Galactic Field Trips, Monday

[unusual_sith]

"Good morning, everyone." Lana smiled. "Welcome to our last trip for this term. I hope you've enjoyed getting to see my galaxy." Albeit a carefully curated version. "For our last class, we'll be going to Dantooine. It's an agricultural world that's currently part of the Alliance. It's on the edge of Imperial territory and lies on two separate hyperspace routes, so it's not as out-of-touch as you might think, given its position in the galaxy."

Look, it was the boonies, but it was a pretty nice boonies.

"So, come on through." She waved them into the portal, followed along, and...oh, no. This was not Dantooine!

She turned just in time for the portal to close. "Damn it! Sorry, this is not our planned destination." She pulled out her phone as she looked around. "Welcome to Nar Shaddaa, playground of the Hutts and every criminal in the galaxy. Look, why don't you head into the casino, change a bit of money, and enjoy the slots while I call Portalocity and get us out of here. Just - look, stay away from the tables, don't make a scene no matter what you see, and do not approach anything large and sluglike."

Lana had to make some phone calls.

Comments

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

The moment they stepped out of the portal, Watts knew exactly where they were. Well. Not literally, because it was a different galaxy, but he knew exactly what kind of place this was and the fact that he very much did not want to be here.

He did not actually wait for Lana to finish speaking before he was off, having spotted the lounge area. If he was going to get through this he was going to need a drink. Or five.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

Steven wasn't as quick on the realization as Llewellyn was, but he got there fast enough. He turned to check in with Llewellyn, then jogged after him as Llewellyn was literally and figuratively a few steps ahead of him.

"Llew! Hang about, I'm coming with!"

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

Steven was on the very short list of people Watts would actually listen to and accommodate accordingly in a situation like this, and thus he slowed his pace enough to allow Steven to catch up.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

Which Steven did, and then kept pace. "Are you all right? Where are we going?"

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

"I plan to drink enough to keep me planted firmly to my seat and not tempted to step foot inside the gambling den," Watts said. "You are welcome to come along if you choose."

He'd prefer it, but if Steven wanted to go gamble instead he wouldn't hold him back.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"As though I'm letting you out of my bloody sight," Steven said. He then did a double take when he noticed a nearby reflection. "Or Marc."

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

"It is literally impossible for you to let Marc out of your sight," Watts said, misinterpreting Steven's statement in his haste to get away.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

Luckily they could easily move from reflective surface to surface as needed, so Marc kept pace with them as much as the surroundings allowed.

"No, I meant - " Steven pointed to the latest one, which of course just looked like himself. "He's about. Watching."

Like I'm leaving you alone in a place like this.

"And worried," Steven added, since that was true.

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

Watts's gaze darted towards where Steven pointed anyway, for just a moment, even though he knew he'd just see Steven there and not Marc.

"Well, he's welcome too, of course."

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"We'll keep an eye on you then," Steven said. "Certainly not leaving you alone."

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

Hopefully despite the terseness of Watts's nod of acknowledgement, both Steven and Marc would be able to tell that the gesture was appreciated.

Watts slid into a seat at the lounge, immediately waving over a server and placing an order for a drink that he knew was both high in alcohol content and safe for human consumption. Once the drink was in front of him he drank that down and then ordered another in quick succession.

Figuring out payment would be a future Watts problem, as he'd skipped right by getting his money changed.

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"I hope you didn't get anything purple," Atton commented, as he wandered by the lounge.

You could kinda tell the Fandom ones, yeah.

"Or blue," he added. "Actually, come to think of it, I hope you didn't get anything."

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

Watts spared a glance for the stranger and held up his drink in a mock toast. Not purple or blue, for the record.

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"That's... probably not violently toxic to humans?" Atton offered. "I'm giving it a 70-30."

Re: Class activity

[pocketpretzels]

It was a drink he’d ordered before, during a previous excursion, so. Unless he’d been lied to then about ‘safe for human consumption’ and it was the sort of poison that took weeks…

“You do that,” Watts replied. “I don’t bet.” Which was the crux of the issue, really.

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"Well, you seem like you're great at parties," Atton said, and made a mental note to keep an eye out to make sure nobody particularly impulsive-looking got near the guy. "Have fun murdering your liver instead, I guess."

No one had ever accused him of decent bedside manner. Seatside manner? Whatever.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

Marc noticed the guy talking to Watts and kept an eye on him. Friendly sounding advice or not, this place seemed like it was where you didn't go wrong assuming the worst as a given.

He could be a new friend, Steven pointed out.

"And that's why you don't have the body," Marc said. Yes, he looked like he was talking to his silent reflection. He didn't care if anyone here quickly figured out he was crazy.

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

Atton looked past the surly guy and squinted. "Okay, who are you, mr. Says Weird Vaguely Homicidal-Sounding Poodoo Out Loud, and why are you giving me a headache?"

There were not supposed to be two people in one general physical area. Ugh.

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"You're not the first person I've given a headache to," Marc replied by way of an answer. Not that he knew Atton meant being able to sense him and Steven specifically but hey: Marc had some self awareness. He was a headache giving kind of guy. "Who are you and what do you want with my friend?"

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"Your teacher called me in to make sure none of you die in here," Atton drawled. "Nar Shaddaa's kind of famous for the homicide rate. And the smell."

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"You noticed that too?" Marc asked. He did relax a little though. The guy knowing Lana meant at least he wasn't some random asshole trying to take advantage of Watts. "Marc Spector."

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"Atton Rand," Atton greeted. "Fandom's the only place I've lived longer than I did in this Hutt-hole, so that's why I get to play babysitter."

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"My sympathies," Marc said. "There's a lot of reasons I don't teach."

Re: Class activity

[suitably_heroic]

"I'm beginning to be reminded why I used to stick to being a bartender," Atton agreed. He shrugged one shoulder. "At least none of you have done anything particularly stupid so far, so hey. This might turn out to be a vacation."

Re: Class activity

[hasaknightjob]

"Which bar?" Marc asked. Though he suspected he had a good guess if the guy meant Fandom.