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Jagged looked at the mug of thick brown liquid, careful to ensure that his face did not display the suspicion he felt. Some powdery flecks floated on the surface. “This is a dessert drink?” he asked, externally all politeness and curiosity. He could feel the rest of Spike looking to him for their cue, each of his 12 squadronmates with their own individual, unappetizing, mug. He was here to help fight a war, yes, but he was also here as a measure of diplomacy. It was best he remembered that.
Darklighter was openly amused. “Yes. I know it doesn’t look like much, but you can put some whipped cream on it, if that helps.” Darklighter shook a can in his direction. “It’s even unexpired, Morale and Welfare did right by us.”
“Unexpired? Sign me up!” Forge took the can from Darklighter and put a small dollop on her drink. The can made a surprising hiss as it sprayed.
“Whipped cream of what?” asked Shawnkyr, having a harder time covering the suspicion in her voice.
“It’s a type of dairy animal, this one from,” Forge squinted at the can, “Ok, this might just be fancy oil.” She smiled at them, a little uneasily.
“I’ll take fancy oil,” said Darklighter, taking the can and squirting a larger dollop in his mug. “It’s still good.” He put the can in the middle of the table.
None of the Chiss reached for it.
Jagged recognized the same hiss noise coming from the table across the aisle, followed by cheers. He turned to see male Rogue, whose name he hadn’t caught, piling the whipped cream high on his mug.
He did recognize the woman sitting next to her, who scoffed. “I could get that higher.”
“Sure Sticks, just use the Force,” rejoined another Rogue.
“I don’t need the Force for whipped cream,” said Solo as she snatched the can and started spraying it into her mug. A third Rogue joined in, and then a fourth, and they had to get another two cans of whipped cream.
“Pilots. What can you do?” Darklighter shook his head and took a sip of his hot chocolate.
Jagged did not understand what he meant, but instead he looked over at the leadership of Spike squadron, then at the other table with the rest of Spike. None of them had touched their drinks. He looked at the table of Rogues to see Solo clearly leading, but then someone accused her of “Jedi funny business” and Solo accused them of jealousy. She claimed victory by raising her mug in a cheer and her whipped cream tower toppled onto the table, splattering her and her seatmates. The table erupted in raucous laughter.
This was counter to everything Jagged knew about the good order and discipline required to be a functional fighter squadron, let alone an elite one. Somehow, though, Jagged was charmed despite himself.
Forge turned and looked for a moment, before quietly looking back down at her mug. “This is only the third or fourth time Solo’s left her quarters since...”
Darklighter sighed. “I should settle them down, but it’s good for them to blow off steam like this after a battle like that.” For a moment, Jagged could see Ithor playing across Darklighters eyes. Jagged recognized that look, because when he was alone in his quarters, he was certain he had the same look. Darklighter shook his head and raised his mug to imitate what he’d seen in his mother’s old holovids. “To the ones we’ve lost.”
“Here here,” said Forge, lifting hers.
Shawnkyr looked at Jagged, waiting to see what he did. The Rogues at their table had frozen with their mugs in the air, looking at each other. Jagged quickly lifted his own mug to mirror them, and his squadronmates followed hesitantly.
The Rogues all drank before they put their mugs down, and Jagged copied them again. His squadron watched as he took a full drink, before they all imitated him. Jagged was surprised at how good it was.
“How satisfactory,” said Shawnkyr.
Darklighter looked from her, to Jagged, to the rest of the Chiss, uncertain.
Jagged nodded his head at Darklighter and said “It’s quite pleasing.” It wasn’t just the diplomatic role he knew he was supposed to play here. He did like it. It was sweet like a dessert, but it was also pleasantly warming, and surprisingly a little bit bitter. Being acquainted with the Rogues seemed like it would be very similar.