The Perk- Friday late afternoon/evening

[solo_sword]

Jaina couldn't stay too long in Fandom, because everything was terrible back home and something new had probably blown up already that she had to deal with. Being a semi-responsible adult sucked. But at least she could get a couple days away and talk to people, including catching up with Sia, but only for a minute because it was weird to think she was a step closer to that possible future. Also, because being a future Empress was actually sounding better than dealing with Daala anymore, and that was probably a bad sign for a couple reasons.

With some time to kill before her portal, Jaina sent a text to let people know she was in town and then headed to the Perk, where she was given pumpkin spice coffee no matter what she'd ordered. Seriously. She sent it back twice. The second time she'd even used a little Force suggestion to leave the pumpkin out, and there was still pumpkin in her damn drink.

So she'd be here, with a table by the window and her pumpkin coffee, sigh.

[Open!]

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[giveherahand]

Mara came into the coffee shop before her party, bouncing happily on her toes.

She gave the new face a quick, assessing glance to memorize it, then smiled. "Hello."

[solo_sword]

Well, that was an unexpected gutpunch. Jaina had thought knowing Mara was here would have made it easier. Nope.

"Hi," she said anyway, like nothing was wrong.

[giveherahand]

"Is it just me, or is pumpkin in the coffee?" Mara asked, tasting her drink and making a face.

[solo_sword]

"Yeah, they're getting crazier with it this year," Jaina said. You'd think Anakin going to school here would have made this less weird. "I don't think they have anything else."

[giveherahand]

"They must have something else," Mara said. "No one can make everything with pumpkin, can they?"

[solo_sword]

"It's Fandom. You're lucky everything doesn't taste like pumpkin, period," Jaina pointed out.

[giveherahand]

"It can do that?" Mara shook her head. "Sorry, I still sound new. I'm Mara."

[solo_sword]

"Jaina." This was so weird. "Yeah, Fandom can find little, annoying ways to kriff with you. Sorry if I just jinxed you guys into the pumpkin thing."

But she wouldn't be here for it sooooo.

[giveherahand]

"I'll be sure to send you a nasty note about it," Mara promised. "Do you live here?"

[solo_sword]

"Not anymore. I used to go to school here, but I live on Coruscant now." She maybe dropped that on purpose just to see what she'd say.

[giveherahand]

"Imperial Center," Mara corrected, taking a sip from her coffee. "But you're from somewhere else originally?"

Because Jaina didn't have a genuine wtf-y Coruscanti accent.

[solo_sword]

"No, I was born there." And Mara'd been a reason she hadn't been kidnapped almost right away so that was weird. "Spent a lot of time in different places after that, though."

[giveherahand]

Mara nodded. "Not too many people stay permanently," she said. "Are you in trade?"

[solo_sword]

"Not really." She doubted Tiny Mara would appreciate what she actually did for a living. "My dad was, sort of."

[giveherahand]

"Ohhhh," Mara said, eyes sharpening. "A smuggler."

[solo_sword]

Jaina nodded. Hey, it wasn't like Han ever denied it. And he couldn't get into any more trouble in Mara's time. "He's retired now."

[giveherahand]

Mara looked impressed despite herself. "Not a lot of smugglers live that long."

[solo_sword]

Jaina knew a couple! "He got out when he was able," she said. "So, what are you doing here?"

[giveherahand]

"Getting coffee?" Mara replied, smirking slightly.

[solo_sword]

"I walked right into that one," Jaina said, almost smiling. "I mean, what are you doing in Fandom?"

The you smartass went unsaid.

[giveherahand]

"I'm going to school," Mara said. "My guardians at home wanted me to have a broader range of experiences."

[solo_sword]

Jaina frowned, since she knew Mara's history. "Your guardians?"

[giveherahand]

Mara nodded, green eyes wild and guileless and she poured earnestness into the Force. "Yes. On Imperial Center."

[solo_sword]

"Uh huh," Jaina said. Don't think she couldn't tell what you were doing, Mara.

[giveherahand]

"Glad that's settled, then," Mara said. "I talk to them every week--they love knowing everything that goes on here."