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[seenitbefore]

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[seenitbefore]

[ He’s been by the shop a time or three, sometimes to trade for parts, once or twice just to inquire after the second-shift guy with the tentacles, always soft-spoken and polite, and always paying with hard currency, no transfers, no ID. None of that’s out of the ordinary, except maybe the polite part. Youngish, cute-ish, not particularly memorable. He never has given a name.

But that’s definitely him, down the other end of the bar, and that was almost definitely a possible smile, in the second or two that Kaylee caught his eye.

So there’s that. ]

[imshinycaptain]

[Kaylee spends most of her time in the mechanic's shop-slash-junkyard that's been her family's occupation since before the Clone Wars. She repairs vehicles and makes recommendations and argues good-naturedly with grizzled old pilots twice her age about this or that make or model, and she's even nice to the droids. She sees a lot of people, and so it takes her a minute to place the dark-eyed man leaning on the other end of the bar. But he's definitely been in the shop.

She excuses herself from the conversation with the other regular and migrates down to the edge of the bar where he stands. He's pretty attractive, and it's not the first time Kaylee's noticed. She approaches him with a smile.]

Were you goin' to say hi or just enjoy the view?

[seenitbefore]

I hadn't decided. [ The answering smile is quick, easygoing, a little rueful. ] You have a preference?

[imshinycaptain]

Well if you'd rather just look I can go back talking to Dex but we'll just be goin' around about the mods to his speeder again.

[She'd much rather talk to a handsome stranger, it was ever so much more interesting that way.]

Those parts we found for you work okay?

[seenitbefore]

Like new. I should thank you again - didn't think I'd ever track down that valve. [ He slouches a bit, elbows on the bar, so that he's not looking down at her, and regards her admiringly. ] How do you even find this stuff?

[imshinycaptain]

That might be a trade secret. [She's teasing. But the Fryes know a lot of people and those people know people...] It's good business to know where to find that kind of thing.

[seenitbefore]

[ He laughs, lifts his hands palms-out. ] Okay, okay. Just wondered. Never know where I might break down next, you know?

[imshinycaptain]

Hereabouts, I hope. I'd hate to hear you were cheatin' with another mechanic, but I guess part of breakin' down is you don't get to choose where you do it.

[seenitbefore]

[ A wide-eyed, mock-wounded look. ] None of those other mechanics meant anything. Don't be jealous. [ He can't quite keep it together, though, and the last gets lost in another chuckle. ] Yeah, it's a problem. Always good to have a backup plan, yeah?

[imshinycaptain]

I try to!

[She smiles, blushing a little bit.]

What brings you back around here this time? Just passing through?

/drags self out of RL pit

[seenitbefore]

Just work stuff. [ With the kind of little shrug that says you know, my completely legal and respectable boring day job that in no way involves petty tax evasion? That work stuff. ] How's your dad, did he get that zoning business straightened out?

*pets gently*

[imshinycaptain]

Oh -- yeah, sort of. [At least they didn't have the patrol hanging around anymore, like her dad was some criminal they were waiting to catch at something.] ... It's a work in progress, anyway.

[seenitbefore]

[ He gives that the wry smile it deserves. ] I guess that's an improvement. [ Then sobers again, glancing down at the stained 'crete underfoot, and back up at her. ]

Crazy that they can just throw something at you like that when - I mean, I don't know, I'm guessing - [ Ducking his head with a breath of a deprecating half-laugh. ] But you seem really well established, down here...

[imshinycaptain]

[Kaylee's smile dims some, but it's still soft. Her mother had been worried, but if her father was unflappable, even in the face of trumped up civil charges of one kind or another. It was kind of ironic; all the troopers would have had to do was go to one neighbor or the next to find something wrong.]

Well, they wanted a rise outta daddy, and he hardly gave them any mind at all.

[Kaylee has her own suspicions about why they tried to hassle the Fryes, out of everyone, but it wouldn't do any good to air them.]

We're not goin' anywhere. It'll take more than that to scare Fryes off.

[seenitbefore]

Good. [ This time the smile lights his whole face - he's not the type to outright grin, but it's that kind of look; and the smile, the sudden emphasis, makes the one word into applause. ] Good for you.

[imshinycaptain]

[It's kind of a strange response, but understandable. She knows very little about the dark-eyed stranger, but if he's the sort who is praising them for a little bit of resistance, he can't be all bad.]

You headin' anywhere exciting soon?

[seenitbefore]

[ He drops his gaze quickly, and shakes his head. ] Just back to the grind, you know. [ Then, irrepressible: ] Why? Somewhere you're interested in?

[imshinycaptain]

[She looks at him for a long moment, with a slight smile.] Well I like hearin' where people are goin' and what they're gonna do when they get there. I've only ever been here.

i aten't dead

[seenitbefore]

[ He glances back up at her, curiously. ] That bothers you?

good, I am, but my ghost knows how to use the internet

[imshinycaptain]

[Kaylee's not exactly the shy type, but the interaction has gone from fun and flirty to something a little more serious.] Dunno. Maybe?

[She gives it more consideration.] I like hearin' the stories but some things aren't the same like that.

how seasonally spooky!

[seenitbefore]

No, that's true. [ A half-smile. ] Some things the story is better.

[imshinycaptain]

[She mirrors the look.]

Maybe it's better I gotta be here just fixin' everyone.

[She says it, but it sounds a little bit like the opposite.]

[seenitbefore]

[ He tilts his head, studying her face, dark eyes soft and intent. ] Where'd you go? If you were going somewhere?