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ツレ
(tsure)
(informal) friend during a
social event, a plus one
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The red mandalorian sat in the cantina, head tilted back as she tried to school her breathing. Her eyes were closed and even then the darkness pulsed.
The blood still roared in her ears like water thundering into a funnel so deep it's depth was lost.
"Hey," a voice startled her. She jerked, eyes snapping open beneath her visor. "Did I startle you?" He shot her a smirk. She shrugged. "So you're a Mandalorian?" He eyed her armor, gaze raking over the metal work.
"What gave it away?" Her posture relaxed and she leaned forwards. He laughed.
"I'm Toro Calican." She nodded. "Got a name, sweetheart?"
"It's not 'sweetheart', and I'd warn you not to call me that again."
He raised his hands in surrender. "Got it, Mando." Toro picked up his cup and took a sip. "So, what brings you to this dust ball?"
Someone entered the cantina. A bounty hunter. The hunter leaned on the bar top, talking to the droid bar tender in hushed tones. The voice was familiar.
"I'll be right back." The red mandalorian stood, brushing her hand over Toro's shoulder before breezing towards the hunter at the bar. "Hey there."
The hunter whirled around. "You. You were the pilot. Why weren't you at the ship?" She yanked his blaster out of its holster and he grabbed the barrel to shove it away from his head. The blaster went off.
"Didn't really feel like waiting around," she spat. He grabbed her, spinning them around and slamming her into the counter. The blaster clattered behind the bar.
She pulled her legs up, shoving him away. The hunter stumbled back and pulled another blaster.
The red mandalorian rolled back, falling behind the bar as a barrage of blaster fire rang out. The red mandalorian pulled out her vibroblade. She shot up, thrusting her arm out. A grappler shot out of her gauntlet, tangling the man, and she yanked.
He gurgled. The hunter reached for the blade buried in his throat, fingers scrabling at the hilt. He went limp.
She untangled him, reeling in her grapple and wiping off her blade. She rifled through the hunter's pockets and swiped his credits. A flash caught her attention; a fob. The red mandalorian stood, crushing the fob.
She waltzed back to Toro. "That man tried to shoot me down before I got here."
"Uh-huh." His eyes were still wide.
There was only silence in the cantina.
"You asked me something before I got up?" she prompted.
"Uh," he stuttered and swallowed. His emotions were a frenzy as he gaze flitted from the body to the mandalorian in front of him. "Are you looking for some work?" he asked weakly.
"Actually," she responded, a smugness laced into her voice. "I am."
Someone else entered the cantina, a pram trailing behind him. She glanced at mikata, their eyes unknowingly locking. She looked at Toro again. "Is there room for two in the job?"

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"You know him?" Toro's voice cut through the red fog in her head. She gave a short, curt nod. Toro gave her a long look. "Is-" he waved a hand. "-whatever is going on gonna cause any problems? Can't have someone messing with my favorite mandalorian." He gives a teasing laugh. They're footsteps made small puffs of sand as they made their way across town.
"Something tells me I'm one of the only mandalorians you know, asshole." A teasing note finds its way into her voice and her lungs feel full. She's missed this; she's missed having a friend to joke with. Mikata was different, closer to a- to a parent than a friend. Toro treated her as an equal.
"Ehhh, if no one else is in the running, you automatically get first place." He tossed her a smirk, shoving an elbow into her side. It was light, no real force behind it; he was testing the waters.
"It also means I'm in last place." They rounded a corner and the shop came into view.
"Silver lining, baby. You've got to find the silver lining."
The temperature easily dropped 10 degrees as they stepped into the shop.
"The silver lining?"
He flashes his signature smirk. "Me, obviously."
She let out a theatric sigh. "Sounds more like punishment to me." He pouted. His face changed. Toro glanced at her.
"But, is he gonna cause any problems?"
"No. We're Mandalorian. Our word is more important than any quarrel."
"Hm," he replied turning towards the clerk and ordering three speeders. "Good. This job is my ticket into the Guild."
She tilted her head. "Why do you want in to the Guild so badly?" She watched him pass credits with an air of nonchalance she almost envied. She wondered what it was like not to need or worry. "You don't look like you need the credits." He stiffened. The red mandalorian leaned against the counter as the clerk stepped away.
"It isn't about the credits."
"So you've said. Then what is it about?" He hesitated.
"What would your life be like? If you weren't Mandalorian, I mean." She shrugged.
"I wouldn't have one. I would've been killed." Her tight voice didn't go unnoticed.