>>6133217>>6133220>>6133237>>6133297>>6133351>>6133389>>6133394>>6133477>>6133502Gonna start posting these as I finish.Pip moves with a practiced grace, clearing a nearby table with swift, deft motions before gesturing for you to take a seat. Once everyone is seated, he casually leans against his chair, folding his arms with an easy smile.
“I have a feeling I’ll need something strong to keep up with all the questions you’re carrying,” he says, a spark of humor in his eyes. “But there’s no need for me to indulge alone. Would anyone care for a drink? Tea? Or perhaps something a little stronger?”
The offer prompts a few raised brows and exchanged glances among the crew. The shipwright chuckles, catching their reactions. With a snap of his fingers, a protocol droid shuffles out from an adjoining room, bearing a tray loaded with refreshments and finger foods.
“No need to worry,” he exhales, humming contently as the rich scent of coffee begins to fill the room. “I’ve cleared my day for this meeting, so you’ll have my full attention. My minders would actually be happy that I’m taking a break.”
As he moves to help the droid unload the refreshments, you nudge Ceyla’s arm under the table. She doesn’t move, only nodding slightly as you lean in and quietly whisper: “Can you check if he’s Force sensitive?”
She taps your hand once – an affirmative.
By the time all of the food and drink has been served, the pair of you act as if nothing had happened. The shipwright pours himself a long draft of coffee, noting its flavor before toasting your good health and downing the drink in a single swing.
Whether or not he’s showing that it isn’t poisoned is irrelevant. Java isn’t your go-to drink unless it’s an absolute emergency, or if you’re undercover in a coffee house.
Pip gives everyone a once-over with genuine interest before leaning forward, hands steepled. “Now, let’s get started. I’m more than happy to shed light on the project, an anything else I might be able to help you with.”
>>An overview of the Blazing Chain from his perspective.He raises an eyebrow. “Now that’s quite the open-ended question. I could keep you here for hours going over the finer distinctions and minutia of each fleet, if not days.”
You shrug. “I need a primary source. All I’ve had so far are second-hand and tertiary accounts.”
“How academic of you.” Pip smiles. “But I’ll give the most straightforward answer – the Blazing Chain is a loose collection of nomadic fleets that once boasted a ninety percent rate of Force-sensitives among its ranks. I couldn’t give the specifics of our founding, those have been lost to myth and rumor. But some of our ships bears scars and honors going back as far as four thousand years.”
(cont.)
