[centre][h1][Colour=red]Alanna[/colour] & [Colour=4E79B6]Ezali[/colour][/h1][/centre]
[centre][sup]In collaboration with [@Cuddles 1438][/sup][/centre][hr][hr]
Ezali laughed at the memory of the havoc Sable had wrought on that project. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Funny how the Port Authority wasn’t too keen on heavy turbolaser batteries on a civilian passenger dock.”[/b][/colour] Tucking her helmet into the crook of her left arm, she smiled to her friend. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Sure I’ll catch a ride,”[/b][/colour] She added. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Just got in system, and when I realized where my ride had docked I thought I’d come bug you at work. Last job got a bit rough so I decided to take some time off.”[/b][/colour]
Turning back towards the way she’d came, Ezali stood and waited for Alanna to catch up. [colour=4E79B6][b]”So, how ’ve you been?”[/b][/colour]
Alanna gave a small sigh at Ezalis' question. [Colour=Red]"Oh you know, things are just… ok at the moment. Today was my last day here.[/colour] Alanna gestured at the rung itself. [Colour=red]"The twins are, well the twins are being difficult at the moment. You remember that thing I mentioned to you about Jiari? Well, Firith has taken that as his sister is now the favourite child. Sable's as annoying as ever but there's not really a lot I can do about that. And Laars is… [/colour] Alanna gives a deep sigh. [Colour=red]"well we're still together."[/colour]

She gave her friend a sympathetic smile and wish she had something more than just [i]words[/i] to offer. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Sorry to hear that. Firith’ll get over it eventually...it must be hard finding out your sister is ‘special’ while you’re just you. The day Grumpybot stops being a pest is the day he powers down for good.”[/b][/colour] The way Alanna said her husbands name tweaked something in Ezali’s mind, there was more going on...but standing in the doorway of a droid workshop wasn’t the sort of place to try and unpack what had her friend so down.

[colour=4E79B6][b]”You said you’re done here, so what’s next? A woman of your talents shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new shop; or are you going to open your own?”[/b][/colour]

Alanna smiled at her friends suggestion, she had often wondered whether she could open her own droid shop,  she certainly had the knowledge to get by on her own for a while. But at the same time she also felt that, that part of her life was coming to an end. With everything going on with her home life what Alanna really wanted was a fresh start maybe even to just retire and move away with the kids. 

[Colour=red]"I honestly don't know Ezali, I've spent over a decade at MDY, surrounded by loud noise, annoying droids and even more annoying men. I just want to get away from it all. Maybe take the twins and retire somewhere nice and away from the big cities. Like maybe out there."[/colour] She said pointing out the window at the lush forest on Mandalore below them. [colour=red]"Just somewhere peaceful, away from all the noise and the stress."[/colour] [i]And possibly away from Laars[/i]

As they left Alanna’s former workplace, she couldn’t help but notice that her friend failed to mention her husband in the potential retirement plans. The last time she’d visited things had seemed good with her friend, but now there was an undercurrent of [i]something[/i]. [colour=4E79B6][b][i]Yeah, and last time you were here was nearly two years ago,[/i][/b][/colour] Ezali reminded herself. [colour=4E79B6][b][i]Shit changes.[/i][/b][/colour] Weaving their way along the concourse towards the shuttle docks, she tried to keep the conversation ‘light’ while they were in public. [colour=4E79B6][b]”You? Retire?”[/b][/colour] She smirked, giving Alanna a playful shove on the shoulder. [colour=4E79B6][b]”You’d be bored within a week and be pulling apart your speeder for something to do; but I get it, especially the annoying males and droids part.”[/b][/colour]

While the Orbital [i]was[/i] a massive installation, it was also intended to deal with high volumes of traffic, both externally and internally. A short walk from the droid bay took them to a high speed tram line, which brought them to the ‘local’ orbit-to-ground shuttle dock in short order. During the trip, she’d tried to make small talk, but things like that had never been a strong suit for Ezali.

Seeing they’d have a moment to themselves, as they shuttle they wanted hadn’t quite arrived yet, and the waiting lounge was mostly empty, she decided to say something. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Okay Lanna, what’s wrong?”[/b][/colour]

That question was a new one to the Twi'lek, it had been a very long time since anyone had actually noticed that something was off about her, but could she bring herself to answer; A: In such a public place. And B: While sober. There was also the issue of just what was wrong with her life. If her daughter being at risk of disappearing to the Jedi at a moments notice and her son taking that to mean that she was  the favourite now wasn't bad enough, her husband was seeing another woman. The whole perfect life that she had built for herself to escape the horror that was her childhood, was coming apart at the seams and though Ezali was a good friend that she trusted, could she really dump all of her own problems onto her? It was probably best not too, at least not where they currently were.

[Colour=red]"I don't know what you mean Ezali… things are… fine at the moment."[/colour] Her tone was horribly unconvincing but if she couldn't even convince herself of what she was saying, what hope did she have of convincing another person.

[colour=4E79B6][b]”If things are fine, I’m next in line to be [i]Mand’alor[/i].”[/b][/colour] Ezali replied in a complete deadpan. [colour=4E79B6][b]”If you don’t want to talk about it [i]now[/i], fine, but please Lanna let me help if I can.”[/b][/colour] She added quietly. She set her helmet on a nearby ledge before taking both of Alanna’s hands in her own. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Other folks might not notice, but something is eating at you. I could tell almost right away, so [i]please[/i] tell me. You’ve had enough shit thrown at you in your life, you’ve earned the right to have someone else share your load.”[/b][/colour]
A chime announced the docking of their shuttle, and the small lounge rapidly filled with disembarking passengers. Releasing Alanna’s hands, she took up her helmet and stuffed it on her head. [colour=4E79B6][b]”Alright, we’ll talk about this later, and no I’m not going to drop it.”[/b][/colour]