Chapter Text
"Plo ! One Latte extra creme, two Expresso diabolico and one Virgin Mojito for the nice ladies over here~!"
As giggles erupted from the front of the bar counter, The said young barista sighed form the umpteenth weak attempt of flirt in the last minutes, of his stupid colleage and friend, the one and only Dom Juan of the Swamp House, Kit Fisto. It wasn't like he was jealous of the natural charm, the undeniable good looks of his friend or the fact that, as lame and corny and cliché those pick-ups lines were, they worked.
No, Of course not... Absolutely not...
..He was, wasn't it ?
Yes, Obviously. He was jealous. Plo was a twenty-five years old single and hopelessly romantic guy, who's job was in a cute café nearby a kriffing University.. Of course he knew it was for business, Obviously he didn't want every woman who might wanted a smoothie at 5 p.m to hit on him, Gods No... But the idea was a persistent one, and it wasn't helping that his said Friend was teasing him to date around, since he apparently looked like a starved-love dramatic loth-puppy whenever he saw Kit with his daily "conquest" ( And look at who's giving advice—the resident smiling Casanova..)
..Right, the drinks..
As Plo began to prepare the spicy coffees (hehe diabolico, is it? hehe as Yoda would say, like the little shit he actually was, don't let the small appearance of the old little gremlin fool you), he tried to distracted himself from his love life (more like love death, at this point) and this never-ending day by listing all the things that needed to be done before the end of his schift.
-Make the Arishas for Mister.My-Smile-died-with-my-hair, super spicy.
-Refill the ice machine and if 'she' doesn't work, give up. She'll behave later.
-Water the plants before they start eating the customers (plausible).
-Wipe down the tables, especially the Naboo crystal ones, before they look like deserts. They are too fancy for that.
-Find a girlfriend with etheral blue eyes-
Before he could smack himself for the stupidly longing thought again, he heard the doorbell tingling, sounding more like an R2 unit screaming (despite the fact that they had none left due to a small incident involving the old man's cane and a dozen broken glasses.. Yeah, Yoda could be petty when he wanted to..).
Thought it was somewhat muffled by the plants, which were more than invasive on the walls and doors and everything (except maybe the cups of drinks, hopefully), initially giving the place a creepy appearance..(..HOW did this place worked, no idea from Plo..). Maybe because of the space waffles. They were to die for.
He added the sugar in the mojito real quick and set it aside to go see for the new client, since Kit was busy handing out drinks in the more welcoming part of the room, the one that looked more like a forest than a bar (The old man liked nature, WHO would have guessed ?!), before looking at the newcomer.
It was another student girl with a dark hijab and dark tatoos on her cheeks, looking slightly frustrated, but for once, it wasn't about him. People could be bitchy at this hour, especially students.
"Welcome to the Swamp house, what can I get you today ?" He asked in his most cheerful but neutral voice (weird mix in his book, but whatever the frog ..uhm.. boss said)
" Well for me, a black tea with a... cake ship ?" she ask with a frowned eyebrow.
Close enough for a first try.
"That must be a Kyber scone ! It's a sweet pastry with vanilla and kosher salt, one of the speciality of our chief, great choice." He took the pastry with a spatula and placed it on a plate. "On site ? And your tea, do you want sugar in it ?"
"If you have enough place for us and our homework, yes on site and hold the sugar please. I need it as black as my fury.." She quickly shot a aggressive glare at the door then turned to him again. "And do you have anything spicy enough to make two spicy eaters cry ?"
She apparently dislike having to wait for people.
"We do have Spotchka, it's rather spicy.. though l'm not sure your friends would like the prank.." Shup up shut up shut up, I don't need to be on her bad side ..
"Yes, I know and you're right, but it's still on the table if they don't come in less than two minutes."
Plo.. could get it. But nope.
"If you want, you could wait at a table and when they arrive, I will warn them about your presence."
"That would be nice, thank you. The name's Unduli, but they will call for Lumi. Or for mercy." She seemed less furious, though she really only had a stern expression that whole conversation.
She was unhinged. He liked her. Still kinda creepy though. But that would be her friend's problems.
He nodded. And after finishing her order, she walked away and he returned to his drinks behind him.
What was he thinking again ? Ah right, the List °TM.
- Make sure Kit doesn't give away too many drinks in attempt at flirt, especially towards a blue Twi'lek beauty or a hot chocolate skinned hotie Captain or whatever.
- Find where the kriff the boss hide th-
But once again, the bell rings screams less than five minutes later in his ears, and he groaned. The Blue milk will turned violet at this point, but whatever.
He turned around to see a brunette human with braids too elaborate for Plo to understand their gravity, persiles above her nose (sick), and a slightly terrified look.
One of Miss.Dead-Inside's friend, apparentely. Great.
And it's 10 minutes past the deadline, Force have mercy on this girl (and Plo's brain. Especially on his brain.)
"Hello, 'Lumi' is waiting for you at your places but would you like to order something first ?"
"I'm going to die in any seconds, so I'll take a Wookiee-Ookiee, please. And a Cold Brew Dark Caf. For my funeral."
Plo snickered while making the Caf. Someone was in a worse situation than him, he could at least try to help with humour. "That bad ? You'll survive, especially when you'll give her this tea."
She looked at him with an amused smile but her tone was still defeatist.
"Oh no, You don't get it : Shaak is still late."
Why did they arrive at different times, don't they leave from the university together ?
"And I am for a bad reson in Lumi's book : I was with my boyfriend.... We're so dead."
Ooof... Yeah, a tragedy, a real big mess.. Not his, though. But of course he will help a little, he wasn't a ron'ktul.
"Alright, go to her and make amends : I'll warn the last one when she comes."
She shoot him a hopefully smile, "Thanks, You're a life saver !!" And she quickly runs away.
Two hours. Just survive two last hours. Plus, they weren't THAT annoying... Just weird in their owns ways. And he wasn't a messenger unit droid, for Kriff's sake.
He, once again, turned around to finally finish his last fricking orders : a whole Tarine Tea kettle for the Bear-like giant and his mischievous spirit of a husband (He couldn't tell if the first one actually liked it, thought they only took that everytime) and Four cups of cafs for the enginerring couple Erso (decafs for the ma'am, she was pregant).
Plo signed. He was exhausted. The whole day had been real long and he only had like 4 hours of sleep. He loved Little So'ka with all his softie heart (Kit's words, the bastard himself), but that less then a year old baby, an adorable one for sure but far too energetic for him, drained him of his energy last night. No wonder her young parents wanted a babysitter. And he loved doing it, of course, but Niikat was he tired.
Well, it looks like he was getting impatient. When he will returned home, he will crash into his bed. It was late, (Plo's brain and back already knew that, thank you) so with any luck, there wouldn't be any more customers. Just complete the last taskes, and that was it.
And he was so closed to it, except for the topping of the Cold Caf (the worst part for Plo) when that damn bell rang again to disturb him.
"Hello !" he shouted too enthusiastic to be sincere. He quickly calmed down his voice, That wasn't professionnal and nice to shout at clients, they mostly didn't do anything, Get a fucking grip, "How can I- I, I..."
But the words were stuck in his throat when he laid eyes on the newcomer. The most beautiful of all the Togrutas that Plo had ever laid his eyes on stood before him. Her jewelry of her Akul-tooth headdress were askew, she was panting from a run, her skin already red was reddening even more by it. Her white facial marks were even more brighter with a thin layer of sweat.
She had sapphires for eyes. Irresistible White lips. Gracious hands that gripped her bag and the counter.
Plo was so glad he had a mask, otherwise she would have see his mouth slightly open, gawking at her. His brain was in desperate needs of maintenance repair with all these bugs and short circuits that happened in there right now. The moment he needed the most to speak like a normal living being and not like a psycho. Fantastic.
"I- I, Help you ? Today ?"
Smooth, bro. He heard Kit in his head. If he wasn't so hypnotized, mesmerised by the Togruta, he would have groan.
"Huh, yeah, you can. Help me." She looked at the counter as if her life depends on it. Maybe it was. "Do you have any Corellian food ? Desserts, preferably ?"
"Y-yes, we do ! What kind do you want ?"
"The kind that could stop my friend from hanging me by the Montrals..." She finally meet his eyes, and by Ashla, if they weren't a little filled with fear, he would have melt. But instead, he prefered to answer her. With charm. Force, give him charm, Kohto.
"Would be a shame, they're pretty colorful."
...WHY ?...
The Kit in his head just looked at him with a glare that screamed in the Force "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT". Deserved, since Plo wanted to find a Dragon Krayt's lair and let himself be eaten, it would be more pleasant then this.
She looked at him for a moment, silent. What now, had he insulted her ? You couldn't talk to Togrutas about their monstrals, even if it was a flat and stupid compliment ?
"A-anyway, you saw her, didn't you ? How much was she angry ?"
"Uhhh, her stare could have chilled Tatooine."
She groaned and banged her head against the counter, very close to Plo's hands, who jerked away. Not another mistake with the monstrals, no sir.
" I'll have some Keshian spices rolls with a Soda. For the enraged Sarlaac, I have no idea. Please, help me, you're my only hope." She said, muffled by the counter. She looks up at him with with a look of despair that was barely feigned. "Do you think I should get a Corellia Chew or a Phasma Cloud ?"
Plo tried to think faster than light. At least his heart was beating at that speed.
"If she likes omaka fruit, I think you should get the Corellian cake."
"Ohh~ Good call ! I'll take that, then." She signed in relief, and while Plo was collecting all her order with extra care (favoritism ? Don't know that..), she continues, "She likes them with limon.. Yeah, I know it's uncommum but hey, I'm trying to stay alive here !" She responds at his confused stare. He smiles and he knows she could tell despite his mask, and that thought makes him a little giddy, though he hadn't drink any Spotchka (Yoda would strangle him, or worse, make him carry him on his back all day, even though he gets around perfectly well on his own. What a pain.)
"Alright, with a bit of lemon, check." And just because he apparentely cannot shut his goddamn mouth, he adds. "Say, why is she looking like an angry Rancor on diet ?"
She chuckled a little (and Plo can't help but feeling proud of himself) before she says "We're close to the exams. The real Big One, Capitals letters, real stress for everybody. I was too, but I think 90% of it was from Lumi's particuliar terror about it..."
She leaned towards him and whispered to him, as if in a secret. "She's terrifying."
Plo snickers, even though he is numb because of her and her sudden closeness. Especially when her smile grows when she heard his chuckle. There was a pause in the conversation, and Plo had time to admire more deeply the sapphires that were her eyes. He could and would happily so, drown in them and since they were as blue as the ocean, the metaphor was fitting.
Get a Grip and Say Something. A neon signboard flashed before his eyes, surely made by little Kit up in his useless brain.
"I'm sure she will be glad with this offering. Go before she come back here and find you at the counter, or else I don't give you much of a chance of survival.." She signs, but before she made a move to take her wallet and credits, he stops her. "Cake's on me."
"What ? No, I'm paying !"
"C'mon, I wanna keep you alive, let me help.."
A little delighted smile grows on her face and she give him the credits for the rest of the order, looking away. "Thank you." she adds, almost whispering to him and Plo can't help but gulp. As he was about to reply with a wavering "No problem", she took the order and walked away from the counter.
Plo followed her with his eyes, but despite that, he is still surprised when she turns around.
"I'm Shaak Ti, by the way." She looks around, maybe nervous, as if a goddess like her could be, thought Plo. "Just so you know who you saved.."
Yes, Plo deduced it was her name, like her friend told him, but he is still very pleased that she told him herself. Besides, a reminder was appreciated since his braincells had been somewhat distracted by her. Like right now.
"Pretty... Pretty NAME, I mean !!"
Oh Dear Force, was he smooth or not ? Just kill him already.
The urge to close his eyes is bordeline painful, when she surprise him again. (That wasn't really good for his heart, by the way..)
"..Thanks.. Plo..." And she finally vanished into the other room.
Wish granted, sucker. Snickered the Force as Plo felt like ascending into it.
I'm doomed.
" Sad, it almost was, to watch, huh ?"
And while Plo, on the verge of a heart attack, turned toward his boss—the Frog who was sipping a house cocktail while looking down at him, despite its tiny size —, he painfully corrected his mistake.
I'm so doomed.