Private Catching Rides on Kesh

[Iona Starchaser]

"I don't want you to think less of me..." he replied softly

Iona waved away his concerns. Just because they differed on Jedi ideology didn't mean she was going to drop Balun Dashiell like a hot potato. In fact, it may make for some interesting conversations and mutual learning. She didn't think they were at that point yet but if they continued to be friends it would be a spirited debate she would love to have.

"Not at all, stop being silly."

Turbolift stopped and they entered, listening to his concerns about his room. Her shoulders just shrugged. Although it was interesting Balun called this place home but spent more time on the Liberty's Edge. Eyebrow raised as she thought a moment, observing him without speaking for a long moment.

"You call this place home because you yearn for stable roots? Why not call the Edge your home if you spend so much time there? Like...there's an enclave I may call home, but right now the spacelanes are where rest my head. Is this where Balun rests his head or desires to put down permanent roots?"

Iona didn't mean to dig deep. It just happened after the conversation with Chip. Considering he didn't know as much about her, this was incredibly unfair but she was also curious.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"You call this place home because you yearn for stable roots? Why not call the Edge your home if you spend so much time there? Like...there's an enclave I may call home, but right now the spacelanes are where rest my head. Is this where Balun rests his head or desires to put down permanent roots?"

Balun stood with his back to the turbo-lift wall, his eyes on the door but his mind on the words of Iona Starchaser . Her questions were fair, and frankly, he hadn't given it much thought. Certainly not the depth that she had raised.

"I dunno, honestly. I guess it's because this place is always going to be here, no matter where I go. But at the same time, that's a good point. I do basically live on the ship. I guess the Nest just feels like somewhere I belong. A place where I'm not looking for anything in particular, but can retreat to if I ever need to" he replied, speaking his thoughts aloud without any filter.

"Until you came along and tripped over Chip and Luna, I guess the Liberty's Edge didn't have enough of a reason for me to consider it anything more than a means of getting around" he added, glancing back to Iona for a brief moment, offering a half-cocked smirk. "Chip tends to make himself busy with helping the Coalition around the base, and Luna keeps pretty close to me when not on the Edge. If you're going to be choosing to stay on the ship though, I suppose that gives me more reason to hang around".

Judging from her reaction to the base, Balun assumed that Iona would be more comfortable living on the ship herself. If that was the case, then he didn't want her to have to wait on him every time he chose to crash in his quarters in the Nest. "This place just gave me a bit more of a purpose after I left Coruscant; it was a needed distraction that kept me busy, and there were people who wanted me to stick around. That's sort of a rare thing in my life. Lately, anyway".

 

[Iona Starchaser]

"This place just gave me a bit more of a purpose after I left Coruscant; it was a needed distraction that kept me busy, and there were people who wanted me to stick around. That's sort of a rare thing in my life. Lately, anyway".

Iona canted her head to one side, thinking for a moment at Balun Dashiell 's words. She was detecting a bit of...sentiment, maybe? Perhaps she had been drawing too much on her conversation with Chip. It was sitting in the back of her head as they interacted. She liked Balun and since they were new to knowing one another, and she liked figuring out what made people tick. It made for a more predicable time but also for a stronger bond. If she was going to be flying with him from time to time then they would have to be on a similar page.

"I suppose that makes sense. Why you're so attached."

The turbolift stopped and she stepped off into the corridor, waiting for Balun to show her where to go. It was mildly unnerving to be this far underground. She was used to space, not tons and tons of dirt on top of her head. The Mirialan teenager tried pushing those thoughts out of her mind and to focus more on the present.

A deep breath.

"You bring all your girls to your room this easily?"

Amusement colored her tone, trying to distract herself.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"You bring all your girls to your room this easily?"

"Hah!" Balun laughed sarcastically, fakely; "You're funny. I have terrible luck with girls" He chuckled after that, genuine, although at his own expense. "There's only been one other girl here, my best friend Nouqai Veil . And no, nothing is going on between us. We both grew up together in the New Jedi Order. She's one of the few people I learned to trust as a youngling because of our shared experience".

Nouqai and Balun shared a Force Bond, their shared experience having been moulded over a lifetime of knowing one another. They were kindred spirits, but not in a romanticised way. If there was ever a time that he required some backup, she was the answer. Ever reliable and knowing Balun significantly better than anyone else to date.

As the pair continued down the corridor, doors lined either side, leading into full apartment-like complexes for the simulated surface-living of civilian and military personnel. Finally, they arrived at door 88. "Here we are then," he gave a slightly awkward smirk. "Like I said, it's a mess," he added before opening the door and stepping inside.

​

Frankly, Balun was quite proud of his messy little home. Despite the embarrassment that was the state of the apartment complex, it was a place he could call his own. Even the Liberty's Edge was stolen. This place was earned through his hard work and service to the Tingel Arm Coalition and, by extension, the people of the Outer Rim Territories.

The complex consisted of one large living area with a kitchenette, a bedroom and washroom. The main room, however, was big enough to house lounge furniture and a workbench and office setup that was sectioned off by a counter with cabinets overhead. The windows were, of course, simulated screens of random countryside, holo's taken from the surface of Maldra IV to alleviate the potential claustrophobia for those using the underground facilities.

"So...-One a scale of one to ten, how disgusted are you?" he grinned, turning back to glance to Iona Starchaser .

 

[Iona Starchaser]

"So...-One a scale of one to ten, how disgusted are you?"

The room was larger than she thought initially. When Balun Dashiell had mentioned that it was nothing more than a bed and a workbench, she had expected a small space to inhabit. This was more apartment like. Large without being overly so, it seemed like a good bachelor pad on her eyes.

"I don't see any crusty socks near the bed so maybe a five."

Iona grinned at her own crude joke, pleased with herself. Eyes took in the space with a mild interest, more curious to how dirty it had gotten if Balun didn't stay at the Nest on a regular basis.

Jokes aside, she continued.

"Its nice though. Larger than I thought. A certain perk I would think. Most military installations is nothing but a bunk and footlocker if you're lucky. Happy to see you're doing well for yourself."

It certainly wasn't for her but there was an undeniable appeal.

"How long do you plan on staying for this time around?"

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Oh, a five's not so bad then, still managed to save some of your respect", Balun laughed softly as he moved into the Kitchenette, fetching a couple of glasses and then retrieving a bottle of chilled jawa juice from the refrigerator, soon to return to the living area and placing them on the stimcaf table flanked by two comfortable yet worn looking couches; "Drink?" he asked Iona Starchaser , whilst moving to take a seat and pouring himself one as he awaited her answer.

"Yeah, we put a lot of work into this base after we cleared out the scavengers. It's less a Military Base now and more of a jack of all trades. We've got a science wing further down and an agriculture and horticultural level where we grow our produce. There's a training wing designed for Force Users and Non-Force Users alike, as well as an Archive database," he explained, sounding rather proud as he listed off some of the faculties. "There's also an artisan wing with a state-of-the-art workshop that might be more your thing".

"As for how long I'm hanging around. That kinda also depends on you, now that you're going to be my co-pilot" he smirked, glancing back across to her; "If you want to head out again any time soon, I'll just run down to the Command Deck and check in with the rest of the Rangers, maybe see if there's any jobs they need doing while we're out there".

 

[Iona Starchaser]

"Oh...uh, no thank you. I don't want my first ever alcoholic drink to be fermented bantha hide."

Iona's family was friends with the great Julius Sedaire , so while she hadn't drank alcohol before she had spent enough time around drinks to know what went into Jawa Juice. In her mind, her first drink would be something fund and tropical, sipping on it on a warm, breezy planet. Never told anyone her idea, nor was she going to now. Someday she would travel to some tropical planet while patrolling the space lanes and live out her wish.

"I"ll have to explore later on then. Maybe when everyone is sleeping, so I don't disturb the group as whole."

She moved a wrinkled shirt off the couch and took a seat. Iona regarded his words but pushed back with her own.

"No, you're the Captain. You tell me. However, no matter how long we stay, I will sleep on the ship. I would be more comfortable on board. That is, if you are comfortable with me on board. Otherwise I will sleep outside. Which is fine as well."

Plus,if the Nest facility started to collapse the Liberty's Edge would give her the advantage of one more layer of security. Or crush and can her like a vegetable, but either way it would put her mind at ease. Or if he disagreed she would be roughing it under the stars, also not a horrible prospect.

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Balun Dashiell looked down at his glass. Clearly a little surprised at Iona Starchaser 's remark, he soon took a quick sip and paused to taste the alcohol. "Mm!" he sounded his appreciation before swallowing it back, "I didn't realise! Even better", he smirked, shuffling further back onto the couch and kicking his feet up on the Stimcaf table between them. "There's a bunch of other stuff in there you can try; the fridge gets restocked regularly, so nothing's gone off since I've been gone", he chuckled softly, offering for her to help herself.

"I think I had my first drink around fourteen. I snuck one off a table from outside a cantina on Coruscant while on a field trip. Also, my Master gave me a glass of whiskey when we first met," he grinned to himself, bragging about it a little. It wasn't like he was an alcoholic, but when someone told him not to do something...Well, he often did it. Despite being raised by the Jedi, he did have a rebellious streak to him.

"I'll make an effort to avoid this place where possible when we're flying together," Balun remarked with a faint grin, clearly understanding her discomfort. "You're welcome to crash on the Ship if you'd prefer it. Otherwise, I can take the couch, and you can have the room." He gestured towards the bedroom as he offered what he assumed to be a safer alternative.

"No stress, though. You got a look at what I call home, and whenever you want to get going again, just let me know, and I'll quickly shoot down to command and see if they need anything of me before we make a gap," he concluded. Balun didn't mind their visit being brief; after all, he had spent most of the past month aboard the Liberty's Edge and had been on the move almost constantly since leaving the New Jedi Order. It had become his staple.

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Iona rolled her eyes. Boys. Such idiots yet they didn't even realize it. All of them thought they were so cool and suave. They most certainly were not. It was times like these she was thankful she only had two sisters and no brothers. Granted she had plenty of male cousins, they had been massively annoying growing up.

"I'll make an effort to avoid this place where possible when we're flying together," Balun remarked with a faint grin, clearly understanding her discomfort. "You're welcome to crash on the Ship if you'd prefer it. Otherwise, I can take the couch, and you can have the room." He gestured towards the bedroom as he offered what he assumed to be a safer alternative.

"Trying to get me into your bed Balun? Cute, but its not going to work. Force knows what girls or fluids are on those sheets...I don't want to know either." A small shudder as she thought about the general cleanliness and habits of teenage boys. "There's no need to avoid this place. It is your home. I will just sleep on the ship. This way when the Nest experiences structural collapse I will be safely canned inside the Liberty's Edge."

Iona tapped her temple, as if to say she was thinking smarter. She just didn't like being so far underground. Yet, she couldn't whine. She wasn't a little kid anymore. Part of trying to grow up and become a Warden meant putting herself in some uncomfortable shoes and experiences at times. This was just one of them.

"Plus, if I want to leave and you don't, I can always catch a ride with someone leaving. I'm to here to alter your lifestyle Balun. I'm just an accidental co-pilot."

Balun Dashiell

 

[Balun Dashiell]

"Trying to get me into your bed Balun? Cute, but its not going to work. Force knows what girls or fluids are on those sheets...I don't want to know either."

"Geeze, I should feel a little insulted!" Balun responded with an abrupt laugh. "I've never slept with anyone, and I've only ever kissed a Girl once. You didn't believe me when I said I have no luck with girls, did you?" He spoke rhetorically, knowing the answer judging by her reaction.

"I was just being nice, but it's cool. The Edge is always open to you," he said, shaking his head with a grin and waving his hand dismissively. He wasn't bothered by it. She didn't know him all that well, so she couldn't be blamed for assuming his worst.

"Honestly, I don't know what you'd call my lifestyle. Most of what I do is spent focusing on other people—the Outer Rim Territories—the Tingel Arm," he shrugged both shoulders indifferently. Keeping busy was something he found much easier than being on his own, stuck with his thoughts all the time.

"And you're not an accidental anything. I brought you here because I have a good feeling about you. I may be breaking a few rules doing it, and I don't know you from the backside of a Hutt, but I want to trust you. If it comes back to bite me in the arse, then whatever, but you're here because I want you to be," he concluded; "And any time you don't want to be, I'll take you wherever you wanna go", he offered, though hoping it wouldn't come to that point.

Iona Starchaser

 

[Iona Starchaser]

Iona rolled her eyes, clearly not believing him at all. For one, Balun Dashiell was good looking. He had that effortlessly cool look with the shaggy mop of hair and easy smile. Anyone who didn't see it had to be blind. Plus, he was a teenage boy, and they were notorious for lying to save their skins. Right now, Iona figured he was trying to save himself.

"Lifestyle? Messy wanderer. Put that on your Zinder profile."

Another smirk at her own little joke. She was becoming more comfortable, letting out one-liners. It helped Bale was closer in age to her. Lately she had been spending time with spacers about fifty years her senior. Granted, they were a wealth of knowledge. Yet it left little in the way of jokes and banter. It was all stories, which she appreciated. Things just tended to be more one-sided.

"Breaking a few rules? Aren't you a regular rebel."

Iona chuckled as she stood, carefully checking around her so she didn't touch anything...sticky. Even if she didn't want to sleep on the Edge, it was much more preferable than sleeping on this couch. Even the floor looked suspect, and she had slept on a lot of floors in her life. Body stretched a little and she looked at Balun.

"I'm going to stretch the legs then hit the bunk. I could use some quiet time. " Iona paused, a little awkwardly. "Thanks for picking me up. You didn't have to. You don't know me from anyone. I won't let you down. Question your sanity,sure, but I won't be too much in the way of trouble. I'll see you after I get some shut-eye. You should probably do the same."

With that, Iona left Balun to his own thoughts for now.