mvchinery

[mvchinery]

"i keep an eye out." she always liked to know who the local trouble was whenever she stayed somewhere ; it was always best to be prepared, just in case you ran into something. she usually handled it. she usually did just fine. "you see those men over there ? " she gestured subtly to a pair of them on the other side of the square, not looking over. "they're with a local gang."

mvchinery​   //   mara jade.

“jade,” she said, firmly shaking his hand. it probably wasn’t wise to use her real name, but. she didn’t entirely care, at this point. she would make do. “mara jade.” she just wanted to get this done with quickly. “listen, i think some of the local thugs have the bright idea to try to steal the comm repair supplies.”

there’s not any familiarity in the name and lando didn’t linger on it as they shook. his brow did however quirk at the next words to come out of the woman’s mouth –– she must have been observant. he wondered what the cause behind that was. “well, it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise,” he started. “what makes you think that? seen something yourself, or just the local word?”

[mvchinery]

she squeezes her eyes shut momentarily, listening to bastila's words, trying to believe them. in a way, she's right. not in a way --- she's just right. but even after so many years, even after so much anger, meetra sometimes still has trouble grasping the sheer scale of how starkly the council had turned on her, on everyone. she had been raised in the jedi order. they had been her family. she had lost so much.

"no," she says eventually, shaking her head slightly. "i suppose i didn't. our methods may have been brutal, but ... our cause was just. i'll always believe that."

“The world should have protected you, but you have been asked to protect it. What an honor. What an injustice.“

( for meetra )

she’s quiet for a moment, head slightly bowed --- the most she’ll let herself crack under the weight of it. in the end she says simply, “i volunteered.” the path she’s walked has not been a kind one, but she chose it. that the jedi council hadn’t agreed ... maybe it was injustice. she’s wanted to let go of that anger, but maybe she shouldn’t, not entirely.

[mvchinery]

"oh, you flatter me." she gave padmé a flicker of a warm smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she did so. depa was genuine in everything she did, & it shone through. "yes, i've heard people have been pulled from all over. who's the most unique one you've encountered ? " she had felt mace die, shortly before her own death. there was a --- finality to it. but if she could return, surely he could, a greater jedi than she had ever considered herself.

mvchinery​   //   depa billaba.

“they are. i’m honestly quite proud of how well the order has begun to pull things together. it’s … a very challenging thing to come back from.” she didn’t like to think about order 66, but it was impossible to avoid it. she could run it over in her mind as much as she liked, & it didn’t become any easier to grapple with it. “thank you, padmé. & the same in return, of course. i would — appreciate it if you would let me know if you hear anything about mace. long odds, i know, but i am trying for some optimism.” that was far more like him than her.

“yes, it seems to be quite impressive. more so, i’m sure, with you a part of it again.” challenging was an understatement, certainly. padmé was not sure if it was easier to come back at the beginning of the rift or now. there’d been more confusion perhaps then, but now –– those who could relate, well, had months or years to adjust ahead of her. the words about mace pulled at her heartstrings, brows wrinkling together empathetically as she nodded her head. “of course. i haven’t heard anything about him yet, but… well, at this point, stranger things have happened.”

[mvchinery]

“that’s true,” she admitted, tilting her head back & breathing in the last of the lingering smoke. "i should get used to some nagging.” she harped at him more, anyways --- it was only fair. she gave iden a slight smile at the mention of sharing, nodding slightly in acknowledgement.

she raised her brows slightly at iden's assessment of their friendship during crises situations, but truthfully, could she disagree ? "we make a good team. ... but you have a point. it would be nice to talk without lives potentially hanging in the balance."

mvchinery​   //   leia organa.

leia wasn’t one to indulge. she didn’t smoke, not really — but every once in awhile, the smell of one of her father’s old cigarras would settle her nerves like nothing else could. the alderaanian brands were rare, these days, but she had some carefully tucked away, scrupulously saved. the smoke filled the air, & her breathing slowed, calming.

“you caught me,” she said dryly, waving the smoke away from their faces as iden approached. “don’t tell han, he’ll be insufferable.” but she wasn’t truly suited to hiding her feelings behind humor, no matter how wry, & she quickly sobered as she snuffed the cigarra out, near smile disappearing. “it’s good to see you, iden.”

the smell made her more nauseous than what she was willing to own up to, but she was grateful that leia put it out before she had to say anything about it. one corner of her lips barely twitched upward into a smirk at her words, though the expression is hardly longer than a beat. she was tired. fuck. they were all tired.

“you’re the one who married him,” iden quipped back with a shrug of her shoulders. “there was a point where i would’ve asked you to share,” she added. it doesn’t quite soften her words, but it was at least a half-assed attempt. better than asking if she wanted to talk about it, for both of them. “you too. i think we’re shit friends, though. we only see each other when everything’s falling apart.”

[mvchinery]

korkie !

   The Fathier race had begun, and another one of the attendees had shared with Korkie that you could actually bet on which one was going to win. The thought had seemed simple enough, and like it would actually be some fun. He had the money to spare. So he approached one of the machines, and upon seeing the screen he realized there was actually a lot more work than he anticipated when it came to picking one to bet on. Chuckling a little, he rubbed at the back of his neck before turning to the first person he saw, 

“Excuse me, you wouldn’t have any idea how this actually all works would you? I am uhh a little lost.” 

@mvchinery​​

mara turned when the stranger spoke to her, eyeing him up carefully. he seemed safe enough, & so she nodded slightly, moving over to peer at his screen. “this your first time here ? “ she flicked through the potential bet options, glancing back up at him. “any idea which one you want to bet on ? “

[mvchinery]

mon !

   Mon had finished meeting with the ExO and the Direx Board of the CSA, all of them were vultures, and several of them in her opinion were amongst the worst of the galaxy. The things they did to planets, to people, the way they had supported the Empire through monetary and military means. These people would send 10 billion to perish if it meant increasing their share’s worth by even a hundred thousand credits. She was thinking about this as she walked, not focusing and almost walked right into another person. Stabilizing herself, and them she was almost blushing, 

“I am so sorry, I don’t know what came over me, I was just so deep in thought, I didn’t even see you there. Are you ok? Is there anything I can do?” 

@mvchinery​

meetra narrowly dodged an approaching figure, sidestepping right before they could collide into each other. she gave her a reassuring smile, hands spread to show no harm done. “it’s alright, chancellor. not a scratch on me. are you alright ? “

[mvchinery]

jocasta !

   Jocasta was not one for parties, odd for someone from Coruscant, but she had always believed that if she was not working, her time was best spent reading and learning. However, Depa had somehow managed to convinced her to come to Canto Bight for the races with her, something about learning but never leaving the temple would never allow her to use what she learned in real life scenarios. How her knowledge would come into play at a casino, she never knew. 

“Depa, I didn’t realize so many people would be here. Is this race really that important? The fathier just go around in a circle, or more like an oval, but still, I can’t imagine this race actually changes the fate of anything.” 

@mvchinery

depa wasn’t really the partying type, but she took the occasional day off --- more than that, she knew when her friends could use one. jocasta put so much time & energy into the order. maybe something entirely new was what she needed ! ( & besides, depa had a small fondness for the races. but she would keep that to herself. )

she raised her brows slightly at her companion’s words, a small smile tugging on her lips. “it doesn’t need to change the fate of anything, jocasta. it’s simply a race, just for the fun of it. though i do believe that some of the people are here for political or business dealings.” politicians had always appreciated parties, perhaps more than they should.

[mvchinery]

vantir !

   Anyone who was anyone was currently at Canto Bight, and it seemed Vantir was working overtime in making sure they were all happy. The wealth and power of the Corporate Sector Authority were on complete display during this race. They planned on flaunting it, the New Republic was fledgling, the First Order was faltering, and the Corporate Sector Authority was keeping both of them afloat with equipment, ships and weapons. Smiling as he approached a very prominent New Republic member, 

“Senator Organa, I take it everything is to your liking? If there is anything I can do at all, please feel free to ask.” 

@mvchinery

at least han was enjoying the fathier races. leia couldn’t lose herself in the festivities --- she hated most things that the corporate sector authority stood for. watching them profit from galactic crises was sickening, & knowing that she couldn’t stop them was worse. ( she remembered after the first death star, alderaanian wine selling for millions of credits --- )

she gave cessin a thin smile in return as he approached, distaste masked enough to be polite but still very clear. “i appreciate it, vantir, but everything is just fine.”

[mvchinery]

korkie !

   After the event, and everything that had happened since after Korkie hadn’t given himself anytime to sit, or relax instead throwing himself even deeper into his work of finding more Mandalorians. The galaxy was especially not safe for them now, and they all needed to band together if they were to survive. However, he was now just finally taking a moment for himself. Electing to visit his buir, since she was back he might as well make up for lost time. Finding her at her ship working, Korkie approached with a smile. 

“It seems despite everything going on, neither one of us have found the time to stop working and simply let ourselves process what has happened. It must run in the Kryze genes.” 

@mvchinery​

adenn had never been one for ... processing emotions. she did what she had to do to get through ; she focused on her work & iced the rest out. she was an armorer, both literally & metaphorically. it wasn’t a philosophy that lead to much emotional intimacy, but she was learning how to trust people. kallus, mostly. tarre.

she turned at korkie’s approach, giving him a glimmer of a warm smile. she had been --- worried about him, when communication had been down. she hadn’t known if he was alright, hadn’t gotten him back long enough ago to make any kind of peace with it. “i wouldn’t be surprised. we tend to do what has to be done before anything else.” she paused. “ ... how have you been ? “

[mvchinery]

padme !

the words did not surprise her, but they did not bring her any kind of joy, either. padmé drew in a deep breath through her nose and nodded in understanding. naboo had many brilliant, well-educated minds like adenn –– but this was outside of the wheelhouse for far, far too many people across the galaxy. “i wish i was more shocked by your answer,” she responded, her hands folding in front of her. “do you believe it’s possible they’re not from our time?”

“it’s certainly possible --- likely the future if anything. but frankly, an origin in wild space is equally possible. i’d lean more that way. their technology seems more ... foreign than futuristic, with the galaxy that we know. the empire had chiss strategists among their ranks. maybe something else made their way out, too.” it was a worrying thought. she was a mandalorian, worked things out in terms of war. an enemy so different to be from beyond the galaxy --- it wasn’t unheard of, but it was definitely a challenge. with the state of the republic, the imperial remnants, mandalore itself ... their chances weren’t good in the face of a thing like that.

[mvchinery]

ahsoka !

she’s not sure she’s ever going to get over the incredibly sweet, soft moments with meetra. even something as simple as the other pressing a kiss to her cheek like this makes ahsoka feel like her feet are hovering a bit off the ground. “it’s been a long few rotations.” she answers honestly, knowing better than to lie to meetra. it’s not how they work, even before they took this step ahsoka couldn’t bring herself to lie to them. “the others insisted i take some time, but i’m not sure what your next two days look like…?”

“for you & me both,” she hums, watching her carefully. she’s working on this girlfriend thing, starting to think that she’s getting a handle on it. learning how to be intimate & gentle with someone, after all of this time. “my next two days ? very free.” nothing so important that she can’t cancel, at least, for something ( someone ) far more important.

[mvchinery]

trilla !

it was not as though trilla had no impact on the younglings lives –– far from it, after everything –– but… they now held great hesitation about it because they were in the jedi temple now. things had always been easier for her away from everything to do with the jedi. still, she shrugged, nonchalant. “i’d prefer to be in the middle of nowhere,” they answered bluntly. “i don’t trust this jedi order to be any better or any different than it has been in the past.”

they couldn’t even wince at her words, head inclining slightly with a nod. it might have been cynical, but they couldn’t blame trilla for it --- & honestly they might have been right to doubt the jedi. ahsoka being on the council gave meetra some small measure of confidence, but would she be enough to change a whole organization ? she would certainly try. “i don’t think they can ask us for faith, after everything. i can’t manage it, at least.”

[mvchinery]

ezra !

ezra really needs to calm down. he knows the last thing depa probably needs is to deal with him all jittery and overexcited and not making a lot of sense. but after so long of wondering what the jedi kanan had learned from would be like, it’s hard to keep calm with so many of them around. especially with kanan’s master here.

“yeah those are the key points i guess.” he says with a weak sort of laugh, making an effort to keep his hands by his side so he doesn’t fidget or pull at his hair or gesture wildly as he’s prone to do. he.. wants to make a good impression, and as much as she seems happy to meet him ezra really doesn’t want to screw it all up. “i - i know there’s probably a lot for you to adjust to, but i’d love to ask you some questions. get to know what kanan was like as a padawan, that kind of thing…?”

---

“i’ve been here for a few weeks now, i have had my time to adjust.” she smiles warmly. “you’re good news, ezra, not another hardship i need time to wrap my head around. i would be happy to answer your questions. what did you have in mind ? “ she doesn’t hate the idea of having a grandpadawan --- rather loves it, in fact. her little family is growing.

[mvchinery]

din !

“Not…really.” Din said awkwardly. The covert was still here, but Din had been avoiding them ever since he had come back. He had lead them to their deaths before, he wouldn’t do it again. “My brother is off planet. Those here…aren’t the same as the ones I left behind.” 

He had no blood family left, but he wasn’t going to get into that with the Jedi. Grogu smacking his chest plate drew him back to the present though and he glanced down, seeing his son reaching out for her “Ah, he seems to want you.” he said fondly. 

“i understand. the time travel has ... changed things, no ? “ she wondered what chandrila was like these days, if there were any distant relatives she could track down. to her knowledge, the rest of her blood family had been dead by the beginning of the clone wars. she had a lost her sister at geonosis.

depa smiled softly as grogu reached out for her, sending him a warm burst of affection in the force as she extended a hand to take one of his small ones. “do you mind ? “

[mvchinery]

lando !

lando hadn’t heard her approach, which was mildly alarming –– he considered himself to be the kind of person who really did stay aware of his surroundings at all times, but there was also no denying that he was incredibly exhausted from the last few weeks of working nonstop. he’d wanted a business empire. he had one. but it was certainly proving to be just as much work as they could have imagined it to be.

“yeah, that’s me.” the exhaustion doesn’t show in the brilliant smile that he had to offer, stepping forward and offering her his hand as he looked her over. “lando calrissian. is there something that i can do for you, miss…?”

“jade,” she said, firmly shaking his hand. it probably wasn’t wise to use her real name, but. she didn’t entirely care, at this point. she would make do. “mara jade.” she just wanted to get this done with quickly. “listen, i think some of the local thugs have the bright idea to try to steal the comm repair supplies.”

[mvchinery]

mon !

   “And we all greatly appreciate your efforts Senator. My own meetings with New Republic Intelligence has also lead to such dead ends, along with my meetings with the leaders of just about every other galactic government, and guild. I am however, making progress on negotiating prices with the Scrappers Guild, though some of their members don’t happen to see the threat we are facing as seriously as others, and are attempting to use this comms attack as a way to charge us ridiculous prices. They must realize though, that if we do not rebuild these comm stations, than either these Yuuzhan Vong will destroy us, or the Imperial Remnants will seize these assets to rebuild themselves.” She let out a sigh, “The Corporate Sector has also been moving in during this time of weakness, has their Ambassador been to lobby you yet?” 

It would seem right now the New Republic was being hit from all sides, economically, politically, and militarily. They would hold through it all though, Mon was sure of this. “And have you made any progress with your work with intelligence?” 

“the corellian senator seems to be taking the same route as the scrappers guild, then. there’s profit to be made from either side --- i’m not sure they care which, or for the outcome.” she shook her head with faint disgust, though at this point she was almost resigned to it. there always had been & always would be wannabe war profiteers. the fact that they usually had little choice but try to give them the better price was a sickening one. “no, i haven’t spoken with the ambassador. & i don’t think i’ll be granting an audience, if asked.” she could always cite her ongoing family medical emergency as an excuse to keep her schedule clear, if she had to.

“some. we’re checking in on agents we lost contact with, investigating attempts to profit from or continue the loss of communication. it’s hard with things so spotty. takes too long to get information from place to place.”

[mvchinery]

“There’s no point in being grown up if you can’t act childish at times.“ From Korkie to Adenn

"that is ... one way of looking at things, yes."