Blood and Sand. (Star Wars.) (Ashman74 and Shadow Shifter.)

[Ashman74]

The Package was delivered. Well, not much of a package as it was a baby boy. It was an odd thought for the Jedi Master, who now rode across the dune sea on an Eopie. They had taken a boy from this very world so many years ago, with the thought that he'd be the savior of the galaxy. Now he'd brought a boy back, with the same thought. So much had changed in those years. But that was the past. His gaze went ahead, in the direction of the small home he'd purchased with a few of the credits he had. It was time to get used to his knew home. As well as the route he'd take to watch the boy.


**


Groamer sat within a small Cantina in the somewhat small settlement of Tesani. The Zabrak scratched at his chin. A Hutt envoy had been here no longer than twenty minutes ago. He had paid the man, as he always did. On time, and without anger...Without visible anger. He hated paying the Hutts. If it weren't for his wife and two children he'd shoot the next envoy that arrived. But that wasn't an option. There was too little to gain and to much to lose from doing that.

 

[Shadow Shifter]

Maanya was sitting at the bar, and had been watching the Zabrak since he entered. She knew she was conspicuous– A Twi'lek like her actually wearing clothes, but she had no wish to distract this man. For some strange reason, she felt a bit of respect for him. And anyway, she only needed some information. Taking one last sip of her drink, she stands up and walks over.

 

[Ashman74]

Groamer looked over to his wife who was sitting behind the counter. She was pregnant. Their third child would be here within a few months. She was a human, her long red hair flowing down to nearly reach her rear end. He smirked as Zayne came in. Their oldest. He was fifteen years old, and human as well. The Zabrak raised the glass in front of him to his lips and took a sip of its contents. It was water. Despite owning a Catina he rarely drank any of the beverages it had.

 

[Shadow Shifter]

"Nice family." Maanya says to Groamer in Basic, sitting down across from him. Her body language was confident, assured of herself. She kept both hands on the table as a subtle gesture of goodwill. She smiled. "Your wife is beautiful."

 

[Ashman74]

"Thank you." Groamer said, replying in basic as well. It wasn't often he saw someone being pleasant around here. "Don't think I've seen you around her? You new, or just good at staying unnoticed?"

 

[Shadow Shifter]

"Both." Maanya said, smiling a little. "The name's Maanya. Maanya Lukero." She appeared completely relaxed, but she was being very cautious at the moment. Ever since the Clones turned she had been on her guard. Those that had once been her allies and even her friends were now her enemies and she hardly knew who to trust. The only outward signs of her anxiety, however, were that she checked the room often for danger, and she began rubbing her prosthetic right lekku. It was a habit she formed after the explosion blew off about a third of her lavender head-tail.

 

[Ashman74]

"Nice to meet you Maanya." The Zabrak said. "I'm Groamer, I'd tell you my last name. But even I can't pronounce it." He noticed the prosthetic she had but kept quiet. His foot was cybernetic since he lost it in a tusken attack some years back. He knew that it wasn't polite to pay attention to them. So he didn't. His gaze went from the woman to Zayne for a moment. "Lad, you get the speeder washed up after your joy ride?" He asked the boy.


"Yep..." Zayne grumbled in response, then he noticed the Twi'lek. He opened his mouth to ask her something, but he was silenced by the expression on his fathers face.

 

[Shadow Shifter]

Maanya watched the exchange with interest. The parent-child relationship was a bit of a mystery to her, as she had never experienced it herself on either side. She smiled a little at Zayne.

 

[Ashman74]

"Now, Zayne. Did you learn why you 'shouldn't' be near a Banthas behind when you choose to park the speeder?" Groamer asked him. The pre-teen seemed to shudder before nodding.


"Yeah...Don't...Ever...Do it." Zayne said to show that he understood very well. Then he went behind the counter and into the private part of the Cantina.


"You never think your child's stupid until they come home covered in Bantha Dung." The Zabrak said with a chuckle.

 

[Shadow Shifter]

"Bantha dung, huh?" Maanya chuckles. "That must have been interesting." She made a mental note to never park behind a bantha again. Apparently she'd been lucky thus far. She sat back. It felt nice to engage in a casual conversation for a change. It'd been a while.

 

[Ashman74]

"Oh, it was. Secilia laughed her ass off at the sight of it." Groamer told her, recalling his six year old daughters reaction to the event.


Speaking of his daughter...Where was she? Last time they had spoken, which was roughly three hours ago, she'd said something about watching their Dewbacks.