Party at the Blue Bantha!

[hadthehighground]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The Blue Bantha in Coruscant's entertainment district
WHAT: A party!
WHEN: The last day before they leave.
WARNINGS: Fun times? Probably drunkenness.

After having found this place on an outing with Echo, Obi-Wan had decided he rather liked this one particular establishment they stopped at. So for their last evening on Coruscant, the Jedi had the place rented out. A network post also going up inviting everyone for one last hurrah before they have to go back to Temba.

Welcome to the Blue Bantha Bar and Grill!

Everything is very blue. A bright blue neon sign advertises the joint in the entertainment district. Its letters in Aurebesh with a little bantha head shaped neon light next to it as well. The lighting inside is distinctly blue as well. There is a mounted bantha head placed on the far wall above the bar, its fur having been dyed blue. Clearly it is the mascot of this place.

There are tables and booths in varying locations for people to sit. With the tables having bantha hide rugs under them that look reminiscent of shag carpet, while the booth seats have bantha hide upholstery as well. There's a band playing in one corner with space for people to dance. While on another side there are screens broadcasting sporting events from across the galaxy. Feel free to place bets on who you think will win!

Even the staff are either blue, or are wearing blue. It won't be uncommon to have a blue scantily clad Twi'lek waitress serving you. The long bar also has blue neon lighting with several stools to sit at, in which you can order whatever drink your heart desires on their menu.

Speaking of the menu, everything is made with bantha products. That is what they specialize in. Several types of Jawa Juice, a kind of beer made from fermented grains mashed in bantha hides, can be found here. As well as Bantha Blood Fizz, a sparkling drink made from purified bantha blood in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. And of course they serve several drinks featuring blue milk, from just the plain stuff to several alcoholic concoctions. There is also food of course! Bantha steak, bantha burgers, bantha stew, and other meat dishes are served as it's pretty much this galaxy's equivalent of beef. You can even get desserts made from blue milk such as cheesecake and ice cream.

Have fun! The Temba group have this establishment all to themselves for the night!

((OOC: This is a mingle log so go nuts!))

Comments

[deal_me_in]

Hardly one to argue in taking point, Cayde made sure Sundance wasn't picking anyone lingering too close outside before stepping outside. He still cast a look down both ends of the alleyway before he started to retrace their steps back to the landing platform, ever on the alert.

"I think that's a general trait for Devaronians. Anyway, helps making acquaintances of particular interests if you're going to be around a place as long as this," he said, grinning over his shoulder, or at least it wasn't too hard to guess that he was.

Annoying as the helmet was, it had helped him to get conversations going where not wearing it wouldn't have gotten his foot in the door. He supposed he wasn't too bothered by it. They got their business, he got the things he needed, some stories were swapped. It was like a broader gaming table, and at the end of the day they'd all have to go home, happily breaking even.

"Need anything else while we're out here or you just wanna head back?"

[cannot_flinch]

"No, I think I have what I need now." She would get herself books and datapads later. Walking around this endless city with a few weapons in hand was probably not illegal but she imagined no one would be terribly happy to discover it.

"We should safely store these." She was quiet for a moment as they walked along together. "Have you been happy here?"

Cayde seemed happy but he always did hide his emotions behind quips and teasing. She had rarely seen him angry or sad in all the time they had known each other. It was quite an accomplishment given the hundreds of years their friendship spanned.

But she wanted to be sure now he had found a place for himself in this group and he was content.

[deal_me_in]

That was a point he wasn't going to argue. All the gleam and glow of the city wasn't going to stop anyone from trying to take what they wanted if it seemed in their interests, and Cayde knew that firsthand.

He laughed at the question though. "I'd be happier if I could just do things without the damn helmet. And absolutely ecstatic if we were allowed to go off on our own ships as we please."

There was a lot of opportunity here that a month couldn't cover, and you couldn't dangle one planet in front of a Hunter without giving him cause to wonder what sort of other frontiers were out there to explore. It was just one big tease, which just snapped you back to reality like a rubber-band. That sort of thing just made you exhausted.

"We're just stalling," he said on a more serious note. "At least once we get back to Temba, the things we do will mean something."

[cannot_flinch]

"No, Cayde." Ikora gave him an indulgently exasperated look. "I don't want to know if you're happy on this planet. I want to know if you're happy with these people?"

Cayde made friends easy, of course, with his outgoing personality but he didn't have many close relationships. She knew she was one of the few who was close to the Exo and even then she didn't know all of his secrets.

He didn't know all of hers either.

But they looked after each other for centuries. Ikora wanted to know that he had forged bonds here or started to.

[deal_me_in]

Ah, he missed that look. Cayde stopped, the landing pad not too far beyond them now.

"It's not the City," he finally said. He could be himself here but only with a helmet on in most cases, as there was still a line drawn between who and what he was because of the strange robotic divide that was here. People here were all right, but they had an interesting mental block that seemed to dig in its figurative heels the moment a humanoid droid started being interested about things more strictly associated with organic life.

His chuckle was low but more evident for the subtle shake of his shoulders. "Anyway, we're just passin' through. Don't know that the Agrii do many return trips, but even if they do, who knows if it'll be the same timeframe?" he said as he turned to continue to the taxi service. "Although if we do come in at some later point and there's something in the records about some crazy but fashionably tasteful droid stirring up trouble at whatever they use for dates and years around here, then I'd still consider I've done my job."

[cannot_flinch]

"And the other people? The ones we share ships and our fate with?" Ikora had to wonder if Cayde was deliberately dodging that point. He knew this visit was temporary. She knew it as well. She didn't expect him to get attached to anyone here.

But the others? The ones they had to work with and trust? She wanted to know his judgement of them. If he had made lasting bonds which was difficult for a Guardian. The people of the City were not immortal, only the Guardians. They saw many people be born, live, and die.

These strangers from other Earths and other universes were probably the same but bonds were important. She would worry if he had closed himself off.

[deal_me_in]

He made up for the inability to see the roll of his eyes with the rest of his body in the way that he set his hands at his hips and tilted his head at an exaggerated angle. "Gosh mom, you asking if I've been making friends while you've been gone?"

The Exo got them queued up for a taxi and turned back to Ikora, arms folded. "They're good people," he said, picking up on her question more seriously. "Well most of them," he had to add as he thought about Kaz, but he still had to admire the kid's slyness. Definitely had to watch that one.

"I like 'em. I think some of them would even make good Guardians for the things we've gotten up to." He laughed lightly, shaking his head. "...but I keep reminding myself they aren't, so I gotta make sure we don't get too carried away." And yet Tony's the one that had put his own safety at risk here and there when the Hunter had gotten himself in a fix. But people here weren't used to Guardians and their ability to just hop back up and brush off the dust after a bad turn.

"I'm not letting anything happen to anyone so long as I'm here." He'd made up his mind on that a good while back. Temba wasn't his city, but it wasn't any of theirs either. Which didn't make it fair, but if they were just all borrowing space for a while then they could pretend it was theirs, at least a little. He'd gotten attached to people here more than he'd anticipated, but then with only so many people in one big shared space, it was impossible not to. His answers still kind of skipped around the point, but Ikora would know what he meant. She'd see it in the bar he'd made, just so people could all come together when they wanted. He wanted to enjoy the company of them all while he could.

[cannot_flinch]

"Yes."

That was exactly what she was asking. Cayde could adjust to just about any situation. Hunters were incredibly adaptable and used to being alone but every Guardian did better, was better, with a trusted fireteam to rely on.

If he did not make friends, he should at least be able to rely on these people. If he couldn't do that... well, she was here now. He could always rely on her.

She listened with a little smile as he talked. It didn't seem like she had anything to worry about. He had clearly become attached to these people. Which put her at ease for a few reasons. She could trust these people if Cayde trusted them.

"You've done well here," she said with a small nod of approval. "I'm glad."

[deal_me_in]

Cayde had turned back towards the open platform, watching the traffic that buzzed back and forth in the air beyond. He wasn't sure what to say, really. It wasn't like he thought he'd be graded on social skills by his fellow Guardian the moment one popped up here- but then it would be Ikora. He doubted anyone else he knew would have asked him such questions.

"Anyway, our ride's here," he finally said as he saw a speeder pull in, trying not to sulk as he trotted over to the vehicle, waving Ikora over.

[cannot_flinch]

There was no reason for Cayde to sulk. Ikora wanted to be sure he was happy in this strange situation he found himself in. She was concerned for him, not concerned about him.

That he hadn't picked up on that bothered her a little bit. Had he forgotten how she was? Or had she?

She sat next to him in the taxi, carefully tucking the case of weapons by her feet. Then she reached over and laid a hand on his knee and squeezed gently. "I'll help you protect them."

[deal_me_in]

The Hunter had his pride, although in all honesty he wasn't sure whether he was bothered that Ikora thought he hadn't connected with people or that she thought he needed to be asked such things. It wasn't something he let himself be bothered with for long however. He'd said what he'd meant.

Settling in, Cayde glanced over at her, and as the taxi pulled out, he pulled his helmet off so she could actually see his face and the smile there at her words as he nodded.