Bro Night [Hutch]

[Judah Dashiell]

The doors to the expansive garage were open, light spilling out into the yard as the sun was slowly drifting down towards the horizon. Tools were scattered all over the garage. Half put together droids laid on work benches, parts were neatly stacked on the shelves. An old couch with an equally old sheet draped across it sat positioned against one wall.


Surrounding the first speeder, various bits of metal and parts were laid around the space. A few ale bottles seemed to be thrown in for good measure as well. A loud banging echoed through the space for several moments before it suddenly stopped.


Shaggy head emerged from underneath the speeder, Judah trying to push himself out halfway, not succeeding despite the mechanics crawler. Greasy hands found a rag as he picked up another tool laying out. Standing near the open hood, [member="Dirks Hutchinson"] . It was 'guy night' ....plus two kids. Norah and Makai were out back, playing in the pool while the adults did the 'boring' stuff.


"How's it feel to be a Pa?" Smirk played on his features. "I mean, you skipped some awful parts. Pregnancy mood swings,craving runs, blowout diapers. No sleep....Should I go on?"


"Maybe I shouldn't say you have it so easy....you've almost got a teenage girl on your hands. Don't know what I would have done if Makai was a girl....Probably bought a bigger blaster."

 

[Alleycat]

How was he feeling about being a father of a young teenage girl that wasn't even his? Dirks was scared spitless. The bachelor had no idea what he was doing, though was trying his best to do right for [member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"] that had come to live with him after her mother died. Right now it was more trial and error than anything. So far so good for... the most part.

"I'm still getting used to the idea, honestly… All these years I've been so careful not to become a daddy, and here I am one now without all the fun of making it happen too. I just hope I can do a good job at it for Little Red's sake otherwise Dells will come back from the grave and glass my ass if I don't," Hutch answered [member="Judah Dashiell"], who was both his boss and good friend, then he took a big swig from his cold brew in hand before sending a quip back.

"And gods no, bro… Don't go on unless you're gonna get to the good stuff. So… You and Thee thinking about trying for another or did that ship sail already? Course that would mean your wife would have to be around for the trying, huh. What's up with her being away so much… You guys are still good, right?"

Yeah, Dirks couldn't help but notice lately Judah had been playing Mr. Mom a lot.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Grease covered part was retrieved at his side, wrench picked up in an effort to loosen a sub-component of said part. Judah listened to his Head of Security, smirking as he mentioned about spending all of his life trying not to be a father. The shaggy CEO found it a little amusing he was now the guardian of a almost teenager. Judah hadn't expected the other to be the fatherly type, more of the joker Uncle type.


"I think you're going to do just fine. Little Red will see you're trying....I think thats what all of us can really hope for. Whatever time off you need just tell me and you're more than welcome to have it. I know you probably need to be on Ceto for awhile."


Frowning at the part, Judah shook his head. More at the question than the lack of movement from the bolts. It was a good question. Quiet for the longest moment, he was struggling to answer. To be honest, he didn't really have many answers.


"I don't know. I don't know anything anymore Hutch. I'm going to be honest with you....if we're still married six months from now I'll be surprised."


It was the first time he spoke those words aloud. They felt foreign. Hollow.


"Not saying I don't love her. Thess is my best friend. I always thought this was it....that we would grow old together. Now....I don't know. I don't know where she is or when she's coming home. Its hard. I feel like I'm losing everything thats important to me and I can't do a thing about it."


[member="Dirks Hutchinson"]

 

[Alleycat]

Hazel eyes were fixed to a flat holo screen hanging on the wall in the garage near where an old sheet-covered couch sat in [member="Judah Dashiell"]'s "man cave". Dirks was monitoring a real-time video feed of the kids playing in the pool out back. Both [member="Makai Dashiell"] and [member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"] were good swimmers. Makai well because he was half Galen of coure, and Norah because Dells had the wherewithal to give her daughter swimming lessons. Thank the Force for that as now the girl was living on a water planet! The two younglings were falling into a "cousin-like" friendship or so it seemed as the children had been spending quite a bit of time together as of late with both men trying to balance work and family, and no women-folk around to help out.

"Thanks, man… I appreciate you allowing me to figure things out. This parenting thing is a whole new learning curve for me. Good thing I had a bit of experience babysitting Squirt before Little Red came along. Though caring for a teenage girl is nothing like a young boy. They are two different creatures for sure."

Dirks took a long draw on his ale as he listened to Judah speak of what was going on with his marriage or lack of. He felt for the guy. The Rendili knew all too well how stubborn [member="Thessa Kai"] could be. Hutch hoped she'd come to her senses quickly, though the Galan wasn't known quite for that. When the woman got a wild hair up her… there was no changing her mind. Though that was something that was always endearing about the mermaid too. She stuck to her convictions.

"I'm real sorry to hear that, Judah… I can't imagine, well maybe I can a little. Thee and I though never had what you two have. I'm here for you, and Makai. Norah is too… Seems the rug rats are getting along pretty well. I'm grateful for having you guys around too. Guess us 'Single Dads' got to stick together, huh?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Pulling apart the metal bits, Judah looked inside the mechanical part as [member="Dirks Hutchinson"] talked. He dumped it over into a pan, metal shavings spilling out. A frowned graced his features as it looked like a total overhaul was in order. At least it was something to keep him occupied in his free time. Not that he had much of it lately.


"Yeah, I imagine its two totally different creatures. Wild boy beast versus teenage girl. Especially one you havent raised since birth or a young age. Can't imagine getting a kid at an older age and trying to tell them whats to do. Norah seems like a decent kid though."


Judah chuckled a little when the topic went back to Dirks and [member="Thessa Kai"] . To be honest, he was always a little bit jealous of the two. If he hand't gotten Thess pregnant....then gotten married....would things be different? Judah was curious if she was bored with her life. Of him.


It was a private concern, one he wouldn't share with Dirks ever.


"Nah....I just....I don't know what to do. Frustrated at myself to be honest." Wiping his hands off on the rag, his head shook at the thoughts running around his mind. "Yeah, the kids seem to like each other. Makai needs someone to burn off the energy with."


"Speaking of burning energy, you have a lady friend Dirks? Guy like you can't be single....you either got one or a string of 'em."

 

[Alleycat]

Dirks just nodded in understanding. There wasn't a whole lot he could say that wouldn't sound contrite to ease his buddy's pain and anguish. [member="Judah Dashiell"] would have to work things out with [member="Thessa Kai"] on his own. Only they could fix what was broken in their marriage or misunderstood between them… Though in the mean time, the Rendili would stay strong and be there for his friend in what ever way the salvager needed… And if that meant through his own love life, then so be it.

"A string of them I used to indeed have, duh...though to be honest it was becoming well unfulfilling. I mean the sex was real sweet, but as I've gotten older I'm attracted to substance too. There is a particular one I like. We met about 5 years ago… a dark-haired Spiran beauty with long silky smooth legs that just call to be wrapped around ya, if you know what I mean," Hutch waggled his dark brows to emphasize his point.

He sighed heavily just thinking about those legs connected to the woman that had him wound around her little finger it seemed, then continued on after taking another sip from his ale.

"In fact, [member="Calise Novar"] will be here at the end of the week for a visit, though I'm hoping to have her stay longer. The plan is to introduce her to [member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"]. Little Red is at that age where a girl needs another woman around, and frankly I'm ready for that too... I was going to speak to you about her actually on a business level. Calise is a skilled IT Specialist and is available at the moment. I know with all of Salacia's new projects coming online, we need to shore up that department. Could kill two birds with one stone here so to speak..."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah couldn't help but laugh at the description [member="Dirks Hutchinson"] was giving. Sticking the tools off to the side, he stood up and wiped his hands on his shorts. He was going to have to grab some spare parts down at a salvage shop to finish the job. Rarely got 'em new, it was too fun to refurbish the old.


Picking up another ale, he nodded in the direction of the backyard. They should probably go out back and keep an eye on their respective rugrats in person.


"You've got it bad and you don't know it. Going to pull the trigger so to speak?"


Judah was talking about commitment. A key, ring, dresser drawer. Whatever one's personal preference was for these things. It seemed Hutch was already leaning towards wanting the woman to stay on Ceto or at least nearby, judging from his next question.


"Depends. Do you think she's going to work out? You going to piss her off and cause her to leave town? Is she one of those weird possessive types that can't be separated from you for more than two days? We've got a lot of work on our plates coming up in the Sullust sector. It means a bit of travel for all of us until a secondary headquarters or building can be established."

 

[Alleycat]

The two men walked slowly through the breezeway towards the backyard.

"Well we talked about her moving in before she left to take a short gig with her previous employer. [member="Calise Novar"] doesn't know about [member="Norah Kitts-Castillon"] yet, though I have a good feeling it won't be a problem."

As they rounded the corner to the pool area, a big splash came their way. The water felt good actually. It was tempting just to jump in himself, but Dirks instead continued over to the patio table and pulled out a chair. His mind at the moment was thinking about how to reply to [member="Judah Dashiell"]'s further inquiry.

"I'm shooting for working out, if I'm honest with myself. Cali is a smart and independent type of girl so not so possessive she has to be by my side all the time, but we do work well together… and not just between the sheets either," Hutch smirked, then finished off his ale and popped the lid on the next one.

"Should we order out… or do you have food here we can make?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah took a seat across from [member="Dirks Hutchinson"]. He was still nursing the ale opened in the garage. Propping his feet on the extra chair, he thought about the proposal to hire Dirk's...well...it seemed potential wife at this point. Dirks, a family man? Color him surprised.


"I'll meet her, feel out the situation. Bring her around way day and I will see. Kind of serious, don't you think? Something you're trying to tell me? Am I going to have to dig out a tux in a few months?"


Grin spread across his features, trying to get under the other man's skin. It wasn't something he expected at all but Judah was thankful Dirks had found someone to make him happy. Hopefully the two kids would work out, his friend and Security Chief seemed to be quite taken with her.


"I'll get us some pizza and the extras....There's food but that means one of us will actually have to cook it. I'm not in the mood to have my steak with a hint of mechanical grease mixed in."


As Judah pulled out his comm to order, a splash hit the other man with both kids laughing and swimming away.

 

[Alleycat]

"Well just don't feel her out too much, buddy," Hutch smirked with a chuckle, then took a long sip of his brew. "No tux yet… though if the time comes, you'll be the first to know. Gotta do it right and take things slow for the kid ya know," the Rendili added, but who was he kidding. It was more for his sake than Norah's. Calise would marry him tomorrow, if he said let's do it.

"Pizza sounds great, plus the kids will be happy too… And no doing dishes later if we use flimsy plates.Win-win all around."

A moment later a splash got him wet. Now it was time to pay the piper.

"Oh you guys are so gonna get it!"

Dirks put his ale down on the table, then took off his wet tank. He was lucky to have worn his board shorts with it. Flip flops were kicked aside, then the Rendili flashed a lopsided grin at Judah before making for the edge of the pool and doing a cannonball next to where Squirt and LIttle Red were in the deep end. This was war!

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I am still married, don't worry, I won't be feeling anything up." Sometimes @Dirk Hutchinson was liking having an older frat brother around, at least his humor bordered on the same. Speaking of 'older frat brother' , Judah suddenly saw his Chief of Security dive into the pool and start a war with their charges.


After placing a delivery order, a holoimage was snapped with his comm and composed as a message. Shaggy head shook slightly at all of the screaming, laughter, and general shouts and declaration of water war echoed through the backyard. Typing away, the message was sent to one [member="Thessa Kai"] .


Thess,


How do you leave and I go from watching one child to three? Wish you were here, come home soon.


Judah waited for the holoimage and attached message to send before putting the comm back into his pocket. Makai took the opportunity to try to "dunk" Unca Hutch in the water.


"Don't drown your Uncle buddy. Too much paperwork."