Nar Shaddaa

Potential business clients were always a tricky prospect. Just walking up to them with a sales pitch was awkward and rarely put people at ease, but sitting at home and waiting for them to contact you didn't result in many sales, either.

It also helped to get a sense of the sort of person you were dealing with before the dealing started.

To that end, Javagus found himself in a rowdy tavern, nursing a drink as he tried to avoid drawing too much attention to himself.


(Open but probably a bit slow)

A redhead Mandalorian woman sees the stranger and approaches and says, "You don't seem like a regular."

"First time on Nar Shaddaa," he admits, smiling up at her. "Heard this was a Mandalorian bar and decided to take a look. Not sure what the etiquette is on buyin' drinks for Mandalorians, but you're welcome to one."

"Aruetii go broke buying drinks for Mando'a," she counters.

"Ale is a good start, so why you looking for a Mandalorian hangout? Seems a bit dangerous for most folks, my people tend to play rough."

"I'll try to keep you distracted from the drinkin' then." He motions to a server to bring over two ales, then turns back to her. "Nothin' wrong with a bit of rough play in my mind, love. Lookin' to speak with one of your people about a business deal, but that's for another night. Tonight, just enjoyin' the company and seein' what your people are like."

She narrows her eyes slightly and says, "A business deal? We don't just sell our skills to anyone if that is what you are looking for."

"As far as my people go, we are complicated."

"Other way around, love. Lookin' to sell you some weapons." He waves the topic away with one hand. "Topic for another day. Name's Javagus Khan. Been noticin' the complicated part."

"Javagus. I am Shae," she says filing away the offer for later.

"Well Mando'a have a complicated history, it's what we are. What about yourself, I doubt you're from here sounds to me like you are just passing through. Do work for the Hutts?" she says before taking a hearty drink of the ale.

"Pleasure to meet you, Shae." He lifts the drink, half toasting her before taking a sip. "Not workin' for the Hutts yet, but maybe I'll be sellin' to 'em in the future. I'm a representative for Yamasaki Chemicals."

"Not familiar with them, they make weapons?" she says recalling his earlier statement.

"Among other, less deadly products," he confirms with a nod. "All chemical, of course, though I've recently come across some former wares." He sips at his ale again. "How 'bout you? What's your trade?"

“I am Mando’a, my trade is death and honor. It’s a fancy way of saying merc for now but hopefully one day we can reclaim the old ways and fight for real glory and not just creds,” she offers.

“I am an excellent marksman though.”

"Yeah? Why are you all mercs?" He makes a vague sort of gesture. "I'm not very well-versed on your people's history."

She finishes her ale and slams it down and says, “Mandalorians have a long one, and not even I know it all. Corso has a better handle on the past than I do. There are not as many scholars among the clans as he would like. It’s complicated because Mandalorians… the people we come from Mandalore, but not all Mandalorians are from Mandalore or are human.”

Se gestures to a twi’lek female throwing back a drink wearing red and purple armor. Shae says, “The clans were united once… a few times like when Revan rose up and defeated us… or joined us. But we scatter and the people turn to what we do best killing. Over time we have spread through the galaxy and expanded our numbers to any warrior that proves himself worthy to be a Mandalorian. We don’t care about who your father is, only that you can fight.”

“Now, we just sell our skills but Corso, he wants to bring back the old ways of a united people. But the clans will need to fight, it’s what binds us. The trick is to not fight everyone I guess. I might have butchered that to hell and back. Corso explains it better than me.”

"Nah, I think you did that just fine." He raises his glass to salute her and then takes a long sip. "I'm from Coruscant, so I get what you're sayin' about it bein' more than a race thing, at least a little bit."

"Where are you standin' on your peoples' future? You with Corro, I assume?"

“I owe him, and he has done right be me and mine. It’s a soldier thing I guess. I stand with him, he has a vision and I think it’s exactly what we need as a people. We need to regain what we lost a sense of history and pride,” she says working out her thoughts as she speaks.

There's a nod, then he looks her up and down. "Don't mean to pry, but you and he, you're....?"

He flashes her a grin. "Just wonderin' whether I should buy you 'nother drink or not."

She rolls her eyes and then says, “No, he is like a father I guess. Not sure if he ever had kids maybe he did, but he tries to look out for me. You wouldn’t be the first to ask, though.”

“I don’t pry into his past much, it’s his burden to carry.” She adds pushing the cup forward, “Yeah just for that you’re buying another round.”

"Fair enough. Means I've still got a shot, eh?" He chuckles, winks, and sends for another round of drinks. "Unless you're tangled up somewhere else, that is."

She looks away and says, “I… no… I... you know what shut up and buy more drinks.”

“You know Coruscant holds a special place for the Mandalorians, we got some songs that talk about it. Guess it was important once.”

"You offerin' to sing one?" He grins. "Cause that'd be worth another round for sure."

He motions for more ale, tossing down some credits to cover the cost.

“I sing like a Rancor in heat, but... Gusa and Bosa… sing the thing… you know the thing,” she says and two Mandalorian humans drunk on ale hit the juke box and once the music starts many more join in.

“Vode an,” she says with the chorus.

"Vode an," he chimes in, laughing. "You're downplayin' your voice, though. I think it's right pretty."

She frowns, “Pretty isn’t… is this a joke I am not getting. That’s not a word I would… I need more ale to process this.”

She downs the ale and says, “Vode an… it means Brothers all… though more precisely it is call for all Mando’a. For us to remember and to never forget. Some of the clans keep the old tongue alive, few can speak it fluently. But most Mando’a, learn some of the speech.”

Javagus shrugs. "I like it well enough. Your voice, I mean, but good on you all to try to keep your language alive. Can be hard with all the auto-translators nowadays." When the ales arrive, he raises his glass in a toast. "Gonna let me know when you've got that all processes? Sort of interested in the result."