Public Welcome To Myrkr Park - SJC+Friends/Open

[Hix Tribbul]

---

Welcome, to Myrkr Park |X|
-Some old man with a cane entering the preserve-
​

Welcome to the nature preserve on the planet of Myrkr. Maintained by a well trained staff round the clock, MandalBioEng proudly displays its attempt at natural preservation across a broad spectrum of ecosystems. While we are in Concord space, the preserve is open to all that wish to take the chance to learn about the animals that are housed here, or simply take a stroll and enjoy the sights. A myriad of creatures have been made comfortable in their habitats, from the native Ysalamir, Reeks from Kashyyyk, numerous herds of Shaaks guarded by Tusk cats, along with the occasional Twirrl could be spied feasting in the grassy plains leading to the mountains and forested sections.

A number of other ecosystems stretch across the fenced areas of the park. Jungles, mountains, oceanic, though not nearly as sprawling as offered by the associated planets, the effort put into making each habitat is very plain. A plethora of creatures both foreign and well known to each other interacting without outside interference in their new homes. From an aquatic point in the zoo, a number of different animals can be seen, the terrifying Acklay and a number of other semi-aquatic and completely aquatic beings.

The shops around provide an excellent assortment of both goods such as rancor themed items like plush's, holo-vid projectors, and other baubles, to the restaurants that have animal themed foods. The Rancor Burger, a heaping helping of a carnivore diet while things like the Acklay Salad have a healthy assortment of greens, seafood, and meat. Most everyone is catered to in some way, from food to items to waste your credits on. It's all here at Myrkr park!

Objective One: For those interested, I-@Hix Tribbul- will be giving you a small tour about the Rancor. The tour will start in a more private area of the zoo, still within the allowed area's for civilians to peruse, but edging very close to the points were security guards are taking a marked interest in your continued presence without a proper adult. Authority figure, sorry.

Objective Two: Enjoy the park! A number of walkways, viewing areas, and restaurants are abound, and a great number of species call the Myrkr zoo home. One can see a number of interactions happening. As most of these creatures are just beginning to become accustomed to one another, fights or territory disputes can be seen on occasion. Big shocker coming from a Mandorlorian established and run facility I know. Contain your excitement.

Objective Three: BYOO - You can quite gladly bring your own objective to the zoo. Just, mind the fences. They are there for your safety, not the animals.

---

Hix waited for the people interested to gather around the side door to another walkway area. The burning cigarra gave away his presence quite clearly as the burning stick lit up the not so dim area he was waiting in. He was in his armor, part of the show now he figured as he waited for people to show up. There were a number of delights for people to see in this place. Had been the whole idea behind building up the topical portions of the place anyway. Those seen by the public, the immense care taken in remaining relatively outside the animals lives save for extreme cases needed for health or preservation reasons.

Which was why the Rancor exhibit had a limited number of displays open today.

Hix had taken the major attraction from the typical viewing area for the Rancor display. Daisy, their eight and a half meter tall rancor, along with all of the current broods that were abound in the Rancor facility. Most of the babes weren't any larger than a toddler of human standards, being only a month old. It was the golden period for Hix and the team to begin the process of 'domestication' as many had called it. He called it bringing to light the hidden side of Rancor that no one bothered to see.

And honestly, domestication was the same as teaching a regular kid to not stick everything in their mouth.

A mix of self preservation and care for the great beings that Hix held in such high regard. Even if he was wearing some of their hide in his armor, it wasn't a trophy. The hide was mimicry, a reflection of the great beasts he helped to make everyone aware of. Attempted to inform people of. The cigarra lit his face as he took another drag and blew smoke. A passing guard chuckled, knowing how much the scientists and corporate bodies hated the sight of Hix in this place. The helmet for his suit was in one hand, cigarra being flicked with the other as he waited at the end of a dead-end hallway, save for the singular door beside him requiring a key card. Was hard to miss the large man standing beside a door, especially with those glorious golden locks.

 

[Venku Bralor]

The park was bustling with activity. If one listened hard enough, they could hear the animals going about their lives in the distance. Unfortunately Venku didn't have to listen. His feline ears capable of picking up sound farther than the average human. Normally the skill was useful, but right now it all it did was give him a headache. Not to mention all the movement. There were people everywhere! Already he had to dodge two herds of younglings. Next time, he was coming on a weekday.

Thankfully, he was spending most of this trip away from the main part of the zoo. Having heard about Hix Tribbul's study of rancor and the small tour he was holding that day, the mandalorian had decided to come. Drawn in by his curiosity for the project. Although he did wish it was on a less busy day. There wasn't much more his poor ears could take.

Finally, after two more narrowly avoided youngling stampedes and someone almost spilling their drink on him - really, he didn't know how humans made it to this level of society. They're so clumsy he's surprised they did't die out on their planet of origin - he arrived at the side door where Hix stood in wait. Shoulders sagged, released from their stiff positions around his head. It was quieter at this side of the park and already he could feel the headache dissipating.

Approaching him, Venku offered his arm in greeting. "Cuy'gar." Though he wouldn't be surprised if the male didn't recognize him. The last few times they had met, Venku had been clad in full bekar'gam. Now, he had on only his lower arm and leg bracers. Having opted for lighter clothes of armorweave and bare paws - they weren't made for shoes - as already his claws were ruining his current favored pair. Instead he wore a sleeveless teal blue chest wrap, designed to keep from flattening his fur, and loose yellow-orange pants tucked into his bracers with a wrapped yellow-orange half cloak around his shoulders, the cloth bunched around his shoulders and trailing down his upper arms helping hide any weapons stashed there and the short tail, reaching to just bellow his hips, barely obscuring the base of his true tail, did the same for any weapons there.

Greeting delivered, a smile spread across his face. His excitement revealed in his rows of predatory teeth. He hadn't heard much about this project, but what he had heard had sparked his interest greatly. He didn't mention it though, instead opting to comment on the other mandalorian's clothing choice. "Nice armor, did you design it yourself?" He almost wished he had known Hix when designing his own armor, it looked like it was made for maneuverability, and that had been something he struggled with when making his own.

___________________________________________

Hix Tribbul @anyone else​

 

[Mig Gred]

Objective 1: AKA get a little girl who's been cooped up too long out of the ship.

Mig slowly walked into the massive park, doing his best to keep Leddie from running off somewhere. His armor was battered at this point, but he was alive. Either way he was more focused on making sure his daughter had a good time. This was a bit two fold. He was getting the little Zabrak "Out of the house" to burn some of her energy, and was giving his wive a bit of a break. With that though, the young Mando was already looking at an Acklay.

"Jagyc'buir! Jagyc'buir! Look! It's so big!" Mig looked at the creature and chuckled. He gave her a pat on the head. The youngling still didn't have her armor, but she did have a armorweave trench coat. Mig picked his daughter up, putting her on his shoulders.

"Well Ledd'ika, I've got a little surprise for you. Something cooler than an acklay." Mig hadn't told Leddie, but he'd managed to reserve a look at one of the smarter creatures here, and when they finally walked into the more private area, Leddie seemed to pick up on what they were doing. She scrambled down, staying next to her dad before finally speaking up. "R-r-rancors...." Mig smiled, patting the her on the shoulder. "Yep. Rancors."

While Leddie began to ooh and aah over the rancors, Mig noticed the other Mandalorians. "Cuy'gar."

Hix Tribbul Venku Bralor @open

 

[Acaadi]

Objective One

Acaadi had not even heard of most of the creatures on display here. That wasn't so surprising when he considered how many worlds were out there, teeming with life.

He wasn't sure how he was going to deal with the ysalmiri. They had a collection here apparently, which meant a bubble in the Force. It was something he had never gone without in his life, like breathing. Acaadi didn't know if the experience would be painful, or barely even noticeable. He thought it would be fun to find out.

Acaadi stayed near the back of the small group. If ysalmiri sounded fun, the idea of meeting a man who trained rancors - a creature he very much had thought of - blew his mind. It was slightly intimidating too. He didn't have a uniform or a lab coat. He wore armor. Probably had such a amazing stories.

 

[Brie Jaxx]

Objective Two - Enjoy the Park!

Spoiler

Brie walked down one of the lush and tidily kept trails in Myrkr Park. It stretched as a transportation trail from one of the land-living creature areas to the aquatic world. Hence, there was no enclosures right where she was and only people that was on their way to discover another part of the zoo on their day out enjoying themselves. It was one of those places mom and dad would probably have taken her too, she thought as she passed bushes and trees on her both sides and an advertising sign for one of the restaurants located in the aquatic world. Oh, how she wished they were there with her now.

Her attire for the day was a pair of light blue denim shorts, a teal and white short-sleeved top with stripes around its midsection and a pair of white textile sneakers. Around her left wrist, she had a thin leather bracelet bought from Eve, the capital planetary orb of the Agents of Chaos. Her blonde hair was let out free, no need to keep it in a knot or pony tail tucking it inside that helmet of hers.

Walking up a slight climb on the trail, the lush forest soon opened itself and she found herself greeted with a large standing holo-map centered on the aquatic world. The map scolled and highlighted each enclosure, attraction, vendor and the restaurant one by one. Her tummy had insisted on some grub for a while now, which made her steer her steps towards the marine themed restaurant after the short stop by the map.

The restaurant was situated in a wide, one story building which also lodged an ice cream vendor and a café. The plaza in front of the building was filled with chairs and tables and decorated with palms and other tropical flora that enhanced the coastal ambience. The layout of the restaurant was pretty much an outdoors story. Through the enterance, you entered into a dining area under roof and with a railing around it all. It gave the guests a good view out to the marine world that surrounded them, so that they could decide where to go to next, all while enjoying a fresh meal. A long counter emerged in the wall of the building a board above it presented the menu, which was filled with all kinds of mostly sea food.

Brie tucked her hands down the pockets of the shorts and bit her lower lip while carefully studying the inviting menu. What was she peckish for today?

 

[Hix Tribbul]

Hix held his next breath as another approached, a somewhat familiar voice but still new enough to not be recognized on the spot. "Cuy'gar." He smirked and took the arm before the comment about the armor. The smile didn't bother him as he let the smoke roll from the smile. He pulled back though, not blowing it in the other's face.

"Wanted somethin' light, and needed something for a group that's gettin' made. Figured I would take the prototype and test it. Not all my design but close enough for me to be happy with it." He shrugged and watched another pair approach, noting the kid, he took the only route he had at the moment for disposing of the smoke stick. The cigarra disappeared into his mouth with a tremendously smooth motion. There was a small burn before it went out and pinched it between his teeth before returning the greeting.

"Cuy'gar." He didn't show it, but he was rather pleased to see a youngling being brought to see the exhibit. Behind the display glass of the adjoining room, one group of baby rancor were playing while another group were sort of, milling about. There were five altogether, though they were usually born in pairs. The missing one was not going to be brought up unless someone asked. The babes had been fed, but some were still teething it seemed. Another joined the small group, a mirilian though nothing more noteworthy for the moment. A few others filed in, a young couple, and another family unit as they watched the baby rancor play and stare.

Spoiler: Baby Rancor Inside the Display

With what felt like a decent turnout, he cleared his throat before running a hand over his mouth. The cigarra was transferred with another smooth motion before being pocketed as he spoke quite clearly over the small group.

"Hello, and welcome to the Myrkr Preserve, and Zoo. I am Hix Tribbul, here to give you all the rundown on these beautiful creatures with a terrible reputation. My qualifications for this are as follows. I had spent about fifteen years of my life hunting them, learning their habits, patterns, taking notes about the best way to deal with them and selling it to other hunters. My last hunt, much to my surprise, was for that of a young mother. I proudly say that I failed to finish that hunt, but I gained much more that day. Which is why I am here to teach you what I have learned." He nodded to the display with a slow motion before looking back to the group.

"Instead, I train them now. And I will be showin' you all a bit of that today."

"Does anyone have experience with Rancor personally? If so...you already know a little about the most wild form of Rancor. If not, well. You aren't missing much aside from the most inspired bit of cardio you will ever do in your life." His smile could not be contained with the small but horrifying joke he threw in at the end. "Rancor are only, truly native to one planet, having been planted on a number of other planets a far flung number of years ago by explorers and crashed vessels for force only knows why. I could never find a duracreet answer for the ridiculous idea of bringing such a large predator along...save for two."

He let the words hang in the air for a moment before smiling and finishing the thought.

"Rancor were a food source, and they were pets."

Venku Bralor Mig Gred Acaadi

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig nodded at Hixx as he quickly mouthed his cig. I did get a chuckle out of the lightly armored Mando. He patted the man on the shoulder, nodding a little as a thank you before speaking up. "Gotta say, vod. This is impressive. Haven't seen anything like it since Mandalore fell." Leddie meanwhile had been happily looking at the baby rancors. The little girl wanted be able to pet one so badly right now. It just made Mig smile that she was so happy right now.

It wasn't long before Hixx started talking though, and the Mando quickly motioned his daughter over to listen. It was definitely interesting. A hunter turned trainer. Mig could understand why though. A fellow Mandalorian he knew, Azure Djitred , had a "pet" Dathomerian Rancor. They were a lot smarter than they looked, he knew that much. Leddie meanwhile Just thought the babies looked cute, and that the adults looked cool and scary. Leddie smiled though as she listened, hearing the story. Well, as much as she could listen when she keep looking at all the baby Rancors.

Hix Tribbul Acaadi Venku Bralor

 

[Daiya]

All the way to Myrkr!

Daiya was far from the most traveled soul in the galaxy. Every time she climbed aboard a starship, it felt like a true adventure. Even if the girl felt adventure lurking around street corners of her native Denon, or world-wise from all the diverse species that made the city-world their home and tourist spot, there was still a certain kind of adventure reserved for traveling to the destination itself. Holos couldn't replace it, nor could the discomfort of space travel dissuade her from the spectacle of venturing forth beyond Corporate Authorities' space.

Myrkr had a zoo, and from all reports it was one of the best zoos in the galaxy. All reports being the wisdom of the well-traveled Brie, whose word was good for at least three sources. Daiya wasn't too sure herself, most of the encounters she had with the exotic creatures of the galaxy had been spying them as pets for the rich and crooked. What would they even do in a zoo if the creatures weren't there to impress guests or intimidate prisoners?

Still, Daiya had learned that recommendations by word-of-mouth were more than credits, and even worth going out of the way for in some cases. To meet with her favorite spacer friend, the teen would happily travel to the far end of Jedi space.

Attired in pink shorts and one too many tank tops, the city girl felt a little out of place in the wilds of Myrkr. The relative tame of the zoo offered some comfort in the maze of paved walkways, which Daiya followed to a trill. It wound its way past a few exhibits, featuring creatures off in the distance that she would have to come back later to gawk at. For the moment, she was heading to the food pavilion to meet her friend.

Or at least she was, until she spotted the watery habitat of some of the cutest birds she had seen. The wide-eyed porgs splashed in the shallow water, and then skittered up onto the large, rocky roost in the middle. They seemed perfectly innocent, at complete ease despite her presence and that of other onlookers, too. She lost herself in their eager play for a moment, finally jostled out of the moment when a pair of younglings ducked under her arms in a childish game of chase, unknowingly emulating the behavior of the animals they had come to watch.

As her entranced fascination with the porg exhibit faded enough to pull away, Daiya found herself almost directly in front of the restaurant itself. Keeping her eye out for some tables within view of the porgs again, the girl found Brie staring at the food menu. Creeping up behind the older teen, Daiya rose up on her tiptoes to reach around her friend's head and cover Brie's eyes with her hands. "Okay, without moving your head, read out the first dish you see."

Daiya giggled as she gently rocked Brie's head back and forth a few times to move her eyes. Then she pulled her hands away, waiting to hear the answer from the spacer girl. Bouncing on her toes as she did, the younger teen glanced over the menu, remarking absently that, "Well, at least they don't have porg. I don't think I could eat those sweet, little birds after seeing them play."

Brie Jaxx​

 

[Brie Jaxx]

The petite hands covering her eyes from behind had no time to startle her, its owner revealing herself through her voice. Brie smiled brightly and let the hands rock her head, playing along with her friends little game. Always the playful and mischievous one, that Daiya.

''Doo...? Doo burger? That's a kind of fish, right?'' she said, as Daiya let go of her head and Brie read upon the first dish that was presented to her. The thought of soon digging in on a juicy burger already watered her mouth, but before they would proceed to order, she turned around to her friend and immediately hugged her with a happy giggle.

''You came! I'm so glad!''

She let go of her younger friend, smiling blithely. The two had been around and about for some time now but never realy just them chatting and enjoying themselves. Inviting Daiya to Myrkr Park and now seeing that she was able to get there made the otherwise quite timid and sometimes mournful spacer girl sparkle.

''How was the trip?'' Brie continued as she put her hands back in the pockets and slid up beside Daiya.

A gentle breeze of tropical air found itself through the outdoors dining area and Brie gave the menu another glance before looking back at Daiya.

''I think it's your turn - close your eyes!'' she stated and would carry on to spin her friend a few turns, not too much that she became dizzy though, then turn her towards the menu.

Daiya

 

[Daiya]

Daiya felt warmth as Brie enveloped her in a hug. She sighed against the taller girl's shoulder, reveling in the brief happiness shared between them. It felt like, lately, she had just been running from one mission or crisis to the next with no reprieve. Finding time to meet up with a friend of hers was a worthwhile vacation from the constant peril that seemed to drive her life.

"So am I!" Daiya remarked, leaning halfway back and looking up at the older of the two as Brie mentioned being glad that she was there. They parted from the embrace, but not from the course of smiles and giggles it elicited from the pair. Seeing Brie's candid grin, a rarity on the more reserved of the two, only brightened the younger teen's day even more.

"Oh, typical space journey, I won't bore you with the details," she said, waving off the question. Daiya stopped herself halfway through the gesture, realizing who she was talking to. "Then again, I guess those aren't boring to you, are they?"

A flash of concern drew across the girl's face, worried she might have offended her friend by calling space 'boring,' but the fresh breeze and Brie's announcement carried away her fears. Daiya grinned anew, and then turned to face the menu, closing her eyes in anticipation.

The girl laughed out loud as Brie physically spun her instead, and she opened her eyes to see the world whirl around her. Daiya wobbled a little from momentum as Brie parked the girl in front of the menu, setting her the challenge of picking an item to eat.

She pointed to the first thing that caught her eye, "Shrimpi Cup? That sounds good, I guess." Daiya had never heard of shrimpi, but she wasn't much of a picky eater, either. "As long as it's not a small cup. After that trip, I feel famished!"

Figuring she owed Brie an explanation for that, Daiya started as she waved Brie up into line for the ordering counter, "There was a whole big stop-up at Brentaal. And then the ship's autopilot wanted to reroute through Chandrila, but the Perlemian route was even more clogged than the Hydian Way!" Exasperated just by the ordeal of retelling it, the teen rolled her eyes, then found them staring into the eyes of the server at the restaurant counter. Daiya managed to swallow her storm of emotions for the moment while she ordered lunch.

When she was done, the girl stepped back and flicked a pair of blue eyes over to her friend. "I'll bet you know all the super-secret spacer routes and don't have to put up with that kind of shaak chit."

Brie Jaxx​

 

[Brie Jaxx]

Brie was quick with a widened smile and giggle to reassure her friend that she was by no means offended of the statement about space travel. The breeze along with her next move brought them two to the decision of a shrimpi cup, which indeed sounded realy good.

The smell of freshly made food coming from the kitchen and the names of the dishes at the menu above them probably not only got her mouth to water. Brie liked food. She was accustomed to long journeys through the hyperspace and thus living on a diet of space rations, but at The Blue Flame, the bar on Denon where the two girls had met, she had sort of been introduced to a whole new world of delicious treats. Thinking about that evening, it was impossible not to think of Tel, the chubby and cute ortolan chef, who had been kind enough to let them in his realm - the kitchen. Boy, did them feast that time!

''Well, it's not made by that ortolan... Tel, was it? You remember that bar on Denon? Oh, that fried fruit...!'' Brie uttered, knowing Daiya would certainly not have forgotten, and her gaze turned all dreamy before she closed her eyes for a short moment. She sure could remember the taste of the tasty sweet desert with the tangy sauce to go with it. ''But I'm sure it's good!'' she stated and opened her eyes.

Walking up to the counter, Brie collected herself a tray and the neccesary cutlery while listening to Daiya speaking about the trip.

''Commercial shuttles are boring - always keeping to their lanes, even if their behind schedule. I don't blame you! You should go with me sometime!'' she said before telling one of the staff behind the counter her order. She turned her head to Daiya and smiled. ''Today's not going to be boring, though!''

Brie was served a plate with the tasty looking fish burger and fries with three different dip sauces to go with them. It made Brie lick her lips in anticipation, before she turned around looking for a table and waited for Daiya.

''Alright, where do you want to sit?''

Daiya

 

[Daiya]

Daiya watched with an amused expression while Brie trailed off, her face one of hazy delight. The girl giggled, Brie was surely remembering the concoction Tel had made at the Blue Flame that night, as evidenced by the slack-jawed look on her face. Daiya didn't specifically remember the dish anymore, Tel made a lot of different foods. Though as the teen's mouth watered at her older friend's mention of 'fried fruit,' something in her remembered. It made her keenly aware of her stomach now, and just how empty it felt.

"Yeah..." Daiya muttered, haphazardly agreeing just to add her voice to the conversation. Her eyes drifted towards the restaurant's open kitchen, framed in driftwood and the dried leaves of tropical plants. Maybe if she stared longingly enough, the food would appear faster?

Brie was saying something about space travel, but Daiya only caught the ending of it. The offer to fly with her salvager friend broke the girl from her own, brief, trance and she bobbed her blonde mane eagerly, "That would be a-mazing, Brie! I'll bet you know all the shortcuts and back-lanes, too."

She let out a short bark of a laugh, "HA! Nope, not possible for today to be boring. Not when we're together!"

Daiya broke into a grin, one made wider when her order was called. The Shrimpi Cup was actually a large bucket, filled to the brim with an assortment of fried half-moon shapes —that she guessed were the shrimpi— and accompanied by the straight stalks of fried topatoes, with a container of sauce nestled into the mix at the top. The girl's eyes grew wide as saucers at the scale of it. "Umm, are you sure this is right?" she asked the server arranging the orders at the counter. "I got the Shrimpi Cup?"

"That's what it is," the server droned, still working on the task in front of him as he spoke. "If you want the Super Shrimpi Cup, it's another 5 credits and it comes with a side of Corellia Toast." The drone went back to his task, leaving Daiya to shrug and grab the bucket off the counter.

"Holy mother of meteors, Brie," Daiya could barely talk for the grin that threatened to swallow her face. The girl held up the bucket, which she had to support with two hands, to her friend to inspect. "This is enough for two of me!"

She gestured with the bucket to a spot near the porg entrance, where the tables still had a view to the broad outdoors of the Myrkr Park. Daiya popped one of the fried shrimpi in her mouth, chewing it experimentally as she took a chair where she could watch both the porgs and Brie with ease. Shrimpi must have been some aquatic creature, because the teen felt a mildly fishy taste spread over her tongue, playing against the sweeter notes of the fried breading and something more savory. It wasn't Tel's level of cooking, but it wasn't bad!

"What else do they have here? I heard there's a rancor exhibit?!" she asked, then picked up another fried shrimpi to munch on. The teen had never seen a rancor up close, even though one of Eiko's allied gangs reportedly kept one. A fact she only knew based on the numerous times Eiko threatened to introduce her to it when he was angry or she was misbehaving. Daiya sighed at the thought, closing her eyes and focusing on the flavor of her food instead.

What flavor? The bite of shrimpi was already gone, so Daiya added another to her mouth. And another, and another, as the teen fueled her ravenous hunger and listened to Brie talk.

Brie Jaxx​

 

[Brie Jaxx]

''Mm, a few...!'' Brie chirped in response to Daiya mentioning her knowing a few shortcuts here and there in the galaxy. She did, and considering how tight these girls started to become, she would actually not mind a passenger on her next trip.

When the Shrimpi Cup was served to her friend, Brie's eyes grew almost as big as hers. They did not skimp on the amount of food that was served here, and it was apparently a big plus in both girls books. There was nothing wrong with their appetites, that was for sure.

''Oh, don't worry - I'll help you with it when you're full! About half way into that!'' said Brie with a giggle before following Daiya over to a table where they had a first class view of the park and the folds closest to the trail that led past them.

Brie grabbed the doo burger and took the first bite of it, trying her best not to drop any greens or sauce that was stuffed under that fresh bun. The older girl didn't want to look all like a slob eating it, after all. Her efforts had... some degree of success, but she doubted Daiya would realy mind. It was insanely good! The taste of the sea from the fish along with the crisp greens and sauce with a sweet note to it. It beat her rations by a parsec!

She reached for a napkin in a holder in the center of the table and wiped the corners of her mouth some, before taking a sip out of the paper mug of soda they had made a short stop to get before finding their table.

''Yeah! I saw a sign about that!'' she uttered with enthusiasm. ''You want to go there? Feels like we don't want to miss that now when we're here?''

Awaiting her friends response, she would then try to find a fitting window to ask about another little thing.

''So... How's you and... Jezper, right?''

Jezper and Ahxel. The two boys that they had hooked up with at that party and also mission to Frego, just a couple of days ago. The all seeing Daiya had caught Ahxel to ogle at Brie. Of course, she had pointed him out and, totally out of plan, placed them in the middle of the party and at the start in a rather uncomfortable position for the usually reserved salvager girl. As the evening continued though, their company and the conversations had begun to feel less awkward.

Daiya

 

[Daiya]

There might not actually be enough of her meal to share, after all. Daiya was enjoying the crunch of the breaded and fried shrimpi as much as the taste of them with the accompanying sauces, and every bite left her needing more. Brie had offered to help her with the excess, but if she would have ever reached a hand over to grab some of Daiya's food, she would have found the Daiya wrapping her arms around the giant cup protectively and pulling it away from reach.

Daiya grinned and nodded as Brie suggested they go visit the rancor exhibit. In-between bites, the girl added, "Yeah, and whatever else nearby. There was something like a gundark or mynock, I dunno..."

The girl's slender shoulder gave a happy, quick shrug, popping another one of the shrimpi into her mouth. "Mmmm, there's so much here," she said, interspersed with bites of her food. "But I could just spend all day watching these porgs, too! They're cute."

She managed to swallow a bite just before Brie asked a question, and Daiya was grateful she had nothing to choke on when her throat closed up on itself. She felt her cheeks flush warm, and she flashed Brie an brief glance to check if the older girl was serious. Her eyes darted up to the open sky, over to the porgs, and down to her food as she stammered, "Oh, Jezper? Well, he, umm..."

The blushing girl couldn't escape Brie's inquisitive eyes, which she knew were demanding every detail even without seeing them. "He messaged me —you were right, he found a way— and we've been talking sometimes on SpaceChat. He wants me to come back to Frego for a day, but I keep putting it off. There's no way Tawrro would let me go just for a date, either! So I guess we're just friends right now."

Daiya looked up from her food into Brie's eyes, seeking the wisdom from her older friend. "That's okay, right? He kissed me and all, but I don't know if that meant anything. I've been kinda thinking about it, and I'm not sure I'm all that crazy about him. That's not crazy, is it? He's totally cute, but just...I don't know, intense? You know what I mean?"

She found herself breathing a little harder than usual, and felt her heart pounding in her chest. Daiya drew in a quick breath and blew it out, waving a hand in front of her face for a second as if trying to fan away the awkwardness of the subject. Feeling the need to fill the air with something more than the sounds of chewing and porgs, she let out an uncomfortable, "Whew!"

Brie Jaxx​