For Old Times' Sake

[Manny Donos]

"Don't worry, I know how to be careful." Manny said. "I mean, it's like sawing a woman in half. You make really sure not to actually saw her in half, you know?" He nodded. "And I know how to make a thing look like something else. That's pretty much what this stuff is, feels like."

He turned his limited attention on Raven, frowning. "Yeah, I guess..." He shook his head. "I mean, there's not much you can make Mandalorian armor look like besides... slightly different Mandalorian armor. Can you wear a big hat or something?" Even Manny sounded doubtful at that.

[Raven Cadera]

Raven tapped her chin with a gloved finger, frowning slightly at the idea of a very big hat. "... That would look silly, no? I was thinking something like... just covering up with my cloak, a hood, maybe some headscarf so my helmet isn't that visible?"

She'd done it on some of the other worlds she had gone to on her quest, but then she hadn't been looking to start trouble with the Empire. Going to Bellionas would be a different story.

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"Might be best to try and blend in as just another mercenary." Jyrvess crossed her arms and dipped her head in thought, "Trying to hide your armor might draw too much attention as odd as that sounds. Perhaps making it less distinct with some easy to remove paint? Turn yourself into just another gun for hire in fancy armor."

[Raven Cadera]

It was clear by her face that she was used to having a helmet to hide her thinking-face behind these days, as she seemed to think very hard on the suggestions, and wasn't too happy about it. But the fact that she wasn't dismissing it out right meant a lot for how much she valued Jyr's input.

"I'll consider it."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

Jyr gave Raven a reassuring smile, "If it makes you feel any better, intelligence commandos also used to stand out. Most of the time they stayed hidden near the target until they were actually running their mission. Generally the best we could do was disguise them as Scout Troopers. And they were trained to keep a low profile."

[Manny Donos]

Manny frowned. "I kinda like the headscarf idea. I mean, the helmet is the part that's really easy to notice. I mean, all Mandalorian helmets look the same. You know..." With a series of gestures, Manny indicated the shape of a Mando helmet, making KSSHKT and VVVVT sound-effects for emphasis.

He shrugged. "But it's gotta be a whole package. Otherwise it's like doing one of my illusions, and then just leaving my special cards there for people to see. You have to think about a lot of stuff, being a magician." His nod at the two of them was very serious.

[Raven Cadera]

"Thanks. Both of you." Some tension eased from her shoulders. "Uhh... how do you cut someone in half without actually cutting them in half?"

[Manny Donos]

Grinning, Manny waggled his finger at Raven. "Hey, what did I just say? I can't leave my cards out for everyone to see. A magician never reveals his secret."

He coughed. "Also, let me know if you guys know anyone with blue legs. Just... for a thing."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"Your welcome...always ready to help," Jyr grunted, "Though I must admit I will hesitate next time it involves giant crabs."

Her gaze looks to Manny...given his words she has a sudden feeling the magic has been lost. But she wasn't going to ruin the fun for someone else.

"I mean any legs can be blue with body paint Manny."

[Manny Donos]

Manny stared at Jyrvess. And then stared a little more. "Wait... what?"

There was a brief pause.

"Oh yeah, body paint!" Manny slapped his forehead with one hand. "Why didn't I ever think of that! I guess it's because I'm such a purist with my magic. You know how I am, everything has to be one-hundred percent aesthetic." He might have meant 'authentic'; it was hard to tell.

He looked at Raven. "Hey Raven... how do you feel about being sawed in half? And having blue legs?"

[Raven Cadera]

Raven crossed her arms, giving Manny a hard look. The kind that said that she could probably break him.

"... Why don't you try asking my husband what he thinks about his wife having her legs painted blue?" she smirked a little. Mostly because it would be hilarious to see Praxton's reaction to that, and whether or not Manny would have the guts to actually ask. "Personally, I prefer to keep my legs natural, and armored."

[Manny Donos]

I mean, I wouldn't paint 'em..." But Manny knew that look. Coughing awkwardly, he subsided.

There was a moment of silence.

Manny turned to Jyrvess. "So, Jyr..."

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"Only if I need to be smuggled off world." Jyr responded immediately, stifling a laugh at Raven's response...and Manny's reaction.

"Otherwise I would prefer not to have my bare legs, barring some blue paint, flopping around on stage." She pauses a second, "Actually, why exactly do they need to be blue? Have you convinced the Twi'lek dancer to be in your show."

Jyrvess smirks, "Leah is an attractive young lady. Manny you charmer."

[Manny Donos]

Manny pulled out his deck of cards. He began to shuffle them, hands moving quickly, eyes focused on the task.

"Hey, it's not like that. She's just a friend. And she has a boyfriend. A shark! Like, a real shark. But, you know, a person." He cleared his throat, still shuffling, still watching the cards.

[Raven Cadera]

Cocking her head to the side, she gave Manny a curious look. "I didn't know he had a girlfriend..." she tapped her chin. Didn't jedi have rules against that? But is he really still a jedi?

"... Is it the same twi'lek girl that you did a show with that night the ISB showed up? Huh. I pegged her as..." Raven wobbled a hand, "a kid. Like, maybe fourteen, trying to act older than she is."

[Manny Donos]

"He does. And yeah, that's her." Manny looked up from his cards, although he didn't stop shuffling, or even slow down. "How old is she? I don't know. She's not that young, though. And she's smart, and good at stuff."

He sighed. "Vex thinks she owns her. That's bad, because Vex thinks she owns me, and she doesn't even want to own me."

[Raven Cadera]

"I remember Vex. She seems to think a lot of things."

Raven couldn't deny that working with Vex had given her many opportunities to fight, and to acquire funds for weapons and armor... though Vex had also had the fortune of being on the right side of things back on Kamda, so Raven wasn't too bothered by having fought for her causes.

"Vex keeping you on a leash?"

[Jyrvess Ertil]

"Indeed...Vex strikes me as one who knows her domain and tries to keep a tight hold on anything she considers an asset." Jyr munched on some fruit, "Keeping Manny on a leash reminds me of some of those folks on Coruscant who used to be dragged around by their hyperactive pets."

Jyrvess had a little contact with the crime lady, trying to keep a low profile on some business transactions all but required it. She had thus far avoided any real entanglements though...

[Raven Cadera]

The mental image of Manny on a leash pulling his owner behind him as he tried to chase butterflies and cars caused the Mandalorian woman to bend over and laugh heartily.

"Might be better off with a Kowakian Monkey Lizard," she said as she wiped the corners of her eyes from laughing.

[Manny Donos]

Manny reddened, looking away sheepishly. "It's not like that! I'm way better than some monkey-lizard! I mean, at most stuff. Not climbing, I guess."

He spread his hands. "She's just sometimes like 'hey Manny, do this, hey Manny, do that', even when I don't want to do this or that. But it's hard to say no, because, you know, she's Vex, y'know?"