The Mute Twi'Lek

[Darben Skirae]

Darben had been hiding out in his store, and had been rather...neglectful of his duties. Past incidents had made him insecure, more so than ever. The only reason he was out of his store, was for his adopted daughter, Mute. He had finally made the decision to adopt her recently. But in doing so, he wanted to know more about her background. So, bringing her and his bodyguard with him, he went to meet with [member="Stardust Raxis"]. Darben had met her once. He had almost forgotten about the request he had asked of her, it seemed so long ago. Back when Commenor was not the CSA, and it was all very peaceful.

However it made him very uncomfortable that the meeting point was far from CSA territory. But it was to help him connect with Mute more, so he thought it was worth it. Darben had left a message for [member="Lady Kay"], in case she had something for him to do, or was worried at all for him being absent from his store.

His arm was wrapped in a bandage after where he had been shot. That incident he blamed himself for not being more careful for. As the ship touched down, he walked down the ramp with Mia and Mute behind him. Mia was ever vigilant, keeping to her job. Darben pulled out a comlink, and attempted a connection to Stardust. "Stardust? I've landed, where am I meeting?"

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]q

Darben....inly way she could really remember him was due to his twilek mute. They had met maybe once or twice? Honestly she couldn't remember at all it had been so long since she had talked to him and so much had happened between then and now. However she remembered a promise she gave and would honor it so

Doing something she didn't do often she had her royal guard set up at the space port for this guest, dressed in regal and earthy colors she made her way down to await him as she talked among her people. Unlike most she wasn't such a big thing publicly, sure she drew a crowd in but she was treated like anyone else a common folk among them

heading to you now I see you across the crowd

She said and nodded to her guard to head to their post as she started for them, she got up to them as she smiled a friendly smile and bowed before rising looking at the two

welcome to my planet Darben, mute. I'm so glad you could come and visit...now follow me we'll talk at my house

She said waving for them to follow

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben looked across the crowd she spoke of, but he could not see [member="Stardust Raxis"]. He moved closer to the crowd, but kept his distance from it, keeping plenty of feet between himself and them. Soon, he saw the green headtail as she drew closer, and then finally appeared out of the crowd to greet them. "Stardust. It's a nice planet you have." He hadn't seen too many Twi'Leks, but he definitely knew they were meant to have two. How Mute had lost half of one, he did not know. But after he had met those who had her in their custody, he had his suspicions.

"Come on Mute. Mia, keep close." She nodded, keeping a suspicious eye over the crowd. Mute had a dress of purple, she seemed to favor that color a lot, while Mia had her casual outfit of her brown pilot's jacket and light tan pants. "Thank you, really, Stardust. I...don't know much about my dau-assistant here."

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

I try and maintain good order around here, course see are having to rebuild after the whole droid thing that happened

They were still cleaning up after that, she ran a hand on her belly feeling that scar, she led then out if the space port to a waiting speeder as she opened the door for them as she turned and gave a smile to him catching his little slip up

not to worry darben, I made a promise and I keep my promises. I don't lie without good reason

She said as she got in and had them drive to her place which sat overlooking the city in a nice and small house big enough for four people

 

[Darben Skirae]

"The...droid thing?" he asked [member="Stardust Raxis"]. He thought she meant the Incursion so many had spoken about, but he knew little to nothing about it. "Was it that bad? I had not heard much of it." Darben stepped over the side of the speeder, helped Mute in then got hi himself, hissing through clenched teeth when he bumped his injured shoulder against the seat. Mia stepped into next, sitting down next to him. She felt very at fault for what happened to him. But he only blamed himself, and he wanted her to protect Mute.

"So, how much do you know of Twi'Lek culture? Anything I should know?" he glanced over at Mute, who seemed to be watching the scenery. He nudged her shoulder, and she turned and smiled before going back to scenery-watching.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

yeah....they were able to make the droid moon above us attack...used some deception and turned them right against us, they got pretty far in but we managed to stop them and kill the one behind it

She looked away as she frowned, she didn't want to say she nearly died in that...she left it out and looked back among as she told the drive to start for her home as she looked back to him

both parents were twilek, I know enough that I could go to roluth and live there without any issues, I can also speak the language

She said and looked to mute as she noticed half her lekku gone and looked forward rubbing her chin

if you don't mind me asking how long has she been missing half a lekku?

 

[Darben Skirae]

"Droid...moon?" He glanced up to the sky. Then back to [member="Stardust Raxis"], a brow raised. That was a first he had heard of such a thing. "Their language..." He thought it might be something worth studying. Even though she could not speak, maybe he could teach it to her in case she ever wanted to visit Ryloth. He would do it, if she wanted to. But, he wasn't sure if she ever did, let alone know of it. He had no idea where she was born. Stardust's question brought him out of his thoughtful state.

"I don't mind. Since we met. Most likely since before that, I don't know how she lost it though." Mute seemed to either not care for the conversation, or not be listening. "It's not bad, losing a part of it, is it?" Now Mute was looking at Stardust, even flashed a friendly smile.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

She gave a smile then looked to darben with a serious face as she spoke

not good for glad a lekku to be missing it's where some of the brain is housed also very sensitive as well

She said as they pulled dup to her house, she got out and opened their doors as she stood and then motioned to he rhouse and smirked

welcome to my palace uhhh compact palace

She joked and chuckled at her own joke waving for them to follow

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben seemed to freeze for a moment. Could that have been why she was mute? Part of her brain was gone, from inside the lekku? He couldn't bear the thought of the pain that could have brought on her. She had been through so much. And yet, she could still smile every day. He believed that's what kept him going. And he was glad for that smile every day.

Darben followed [member="Stardust Raxis"] into the 'compact palace', looking about. "It's a, uh...nice place you have here...So you're in charge of this planet?" He seemed to be making a lot of friends of rulers. The upside of being a Minister of Trade, he met with a lot of powerful people.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

im the ruling head of the world I've a small council to help me maintain this planet and pass different laws, however I've the final say in any decsions. Funny part is after I liberated the world they chose me to rule the planet

She said needing wirh a chuckle as she let them into her house guiding them to a living area with two couchs around a nice rectangular shape table, she went and put some water in for tea before she sat down and motioned for them to do the same before she started

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben sat himself down on one of the couches, Mute sitting by him as Mia remained standing like a watchful banshee bird. Only she wasn't screeching out loud at the top of her lungs. [member="Stardust Raxis"] meanwhile went to pour tea, something he had grown accustomed to with Lady Kay's love of tea, when he would visit her for business schedules and such. He found it rather funny that almost everyone he knew loved tea. Darben himself had learned to go along with it, but he like Commenori Brandy more, and sometimes the Ale of his home planet, Corellia. How he missed being on that planet, and he had been thinking a lot on it in the past few months, some harsh memories from that that kept him awake at night.

"So...Stardust. What should I know first? About Twi'leks" Darben asked. He noticed for a moment that her hands didn't seem...well, normal. But he did not linger on it. "Besides everything about head-tails." He wanted to know their culture, traditions. Celebrations, when they were, what they were about.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

culture, I believe that's the most important one you can learn. Twilek are a very community centered culture everyone helps one another

She said as she sat the tea down and sat before them as she sighed out and gave a smile to them letting that sink in a bit before she spoke again

the language is also interesting, we use vocal and lekku movement to traditional speak

She said as she looked to mute

however we twileks are also experts at learning many different types of languages, even those that don't need spoken words

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben listened carefully, making sure to note everything down in his head. "What else about Twi'Lek culture? Any special days? Anything she should visit Ryloth for?" As [member="Stardust Raxis"] spoke of how language for Twi'Lek's was, he thought more about how much losing a lekku was. At first, he thought it was just like losing an ear. One could still hear from the other, but it would affect them. But losing a lekku seemed to do more than just affect how one communicated, it also housed part of the brain, and how he was understanding it, a big part of their language itself.

"I've been teaching her a bit of sign language...one we both understand." The only down side is that with it, no one else would understand it. If only he had found another form of communication so that others could understand her as well.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

we celebrate life day like most do, my family would get together on my home planet naboo and we would eat exchange gifts tell stories and just...enjoy the life we had

She looked away as she realized she hadn't celebrated life day in years...ams never run the way her family did, she rubbed her eyes and shook her head as she sighed and looked back putting her best smile on

that works...im curious actually, I'm wondering if her vocal cords simply aren't vibrating...losing part of the brain can contribute to that but....tgis actually required further thinking

She said as she rubbed her chin

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben knew about life day. That was something across the galaxy. Yet, he had never celebrated it, not in such a long time. The last time he did, well his family was still together. Perhaps, when the time came, he would celebrate it with Mute. He thought on this.

When [member="Stardust Raxis"] said she was curious, she had his attention once more. "I honestly don't know...I could get her checked up at a hospital maybe, they might know the full cause." He was surprised by himself that he hadn't even thought of doing that before. He always believed it was either a deformity of some kind, or that her lekku had been cut but not caused that much damage. It was worrying to think that, that someone had done that to her. And it also made him angry. He wanted to find who did this. He did not realize it, but his fists had balled up on his lap.

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

She could feel his anger through the force and could see his hands balled up tight, she closed her eyes and emitted a wave of ease and calm out around her before she opened her eyes and looked to him

calm your anger my friend, in due time all will close and those who have wrong will face their justice. Now this is a theory but if her vocal cords aren't vibrating went air passes them like they should....it could be a simple fix...that is depending on how long she hasn't spoken, if this gets fixed like I think it would take a bit before she can fully speak

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben wasn't sure what she meant until he looked down to see his clenched fists. He took a deep, calming breath. Then [member="Stardust Raxis"] had his complete, and full attention. When she said that there could be a way, a 'simple fix' as she said. He held his breath, as if waiting for her to continue. "What? How?!" he asked, suddenly standing up. To him, this was big. Even Mute stood up a bit, hands clasped in front of her. Darben's face was intense. He sat back down with another calming exhale. He had been so unlike himself these past couple of months. Everything had just changed him more than he could want.

"S-Sorry....how? How can you do this?" he asked again, this time with a calmer tone. "This is really important, please Stardust. If I can just get her to talk again..." He didn't even stop to think how this would affect Mute in the long term. Would it mean an operation. And would she even want it, if it were?

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

[member="Darben Skirae"]

She held a hand up to stop him as she watched him sit down while she closed her eyes, she poked a bit around his force aura and found he was a bit trouble....unqa yes of these troubles even. She opened her eyes as she looked to mute whole half listening to darben as she stood and walked to her as she crouch a bit to get eye height

all things come in due time, but I will not put anyone under a knife without talking to them first, mute....im offering you a opinion in this, do you want a voice again? I can't give it right away but I can promos wit within a few days

She said calmly and in a friendly tone before looking to darben seeing if he had any more input before remembering his question and spoke

You know how translator collars work right? This would work on a smaller scale and in two ways, one it would vibrate the air needed so she can speak, two translate those vibration into words...

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae turned to Mute. She looked between [member="Stardust Raxis"] and Darben. The idea of a collar scared her, she had worn them before. But the type of collar, and the reason was far more different. Yet she also wanted to speak again. She so very much wanted to. So, after a lot of thought....she nodded. For a solid three seconds, she nodded. And Darben smiled. "I believe that's a yes" he said toward Stardust. Then Mute signed something, and Darben slowly nodded. "She wants to know if you can...cover it?"

 

[Stardust Solus Skirae]

this is where the smaller scale goes into play, it's not going outside, it's going inside your voice box for it to successfully work

She examined to them as she drew something up quickly and showed the rough sketch of the voice nice and the "collar" around them showing how the vibrations went in small and came out the other side bigger

I have the best medical technicians and myself that can perform this operation