Ask Never Visiting Mushroom Kingdom Again

[Param Vour]

The bed was soft, and warm. Like a gentle embrace of safety. Param kept her eyes closed, tucking her face into the covers. Everything was peaceful and calm and what the hell is that pain in her head? Her silver eyes shot open as she bolted upright. Where was she? How was she? Along with the throbbing in her head, came memories of the previous night. The cruise liner, the strange plants that the massive orc was holding. There were pieces missing, like what happened after she ate some of those plants, but before she woke up in the...

She gagged almost on reflex remembering the gross substance that she'd woken up in. Param had saved Kodi, or tried to at least. Her cheeks flushed entire at remembering flinging her vomit covered dress at the Mandalorian's flamethrower. The trip out was a bit of a blur, but she remembered going to Kodi's ship with him, and taking a shower almost immediately. Which would explain why there was a towel at the foot of the bed and the underwear she had been wearing, now stained and ruined, were draped over a trash bin.

Param groaned as she moved to the edge of the bed. He EZPhone was on the nightstand. A bunch of unread messages from Vee, but nothing important. She rubbed her eyes with her palms, giving another groan as she promised herself she was never going to eat strange plants again. First order of business was clothes. Thankfully, there were some in a pile, though she knew they were probably dirty. It didn't matter. She grabbed the first shirt and pair of gym shorts she could find. Synching the waistband of the shorts all the way didn't even keep them tight on her hips, but they would do. The shirt was well over her size and draped down like a dress, it would have to carry the day.

Slowly, Param made her way out of the room toward the joint space. Yeah, definitely Kodi's ship; it was still a mess.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

“OH COME ON! GO FOR A FLANK SHOT WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!” She would hear Kai’s very enthusiastic shouting at the cheap Holodisplay in the common lounge area. There was a Huttball game on and some of Kai’s favorite teams were playing. The Fiani was adorned in a simple T shirt and some sweatpants, and a big bowl of healthy veggie snacks on the table. Flex lectured them all on cleaner eating so the crew’s diet changed because no one else could cook.

“What a fucking joke,” Kai grumbled, angrily shoving a few baby carrots into his mouth. He brought his EZPhone up to furiously Holosnap some of his buddies about the game. The incident in the corporate sector was a blur and it was a wonder he made it out alive. He had stuffed the jacket he threw over Param with enough goods to score them a hefty sum of cash. Param had been out of it and against his usual method of operating, he actually let her crash on his ship until she felt better.

While the ship was a mess, it was a much bigger and newer ship overall. The crew took slightly more effort to keep it clean, but clothes were still strewn all over the place. The smell of gym locker body spray was still strong throughout the corridors.

As she passed, Param would see a large creepervine plant happily thriving near the entrance of the ship. There was a nametag with ‘Fred’ crudely written on it by the plant.

Kai was in the middle of shouting some more profanities when he spotted Param approaching. His expression shifted then and he noticed her shirt, “Well, you wear it better,” He said with a smirk.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

The ship's layout was different. Bigger maybe? Did Kodi score a new ship? She'd have to ask him about it. Think of the devil, she heard his voice shouting. She was about to give him a greeting with a smile when she noticed the thriving creepervine named Fred. She squealed with excitement, rushing over to the plant and giving it pets, inspecting its vines and soil. Kodi had been keeping up with it. "You look fantastic! You're so cuuuuuute!" That was one way to cure a hangover.

She turned to Kodi, giving him a warm smile, or as warm as she could when the throbbing in her head came back. Her cheeks burned at his compliment, and as much as she would like the have a great moment out of the compliment, one question was on the fore-front of her mind. "Please tell me this is your shirt, and lie to me if it isn't," she said.

Param made her way over to him, plopping next to him on the couch. "What are you watching?" There were many more questions she'd like to ask, but one step at a time. The Holodisplay showed a bunch of people throwing a ball around and trying to get into an end zone, while dodging deadly traps. She had no idea what was happening, but Kodi seemed to be very into it.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai quirked a brow, “Of course it’s my shirt, you were in my old room,” He said casually. He was in the Captain’s Quarters now, but he was still sketch about letting anyone in there. It had all his valuables in there, after all. The Fiani’s gaze flicked over to the Holo, “You don’t know what-” He stopped himself there. He forgot everything had to be introduced to Param for the first time.

“All right, this is Huttball,” He began. He took the next ten to fifteen minutes painstakingly explaining the rules of the game and getting her up to speed on the teams on the Holo. By the end of it, she knew all about the rules of the game and about how live versions of Huttball were supposed to be the most fun events ever.

Kai offered her some of his snacks, cracking open a beer for himself. He took a swig before he looked at her, “What were you doing on that yacht anyway?” He asked curiously, “Looked like a Sith field trip,” He said with a slight grimace.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param listened about as intently as someone who's brain was throbbing could. She did get the gist of it though; get the ball to the other side. Even as Kodi explained the game to her, she found herself getting excited over the game. A cheer even came out of her when the team with the cute color scored a point. Kodi would find out that Param would always choose and vote for the cutest team, regardless of which one he wanted.

Taking some snacks, which thankfully tasted better than the shrooms last night, she eased back in the couch. His question bought him a frown. Not at him of course, but Param visibly became more upset than she was before. Remembering the Sith slaughtering innocents, and then Trael of all people lecturing her about things. If she hadn't been so fucked up, things would have been much different.

"I heard there was a party," she said flatly. "I didn't expect them to be there too." She spat the word "them" with more venom than if the creepervine had bit. Param turned a silver gaze to Kodi. "I've been trying to... do more things outside of the Sith." She didn't want to get into all the details. It was something she'd been fighting for a while now. The fact that she was seen as a Sith first didn't help.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

“Them?” Kai asked with a raised brow, “They’re your people,” He reminded her, though he couldn’t hide the knowing smirk. This had come up a few times in the past where she struggled to fit in with Sith principles, “Better get with the program or you’ll be stuck in Sith kindergarten forever,” He said casually before munching on a few more carrots. Kai despised the Sith, but the Crimson Dawn had paid all the bills thus far. The Hutts had his mother, and Crimson Dawn was the strongest counter to them. Unfortunately, Crimson Dawn meant Sith artifacts and rubbing elbows with Sith.

“I don’t know why you bother with Sith,” Kai said with a sigh, “If I were you, I’d learn just enough to do the mind stuff. I’d go sway someone’s mind to get myself into a nice school, learn shit, and become successful and get a new life,” He pondered silently. He could probably sway enough minds to free his mothers, “What’s the point of all this unlimited powaaahhh bullshit?”

Kai realized he was putting a lot on someone that just walked out with a throbbing headache. Param didn’t need a lecture, and he wasn’t sure why he was giving one. It was the second time he questioned why he acted out of character around her. The Fiani’s tail twitched slightly before he got up from the couch and reappeared moments later.

He had in his hand a concoction made up of various electrolytes and some meds. Kai handed the cup of liquid to Param, “For the hangover,” He paused, “Chug it and don’t think about it,” He warned. It tasted like absolute ass and he didn’t want her spraying it all over his ship. Because, you know, his ship was spotless.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param laughed, until a throbbing in her head made her whimper and rub her head. "I'll have you know I'm almost graduated," she said, recovering slightly from the throb in her head with give him a warm smile. She had to admit, his plan of learning mind tricks to get into a good school was a good one. It was definitely something she would have been interested in if she didn't have other plans cooking in her head. Plans slightly inspired by a particular boy.

"I was thinking more along the lines of getting into more profitable things," she said, rubbing her forehead, wincing. When he came back with the medicine, half of it was already gone by the time he told her to chug it. She understood why immediately. It was the worst thing she'd ever tasted. Her face scrunched up, and she stuck her tongue out, but it was nothing another carrot wouldn't solve.

"Thanks," she said, shaking away the after taste. Param put the cup down gently, and eased back. "What were you celebrating? Before everything happened, I mean." Someone scored in the Huttball match, drawing a quick glance from Param. It really did look like a fun game. Maybe she could find a way to go to one. It'd be a lot of fun.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai chuckled to himself as she practically snatched the drink from his hand and chugged it. He shook his head, “You really should sus things out before you chug and eat random shit,” He said with a grin, recalling back to when she casually downed a bunch of psychedelic shrooms. The Fiani said nothing for a moment when she asked what he was celebrating. He ran his fingers through his hair and leaned against the wall. For a moment, he pondered on how to answer. He could have bullshitted like his usual go-to, or he could remember that she was a Sith. She may not have been familiar with social norms all around the galaxy, but she was certainly exposed to the darker sides of reality. She herself had participated when she mercilessly killed the people at the fair.

He sighed to himself as he lit up a cig and popped it between his lips.

“I was celebrating pulling off raiding a banking ship,” Kai said flatly after blowing out a cloud of smoke, “I held the crew hostage, stole their shit, stole the ship and then let the passengers go in escape pods back into realspace,” He shrugged, “I got my hands on a lot of cash and it’s the first step to getting out of my raggedy ass fucking life,” Kai said with a grin, “I was celebrating being a class A piece of shit, Param, and I’ll do it again. And again.”

Kai took a long drag as he watched her for a moment. He released the smoke through his nostrils, “So you can do two things with that information,” He said, “You can sit there finally seeing me for what I am and we say our goodbyes on good terms,” Kai took another long drag before exhaling, “Or you can let me take you out for a night out on this rock,” He gave her a half grin. His relaxed demeanor implied he was fine with either outcome.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

She smiled sheepishly when he scolded her about just eating and drinking things. She'd definitely learned her lesson when it came to people she didn't know. Now that she thought about it, she didn't really know Kodi, but she at least trusted him more than most. It was a dog-eat-dog galaxy, and Kodi had taken care of her when most people would have simply left her. Still, he was right. She should even check things out before accepting them from him.

Param kept her eyes on his as he explained the cause of his celebration. The last sentence striking her as odd. He took people hostage and took their things, then let them go. Did he honestly think he was a piece of shit for that? Her mind turned to the fair, and then the slave auction on Zygerria. All the lives she had taken on Bandomeer and in the service of her master; all the lives she would continue to take because it was her job.

Standing up, she sauntered over to him, throwing herself into him at the last moment. She wasn't able to hide the little giggle that escaped her lips. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she buried her face in his chest. "You've seen me at my worst, and you still think you're the piece of shit?" The hug lingered for a moment before Param pulled away, keeping her arms draped over his shoulders. Despite the warm smile, her silver eyes would show the haunting of many misdeeds already done, and many more yet to come. "Are you taking me out like this, or do you have a plan to get me dressed up?"

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai wasn’t sure what to expect, but her throwing herself into a hug wasn’t it. The Fiani was caught off guard and he quickly put out his cigarra, unable to keep the genuine smile off his face. Her antics had begun to grow on him more than he cared to admit, and her bubbly personality was infectious. He stood there as she hugged him, but after a moment one of his arms slowly snaked around her waist to return the embrace. His hand loosely remained on her waist even as she pulled away.

“Your worst had to be your performance with those spicy noodles that first time,” Kai said with a smirk. However, his face grew slightly more serious as he considered her words.

“I enjoy being a piece of shit,” He said, “You don’t,” Kai pointed out. He had seen her at her worst, but he never saw her take any kind of pleasure in it. The Fiani’s gaze took in her attire and he scoffed, “Life lesson number 838382, Param,” He began, “Girls only dress up for other girls. Dudes don’t give a shit what you wear,” He said with a grin. Being from Nar Shaddaa he had seen more ass and titties than he knew what to do with on every other corner, “Just as long as you don’t puke on me, we’re good.”

With that, he finally released her, giving her time to decide if she wanted to change or stay in the same attire. Kai put on a shirt, black leather jacket and jeans. He felt good because he wouldn’t have to be a street rat tonight. He had cash to blow and he would enjoy himself.

Kai checked his chrono and rolled his eye, “Come on Param! I don’t have all night!” He quipped as he had another smoke waiting outside his ship. Once she finally stepped out, he began to lead her away from the ship and towards the terraformed city up ahead.

“All right, I thought we could go try something we both suck at,” Kai said confidently as he gestured towards a building. It was a roller skating rink.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

She laughed, resting her forehead on his chest. Those damn noodles that started it all. She'd had everything from Ziosti dishes, to the spiciest thing take out could muster, and nothing seemed to compare to those Tattooine Stir Fry noodles Kodi had bought her. The moment his hand wrapped around her waist, he could have asked her to take on the entire Sith Order and she would have said yes.

He wasn't wrong when she spoke of her not liking what she did. Param didn't, in the slightest. It was a job for her, nothing more, nothing less. She was a completely different level of Sith since that night she had panicked and gotten beaten up in front of him. Even after that display of incompetency, he still stayed and patched her up. Param wished he could feel that she truly didn't believe he was a piece of shit when she gave him a gentle squeeze. She didn't want to ruin the moment by talking about it.

When he released her, she stepped back and gave a little twirl, showing off his shirt on her and the gym shorts underneath. "Well, it's not like I have a dress anymore," she said. She did however take some time to freshen up, and make sure Fred was watered. When he called out to her she bounded down the corridor and took his arm in hers. She'd only exchanged the gym shorts for a pair of black joggers that no one would notice were joggers in the first place.

"Thunder... Skate?" Param asked, looking at the sign at the venue Kodi had taken her to. Once inside, everything made a little more sense. Everything was covered in a retro galactic pattern, music blasted over the speakers, and in the center there were people gliding on a smooth dura-plast surface on shoes with wheels. It looked so fun!

Param's face lit up immediately. She was so excited, the only thing she could manage was a squeal and hugging Kodi's arm a little tighter.

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai looked around at all the retro colors and heard the music that almost made his ears flatten, “I think this is from when my grandparents were children,” He muttered. However, his tail moved of its own accord to the beat because damn it it was catchy. Kai put on the roller blades and helped Param with hers. The Fiani rose up to stand and fell on his ass immediately. He chuckled to himself and clung to the side of a wall and tried to get up again, grasping Param’s hand, “Fuck!” He slipped and fell again, bringing them both down.

“Okay, work with me here,” Kai said as he scrambled to try again, holding her hand and finally shakily getting up to his feet. He managed to finally stand without doing the splits. He flailed around a bit, but he positioned his tail to help balance him. Soon enough, he got a steady footing. Kai started slowly cruising in the rink.

“This isn’t as bad as I thought..” Kai muttered to himself as he used his tail to keep his balance. He suddenly spun around and grasped both her hands. A particularly catchy and ridiculous song came on and he started singing along to it in a mock, high pitched voice, “I’m a barbie girl! In a barbie world!” He laughed through the lyrics, but kept singing it as he skated backwards while holding Param’s hands.

Kai released one of her hands at one point, letting her take a spin. Right when she started to feel as if she would fall, he coasted up right there to catch her in his arms, smiling down at her, “Come on, Barbie, let’s go Barbie!” He sang in his normal voice before switching her from one to the other as he led the rink and letting them both catch some air.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param was right with him the first time she tried to stand on her skates. Her feet went backwards, her top forward, finding herself with her face on the ridiculous carpet laughing. She never stopped laughing, or smiling as they struggled to even get onto the skating floor. She tried her best, but even her Echani reflexes couldn't save her from falling on her butt multiple times "I'm trying!" she said, laughing, picking herself up for another try.

If it weren't for Kodi holding her hands, she's have kept falling. She looked like a complete beginner on the rink, but she didn't care. Her entire focus was on him. Every so often she wobbled and flailed, but after a while he was steady, and in turn kept her steady. All the people around them didn't matter. She was completely taken with his laugh and smile, and gave him hers in return.

His singing left a little to be desired, but it was a catchy tune and it was really cute, even if he was a little offkey. She'd sing with him if she knew the words, but instead she swayed her head and hips to the beat while he kept her steady and on her skates. Even when she was about to fall, it was like he pulled her in close and made sure that she didn't. There were those fluttering wings in her stomach again, and the feeling like everything was perfect.

Param was so caught up in his arms that even when they were taking a breather she had her arms wrapped around his neck, face buried in his shoulder gently swaying even if it didn't match the music. "It's really fun but suuuuuper tiring," she said, still beaming from the fun. Even now, she was having more fun than she had in a long time. "You know, you'd be a good singer if you practiced more."

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai was surprised when she closed the distance and buried her face against his shoulder. His arms were wrapped around her waist. His tail began to wag of its own accord, and he didn’t even bother to curb it. The Fiani chuckled at her criticism of his singing, “Do I look like I wanna be the next Saylor Twift?” He asked with a scoff, “I’ll stick to what I’m good at it,” He said as he slowed down and started coasting backwards with her still leaning against him.

Apparently several other guests started doing the same and the music vibe changed. Kai’s face heated up and he was about to pull back when he looked at Param snuggled against him. He watched her in silence for a moment, his gaze roaming over the silver strands of hair, the warm smile on her face, the way she leaned against him as he was the safest little nook in the galaxy. Was he creating that space for someone? Him? His heart began to beat just a bit faster as he continued to cruise on the rink while holding her.

He could have said a lot of things, cracked a few jokes, but nothing came to surface. He simply tightened his grip on her and coasted to the cheesy song. Kai was so focused on looking at her that he accidentally tripped backwards and took them both down. The two would skid backwards on the smooth floor with Param atop him. He slid along the ground till his head very lightly touched against the boundary wall.

Kai remained unbothered by this, bursting into a laugh at the sloppy display during such a slow song.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

There could have been a war waging outside of the rink and Param wouldn't have cared at all. She was safe, warm, caught in the embrace of a tiny sliver of normal. Despite everything going on around her, she could always look forward to this. Neither of them were the pinnacles of worldly behavior, quite the opposite really; but for Param it felt right.

Even as they tipped over, and slid toward the wall, Param felt safer than she’d ever felt. She laughed with him, cheeks flushing. Holding herself up with one hand, her other gently laid on his chest. Like her hand, Param made no attempts to get up. She was caught, wanting to be frozen in time in his arm, but they would have to get up eventually.

Her silver eyes betrayed her, flickering down to his lips. Why shouldn’t she? She’d already made out with him, albeit that was to try to get some semblance of revenge. It hadn’t quite worked out the way she wanted it to. This time was different. She wanted to so badly, badly enough that her cheeks flushed and she subconsciously started biting her smiling lip. Could she?

Param met his eye with hers. “Um…” she hummed, frantically trying to think of something to say; torn between taking what she wanted, and letting him decide if she was what he wanted. Maybe a joke? He was quite comfortable to lay on. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. Thoughts disappeared like ghosts, or like Kodi after stealing something, every time she looked at his lips. And she couldn’t stop looking.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

The cheesy songs continued and he was still on his back. He gazed up at Param, watching her in silence. For a moment he was entirely unconcerned with the activity around them, all the other people rollerblading, cheering, laughing. He forgot about the music, and he only watched her. Kai didn’t miss the way her gaze flicked several times to his lips. She fumbled over her words, her face beet red.

Kai rolled his eye before smirking “For fuck’s sake, Param, quit doing long division in your head and kiss me already,” He said as he grasped the front of her- wait, his shirt- and yanked her down. Kai tugged her down to press his lips against hers. He had kissed her before, but it was nothing like this. He initiated this, and it was on his terms. Kai pulled her close, diving into the passion he didn’t even know he craved so much. His fingers curled into her silver hair and he tasted her slowly and properly this time, his mind focused only on her and not some stupid holocron.

One of his hands started to slide down her back.

“HEY! YOU CAN’T DO THAT IN HERE!” One of the staff members yelled, actually blowing a whistle.

Kai gently nudged Param away, chuckling to himself. He scrambled to his feet again, toppling a few times before they were both steady, “Come on, let’s get outta here,” He said cheerfully as he grabbed her hand and cruised over to the opposite end of the rink. On his way, he ‘accidentally’ bumped into the staff member that yelled at them. He gave him a casual salute after he stashed the man’s wallet into his own pocket.

Once they were out in the streets, Kai fished out the wallet, looking at the ID, “Brom Koris,” He read off the staff member’s name before pulling out his credit card, “Brom Koris is going to treat us to a night out,” He said with a fanged grin, “Where are we going?”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

And there it was, better than she could have ever hoped. Her eyes closed, everything around them disappearing. Every apprehension, and flake of anxiety vanished the moment his lips met hers. On his terms. He wanted this. She was taken in by the passion behind it, trying to match it with her own. His hand running down her back gave her a shiver, causing her to arch her back and press herself into him. Those wandering fingertips just barely made it under the elastic of his joggers when the staff member interrupted.

Even as they left the venue, Param's cheeks were burning hot, and her core running wild. It was everything she could do to not drag him back to the ship to finish what they'd started. Of course, as long as Brom Koris was treating them to a night out, she was going to make the most of it.

"He probably has enough to get a nice dress," she said, wrapping her arms around his. Param glanced up at him with a mischievous smile. "And I do need extra help with dresses... leaving the register unattended." Brom Koris would pay for her new dress, but Kodi would get enough money to take her to a proper restaurant. She certainly wasn't going to discourage him from doing something he loved.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai had no concept of dresses or fashion, so Param would have to choose the shop. He led her towards the shopping district, neon signs and crowds everywhere. The smell of food speeders wafted through the air and rows upon rows of boutique shops lined the streets. Kai looked through the glass windows, pausing briefly at the demo of a new video game console. He stared vacantly for a while until he remembered they were going clothes shopping.

There was a store that specialized in Drastian era clothing and Kai pointed at it, “Is that your vibe?” He asked. It wasn’t really his style, but she seemed to be into it and it worked for her. The Fiani stuffed his hands in his pockets, following her in if she chose it as the destination. The advantage of a store like this was that it was loaded with expensive jewelry. Kai immediately began to look around for camera locations.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Param Vour]

Param noticed his disinterest in the dresses. It was okay though, the dress was for her. Whatever he could get his hands on was his. She plucked the credit chip from his hands. "This is perfect," she said, flowing into the store as elegantly as someone in a large t-shirt and joggers could. It was like a switch in the Force. Kodi went from disinterest to immediately scoping things out. His whole presence had shifted; but it was something she had grown fascinated by.

"Hi, can I help you?" a young woman behind the counter asked. Param skipped to her.

"Yeah, I need a dress, can you help me out?" Param was all smiles.

"Of course!" the woman chimed and started making her way around the counter. Param took her to the far corner, where some of the thinner dresses were, and where their backs could be turned to Kodi. Lucky for him. The girls talked about dresses and fashion, what Param was getting a dress for, and what her price range was. She settled for a rather slim black dress with lacing and sheer sleeves.

"Can you help me put it on?" Param asked the woman. The woman nodded excitedly and took Param to the dressing rooms. Kodi would have free reign over the store while the woman helped Param out of Kodi's clothes and into the dress. Param couldn't stop her heart from pounding. He could sense him in the store, and part of her was waiting for him to disappear. The other part really hoped he stayed.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai knew exactly how to operate, and he prepared to do his quick swiping and clean house. However, something strange happened then.

‘Can you help me put it on?’

His sensitive ears picked up Param’s voice, and his face heated up. His mind briefly turned to mush, imagining her sans clothes just a few feet away. He briefly forgot about what he was doing, one of the clerks walking over to find him standing next to the lingerie section without him realizing.

“Can I help you sir?”

“Hm?” Kai responded, quickly recovering from his terminal bluescreen, “Yes, I’m looking for this in size extra extra small,” He pointed to one of the lingerie sets, “Can you check if you have any in the back?”

“Certainly, sir, shopping for a special someone?”

Kai stared blankly at the woman until her smile faded and she quickly shuffled away. He rolled his eye and got back to what he was doing. He started with the jewelry section, using his claws to pop off the security tags. He stashed the items in his pockets, knowing exactly what to grab for maximum profit.

By the time Param walked out, to her surprise, he was still standing there, “You gonna get it?” He asked as he eyed the dress.

@TheDudeMike