[Riz knows there must be an appropriate reaction in this case, an appropriate way to feel even, but fuck if he knows what it is. He doesn't even entirely understand what is making Allura so upset.]
Wh-what, yes, of course, I did! I had to hand her my letter of resignation, didn't I? I didn't-- I didn't just sneak out of there or something.
[Because of course Riz had resigned with a proper formal letter. He wasn't some animal.]
What, you think I'm a recording device or something?
[It would absolutely be cool if he was. Like that skinny elf detective of Fantasy Criminal Minds. A lot of the procedural stuff on that show was atrocious, especially in the later seasons, but there was also a bunch of cool stuff.]
She-- [He frowns a bit as he tries to recall what Jane had said.] I mean, she asked me to explain why I was resigning and then agreed that it was an actual concern and gave me her blessing. It's not-- It's not like we aren't working together anymore! It's just-- it's on the down low now.
[Riz tosses up his hands.]
I don't get why you are upset, Allura! I did what you said. I thought about your words and realised you were right. I was being a risk to Miss Jane's business, so I took myself out of it. I don't get why you are so angry with me.
[Okay, okay, calm down. She realizes she... might be projecting her own issues about accidentally shoving people away.]
What I meant was for you and Jane to talk out a plan for how to move forward, together. Which, I suppose you did, but... [Deep breath.] I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to quit, Riz. Especially when you love your job. I just meant for you to be more careful.
I'm still a private investigator. I'm just working solo now, just like I do back home. I asked miss Jane for a job when I first got here because I figured I couldn't be much use to anyone while I didn't know anything about this world, but it's different now. I've got some basic understanding of how stuff works here now.
I didn't mean to make you worry or anything. I actually thought you had a really great point with what you said.
[Where has Mando been indeed? Retreating up a tree, that's where, to watch how this all shakes down. He's not going to insult Riz by leaping into a fight on his behalf, but he's there in case this goes south and the little guy needs backup.]
[By Mandalore, he misses his guns. This would be so much simpler if he had a gun.]
[Either way, Riz manages just fine on his own, and Mando slithers down out the tree and makes his entrance.]
Everything okay here, Riz?
[Like he wasn't watching the whole time. Creeper.]
Ack! [Allura startles and gets into a fighting stance herself- tall, athletic and well-muscled, clearly has solid hand-to-hand training, even if her awareness is a bit lax here- before relaxing as much as she can be while embarrassed.] Aha... hello. Riz, would you like to introduce me to your friend?
[Which she manages to keep most of the tone of "Riz, why didn't you tell me you were accompanied?" out of her question.]
[Riz would absolutely have introduced Mando to her, but he had been a little busy trying to quell Allura's temper and trying to figure out why she was mad to begin with.]
Right. Allura, meet Mando. I met him in town, he's still pretty new here. Mando, this is Allura, she-- [he pauses for a moment, a thoughtful look coming over his face.] She's Altean, I don't know if you've ever heard of them. [And back to Allura.] Mando travels in space too.
[Mando shifts onto his back foot when the woman goes into a fighting stance, but drops it as soon as she does. No need for fisticuffs if she's friendly.]
[He tilts his head at Riz's introduction.]
I've never heard of Altean.
[But another space traveler definitely piques his interest!]
Pleased to meet you, Mando. And I can't say that I have. Then again, the universe is vast, and it seems that this world brings in people from multiple realities.
[Look, Mando is not arguing that being ready to fight at a moment's notice is a bad thing! There's a time and place for beat downs, though, and this isn't it.]
It's probably for the best that your people were away from the Empire and the Clone Wars.
[Ah... the word "empire" actually causes Allura to pale a bit. (It's a good thing Haggar's own plans for mass cloning were nipped in the bud, and that she's from a time before the team even knew about them.)]
We arrived in this world at roughly the same time, though this is our first meeting in person. Apologies, but... which Empire would this be?
[He said he hadn't heard of Alteans before, and he wasn't hostile to her on sight, so at least it's not from that one reality. But that's still not a good thing to hear.]
[Allura relaxes, but barely. She's never heard of Coruscant, and Zarkon and Honerva's actions destroyed Daibazaal ten thousand years ago. They haven't had a single home planet in millennia, operating out of flagships and conquering other planets.]
So not the Galra. [She gives him a sober nod.] I am sorry that your world knows that hardship as well, and I'm glad that it has a chance to heal now.
[It's a little disheartening to hear that other worlds are struggling out there, although Mando knows that's just the way of things. He shakes his head at Allura's comment about healing.]
There's always another emperor or syndicate waiting.
[Riz, for the record, has absolutely nothing against clones. Or droids, if that is what the Jennies end up being.]
And listen, if they are innocent, they are innocent, and I'll completely get off their back. But considering everything that we've gone through just getting dumped here, isn't it fair to at least look into it?
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Wh-what, yes, of course, I did! I had to hand her my letter of resignation, didn't I? I didn't-- I didn't just sneak out of there or something.
[Because of course Riz had resigned with a proper formal letter. He wasn't some animal.]
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[Okay, that... actually takes her anger down a couple notches, although it doesn't leave yet.]
And what did she say? Exact words.
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[It would absolutely be cool if he was. Like that skinny elf detective of Fantasy Criminal Minds. A lot of the procedural stuff on that show was atrocious, especially in the later seasons, but there was also a bunch of cool stuff.]
She-- [He frowns a bit as he tries to recall what Jane had said.] I mean, she asked me to explain why I was resigning and then agreed that it was an actual concern and gave me her blessing. It's not-- It's not like we aren't working together anymore! It's just-- it's on the down low now.
[Riz tosses up his hands.]
I don't get why you are upset, Allura! I did what you said. I thought about your words and realised you were right. I was being a risk to Miss Jane's business, so I took myself out of it. I don't get why you are so angry with me.
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Because I never asked you to just leave!
[Okay, okay, calm down. She realizes she... might be projecting her own issues about accidentally shoving people away.]
What I meant was for you and Jane to talk out a plan for how to move forward, together. Which, I suppose you did, but... [Deep breath.] I'm sorry I made you feel like you had to quit, Riz. Especially when you love your job. I just meant for you to be more careful.
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I didn't mean to make you worry or anything. I actually thought you had a really great point with what you said.
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[A deep breath.]
I know you didn't... [And flashes him a rueful smile.] I did warn you I tend to fuss over my friends.
just casually strolling in, nbd
[By Mandalore, he misses his guns. This would be so much simpler if he had a gun.]
[Either way, Riz manages just fine on his own, and Mando slithers down out the tree and makes his entrance.]
Everything okay here, Riz?
[Like he wasn't watching the whole time. Creeper.]
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Ack! [Allura startles and gets into a fighting stance herself- tall, athletic and well-muscled, clearly has solid hand-to-hand training, even if her awareness is a bit lax here- before relaxing as much as she can be while embarrassed.] Aha... hello. Riz, would you like to introduce me to your friend?
[Which she manages to keep most of the tone of "Riz, why didn't you tell me you were accompanied?" out of her question.]
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Right. Allura, meet Mando. I met him in town, he's still pretty new here. Mando, this is Allura, she-- [he pauses for a moment, a thoughtful look coming over his face.] She's Altean, I don't know if you've ever heard of them. [And back to Allura.] Mando travels in space too.
[Maybe the same space, who knows.]
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[He tilts his head at Riz's introduction.]
I've never heard of Altean.
[But another space traveler definitely piques his interest!]
Have you heard of Mandalore?
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[Okay there, she calms down a bit.]
Pleased to meet you, Mando. And I can't say that I have. Then again, the universe is vast, and it seems that this world brings in people from multiple realities.
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Huh, too bad. Worth a shot though.
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It's probably for the best that your people were away from the Empire and the Clone Wars.
[Those guys suuuuuuucked.]
How do you two know each other?
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[Ah... the word "empire" actually causes Allura to pale a bit. (It's a good thing Haggar's own plans for mass cloning were nipped in the bud, and that she's from a time before the team even knew about them.)]
We arrived in this world at roughly the same time, though this is our first meeting in person. Apologies, but... which Empire would this be?
[He said he hadn't heard of Alteans before, and he wasn't hostile to her on sight, so at least it's not from that one reality. But that's still not a good thing to hear.]
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[Mando shrugs.]
It collapsed a few years ago, when the Emperor died.
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[Allura relaxes, but barely. She's never heard of Coruscant, and Zarkon and Honerva's actions destroyed Daibazaal ten thousand years ago. They haven't had a single home planet in millennia, operating out of flagships and conquering other planets.]
So not the Galra. [She gives him a sober nod.] I am sorry that your world knows that hardship as well, and I'm glad that it has a chance to heal now.
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[It's a little disheartening to hear that other worlds are struggling out there, although Mando knows that's just the way of things. He shakes his head at Allura's comment about healing.]
There's always another emperor or syndicate waiting.
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It's the same everywhere, I think.
[Which is why this place is so suspicious! Easy-going magical animal world with limited crime? There's gotta be more to it!]
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[Or so they'd have you believe! What is with this
Nintendo franchisequiet, gentle world, anyway?]no subject
Well, this is a separate reality. It's possible there is no such Empire here, or if there is, it merely hasn't reached this system yet.
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[Look out, Allura; someone has been listening to Riz's conspiracy theories.]
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Ah. [She gives a dry but not unamused smile.] I see Riz's investigation has found an audience?
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[Mando isn't too fond of clones. They're better than droids, but he's still not a fan.]
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And listen, if they are innocent, they are innocent, and I'll completely get off their back. But considering everything that we've gone through just getting dumped here, isn't it fair to at least look into it?
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