The Mystery within the Mists

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Dagobah held many mysteries among the ferns, spiders, trees, and dampness. The mists were thick this morning Serena looked out the window of the home she had shared with Adas for 12 years. A bright boy who loved life and found interest in all things on Dagobah. Serena stood in his room looking around at a million different memories.

She was his mother, and companion during those times. Soothing his fears when the dreams came, and celebrating his achievements.

Now the house was quiet too quiet. It left her time to think about who and what she was.

[member="Seydon of Arda"] had once talked about hunting monsters was she now one of the monsters? What things had she done under Ren's influence? Her blood ran cold at the thought of all that was possible. Would she one day wake up to find the Monster hunter on her door step? She did not know.

Serena stepped back and looked around she couldn't put his things away in a storage not like she had done for her mother, and her father. This pain went deeper. Her soul had been sacrificed it seemed and now only the darkness of it all seemed to be reaching out to take her.

She sighed heavily these thoughts were they her own? She didn't know.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena could take it no longer she turned and left Adas' room. There was no Jar'Kai with her now they were all dead, or returned to Atrisia to serve the new regime. She wished them well.
Looking around she knew she had to go outside breath in the air that was Dagobah.

It had taken a long time to build the house just so, first they lived in a shelter designed for survivor living. Then they began to build no form of heat was needed. Dagobah was warm providing warmth to the family.

Serena stood on the deck looking at the swamp only an elemental could stand to be here for so long. She loved the flora and fauna of Dagobah the secrets they held, the truths it revealed to those looking and seeking.

The personality of Ren cared nothing for seeking things and she cared nothing for Dagobah and its insects. The insects invaded everything inspecting every crack and crevasse that was new and inviting to them.

So long ago but even now in present day the personality of Ren was sulking she hated Dagobah. If anyone came looking Ren would have a party.

Serena began walking familiar paths knowing where to place her foot as she crossed the watery swamp. A large dragonsnake swam in the deep muddy water keeping its distance and keeping a watchful eye. The greatest discover made on Dagobah, Serena had discovered more than one living cave it had taken months to map the area and then a couple of years to know the way without getting lost.
Her greatest achievement was befriending the elusive jubba bird. It was still skittish and flew off at the oddest of sounds but she felt it came to accept her as part of Dagobah and worthy enough to lit near upon occasion.

The other lizards, birds, spiders and such based on their nature would scamper by, or stop for a bite. Serena for the moment was content concentrating on movement.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

She could not help but follow the familiar path here she remembered many things slowly some of it came. The loss of her mother and how Animus swore to provide some of the treasure to support send some of it to her mother. Yes some it had gone, but mostly it had gone into building Atrisia and the visions that he had for its future.

Odd how she did not feel anger, Animus was a Sith it was how Sith were. She could not be angry when someone acted as they were taught, designed or born to do. Serena walked a little slower the air was filling with nitrogen a storm was approaching. She looked up to the green canopy hard to see from which direction the storm approached. She shrugged her shoulders and continued her walk.

Everything here was so alive, she could feel them once again at times she felt the connection. How they moved one foot in front of another. Even the sensations of what drove them to move. It felt welcoming to feel the force again.

Carefully she moved from one log to a stone along the dirt path. She could hear the water approaching the patter of rain as it hit each leaf briefly she waited to feel it on her face the tiny drops landed gently. In the distance the boom of thunder rolled through the sky. Serena ran for cover in the hollow of an old tree. The rain began Serena leaned against the hollow and listened to the rain.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

It was a soothing sound the gentle thudding against the wood of the tree. Serena wrapped her arms around herself as she settled down to watch the falling rain. The smell made her think of times with her family. She realized she needed more of these moments she needed to invoke good thoughts.

Leaning back she felt lighter than air as if the ground had suddenly fallen out from beneath but yet she did not fall. An invisible hand kept her safe holding her in the palm protecting her from the rain. But the rain had stopped, she wanted to open her eyes they felt so heavy though. She began to drift. She could see the patterns of light, the paths of the force as it moved over Dagobah as it reached out toward the skies above. The stars for a moment were connected by the white lights.

She smiled she recognized that pattern. It connected all life. Remember a soft voice whispered to her.

A voice she did not recognize but knew to trust. Remember she nodded.

Each time she tried to remember though a pain began to throb at the back of her head it pulsed as if beating down on her driving her to drop her head forward. It hurts she finally said.

Is life without pain?

She shook her head, No. Life is a journey there are no guarantees.

But there is one constant for you and others like you.

She nodded, yes the force.

A soft breeze pushed her hair back away reaching underneath to Serena's chin lifting her head slowly. Find the beginning and what you carry may be taken. Serena opened her eyes but only found the rain still gently beating on the tree. Dagobah home of the living force.

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Dagobah it was not considered a vacation destination and all too often the fauna and flora were too much for any visitor. But a scientist would find it a heave. A jedi would find spiritual rebirth. Serena needed only to wait until a ship came.

It had taken longer than she expected but a week later after the storm she was once again on a ship headed to Wild Space. Something to do first she felt drawn to do it as if it were the right thing to do. She hoped she wasn't wrong. She was not hunting rocks this time, this time she was hunting peace. If she was the creature she believed or thought that everyone else saw there was only one person she knew who would know. But was he still there.

Kyrikal 9 - it had been rich in history the rocks told it all. And now two weeks after leaving Dagobah here she was looking at a familiar landscape. So how did one go about looking for someone who preferred to be alone. She nodded to the few merchants there was one merchant - tea. She looked over the variety of tea something strong but not bitter tarine tea . Serena paid for it quickly tucking the box into her back pack.

She walked slowly towards the cantina no one would know in there. She stopped again. She looked back the tea merchant, maybe. She smiled, "excuse me, I was wondering if you could help me I'm looking for [member="Seydon of Arda"] do you know where I can find him?"

The merchant stared at her for a few moments as if deciding what to say, "never heard of him"

Serena gave a little nod, "ok, thank you" Course she could tell from his emotions and his aura he had not told her the truth. Did that mean Seydon was here? Maybe.

"Ok..." She decided a bite to eat might help her think and headed off to find a vendor. She'd ask them all if she had to.

The next vendor offered sweets, oh Serena loved a piece of sugary confection, "I"ll take two." She'd have it with some tea. she tucked the small brown bag into her backpack. "You wouldn't know Seydon of Arda would you?" She smiled. He shook his head, he was telling the truth.

The next vendor was selling something in a bowl. Serena looked into the bowl it wasn't moving thank goodness. It did smell really good it had a bit of broth, "I'll take a bowl" She paid taking the bowl, "Do you know Seydon of Arda?" The man laughed and shook his head. Why did he laugh? Serena went to find a seat to being watching the people.

As she watched a thought creeped in what if he knew she was here? What if he had heard of what happen on Atrisia, what if he was now preparing to kill her? But was she a monster? Or was it something she was making up in her own mind? Only the Monster Hunter could tell.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Serena e Seydon

They chanced upon one another.

Kyrikal 9 was a close approximate of home, a moon like the image of Arda with azure seas and long beach fronts scattered between island chains. Occasionally, he rented out of a sea-front capsule room, number 36 notched on a placard of basalt nailed with rusted spike ingots. On a survey scan, from orbit, the island was designate Eƴ-88. Locally, it was Rothgreen. Second largest land mass on the equatorial belt, technically an atoll formation hedging a crystalline lake interior, one of the few fresh water catches across the oceanic surface.

Business lined both the sea view and the atoll lagoon. A port catering to small orbital craft and sporadic freighter haulers glinted with arrivals, engine flares glaring hot against the lake water. Scale birds and crystal-backed lobsters waddled in crowds in the shoals and shallow reefs. The local sound was a pleasant composite of passing conversation, laughter, engine purrs, gull cries, and yelling children running games from street to street.

He spotted her sitting on a bamboo bench, facing the lake, sipping from a hot chowder bowl and watching passing locals.

“Lady’s been asking after you,” Said the stall owner. An old man, skin leathery and weather beaten, wrinkles like copper veins set deep in his cheeks. “Suppose she’s got business with you.”

“Hmn...”

He made enough noise trotting over, scuffing his boot soles against the paved roadwork, rucksack and sheathed blades jangling off his backs. Standing by the bench, he reached, knuckles wrapping affably off her shoulder.

“...Miss Bouie?” Seydon of Arda started.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

She felt relaxed for the first time in months it had to be the sound of water, the nearness of an element that she loved. The only nagging question that haunted her thoughts what happens next.

She had thought it to be only someone passing by. She turned hearing her name the bowl still raised to her lips as she enjoyed the fresh taste of food. She looked up she saw [member="Seydon of Arda"] not much changed from the last time she had seen him. Perhaps a few more lines around the eyes touches of age she assumed. She swallowed the bit she had just slurped up, slowly lowering the bowl wiping a few drops of broth from her lips on her sleeve.

"Hello Seydon." Her blue eyes met his as he looked at her. She had called him Master before but he did not seem to like the honorific, "Please call me" she stopped as if having to think about her own name, "Serena". She inched over making room for him to sit if he chose.

She looked around noticing a pair of eyes watching. She knew if she asked enough around eventually he would come but this had been very quick. She had been thinking about this moment what she should say. But she had also envisioned that she'd be begging for her life not sipping soup. "Hungry, soups good."

The words just fell out there was time to ask her question to him she could still be polite. Inside though she thought in the far recesses of her mind she felt Ren struggling to run. How long had it been since Serena had been here? She couldn't remember. That was the problem she didn't remember a lot.

 

[Seydon of Arda]

Leaning, he eased her emptied bowl out of her palms and set it aside for a leering washer-girl to come scoop. Familial clans following tourism-board appointed guides chortled past, taking turns lining up for a nearby trash grille-bin. Seydon gestured to the bench and sat in beside Serena Bouie, easing off his rucksack. Phial and alchemical beakers jostled in fine leather pouches under the latched flap. Winterfang and Razorlight, brother swords, rested across his knees.

“...Couple of shop-keeps mentioned someone was asking for me,” Seydon said, after an apprehensive beat.

Mentioned a young woman with startled, yearning eyes. He thought she was sunny blonde, blue gaze, a natural fit for the local humanoid ecology and would’ve looked at home busking jangles of adapted inner-rim rix-pop on a sixteen string guitar-harp. Or looking statuesque at the shore in any of the seasons killer swimwear. That she conducted herself with easy academic polish denoted her erudite background, coloured by sharp, unspoken pains coiling poised behind her eyes. A kind of fight-or-flight response, waiting for a threat. Seydon darted a glance at Razorlight. The sword was keening in its sheathe and all but purring.

“Just chanced on visiting. Wanted to follow up on a work offer. ...Pest control,” He said, making conversation. “Wasn’t expecting a run-in. ...Everything alright, Serena? You look... a little stuck for something.”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

She watched as the bowl was gently taken from her hands her gaze for a moment dropping to his lap where the brother swords sat. For a moment there was a brief flash of history. But it was not anything that she could make sense of sitting here. It was at the moment that a small gust of wind brushed against her face, and the smell of fresh baked bread filled her nose.

In the distance the ocean shimmered vivid blue and Serena yearned to go immerse herself in the cool waters. She looked up at Seydon he could see the emotions that she was twisting through confusion, fear and doubt. She wrapped her arms around her stomach just as Seydon mentioned he was looking at a job. And as for her being stuck for something that was an under statement.

"Seydon would you know if I were evil?" She asked cautiously she was not sure how she felt and worse she wasn't sure how to Seydon would answer. And now did this job have anything to do with Atrisia?

[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Would I know?” Seydon paused, flexing the tendons in each hand. “Maybe. I’m no empath.”

A shot of blade-finned trout breached the nearby crystal shallows, scattering prism-drops of water. Cast lines spun out through hazy, momentary rainbows, as beach fishermen raced adjusting their homemade lures and fly-trap hooks. Seydon felt a breezy shore mist wet and damp his beard, mulling Serena’s question over.

“Don’t know. Evil’s not something you label with lightly. For instance, take someone at their job. They make poor decisions, goaded by reactionary responses, lashing out at criticism and generally behaving like they’re mad, disconnected. Not so much evil as incompetent.

“If I had to make an absolute judgement? ...I’d go by empirical evidence. Like any bounty, study the action, fallout, cross reference as much data as possible, then make my best educated decision. It’s not foolproof either. Everyone’s got arguments about evil, it’s degrees.”

He sipped from a waterskin canteen clipped off his belt. “Don’t know if I could tell, Serena, honest. Just depends. Best I’ve got.”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena rubbed her face with her hands slowing moving one back to rub her neck and rake through her hair. Well there went that one assumption that he could look at her and tell. She looked over resting her head on her hand while the other rested in her lap. She felt tired inside and out not knowing.

She was going trust this feeling she had that honesty with Seydon went further than evasion, "I was captured on Atrisia by the Iron Knight [member="HK-36"] " Serena laughed "HK told me that I had been captured during the recent Siege of Atrisia under the name Ren, a Queen of a Sith monarchy that controlled the planet and attempted to stage another assault on the other Core Worlds. It seems my mind had been corrupted and shattered into multiple personalities by some sort of dark influence, he has been able to dispel the darkness with his lightsaber but it is only temporary the darkness lingers and waits."

Serena swallowed hard as she sat up straight, "For the last month I've had nightmares of you hunting me because I had become one of the monsters." She did not look over at him a bit concerned at what would be written on his face and what she would sense from him. "I don't know that I am a monster, or evil. But I cannot shake this feeling that I've done something wrong" She stole a look at Seydon his hands hand not moved to draw a weapon so there was hope.

"This job you were checking out was it to track down the Monsters of Atrisia?" For a moment she shivered her anxiety peeked as she waited.

[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Shid,” Seydon muttered, listening and weighing the import of each individual detail to her story. Personally, he reckoned the Force as ‘Chaos’ and believed it was wretchedly animalistic, savage, inconsistent, and not worth a shred of veneration many across differing sects afforded it. While unique, her story had markers tagging it as familiar. Exposure to either extremes of the ‘power spectrum’, the serenity and rage, instilled deep psychological conversions. The Dunaan bit a lip and leaned deeper against the bench spine, pushing his boot heels against the pavework.

“I... Shid,” He grunted again. “I’m not... Huh.”

He breathed, processing, and finally turned an eye her way. “...I’m not qualified to judge you. Or any of that. I’ve seen... plenty and it’s not cut and dry, when awful things happen. A lot of the time... It’s just circumstance and chance. Can’t control it. Things start spinning, you can’t stop it, you come out on the other side disoriented and sick, wondering what the crud just happened. Suddenly, for reasons you don’t know, people are breathing down your neck.

“And no, I was just... coming around to look after some drowners. Didn’t know the whole story on Atrisia,” Seydon said. “...Serena, you remember? Asking me how good and evil worked? Didn’t give you any concrete back then, because I thought it wasn’t set in beskar. Don’t know what to tell you now, either. That you’re scared, remorseful, unsure tells me you wanna make it right. If that’s consolation. ...Most times ‘evil’ is secure knowing that whatever heinous thing they’ve done or will do, they’re justified. I’d say you’re better off consulting a therapist than a Dunaan, Miss Bouie.”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

She nodded and listened to him, it was the sound of his voice now as it had been then that seemed to give her the most comfort. She had been angry then now she was just unsure and scared.

"I remember. I remember a lot of things from then. I even brought some tarine tea and a couple of sweets to go with it. But I remember Seydon." A conversation between strangers as she asked him questions that she was curious about. Here she was again asking questions. His experience gave her a sense of hope, "I don't know about consolation, I don't even know what I've done which is disturbing" She couldn't help but sigh.

"If there is a darkness within me I will find way for it to be removed. I don't want anyone to have reason to come after me, its just not my way, not how I was raised." Most of her family was gone now only a few left. Wars did that. Time did that. Death had its hand in it to. She was an orphan with a few brothers left. She didn't say that though.

She looked over without thinking or asking she did one of those things she often did, she put her hand on his arm just for a moment squeezed lightly and let go. A show of trust, a show of thanks. "Thank you. I'm going to stay here a day or two and then move on" She was being lead somewhere and she knew she had to follow.

"I don't have time to go rock hunting this time, but I can brew the tea. Will you join me for some later, after you've checked out things about the drowners. I don't want to be by myself, and maybe we can talk more." She shrugged her shoulders, "That is if you can. I know my showing up is unexpected."

[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Drowners won’t take any time. Just a local nest, I suspect,” He said, rising and collecting his things. Razorlight and Winterfang holstered over his shoulder, accompanied by the heavy rucksack. Seydon tugged out a small oak box, helping himself to a thin lho stick and lighting it with a pyromatic burst from a fingertip. The Dunaan favoured Serena with, he hoped, his best smile and squeezed her shoulder gently in turn. “You hole up somewhere and I’ll come around, alright?”

Goodbye for now was a curt nod. Seydon was off, striding away through the afternoon tourism crowd, navigating body traffic toward a broad thoroughfare cutting on through Rothgreen’s thick jungle clime. He paused to rent a three-wheeled chemical motor trike with a bright blue fiberglas body, a cheap all-terrain model. His thoughts criss-crossed between work, adjusting the trike’s fuel filter, haggling the local fisherman guild for an addition to their bounty, and what lied in store for Miss Serena. If Jaxton or Rosa were at hand, they’d have easy metaphors and enough cosmic, worldly wisdom to soothe her crisis. Maybe Jorus, with spacer know-how and well travelled experience, could assuage her.

Instead, he felt, revving the throttle handlebar, she was stuck with a crude monster hunter. What did he know? The trike back-wheels spun and dug into the street gravel. He settled into the ride, driving thoughts of the young woman aside. Until he could look after this bounty. Warm, salt air ran over the scars on his face, daylight still bright.

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

"Sure I'll likely find a place near the water" It was the sound the water made lapping against the shore it lulled her to sleep it was familiar and friendly she needed that a bit more these days. She watched Seydon leave wondering what were his thought. Serena slid off from where she sat and began gathering her own things first she needed a place to sleep. It was good to know that her dreams were just her fears that so far Seydon was not looking at her as something that needed to be removed from the galaxy. She stood there watching him for a bit it felt good to have a friend again. She smiled and headed in the opposite direction her back pack slung over one shoulder.

Walking down towards the water she could see on the far right there were what looked like little huts, paint peeling weathered antique looking. They could be fishing shacks, or storage but she needed to take a chance and go look. Walking along the shore she sank down with each step into the sand tugged at her calves it was a workout. Further down she spotted an older man his hat down over his eyes sitting casting a line out. "Hows the fishing?" She called out.

Weather worn skin, dark eyes that were soft from age, he raised his hand with only a slight tremble, "nothing yet." Too bad Serena wouldn't have minded having a fish for dinner.

Serena looked to the huts, "Can I rent one of those to sleep in tonight" They weren't much to look at they had a window and a roof that was all she needed. Basics. If she had been a Queen once with the softest sheets and the best of everything well the Queen was going to have to make due. Queen. pfft. Scientist sounded much more interesting than Queen.

The old man turned and looked, "missy why not take the cabin just up further see there" Serena followed where he pointed. Cabin. It was bigger than the huts by a little bit it was off the water and just as weather worn as the others. "Does it have a bed?" What she imagines is not a bed more a pallet with some hay and a blanket, but it would beat a bunk in a ship any night.

The old man laughed, "it has something that passes for one." Serena had not slept in a bed now for over a month it might be nice to have one even if its just a pallet with some hay. "deal do I pay you?" He nodded, Serena then sat and barterd a price for the cabin. Then she headed off to the space port she looked for the crew that she came in with to see where they were headed next, not her way.

She was disappointed she decided to talk to the cargo master to see what ships had come in and when they were going out. Soon she found another crew headed in her direction. They were an unusual lot but it would be alright she thought. They would take her as far as as their next stop in the Outer Rim. Currently they were here in the Wilds was the closest she could get to her destination. She wanted to go to the Lothal system, she was looking for Atollon. She played it off like she was doing some research for new archaeological dig but in truth she was looking for someone. She just did not know if they still lived she also did not know if they could help.

She went back to the beach tossing her bag in the cabin. Cabin it was just a bigger hut with a bed with a thin mattress and a privy. It would do. If she slept. She went out to gather some wood, she said she'd have the tea ready. They could enjoy and watch the water. First she needed to build a pit. She managed to dig out a spot in the soft sand sand which fought to go back in each time she pulled it out. She then placed some rocks around it, she was placing the wood getting it ready. She had her igniter with her, yes it was a bit of a cheat but having the fire was more important than how she built the fire. She had her camping pot, water, and two metal cups. The last of her camping gear. She was nearly ready, she looked down the beach to see if Seydon had returned.


[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

The old shack was a barbary relic, hewn from petrified drift wood and slants of corrugated siding, sunk into place with old jetty pylons, tied off with kelp hemp and bristle-rope that scratched even at a glance. Seydon strode up, swords and rucksack over a shoulder, watching firelight wane and flicker through gaps in the door jamb. He threw a wave at the narrow window settled by the door frame and let himself in, stepping into a scent like chai and cinnamon. Tea brewed from a makeshift firepit, from a battered kettle Seydon recognized as one of Serena’s last surviving pieces of camping kit.

“Hope I didn’t leave you waiting,” He said, sitting against the floor in a kind of knelt pose, feet behind his knees. “Smelt your tea coming in through town. Tried hurrying a bit. The hovel’s not too bad. ...How’re you holding up?”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

"Not at all I've been busy first you know having to haggle for this lovely one room suite please note the cooling units" Serena pointed to the gaps between the boards, "and our roaring fire courtesy of my igniter" She held up the igniter "and the lovely floor seating. People on Coruscant are paying top credit for such an experience." She picked up the two cups.

"Tea is ready my mother always said if you could smell it it was done." She carefully poured a cup for Seydon, and then herself. She extended her hand to give the cup to him, as she slid back a bit to where she could lean on wall and look across at him. She loved that spice smell the cinnamon warm friendly hinting at something decadent. OH! Serena pulled over her pack and took out the brown bag. Tearing it open she exposing the round treats she purchased earlier, "Something to go with the tea" She didn't have a plate the bag would have to do, she looked around the room again.

"My family spent a lot of time in places like this. Mom's botany had us moving about all the time but she always had a rule that at night for at least an hour we'd sit as family. One way to accomplish that, build a fire. Kids like nothing more than to poke a fire with a stick." She smiled at the memory slowly the memories of her family returned. Camping was one of them, swimming the other.

"Were you able to clean out the nest?" She asked curious if he had been successful. She could hear the world outside begin to settle in for the night it was strange how if she listened she could hear that. The air seem to change as if letting out a deep sigh as it changed its robes from day to night.

[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“The nest, yeah... Yeah, it’s taken care of.”

Rakish, scaly things, emaciated with swollen bellies sloshing with flesh rot and bilge acids, paused their marsh cavorting and bore down on their sole intruder. Seydon met them with Winterfang. They fell, body by body, torso trunks bisected through clavicle to pelvic bone, limbs severed at the joint. Split and destroyed, crippled in combat lasting less than half a minute. A drowner gurgled, clawing their opened throat, their skull twisting aside on a flap of pulled skin. Alchemical grenades, home made from selections of carefully readied agents, sundered their mud-straw and hemp tied bone igloo. Fire like the colour of arterial blood cooked the nest to ash. Coastal winds picked up the sulphur scent and carried it across the marshland.

“Fishermen won’t be bothered.” Seydon nodded. The marsh sprawled over a kilometre of mossy delta tributes, spawning beds for Rothgreen’s primary export crops. Rainbow shrimp, rock lobsters, metres long iguana-dragons that fetched premium rates across Kuat’s select bistros, six star cafes, and special order restaurants. Grey-back sturgeon and knifepikes visited the delta seasonally, depositing caviar seams necessitating manual farming versus automated droid extraction. Rothgreen’s elder board met his fee, including a tightly sealed, mother-of-pearl caviar tin. On it’s own, the ‘tin’ would fetch six-thousand Alliance-Credits-Standard and higher if Seydon put it up for bid.

He smiled, reached into a paper and rope bag, drawing out a market fresh baguette. His skinning knife cut a handful of palm-thick slices. With little ceremony, popping the mother-of-pearl lid, spreading a salty and licorice-dark jelly bubbled with minute, quicksilver eggs across a pair of bread slices.

“Very expensive eating this,” He said and handed Serena a piece of prepared baguette. “They tell me its a delicacy. Supposed to reserve this kind of stuff for... state guests or something. Think it just gives you bad breath. Hell if I’ll ever eat it on my own. May as well feel ritzy... In a fishing shack~”

[member="Serena Bouie"]

 

[Darth Ren Malgus]

Serena watched mesmerized at how adept Seydon was at handling the knife. Within what felt like seconds she was holding a piece looking down at a delicacy she had never had before. "bad breath you say" mental note brush teeth.

She laughed, "Yes our fine surroundings, good company, hot tea and expensive eating. Seydon we are living the dream" She was not one to shy away from something new so she lifted her piece to her lips and bit into it. It had a texture that felt odd on the tongue like tiny grains that popped on her tongue. She licked her lips, "Its pretty good actually it has this fresh taste to it like it came straight from the water."

Serena took another bite, "Wow..." she ran her tongue over her lips to make sure she had it all, "delicacy you say" Her eyes narrowed as if trying to decipher something she was trying to decide what else was in it, if anything. "Reminds me a bit of urchin."

She smiled as if she had a secret when all she really had was this pleasure. Simple things in life yes she so missed this. "It's great Seydon thank you" She took another bite, and then a sip of her tea. Ohh the tea she loved it she could feel the warmth all the way to her toes. "I know I'll have to send you a Corellian care package you might like the things in there, or oh I know Alderaan has these gift baskets filled with delicacies of Alderaan. You might like it. " Serene would chew and then drink.

"I love camping out even in a fishing hut. So what have you been doing since we last talked?"

[member="Seydon of Arda"]

 

[Seydon of Arda]

“Work,” He chortled.

“Bounties and small contracts,” Seydon went on explaining, dividing conversation between bites of exorbitantly pricey caviar swirled on baguette bread bought at discount for less than a deci-cred. Evening shore prowlers, small mammalian lynxes, jackals no larger than many commercial house felines, crept out in the dark chasing hermit crabs and fishing from eddy pools. A heavy avian landed and took roost on their shack roof, hooting into the coming dark.

“Mostly battlefield clean up. War attracts carrion. Most skirmishes end up with bodies that can’t or won’t be claimed by combatants. Attracts their share of necromantic, and other bottom feeders. Or else, there’s...” He paused. Loosed a low breath, leaning up against a close shack wall. Warm wind crawled through narrow parts in the petri-wood, tussling his ponytail.

“Else there’s wraiths. Hauntings, spectral attacks, that sort. Much harder to sort out,” Seydon said. He wet his mouth with a gulp of water from his waterskin. “Lotta tragedy, lotta unresolved anger. Raging, half-corporeal things... come screaming out of the dark, avenging themselves on the living. ...It gets hairy. Otherwise, just making my keep. It’s a living... Most times, it’s just this. Sitting around fire at the day’s end, eating whatever is on hand.”

[member="Serena Bouie"]