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~*~
Mhairi didn’t look up when she heard the door to Madame Nu’s bookshop open, despite being there alone. Takodana was probably the safest place she’d ever been. Maz Kanata made sure of that, running her city with what many locals called a polite iron fist. Those who followed Maz’s laws were welcomed with open arms. Those who didn’t found out just how much iron that fist really contained. And Mhairi doubted anyone would be foolish enough to threaten Madame Nu’s shop anyway, not in the middle of a sunny early summer afternoon.
“Hello?” A voice called.
Mhairi slipped the last book she wanted to put away onto its proper shelf and then stepped out of the row. She looked toward the door and saw the handsomest man she’d ever laid eyes on.
“Hello,” she offered politely, trying not to sound flustered. “Madame Nu stepped out for a while, but I can assist you if you’d like. I’m Mhairi.”
The man smiled and took a few steps towards her, letting the door close fully. He was a few years older than her if she had to guess though not much older, with dark hair, amber eyes and a scar across his face. She wanted to ask how he’d gotten it, what sort of work he did that brought him here.
“I’m Jorbe,” the man said. Holding up a couple of books, he explained, “I wanted to sell these and see what new things Madame Nu has that might interest me. My crew hasn’t been here in a while, so I imagine she has plenty of new things.”
The mention of a crew definitely indicated a sailor of some kind. Was he an adventurer? A hired sailor? A proper merchant? A pirate? She shook her head, pushing away the thought. Such fanciful thoughts were exactly why she was so well suited to working in a bookshop.
Mhairi brightened as she started moving towards the counter with Madame Nu’s current ledger. “I can certainly help you with that. Did you want to just browse or did you want some recommendations?”
Jorbe smiled as he followed her towards the counter.
“I’m always open to a good book recommendation,” he assured.
Mhairi smiled at the reply, pleased that her offer had been so readily accepted.
“We’ll start with what you brought and see what kind of credit I can offer you, then go from there,” she explained as she stepped behind the counter.
Jorbe nodded.
“Of course,” he replied as he handed over the books. “A smart plan.”
Her eyes widened when she saw the books.
“These are in Mando’a,” Mhairi gasped. “We only have two other books in the entire shop in Mando’a.”
Jorbe grinned, clearly pleased that she’d recognized the script.
“Perks of being a Mandalorian,” he teased. “We don’t publish many of our books outside of Mandalore, so I know they’re always valuable here.”
Mhairi nodded. “Books in Mando’a are always on Madame Nu’s list of most sought after. Even books in Ryl are easier to get our hands on despite the distance to Ryloth.” Flushing, she admitted, “I’d love to learn but it's hard to do with just the two books we’ve had in the shop since I started.”
Leaning against the counter, Jorbe asked, “I’m sure I could help with that.”
Mhairi beamed at him.
By the time he’d selected his new books two hours later, they’d agreed to meet for dinner that evening after she got off work. He surprised her by waiting for her at the bookshop door to escort her to their selected pub. Mhairi was charmed by it.
By the end of the week, she gave Madame Nu her notice, packed her trunk, and followed Jorbe back to his ship ready for the next step in her own adventure story.
At the end of the second week after they’d met, she and Jorbe swore the Riduurok under a beautiful summer sunset like a couple out of a novel.
Mhairi couldn’t wait to see where the next chapter led.
~*~