Private I Can't Get Started

[Judah Dashiell]

KETARIS

​

Hands shoved into the pockets of his gray suit as he looked out at the city-scape of Ketaris. It wasn't the first time he had been here, Makai had nearly chose the University of Ketaris for his higher education, but had settled in Reena University once he had taken in the tropical climate. A trading hub, the world was rich for business and commerce, with vessels moving in and out of the Braxant Run constantly.

Judah was looking to putting an outpost here ; refining facilities. It only made sense given the location and proximity to some of his other work currently on going. Thanks to Iko Vel and his first project, Salacia Consolidated was currently working on Gala, salvaging vessels that had met their fate in the ocean. It wasn't far from Ketaris and the position on the hyperlane would be beneficial.

Yet, right now as he looked out over the clear transparisteel balcony, he reminded himself he wasn't on a work trip. No, he had left Iko in the capable hands of Mr.Zej and traveled to Ketaris for a date.

One he was unsure of. Judah was infinitely thankful for the slight breeze this high up because he was certain he was sweating out of sheer nervousness. They had parted on decent terms after an initial conversation, had made the plans to meet up for dinner. That didn't mean Azula Tindara was going to show. It had been weeks since they agreed to see one another, a lot of time to change one's mind.

Given some difficult subject matter and how he had treated her, Judah wouldn't blame her for changing her mind.

 

[Azula Tindara]

It was just as she slipped on her heels and faced herself in the mirror that it hit home. Arriving at the hotel, she had felt so certain of herself.

Azula stood tall and smoothed out the line of her sliver-grey dress down to her knees. She gave herself a little nod of the head and marched out the door.

She had left his remote retreat with far more certainty about this meeting. Things may have gone wrong between them, but at the very, very least they deserved to remain in contact. Now she was closer, it felt like more was riding on it.

Azula hadn't been worried about rebuilding any kind of relationship with Judah when she had tracked him down. She had only gone to make sure that he was safe and well.

The air taxi took her to the base of a building that rose high into the evening sky. Sometimes she forgot how much money he had.

She was walked to the table, offering a small wave and smile as she approached.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

By now, he had lit a cigarillo, taking a long drag as he waited for her. Standing looking over the balcony had begun to make the other patrons nervous, he was certain they thought he might be trying to jump. No one wanted their nice, quiet night out on a rooftop restaurant to be disturbed by a jumper. Would be a topic of conversation he thought wryly, if the date was floundering.

Oceanic eyes caught sight of Azula Tindara , waving to him uncharacteristically as if he could forget who she was. Cigarillo was quickly put out and he stood to greet her, kissing the Togruta on the cheek in greeting. Azula was another one his 'bite sized chunk' issues, much like his ex-wife was. At least he and Thessa were getting on better now, using the wedding of Makai to push a lot behind them.

"Happy to see you, wondering if you were re-thinking the entire thing." Judah paused and pulled out her chair. "You look great, as always."

Waiting until she was seated, Judah moved back around to sit across from her. They were here today to hash out a few topics, to possibly come to an agreement on a few things, to give perspective. He was going to do his best to actually communicate ; something that was going to be very, very difficult. Again, a work in progress.

He had to do something before the leak burst the dam, so to speak.

 

[Azula Tindara]

"And you look great too."

"How could I turn down dinner somewhere so nice," she mused back. She would have at least called ahead to cancel, she thought to herself.

Then again, she had a long history of disappearing. She had stepped in and out of his life several times.

Azula sat down, finding that she felt more aware of herself than almost ever before. She busied herself by picking up the wine list.

"I've been... Looking forward to this," she admitted.

"How have you been?"

There had been a lot on his plate when they had met last, with an awful lot to come before him.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Easy? Don't show. I've been looking forward to seeing you again as well."

His eyes caught that she picked up the wine list, looking it over. He typically didn't bother with wine, having just started to drink once again not too long ago. Naturally he had it at fancy dinners, but it typically remained untouched. Brow furrowed, worst he could do was try it and pass it off to Azula Tindara to finish drinking.

"At the risk of turning into Makai, pick me out a glass of wine. I normally don't drink it but....let's just try it out. Maybe I'm missing something because that boy has turned into a sommelier overnight."

Judah smiled a little, relaxing against the back of the chair.

"I'm okay....tired, very tired. I thought I would get a break after the wedding but we all know how that goes. I...I can fill you in later on that front. You didn't come all this way to hear about an old man being tired. I could have sent you a message for that."

Even though they had one anothers contact information, but they hadn't spoken or sent any type of message. Between being busy and nerves, Judah had wanted to wait. To see one another in person yet again. To feel out the situation.

"How are you? How have the last few weeks been?"

 

[Azula Tindara]

"A sommelier?" Azula asked. The notion slightly amused her. She wondered if that was required to one up that Casteel boy at an event.

"If white we'll have the Flintdown 73 or if red the Byth Valley 90. We'll get a bottle."

She offered an almost apologetic look as she placed the menu down. What she had really meant was that he was buying a bottle and that she would enjoy it through the meal.

Grifting had involved learning a lot of things about a lot of cultures. Wining and dining had been necessary on more than a few occasions. One didn't need to be an expert. It was almost easier when a society had strict rules and expectations. You simply had to copy them and people trusted you.

"I've been good. It's been... Well it feels a bit like a cloud was cleared. I didn't want to walk away and never look back. That would have been repeating patterns."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Yeah, both kids."

Given their history, Judah knew Azula Tindara would understand that to mean Myra and Makai. Married they may be now, but he couldn't break the habit of colloquially calling the pair the 'kids'. Hard to break a near twenty year habit at this point.

As Azula mentioned 'white' and 'red' and the names of the wines, he looked at her as if she had sprouted three heads and started to speak in a language he couldn't understand. Did it matter what variety? And based on what? How they felt? What they were eating? Right now, such answers weren't important and he would let Azula take the lead on this. He was but a mere passenger.

A shrug at her apologetic look.

"Cloud has been cleared I think is a good description. Our talk on Saleucami was enlightening, I'm glad we had it, came to this point."

This point being their agreed upon meeting. With their introductions out of the way, so to speak, Judah was a little lost. This wasn't a normal meeting and they would have to get to a place where the conversation flowed more freely, like it did on Saleucami. Just awkward jitters from both was preventing that.

"Did you want a rundown of my time over these last few weeks? A deep dive into more pressing issues? Banal observations?" Judah smiled at that one. "What is your first poison tonight?"

 

[Azula Tindara]

"I thought that was going to be the wine but..."

She had been perfectly at ease sitting opposite him and his fire. Now she left a pause as she lost what she was going to say.

"Why don't you tell me how the last few weeks have been?" She asked.

This didn't seem like the kind of palace where the staff hurried people to make a start on ordering. She left the food menu without giving it any considering.

"I've not been doing a great deal," she said. "I'm actually a little nervous here. In a good way," she was quick to add.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Wine is that bad?"

Judah truly didn't know. He assumed it was a turn of expression but really how drunk could one get off such a thing? People seemed to pound down bottles, so it couldn't be horrible. Certainly a turn of expression. Either way, the answer didn't matter, perhaps he was talking more out loud or in a rhetorical sense. A small shrug of his shoulders as he continued on.

"Tiring."

Probably not the best answer in the entire 'verse but it was easily summed up as such. There was no rest on the horizon but perhaps that was for the best. He needed to be busy and not let his mind wander too far in one direction. Was it the best mechanism for living ones life? Not at all. Was he continue because it worked well in the past? Of course.

"Had the wedding, work in general, this internship program I'm piloting. Spent some time with the ex-wife, which is surprising. That was...actually a good time. I think that was the first time in twenty years I've been able to say that. Maybe we're just getting too old to be bitter at one another, its tiring and frankly, we're stuck with each other in some capacity so we might as well be friends."

Which was how he was looking at it. Neither were never going to be completely out of the others life, might as well start embracing it. Relax into a new normal.

"Yeah, I'm fairly nervous too. Not really....good, at these things."

Azula Tindara

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Oh," went Azula.

The reconnection with his ex-wife clearly caught her by surprise. Not wearing a mask meant that your feelings were exposed a little too easily.

"Sorry, no, it's good that you got to meet her again and can get on."

"In a way, pretending to be other people made everything easy, but I wasn't really living at all. I think a bit nervous is good."

In a slightly defensive move she lifted the menu to give it an inspection.

"If you don't mind me asking, is she back in Makai's life?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

To be fair, Judah hadn't been sure if Thessa was even going to make it to the wedding. Her presence and message letting him know that she had arrived for the ceremony had been a huge shock to himself. Had been a shock to Makai ; even though Judah knew he had desperately wanted to come, life didn't always pan out that way.

He watched the defensive posture and tone, eyebrow raising. He could understand this behavior if Makai was still a child, yet now boy had turned into a young man, someone's husband. Mask has been dropped from Azula Tindara and emotions were written all over her face.

"I would like to think so. She seems to be in a much better position than even a year or two ago."

He was going to speak more but the waiter came around with water, pouring two glasses and leaving a small pitcher. The wine order was also placed, Judah motioning to Azula for that one. Once placed, he continued speaking.

"You do know, no matter what happened, I owe Thessa a great debt. She carried and bore our child, that will be something I can never repay. Realistically, because of that child, we're always going to have to be around each other. Looking forward, Azula, there's a massive chance I'll be a grandfather in a few years time. She will definitely be around for that ; the family is expanding, there's reason to celebrate."

Judah paused, mulling over his next words.

"If you're insecure now, its only going to get worse."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"No, no..." Azula replied, trying to offer a more considered to ease that worry.

"Its good. She's a important part of your life. And Makai's. I didn't mean to look surprised. I mean, I was a little. How did Makai feel about having her at the wedding? He must have been glad."

She couldn't quite put herself in Makai's shoes. He could have his own mother back in his life, from his wedding to the birth of his first child.

There were still some old fashioned practises in many human cities around the Galaxy. They often still expected the wine order to come from the man.

"I wonder if he'll ask you to taste the wine when they come back with a bottle," she mused.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I mean, he invited her, so." Shoulders shrugged as he wasn't sure if Myra had forced his sons hand or if Makai had done so under his volition. "He seemed happy. Everything went smoothly. I mean, if a wedding derailed with only...what, six guests in attendance, I think that would be some type of new feat if we're being honest."

Judah had personally eloped with just Thessa's parents in attendance on the beach. It seemed his son had some type of happy medium, an attempt to include the core family members in their day. Personally he was glad it wasn't some spectacle with a guest list of eight hundred of their closest business associates and contacts.

On cue the server came back with the wine, showing himself the label after setting down two glasses. As if Judah was some type of odd expert. It was a label, it looked like any other label to him.

"The lady will decide, thank you."

While Azula Tindara busied herself with the wine selection, Judah allowed himself to wander over the menu. Rolled beetroot pancakes as an appetizer? Couldn't say he had seen that before. Eyebrow perked as he looked over the menu, casually bringing up the next bit of news in his life.

"So, I think I'm going to be taking care of an orphan. Coruscant-related sadly."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Yes, the lady will please," Azula replied, offering Judah a smile. She didn't want to be rude to the waiter whilst enjoying the private joke.

She was poured a splash of wine. She didn't take time over any rituals. She took a sip, gave a nod and two glasses were poured.

The appetisers all looked tempting. She was already quite clear on her main, but all of the starter courses looked like clever little tasters and twists on common themes.

"So, I think I'm going to be taking care of an orphan. Coruscant-related sadly."

"Oh wow that's... Well it's sad but that's also amazing of you," Azula said. She tilted her head to one side just a little and considered him carefully.

"You seem more assured in yourself. It's good."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah ignored her private joke as Azula Tindara tasted the wine. She wasn't pompous about it, instead a quick sip and a low murmur that it was acceptable for the evening.

He looked at his own glass and didn't taste it just yet. Wine was still new to him, a little at the wedding and he didn't see the appeal, despite bottles being brought in from famous Alderaanian vineyards. Maybe it was one of those things that took some time,a few tastings of various bottles and styles. Another try tonight, he had plenty of time to try to sip through it.

"Not really amazing of me. I'm not going to see a kid be homeless for no reason beyond being in the wrong place with a wrong family....speaking of, he's Force sensitive. I was wondering if you could tutor him from time to time?"

Judah didn't know where else to turn beyond the Sanctum out in the Tingel Arm.

"Do I? I probably just don't have the energy to be combative right now." A small smile. "You're letting me talk too much. I'm not that interesting, please speak up."

 

[Azula Tindara]

She joined his smile. He could be stubborn, but there was more than that to the path that had led him to Saleucami. They had moved past what had gone on before.

"I think you've had a little more happen to talk about since we last met," Azula replied.

"I didn't reconcile with an ex and I didn't attend a wedding. I spent a good bit of time thinking about our last meeting and..."

Azula paused and looked out towards the city space.

"...what a view... And I got into a slight argument with an inspector from the Alliance and used a mind trick. I think that's the most exciting event from the last few weeks. "

"Have you eaten here before?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I don't know, I certainly didn't get into an argument with Alliance inspectors and mind trick them. I thought you had gone above board?"

His tone was joking. Did he care about Alliance inspectors? Not at all. They were on high alert due to what was happening in the Core but still. Some of their policies that were being drummed up in the Senate seemed like high overreach to himself. Yet what did he know? Best to comply for now and stay off their radar.

"The view is great. I have been here before, I take all my dates here. I've got this loyalty discount for doing so, bring five and I get the sixth one free. Thankfully you're number six."

A small chuckle at his own joke. There was a holomenu built into the table and he placed an order for spicy tuna rice squares and some type of cheese-and-preserves crostini. First order of the night in, he continued on answering her questions.

"To be serious, I have been here before but its been a long time. Seven years, I think? Makai almost went to the University of Ketaris and we ate here. It was inside at the bar though, this is a nicer view and experience."

Azula Tindara

 

[Azula Tindara]

"Mostly above board, but this inspector was so..."

Azula chose not to form the first words that came to mind.

"Tedious about her job we needed to move things along or else we would be charged for delays."

"To be serious, I have been here before but its been a long time. Seven years, I think?

"A bit too long ago to be making any recommendations then," she remarked.

She concentrated on the ordering system for a moment. She tapped on some Flash-fried zuchii which came with a reduction of junta berries as a type of dipping sauce.

"Anyway, mostly above board but I also have a reputation for getting things done to uphold. Normally I play nice."

Clearly, the inspector had managed to wind Azula up.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Look at you, really wound up over this. Who would have thought Azula Tindara would be so upset over a little inspector interfering with her reputation. Who is this Torgruta I'm talking to right now?"

There was some quiet laughter as he picked up his wine glass. Okay, time to try this again. He was going to reserve judgement until he finished the glass, maybe once they started to eat and the night wore on it would taste different. That would explain why folks paired it with certain foods, right? Like his cigars? Again, he wasn't cultured.

"Its cute, I'm not going to forget this perturbed, toe-the-line Azula for awhile."

He paused, looking serious. He didn't need to worry about Azula but realistically, it was hard not to worry about everyone in his life. Just because he didn't show it didn't mean the wheels weren't turning in his head.

"You've been safe out there? The Core is not the place to be right now. Then what happened at Tion."

 

[Azula Tindara]

"As safe as can be," she replied.

She offered a small smile. It was nice to know he worried. She had been a ghost in the galaxy for so long that there were very few people left to care.

"The forces moving seem to blockade a world and assault quickly. Being on the move in Space is as safe as anywhere. Other than when you're being held back by inspectors..."

She added the final complaint with a deliberate roll of her eyes. This time she was fully joining in on the joke.

"But for all I can do, none of it matters if a star destroyer decides to vaporised the bit of mud I'm standing on or the ship I'm on."

"Well," she said as their starters arrived. "Aren't I bringing the tone up?"