Kamda

Leah wasn't sure exactly where Tranq wanted to go for a meal when she got the invite. It was slightly exciting to have a surprise prepared for her, and the man was quite sweet. She had considered putting on some makeup, like she would at the club, but decided against it in the end. She did at least make herself look nice in a black dress with a jacket on over it. Mostly to make sure she had weapons on her, it was a scary time right now and she didn't want to be without them.

"So where are we going?" she asked the man for the sixth time, hoping it was going to work this time.

He had gotten cleaned up after the trek in the jungle. It was odd, wearing clothing more for form than function. It might be the most formal clothing he owned. An off the rack jacket that sat well on his broad shoulders, tapered down to slim waist, cross flap over the breast. Slacks, with a hem he had put in himself, just to keep them just above the shoes, comfortable, yet shined black. The suit itself was simple in it's elegance, a deep, dark blue, reminiscent of the depths of the ocean.

"Have you ever had Mon Cal food? There's kind of an upscale place here, and I think you might like it." He finally answered, as they walked. The spear-blaster would be a bit out of place, so that was left at his camp with the Clones. The vibroknife, though, was easily tucked away, just in case.

Yes! Sixth time the charm!

"I can't say that I have. I didn't even know there was a restaurant serving Mon Cal food here, although this part is a part I rarely visit. Always felt a little too poor to be up here" she chuckled softly "I'm looking forward to experiencing it. What kind of food is it?"

"Seafood. Sea vegetation. Fish. Crustaceans. Mollusks." The Karkarodon could almost lick his lips, if he had some. "The variety is amazing, and the flavors." He offered her his arm as they walked down the path, the sounds of other shoppers, diners, citizens trying to find a semblance of normalcy under stronger Imperial control.

"Normally I like hunting, catching, and cooking my own food, but this will be nice."

"I thought you might be a hunter" Leah commented with a chuckle, taking the offered arm with her small hands "however it sounds lovely. Is it quite spicy? I like spicy!"

She smiled up at him.

"What's hunting like?"

"It's... like meditating. You respect your prey. You honor it. You feel each other, connected through the Force. Two lives, intertwined, but knowing that one will live and one will fall. There's a difference in hunting prey, and hunting another hunter. There's nothing in taking life of the defenseless. I seek out that which presents a challenge, and then..." he paused, looking to her.

"It's a rush of adrenaline, before it happens. Not knowing the outcome. And one must not waste the hunt. To discard, to leave to rot, dishonors the life you just took. Harvest all the meat, using the pelt for clothing, or donate it to those who can. Bury the remains, because it is now one with the Force again. All life is sacred. To take it... it has to mean something."

He shook his head.

"Otherwise it's just a perversion. Murder, and that taints life."

"Wow. You made catching a fish sound almost romantic" Leah said with a chuckle and a shake of her head "you have a way with phrasing Tranq. It's really cool. I'm guessing you had to live out in the wilds a lot, doing that kind of thing?"

She peered at the restaurants around as they walked.

"I feel underdressed" she added quietly.

"Don't worry about that. It's not that kinda place. Where they want a dress code, and things," he replied, as they walked past some of the fancier joints. Turning down a side street, they came to the Mon Cal restaurant. Smaller than some of the other restaurants, but still quaint. Upscale, without being pretentious. The host greeted them, taking them to a booth, and set the menus down, small datapads.

Tranq wouldn't slide in until Leah did, though he casually looked at the place. "And yeah, I had to. When things happened, you didn't want to rely on city life. Especially as buckets started becoming more common place. Always looking over your shoulder.... being in the wilds was often safer."

"Oh what a lovely little restaurant" Leah commented with a smile as she looked around it "I love it. How did you find out about it?"

Leah slipped into her side of the booth, placing her jacket down on the other side of her.

"I'm a city girl through and through, never had to hunt for my food. Work very hard to afford it perhaps, which is a kind of hunting right?" she chuckled, picking up the menu "any recommendations?"

"You're gonna love everything. I'd say just point and let fate decide." He chuckled with her, looking over his own menu. "It's what I do when I go to restaurants. Seems to work out so far, Leah." An array of seafood dishes were listed, sure to fit any taste.

"I found out about this place while I was hunting, to be honest. Ended up on a fishing trawler when I was moving between here and Rumdera. Came to know the fishmonger of this place, and they were quite the knowledgeable being. So I had to give them a shot."

"Just point and let fate decide? Well I do trust my gut....challenge accepted" Leah giggled "but only if you do it too!" She closed her eyes, letting her finger travel over the menu.

"It feels like you've seen more of my own planet than I have, and I've lived here my whole life! How far out did you go?"

That's how I always order." He grinned, a hand idly traveling over the menu. Yet his attention was entirely on Leah.

"Deep into Rumdera. Some friends of mine and I. Old war buddies, if you will. Something about being in the presence of untamed, unbound natural splendor." He mused, then looked to her.

"We should go. Together. You'd like it."

"I'd love to see it. It sounds great, as long as you don't mind looking after a small Twi'lek who can barely fire a gun" Leah chuckled as her finger ran over her menu as well. "I've had like, basic teaching, but never had to shoot in anger or anything. We can go tomorrow if you like, before...well, you know."

Her finger stopped, and she peeked at the option.

"Huh, a freshly made pasta meal with the catch of the day. Today is going to be a real mystery I guess" she murmured, not sure about how to continue after the topic went to a less comfortable place.