Welcome To Skirae's Emporium!

[Darben Skirae]

Using credits he had earned from his job and saved on his person before coming to Commenor, Darben bought a small two story house property. With the other half of credits, he hired a couple of workers to help on work with his store. He drew up some small, rather crude plans. The bottom story, the store part of the building. And the top, when furniture is added would be his living quarters.

The renovations had been going on for two days at least. The bottom floor almost complete. Mute was no help, just lingering around on the top floor. Darben sent out a message for [member="Lady Kay"], just in case she wanted to check out his new residence. It was almost ready for selling. he just needed to buy things to sell. Or find things.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay had gotten the message. She rearranged a couple of meetings so that she could find the time to escape the Presidential Palace for a bit. A landspeeder took her to the address that [member="Darben Skirae"] had given her. She could hear the construction going on as the landspeeder approached. When she disembarked with one of her guards, she approached the door and knocked a bit, before opening it and stepping inside. "Minister Skirae? I'm here..."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Skirae's Emporium still had many boxes, so when Darben heard someone call through the now open door, he had to peer over them. At seeing who it was, he pushed himself past the boxes. Mute followed, curious to see who it was. It was a tight squeeze, but he soon made it and reached [member="Lady Kay"].

"Kay. I messaged you because, well as you might see, I've decided to start up a little business. I was planning on selling some things, and be a bit charitable about it. You know, a quarter of my earnings going to Commenor while the rest to myself." It seemed charitable enough in his mind. "Some of the things I planned on selling was trinkets from traders, or Commenori Brandy and those gemstones. Might not help the economy much, but just enough."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was surprised at the many boxes that have yet to be unpacked. She almost didn't see [member="Darben Skirae"] and Mute as they approached. "That is a lovely idea. I am sure that the families still struggling would appreciate the help until they are back on track. Did you need any help to unpack? I have a couple of hours to spare."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae nodded. He thought it could help, especially if he could find something very pricey and manage to sell it. He had wanted to also set up a little gambling area behind the building, but he was already having second thoughts on that. It could lead to some troublesome things for him, if he ended up owing someone money.

He couldn't help but be a little surprised at her offer. Mute had barely done anything, though currently she was looking behind [member="Lady Kay"] rather than at her. Darben could easily guess why, the spark of friendliness in her eyes. "If you have the time, sure." He started unpacking a box with some of his first stock, a crate filled with Commenori Brandy bottles. Mute only stood there like an onlooker.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay rolled up the sleeves of her dress and smiled. "Of course. I wasn't exactly someone that was born into privilege, so I'm no stranger to hard work. Even when I was a Senator, I didn't have any staff. I just handled everything myself and even took public transport." Most found that to be surprising.

She went to the first box nearest her and opening it, smiling to Mute when she caught her eye. Inside were some small vases. Kay chewed the inside of her cheek as she pondered on where to put them. Then she spotted the shelves along one of the walls. She slipped past [member="Darben Skirae"] , being careful not to bump into him as she carried the vases two by two.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae was quite surprised to hear that. She may not have seemed as formal as he expected, but still she just had more and more surprises up her sleeves. He moved forward as she carried some vases past. He was about to say where to put them, but where she put them was where he was about to suggest, so he kept his mouth shut and kept unpacking.

After unpacking the first box of brandy, he opened the next. This time Mute decided to help. But not Skirae. Instead it seemed she was trying to ask [member="Lady Kay"], following her from a distance. At this he couldn't help but frown, averting his gaze to the box in front of him. He really wished he could understand her.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay took longer to unpack one box of vases than it took for [member="Darben Skirae"] to unpack a box of brandy. She had more distance to cover in putting them away, and she had to be careful that she didn't trip.

She stopped as she saw Mute following her. "Oh. Would you like to help me? Do you think that you could take a vase out of the box and then hand it to me? We could be like an assembly line. I bet that it would go along a lot faster that way." She smiled to the girl and hoped that she would stay to help instead of shying away.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben occasionally glanced over at Mute and [member="Lady Kay"]. Mute was helpful with her, but he guessed that vases would take more effort, especially since Darben was right in front of his shelves. The silence around, well he wasn't usually a fan of silence. Starting up a conversation seemed to be the best option for him, so he did. "How are things with the First Order embassy?" It was the last thing that had been discussed with all ministers present.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay continued working the assembly line of sorts with Mute. Slowly but surely, they were emptying the boxes and filling up the shelves.

She looked to [member="Darben Skirae"] as she answered his question. "It seems to be going well. We have an Embassy of our own under construction at their capital. So of course the opening ceremony will be quite the undertaking. I plan on getting some of the University students to help. The budget will be big, but...it'll be worth it in the long run."

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae paused his unpacking, leaning back on the top of the box as he listened with eyes attentive. Business was business and with him business came first. "Will we all be participating in the ceremony? Or just you and Titan?" He hated space travel, the bumps and how much it made him sick. But if he had to endure it only twice for an opening ceremony as part of his job, he would. Because to him, business was business, and business always came first. There was one he would prefer to come with, and she was the third being in his shop. The silent one.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"For the ceremony here, you should be there, along with Titan and the rest of the Ministers. But for our Embassy in Avalonia, you needn't be there. I'll be attending with Minister Black as he and his staff will be living there on occasion."

Kay and Mute were finishing up the last of the box of vases. She had a guess that [member="Darben Skirae"] didn't like to travel so much. So if he didn't need to, there was no reason for her to push him into it.

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben nodded as he finished up his box of Commenori Brandy. He flexed his fingers, trying to get them to relax after having been used to carry things back and forth. "I'll be there, then..And, if it's okay with you, she will be too" he said, gesturing with a head nod over at Mute. He looked outside. More time had passed then he thought.

"I think it's getting late. You should head back." He took one of the bottles from the next box, having felt a little thirsty, and went behind the counter to fetch himself a glass. "This stuff really is good."

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay looked down to Mute and smiled, before looking up to [member="Darben Skirae"] . "Of course she can come along. We can say that she's your assistant. Her age won't matter, nor her silence." She looked to the time and nodded in agreement. "I suppose that I should go. I'm sure that there's plenty that needs my attention. But be sure to let me know when you are ready to open, so that I can see what you've done with the place, alright?"

 

[Darben Skirae]

Darben Skirae nodded, looking thankful towards [member="Lady Kay"]. "I will." Once Kay left the store, he looked over at Mute. An idea passed through his mind. He really didn't have an assistant, and Mute seemed to handle herself pretty well. "Maybe this could work." But it was something he could discuss with the Twi-Lek girl another time. He went on drinking his brandy as the day flew by.