Dark Dunes

[Seo Linn]

The two of them had spent the rest of the festival just enjoying themselves. Reveling in the sights, sounds and festivites. A long, but enjoyable few days had passed, but it was over now. As the time had passed, they had talked and talked. About their past, what they had been, what happened to each of them through their lives to where they were now.

She had told him of her life on Lorrd, growing up a slave and what that had been like. How she gained her freedom and learned about the Force. Friends she had made and her family. While she couldn't explain things all that well in some ways, Seo did try to tell him how she wandered around and followed the call of the Force.

They didn't really touch on their ideals or beliefs about the Jedi Code, it really did not matter to her. They did not clash and that was clear to both of them.

Through those days, she had expressed an interest in returning to Lorrd and visiting her family. However, it could prove difficult since they were both Jedi and Lorrd was very much under the control of the Sith. Still she was called there and together they came up with a plan to get there.

Knowing the Mandalorians were at least loose allies with the Sith they decided it would be easier to get there using his ship. While hers was a simple freighter, it did have signs of belonging to a Silver. Codes and such that if found, might get them into a sticky situation.

Arriving at the spaceport together, they had hardly been separated over the past few days. It actually wasn't something Seo had not given much conscience thought to. She accepted it and it felt right.

Carrying a pack on her shoulders, this was an item that was almost as sacred to her as her saber. Something she wouldn't part with unless she had to. Inside that pack was everything she expected she would need. Then again travelling with Mereel, she might need to get a bigger bag.

Over the course of the few days, almost any emotional distance had faded between them. Only when others were around was any sign of it present. It was just her nature to come across that way. Once she got to know a person, that went away and a true sense of who she was became apparent. Since they were in a public place and others were nearby, it might seem she was withdrawn again, but that wasn't the case. Body language was a great way to communicate and he might be able to tell she was comfortable with what they were about to do.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Ever since the night of the festival, Mereel had taken a rather large bit of leeway from his familial duty of finding his sister. And he didn't feel all that bad about it.

He was still far from the idea of cancelling his search, but he had realized during his time with Seo aboard the Iviin'yc that he still had a handful of leads he could pursue - even after running into what he had thought had been a dead end at the derelict.

Besides, the last few days had provided him much needed rest away from his search. Talking with her about, well, almost everything over the last few days had been surprisingly relaxing, and he found most of the time they spent together to be near perfectly euphoric save when they were talking about particularly grim subject matter.

Since she had already seen his relationship with Detrik, he tried to avoid that subject whenever it had the potential to crop up. Even with those stories cut out he still had plenty of tales to tell, mostly about the weirder things that he had seen or had happen to him during his travels.

From somehow confusingly befriending a dark jedi who had been hunting him to attending a wedding where a gonk droid exploded, he spared her no small oddity from his travels, save the ewok incident over Mustafar. He wanted to save that one for if he was ever around when she was having a particularly rainy day.

While she wasn't showing it on her face, Seo seemed at ease.

Mereel wouldn't have been comfortable here on his own, especially without his armor like he was now. He strongly disliked slavers, and while the feelings weren't nearly close to being to the extent of hate he harbored for his father, the feelings were still there. He was surprised he was able to convince himself to just wear a grey unzipped jacket, a white short sleeve shirt, and some brown pants with his black boots.

To make up for his lack of armor, he had packed his bag just like he had during his trip to Ilum: to the brim, mostly with foodstuffs and a few spare power cells and detonators. It easily tacked 15 kilos back onto his person.

Seeing Seo's comfort here eased his mind and kept his mood from dipping due to forgoing his armor. As a result he was quick on the quip as he caught up to her through the crowd, "Ready to go Mrs. Anderson?"

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

The best way to fit in was become what they were trying to be. In this case, Seo felt it better to be somebody from Lorrd (which she was) so this was a natural state for her. Not so much for Mereel. Luckily she had talked him out of wearing his armor. He had wanted to bring his pack along and that was just fine. It would help them to blend in actually.

"What are my parents going to say...?"

However, ​even if the humor did not show much on her face, it was present in the Force and a little in her tone. If he looked around at the natives here, he might notice a similar attitude from them that she had when they met. Another aspect that was almost the same were the color tones of their clothes. This was mostly a desert world and they were colored to fit in.

"I have something for you."

It wasn't much, but it would display that she thought of him. Taking out of a pocket was a small package. When he opened it, inside was a scarf. That scarf would be used if they were exposed to a sandstorm while out in the desert.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel's eyebrows raised in surprise and a small mischievous grin formed on his face as he accepted the package, "Don't worry they'll probably just say, 'Wow Seo, you have exceptionally great taste in company', or maybe, 'Where did you manage to find such a strapping and charming young gentleman?'."

As he finished his sentence, his fingers finally opened the package and his eyes landed on the tan scarf inside.

The Iviin'yc's cargo runs ensured that he never lacked for clothing, but the gift still meant a great deal to him coming from her. He decided he would have to find a way to pay her back somehow.

Getting each other back was something of a routine at this point, but this time he planned on being a little more sincere and less jocular.

The mischief left his grin as he brought his eyes back up to Seo's and his voice went sober, "Thank you. I promise I'll be on my best behavior."

He flashed her a smile and gently took the scarf out of its packaging before loosely wrapping it over his shoulders, "Well, how do I look?"


[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"They might at that, but don't let it go to your head."

Like much of her attitude was when they first met, Seo said this with an entirely straight face. Tone was everything though. Over the days of the festival and trip here, Mereel had probably gotten to know her tells pretty well. With all the adventures they had so far, he might also have a good idea of what her people were like.

The scarf was more than a decoration and it was a part of what made Seo. Being on Lorrd, she felt the need to provide something of that to him. Maybe he understood what she intended by the gift and that was displayed in how he reacted.

"If that was the correct manner to wear it, you would look great. Here, allow me."

Provided he allowed her to alter how it rested on his shoulders and neck, it would only take a few moments for her adjust it. In a simple move as she pulled away and in a manner where none of her people would see, she gave him a quick flash of a smile. Along with a single, quick caress on his cheek.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel breathed out a faint sigh upon seeing the expression that went along with her first comment. With the details she had told him about growing up on Lorrd, he could understand why she had decided to don her poker face here.

Growing up behind a helmet made him less than good at controlling his own facial expressions at the best of times, but his grin didn't diminish at all as she went straight faced. His dealings with other Mandalorians made him much more attentive of people's voices than the looks on their faces. That and their time spent together helped him read between the lines.

Knowing that she hadn't been put off by his dumb self praise was a relief, but it didn't stop him from raising a skeptical eyebrow when she told him he wasn't wearing the scarf right. He didn't try to stop her from fixing it though. In fact, he didn't stir at all as she got close to adjust it. The proximity between the two of them took his mind aback to the trances he had had aboard the Iviin'yc following the festival.

Though they hadn't talked about their views on the Jedi Code at all while together, Mereel had never spent more time thinking on any code in his life - almost all of the time he had alone was dedicated to chewing over the code itself and the words of his Master. He considered his philosophy on the matter of his feelings to be locked for the time being.

He felt a brief shiver in the small of his back as her hand touched his cheek, and as she pulled away he didn't think he could do anything beside return a small smile, "You know that's not fair, right?"

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"This little gift can be a life saver in the desert."

Even as she explained thi​s to him, Seo decided to continue to not play fair and fully expected him to get payback for this at some point.

"Just put this over your mouth and nose, like this."

Moving with a practiced motion, she again would lightly caress his cheek as she adjusted and moved the scarf up to cover his nose and mouth. With how she had it wrapped around him, it would stay there on its own pretty well. ​

When he said it wasn't fair, a thought popped into her mind and her eyes took on a slight glitter for just a moment. Luckily she was still paying attention to Mereel and it wouldn't be obvious to anybody that might be watching their exchange. If he noticed it, that was fine.

"You know what they say, all is fair in love and war. I'm looking forward to your revenge."

After ​she said that it gave her pause to think though. What did she feel for Mereel? Seo knew all about family and what should be felt for them. It was one of the reasons for their visit here. She also understood passion and what could happen. Neither was exactly right for what she felt for him. Letting her introspection drop for now, there would be time enough to explore it when they weren't standing at the spaceport and in a place that was calm.

"Are you ready to meet my family? They are about half a day out of town, but we can make it before nightfall easily enough."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Although she had covered his mouth and nose, it wouldn't prevent her from seeing his eyebrows raise slightly when she said 'love and war'.

For a moment he thought she was harboring the same feelings as him, but then she mentioned revenge.

He bit the left corner of his lip and his eyes left hers, trailing down to his boots. While he often enjoyed their back and forth to no end, it seemed that it had now backfired in his face. He was incapable of telling whether she was doing all that she had as her part in the act of their game, or if there was any deeper meaning to her words.

He brushed the concerned thoughts out of his head as quickly as they had formed, and brought his eyes back up to meet hers almost just as quickly.

"Wouldn't have come all this way if I wasn't."

"One stipulation though, speeder fee's on me."
It really only made sense, while they were both travellers, he was the traveller who owned an active cargo hauler.

"It's about as far from revenge as I can think of, but I'm trying to get into the character of being the strapping young gentleman I described earlier."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

"You only need to wear that if there's a storm, otherwise, just let the veil rest under your chin."

​It seemed what she said about revenge might have been taken the wrong way, but it would be clear in time she didn't mean it in a bad way. To her it was part of the game they had started the day they met. Attempting to one up the other in various manners. When he broke eye contact, she knew maybe she had phrased things the wrong way.

What he said after though made her happy and for the moment, she stopped teasing him. Taking a hold of his hand, Seo started heading into the city. She would only let go if Mereel objected to the hold, but she didn't think he would.

"I'll do the talking. They'll know you're not a native and possibly attempt to swindle you."

Giving that hand a squeeze though, she went along with the strapping gentleman description and didn't argue.

As they walked, she would point out different areas that might interest him and maybe took slightly longer to get to where they could rent a speeder. However the highlight of the small tour was the university there and the library it had.

"That's where I worked for a few years until the Dominion fell. It got robbed of many things soon after, but appears to have made a recovery."

Hopefully it was clear to him as she spoke that by the time she was at the library she was free, that was thanks to the Dominion. When they had come to Lorrd, they had done away with the slavers and their camps. What couldn't be taken away were the memories. Eventually, they approached one of the merchants and she started speaking. With a combination of signs, signals and very little speech, a speeder was given to them. Once Mereel paid for it, they headed out of the city.

Looking up at the sky, she noted it was unlikely they would be exposed to a storm, but they could come up without warning. After checking that, she turned back to Mereel and pointed the direction they needed to head in.

"My family's home is that way."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel suspected that she had just covered his face to screw with him more, and when she confirmed his suspicion by saying he could leave it down he gave her a knowing look.

He pulled down the scarf and resumed being mostly himself as he let her lead him around the city by the hand. He was a little less talkative than normal while she showed him around town, but it put him in good company with the rest of the city's inhabitants.

Even the speeder rental people talked very little, not verbally trying to upsell them on anything- although they very well could have tried to sign an offer to Seo, he had no way of knowing about it if that was the case.

His shoulders relaxed a little as he piloted the speeder out of the city. There were still the typical noises of city life, but he had detected a significant enough to notice lack of basic freely flowing through the air. Instead, many of the people they had pasted looked like they were communicating mostly through signs and other nonverbal gestures, with him picking up some faint conversations in basic.

It was somewhat unsettling for the man who was more often than not hard pressed to stop running his mouth, and he was relieved to just be dealing with Seo again.

He nodded his head when he saw the direction she was pointing and adjusted the steering column to set their course, "Got it."

He gave her a slightly concerned look, "You sure I don't need to learn sign language before we get there?"

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Once they were out of town, Seo relaxed again around Mereel. It wasn't that she was tense or nervous, but stoic. Like when they had met and when presented at his father's. A woman that was there for a purpose. That purpose was now finished and she was free from the city. She sat in a comfortable and relaxed manner, allowing the wind to blow through her hair and just enjoy the ride. It really was nice to be home.

When they turned in the direction of her home, he would get a good idea of what it could be like here. Lorrd was mostly desert and had polar caps. The life here was tough and rugged. Its past had shaped the people here and made them who they were. Seo carried what she was with her, but no matter what, she was human and there was a fundamental need for love. Here there was that for her with her family and Mereel would soon learn that.

He asked if he was going to need to learn sign language and she shook her head in answer.

"No, after you spend enough time here, you'll pick up on things."

It was said with a sense of open honesty and almost innocence. As if she had accepted him into the fold of her family.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel didn't particularly care for sand. In fact, he normally detested it for the same reason that he hated glitter - it was a pain in the rear to clean out of armor.

He wasn't wearing his armor today though, so he was able to realize that there was actually one positive of exploring a planet that was mostly covered in desert sands.

He eased the throttle forward until he felt like the landspeeder was going at a reasonable speed and thumbed in a button on the end of the control stalk. The speeder's acceleration became locked by the cruise control mechanism.

The single positive of exploring a desert planet? He didn't have to worry about not steering the speeder headlong into trees. With their speed and heading temporarily settled, he was able to feel comfortable watching Seo a little more than where he was driving as she spoke.

He couldn't help but notice her choice of words, and he began wondering just how much time she expected him to stay on Lorrd. He probably should have chose to adress it right away, but he let it slide.

"That's a relief. I'm not much of a quick learner when it comes to languages. Some days I'm still not sure whether or not I've got Mando'a down pat."

He smiled and turned his head towards her, noting that it looked like she had thawed out of her focused state. Her comfort-indicating posture and his experimentation with the landspeeder's acceleration reminded him of something.

Taking care not to nudge the steering column, he swiftly leaned towards her and gave her a kiss on the cheek before pulling back.

He flashed her a grin as he settled back in his seat,"That was for the face petting by the way."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Sand was a part of life here and something Seo had learned to live with. Here it was impossible to escape it. Her past had made her who she was and influenced what she wore. There was very little on her that could catch and hold the sand. The fabrics flowed freely or were very tight to her body.

"Well, this language can be easily picked up. Since it's the use of body language and reading it. Don't worry though, my family can speak Basic just fine. In fact, I think you will be surprised at just how...human they are."

It was a hint to indicate her home won't be as quiet as of the ​Lorrd City. Away from most populations and large settlements, they were normal. Away from town, he had noticed her change and took advantage of it. Not in a bad way and he leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. She had known what had happened to him when she put the scarf on his face and touched him lightly...more than once.

Returning that smile, Seo chuckled. Not quite a full laugh, but a true one that came from within her. For the moment, she did not do anything much to intentionally distract him from steering the speeder, but she did lightly wrap her arms around him. Unless he objected, she would also rest against his back. They travelled comfortably together. Once in a while, she would do like what she had in town and point out various areas of interest or other small settlements.

As they neared one, she grew still. Almost cold and chilled in manner. Far more than the stoic mask she commonly wore.

"That is where I grew up before the Dominion came."

One of the many slave pits that dotted the planet. Left there as a reminder, only its ruins survived. She was quiet for a while after that, but as they neared where her family lived, she came out of that solitude of thought. Pointing where to go, she directed Mereel into her village.​ It was rustic, but still modern.

Uncovering her head, people there recognized her and some spoke out to her. Not much of a hint of the subtle language that Lorrd City had, a little due to Mereel, but they also trusted Seo not to bring somebody here that would cause them harm. As she walked into town, she actually held onto his hand. It was done with purpose, but also a sense of absentmindedness. Seo greeted each person, hugged a few and then continued on. Some of the smaller children approached them and looked wide eyed at Mereel. It wasn't often they had visitors, but he would feel welcomed.

Eventually all the greetings were done and she lead him...along with some of the more stubborn children to her home. Word would have reached her family of her arrival long before they got there, so she wasn't surprised they didn't greet her when they got to town. There were five people present. Her parents would be obvious, then an adolescent boy aged around twelve and three younger girls. Her mother and the girls were working on preparing food as she lead Mereel inside. The two males both stood up and she didn't go right to her father, but to the boy.

"Aodhan​."

It was all Seo said before giving him a light kiss on his cheek and then a very large hug. He had darker hair than she did, but shared the same eyes. There was a clear resemblance between the two of them, but it could easily be they were brother and sister. That wasn't the case though. Turning to Mereel, Seo looked at the floor for a moment only and then up at him.

"This is my son. My father, Daithi. Mother, Saraid. These other urchins around are my sisters. Eimhear, Clar and Ahlean."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

[SIZE=10.5pt]With the exception of the slave pit, the rest of the trip to Seo's village had been pleasant. He didn't stop her arms as she wrapped around him, but he also wasn't really sure how to comfort her when she pointed him to the ruins of the pit where she had grown up. He thought he had an idea, although he wasn't sure if it would help her at all or just make her think he was an idiot. Still, this was the most guarded he had ever seen her. If there was ever a time to pull the story for a rainy day, it was now.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He wasn't really sure how to start the story, he only knew that all of the best spacer bar stories began with a strong hook, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"Have I ever told you about that time I joined a terrorist organization and ended up captured by small furry creatures half my height and armed with wooden spears?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Nailed it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]What else do good spacer legends have though? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]...[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt] [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]extreme exaggeration? It's about me though. I know the actual details.. Fierfek, I'll exaggerate anyway.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He made his voice extremely haughty as he assumed the role of narrator of his own life. [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"[/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]It's true. There was a time when I wasn't a shining paragon of the people - a time before I was the bold, courageous hero you met on Anaxes. Ready yourself -"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Although he didn't think he was receiving any reactions from her, he continued on anyway. He didn't plan on ending this story unless she told him to stop or until he finished it. It was going to be a long one, not because it was all that hard to skip to the conclusion, but because he was trying to think of the best way he could spin it as an adventure someone might see in a horrendously cheesy holodrama. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He let his voice be sincere and allowed his eyes to break from the speeder's path and stare into hers for a moment, a small sad smile formed on his face as he vividly recalled the things he had done in his early twenties, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]".. you're about to hear a story I've only told one other being in the galaxy."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He took small comfort in knowing that the story might distract her from her own demons. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He looked back to their path and he returned his voice to its exaggerated tone, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"It's a tale that few know, for few who have witnessed the events I am about to impart on you have lived to tell the tale. And the surviving few who bear account do not dare to utter this story's conclusion out of fear of embarrassment and ridicule until the end of their days, and the shame it would bring to their children, and their children's children - for generations until the heat death of the galaxy itself." [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"Our almost half-decade long tale begins with a dashing, although often drunken young rogue - a vagrant among the stars with no purpose save one: recovering his family name. For you see, almost a decade before our protagonist was born, a different story was told. A strong, cunning, and deceitful ne'er-do-well rose to power in the family, and tarnished the good name the family once held."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He wasn't sure why he had started referring to himself as a different person. It kind of just happened, maybe it was just natural to do that after assuming the voice of a narrator? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"Our tale's protagonist had no advantage over his foe though. He lacked the cunning, strength, and the connections of his rival, so he struck out to the stars in an attempt to attain all three - and he almost succeeded."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"He became a master of cunning without much peril, but everything changed when he tried to achieve strength."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]His voice broke, and he realized he couldn't keep up the overbearing narrator act anymore. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]He audibly cleared his throat and decided to begin genuinely retelling the events as he remembered them, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"At the time the Mandalorian government was pretty benign and un-aggressive. Some Mandalorians, being Mandalorians, weren't okay with that. Those who had more militant dreams for Mandalore joined a group called Death Watch, dedicated to changing Mandalorian politics through combat."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"Although for admittedly selfish reasons, I signed on with Death Watch. I wanted to learn how to fight other Mandalorians for when I returned home, and it looked like Death Watch provided a great opportunity for that."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Mereel sighed, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"It ended up being the worst decision of my life. I spent well over two years in captivity on some forest planet in the outer rim."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"I don't know if you've ever seen an ewok Seo, but they are furry little critters that look cuddly, and their heads top off at my waist level. Picture that for a second, and then multiply what you just saw by ten thousand, and then have them operating a pirate fleet. What you just imagined is what stopped a Mandalorian terrorist group, armed and armored - and what had me locked up in a cage for two years."[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]When he finally stopped talking, he realized his chest was heaving for breath and he had beads of sweet forming on his forehead. He quickly wiped the dots of sweat away, and a bit of red touched his cheeks. His story was the jumbled rant of a madman, but if it kept her a little distracted from the pit he considered it worth it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]###[/SIZE]​

​

Mereel was in an embarrassed and slightly exhausted haze as Seo led him through her village, in fact he hardly gave any thought to her holding his hand as they entered or the more persistent children that followed them through the streets. His recantation of the events had been a long winded and tiring rant, but exhaustion and embarrassment weren't the only things that had him out of focus. His speech had also served to bring back a few unpleasant memories that he had mostly gotten over back into his mind - namely his wanton slaughter of the ewok village upon being freed.

When Seo unceremoniously revealed to him that she had a kid, the color had already been long flushed from his face. If he wasn't so out of it he might have felt personally betrayed that she had never mentioned having a child during the duration of their time spent together, but instead the whole ordeal just felt surreal to him.

Above all else he longed for the privacy of his helmet and time to think, but he realized he wouldn't be able to get reprieve here. He slowed his breathing and tried to clear his thoughts with the meditation technique he had been taught years ago. Calling on the force to get himself through a conversation was something he had never thought of trying before, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

A fraction of a grin sprouted on his face as he felt the aura of the village wash over him. It felt lively to him, a breath of fresh air from the prison of his mind, "It's a pleasure to meet you all, my name's Mereel."

He left out his last name as a bit of habit. He normally introduced himself while wearing his armor, and including the last name while wearing it was often enough to get people concerned or angry if you were in the wrong part of town.

Since her mother was still preparing food, he directed his immediate attention to Seo's father with a now fully developed grin on his face, "I just want you to know that she's the one constantly getting me into trouble, and not the other way around."

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

When Mereel first started speaking, he was accurate in that he didn't get much of a reaction from Seo. As he continued though, she started paying attention. By the time he reached the point of mentioning a master of cunning, he had her full attention. Or as much as he would be able to sense since she was leaning against his back.

As he spoke, it brought back different memories for her. Of her days with the Dominion. The time of learning for her and really just how calm things were until the end. It took a little while, but eventually Seo came out of the introspection she was doing and listened with intent to his story. One thing she did not do was make fun of him.

What he didn't say was how he escaped...Something she would be sure to ask when the opportunity presented itself.

While she had been in a daze as they travelled, she was out of it by the time they got to her town and he was in his. In a way it was reversal of position and not totally lost on her. A time would come when hopefully she could offer him as much of distraction on a rainy day.

Each of the girls and mother gave him a small wave as Seo introduced them briefly and went back to finishing up the food for them. The males however looked at Mereel with for more attention to detail. It might be something he picked up on, but she had picked up her observational skills from her father. He certainly noticed the smile and gave him one as well. Inviting Mereel to sit with the two of them, he assumed Seo would wander off to be with her mother and sisters. And that is exactly what happened.

Daithi had a sense of humor and it matched that of Seo. Her son was still developing and sat observing the exchanged that happened with bright intelligence in his eyes. Very much like Seo had been when they initially met. Offering Mereel a drink of something akin to what he would be familiar with, her father sat back and looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"I know my daughter and believe you. She never was one to stay out of trouble. However, you aren't fully innocent either are you? You would lead her into situations where trouble found you through no fault of hers."

If Mereel was paying any attention to the sounds the girls were making, he would hear Seo telling of some of the adventures she had been on. Different sound effects of ships, blaster sounds and muffled words of what happened. The little girls made appropriate sounds of awe and surprise and then silence. Her father faced where the females were located and raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at their guest.
​
"Welcome to Lorrd and my home, Mereel. Here I hope you can be comfortable. Food is ready."

The two males stood up ​to head into where the food was ready. Seo poked her nose out of the kitchen, gave Mereel a smile and motioned for him to join them.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Though he was smiling, his mind was in shambles. The feeling he had possessed of this day just being an absurd dream had passed, and he was left facing bittersweet reality. Sweet because Seo's family seemed genuinely kind and human, just like she had told him. Bitter because he realized that his feelings had been hurt by Seo keeping the detail of having a son out of every single prior conversation.

Maybe, she just didn't think it was important enough to tell me?

It was a terrible excuse to him, but maybe that was the real reason she didn't tell him. That woman was something of an enigma to him at the worst of times.

He slowed his breathing to clear his mind again as he sat when invited. There was a slightly glassy look in his eyes as he accepted the drink from Seo's son. Aodhan looked to be no more than 14, maybe 15 years old to his sharp eyes, one or two years away at most from the age when he had been forced to take his first life, "Thank you."

He turned his eyes to Seo's father before any further possibly unpleasant expressions could register on his face.

"A lot of days I wish I could say that I was." He said, his tone lacking its normal energetic cadence, "But lack off innocence hasn't stopped me from trying to stop her when she jumps in on my behalf."

He hadn't noticed Seo's retelling of adventures in the kitchen. He was too caught up in his current surroundings.

Daithi's final sentence before getting up to lead them to dinner delivered a nice twist of the knife in his heart. While it was likely extremely selfish and unbecoming of him, right now he didn't feel at all comfortable with himself, and now he wasn't sure that he was entirely comfortable with Seo either.

Regardless of his feelings, he was here now. The younger man he had told Seo about in his story might've just walked out right then and there. Left it all behind with blatant disregard to the feelings of others. He had changed since those days, and since he didn't hate Seo, he really didn't have any other choice besides following Daithi into the lion's den.

He put on his best normal self impression he could muster as he entered the kitchen, cocky grin and all.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

There were a few glances passed between father and grandson as they could both read Mereel pretty easily. Though he did try to hide what he felt, they could read a human like a book. He was clearly in shock. However, they made no comment on it or asked what caused it.

Daithi would make one further comment before walking into the kitchen.

"You are a good man, Mereel."

When the three of them ​entered the kitchen, Seo only needed to take one look at her friend and feel rotten. It wasn't that her son was not important, far from it.

I...I am ashamed. ​

If he choose to look at her, everything would be clear in her eyes.

A girl coming of age as a slave. I was a child that had a child. I'm sorry, Mereel.​ I didn't know how to tell you.

And even though these were thoughts directed at him, Seo took a physical gulp. Right now, she was as much going through the actions of serving up food as he had been moments ago with the drink. A practiced habit and one that was second nature. There was one good sign about him in her revelation, he hadn't run. Even if he didn't know how to react yet exactly, Mereel had remained.

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Her father's words twisted the knife again ever so slightly. If he had known what Mereel had been thinking about he definitely wouldn't have said that. He tried to sink further into his ficade, but before he could come up with some joking response he felt a familiar tingle in the back of his mind.

His fake grin faltered for a second, drooping slightly as a shiver ran down his spine. Force telepathy gave him the creeps, but normally he would have been able to not openly display any discomfort from a telepathic message from her. What she had communicated silently this time wasn't a thing he couldn't not react to.

His eyes didn't attempt to meet hers after her first message, but not because he was angry with her. Hearing her 'say' she was ashamed broke any foundations of his resentfulness.

For better of for worse, he believed her revelation and the tables in his mind were completely turned.

He was no longer uncomfortable with Seo, now he was just disappointed with himself. He should've been able to put two and two together from what she had told him, but instead he had let his own feelings get in the way of his reason.

When he finally was able to look at Seo, he had been completely bereaved of his fake smile.

A different gear kicked on in his mind as he focused his thoughts on Seo to direct a telepathic message of his own to her,

It's okay.

Although it had initially hurt, he could now understand why she didn't want to tell him about it. Growing up with his clan gave him no precedent, but he was convinced that even his morally bankrupt father would have allowed a woman to take the boy into the clan under similar circumstances.

He flashed her a small smile, and although it was tired, it was genuine.

I'm going to teach you how to call me an idiot in Mando'a.

[member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Growing up and through all her life, Seo had known the love of family. Even in her childhood, that had been there. It would be clear to Mereel just how important that was to her and the others around him. No matter how he reacted, he had stayed and that drew her to him more. Whatever his thoughts were before as her message reached him, he changed.

When he did finally respond to her message, she blinked at him. He may not yet know or fully understand the language spoken by the human body, but that blink meant so many things right now. Thank you, acceptance, friendship, comprehension...the meanings were immeasurable.

Even if this was just between the two of them, her parents noticed the exchange of glances. A conclusion was made by the two of them that moment and would be clear later that night. What Daithi had said remained true, Mereel was a good man. Something that was between them. Her father knew nobody was perfect, but sometimes it was those imperfections that made the person perfect for another.

The smile he gave Seo meant the world to her at that moment. However, she did have a little more to say on the matter.

No, it isn't. I should have said something. Finding the words though...I couldn't. ​

Handing him a plate of food herself, when she leaned over him, her mouth was close enough to his ear and she whispered one word. Picking up languages and inflections for a Lorrdian was easy. Mandoa was just one of many Seo knew a little of.

"Dikut."

[member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

The chill still ran down his back, but he didn't even flinch as her next telepathic message made its way to his brain.

He turned his head to begin shaking it in disagreement with her sentiment, but he remembered that if he went through with it her family would definitely notice.

He decided he would play off his head turn by just giving Seo a smile as she handed him a plate. Or at least he would have played it off by doing that if she hadn't whispered the Mandalorian obscenity in his ear.

Hearing the word uttered by her was shocking, and it caused him to let out a surprised chuckle. He tried to stifle it by biting down his lip but it was already too late and only ended up making it funnier to him.

After laughing for a few seconds, he figured a new strategy was in order. He would try to drown his laughter by taking a drink of what Aodhan had poured him.

Years of drinking ensured that he recognized the smell of distilled varos fruit from the colorless liquid as soon as he brought the mug close to his face.

His laughter died out in an instant on its own as curiosity took over. If this wasn't Seo's family, he would have let one of his hands drift to a blaster pistol on either one of his hips - he was rarely on good terms with the culture responsible for the drink's brewing.

Instead of inching for a blaster, he simply looked at Daithi with a knowing glint in his eyes, "Tihaar?"

[member="Seo Linn"]