Ask Follow the Rhythm

[Aranmir]

Ord Mantell could be the capital of the Bright Jewel sector, but the planet was far away from being a jewel. It was common knowledge that this place had been a hive for criminals during generations. However, recently it has also become a tourist trap. There were zoos, museums, hotels, casinos and other attractions. Even gifts advertising the planet were being sold in shoppings. Probably the crime syndicates were trying to diversify their portfolios.

Although it probably was only their attempt to do money laundering.

Whatever was the reason for this investment in tourism, it had been enough to convince the organization of the Galactic Music Fest to allow the festival to happen on the planet. This bi-annual, four day long festival reunited different music genres and attracted thousands of music lovers. Among them was Aranmir.

The Tiefling had bought his ticket months ago, but only after he paid for it he noticed that he wasn’t going to be allowed to leave Starlight alone because he was still a Padawan, even if he was already eighteen years old. So he gave up on this idea and asked for a reimbursement? No, he convinced Knight Yonent Lesriahb that Ord Mantell was a good place to buy supplies for the Jedi Order because things used to be cheap here.

Lesriahb was a Mon Calamari that had been recently Knighted and he had classes with the Tiefling when he was still a Padawan. Besides being a bit naive, the poor guy wasn’t the brightest individual. Aranmir ended up not having much trouble in convincing him to go to Ord Mantell and bring the purple skinned young man with him. After that, it was even easier to leave the hotel where they two were staying using the excuse that he wanted to see the city.

Now Aranmir was waiting for his order at one of the cantinas of the Galactic Music Fest. The show that he wanted to see would start only in a few hours, so he decided to eat and drink something. Dressed in an outfit that made him look nothing like a Jedi, the Tiefling was proud that his little strategy had worked.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

A music festival was the perfect place to make some credits. He was originally going to work as a food stall guy, but it was far more lucrative to peddle drugs. Kai was seated on a picnic mat for now, dressed for the occasion, munching down on pizza. He wore a bandana around his head as a nod to his newfound life of piracy, but it also fit the scene. The Fiani was baked out of his mind, but he was still coherent enough to sell spice.

After he downed several more slices, Kai decided it was time to go sell again. He licked off his greasy fingers before hopping up to his feet. He sauntered over towards the packed cantina, spotting a…what the hell was that? Kai hadn’t encountered a tiefling before - having only seen that Altair Din on holo. Kai stared briefly, wondering if all that lore around them being the devil was true. Well, the devil smoked spice, so this was a potential customer.

Kai walked towards the guy, giving him a friendly wave, “Hey man, looking for a way to really experience the music?” He asked with a grin. He studied the man once he was closer. Shit. He looked like an actual good guy. Oh well, his opening pitch was out there now and he’d have to bullshit.

@LouJoVi

 

[Aranmir]

Aranmir happily hummed when his order arrived. A cheeseburger with extra cheese and a fruity soda. He couldn’t remember when was the last time that he could eat and drink something like that. Since he spends most of the time at Starlight these days, this type of food and beverage weren’t exactly common, since they don't suit the requirements to be an essential part of the diet of a Padawan that was growing up.

He was preparing to give a large bite at the cheeseburger when he heard someone talking to him. Aranmir turned and was greeted by the face of a male individual of a species that he never saw before. The guy had the ears and tail of a fox, something that the Tiefling never thought that was possible.

It only showed that he needed to open his mind, the Galaxy was still full of secrets.

Talking about opening minds, the guy in question was offering the ways of doing exactly that. It took Aranmir some seconds to understand what the other meant and he felt ashamed for that. He spent some time in the streets when younger, the Tiefling should have noticed that the fox-boy was trying to sell spice to him in a flash.

It seemed that the comfort of the Jedi Order was killing his malice on the streets.

"Sorry, I don't use." he said, before putting his cheeseburger back in the plate. I'll come back to you later, dear. "Dude, you need some help selling those." he said to the fox, before removing his glasses. "You need to choose well who you are going to offer, because there could be cops hiding to catch people trying to sell the goods." being a Jedi, he could apprehend the other for selling spice without authorization. However, they were in Ord Mantell and the guy probably worked for a cartel, the Padawan didn’t want to have problems with criminal organizations in his free time.

Besides, the other man seemed to be a bit scrawny. He probably needed the money to buy food. Maybe he could give the other some tips. "That couple there would like it. Look at their dilated eyes and way of acting." Aranmir tilted his head, discreetly pointing at a pair of humans that seemed to already be high. Then he noticed something behind the fox-boy. "I think that your employers are going to talk with you about it." a pair of Falleen were approaching and they looked exactly what you would expect of drug dealers. They obviously worked for a local cartel.

The Padawan believed that they were going to simply talk with the fox-boy about changing customers. After all, the other wasn’t stupid to sell drugs in Ord Mantell without working under the local cartels. Right?

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai stared blankly as the guy started schooling him on how to sell spice - something the Fiani had been doing for ages. Before the tiefling could even get more than a few words out, Kai interrupted him, “I’ve been doing this a long time. I only approached you because..” he was a tiefling. He wasn’t going to say that out loud because it sounded horribly xenophobic, but that was the truth, “Anyway, next time just say no. Nobody needs a lecture,” He said icily before he turned and walked off. If there was one type of personality that annoyed the hell out of him, it was a Karen, and this tiefling somehow managed to be one even while offering advice on peddling drugs.

The Fiani slinked away from the Falleen - they were actually rival dealers and Kai was shamelessly working on their turf. Kai was very good at appearing as just another festival attendee, so he walked back out towards the festival area. The Fiani spotted plenty of potential customers there and he started handing out spice in candied form, already making credits nearby one of the performers’ tents.

@LouJoVi

 

[Aranmir]

Aranmir bit his lips when the fox-guy stopped him from continuing to give his advice. The other teenager sounded so offended by the Padawan attempt to give counsel that the Tiefling started to feel ashamed. He really acted like a know-it-all, trying to influence the fox-tailed boy in doing his job. The worst part of it was that he also hated the lecturing type of person.

The other was right, no one needs a lecture.

He didn’t say anything while the fox-guy walked away, preferring to think how he was starting to act like the type of person that he hated the most. Aranmir wondered when it started, at what moment he had become like an old guy that thought to be wiser than everyone else. He decided that he would stop being this way immediately.

With that thought in mind, Aranmir went to eat his cheeseburger. He had been so distracted by his thoughts and then by eating his lunch that the Padawan didn’t notice how the Falleen looked at him, before they went after the fox-guy.

After leaving the cantina, the Tiefling went to the tent where one of the performances that he wanted to watch was going to happen. Perhaps by a coincidence, or the will of the Force, Aranmir saw the same fox-guy from early, still selling drugs. The guy was exactly next to the tent to where the Padawan was going.

He could ignore the other teenager and simply walk by him. However, a part of him started to think that he should say that he was sorry. While he walked toward the tent, the part that thought that he should apologize won. With a sigh, Aranmir approached the guy.

"Hey. Sorry, for being a stupid bossy early. I was an idiot by saying what you should do." the Tiefling said, while passing next to the guy. "Have good sellings!" he whispered, doing a thumbs up with both his hands and walked away, without a heavy conscience. Well, at least he would have walked away, if it wasn't for a Fallen that appeared from nowhere and clasped a hand on his shoulder. The Padawan immediately felt a blaster being pointed at his side.

Another one would jump from behind the tent and do the same with the fox-guy. The way that they are made anyone outside think that they were four friends, the blasters were hidden by the teenagers bodies. "Finally we caught the rat that invaded our turff. I know that by following him around we would even find the person that was helping him find so many customers." The one holding Aranmir whispered, while pressing the blaster at him. "Now move, the boss want to see you two."

Aranmir opened his mouth in a perfect circle, before closing it. Did the fox-guy invade cacart's territory? Are they thinking that he was helping him sell drugs? Was it because of that conversation from early?

The Padawan should have simply said no.

@Sreeya