Caritas- Wednesday

[solo_sword]

Jaina, at sixteen years old, had been working at the bar on Wednesday nights, because that's a thing that happened a lot more back then.

So tonight she went to work like normal, passing off things like the fact that she was staying in a hotel or all the new faces here as one of those Fandom things that would sort itself out.

And she didn't want to know why Tino kept looking at her weird.


[Hey remember when this was a big teenager thing? Open, no OCD!]

Comments

[jedigrammarians]

Chelli, spattered with paint and unaware of the lax age policy, sidled up to the bar, carefully acquired fake ID in hand. Sana had promised it'd be good, but if there was one thing she'd learnt from being skipped ahead so many times, it was that vacuum suckers liked playing pranks on 'the kid'.

"Lum...please?"

So cool, Chelli, so very cool.

[solo_sword]

And here was Jaina, not even checking for ID.

"Sure. I'm pretty sure we've got that," she said, turning to look for it. "You might be the first person here to order it. At least while I've been around."

[jedigrammarians]

"Great," Chelli said, her voice going squeaky with relief. "You've been here long?"

Just be glad she wasn't trying to hit on you yet, Jaina.

[solo_sword]

"A few months, I think? Time's a little loopy between home and here for me," she explained, locating the bottle. "Are you just here for the... whatever's happening here? Okay, dumb question on my part."

[jedigrammarians]

"The paintball?" After all, what else could she be talking about. "Yeah."

[solo_sword]

"Oh, so are you staying after the paintball?" Jaina asked, sliding over her drink.

She, of course, was here all the time. Really.

[jedigrammarians]

"Well, I don't have any classes for the next few days," Chelli said before taking a sip of her drink.

And definitely not choking on it. At all.

[solo_sword]

And Jaina was definitely not noticing. "You okay there?"

[jedigrammarians]

"Fine." And also definitely mortified at looking uncool in front of a cute girl.

[solo_sword]

"So what's your name?" Jaina asked, letting that slide.

[jedigrammarians]

"Chelli," she said. "Chelli Lona Aphra, though I'm thinking of just going by Aphra, makes me sound older."

And she wouldn't have to hear Mom's name every time she introduced herself. Just because her therapist said it'd be unhealthy and avoidant behaviour...

[solo_sword]

"More casual, too," said a girl with several one-named friends. "Jaina Solo. Good to meet you."

[jedigrammarians]

"Solo," Chelli repeated. Next time she ran into him, her version of Han was going to be very confused when asked about his hot sister. "Nice to meet you too."