“Dave He’s At It Again”

I want an octopus penpal too

I wish octopus could learn how to read. They could be pen pals with middle schoolers.

I already love this fic!♥️

Voices Carry

After all of the tricks and threats, your mysterious caller tries something different: conversation.

Eventual Mereel Skirata x fem!reader pairing.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,100

Warnings: None

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Part Six

There had been a pile of credits on your desk when you had come into work that morning. 

Sadly, you already knew it wasn’t a bonus or even a fun mystery you could unravel between your other duties. No, that was Julgum’s charming way of letting you know that he had been invited to a fundraiser and that he needed you to accompany him. 

The first time it had happened, you had been confused, then wary. Any concerns that Julgum had unprofessional designs on you were quieted when he gave you a list of tasks for the event. He wasn’t inviting you as a date. No, he needed you to help him network, keep track of information, and usher him into a transport when he had too much to drink. 

It wasn’t a favorite part of your job, but you didn’t mind it as much as you had expected to. You were still so relieved that Julgum wasn’t hitting on you that anything else seemed fine by comparison.

Besides, you only used some of the credits to purchase clothing. You kept the rest and refused to feel guilty about it. 

That morning had been remarkably quiet, and you were using your personal datapad to browse some formal clothing that was on clearance at a local store. You had added several possibilities to your cart when the office comlink beeped. 

“Senator Julgum’s office. How may I help you?” 

The greeting rolled so naturally from your lips that you scarcely had to think about it anymore. You had scrolled to look at another option before the person on the other side of the line made any noise at all. 

“Hello.”

“Hello,” you replied, just as automatically as your first greeting. “How may I help you?”

There was the sound of a sigh, one that turned into a slight chuckle as it trailed off. Something in the voice was familiar, and you set the datapad down on your desk. There was nothing to see, of course, but you still wanted to pay attention to the call. 

“Why are you always there when I comm?” the voice asked. “Doesn’t Julgum give you a day off?”

“I’m sorry,” you apologized. “To whom am I speaking?” 

The silence stretched an uncomfortable length of time, filled with a vague sense of horror. You made a valiant effort, but you finally broke and chuckled aloud. 

The tutting on the other end of the link made you smile even wider. Julgum’s mysterious caller clearly had some sense of humor. It was late in your acquaintance - such as it was - for that humor to make an appearance, but you would take it over tricks and anger.

“That was mean,” he told you. “I’m many things, but forgettable isn’t one of them. Unless the pressure of working such long hours for the good senator is making you crack?”

Even with the censure, his voice was playful. He seemed utterly delighted that you had messed with him. Of course, you could claim to be in earnest and insist that you didn’t know who he was, but your laughter may have made that less believable.

…Besides, with everything that Julgum put you through, didn’t you deserve the chance to connect with someone?

“I don’t think I’m the only one working long hours,” you countered. “You’ve called for three days in a row trying to speak with the senator. Maybe it’s best to tell your boss to make an appointment.”

“Whatever do you mean? This is only the second time we’ve spoken.”

You believed your snort was permissible, given the overly innocent tone he had used. “Yes, we always get calls from the aides to prominent senators pretending to be the senator themselves, or Trade Federation representatives who make threats.”

“Those Federation types can be dangerous,” he told you. “I hope you gave him what he asked for.”

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t help the first one, but the second one was happier with the results of our conversation.”

“A second Trade Federation rep? What did they want?”

“If you don’t know anything about the first one, I don’t see why you should care about the second,” you said, audibly grinning.

“Clever thing, aren’t you?” His voice was amused again. “You’re right, I don’t know anything about any Trade Federation calls.”

“I thought as much,” you assured him. 

Apparently, he wasn’t finished. “But I hate to hear that you’re getting so much strange comms traffic. Tell you what: I know a few people who can set up a system to screen callers who don’t have any real business with the senator. Patch me through to him and I’ll pitch the idea. I can even throw in a discounted estimate.”

“I would be happy to let you speak with Senator Julgum. Just give me your name and your appointment time.”

His laugh was clear this time, transmitting rich and loud over the line. “You don’t miss a thing, do you? I hope Julgum knows how closely his assistant watches his back.”

“He doesn’t,” you replied without thinking. And as you were biting your lip, the man laughed again. Hastily, you added, “But it’s fine. This is a job. I get paid in credits, not in gratitude.”

“Still, he should be careful. Someone might steal you away.” You didn’t know how to respond to that, but the mystery caller didn’t seem to need any input from you for his current train of thought. “What do you look like?” 

“What?” you asked reflexively. After a beat to collect yourself, you said, “Surely you can understand why, given our current conversation about stealing people, I don’t want to answer that question.”

“Did you know you get overly formal when you’re flustered?” he asked. “I bet you’re pretty.”

The conversational whiplash was sudden and overwhelming. You shook your head, uncaring that he couldn’t see it. “I’m not. And I’m also starting to think you don’t have an appointment to speak with the senator. Do you?”

“I do not.” 

You sighed and pressed the button to sever the connection. This wasn’t a great job, but you still needed to do work that wasn’t centered on flirtatious comlink conversations.

It would just take a moment to stifle the twinge of regret you felt at having not asked his name.

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Author's Note - I know, this chapter is slow. This story is slow. But I'm trying to flesh out their relationship at a pace that feels steady and natural. Maybe our reader is just a little hesitant to trust a stranger and Mereel could use a little slow in the breakneck pace of a Null trooper. Thank you for reading anyway!

As a quick reminder, my taglist is now defunct. You are more than welcome to follow my writing sideblog at @wanderinginksplot-writes. I tag all of my fics with the name of the fic itself, so you can see what you want and not have to deal with the rest!

I had an art homework and i may or may not created an oc

if you need more proof of how much of an idiot i am, just know that i stayed up till o-dark-thirty last night making blueprints and cutaway diagrams of the Jedi Temple in microsoft excel

New Idea

I read not so long ago @clonewarslover55 's writing about Irmenu (link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29337705) and I got an idea. What if there were merfolk/siren-like species, who were indigenous to Irmenu but now their numbers have gone lower.

And what if Walon Vau's mother was one of this species, and fell in love with his father, but when she realized how fucked up his father was it was already too late. She got separated from her community, and they feared the church would find their tribe.

Basically, Walon Vau mermaid au and he helps overthrow the government

And the pirates sometimes help the merfolk/siren out, because fuck the church.

I have planned out many things (the merfolk/siren aren't actually called that, just I have info dumped many things in this post, but I will reread all the notes I made and post them). And I have ideas for the story

And read @clonewarslover55 's stuff. She writes great things!!

(Thank you Grammarly, you saved my life)

i’m not aromantic but i believe in their beliefs

I just got to wifi, and im on Tumblr for 2 years? Already? OMG

rb to stare at a mutual like this:

Walon Vau is the son of a rich duke, rebelled against him and ran off to be a Mandalorian, and has an animal sidekick.

He’s a Disney princess.

I will not entertain dissenting viewpoints on this.