Bankor

The Republic delegation is invited to a private luncheon with the Queen of Garig Port Town, the grand hall is appointed with banners and a long table set out with a variety of delicacies and foods. Seafood seems too dominate but there is a large variety of food meant to impress and indulge.

Overhead are hologram dancers that float through the air gracefully and soft music playing for atmosphere.

Delmi for her part stays focused on her work for the most part. She's used to the distractions of an elegant or ostentatious setting and makes sure that she is close to the senator as the food starts to come.

Layne did much as Delmi did, hovering nearby, hood drawn over her head. Looking for any threats, perhaps even reaching out through the force to do so.

Given the time between the meeting Chase couldn't really come up with an excuse for why she needed to be by the ship. Wouldn't be exactly the best start to negotiations if it looked like they were trying to be ready to bug out at any given moment, even if her instinct told her otherwise. Still, she had T7-B8 with her and that was as much of a reassurance she had every avenue covered as she was gonna get.

Oh, and Delmi and Layne. Couldn't get outta mess here, so far from a ship, without them.

Standing with other Mandalorian soldiers was a woman with a severe frown on her face. She did not look happy to be here as she noticed the Republic delegation. The delegation numbered six that they could see.

Tano turned to her sister and said in Mando’a, “Looks like the rats have scurried in from the storm.”

She lifted a fine glass of wine to the Republic and smiled.

Layne paid special attention to the frowning woman. Layne didn't imagine a stray glare sent their way would scare them away in case they were of a mind to start up trouble now that there was some competition in town. Mandalorians weren't known to back down from a fight, after all. But that didn't mean she made much of an effort to hide her gaze either.

Delmi simply watched the Mandalorians coolly as she became aware of them. Her gait was that of a woman who appeared well experienced beyond the youthful features of her face.

Finger twitch, happened when you had to fight the urge to run for your gun. If they were here for a fight then it'd have started already... still..

"I don't like this at all T," Chase said quietly to herself and her companion.

The Mandalorians approached the table with Tano leading the charge so to speak. She spoke to the group in Basic, “So this is the best of the Republic. I am still waiting to be impressed. Maybe it is the stench of Crusader among them, or maybe it’s the smell of Jedi.”

She cracked a smile looking at Layne.

“What do you think sister? Impressed or not?” she finished.

“They have survived, they deserve… acknowledgement for that feat,” Yiko countered.

Layne went and grabbed herself some of the seafood at that the table, purposefully making a show of lowering her guard as the Mandalorians made a point of beating their chests.

"Besides," she said when Yiko finished, but looked at Tano as she put some sort of small shrimp in her mouth and chewed on it. "It's not *you* anyone's here to impress."

Shots fired.

Yiko spoke, “She is right, they are here to suck at the teat of Huya that is who they wish to impress. I am surprised the Republic would even entreat with one such as her. Their situation must be grim.”

“Or is this for the people, cowards and weaklings who can barely mount a defense of their homes and lives.”

"Guess that makes you feel big huh? Being able to stand over someone else and say how weak they are? Wonder who's really the weak one here," Chase added, not too directly but more like a thought she hadn't cared much to not speak aloud.

Layne kept chewing. Slowly. Loudly. As she stared at the Mandalorians with an oddly intense expression. Actually making a bit of a show of it. To try and weird them out.

Finally it came time to swallow. Again, slowly.

And then she put another shrimp in her mouth, and began the process all over.

Chase wrote:"Guess that makes you feel big huh? Being able to stand over someone else and say how weak they are? Wonder who's really the weak one here," Chase added, not too directly but more like a thought she hadn't cared much to not speak aloud.

“The tu’kata alpha does not mourn killing a nerf, it is meant to be. The weak exist only to serve as prey for the strong, that is perhaps the greatest constant of the galaxy. If these locals had strength they would not have folded like a napkin,” she responded.

Layne tried to drown out the sound of Yiko's little speech with the sound of her sucking out all the shrimp's juice. Then clacked her tongue before swallowing the hollowed out husk down. These Mandalorians must've had nerves of steel if they weren't getting weirded out.

"Only the weak boast about strength," she said, finally, licking her fingers.

Chase laughed inwardly, "You know, that almost sounds just as psychotic as I imagined a Tin-Can sounding."

“Sister let me cut her tongue out, I will show her psychotic,” Tano hissed.

“There will be a time and a place for claiming your blood price sister, today we are here for other reasons,” she said picking out food.

"Try the shrimp," she said, "I'm pretty sure it's shrimp, anyway."

She was impressed with herself for not being all alpha dog anymore, the way she used to be and the way she was supposed to curb now that she was a jedi.

Of course, she also realized that she was still just playing the dominance game here... just using different tactics than she used to.

All this back and forth... They'd be dead by now normally... But we're here to talk, so I guess I gotta put up with this chest thumping.

Delmi kept a close watch of her surroundings while thinking to herself.

Yiko tried the “shrimp” and said, “Satisfactory, when this is all over you can be my taster, Jedi. That seems to be a skill you excel at.”

"Hope you fight as well as you taunt, make this war just a bit easier," Chase commented before glancing over to Saresh and then the self appointed ruler of Garig. Looking from either a signal to cut it back, or hold off.

“This is a war? I thought this was a minor skirmish at best,” she said in reply.