Closed to [aliit_be_tad]

[make_it_hurt]

 "Mando!" Greef Karga's voice rang through the bar even before his presence could be noticed. The head of the Bounty Hunter's Guild was sitting in his usual place, the other side of the round booth empty. 

Bucky didn't look around as he stepped inside. Voices around him hushed, and suddenly he could hear the clink of his armor pieces touching as he stepped down into the main area. As he strode across the room, the chatter slowly started back up, and it was almost to full volume when he finally slid into the seat across from Karga. 

Out came his two tracking fobs - they had been rather hefty bounties, which was a welcome change from the usual trickle - and he slapped them down with his left hand, keeping them caged in with his fingers. 

Greef Karga sat back in his seat. "Have more work for you, Mando. If you'll indulge me by staying put for a bit, there's one more party we're waiting for. Then I don't have to explain twice." 

Reaching into his jacket, he freed a small handful of credits. Imperial. 

Behind his helmet, Bucky's lip curled with disgust. Outwardly, he reached for them. He couldn't afford to be picky. Not with hungry children at the covert. He traded the fobs for the credits, tucking them away. 

"What kind of job?" 

"One that pays twice what I just paid you." 

"I don't work with others." Meaning, they normally got in the way. He was more efficient solo. 

"I think you'll want to work with this person. In fact, I'm surprised you haven't met." Karga leaned to look past him and Bucky reluctantly turned as, surprise of all surprises, another Mandalorian stepped into the bar. 

Comments

[aliit_be_tad]

Din Djarin almost didn't show up.

He had returned to the guild that morning, his latest bounties in tow, to be faced with a prospect that was far less than tempting. The pay was good, the odds looked fair, but the conditions... he was far from excited.

A two-man job.

He'd already had his time running with a crew, and he wasn't eager to give the experience another try. But, like Greef had pointed out to him, jobs were beginning to be tight to come by. He didn't have the luxury to be picky about his jobs, especially with the paltry few that Greef had to offer as alternative. Not that he trusted that the guild master wasn't purposefully holding back on him to try to corral him into taking this job.

Sure, he could test Greef's patience and refuse the gig-- but the fact was that he needed the credits. The last few jobs he'd taken had barely covered expenses. It was almost shameful how little he had brought back to the covert, even after cutting as many corners on his end as he could. He couldn't afford to pass up a job that paid three times as much as his last lot of bounties for just his share alone.

Din could grit his teeth and work alongside someone else for one job. He wasn’t naive enough to think this would be the last time he had to do it, but hopefully Greef wouldn't make a habit of this.

Whatever scumsucker he was bracing to deal with, however, couldn't prepare him for the visceral shock of stepping into the bar and seeing another Mandalorian at the table with Greef.

His mind instantly started spinning, taking in the armor and desperately trying to search his memory to see if this was a member of his covert-- what were they doing above ground? He didn't recognize the beskar plating on the man's arm, but that didn't mean anything. These last few years he had barely been home enough for long enough for a bite of food, a scrap of sleep, and to repair damage to his armor before he was off again. For a brief moment agitation and panic threatened to break the surface.

And then he spotted the clan insignia on the Mandalorian's armor. It wasn't one he had seen before-- someone from a different covert. Some of the tension eased in his chest, but only just barely.

All new alarm bells began sounidng in his mind. What was another Mandalorian doing on Nevarro?

Din glanced around the suddenly quiet bar, then hardened his resolve and started towards Greef Karga. He kept his movements loose, fixing his visor’s gaze on the guild master. It wasn't the first Mandalorian he had encountered outside of his covert, but the first that was so close to home.

He stopped just short of the table, leveling what he hoped was a clear glare at Greef's pleased, smiling face.

"You didn't tell me there was another Mandalorian in the guild."

"I didn’t realize I needed to report all guild members to you personally. Don't tell me you're getting jealous on me." Despite the smile on Greef’s face, there was an edge to his voice. You didn’t keep alive in this business by rolling over or playing pacifist, and Greef Karga had been in it long enough to not be either.

Din stared evenly at Greef, letting the silence drag out. Then he sighed and finally looked at the Mandalorian. It wasn't an accident that he hadn't so much as looked the man's way since he started to approach. It was clear what he was trying to say:

I'm not happy you're here, and I'm not going to make this any easier than I have to.

From first impressions, Din was confident that the man could hold his own. He was a Mandalorian, Din had to assume that meant he had the training and skill to back it up. He'd rather trust another Mando at his back than an aruetii-- but that didn't mean he was happy about the situation.

"So, do you want to hear about the job or not, Mando?" Greef said, in that infuriatingly smug way that meant he already knew the answer. He didn't even specify which Mando he was talking to. Not that it mattered.

"This is a one-time deal. I'm not looking for a crew or a partner." Din said, partly to Greef while looking at the Mandalorian. "Ni vercopaanir naasad ashi Mando’ade bat ner me’suum."

I don't want any other Mandalorians on my planet.

A passing Mandalorian on a busy planet was one thing. Any other planet, with any other covert, the man might have even been welcomed, offered food and shelter until he moved on. On Nevarro, where even one Mandalorian above around was danger enough to the covert?

The sooner the other man got off this rock the better.