[ME9] Closing Time

[Venator Praedae]

With the imminent battle coming up, Venator sits down for some food and a cold beer.

[Elaranu]

It was almost time to suit up; Elaranu had done her preflight ritual of a shower and changing into her flight suit. The last thing was a bit of tea to calm her nerves and keep her alert. Fortunately, she had found the bistro had tea that reminded her a lot of the tisanes they had back home.

Getting a thermos full, she also grabbed something called 'carrot cake' before going out to find a seat. Spotting Venator, she decided to go sit down next to them. She didn't say anything though as she sat down, staring intently as she scooted in her chair.

[Venator Praedae]

Venator tips his helmet to Elaranu as she takes a seat next to him. The Mandalorian has upgraded his armour since they last met. If she looked careful at the blaster rifle that he has propped up next to the seat, she may notice that it has been upgraded as well.

"Even'n darl'n. Been a while. How ya do'n? I guess ya had do mosey on wid de Imp crackdown?" He asks after her.

[Elaranu]

Ela stared a moment longer before finally replying, "Ah... reckoon ah did, sir. Might mess that whole..." she looked at her datapad, "...kanoodle. Guessin rightly yah had tah... skedaddle too in yah endin up in this backwater."

[Venator Praedae]

"I didn'd ged chased oud. The Mandalorians threw in our had do baddle de Imps and de Resisdance is pay'n." Venator puts a spoonful of soup underneath his helmet. It is empty when it goes back to the bowl.

"Mmm... soup's good. Looks like yer ready for de fighd."

[Elaranu]

Another pause, some glaces at the datapad, "S'ready asa space drifter offta collect a bounty. Ev'n if... not half as rarrin'. Think'll skip the soup fer t'moment."

Pause, glance as talking, "G's inna space scrap'll blow the soup clean outta a gal iffn she ain't careful 'nough."

[Venator Praedae]

Venator laughs a bit at that. "I 'preciade de efford bud ya dun godda dry so hard for my sake. So didya ged da ship ya were hop'n for?"

[Elaranu]

She frowned, "Who says I am not trying hard for my own sake. It is called learning, Mister Praedae. It may not be the time or place most would choose, but I find it helps me keep my mind off heading up there."

[Venator Praedae]

Venator nods. "Is dis yer firsd major baddle?" He asks.

[Elaranu]

"Well, of course..."

She looked away, "It is not like I have a military background. I have been in simulated dogfights, so I do not feel completely green, but this situation is worlds away. Both figuratively and literally."

[Venator Praedae]

Venator nods. "Jusd keep yer head cool and ya'll manage somehow darl'n. Dun pud yerself oud dere more dan ya need do. Besd do follow de lead of vederans."

"Do ya god any plans afder dis is all done?" He asks.

[Elaranu]

"What, the battle, or the war? Regardless of the outcome, the Empire certainly will not just sit by and let things stand. What has been started here will take some time, and if I start something, I see it through until the end."

[Venator Praedae]

"De baddle. I dunno if people hear are ready do ged indo a war. Cerdainly nod gonna do id alone." Venator comments.

"Are ya gonna officially join de Resisdance? Or jusd go back do liv'n yer life?"

[Elaranu]

"That is my point though; The Imperium already has me on wanted list. There is no way I am going back to just 'living my life' after this, even if I wanted to; Those lists will still be there, even if they do not know whether or not I am part of whatever takes place tonight."

[Venator Praedae]

"Ya can always go indo hid'n. Find somewhere quied and lay low. Ya dun need do fighd if ya really dun wanna." Venator suggests.

"I mean afder dis baddle. Ya dun need do go all in on de war doo."

[Elaranu]

"Feh, hiding. A Chiss does not hide. Nor do I even want to. If the Empire is in the way of me living my life proudly and openly, they will simply have to go. How I get to that point is a little muddy, to be certain; But I will not hide and simper just because some person has decided I should be killed.''

She held her chin highly, tone proud... or at least indignant.

[Venator Praedae]

Venator nods at that. "I can respecd da decision. So yer in for a credid, in for a pound."

He takes a couple more bites of his food underneath his helmet. "So ya gonna dell me 'boud dis ship of yers?"

[Elaranu]

"My ship? It is not much, an older freighter that I have not had much of a chance to tinker with yet. It has some solid bones though to add on to, so I am not ~too~ worried about it failing on me tonight. Though it will be kind of a sitting duck if the TIEs are not distracted by the Z95s."

[Venator Praedae]

"I picked up an old freighder doo. Dun worry. I'll clear a path for ya." Venator replies.

"I wend in widh anodher Mandalorian. We named our ship, Shereshoy."

[Elaranu]

"I still do not fully understand naming ships, but my freighter has a nickname of The New Hope. I suppose. I still think it would be more convenient to use its call-sign, 34129BankFRI, since it is utterly unique to the ship as a transponder code. But I was told it was impersonal and hard to remember, neither of which I understand.''

[Venator Praedae]

"New Hope? I like id. De name of ma ship is a Mandalorian say'n. Hmm... basically live every day like ids yer lasd." Venator nods.

[Elaranu]

"And how does one do that, per say? I have always wondered about those sorts of sayings."

[Venator Praedae]

"Dun hold back on anydh'n ya may regred nod do'n lader." Venator nods during his reply. "Ya only ged one life. So make de mosd of id."

[Elaranu]

"Yes, but planning for the future is important too. Living without thinking about consequences will not end well for anyone."

[Venator Praedae]

"Drue enough. So hope fer de besd, plan fer de worse, and dun be 'fraid do acd." Venator sums up.