Bazaar Conversation

[Marcus Lok]

"He'll be cracking doors in no time. Just you wait."

Marcus flashed her a short grin before reaching into his own belt and producing enough credits to pay off the bill in full. It was a small gesture but one that had been imprinted in his mind after all of the reminders of 'What made a man' that his father had drilled into his head since he had first entered his teens. Another quick movement of his hand saw her credit chit's pushed back towards her side of the table, and he stood looking to the door.

"I guess I'll head home. Not much else to do out here except shop or drink. And I think i'll save the latter till the sun goes down."

Of course he probably wouldn't drink tonight, in fact he might just sleep the day away. Hyperspace journeys never sat well with him when he had to stay on planet, and he had to catch himself more than once aboard his own ship, falling asleep on Nar Shaddaa times instead of adapting to the world that would be his new home for a good while, at least he supposed.

"And what about you?.. Back to Valen?"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"I'm not sure I should be excited or scared by that thought exactly," Mesh laughed in response.

So far, so good. Marcus did seem to be genuinely accepting of the idea that she had a child. That was a start, though Mesh'la knew that sharing the truth of her situation had changed the way the young man viewed her, and a possible them. She had definitely felt a spark between them that night on Kashyyyk, and again when they came across each other on Gala. The promising simple flirtation had just turned into a complicated one, yet there was still hope it might work out. Time would only tell, and for her there was no rush. Introducing a man into her son's life was a serious matter not to be taken lightly.

"Vor entye," the Medic nodded with an appreciative smile gracing her features for buying the meal, then she put the credits back inside her coin pouch and rose from the table, grabbing her helmet and clipping it back onto the utility belt slung low on her shapely hips.

"Probably a wise choice… Waiting to drink until later that is, though alone isn't much better," Mesh said as they moved towards the door. She rarely drank anymore because it wasn't smart to do so while watching a kid by yourself, and couldn't afford a hangover either.

"Elek… Val is at day care right now, though I still have a little bit until I need to pick him up. See when I"m working at the hospital here in Keldabe, I take him to the child care center on the premises. It gives him a little socialization with his peers and me some adult time," she explained, then continued after they had exited the cafe and were standing out on the side walk.

"When I go off planet like with the Medical Corps, I usually leave him with my grandparents up in Enceri, or my mother if she is around... When they say it takes a village to raise a child, it's true. I don't know what I'd do without my family."

It was that awkward time of not really knowing what else to say as it seemed they were parting ways here. Mesh'la gazed up into those dark pools of his that made her want to drown in them. In a moment of courage, or desperation who knew, she placed her gloved hand on Marcus' gauntleted forearm, then rose up on her booted toes to place a sweet yet chaste kiss upon the slicer's smooth cheek as his dark five o'clock shadow lined only his strong jawline and upper lip.

"Vor entye tug'yc, Marcus. Ret'urcye mhi.

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus still hardly knew what to make of the situation beyond the fact that he was sure that he would see Mesh again. The thought of her having a child no longer frightened him, in fact, it only made him more curious as to how their relationship would progress alongside the fact, but only time would truly tell. Perhaps he could see himself settling down somewhere with her and the young boy, if only in his thoughts, though he could hardly expect that it would be anywhere in the country... In truth he had left that aspect of life far behind when he had left his family's own land somewhere on the outskirts of Bralsin.

"Don't worry about that... I probably won't tonight anyways, too much to think about."

It was a claim he would make in earnest at the realization that looking like a drunk in front of a woman who had just revealed she had a child to care for might have not been the brightest idea, though in their youth he was sure that she would understand. He tried not to drink that much on a regular basis, but on worlds that thrived around bar culture and night clubs, a drink oftentimes found it's way into his hands one way or another. Tonight would be different though. Tonight he had to think long and hard about Mesh... And her boy.

"I'm sure he'll have a whole crew together before he even makes it to his first battle! It'll be good for him."

He offered one last smile before unclipping his helmet from it's clasp on his belt. He would do well to find his way back to the apartments using the display map in his HUD, though it might still take him a while to navigate the winding streets, one overlapping another. But either way, there would still be the fun of adventure. But before he could walk away, and she grasped his arm to gain a bit of height on his form and plant those beautiful pink lips on his cheek did he stop in his tracks, letting his cheeks blush only slightly before he embraced her.

"Vor entye Mesh'la... For making me feel so welcome. I hope you will stop by some time when Valen is occupied..."

He let his arms fall loose so that she might back away as he slid the helmet about his head and held her hands for a few moments more.

"Otherwise... I might have to come for you..."

The serious tone of the helmet's comm unit might make the statement seem a bit creepy to another, but it was a caring type of humor that carried with it a sense of determination that would surely see this through to the end. If she would let him.

And with that, he made his way back off into the throngs of beings. Aliens of all shapes and sizes that might amaze one who had never left their homes before coming to the city, but in all of the madness and confusion of the market place, Marcus looked back and only saw the red and black glow of one remarkable girl...

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la melted into the slicer's responsive embrace to her impromptu peck to his cheek; their armor plates pressing against each others and fitting well. As he let her go, she flashed Marcus a sweet smile up at him.

"Ba'gedet'ye, ner vod… " the petite blonde replied blue eyes twinkling with delight, then waited until the Mando slid his dark silver-gray toned helmet on. "I'm hoping maybe both can be arranged… I forward to our next meeting."

As Marcus walked away, the medic watched the tall, dark, and handsome man for a few moments, then popped her own helmet on and turned to walk the opposite direction. There was a definite bounce in her booted-step as Mesh'la headed back towards the Medical Center where she would indeed pick up her son before heading home to the Tor Homestead that was located just outside the city of Keldebe in the Kelita Valley along the river.

~~~

Daily life was busy as usual for the single, working mom over the next few days, but it didn't keep Mesh'la from thinking about Marcus. In fact the slicer was all that was on her mind ever since their shared meal at Toro's Cafe after he moved back to Mandalore. She so hoped Marcus still was open to seeing her again even with the knowledge now that Mesh'la had a young son.

After contacting Marcus to see if he was free for the evening, arrangements had been made for the ranch foreman's daughter to watch Valen so she could go over to his place. Mesh'la felt it was best at this point in the new relationship for the two of them to get to know each other better before introducing the slicer to her son. If they were more comfortable with one another, then Val would be with the strange man when and if Marcus and he finally met.

The golden-haired Baar'ur found the slicer's apartment that was near the starport, then stood in front of the door and gave it a triple-rap with her gloved knuckles. In her other hand was a dessert container that had a freshly made uj cake in it. Her mother always told her the way to a man's heart was through their stomach along of course with a straight and true shot…. Well hopefully this would indeed help sweeten the way. The other would have to wait for a more appropriate time.

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

​

After he had returned to his apartment near the starport, Marcus had hung up his armor and crashed as soon as he was able. He was downright exhausted, and the news that Mesh'la had given him only lead to interesting, whimsical dreams of what could happen if he continued to see her. A house? A family? These things had seemed like such distant goals to him in the past, but as the ever increasing responsibilities and challenges of adulthood came into his life... Well, he certainly felt that he would be up to the challenge if he chose to continue on with this. And then came her message. At first he had grown a bit concerned that she had decided that she wasn't to sure about his reputation and standing within the clans... And as a man he hadn't truly shown how he might be reliable with idle comments about getting smashed in the under-city whenever the time presented itself... Feth, was he stupid...

Their conversation had been short, and well, a success in his book. She had agreed to come to his apartment after explaining how she had put up Valen for the night, and he had set about cleaning up the apartment from the messy introduction he had given himself to the building. After the short round of cleaning and straightening of the few effects he had brought with him such as his computer equipment, a few photos of his family, and of course his variety of weapons which now hung on the weapon racks just above the bed, he had set about making some Gi Soup to ease the mood. He had copied his mother's recipe at least as far as he could remember it, and what was originally planned to be a meal that would sustain him for that week would now serve as some semblance of a romantic dinner... Or at least he hoped that it might turn out that way. He hadn't tasted any of the dumplings yet, but he hardly thought that he could have done too bad on their appearance alone.

By the time that she rapped on the door, he had just finished buttoning up the pair of dark jeans that he had slipped into in lieu of the simpler sweat pants that he had collapsed in when he had returned from the marketplace. Topped with a simple blue T-Shirt, he supposed that he looked alright, not too shabby and definitely not too formal. All that was left was to open the door, and as the durasteel poodoo slid into the wall to reveal the same armored form that he had left in the marketplace not a few days before, his mouth formed into a warm smile as he beckoned her into the room.

"I guess it was pretty easy to find!.. Good to see you came dressed for a fight too."

The short quip about her armor was all in good fun, though he supposed that he might expect her to wear it on her way over. For most Mandalorians, the armor was a second skin. Almost unnoticeable to the wearer if not pointed out directly.

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Su cuy'gar, Marcus," the petite blonde smiled back as she was greeted, then stepped through the doorway into the slicer's apartment. It seemed to be a perfect pad for the tech-savvy bachelor. The apartment was located in one of the more modern-style high-rise buildings that sprinkled the cityscape of the old capital of Mandalore, and it certainly had an an jag feel to it too.

Blue orbs looked down to her attire, standard for a Mando out and about, then rose back up to meet the pair of brown ones that were full of good humor nearby. He sure wore civi clothing well. "Never know when a tall, dark, and handsome might need an attitude adjustment," Mesh teased Marcus back with a playful wink, then she extended her gloved hands holding out the dessert container for him to take. "Here… This is a little something for you."

As soon as Marcus took the container with homemade uj'alayi inside from her, Mesh'la unclipped her helmet, slipped off the gloves worn stuffing them inside, and removed her blaster pistol holster from the utility belt slung low on her shapely hips, then bent over to slip off her cetare, placing those items and the heavy boots neatly by the door leaving the medic in stocking feet to pad around in. Next, the blonde removed the red and black armor plates of her beskar'gam and weaponized gauntlets in a systematic way, stacking them so they could be put back on in a reversed process easily leaving Mesh'la dressed more comfortably in her gray-colored kute or more so a well-fitted jumpsuit.

"There… That's better, hmm?" Mesh flashed a lopsided grin, then walked further into the slicer's home gazing around taking in the holopics of his family. "Nice place. I like it…. So how have you've been?" she smiled sweetly over her shoulder, then her nose found an aroma that pleased her.

"Oh… Are you making Gi dumpling soup? It's one of my favorites."

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus took the container from her and gave a small nod in appreciation before he stepped off towards the kitchen to put it on the counter. It looked delicious and had clearly been made or picked out with care. With the cake taken care of, he checked on the soup once more, just to make sure that it had not been over cooked in his absence, and to little surprise it still looked just fine. He hardly had anytime to notice that she was hanging up her armor and by the time she stepped into the kitchen in her form fitting bodysuit, Marcus was just heading back to the threshold.

With the armor removed from her slim form, Marcus couldn't help but notice how well in shape she had kept, even after having a child. The bodysuit accentuated all of her features to a T, and he found it so unusual that he had not encountered her like this in the entire time that they had made eachother's acquaintance.

"There ya' go... You look even more stunning without the plates. Thanks, I've been well enough. Work is starting to trickle in. I should be heading off-world within the week, actually."

The job presented to him had been one that was fairly normal, a government contract to investigate a possible cyber crime that had resulted in the company losing millions of credits to online theft. It was almost certainly due to their own negligence when it came to dealing over the Holonet, but there was good money in finding out as much information as one could about the culprit.

"You better believe it. My mother's recipe... Or as far as I can remember anyways. It definitely has its own character!"

Marcus reached for the wooden ladle that hung by the side of the cooking pot before scooping two portions into two black ceramic bowls that he had purchased on Alderaan a few months before. They weren't anything expensive, but he liked the patterns imbued on the rim well enough to consider them a bit more formal. Soon, he held an outreached bowl to her and gestured his head towards the small wooden table that sat next to the living room where he supposed they might eat.

"I'll bet life at the ranch has been a joy?"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Vor'e," Mesh replied feeling her cheeks warm up no doubt blushing from the dark-haired slicer's sweet compliment. It was nice to hear those type comments made once again. It made the young, single mom feel alive and perhaps wanted again. It had been a while since a man, okay now ex-husband, had paid any attention to her; not that Mesh'la was seeking such, just that she missed the intimacy to be honest.

"Well I'm glad you have work coming your way, though am sad to hear it's off planet so soon. I was hoping you could join me in getting that holiday tree, but totally understand - work before pleasure" the petite blonde nodded. It happened to her all the time… having to put herself on the back burner to care for Valen, or help on the farm.

Following Marcus into the kitchen, Mesh'la let him prepare their meal to be served, then took the offered bowl and sat down at the small table. The soup smelled and looked delicious. Now to taste it. "Kandosii… Not bad for a bachelor. You have done your mother's recipe justice," she smiled sincerely, then took another spoonful.

"A joy? Well I wound't exactly say that, but things are good. The colder months are much more quiet than the warmer for us. The winter crops are planted and dormant until spring. We do have some livestock pregnant, but they are not due for a couple of months yet. Mostly the farmhands make sure all the machinery is ready to go for the next go around, and any fences or repairs are done to the outbuildings," the medic answered, then asked curiously.

"So how long do you think you'll be gone for? Is this more or less how it's going to be dating a much sought after slicer?"

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

As soon as she mentioned the holiday tree, Marcus began to think about how he might be able to still make that commitment. He wouldn't have to leave until later in the week, and before then he would be... Well... Not doing much. In the back of his mind, he knew that he should have prioritized her over the job offer, but it was one that would have him set for a good few months if not the rest of the year before he would have to take another contract. Nevertheless, he was sure that he could manage it before he jetted off back towards the core worlds at the promise of credits.

"Well you know, I think I could still help you out with that if we went out tomorrow... That is if you're not doing anything too critical."

It was a bit of an odd feeling, prioritizing someone over his work after his family had been out of his life for a good while. Never before had he really placed anyone above his own advancement in the world and that alone had earned him trust and preferred status among many companies and contractors who sought that sort of loyalty.

The dark haired slicer gave a thankful nod as she dipped a spoonful of the soup into her mouth and seemed to savor it with acceptance, expressing his presumption only moments later. At the very least he hoped he had done it well enough to honor his mother, whom he, like most sons and daughters, believed was the greatest cook in the whole of the galaxy. It tasted fine, sure, though he knew that he could never truly reach that level of quality in one million years.

"Well, I would enjoy it while it lasts. Soon as the warmer months come around, i'll bet it'll be all work all the time. Not a problem for you though, I imagine."

And then came the question that he had been asking himself for the better part of the night. How committed would he be to Mesh'la even if his work often times demanded frequent movement? He quite simply couldn't do somethings very well if he weren't on site performing tasks. No, it wouldn't do to insult his current clients by cancelling all of their requisitions so he could spend more time on his personal life, but at the same time he would have to make a heap of time available for Mesh... And not only her.

"Well... I'd be guessing three, maybe four days. As for that... Well, I don't think I'll ever be gone long enough for you to miss me. Unless that's whenever I'm out of sight?"

A wink would follow the humorous accusation at the same time he took in another bite of his portion, choosing to chew slowly rather than delve into that topic any further than he could at the moment. In truth, he never really knew what his schedule would look like in this line of work. Jobs came and went, and he had to stay on top of it.

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Tomorrow will work just fine. We can make a day of it then," she smiled sweetly with a very pleased look about her face.

Marcus would notice when Mesh'la was content or happy, her sapphire gems would sparkle brightly. When the petite blonde wasn't so happy or upset, they would darken. It wasn't that she was moody just wore her emotions more on her sleeve so to speak. Mesh'la had gotten that part from her father as he often would have labile mood swings. Kable and his brother were known to react first, ask questions later. Her mother tended to the be the calming factor and influence; a positive figure most times. She had picked up on that growing up and tried hard to emulate Briika's good nature. Maturity was helping in doing that as well, though it was a trial and error learning process.

Another spoonful of soup was devoured; the fish broth very tasty and the dumplings just right in texture. The medic was pleasantly surprise at the single slicer's domestication. He cooked and cleaned. She amusingly wondered what else the man was good at around the house... but more so would Marcus change a diaper or rock a sick child, especially one that wasn't his?

"Well spring planting and fall harvest are very busy, otherwise it's more so the daily chores that are demanding like tending to the livestock and managing the crops," Mesh answered, "The farmhands like I said do most of the work especially in the fields, but I like to help care for the animals. I also do the vet work when needed. If you are around when it's lambing time, you can keep me company when I'm on call. Being a part of a birth is a powerful thing. There's nothing like when mother and baby first meet each other outside the womb." A knowing nod followed, then Mesh'la got up from the table and walked over to the sink. She had spotted tall tumblers in the cupboard and needed something to help wash the meal down.

"Would you care for something to drink while I"m up or a refill of soup?" Mesh asked, filling a glass with water from the sink's facet, then taking a hearty sip of the crisp, clear liquid before turning back around to face the dark-haired slicer. "Well that doesn't sound so bad... I was thinking more like weeks or even months you'd be gone. Oh I think I could manage at least a few hours without your handsome face around before I'd miss you too much, though I suppose that all depends on the parting," she grinned.

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus smiled at the thought that he might soon be spending more time with Mesh'la before he would ultimately be off to the core worlds. Although it would only be a matter of days before he was back from the job, he couldn't help but feel that somewhere along the way he would miss the Baar'ur and her crimson armor, in fact he knew he would. He had noticed that when she agreed to his scheme of collecting a good tree the following day, her eyes seemed to sparkle, if only for an instant. The glint almost reminded him of the small blue flashes that came from supernovas or pulsars that were thousands of light years away in space, a wonder to behold if only at a distance.

"It sounds like quite a moment to witness. I mean, I wouldn't make a habit of it but if I can see what you're saying. Life can be a beautiful thing when things like that happen..."

Although the offer to see an animal give birth was a bit of a new one for him to come across, he could certainly see how it might make one change their perspectives on life and it's gift. Of course he had never experienced much when it came to live stock, his father had been a metal smith first, and a hunter second. There had been no real time for him to concern himself with farming or anything like that between work, and he and his mother usually used the money they bought at the small markets in town rather than go directly to the farms.

At the mention of drinks, Marcus gave Mesh a confident smile and brought his plate over to the sink where he placed it down to soak in the water before he actually washed it. While it filled, he made a grab at two small glasses while she took her own water away and set them down on the table before heading back to the kitchen to fetch the drink that he had been saving for the holiday season since he had first met Mesh'la on Kashyyyk. It was a fine bottle of Corellian Spiced Rum, one that he had gotten specially imported for fear of purchasing a cheap knock off on the smugglers moon that had often passed off drinks and other items to him as being originals while being no more genuine than the practice that they themselves ran.

"Been saving this. Might as well crack it open before I leave, hmm?"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

While Marcus went about getting something to go in the two small glasses he fetched, Mesh'la had retaken her seat at the table with water glass in hand. There were still a couple of delicious spoonfuls left of soup in her bowl, so she finished it off just as the slicer came back with a bottle of spirit. Impressed the petite Mando was, and especially that he would want to share it with her. It wasn't just some everyday bottle off the liquor store shelf either. Anything from Corellia was a rarity, and also known to be very good. She felt spoiled for a moment, and loved it.

Blue orbs inspected the label as Marcus brought the bottle over to the table. "Mhmm.... Spiced Rum, and Corellian no less. Boy do I rate," Mesh grinned in delight. This was going to be a treat.

The memory of the Clans' victory celebration the two shared on Kashyyyk came to mind. The strong Wookiee spirit had gotten them both drunk quickly. She was glad they had only slept together and not slept together on the jungle floor that night... not that the blonde hadn't thought about it, but in due time if ever they chose to take that step; being to her more of a commitment than just shared pleasure, though that was important no doubt and wanted with the right person. Mesh'la wasn't free to just willy nilly have dilly dances now that she had Valen to think about. Plus, she wasn't that kind of girl any ways. Marcus though did make her dreams more exciting and memorable.

"So what shall we toast to, hmm?"

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus knew that he shouldn't endeavor to make Mesh'la drink by pressure alone, so as she showed such a delighted reaction to the Rum being brought forth, he was all too glad to pour two amber glasses full. He handed one off to her first and took up his own glass, lifting it to his nose to inspect the distinct smell that he was sure it would have. The alcohol laced with spice stung at his nose, but he didn't pull away, instead he only offered a joyful smile. It certainly was genuine, and he was all to eager to begin a small drinking session with the petite Baar'ur.

"Well let's see... A toast to the Republic... If you hadn't lost so quickly, I would have never met this girl."

It was a bit of a comical toast to start out with, simply because he couldn't think of anything more clever to say, though deep in those words there was some truth. Had he been glad that they had been sent to Kashyyyk and reapt terror on that world and it's occupiers in an effort to free them of the ineffective politicians of the Republic who had done little to nothing to help them? Absolutely not. He was glad to have been part of the conflict, however, in the eyes of Wookiee civilians, forced to flee in terror, he knew that they did not see it that way. Their post victory celebration had been his true source of joy from the whole event, and not only because he had gotten to the chance to meet with Mesh'la for the very first time, but he had a chance to see one of the leading powers of the galaxy turned away in utter defeat. It had truly been a glorious day.

The Rum wen't down smooth, and the spice only added to the quick stinging sensation that came at the back of the throat. It was truly a drink worth the credits, and as the glass slowly came back down to the table Marcus nodded towards Mesh to have a bit of input from her side.

"And what about you?.."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

Mesh'la took the offered glass from Marcus eagerly; her fingers brushing ever so lightly against the slicer's during the exchange. The Baar'ur smiled sweetly at his toast. It was lighthearted, which she had come to expect from the tech-minded Mando though the sentiment was anything but light. The meaning was not lost upon the petite blonde. He liked her, and maybe more than just a little. This revelation both excited Mesh'la and scared her to death. She liked him too, and more than just a little. The attraction was ever growing despite the two being opposites for the most part. Yes, there was some common ground, but... Marcus was ever the city boy and she the ever the country girl.

"Well... here's to new beginnings, and expanding horizons with a tall, dark, and handsome... thanks to the Republic," Mesh grinned softly before tipping the spiced rum back to take a sip. There was a certain sparkle in those sapphire gems of hers as she relished in the smooth enticing taste of the specially purchased, fine Corellian spirit.

"Mmmm... I really like this, a great choice to finish off our dinner with, and hopefully in your opinion worth every credit you paid for it too," she remarked, then added with a mischievous flair after a second sip of the dark amber liquid.

"Now a girl has to wonder what other delightful surprises you might have in store for her, hmm? I mean, so far you've made a very good impression upon me... from the delicious food, the fine drink, and not least your most enjoyable company once again."

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

"Well I think I'd better save any surprises I still got in my sleeve. I might run out y'know?"

Already, hundreds of thoughts of where he might take Mesh'la flooded into his mind. Sure, most of them would remain fantasies, but he could imagine taking her out into the galaxy sometime. At the very least, he hoped that he might get her away from the capital world for a time. Perhaps to a resort planet? Or an extraordinary one, outside the bounds of Mandalorian space. He could sense that she was afraid of the beyond, even though it wasn't largely a mystery, and he loved the idea of bringing her to just a few of the worlds that he had visited in his travels. Maybe she might like the idea?

"Maybe we should head out of this sector some time... Maybe check out the Lytton Sector, if you're up to it..?"

It was an innocent enough suggestion to get off world, and although he knew it might be a bit difficult to part with the ranch let alone her son for that kind of time, but he hoped she might consider it at the very least. Another sip from the glass of Rum would spur on his confidence as he flashed a grin at the petite blonde across the table.

"I'm sure you'd love Spira."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Something tells me you're a very clever guy... I don't think surprising me will be a problem," Mesh'la winked, then took yet another sip of the spiced rum left in her glass. It was very good and went down very smooth, maybe too smooth for her own good. The spirit warmed Mesh's insides and helped relax some of the anxious butterflies still fluttering around in her stomach, which was full from the tasty dinner Marcus had so nicely prepared for them to share.

"I'd like that, getting out and about with you sometime, if it can be arranged," the petite blonde nodded with a soft smile attached, then added. "I really haven't been anywhere. I mean I did go places while on the Avril as we tooled around the Outer Rim looking for merc jobs, but I never went ashore when in port. I always stayed on the ship with Valen. Concord Dawn and Kashyyyk are really the only planets other than Mandalore I've actually put my boots on. Is that sad or what?" she chucked lightly.

The Medic wondered if the Slicer thought her too inexperienced for his tastes. Mesh'la was basically a simple person. She didn't need much really to make her happy. There was this question in the back of her mind whether she could actually make a man like him happy, or would Marcus down the road get bored with her? And there was still the issue of him truly accepting her son and visa versa. There was hope it would all work out. Something Mesh would cling too.

"Spira? I'm not familiar with the planet... Do tell me about it. You have me intrigued now," she grinned excitedly.

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus downed the rest of his glass rather quickly after Mesh'la showed her interest in the world he had suggested. In truth, he had only ever visited it once for a client who had insisted that he come to finish their transaction. He had liked it enough to take note of it and bookmark the system in the holomap on his star ship, though he had not gone back since returning to the fold of the clan and his kinsmen.

"Spira is a resort world, a beach world I guess... The entire planet is one enormous tropical paradise with endless oceans, and immense islands that house the various travelers from all over the galaxy who can find enough time to visit. It really is something."

The fact that he now envisioned himself there, with her, had not made him think about the actual reality of their situation until that moment, and again he was confused with himself. Did he really believe he had any semblance of an idea of what it might be like to be a father? He hadn't asked himself that question in a long long while, and it had only emerged upon his meetings with Mesh. The revelation that she had a son had only put him off by sheer shock factor, not that he thought there was anything wrong with the idea of having a growing boy so long as he was still an infant. Truly, he would have to make a decision soon, lest he only confused the girl which was something he didn't plan on doing.

"Would you like anymore?"

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"Oh... Spira does sound wonderful," Mesh smiled sweetly.

"I've never been to the ocean before let alone anywhere tropical... I can only imagine how beautiful it would be not to mention fun... " adding in her head as she finished the last of the spiced rum in her glass - and romantic.

That last thought sent a shiver down her spine. Mesh'la actually could imagine going to such a place with Marcus and the things they might experience together. Was the slicer of the same mind set? Probably, since he was the one to bring the getaway up.

Though there was the matter of Valen... A beach vacation with a tall, dark and handsome was no place for a baby in the mix. Perhaps Mesh'la could ask her mother to watch him? She doubted her grandparents would approve of going away with a man not her riduur. It was different when it was for work with the Medical Corps as the elder Tors had taken care of their great-grandson while both her and Briika were at the Battle of Kashyyyk.

Marcus' question brought Mesh'la out of her reverie, blue eyes finding his brown once again to gaze into them. "I would love some... but I better not. I still have to drive home. I'm afraid I'm only yours till midnight being it's the babysitter's curfew," she shrugged apologetically with a lopsided grin to follow.

"So what kind of holovids to you have? Didn't you say you had quite the collection?"

[member="Marcus Lok"]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Marcus new very well that she was nervous about the idea of spending more time with him, just as he was with her. Perhaps it stemmed from the fact that they were nearly polar opposites when it came to how they had been raised up in society. He had been raised a Mandalorian on a small homestead, much like her, but very early on his life had taken off towards the stars and had not stayed on the green pastures and rolling hills of their home world, and he was glad to have seen so much in such a short time. Perhaps she could appreciate that life... But maybe not. If she truly intended on staying locked down on a ranch... Well... It would be difficult for him to deal with that sort of pressure to say the least. It might always feel that he was being chained down, when he felt there was so much more to experience in the galaxy before he even thought of the idea of finally settling down. It was a troublesome thought...

"Well, if you ever get the time, let me know... We could finally get you off this world for a while."

He would leave it up to her of course, he knew that he could not force her to go anywhere without saddening her in the process. No... This would have to be her choice to leave if they were going to head out anywhere beyond the reaches of Mandalorian space. And the fact was only reaffirmed at the mention of the boy that still awaited her return. He could only imagine the stress wore at her from having to care for an infant so young in her life. It certainly baffled him.

"Of course... I'm sure that you wouldn't want to leave him alone for the night."

With a short nod, he bottled the drink and returned it to the counter that sat adjacent to the table so that he might walk over to the small cabinet that held a vast array of holodiscs, ranging from action films to more classic thrillers that he often found himself watching when the work had been done. He took a few from the shelf and walked them back over to the table, being sure to set them down with care so that she might examine them and their labels. Included were such classics as; Pandorum, Coruscant Nights, and even The Pretenders. A few of them were newer, but mostly they were pretty aged. It was funny to think that the best movies he could find came from a time before he was even alive. Funny indeed.

"Here are a few."

[member="Mesh'la Dral"]

 

[Alleycat]

"I have a new bikini at home that needs breaking in so I'll be sure to let you know," Mesh winked with a soft chuckle.

It wasn't a lie. The petite blonde did have a swimsuit with the sales tags still on sitting in a dresser drawer. She'd never had a chance to wear it, though there was a question if the top would fit... One positive thing motherhood had done for Mesh'la was to endow her chest more and give the young medic a more appreciable womanly figure. The thought of wearing it for Marcus and having his dark dreamy eyes ogling her while sunbathing on the beach made Mesh's cheeks feel hot.

"Alone, nayc... but with someone I trusted like ner buir or ba'buire, elek. I have before... " she smiled, putting that encouraging bit of info out there for him to chew on.

It wasn't as much the home-grown girl didn't want to explore and experience new things because she did, but rather the opportunity to do so was limited now that Mesh was a mother with an infant. Though, the young medic didn't think it would always be that way. When Valen was older and not so dependent, it would make things easier to do such things. Mesh'la vaguely remembered going places and doing things with her late father, and a lot with her mother, step-father, uncle, and grandparents of course over the years; learning about Mando life and life in general. Would Marcus do that with her son? Would he even want to try? She wouldn't blame him if he didn't. Gods why did this have to be so complicated?!

Blue orbs appreciatively followed the slicer as he put away the bottle of spiced rum in the cupboard, then went to where his holovid collection was. The tall, dark, and handsome man sure did look good to the eyes especially in his casual wear. Mesh'la wondered for a second what it would be like to not wear beskar'gam all the time. When younger she didn't as much being a kid and all, though now as an adult it was expected... at least on Manda'yaim in public.

Mesh'la pushed her empty bowl and glass to the side as Marcus brought back three of his picks to the table. She fingered each of them, reading their jackets, then handed him the scary one. "I think I have enough time to watch this one with you... That is if you're up for it?" she grinned.

[member="Marcus Lok"]