Read or Die

[Eugen Aker]

Her service to Ambassador Kurganova done, Arisa decided to linger around Avalonia a little while longer on her own as a tourist, her curiosity in the daily lives of First Order citizens rekindled after long concluding a previous investigation years before. Last time, it had been along the frontier of First Order space while it was still fledgling power, but now it was in the political nerve center of a much larger empire that currently held domain over a corner of the Outer Rim and several sectors of the Unknown Regions.

​Driving and walking through the streets of Avalonia, she found the city to be quite pristine, even by Core standards. However she felt about the First Order and their methodology as a Jedi, their progress could not be denied. There were many complaints within her circles about their imperialist designs, but as far as she knew, there actually hadn't been much development in the region since before the Gulag plague hit the galaxy, centuries of advancement just rolled back in a matter of days from the viral outbreak. This was not a black and white issue which some would like to make it out to be, and the Watchman saw that with what little experience she had gained in political matters.

During her personal tour through some older districts of the city, she came across an antique shop that caught her eye. Antique shops usually meant books, which was her favorite thing to collect. They were something of a luxury item within the core where people had long transitioned to the use of electronic methods for media consumption. At her apartment on Izrul, she had built up quite the collection for herself. Woefully minuscule in comparison to the vast collection she had once helped manage as a Padawan on Coruscant, but it was still something to behold.

Inside, she was met with rows and rows of books and other antiques in a cozy rustic layout, perhaps the most she had ever seen outside of the Coruscant temple or Suravi's personal study. Her eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store. Her day was pretty much done at that point, as she jumped between aisles thumbing through all kinds of books, from great tomes of Wild Space legends to cheesy romance rags. Gradually, the pile she held in between her arms started growing until she had to pick up a basket to hold them all. It wasn't long before the basket was nearly overloaded with books, but she carried on with no obvious sign of struggle or fatigue, lost in her own little world of literature.

[member="Elisea Korrado"]

 

[Elisea Apollodor]

Elisea's favourite part of Avalonia were all the old world stores located just off of main street. In the shadows of the Capital Complex's towering face just beyond the main plaza where you could walk up the steps. Downtown the brick and mortar of the nation laid about here, knitted closely together you had but to walk from one shop to another. Scout's Books and Curios was one of her preferred places to be at, she enjoyed the curious design of the place and their selection of older books. The native Avalonian plunked herself down in an orange plaid covered chair.

Her legs were up and crossed over one arm with her back up against the other. She'd been reading a book about how to work with duracrete and duraplast that looked older than First Order with its worn edges and frayed threads. Elisea wore a rather plain set of trousers, a light blouse and sweater that was pulled around her so tightly one swore it was a blanket. At first the rummaging about of one [member="Arisa Yune"] did not give the brunette pause no she kept about on her book.

On occassion she would turn and adjust herself, regain her comfort and continue on about her book. It was during one of these occassions that she spotted the woman. Going about the store collecting books. Elisea paid this no mind until she saw the ridiculous amount of books that were being piled on. She chuckled and set her book down. Crossing to where the woman was walking about. "Perhaps I can help you with those?" She offered.

 

[Eugen Aker]

On her hunt for all the books she could carry back to her corner of the galaxy, Arisa could feel attention on her from the same person on several occasions. Glancing over, she could see that it looked to be another female patron. She felt no hostility from them, so she went about her business in peace, though the Jedi kept her mind open for any signs of trouble. Avalonia seemed like a nice enough place, but there was always a risk for her treading openly even under diplomatic immunity.

As she was passing aisles, their paths would finally cross. The woman asked her about if she needed help with her books, and it was only then that she noticed the large pile she had accumulated between the aisles she had visited prior. She personally felt no strain carrying around all those books, but those piled on the very top looked close to teetering off the floor with any jerky movements.

"Ah, thanks. Looks like I'm setting myself up for quite the fall." She found the nearest table and set the basket down, ready to grab another. "I don't suppose you mind watching these for a moment?"

She was legitimately concerned that someone would try walking off with some of the choice pieces she had acquired.

[member="Elisea Korrado"]

 

[Elisea Apollodor]

Elisea chuckled as she took a look at the stack of books and then heard the request, "no not at all." She wondered if this was the woman's first time in Avalonia. Looking over head a moment she looked to the photographs above the cash registers. The Supreme Leader, the Grand Moff and between their portraits the First Order's flag. Her gaze turned back to the stack of books on the table and then to the woman before her. "Go on, we shan't be moving," and then she put a finger to her lips, "you know they do ship throughout First Order territory. You have but to look through their wares on the holonet."

She started to wonder how the woman was going to get all of these books out of the shop and to wherever it was she called home. "Will you be needing any assistance getting this, well, getting this to your home? I'd be happy to help." The native Avalonian offered, her accent seemingly unnoticed here at home. "I've got my sister's speeder and I don't have much planned for the day. University's closed for holiday at the moment."

[member="Arisa Yune"]