Ask The Best Laid Plans

[Emryc Thorne]

Outside of Huttball and a few other ball sports, Emryc thoroughly enjoyed watching podracing. While he wasn’t good enough for Tatooine, he certainly had dabbled in the tournaments on Ryloth and other planets. The Annual Podracing Championship on Tatooine was one of the biggest economic boosts for the planet. Citizens from all over the galaxy flooded in to enjoy the races, and there were trillions of viewers from all over. Tickets were near impossible to score unless one came from means or had special passes.

While the suns were bearing down on the scene below, Emryc was quite cool and comfortable in the shade and in the VIP area. He was known well on the planet - especially as he had built many industries and created thousands of jobs by now. The attendance for this event was larger than ever, thousands of spectators milling about like ants from where Emryc could see.

The half Sephi stepped away from his private seating area to walk over to the VIP viewing section. Normally Sephi would be able to clearly see everything on the track, but Emryc’s vision was hot garbage. He peered through macrobinocs to make out the details of the podracers and their models, scoping out every detail. He had quite a bit of money at stake, and he needed his racer to win.

Unlike usual, the half Sephi allowed himself to be talked into dressing ‘fun’ by his aides. As a result, he chose attire that both represented ISC but also conformed rather close to his muscled frame. The outfit was complete with a bowtie, and a hat that he chose to leave off. As usual, he had a chrono on his left wrist. His hair was styled into a quiff with a slight fade on the sides, his face sporting light stubble. And of course he had his brand name cologne on.

Emryc had just gotten done telling the man to his right that his bet’s speeder looked like its thrusters were wonky. A voice to his left caught his immediate attention and he turned to look. There was a slight flicker of recognition upon spotting Jaikus, his face betraying mild surprise. While his expression didn’t shift too much, his ears were a dead giveaway on how he felt about seeing the other man. The fluted ears twitched and swiveled like they had when Emryc was excitedly talking about Huttball back in the hotel. It was such an automatic reaction, it wasn’t something the half Sephi noticed most of the time. Though he hadn't guessed Jaikus to be a podracing fan, it made sense when considering that the man was from high society.

“Hey, puffer pig,” He said with a slight grin, “You place any bets?”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Hey, puffer pig.

This was the third time now that Jaikus had mysteriously popped up out of nowhere, catching Emryc by surprise each and every time he suddenly rounded a corner or called out to him from behind. It was practically becoming his trademark method of arrival at this point, and the Axxilan was expecting Emryc to greet him in the same stoic way he usually did. It was no surprise, then, that the nickname from the half-Sephi – one clearly only they understood the meaning behind - caught Jaikus off guard. His eyes widened a bit and face turned a few shades redder than it had been – and it very clearly wasn’t from the sun blazing down on them. It lasted only a few seconds before Jaikus began to chuckle softly, bringing the sleeve of his shirt to his lips in an effort not to draw the attention of anyone around them.

Only once the Axxilan managed to get a hold of himself did he take a moment to admire the man in front of him now. The scent of his cologne was a familiar one, and would have been a dead giveaway of the man being nearby, if Jaikus hadn’t physically spotted him from a distance first. He noted the way that Emryc’s hair had been gelled and combed into its usual style. The choice of purple suit and bowtie was also something that definitely caught Jaikus’ attention. It was an absolute far cry from anything the Axxilan had seen Emryc wearing in the past, and yet it was quickly something he decided he liked on the other man. The fact that his muscles were exceptionally well-defined by the suit had nothing to do with it, of course.

Most of all though, Jaikus did not miss the way the man’s fluted ears twitched and swiveled inadvertently. It was something that the Axxilan had seen in all its glory back at the hotel during the height of the Huttball game, and it was something that he just barely caught a glimpse of during their encounter at the lake. The sight of it now, prompted by no other reason than his arrival? It was enough to cause Jaikus’ lips to twitch and widen into one of his exceptionally giddy, stupid smiles.

After a few moments of staring at his ears, Jaikus nodded in response to the question that was asked. “Why of course,” Jaikus replied, his tone more than a little bit amused. “What kind of fan would I be if I didn’t have a ridiculous amount of money riding on this?” The Axxilan briefly turned from looking at Emryc to look down at the track, racers already beginning to prep their vehicles. “My money is naturally on Devrin Landers.” Jaikus gestured towards the racer in question. The half-Sephi would naturally recognize him as a racer from Jaikus’ homeworld, and also one of the underdogs in the tournament. Either Jaikus was overly confident in the man to rise above the competition, or he was far too careless with his crowns.

"How about you, roomie? Risking your fortune on anyone in particular?"

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc’s grin widened the slightest bit when he caught Jaikus blushing, followed by the chuckle and the attempts to hide it. There was something about the shy and coy nature of the gesture that held the half Sephi’s gaze far longer than necessary. He cleared his throat and looked away after a moment, gazing through the macrobinocs again. This meant that Emryc was entirely oblivious to Jaikus taking in sight of his appearance.

When Jaikus mentioned who he had placed bets on, Emryc pointedly kept his gaze in another direction. He did know Devrin Landers, and he also knew the man lost spectacularly in every event he participated in. He had even been disqualified one year from the Ryloth tournaments. This revealed that either Jaikus was placing a lot of hope in an upset or he simply wasn’t a big podracing fan. Emryc kept his poker face as he looked through the binocs again towards Landers who was currently arguing with a tech about his racer.

“Hmm,” Emryc remarked flatly, his tone far too deadpan to give away the sarcasm, “You’ve clearly done a lot of research on this.”

He lowered the macrobinocs when he spoke, “Pixie,” He said simply. Emryc handed the binocs to Jaikus, “Racer number 12 on the tracks,” When he looked, Jaikus would see a diminutive female ewok that could barely climb into her vehicle.

There was an announcement that boomed across the entire arena mentioning that the races would begin shortly. Emryc glanced over at Jaikus, eyeing him for a moment before speaking, “Tatooine doesn’t seem like a planet you’d visit just for fun,” He quirked a brow, amusement betrayed in his eyes.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Unlike Huttball, Podracing actually was a sport that was frequently watched and followed amongst the social circles that Jaikus frequented back home. The aristocracy of Axxila might’ve been just as stuck-up and snooty as those one might encounter in the wealthy Core, but it was an Outer Rim planet all the same and naturally attracted a following over the years.

“I like an underdog.” Jaikus was not nearly the fan he claimed to be, but he knew enough of the sport to recognize that he hadn’t bet on a top contender. However, Jaikus hadn’t quite realized just how poorly he’d chosen quite yet. Given the races were about to start, that was a fact likely soon to change.

The Axxilan’s eyesight was significantly better than Emryc, but he still took the macrobinocs from the half-Sephi and trained them onto the track below. “..Pixie? Seriously?” Jaikus eyed the man with mild confusion. She was certainly not the most orthodox racer to bet on, and yet the man seemed entirely confident with his decision. “Huh.”

The Axxilan continued to stare through the binocs for a few more seconds, glancing up only when Emryc spoke again. He did not miss the raised brow and amusement that glinted behind those silver eyes.

“No? And why would you think that? I quite like Tattooine.” Jaikus raised a brow in Emryc’s direction when the half-Sephi questioned his motives for being on the planet. He attempted to maintain a very serious look on his face, betrayed only by the less-than-subtle upwards twitching of his lips. It quickly became clear Jaikus was trying very hard to keep from laughing. “The best part? Unlike some places, there is no three inches of water to worry about.”

He watched the half-Sephi with a smirk, waiting for any inkling of a reaction from the man before he spoke again. “Now that you mention it though, I did have a feeling you might be here, and I might’ve brought something along which I thought you’d be interested in. Once the races are over.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc wasn’t surprised at the reaction to Pixie. He liked her because she was practical about her builds and focused far less on the bells and whistles. As a result, her speeders were usually built for utility more than showboating. The half Sephi didn’t buy a word of anything Jaikus said about Tatooine, and this was further emphasized by the obvious twitching of his lips that broke his straight face.

The image of Jaikus faceplanting and flapping his arms in shallow water was not one Emryc would forget. The memory brought a small grin to his face, and it was such a far cry from how well dressed he was now. He hadn’t taken the time to truly take in sight of his appearance, still keeping to his own internal boundaries. He had compartmentalized and stashed away memories from the river where he had crossed some lines. However, it was not going to be enough to avoid the other man.

There was a look of mild surprise when Jaikus finished speaking, Emryc genuinely curious about what he had brought, “Oh? You know what I’m interested in now?” He asked with a subtle smile before he turned towards the seating area. The half Sephi began to walk towards his own, motioning for Jaikus to join him.

He had a private box that was dedicated just for him with service droids to tend to him. He turned down sentient attendants almost every time, preferring the cool neutrality of droids. Emryc took a seat as a droid brought over a tray of drinks for both men. The race would begin shortly and there were several rounds to go before it got interesting.

Opting out of anything fancy, Emryc simply grabbed a local, cold beer and took a swig. Every now and then Emryc glanced around for any media or reporters as there was no doubt they would be very curious about who was joining him in his viewing box.

He glanced over at Jaikus for a moment, his face back to its usual stoic. However, he fidgeted slightly as he spoke, “I’m uh…” He cleared his throat, taking another swig of beer as he formulated his words. He pointedly looked away and out towards the races, “I am pleased you are here.”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus did not miss the rather obvious twitching of the half-Sephi’s lips, and the sight of it was enough to elicit a mild chuckle from the man. He had learned to pick up on the subtle changes in expression from Emryc over time, and he was more than a little bit pleased that his self-deprecating joke had hit home. While the memory of not only faceplanting, but swallowing that disgusting water had been a clear source of irritation at the time, the Axxilan could not deny the hilarity of the situation now that it was well in the past.

After a few more moments of glancing down at Pixie’s rather plain speeder, Jaikus turned away from where he was standing and followed Emryc back towards the private box. While the Axxilan had certainly paid his fair share to get into the arena, his own seats were nothing compared to the exclusive spot that the half-Sephi had to himself. Only once they were there did Jaikus respond to the question. “I think I might have an idea – but who knows, I guess you’ll have to decide for yourself when you see it.” The Axxilan flashed him a grin, going on to repeat a phrase he’d uttered not so long ago. “I like to keep you in suspense.”

Taking a seat beside Emryc, Jaikus turned to pluck a drink from the tray and politely thank the droid who brought it. While the half-Sephi opted for a simple beer, Jaikus chose something far more eccentric. Whatever it was, the beverage was a bright orange color and was served in a coupe glass, a tiny little umbrella leaning against the rim. It was probably some overly-complex, fruity drink with a name that was impossible to pronounce. Which, of course, meant it was perfect for Jaikus.

Once or twice, Jaikus caught a glimpse of Emryc scanning the area for media reporters or cameras, even going so far as to mimick the gesture a few times himself. The Axxilan wasn’t about to blurt it out aloud, but he had prepared an entire identity and rather boring reason for being seen with the President of the ISC, hoping to spare the man from the prying media questions that might arise. While it wasn’t enough to stop him from appearing, Jaikus knew that coming to see Emryc out in public had the potential to draw unwanted attention, and he had no desire to cause problems for the half-Sephi today.

Jaikus had been reclined back in his seat, the rim of his drink pressed to his lips when Emryc glanced his direction. The Axxilan immediately noted the way that Emryc fidgeted and cleared his throat when he started to speak, formulating the words that seemed to catch Jaikus off guard when they passed from the man’s lips. Emryc’s gaze was pointed out and towards the race, meaning he likely did not catch the gleeful smile that was plastered on his face for a few seconds. Something about the words pleased him more than he cared to admit.

“It’s good to see you too, Emryc.” Jaikus spoke softly, his eyes lingering on the half-Sephi before turning back to the races. Just as he did so, the first round commenced with a loud horn blaring across the arena, and without a moment of delay, over a dozen speeders suddenly lurched forward and past the arena. Unlike the hand-held screens that most fans used, Emryc’s private box was equip with a large holo screen, the feed switching on just as the racers rounded a canyon wall.

“So,” Jaikus spoke after a few seconds, flashing Emryc a knowing look. “How many interviews have you had to endure since your ‘heroic actions on Keldooine?’”

 

[Emryc Thorne]

The half Sephi didn’t miss the repeat phrase, his thoughts suddenly very far away from the race. His ears did that twitch once more when Jaikus said his name, something Emryc still found to be a mystery. Mercifully he didn’t have to actively work to get himself back to the present before his face revealed anything.

Emryc’s ears flattened when the loud horn blared to interrupt his thoughts, and he visibly winced. His gaze was on the races for a moment, watching the racers speed off for the first round. Pixie was trailing slightly, but he had full confidence she would come up ahead after a few turns. The half Sephi sipped from his beer and looked over when Jaikus asked his question. His gaze first fell on Jaikus’ choice of drink, staring blankly in silent judgment. But as was his style, he mentioned nothing about it, the expression on his face saying enough.

“Many,” He muttered as he took another sip, “I believe I will be formally declaring war soon,” Emryc casually mentioned, his features darkening slightly as he thought of the planet’s handling of the crisis. The mystery behind who left the compound gates open wasn’t yet solved, but he was certain it had to do with the Hutts, “I had a few tabloids ask about you..”

Emryc was distracted when the follow up rounds began. He could see Pixie gaining an advantage, and he sat there with a slightly smug look on his face. The little ewok was cruising right past the competition, a few racers crashing into rocks and boulders. Every year the tournament saw horrible crashes and even some deaths. Regardless of how popular it was, it was still an Outer Rim sport, and with it came violence.

Pixie pulled up to number one pretty soon and Emryc eased back into his seat and took a swig from the beer. The half Sephi went back to his quiet self, not really the type to make small talk too much. He certainly was relaxed enough to engage Jaikus in conversation, but he could just as easily sit in complete silence with the other man.

After a moment, there was a tremendous crash as several speeders ran into the side of a canyon. Emryc sat up in his seat, staring for a moment to find the root cause. The announcer yelled about a racer accidentally losing control of his speeder and colliding with others to start a chain reaction. Miraculously the offending racer came out unscathed and remained in the race. Emryc’s jaw tightened as rage bubbled beneath the surface. This amplified when it was revealed who it was.

“LANDERS?!” Emryc cried out as he abruptly bolted up from his seat to stand, staring at the screen in awe. The moron managed to wipe out some of the best racers and clear the path for himself.

“No fucking way,” The half Sephi’s jaw hung open as he spoke barely above a whisper in exasperation, “No fucking way that guy…” He could see his crowns being flushed down a toilet as the idiot put-putted his way towards the finish line in his jalopy speeder that was now had a thick trail of smoke pluming from it.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Settling comfortably into his seat and with his eyes fixated upon the holo-screen in front of them, Jaikus only barely caught the sight of Emryc’s judgemental stare from his peripheral. Blinking a few times, he merely shrugged his shoulders, tipping his glass towards the half-Sephi in response. The Axxilan was unabashedly honest about his preferences in the past, and that certainly went for his choice of drink as well. He continued to enjoy his sweet, fruity drink despite the expression it elicited from Emryc.

Much to Jaikus’ dismay, Landers was preforming as poorly as expected during the first round. The fact that his speeder had stalled and backfired for a solid thirty seconds before lurching past the starting line was only the first of many gut-wrenching sights, the fellow Axxilan consistently trailing behind almost every other racer.

Only when Emryc answered his question did the man pry his eyes away from the races. The fact that the half-Sephi had been badgered with endless interviews and statements from the press wasn’t particularly surprising, but his statement about formally declaring war certainly wasn’t.

Diplomat that he was, Jaikus was fully aware of the tension that existed between the ISC and Five Syndicates, but he did not expect that it had reached the point of full-blown war quite yet. Even if the Hutts were involved with what happened at the compound, Jaikus guessed that there wasn’t enough proof to definitively pin it on them. “Is the ISC ready for a war? Let alone against an enemy like the Syndicates, which are likely to weaponize the virus in any conflict.” As much as it was in Jaikus’ nature to joke with Emryc most of the time, politics was one of his passions and this was a topic he was genuinely curious about. The only thing that drew his attention away from the topic, however, was the mention of reporters asking about him.

There was a distinct pause from the Axxilan, though he didn’t look displeased so much as he was confused. He had made a concerted effort to ensure that the cameras weren’t on them during the escape, but the realization quickly dawned on him that there must’ve been dozens of camera feeds rolling when him and Emryc eventually arrived at the second compound. The fact that the half-Sephi had turned away his own ship on Jaikus’ behalf no doubt raised questions.

Jaikus took another drink from his glass, holding the liquid in his mouth for a few seconds before swallowing. “Oh? And did you tell them I was a long-lost roommate from your college years? Or did you manage to rescue a very curly-haired civilian from a horde of infected on your way?” The Axxilan flashed a grin at that, wiggling his brows towards the half-Sephi. While mostly joking, he was genuinely curious what the man had said. It was important that whatever story Emryc had spun to the media would need to be consistent, if the cameras or reporters cause sight of them here on Tattooine.

The Axxilan took another sip from his glass, his attention returning to the holo-screen at that moment – just in time to catch the tremendous crash that echoed across the stadium. Like Emryc, Jaikus abruptly rose in his seat – the rapid movement enough to cause his drink to spill a bit in his hands. Citrine eyes widened like never before when the sole survivor or the crash was revealed.

In that moment, Jaikus was grateful that Emryc wasn’t looking his way – as to not catch the look plastered across his face. The Axxilan couldn’t help but look completely dumbfounded when Landers emerged from the wreckage of several speeders – piloted by men and women who far outclassed the fellow Axxilan. Jaikus’ mouth hung open in shock for half a minute, only closing when the realization of what that meant hit him. His lips twisted upwards into a full-on smile, and Jaikus could practically see the crowns multiplying in his wallet.

Slowly but surely the Axxilan made his way from the private box to the stand where Emryc had moved, glancing towards the half-Sephi out of the corner of his eye. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you, never doubt the underdog?” He nudged with his elbow, his voice sounding only the slightest bit smug.

While Jaikus was clearly enjoying himself, the rest of the stadium wasn’t. Like Emryc, the vast majority of them had completely disregarded Landers for the racing blunder that he was, meaning that his win had cost a lot of people, a lot of money. The boo’s and strings of profanities roared out across the grand stadium, followed by some of the more passionate fans eventually turning on each other starting to duke it between the rows. It was an Outer Rim sport after all, and the people who enjoyed it were often as brutal as the game itself.

Jaikus only spared the commotion a momentary glance before turning back to look at Emryc. “Once the games are over, lunch? My treat.” He grinned. “I don’t think your wallet can take another hit.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

“HOW?!” Emryc cried out again. He set the beer down to process the horrors that played out before him. Devrin’s name was announced across the arena, closeup shots suggesting the racer was just as shocked as anyone. His speeder was on fire and he quickly had to hustle to get out, tripping over himself in the process. The sight caused Emryc to rub his temples. He ran his hands through his hair to clutch at it, effectively ruining the styling.

“I put so much money on Pixie,” The half Sephi wasn’t the type to throw tantrums, but the urge to throw something was almost overwhelming. He glanced over at Jaikus, the muscles on his face twitching slightly. He reached over to abruptly yank that stupid umbrella drink right out of the other man’s grasp. However, instead of doing anything dramatic with it, he calmly set it down on a ledge out of Jaikus’ reach in his version of a tantrum. A minor inconvenience more than anything, but enough to make an almost comical statement. Emryc crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the screen.

Emryc said nothing for a moment after Jaikus asked his question. For a few seconds it was difficult to tell if he simply hadn’t heard or had no interest in it. His tone was still slightly moody when he spoke.

“Has to have vegan options,” He stated abruptly, “And nothing spicy,” Emryc glared at the screen for a few more seconds, “I already lost out so we can leave now.”

The stands erupted into chaos with hundreds of people fighting and brawling over the massive upset. Luckily for Emryc, he had multiple droids to help him muscle his way through the crowd. Without even realizing, he tugged Jaikus in front of him so his own massive frame stopped any sucker punches or hits from the back while the Axxilan was protected from the front by D3s.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Swallowing down the urge to make some smug remark or boast about the obvious raw talent of his fellow Axxilan, Jaikus turned to Emryc and gave the half-Sephi a very comforting pat on the back. He was making a very concerted effort not to gawk like an idiot at the sight of Devrin leaping from his speeder currently going up in flames, nor any of his other blunders. The fact that he tripped over himself and landed unceremonious in the dirt was a sight that was especially annoying, as it immediately brought up recent memories of Jaikus’ own exceptionally clumsy habits. Perhaps it was a trait shared by Axxilan’s?

Rather than delving further down that particular rabbit hole, Jaikus’ attention was brought back to reality when Emryc glanced in his direction. He immediately picked up on the irritation that radiated off of the half-Sepi, noting the way the muscles in his face twitched and shifted, betraying the usually icy and frigid nature of the man. In that moment, Jaikus expected an outburst – or at least, the muted version of one that usually came from Emryc, which was likely to entail some kind of exceptionally snarky remark or a frigid glare. Instead, Jaikus was treated to the sight of something he absolutely did not expect.

Citrine eyes watched unblinkingly, following the umbrella in slow motion as it was lifted from his glass. Visions of his long-lost mask on Telos fluttered back to the surface, and yet Jaikus hadn’t the slightest clue of what Emryc was about to do with the little colorful umbrella. Throw it at Devrin like a dart? Snap it in half and throw it back at Jaikus? Eat it? The possibilities were endless. Instead of something overly dramatic and unnecessary – which is certainly how Jaikus would’ve reacted, in all fairness – he watched as the half-Sephi lifted his arm above his head and placed the little ornament just out of reach on a ledge. Jaikus stared, completely dumbstruck at what he just saw.

Emryc turned back to glare at the screen, and Jaikus glanced up to look at the umbrella. The inquisitive look behind his eyes faded and a smile crept its way onto his face. It was an absolutely ridiculous gesture, and something caught Jaikus completely off-guard. A hand instinctively shot up to his face to stifle the oncoming outburst, but it did little to mute the fit of giggling and laughter that soon erupted from the man – a handful of puffer-pig snorts weaving in between the wheezes and giggles the longer it went on. It took the man a solid minute to get ahold of himself, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards for some time afterwards.

When the other man stated his specifications for the food, Jaikus nodded once and shrugged in response. He remembered how Emryc had specifically sought out the vegan options at the food stalls on Keldooine, though the aversion to spice was a new bit of information. Just how bad was his tolerance for heat, the Axxilan wondered? Luckily, it was not a stipulation that seemed to deter Jaikus. He genuinely could not think of very many spicy dishes that he ate on a regular basis, so it wasn’t a tremendous loss as far as he was concerned.

Finding a decent place to eat in Mos Espa, however? That was going to be something of a challenging.

Jaikus unceremoniously chugged the last of his fruity drink and set the coupe glass down onto a nearby railing before filtering out of the viewing box with Emryc and his droid entourage. He did not miss the way that the half-Sephi wordlessly positioned himself behind the Axxilan, protecting him from the flurry of fists and thrown holo-pads that erupted all across the stadium. It was something that brought a smile to Jaikus’ face. There was something undeniably sweet about the wordless gesture.

Before they made it completely out of the stadium, Jaikus broke from the protection of Emryc and the droids to approach an exceptionally grumpy-looking Cathar. There was a brief exchange between the two, which ended when the feline male reluctantly handed a small rectangular box to the Axxilan, clearly the winnings that he had gained from betting on Devrin.

Without further incident, the pair of men and the droid bodyguards made their way out of the Grand Arena, standing out like a sore thumb amongst the streets of Mos Espa. While it had always been a population center in the past, it was practically overflowing with people nowadays. Not only did the tournament bring thousands of visitors to the planet, but there had been a massive influx of refugees since the implementation of ISCRA.

Standing on the street for a few moments, Jaikus eventually turned back to glance at Emryc before he began in a direction where it looked like there would be food. It was very clear he was no idea where he was going and was absolutely not going to admit it.

“This way.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Though Emryc was beyond irritated at the outcome of the race, the fact that Jaikus began to laugh at his tiny tantrum was even worse. However, when the snorts started again, the half Sephi was almost instantly diffused. His features softened and a grin threatened to creep across his face even though he bit it back.

Once they were out in the streets of Mos Espa, the twin suns glared down at them in full force. Sweat began to line his body, and the over the top attire he wore certainly didn’t help. They got quite a bit of attention, but Emryc had donned his sunglasses and kept himself angled behind a droid to keep himself inconspicuous. He simply looked like another rich tournament attendee instead of the President of the ISC.

Emryc followed as Jaikus began to lead the way, genuinely curious about how confidently he was doing so to the man that had been on Tatooine countless times. The half Sephi followed along for a while, entertaining Jaikus as he took them through the prostitute district. There were a few stalls for food, but soon they were surrounded by shady humans and aliens that were batting their eyes and surrounding them. A twi’lek came over swinging her hips towards Jaikus.

“Hey pretty boy,” She grinned with several teeth missing, “Looking for a good time?” The twi’lek’s eyes flicked over to Emryc, who was suddenly staring at a nearby sand sculpture with vested interest. She decided to focus her attention back on Jaikus.

After a few moments of being hassled, Emryc decided to finally take over the navigation. He casually began to walk in the opposite direction without a word, though his body language suggested for Jaikus to follow. The half Sephi didn’t make any quips about the Axxilan getting them lost, his own path taking them back towards some of the nicer parts of the city.

The city had changed drastically since Tatooine joined the ISC. Emryc led to a fully renovated district that had luxury shopping and restaurants. Since Jaikus’ pockets were so full, the half Sephi figured he could afford to spend a bit. The half Sephi pointed out towards a fancy restaurant with complex architecture and plants around it. The biggest giveaway to its obscene luxury was the fact that it had a water fountain in front of it. On Tatooine.

“Your treat, puffer pig,” Emryc stated flatly as he made his way over. Though there was a massive line to get in with rich nobles from all over the galaxy, being the President had its perks. The two men were escorted in right away, Jaikus earning some of the most vicious glares as he walked.

The two were seated in a shaded area that was tucked away from the crowds, overseeing a vibrant infinity pool and the endless desert beyond. Emryc removed his jacket and bowtie, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his full sleeve shirt before he sat down. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing the modest chrono on his wrist.

“This place has all the local dishes but mercifully a lot of it is made for foreign palates,” This meant that most things weren’t spicy, but they could certainly be ordered by request or off the menu. Emryc looked thoroughly pleased to be in a setting that served toned down and blander foods.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Truth be told, Jaikus had absolutely zero idea where he was going. This was likely his first time on Tattooine in general, let alone wandering the streets of Mos Espa – which is something Emryc most likely would’ve caught on to quickly. The Grand Arena had been simple enough to find – it was quite literally the biggest thing around and wasn’t hard to navigate to, considering there were literally thousands of spectators flocking in that general direction. Anything else, though? It was a complete shot in the dark and Jaikus had merely guessed on a direction.

Of course, Jaikus wasn’t about to admit this any of this aloud. It would snow on Korriban before Jaikus, stubborn creature that he was, ever admitted that he was lost. Instead he walked with the same confident, determined stride in which he always carried himself.

Of course, his inability to ask for directions and defiant nature eventually brought them to one of the city’s shadier districts. The Axxilan was beginning to realize that his lack of navigational skills was becoming exceptionally obvious, glancing towards Emryc with a look that was half-way between irritated and flustered. Citrine eyes eventually shifted forward, catching the sight of the twi’lek woman sauntering over. A dark brow arched ever-so-slightly when she addressed him, the words ‘pretty boy’ eliciting the faintest grin from the Axxilan.

While Emryc had taken to staring blankly at a sand sculpture, Jaikus kept his gaze focused entirely on the woman who approached him – his citrine eyes respectfully trained on her face the entire time, never glancing at her revealing attire. “Sadly, my friend and I already have plans. Perhaps another time.” He flashed her a smile. It as an expression that portrayed none of the genuine warmth that it often did when elicited naturally, but to a complete stranger it was nothing short of polite and charming.

“Have a lovely evening.” He bid a farewell to a woman, quickly following behind Emryc before they were cornered by anyone else in the district. The Axxilan was silently grateful that the half-Sephi didn’t immediately make a comment about his inability to navigate the city, though he wasn’t entirely convinced that it wasn’t going to come up later. For now, he simply followed along as they were led into a nicer part of the city – taking in the sights of the renovated district with silent admiration.

“What a pleasant surprise, roomie. And here I thought MRE’s were your version of fine dining.” He quipped towards the half-Sephi, gesturing to the restaurant of choice. While he didn’t disapprove and it was certainly an establishment up to the Axxilan’s standards, Jaikus could practically smell his wallet bursting into flames. He rolled his eyes a bit when Emryc spoke, though a smile nevertheless started to tugged at his lips. The dueling nicknames were clearly starting to become a reoccurrence, and perhaps unsurprisingly he didn’t seem to mind.

Jaikus strode alongside Emryc as they were led past the line, citrine eyes only briefly flicking over to catch a glance of the vicious looks he was receiving from others. It didn’t seem to bother Jaikus in the slightest, and he even went so far as to flash the crowd of disgruntled nobles a polite – albeit exceptionally smug – smile. He took his seat at the table beside Emryc when they were seated within the private, shaded section of the restaurant, briefly gazing out across the infinity pool before picking up the menu infront of him. Mercifully, Jaikus didn’t torture Emryc by ordering something spicy. Though it certainly crossed his mind, he was hoping to actually enjoy this meal, especially with what he had planned ahead. A droid waiter walked over not long after they sat down.

“I’ll take the herb-crusted Bantha steak, medium rare. Moogan Tea to drink.”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc’s brows rose as Jaikus made a quip about MREs. When the half Sephi spoke his expression and tone were entirely deadpan, “I seem to recall you enjoying MRE crusted roasted rabbit quite a bit,” He muttered quietly without looking at Jaikus.

For his own meal, Emryc ordered a hearty vegan salad with a simple glass of water. Despite taking them somewhere expensive, the half Sephi’s palate ensured that his actual meal was shockingly cheap. The idea that Jaikus casually offered to take him out was not lost on him. It wasn’t often that others offered to treat him or give him a break from playing the traditional patriarchal role. People usually saw him as the masculine figure that was expected to always play a certain role - one which he often did automatically. Jaikus had fundamentally thrown him off with gestures like this and the time he stepped up to defend Emryc.

He glanced over at the steak as their food arrived, his own dish looking exceptionally bland next to the Axxilan’s meal. Emryc, however, was beyond thrilled for his boring salad. His dressing of choice was just a few squeezes of lemon, usually preferring to keep fatty items off his diet. Naturally this was done by the droid waiter by request because Emryc avoided touching food with his hands at all costs.

“Since you just so happened to be in the area on some very important business I don't doubt,” He spoke flatly with laced sarcasm between bites as he reached for his water, “What do you have planned for the rest of the day?” Emryc brought his water up and paused for a moment, his gaze vacantly drifting off to the pool. It wasn’t his nature to ask questions like that. He almost never asked probing questions about others or their activities. He felt slightly embarrassed for even asking it, wondering if he revealed too obviously that he wanted to be a part of those plans.

Emryc took a swig from his water, his face suddenly growing hot. Thankfully, it was impossible to tell if it was from the earlier heat or not.

"Uh, actually that's none of my business.." He muttered awkwardly before resuming eating so his mouth stopped running on autopilot and spewing stupid things.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

For all the ways that Jaikus was able to project an air of confidence and poise wherever he went, Emryc had miraculously pinpointed the precise way in which to reduce the Axxilan to a state of stuttering malfunction. Citrine eyes grew a bit wider when the half-Sephi mentioned the MRE-crusted rabbit, memories of the meal Emryc had gone out of his way to hunt and prepare flooding back to the surface. The distinctive flush in his cheeks returned in all its glory, bronzed skin shifting to tones of vermillion across his cheeks. Tattooine was blisteringly hot, and the reddening of his face might’ve been played off by the heat, were it not an expression that Emryc had seen on the Axxilan far too many times.

His mind was eventually drawn back to reality when the droid waiter brought their meals back only a few minutes later, breathing deeply of the fragrant steam that wafted off the herb-crusted meat. He glanced across the table after a few seconds and settled upon the salad that Emryc had ordered, noting the very clear differences in both their palates and the cost of their meals. While the choice of restaurant had been Emryc’s, it was Jaikus’ suggestion to get lunch and the Axxilan seemed more than happy to treat the man to a meal. While it might’ve been a dramatic shift in what Emryc was used to, it was very clearly not within Jaikus’ nature to play the feminine, docile role around the half-Sephi – whether that was now, or in the moments where he’d leapt in front of the man defensively.

As Jaikus began to delicately cut into his steak, a grin couldn’t help but begin to form when Emryc requested the droid to squeeze the lemon onto the salad rather than touching it himself. It was a small detail – one that most people likely would’ve completely ignored - but Jaikus had a habit of picking up on such things and overanalyzed them to the point of exhaustion. He found subtle amusement in the discovery of Emryc’s peculiar eating habit, especially when Jaikus considered his own refined and downright prissy way of eating.

“Very important indeed,” He quipped just before taking another bite of his steak. Emryc’s words were laced with sarcasm, and Jaikus returned the favor with the addition of a wiggling of his eyebrows while he chewed. Their little adventure through Mos Espa’s less savory districts had all but obliterated the illusion that Jaikus had come to Tattooine for quite literally any other reason than to harass Emryc – which wouldn’t have even been a first, at this point – and Jaikus saw no reason to pretend to the contrary.

“Absolutely nothing at all.” Jaikus admitted, only again speaking after swallowing a bite of steak and washing it down with a swig of Moogan tea. A dark brow arched slightly when Emryc’s face suddenly turned a bit redder and he started blankly staring off into space. While it was something that happened to Jaikus quite often, the sight of the half-Sephi looking flustered gave him pause. The last comment from Emryc earned the half-Sephi the faintest rolling of Jaikus’ eyes, as if what he’d said was completely ridiculous.

“I was hoping you were available, actually.” The Axxilan smiled, characteristic warmth shining through the polite mask he had worn for that twi’lek woman. While Emryc might’ve been slightly embarrassed by revealing his desire to be a part of whatever the Axxilan had planned, Jaikus had quite literally zero qualms about making that mutual desire very clear. “If the distinguished President of the ISC can spare some time, that is.”

There was a playfulness that briefly glinted behind Jaikus’ eyes at that last comment, though it quickly subsided when the Axxilan reached into his back pocket and pulled out his datapad. He tapped the screen for a few seconds before sliding it face-down across the table towards Emryc. “You may find it boring, but..”

The screen purposefully had the brightness turned down as a precaution, but by lifting it up a bit closer to his face, Emryc would be treated to the sight of several pages of research notes which had been produced by the Axxilan – several paragraphs of summarized information, followed by images of ancient tablets and tattered tomes, followed by their respective translations. There was even a string of coordinates, ones which Emryc would almost immediately be able to recognize as pointing back to Korriban. It was all the material Jaikus had gathered on this mysterious site, and the attention to detail spoke to an obsessive love for archeology.

“I have the actual material back at my shi—Er. Well. The ship, but it’s an overview of what I’ve found so far. I was considering tracking it down and doing some exploring, and I was wondering if you were interested? I can’t promise anything particularly valuable will come from it, but I thought it was worth taking a look.”

The Axxilan allowed the half-Sephi to read through the datapad for a few moments, going back to eating his food. “Maybe even spend the rest of the day here and start fresh tomorrow. I wouldn't mind seeing more of Tattooine.” He left that option open for Emryc to decide.

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc was focused on eating his meal, thankful that Jaikus had taken over the talking so he didn’t embarrass himself further. Unlike the half Sephi, Jaikus clearly had no qualms with admitting that he wanted to spend more time. This was what he had stated from the very beginning and Emryc was actually envious of his unabashed and bold ways of confronting things. Emryc usually said nothing or took the scenic route to arriving at what he desired. He moved around a piece of lettuce on his plate with his fork as Jaikus spoke.

He glanced over at the datapad, tilting it to scan over the contents. He recognized a lot of it at once - Korriban was….or had been, his planet after all. For a moment his jaw tightened, a sliver of rage coursing through him as he recalled Morgan’s actions. However it passed as soon as it appeared - he was still permitted to come and go as he pleased from there after all. Emryc was silently impressed by the research done, a lot of it thorough and detailed like he often organized himself. His food was entirely forgotten as he pored over the content.

Emryc spoke after a long moment, “Clearly I have no issues with doing a lot of work for nothing..” He muttered dryly as he thought back to Telos. He still had no idea what the prize at the end was, but he hoped it served Jaikus well. That sliver of annoyance came and went again, but he said nothing about it.

“I hope you’re ready to embrace the curls, puffer pig,” He said with a grin, thinking back to Korriban’s awful weather. In fact, it was a wonder Jaikus’ hair kept it together even here. Emryc set the datapad down, genuinely curious about the site. When the Axxilan suggested spending the rest of the day, he blinked a few times in quick succession. He idly pushed around that same piece of lettuce on his plate again.

“What...do you like to do?” He was staring down at his food very intently, feeling silly for asking such useless questions. Emryc was never good at this whole spending time together thing. Usually he did his own thing and others drifted in and out of his life as they pleased. Jaikus wanted to spend dedicated time and that left the half Sephi at a loss. To say that he was out of his element was an understatement.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus had been in the middle of chewing on a piece of his steak when Emryc dryly commented about walking away empty handed, the Axxilan’s thoughts immediately brought back to the circumstances of their first farewell on Telos. Just as it did for the half-Sephi, Jaikus felt a distinct pang of irritated surged across body, swelling up for a brief moment before fading, as if it had never been there. While it was well in the past, it was still a memory that annoyed him slightly – especially considering Emryc had chosen to leave.

For a moment, Jaikus considered pressing that point more extensively, but quickly decided he had no desire to sour the rest of the afternoon. It was something he already had intentions of discussing later, anyway.

Instead of dwelling on their previous adventure, Jaikus couldn’t help but smile when Emryc flashed him a grin. While that particular nickname was very quickly starting to growing on him, the comment about the curls was enough to elicit an audible groan from Jaikus. An abundance of product was the only thing that kept the Axxilan’s hair in a presentable state, but a trip to Korriban would likely be the death of his style. “In that case, forget I said anything – it most definitively isn’t worth it.” While the Axxilan had no desire to ‘embrace the curls’, his voice was laced with sarcasm when it came to abandoning the adventure.

He took another drink from his Moogan tea. “Luckily, I quite like the less rigid style on you. So Korriban won't be too much of a problem on that score.” He gestured to the half-Sephi’s hair, pointing out where he had previously ruined the quiff a fit of frustration. While there had been sarcasm in his voice before, his words now were nothing but genuine. It was something he pointed out the last time they’d been in each other’s company, as well.

An eyebrow arched slightly when he noticed Emryc pushing a piece of lettuce around on his plate in response to the suggestion of spending the day together, once more noting the sutble way the man seemed to fidget. He wondered if the half-Sephi even realized he was doing it.

“I like to go dancing.” He finally said, a wide smile plastered across his face. It had been weeks since Jaikus had the opportunity to go dancing, and their first encounter on Serenno seemed to indicate that Emryc wasn’t half as clueless on the dancefloor as he was everything else. “But, I'm flexible for whatever you enjoy. If I can sit through Huttball, I'm quite sure I can enjoy anything in your company."

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc wasn’t surprised that Jaikus listed dancing as an activity he enjoyed. His thoughts briefly flashed back to the castle where he boldly approached him and confidently led the dance. He didn’t know then that the man he rebuffed for his small talk attempts would end up being such a familiar presence in his life. Emryc was in the middle of a bite when Jaikus finished speaking. The tender nature of the words caused the half Sephi to start coughing abruptly, and he had to slam his chest to free up the food that got caught. Emryc quickly took a sip of water, staring in the opposite direction as his face felt as if it were on fire. He wasn’t even sure if color had appeared on his face or not, but he used the Force to topple over a glass at another table. The shattering noise would hopefully force Jaikus to look away as waiters began to rush to address it.

The half Sephi ate the rest of his meal in silence, pulling up his datapad camera to check his teeth before downing the rest of his water. He instinctively reached for his card, completely forgetting that Jaikus was treating him to lunch. It was entirely out of habit that he always took others out and not the other way around. It was the case even when he was dirt poor. Unless Jaikus actively reminded him and took over, Emryc would absentmindedly pay for their meals without a second thought.

“Meet me in the market district in two hours by the bantha sand sculpture,” Emryc stated flatly after a while. He glanced over at Jaikus, gaze flicking down and then up, “You’ll want to change into some local garbs to avoid drawing attention.”

---​

Two hours later meant that the suns were significantly less oppressive. The skies were slightly pink from complete sunset arriving in another hour or so, a gentle breeze offering reprieve from the day’s earlier heat.

The market district was set up as a medina with stalls of goods everywhere. There was music playing all around, the distinct smell of hookah and incense heavy in the air. The civilians came out in droves, especially many of the race crowds that ventured out to sample the local cities. Vendors at the market stalls usually made a killer profit from the games. There were food stalls with delicious roasts and local dishes that were flavorful and sometimes intensely spicy.

Up ahead there was a wide open square where music instruments were being set up. It was clear that there would be singing and dancing as the suns disappeared beyond the horizon. For now, there was a lot of excited chatter all around.

The half Sephi, always strictly punctual, was by the bantha sculpture as promised. When Jaikus spotted him, he would note that the tall man was for once not adorned in any suits or hoodies. In fact, he was dressed in the local attire he had been gifted by some of the native residents for his work with ISC. The outfit was perfectly tailored to him, fitting around his massive frame and flattering his muscled torso in a modest way. He completed the attire fully with the turban that had custom pockets for his ears to keep them out of view. The turban worked wonders with Emryc's stubble and his eyes. He sported a complementing chrono on his left wrist. Not only did the attire give him a regal appearance, it also served to suppress his identity and make him appear as any other slightly well off local.

Silver eyes glinted vibrantly against his tan features under the turban as he spotted Jaikus. When he did so, Emryc reached for the elaborate sherwani sash and casually tossed it loosely over the opposite shoulder, leaving the slack over his chest. He grinned slightly as he did so.

“Figured I could take a break from being a gundark tonight.”

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Whatever Emryc had intended with the shattering pitcher proved to be completely unconvincing to Jaikus. His attention was immediately caught when the half-Sephi began to cough and choke unceremoniously, concern momentarily flashing across his features, only for it to fade and be replaced with the faintest hints of amusement when he caught the redness in the other man’s face. Instead of looking away, the Axxilan kept his eyes fixated on the half-Sephi unflinchingly the entire time, citrines boring into his soul as he took a long drink from his Moogan tea. Even if Emryc had purposefully turned away, he could likely feel the other man looking at him. Jaikus was clearly trying very hard not to laugh, though any seriousness in his expression betrayed by the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Silence passed and Jaikus finished the rest of his meal without incident. When Emryc reached for his card, Jaikus immediately caught on to what he was attempting – absentmindedly or not – to do and didn’t entertain the notion for even half a second. The Axxilan had already plucked the card from his wallet at roughly the same time, lifting it from his lap and flashing it in front of the half-Sephi as a reminder of his previous commitment. “My treat, remember? Taking the time to have lunch is a treat in of itself,” He smiled. “But I’m still paying.”

The waiter returned shortly after that, and Jaikus purposefully presented his card before Emryc had the opportunity to do so. He did not believe it was an issue that would be pressed, but Jaikus was prepared to literally smack away any opposing hand that attempted to pay for the meal.

---​

Two hours had passed, and the blistering heat of Tattooine’s twin suns had tempered into a cool, pleasant evening. With a place to rendezvous, Jaikus spent the time to not only freshening up after the meal, but also to frantically search for something to wear. While Emryc had been gifted some of the local attire, the Axxilan did not own anything that wouldn’t make him stick out like a sore thumb. Thankfully, the renovated district where the pair had lunched was also host to many different clothing boutiques, many of which specialized in the traditional styles of Tattooine.

Never one to be late and genuinely looking forward to spending more time with Emryc, Jaikus arrived within the market district at the precise time they had scheduled – weaving his way through the crowds and towards the Bantha sculpture. He moved a bit slower than he usually did, taking the opportunity to appreciate the foreign music that filled the space and peruse the vendors and their stalls – his nose filled with the scent of exotic spices and heady incense. Like Emryc, Jaikus had abandoned his tailored suit for the local attire – donning a sherwani of black and gold fabric, with a matching sash that wrapped around his shoulder and arm. The ensemble was accessorized with his usual chrono and beaded bracelet, alongside a few rings on his fingers.

It was Jaikus’ first time wearing such a regal garment, and yet it was something that was very rapidly beginning to grow on him – perhaps enough to even begin sporting it after leaving Tattooine. When the Axxilan finally found Emryc amongst the crowd, he couldn’t help but think the regalia looked significantly better on his companion. He couldn’t help but stare a bit at the half-Sephi and the way he was dressed, suddenly looking equally parts giddy and flustered at the sight – noting the way the suit was perfectly tailored to his muscular figure. When Emryc spoke, Jaikus couldn’t help but flash a bright smile, eyes lingered on his attire for a moment longer before meeting the silvers. “It suits you well. Truly.”

Citrine eyes flicked from Emryc and back to the medina, once more taking in the sights of Mos Espa’s market district. The planet had come a long way since it’s days as a backwater world beneath the Hutt Clans, vibrant and lively in ways Jaikus hadn’t expected when he first arrived. “It truly does come to life at night, doesn’t it?” He asked, though it was more a general statement than a question.

“Where to, roomie?”

@Sreeya

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc took in sight of the other man as he approached, silver gaze panning head to toe as he saw Jaikus in this kind of attire for the first time. He couldn’t deny that the outfit flattered the other man quite a bit, especially against the bronze skin tone and glinting yellow eyes. The half Sephi’s attention was then focused on Jaikus’ reaction upon seeing him, the grin on his face widening slightly as he caught him staring and slightly flustered.

Emryc didn’t outwardly compliment the other man’s appearance in response. The half Sephi wasn’t exactly the best at expressing himself directly when the person in question confused him in some ways. Jaikus looked away to comment on the medina. Emryc’s gaze, however, remained on Jaikus while the man wasn’t looking, eyeing his side profile as a smile tugged at his lips.

“Stunning at any time of day.”

Emryc was looking back at the medina by the time Jaikus looked at him again. He scoffed a bit at the nickname, shaking his head. He led the way over to some of the stalls, finding a local food vendor. There appeared to be a drink stall right next to it with a host of cool, refreshing beverages made from local fruits. There were kebabs on sticks lined in rows, the smell delicious and spicy. Jaikus would notice Emryc kept sniffling and wiping his nose, eyes watering slightly. The next stalls had bracelets, necklaces and other trinkets for sale.

“Anything strike your fancy?” He asked before turning away to sneeze and wipe his nose again. It was obvious he couldn’t handle spicy food, but he figured Jaikus would like some of the food so he toughed it out.

@Altaris

 

[Jaikus Thorne]

Jaikus had been gazing out towards the medina when Emryc spoke, the words immediately drawing his attention back to the half-Sephi. The other man had thankfully been looking away at this point, meaning it wasn’t likely he would see the color shift slightly across the Axxilan’s cheeks. He suddenly felt the need to clear his throat a few times, a smile inadvertently starting to tug at his lips. The expression only grew wider when Emryc scoffed and shook his head in response to reoccurrence of that playful nickname – one which the half-Sephi was wholly responsible for creating, by the way.

Tossing the sherwani sash across his shoulder, Jaikus walked alongside Emryc through the medina, weaving through the crowds of natives and tourists alike until they arrived at the food stalls. Instead of the heavy incense from before, the air was suddenly filled with the delicious fragrance of intense spices and roasted meat being cooked nearby.

While Emryc might’ve silently been suffering just from being near it all, Jaikus clearly did not share the man’s aversion to spice – allowing his nose to carry him towards one of the kebab vendors. While he wasn’t particularly hungry since lunch, the Axxilan suddenly felt a craving for whatever it was he was smelling and it didn’t take him long to caved, exchanging a few crowns for one of skewers of roasted meat. This one, of course, was intensely spicy and had been doused in a variety of fiery peppers.

He would’ve offered to buy Emryc one as well, but it was at this point Jaikus turned to identify the source of the constant sniffling – citrine eyes fixating on Emryc with momentary concern. He noted the constant sneezing and watery silver eyes, a rather strange sight from the normally stoic and composed half-Sephi. While he remembered Emryc avoiding spicy food in the past, it wasn’t until this precise moment that Jaikus began to realize just how little tolerance he possessed.

Smirking a bit, Jaikus quickly moved on to the drink stall nearby. Instead of trying to kill him with a kebab, the Axxilan instead paid for and offered Emryc one of the cool

beverages which had been laid out. Served in a narrow glass, it was a drink most likely derived from one of the local fruits of the planet – equally parts tangy and sweet.

Mercifully, Jaikus opted not to linger by the food stalls. As much as he found the smell to be delicious and could have stayed for much longer to sample the local cuisine, Emryc looked like he might actually kill over from long-term exposure. Thus, the Axxilan led them towards the next row of stalls – delicately picking off pieces of the kebab with two fingers as he went.

Instead of spicy foods and beverages, the next row of stalls was littered with various different bracelets, necklaces and rings – all manner of jewelry on display for the marketgoers. While beautiful to behold, Emryc would immediately recognize that most of what was on display was heavily inflated in price – mostly going sold to clueless visitors who didn’t know any better. Alongside the jewelry, a few of the stalls contained a wide selection of decorative and elaborate hookah pipes, expertly crafted with intricate metalwork and colored glass. The scent of shisha was heavy in the air once more, with that being sold nearby as well.

Jaikus gave the selection a brief glance before looking towards Emryc. “Anything interest you?”

@Sreeya