More Dejarik and More Tea (D3EN)

[Tenel Olon]

(open to ONE participant)

Just as before, Olon sat comfortably in a chair in the common room, decorated to be as cozy and comfortable as the rest of the ship. A fresh pot of mild tea sat on the table next to the Dejarik board. Those more closely familiar with Olon would be familiar with this little ritual as well, when she would share tea, a game, and a bit of intimate conversation with members of her crew.

Who would stop by tonight?

[Ava Serala]

Ava wore jet black qipao with green stitching that matched her hair. The floral pattern was embroidered in a slightly lighter gray, barely perceptible when not in the light. Of course, it wouldn't be her dress if it didn't include a slit to show off a little more leg.

Her little pet, Coco, was turning out to be needier than she had anticipated. Maybe Olon liked small wolves anyways? Was fun to test the theory out anyways. Ava made her approach like she always did: like she belonged there.

[Tenel Olon]

"Ah, Ava." Olon said, smiling. "Do come in." It was redundant, of course; Ava was already in.

She hesitated a moment, glancing down at Coco. "And your little friend, too." She said in a warm tone. "I don't recall you owning a pet, dear."

[Ava Serala]

"It'd be odd if you did," Ava said. "I found her causing a ruckus just yesterday." It occurred to her then that this little gal might have already had an owner. But seeing how Coco hadn't had a collar or any sort of identifier, the Zeltron felt even less guilty over taking her.

"I didn't realize she'd be so needy though."

[Tenel Olon]

"Pets can be a challenge. They require care and attention. One can't go off and leave them, at least, not if one cares for their well-being. If one doesn't..." Olon turned one hand over, palm up.

She smiled again. "But you already know that. Would you care for some tea, dear?"

[Ava Serala]

"I left her alone for a few hours and she already broke into my luggage," Ava complained. "I don't know what I'm going to do with her when we're busy with our work."

She sighed and took a seat across from Olon. Her eyes went to a tea cup and, with a nod, she answered the question. In the meantime, Coco did the dutiful action of a pet and began sniffing around for threats.

[Tenel Olon]

Unfortunately, there were no treats to be found. Olon did not keep pets.

Carefully, she poured a cup of tea for each of them, the delicate scent of it swirling about the small room. "Remind me, do you play Dejarik? I hope you'll pardon me. Too many things to keep track of these days."

[Ava Serala]

Coco came back to the table, curious if the tea was something she could have.

"I've played sometime before. Can't say I was ever partook much in any game." Ava shrugged. "Hosts like to teach me games."

[Tenel Olon]

"So they do." Olon said, smiling. "Well then, perhaps I shall continue the tradition."

She pressed a button, and the board came to life. For the moment, though, Olon's focus was elsewhere though. "Tell me." She said, looking under the table. "Why did you decide to acquire this animal? A moment of sympathy? A chance encounter with something you hadn't stolen yet? Or something else?"

[Ava Serala]

Ava glanced at the board and then her pet. "Her name is Coco, so you know," she said, a bit more defensive than she'd felt before. "Anyways, I saw her wandering around and wanted her."

[Tenel Olon]

"Coco." Olon echoed. "Well. Far be it from me to tell you what you should and should not have. Or want."

She gestured at the seat across from her. "So. Tell me. What's on your mind?"

[Ava Serala]

Coco took the space at Ava's feet, just where she could be easily kicked or stepped on. For reasons. "She didn't seem to miss where she'd come from, at least."

The dangerous dame smiled faintly. "Do I need to have something on my mind to want to talk to the person who hired me? Color me curious, mainly."

[Tenel Olon]

"Not at all. But you strike me as someone with a very active mind, dear. Surely there's always something on it."

She pressed a button, and the board sprang to life. "So. Curious? Share your curiosities with me."

[Ava Serala]

"You're flattering me. But yes, I don't like to sit too idly. There's always something to learn." She wasn't the smartest person around but she had put in enough time to have a good understanding of the Republic's workings. The political understandings weren't always there; her mind craved the cultures, the beliefs. Not always useful and, with so many planets, it was easy for her to conflate them.

Ava settled for questions that wouldn't be too harmful to know. Easier to avoid Drayen's questioning if she didn't know all the details, right? "I've been wondering: you've been in this business for awhile. You never felt like calling it quits?"

[Tenel Olon]

Olon smiled, just a little. "Oh, I thought about it from time to time. But there's always more to do. As you said, there's always something to learn."

She sighed, sitting back in her chair. "But that's what this is. One last adventure before calling it quits. A good note to retire on, I think."

[Ava Serala]

"I'm surprised though that you haven't done a bigger one sooner," Ava admitted. "It must be the thrills or something, right?" She started laughing awkwardly, to which Coco rolled over to see what was wrong with her Zeltron.

"I'm sorry, I'm just not sure if I'm going to end up doing this for the rest of my life."

[Tenel Olon]

"With the payout from this, you may do what you wish for the rest of your life."

Olon took a slow sip of her tea. "But I have to wonder, what else would you like to be doing?"

[Ava Serala]

"That still sounds too good to believe," Ava said. "You never had a job this well-paying before?"

She looked to her own cup of tea and then shrugged. "I don't really know. Comfort, I suppose? Never worrying if I can really afford to buy such-and-such thing?"

[Tenel Olon]

"More than well paying, although there is that. Satisfying. The peak of my career, or it might be better to say my life. It takes more than money to retire, although that is also a requirement."

"Hmmm." She smiled again. "Comfort. A concept that I find more elusive than many others seem to. Although I suspect that may be a common experience. Few know what it is like to wear another's skin."

She spread the fingers of one hand, the other still holding the cup. "Where... no. What sort of place would you retire to?"

[Ava Serala]

"Satisfying," Ava repeated, taken aback. Maybe she was more like the old woman that she'd thought. "I think I'd travel around. I'm already used to visiting different locales. Might be difficult to keep a low profile... or maybe it'll be great for it."