," Nimdok pointed out. But Miri shook her head, still adamantly anti-sushi. Nimdok sighed. "All right, uh... how about you have those fish fillets that come in a frozen box and you just have to heat them in the oven?"

"Chicken nuggets," Miri said. "I like those better."

"Okay." Pinching the bridge of his nose to hide his smirk, Nimdok shrugged. "Chicken nuggets for you, sushi for all the adults."

"Yes," Miri agreed. Then, sensing she was being condescended to, she squinted up at him. "I'm not a little kid."

In response, he simply put his hand, palm facing down, on her head. The top of her head didn't even reach his waist.

"You are a giant," she replied. "I am a normal size person by Ewok standards."

"You're an Ewok now? I thought you wanted to be a mermaid."

"No, I'm... a baby Yoda." She touched the slightly pointed tips of her ears. "Thank you for bringing me a mermaid, Daddy. Finally."

"Finally," he mimicked her high-pitched voice, then pointed to Laraine. "You should thank her for coming."

"Thank you for coming," Miri said to Laraine.

Laraine​

 

[Laraine]

Laraine laughed as she watched the banter between Jacen Nimdok and his daughter. "You're welcome, Miri."