Private Down Below

[Ara Sheridan]

CORUSCANT | UNDERWORLD
TAGS: Kayl Krayt
GEAR: In bio

Theme​

Ara was no stranger to Underworld, having grown up and seen the worst of the Galaxy's residents as a child. It was one of the reasons she hated assignments that brought her to the guts of Coruscant. She had gotten more used to it, learned to control her emotions, thought it still disgusted her to even smell its stench again. If it wasn't for Kayl, she would never have ventured there again. But this trip had nothing to do with her and Kayl, this was strictly Jedi business.

That didn't stop her from actually asking him to help her out.

She knew Underworld and its mannerisms, but she wasn't as familiar with all the levels and layout of it as a whole. Some parts she knew as well as any resident, but not all. Sitting in a rather unfamiliar bar, the Jedi sipped at a drink as she watched the denizens' comings and goings. The objective was a rather tricky one. A rather nefarious smuggler had operations going in and out of Underworld. The target supposedly worked for a dangerous crime lord, but that was all rumours and hearsay. Apparently the target had a reputation in Underworld, a rather counterintuitive trait, and visited a joint not too far from her location. Simply put, she was going in blind. If there was anyone who would have picked up on stories or the like, it was Kayl. He was her best resource in this situation.

But first they had to link up. She could have chosen anywhere else for them to meet... but this spot drew her attention. Not too big, decent prices, they could at least have a few drinks and catch up before moving on.

How she became a Knight was still a surprise to her.

 

[Kayl Krayt]

Tags: Ara Sheridan

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Insert Coin Avenue​

Advisory assistance.

That was the role he was to play in this. And although he would most certainly have charged a not so negligible sum of credits in exchange for his skills and services to a client, Ara was probably the only exception he made to that business practice. To the young Mandalorian, requesting remuneration from one’s beloved sounded scummy, through and through. That did not at all sit well with him.

And she certainly needed his knowledge and set of skills for this. At least that was the impression he got from her message. She was in pursuit of Wolba, a Rodian smuggler. The man was certainly sought after for his talent for the trade. You needed to get something that even the black market could not supply you, and you needed it fast? Wolba was your man. It was the same if you needed to transport sensitive cargo as well; spice lords lower in the food chain also had hired him for his particular skills and connections to enhance their drug trafficking operations.

His reputation saw him popping up on CSF’s radar. The attempts to arrest him did not yield the results the law enforcement sought after. And that’s what sets apart a good smuggler, the talent and skill necessary in the trade put aside. He was difficult to catch.

She was certainly going after a dangerous and highly skilled individual.

But that’s why Kayl was here for; watch her back, help her, and make it easier for her.

The young Misfit stepped into the cantina where she waited for him. His beskar’gam would not appear different from the last time she saw him, other than the battle scarring on the armor plates that grew in number quite steeply.

There was a certain air of confidence in the lean and tall Mandalorian’s gait, as he walked inside at a leisurely pace. His gaze, sharp with vigilance, shot from one corner of the unfamiliar cantina to the other, in search of Ara. His eyes met hers not long after; her familiar silhouette and visage drew his eyes like a magnet, away from the unsavory types around them. A soft, amative smile pulled at his lips at the sight of her, as he gravitated towards the table she was seated at.

He began with a casual comment towards her selection of clothing, intended to blend in with her environment more effectively. <”If I didn’t know any better, I’d pass you off as a member of some biker gang,”> the young Misfit told to Ara, at a tone only loud enough for her to hear as he sat down across from her at the table.

Kayl paid a momentary glance at the other patrons in the cantina before he shifted his gaze back onto her visage, and removed his helm. ”A good choice for a place to meet. Not too busy, and certainly not as dirty as some of the other cantina’s I’ve seen,” he idly commented as he set his helmet on the table.

He ran a hand through his hair then leaned closer towards his beloved, his hands clasped afterwards. ”How have you been?” the fondness in his soft voice was unmistakable as he spoke to her, as he took in the beautiful jungle green eyes of the Zabrak. His lips curled into a lovesome, affectionate smile as he spoke; the affectious glint in his eyes were equally genuine as his smile.

He missed her a lot. It certainly had been a while since the last time they had the opportunity to get together.

The job could wait for a bit.

​

 

[Ara Sheridan]

Ara's eyes immediately shifted to the tall, armoured figure that entered the bar, a soft smile spreading along her lips. Between his jobs and her duties, they hadn't been able to see each other as often in recent months. It made meetings like these incredibly precious to her, little moments to savour and simply enjoy despite their respective duties.

But something drew her attention as he closed the distance to her table. Aside from the various blaster marks that weren't there the last time she saw him, something just felt different about him. She couldn't put a finger on it, but the Force didn't lie.

Those thoughts were quickly shoved aside the moment his words passed his lips. "And you wouldn't even be wrong, if you wanna get technical." She remarked with a wink as she watched him sit across from her. "Was planning on a different spot. But this is nice. Place got some atmosphere to it. Also not as big as other joints. More private." She commented, sparing a glance around her. Her gaze turned back to him as he leaned in towards her a little, her smile brightening at the sight of his features. His question made her pause, though.

"Busy. Maw's gone. Empire's gone... that don't mean we're getting time off now. Alliance has been taking over those spaces, helping to regain stability and all that. Three guesses on who's spearheading that." She took a sip of her beer as she glanced at his helmet on the table. "And if it ain't peacekeeping, it's borderline legal bounty hunting. Jobs like these." She glanced back to him before her features brightened up. "Lemme get you a drink." She quickly got up and purchased a beer for Kayl by the bar before returning to their table. Practically leaning over him, she set the glass down and took the chance to steal a kiss on his cheek before she sat down across from him once more.

She decided to turn the question on him. "And you? How have you been?" She asked softly, nodding to the helmet. "How's it going back home?" She asked gently as she looked up at him.

Kayl Krayt

 

[Kayl Krayt]

Tags: Ara Sheridan

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Insert Coin Avenue​

"And you wouldn't even be wrong, if you wanna get technical." She remarked with a wink as she watched him sit across from her.

A kind grin would pull at his lips underneath his helmet faceplate when she returned his remark. <”Your peers could certainly benefit from copying your wardrobe selection,”> he would give her a casual compliment in his remark. A synthesized chuckle accompanied his in the wake of his words in the moments before he took off his helm, and set it on the table after he sat. <”I for one cannot imagine you wrapped in jedi robes.”> The mental image alone of such circumstance certainly did not beseem the Ara he knew and loved.

"Was planning on a different spot. But this is nice. Place got some atmosphere to it. Also not as big as other joints. More private." She commented, sparing a glance around her.

”Well, by no means is it a five-star establishment, but it certainly proves to be sufficient for your intention.” Kayl said, in the moment before he clasped his hands and leaned forward, closer to Ara; her affectionate smile she offered her drew an equally warm grin while he took in her features and her jungle green eyes.

Though her momentary pause in the wake of his question certainly did not escape his sharp vigilance.

"Busy. Maw's gone. Empire's gone... that don't mean we're getting time off now. Alliance has been taking over those spaces, helping to regain stability and all that. Three guesses on who's spearheading that." She took a sip of her beer as she glanced at his helmet on the table. "And if it ain't peacekeeping, it's borderline legal bounty hunting. Jobs like these."

”Busy sounds like an understatement,” the young Misfit idly commented, a mild amount of disappointment apparent in his soft voice; that meant she wouldn’t be getting herself some alone time, not like in the past. He wanted to see her more often.

And he too needed to cut down on the amount of jobs he was taking as well. As a bounty hunter and freelance mercenary, he had the liberty to take the contracts he so desired whenever as long as the contract still remained available, and could go without taking up some jobs for a while.

But alas, that was a luxury Ara could not afford in her line of work, it seemed. Certainly not.

"Lemme get you a drink."

As to her offer for a drink, she got up and headed towards the bar before he could say anything. He did not drink when he was on the job, but this was also a meet for the two of them. They were yet to move onto the job at hand.

But she dispelled what little dilemma he felt when she returned to him with a drink. Planting a kiss after leaning over him, the young Misfit raised a hand to her visage, and fondly caressed her cheek. He reciprocated her loving gesture with a kiss to her cheek shortly afterwards, before she sat down across from him on the table again.

"And you? How have you been?" She asked softly, nodding to the helmet. "How's it going back home?"

”Oh you know, the usual,” Kayl began as he reached for the glass of beer she got for him. ”Chasing bounties. Delivered Imtrin Zear’s head a while back,” after taking a swig from his beer, he made mention of the cartel lieutenant he hunted down. ”There was a good price on his head, but it certainly wasn’t as appetizing as the price for Ondrick Rass,” he spoke of the spice baron now. ”Turns out he was hiding in Tatooine. I still can’t get the sand out of me,” he chuckled in the wake of his words as he pulled the glass of beer to his lips for another sip. ”I had to get assistance from a fellow kin for the job, however. A Marshal, residing just out of Mos Eisley” he continued as he set the glass on the table, beside his helm. ”If it wasn’t for him, I would have missed the opportunity to catch Rass alive.” he said, with a nod of his head at the memory of the bounty.

Vren Rook 's help was undoubtedly invaluable; the advice the old man gave him, even more so.

”But aside from that, I’ve been working on a few personal projects of mine at home in my spare time from work.” he said and took a hearty swig from his beer, completely glossing over the fact that he had a near-death experience with a particular bounty not that long ago. His attempt at hunting the assassin, Ada Infernum , certainly did not go the way he had planned.

Kayl had his reason to avoid mentioning that to Ara, though. She was already busy and had a bunch of things she had to worry about. He did not want to add up to her troubles. He didn’t want her to worry for him.

He was alive and fine, and that’s all that mattered.

”So, I…” Kayl began a few moments later, switching to a different topic after having answered her initial question. ”About how busy you were… I am aware you can’t simply put away or postpone your duties, but is there really no way you can set aside more time for... us?” he asked softly, an expectant glint twinkling in his brown eyes as he looked her in the eye. ”I can cut back on the amount of bounties I take and make more time for you,” he added, taking a sip from his beer in the wake of his words.

He certainly wanted to be with her more often.

​

 

[Ara Sheridan]

Kayl's comment about the bar earned a chuckle from Ara as she glanced around them, a gentle smile adorned across her lips. "To be fair, it's the places with flaws that make the best spots. A five-star restaurant is all well and good, but that's got expectations." She remarked as she glanced back to him. Unfortunately, the conversation turned more serious the moment she placed a beer in front of him. His disappointment didn't get past her as she watched him with sharp eyes.

Kayl's expeditions earned a wide-eyed stare from Ara as she listened to his stories. She recognized the names immediately. To think that Kayl went after those criminals was impressive to say the least. "Soundin' like the new Jango Fett over here, huh?" She remarked, though a hint of discomfort carried in her voice. The dangers of those targets alone was cause for concern from the Zabrak. No matter how casually he played it off, Ara couldn't help but feel worried about his safety.

That ripple in the Force became a little more evident.

"A Marshal? I remembered my mom mentioning something about a Mando running the show on Tatooine. Rook or something. Gotta say, dude's got stones to be taking on Mos Eisley on his own. From what I've seen and heard, that's not a place you challenge just 'cause you're bored." She remarked, staring down at her half-sunk beer. Ara glanced back at him as he continued talking. He had every right to be concerned about their time apart, just as much as she had. However, that disturbance in the Force kept nagging at her. "Whaddya think this is?" She remarked with a shrug. "You don't just say 'no' to orders, Kay. You should know this. I'm trying my best to wiggle some free time in. A padawan don't really help the situation either. Although a break from hunting wouldn't be that bad, you know."

She sat forward with her green gaze focused on Kayl. "Kay... babe... please... are you okay?" She gestured to the marks on his armour as concern filled her features. "I'm worried about those. Hunting is one thing... but if you're throwin' yourself into a storm of blasterfire, there's gonna be issues." She muttered as a hand stretched out to grip his.

Kayl Krayt

 

[Kayl Krayt]

Tags: Ara Sheridan

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Insert Coin Avenue​

"Soundin' like the new Jango Fett over here, huh?"

Her likening him to a legendary figure drew a genuine chuckle out of Kayl. ”I would not go as far as holding me in the same regard as that legend, but perhaps one day.” Though he’d remark casually, the distinct discomfort in her tone of voice would not elude him. He could see it in her eyes, too. She was genuinely worried for him, and understandably so; his line of work wasn’t exactly the safest, with many occupational hazards to boot.

Like getting shot, stabbed, burned. Just to name a few.

"A Marshal? I remembered my mom mentioning something about a Mando running the show on Tatooine. Rook or something."

”Vren Rook,” he’d confirm with a nod of his head. ”He was kind enough to help me track down my target. He knows those sand dunes as good as the Tuskens,” he’d remark before she continued.

"Gotta say, dude's got stones to be taking on Mos Eisley on his own. From what I've seen and heard, that's not a place you challenge just 'cause you're bored."

”Yes. He’s certainly tough as nails. The ordinary folks under his protection are lucky to have him as their protector,” Kayl would speak more about The Marshal with a grin after he took another swig from his beer. When he went about voicing out his concern, however, her distress from earlier became a tad bit more apparent to him. He’d fall silent when he’d finish, and listen to her intently.

"Whaddya think this is?" She remarked with a shrug. "You don't just say 'no' to orders, Kayl. You should know this. I'm trying my best to wiggle some free time in. A padawan don't really help the situation either. Although a break from hunting wouldn't be that bad, you know."

It went about just as well as he expected. Somewhat crestfallen, he listened to her, but nevertheless he offered her a genuine smile, and extended his understanding of her situation with a nod of his head as she explained to him the facts about her line of work; her schedule was far less flexible than his, and of course, she did not have the luxury of choosing when she’d go out on an assignment, unlike him.

Then, it was clear that it would be beneficial for the both of them if he was the one to take things at a slower pace. He could do with taking fewer bounties. Rest and recuperate, and catch-up with Ara in the meantime before he would, eventually, go back to taking on more jobs later on.

Her mention of a Padawan, however, did not at all escape his attention. That meant she was no longer a Padawan herself, and that she was elevated to Knighthood within her Order! That was certainly worth celebrating, but he couldn’t help but wonder when she was planning to break the good news to him. After all, her remark was an off-hand mention of her ascension. But nevertheless, he was no less proud of her because of that. He knew she had what it took. He never once had doubted her ability, and she proved him right.

He beamed at her with a smile, but before he could extend his congratulations to her, she steered the conversation to a different path.

"Kayl... babe... please... are you okay?" She gestured to the marks on his armour as concern filled her features.

At her gesture to his armor, he shifted his gaze from her features in silence, and glanced at the scorch marks that adorned the paintjob of his armor, before he took in her gaze again while she continued to voice out the concerns she harbored for him.

"I'm worried about those. Hunting is one thing... but if you're throwin' yourself into a storm of blasterfire, there's gonna be issues." She muttered as a hand stretched out to grip his.

He extended his hand towards hers and met her in the middle, and grasped her hand gently. For a moment he remained in silence, momentarily averting his gaze from hers, staring into some speck of dust at the corner of their table. His thoughts drawn onto the near-death experience he had with a particular bounty. The disciple of Vahl he had gone after, she did not only leave marks on his armor, but upon his flesh, as well. Burns, lacerations… They were healed now, but they were there still.

He did not want her to worry for him, but it was also unfair to keep it a secret from her as well. What he would have to say would more than likely not soothe her concerns for him, but nevertheless, he had to. He gave a curt nod of his head at the notion in his mind, before returning his gaze to her visage.

”Ara. Darling,” The Misfit began, as he lovingly caressed each of the elegant digits of her hand. ”There's something I should have told you earlier. I did not want to make mention of it before, because I did not want you to worry for me. I did not want to add up to the things you’re already worrying about, but, you’re also within your rights to know,” the young man said intently. ”There was this bounty I picked up, not too long ago. You could say I… met my match. I had taken it on a whim. It offered a rare opportunity, the kind that would put my name out there. And to add to that, the timeframe I was working with was… constrictive. As you can imagine I didn’t have a lot of time to gather sufficient intel on her, so I made do with what I was given.” he spoke in a soft tone, averting not his gaze away from hers as he explained to her the facts. ”I had her on a few occasions in the fight, but I... fumbled it. She proved to be more resourceful, and more dangerous than I had initially anticipated. I did not know of her abilities well, and… that had me spending a standard twenty-four hours in a bacta tank at the end of it,” the young man heaved a sigh before he’d continue.

”But, as they say, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, right?” he quipped at her with a chuckle in an attempt to alleviate the gravity of the topic. ”But, this is the reality of my line of work, love. You know this as well as I do. It is the reality of yours, too. You and I, every time we clock in, to carry out an assignment on your part, and a bounty or a contract on mine, there’s rarely a moment we’re not in a brush with death until it’s done. No matter how prepared one can be for their assignment, the dangers are going to be ever present, nevertheless.” he elaborated his point. With bounties, missions, things did not always pan out the way one planned for, after all. ”Do you think I’m any less worried for you than you’re worried for me?” he raised her a rhetorical question as a genuine smile pulled at his lips as he continued to lovingly caress her hand in his grasp while he spoke. ”I just don’t show it. But I know that, no matter what, you’ll pull through; that you’ll come back home to me at the end of a mission, alive and in one piece.” he told her with sincere conviction.

”And so will I, no matter what. I promise you that. All I ask of you is to have faith in me the same way I have faith in you, babe.” He finished, hoping she could see the point he made.

​

 

[Ara Sheridan]

Kayl didn't say it, but the shift in his eyes was immediately apparent when she mentioned having a padawan. She never mentioned that to him. Come to think of it, she never got around to telling him that she got promoted to Knighthood. She planned on telling him, but that mess on Kashyyyk threw a spanner in the works entirely. Her heart sank and her cheeks turned blood red. How could she forget to mention something like that? Guilt dragged her mood down in an instant as he continued to speak. His confession didn't help her mood either.

Her eyes went wide and a deep frown settled in as she listened to his story. He fought a Sith. He hunted down and parked in a bacta tank by a Sith warrior. "You did what?" She muttered, sitting upright. His weak joke received no response from Ara as she shifted her hand to grip his, incredibly tight on top of that.

”Do you think I’m any less worried for you than you’re worried for me?”

”I just don’t show it. But I know that, no matter what, you’ll pull through; that you’ll come back home to me at the end of a mission, alive and in one piece.”

”And so will I, no matter what. I promise you that. All I ask of you is to have faith in me the same way I have faith in you, babe.”

"What? No..." Her hand pulled away from his as she pointed to herself. "I'm a Jedi, Kay. It's expected of me. I throw myself in the meatgrinder so other people can live. Without the karkin' Maw, the Imperials, whoever, comin' down on them. I'm the one who puts myself on the line so other people can live. That includes you. When you go out, it's just for... karkin' money. Kay, I have faith in you..." She gripped his hand once again in a firm grasp. "But you gettin' a bolt through your head ain't the same as me. It's worse. It's stupid." She practically hissed, her other hand coming up to join in on the vice grip.

With a shaky breath, Ara let go and sat back as she glanced away. With a long sip at her drink, she mulled over what he said. He didn't spell it out, but she had a very good hunch on what he encountered. If she could bet money on it, she would. "A karkin' sith. For kriff's sake, Kay. A sith." She muttered, looking back at him. "You know how bad that could've ended? 'Cause I do. That harpy could've torn you apart." She continued.

After taking a moment, and a few more sips, to calm down from her rather hefty outburst, Ara looked at Kayl again with guilt in her eyes. "I didn't tell you I got promoted, did I?" She asked him softly.

Kayl Krayt

 

[Kayl Krayt]

Tags: Ara Sheridan

​

Insert Coin Avenue​

The Misfit’s smile faded away to a mere grin as Ara went on. Crestfallen now, and his pride somewhat injured in the wake of her words, Kayl nevertheless listened to the concerns his beloved harbored for him. He’d wince not when Ara tightly squeezed his hand she firmly held in her grasp, but it certainly prompted him to spare her his full, undivided attention. Not for a moment did he interrupt her, through a muttered word or action. He listened to her in silence, and gave thoughtful consideration to each word she spoke.

He certainly did not make the mistake of trivializing the very real concerns she harbored for him, but, he was not in need of anybody’s protection, as much as her considerate gesture was highly endearing. He could look after himself just fine. And as much as she said she had faith in his ability, what underlied her words seemed to suggest otherwise. Of course, risk of injury -or worse, death- was an ever present reality in his line of work, but perhaps she needed a reminder that he was not some ordinary bounty hunter or a mercenary. He was a Mandalorian; through grit, sweat and blood he had earned that right.

He thought he proved himself to her, long ago. He thought he had dispelled such doubts in her mind with his actions when she questioned his identity the time they had met.

Perhaps she forgot that fact; and that they, through their people’s crafty nature alone, had posed a significant challenge to her kind, the Jedi, all those years ago during the Mandalorian Crusades of old. They had overcome the obstacles the Jedi posed on them then, with skill and innovation. They proved to them and the rest of the galaxy that the Mandalorians were a force to be reckoned with.

And he was no different. He had gained invaluable experience from his fight to the death with that assassin, and he would not repeat the same errors he regrettably committed in that fight again.

It seemed he’d have to prove himself to her again. Perhaps unbeknownst to her at the time, she issued him another challenge now, similar in nature to the night they crossed paths in Coruscant’s Underworld.

And he was not going to shy away from it, just as he did not shy away before.

The young Misfit slowly drew away and massaged the hand she squeezed firmly when Ara’s grasp wavered.
The silence that befell her was utterly discomforting. She visibly went on to ponder about everything he told her again.

"A karkin' sith. For kriff's sake, Kay. A sith." She muttered, looking back at him. "You know how bad that could've ended? 'Cause I do. That harpy could've torn you apart." She continued.

Her remark had him avert his gaze away from hers to some corner in the cantina, as her words drew a frown out of him; he wanted to say that she was just exaggerating, that she was making a big deal out of it all, but, his understanding nature emerged victorious over the notion that egged him on to voice out a retort. She was absolutely within her rights to be concerned.

His features would appear relaxed when he took in her gaze once more, his frown dissipated now. ”I hear you,” he began, indulgent of her worry as he softly spoke to her. ”Your concerns towards my well-being are not lost on me, and I will be careful. More than ever,” He stretched out his leg underneath the table, and gently brushed it against her’s. ”I promise you, love.” he muttered to her assuringly, as a hand reached out to grasp her’s. Upon grasping her hand if Ara let him, Kayl would tenderly pull her hand to his lips and drop a kiss onto her elegant digits before he let go.

He would certainly try to make it up to her, and soothe her mind once they had some alone time together.

"I didn't tell you I got promoted, did I?" She asked him softly.

”I could tell judging from the fact that how busy you got recently,” Kayl said to Ara, flashing her an affectionate, toothy grin as he did. ”And your previous mention of a Padawan under your wing all but confirmed that. I figured you’d break the news to me eventually. I wish you did so sooner, but it’s all good.” He remarked after he took one last swig from his pint, finishing his beer. The young man set his empty pint on the table afterwards. ”Would you want to go somewhere nice to celebrate? After we’re done?” The Misfit asked her kindly then, in hopes of dispelling the guilt that befell her. He wasn’t sure if she’d have the time for it after they got done with her mission to find the Rodian smuggler, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

​

 

[Ara Sheridan]

His words of reassurance and leg against hers drew a slight sigh of relief from Ara. He reached out and planted a kiss on her hand, earning a chuckle from her as she watched him. "Karkin' smooth talker." She teased him. Upon her question of her knighthood, Kayl laid out all of his suspicions which earned a groan from Ara. "I'm sorry, Kay. I wanted to tell you when it happened. When we were on Kashyyyk. But... that mess with the Trandoshans completely threw the plans out the window. Didn't get a chance after that." She admitted to him.

”Would you want to go somewhere nice to celebrate? After we’re done?”

The question drew a faint smile and a nod from Ara. "I'd like that. A movie or something, maybe?" She suggested softly, finishing her drink. "Should introduce you to Jalen sometime. Think you two would geek out like crazy together." She snickered at the thought of him and Jalen Kai'el in the same room... although getting them over their awkward silence would be the first priority. They were both hopeless when it came to strangers.

"Let's move out. We still got a job to do." She remarked, standing up and adjusting her jacket. Once they were out and in the streets, Ara studied her datapad for a moment to get a fix on her target. That was where Kayl came in. "Know the best route?" She asked him as she sent him the details she had. Now it was her time to follow his lead until they got to the target.

Kayl Krayt

 

[Kayl Krayt]

Tags: Ara Sheridan

​

Insert Coin Avenue​

"Karkin' smooth talker."

A grin pulled at his lips at her teasing words. Letting go of her hand after planting a kiss, the young Misfit returned his gaze back onto hers before she groaned and addressed why she could not break the news to him earlier. He listened to her patiently, indulgent of her situation.

"I'm sorry, Kay. I wanted to tell you when it happened. When we were on Kashyyyk. But... that mess with the Trandoshans completely threw the plans out the window. Didn't get a chance after that."

”Hey,” Kayl muttered grinningly, continuing to gently brush his leg against hers still. ”It’s alright, baby.” He couldn’t blame her for any of that. It was understandable she couldn’t tell him back on Kashyyyk. They had no choice but to cut their trip shorter than intended after what had transpired, anyway. The responding law enforcement had taken their statements several times, let go after a few hours when all the dust settled.

He hoped Ara didn’t have to fill in a desk full of reports for her council, detailing the matter.

"I'd like that. A movie or something, maybe?"

Kayl chuckled softly at her proposition; a movie did sound like a good idea. ”And a nice dinner afterwards,” the young Mandalorian added after she proposed the idea to him. He wasn’t aware if there was any recent blockbuster worth seeing, but he’d leave that to Ara to decide. ”I want to take you to this noodle shop after. It’s a small place, looks like it’s violating all health, safety and hygiene rules in existence, but the taste of the food they make is truly something heavenly,” he remarked smilingly as he watched Ara finish the remainder of her drink in one gulp.

"Should introduce you to Jalen sometime. Think you two would geek out like crazy together."

"Let's move out. We still got a job to do."

Kayl gave an acknowledging nod of his head, and was quick to follow Ara’s example. He reached for his helm as he stood up, and slipped it as they exited the cantina for the streets outside. The heads-up display of his helmet flickered with several paragraphs of data shortly after, being fed information from Ara’s personal datapad.

"Know the best route?"

”I do,” he said to her. With a faint gesture of his head he wordlessly invited her to follow him. ”He likes to negotiate his business with clients in a place called The Den. An abandoned crematorium turned into a cantina,” he gave her the deets as he walked at a pace easy for her to keep up with him. ”It’s host to a whole bunch of colorful characters as you can imagine. It also shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that I’m not exactly well received in the area surrounding premises though,” he mentioned while he parted the crowd surrounding them with the occasional nudge of the shoulder as he walked. ”Chased a number of bounties in that block some time ago. Just some small game, nobody worthy of notice in particular, but enough for people to recognize the armor and its wearer,”

”How do you want to go about this?” he asked, curious of the approach she’d like to take with getting the Rodian. She needed him alive, that was certain; but would they go about it quietly, or would they have to cause a bit of a mess of their own was what he wanted to know.

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[Ara Sheridan]

Kayl's addition to her suggestion for the night had her grinning warmly. "Noodle shop could definitely slap." She admitted softly. At least he understood where she came from with the whole situation. That was why she loved him. Soon enough they were in the streets and he immediately spoke up with a good route for them.

"Name sounds familiar. Think I've heard of the Den." She admitted as he gave a rundown of the situation to her. Already he was giving her valuable information. Although the mention of them recognizing his armour had her reconsider the options she was brewing up. "Well that cancels out the Jango and Zam duo..." She remarked, thinking hard on how they could make it into the building. Whatever they could do to get as close to the target as possible. "There's gonna be too many eyes around the place to try and sneak in... hold up." She broke off from him toward an alley where a beggar laid huddled in a cloak, shivering from some source that didn't have anything to do with the temperature. She relieved him of his cloak, leaving a generous sum of credits in its place, before returning to Kayl with the item. Without a word she tied the cloak around him and tugged the hood over his helmet.

With a satisfied nod she fell in beside him again and continued to the club. "If that don't work, a mind trick or two will." She muttered with a brief smirk up at him. Finally arriving at the Den, Ara had a confident stride about her as she walked toward the entrance. The bouncer by the door glared at the two of them, but didn't do or say anything for a moment. His gaze did linger on Kayl for a moment but he didn't linger on it. "Here we are, Kad. And you thought the Spider's Legs was the place to be." She quipped, flashing him a wink as she spoke.

Kayl Krayt