Rion

[notallofus]

Come to Rion, they said.

See a tropical paradise, they said.

No one ever mentioned a monsoon season.

Meeting their contact in the open is going to look both suspicious and stupid, so he and Hera have taken refuge in a nearby cantina that mostly serves a billion varieties of caf. Seating by the window has just cleared out, and from there they can make visual contact with the Pantoran they're here to meet.

At least that's the current hope.

And hey, the chairs are pretty comfortable.

Comments

[for_everyone]

Keep on thinking that, Kanan.

"Maybe," she agrees.

"But we're a little busy right now."

[notallofus]

"Yeah, drinking all this wonderful caf."

Kanan is going to bury his face in his, giving him time to get his expression back under control.

He definitely does not want their contact witnessing any of this.

[for_everyone]

"Who knows? The weather might clear up."

Nothing about the view outside is cause for optimism on that score, but that's not where Hera's looking at the moment.

[notallofus]

Kanan finally emerges from his cup of caf, mouth quirking in a tiny smile.

He meets Hera's gaze for a second, and the smile gets a little bigger.

"Yeah? Well, I'll keep my hopes up."

[for_everyone]

She shrugs. "There's always desert planets if you really want to get out of the rain."

But they're also usually not much to look at.

[notallofus]

"Hey, some of the best times of my life have been the result of desert planets."

Best times, best people, best times with the best people . . .

[for_everyone]

"Well, love, I'm sure we'll find a reason to go back to one."

Probably not coincidentally, desert planets tend to have the best black markets and under-the-radar rendezvous spots.

[notallofus]

"I'll see what I can do to help."

His grin goes crooked.

"Anything to get out of this rain."

Still no sign of the contact. But they've still got plenty of time until it counts as 'late'. No sense worrying yet.

[for_everyone]

"At least we've never had to visit an ice planet."

That's the kind of weather Hera would complain about.

[notallofus]

Kanan snorts.

"Now that you've said that . . . "

They're doomed. That's just how it works.

[for_everyone]

Hera rolls her eyes.

"Let's not worry about that right now, all right?"

They're in such a nice, warm, albeit rainy place.

[notallofus]

"Maybe we should be making plans for the rest of our stay, especially if this rain doesn't stop."

He drinks the last of his caf, half-turning to look at the length of the line, deciding if he should get up to get more. Eh, maybe later.

Turning back around --

"Any museums or art galleries you're just dying to see? Or any shopping we've got to get done?"

[for_everyone]

"It'd be nice to buy some real food while we have the chance."

Whether they have the credits is another matter.

[notallofus]

"Meiloorun, maybe? I'll keep an eye out."

He likes them too, okay? But definitely not as much as Hera.

[for_everyone]

"There's also malla petals and sikoroot," she says. "Those can make anything taste better.

Even their ration packets.

[notallofus]

"Wait, let me make a list."

He pulls out his datapad, scrawling down what they've already said.

See? He can do it. Under . . . duress, or the need to prove himself.

Still.

[for_everyone]

Hera leans forward over the table, propping her elbow onto it and resting her head in her hand.

"Nothing more exciting on vacation than making a shopping list."

At least they're not talking about souvenirs.

[notallofus]

"And here I thought shopping was supposed to be an experience. I see I've been misled."

Woe. Alas.

Kanan makes a feint at stealing Hera's caf, largely because she still has some. (And it looks like her guard is down. Maybe. If he squints.)

[for_everyone]

Hera swats his hand away from her cup.

"I think the word I'd use is 'chore.'"

[notallofus]

He shakes away the swat, giving his empty cup a slightly mournful look.

"There's chores and then there's chores. And you can't tell me you don't like bargaining."

[for_everyone]

"I don't like spending credits."

Or at least, she has trouble actively enjoying it.

[notallofus]

"Neither do I."

It's true.

"Lucky for me I also like living by my wits."

Or Hera's wits. Sometimes both!

[for_everyone]

"And that's always worked out well," she says, her tone completely unironic.

[notallofus]

"I didn't say I was great at it. Just that I liked it."

What?

[for_everyone]

"And I said it worked out well," she answers, innocently.

"Except when you're trying to steal my caf."