[All things considered, this day could've been a lot worse. Riz had seen people having to deal with the phantoms of their past, tormented by the guilt of a death they couldn't prevent or had caused.
Having Goldenhoard around though was an annoyance at worse. Riz absolutely felt no guilt over the dragon's death --why should he? the guy had been trying to take over Solace, had kidnapped Penny and the other girls, and had even killed his father-- but admittedly, after several hours, listening to him occasionally yell something utterly stupid and Libertarian (no, wait, those are just the same thing) his patience was starting to grow a little thin.
So when Goldenhoard finally goes quiet, Riz breathes a soft sigh of relief. Maybe now he'll actually be able to get some-- okay, not sleep, but at least some work done, later.]
Thank fuck, I don't have to listen to you anymore.
[Riz turns, with a dramatic gesture of his hands, and comes face to face with Pok Gukgak.
Pok gives an amused smile, cocking his head a little, looking like he is holding back a laugh. If he is confused by Riz looking like a human, or the fact that he now has to look up at his son, it doesn't show on his face.]
Ah, is this the teenage rebellion I was warned about?
[Mando hasn't been too bothered by his own ghosts. Most of them were all business, and if they hadn't wanted to be killed, they should have surrendered and come with him. For some of them, death was probably preferable to whatever other punishment awaited them, and giving them what they wanted wasn't dishonourable. Still, there are a few that Mando has avoided: two humans, their edges blurred and faded with memory; a droid, tall and cylindrical; a solemn Ugnaught, riding a blurgg.]
[Riz's dragon had provided a decent distraction. First off, it was impressive that Riz managed to take him down, even with a team. Second, the dragon was a moron, with some really stupid ideas, and Mando has been keeping himself entertained--and avoiding facing his own ghosts--by arguing with him.]
That isn't how it works at all. The wealthy planets like Coruscant keep all their wealth while the planets on the Outer Rim starve. Wealthy people aren't going to just give their money away, and...
[And then the dragon is gone. Mando blinks, and manages to catch a glimpse of one of those fish wiggling away.]
Don't touch any more of the fish, Riz, I don't want that dragon coming back.
[When Mando turns, though, he sees it's already too late. Another goblin has joined them, one he recognises from Riz's photograph.]
[There are a few things Mando might note about Pok's appearance: like Riz, he's neatly buttoned up in a suit, though right now he's not wearing the jacket. The vest he wears is the same one Riz own -- the one with the golden back and the faintest outline of wings. He also has the same tie and watch as Riz.
Pok looks up at Mando with an easy, charming smile -- the smile of someone who has spent a lot of time smiling at people, even if he doesn't necessarily feel like smiling.]
Who is your friend, kiddo? I don't think this is one of the Bad Kids I've heard so much about.
[It's all friendly, so very friendly. Pok is absolutely trying to suss out if Mando is a threat at all to his boy. Of course, not!
And Riz just buries his face in his hands for a moment, breathing in deeply. This isn't the first time he's seen his dad since he died -- they had those few hours in Heaven -- but that is months ago from his perspective and one little visit does not make up for years of absence.
That said, this isn't like last time. Mando is here, so Riz cannot just let all his defences drop. And anyway, this time Pok isn't really here. He's just a ghost. Something Riz cannot touch. Just something created by these stupid fish.
After another long breath, he looks up with a faint gesture.]
Mando, meet my dad, Pok. Dad, this is Mando. He's-- we've been travelling together.
[Yeah, Mando knew he recognised him. He takes in those little details too, filing them away for later; he knew Riz had inherited some of his father's items, but he didn't know the kid dressed just like his dad. There's something bittersweet about that, and Mando has a passing fancy that Grogu is somewhere in the universe, wearing his beskar shirt and looking like a proper young Mandalorian.]
[Mando doesn't offer his hand to Pok. For one, it'd go right through him, and for another, he's not sure he trusts this guy either. Riz got a little too riled about the Grogu situation to be completely cool with his own dad.]
Yes, he is. Though I'm afraid I can't take credit. He's his mother's son through and through. Every bit as clever and tenacious as she has always been.
[Pok's expression turns more genuine, his eyes glowing with pride as he glances at his son for just a moment.]
You should've seen the mug he got me.
[And somehow (probably because he is a fucking ghost) Pok manages to produce a coffee cup from out of nowhere, one emblazed with the phrase 'Don't even talk to me until my death's avenged'.]
[Riz is learning one thing very quickly: parents are embarrassing. It's usually fine with his mom cause A, she is very cool, and B is generally too busy to chat with his friends about Riz. This though. Ugh.
So the reply Mando get is muttered in embarrassed teen-speak.]
I didn't get him the mug. He got it from his office cause I killed the guy who killed him.
[Pok meanwhile has found a new target to brag about his son to. The guys back in Heaven have long since heard every story he has to tell about Riz, and honestly, considering he usually doesn't get to be there, it is a little fun to embarrass his son a bit by being exceedingly proud of him. Makes things feel normal.]
This kid? Oh, he started swiping mine and Sklonda's mugs off the table when he was this tall. [Pok gestures somewhere around his knee, indicating that terrifying age when toddlers gain mobility but not self-preservation all that much.] We gave him a little, hoping the taste would turn him off, but I'm sure you can guess the rest.
[Since Riz doesn't seem to be too mortified by this whole thing, Mando is going to just keeping talking to Pok. He's seen Riz when he really doesn't want something to happen, and knows he's more than capable of making his wishes known. This surliness isn't too worrying. Actually, it's almost refreshingly teenager-like.]
That plan backfired.
[Do you know how much they spend every week on coffee, Pok? Do you? ... not that much, because Riz is a fiend, not a connoisseur, but the point still stands!]
So he was only that tall when he started causing trouble?
[Likewise, Pok wouldn't be keeping up this cheerful chat if Riz looked truly put out, but as it stands, the boy seems to be experiencing nothing more than the normal level of teenage embarrassment. That's fine. It builds character.]
He wasn't badly behaved, mind you. He was just far too quiet and smart for anyone else's good. [Pok ruefully shakes his head, looking at Riz with a warm pride despite his words. The kid is still too quiet and smart for anyone else's good and that's wonderful.] We considered tying bells to his tail to be able to keep track of him, but I'm not sure he wouldn't have found a way around that.
[Mando's tone is of disbelief. He glances over at Riz, and you could almost swear he's smiling. The helmet hasn't changed, of course, but there's just something about it that seems like it's grinning.]
Smart, though... yeah, I can see that. I'd have put a bell on him too.
[Actually, a bell is a great idea for Grogu. If Mando ever sees him again, he's putting that into action.]
Yes. Mostly when he was trying to get into things he shouldn't. Don't get me wrong though, he had an amazing set of lungs too. [Pok is absolutely grinning as he holds up his hands some small distance apart as if to indicate a fish. Or more accurately, a baby goblin.] He was this small, and I swear, about 90% lung capacity. Had us thinking we had a little barbarian on our hands for a while there.
[Riz, meanwhile, groans -- the long drawn out groan of a dying car or a teenager being embarrassed by a parent -- as he buries his face in his hands.]
Sounds like you have a little rogue on your hands. Don't bother with those childproof locks. Riz here was figuring them out as quickly as we could put them up.
[Pok lifts a hand as if to pat Riz's shoulder. He doesn't connect, knows he won't be able to, but the gesture is clear enough.]
[It still feels weird to refer to Grogu as his son, but it's starting to get more natural. Mando notices the gesture Pok makes, and his chest hurts for a moment. He'd give just about anything to be toting the kid around right now...]
He looks a lot like you. Like a goblin. Except he's something different.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Backdated to the ghosts.
Having Goldenhoard around though was an annoyance at worse. Riz absolutely felt no guilt over the dragon's death --why should he? the guy had been trying to take over Solace, had kidnapped Penny and the other girls, and had even killed his father-- but admittedly, after several hours, listening to him occasionally yell something utterly stupid and Libertarian (no, wait, those are just the same thing) his patience was starting to grow a little thin.
So when Goldenhoard finally goes quiet, Riz breathes a soft sigh of relief. Maybe now he'll actually be able to get some-- okay, not sleep, but at least some work done, later.]
Thank fuck, I don't have to listen to you anymore.
[Riz turns, with a dramatic gesture of his hands, and comes face to face with Pok Gukgak.
Pok gives an amused smile, cocking his head a little, looking like he is holding back a laugh. If he is confused by Riz looking like a human, or the fact that he now has to look up at his son, it doesn't show on his face.]
Ah, is this the teenage rebellion I was warned about?
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[Riz's dragon had provided a decent distraction. First off, it was impressive that Riz managed to take him down, even with a team. Second, the dragon was a moron, with some really stupid ideas, and Mando has been keeping himself entertained--and avoiding facing his own ghosts--by arguing with him.]
That isn't how it works at all. The wealthy planets like Coruscant keep all their wealth while the planets on the Outer Rim starve. Wealthy people aren't going to just give their money away, and...
[And then the dragon is gone. Mando blinks, and manages to catch a glimpse of one of those fish wiggling away.]
Don't touch any more of the fish, Riz, I don't want that dragon coming back.
[When Mando turns, though, he sees it's already too late. Another goblin has joined them, one he recognises from Riz's photograph.]
Your dad's here now?
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Pok looks up at Mando with an easy, charming smile -- the smile of someone who has spent a lot of time smiling at people, even if he doesn't necessarily feel like smiling.]
Who is your friend, kiddo? I don't think this is one of the Bad Kids I've heard so much about.
[It's all friendly, so very friendly. Pok is absolutely trying to suss out if Mando is a threat at all to his boy. Of course, not!
And Riz just buries his face in his hands for a moment, breathing in deeply. This isn't the first time he's seen his dad since he died -- they had those few hours in Heaven -- but that is months ago from his perspective and one little visit does not make up for years of absence.
That said, this isn't like last time. Mando is here, so Riz cannot just let all his defences drop. And anyway, this time Pok isn't really here. He's just a ghost. Something Riz cannot touch. Just something created by these stupid fish.
After another long breath, he looks up with a faint gesture.]
Mando, meet my dad, Pok. Dad, this is Mando. He's-- we've been travelling together.
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[Yeah, Mando knew he recognised him. He takes in those little details too, filing them away for later; he knew Riz had inherited some of his father's items, but he didn't know the kid dressed just like his dad. There's something bittersweet about that, and Mando has a passing fancy that Grogu is somewhere in the universe, wearing his beskar shirt and looking like a proper young Mandalorian.]
[Mando doesn't offer his hand to Pok. For one, it'd go right through him, and for another, he's not sure he trusts this guy either. Riz got a little too riled about the Grogu situation to be completely cool with his own dad.]
You've got a good kid here. Smart, and capable.
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[Pok's expression turns more genuine, his eyes glowing with pride as he glances at his son for just a moment.]
You should've seen the mug he got me.
[And somehow (probably because he is a fucking ghost) Pok manages to produce a coffee cup from out of nowhere, one emblazed with the phrase 'Don't even talk to me until my death's avenged'.]
They got me a plaque too, but I like this better.
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[Mando glances at Riz. Seriously? An "avenge my death" mug?]
Does Riz get his coffee drinking habits from you too?
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So the reply Mando get is muttered in embarrassed teen-speak.]
I didn't get him the mug. He got it from his office cause I killed the guy who killed him.
[Pok meanwhile has found a new target to brag about his son to. The guys back in Heaven have long since heard every story he has to tell about Riz, and honestly, considering he usually doesn't get to be there, it is a little fun to embarrass his son a bit by being exceedingly proud of him. Makes things feel normal.]
This kid? Oh, he started swiping mine and Sklonda's mugs off the table when he was this tall. [Pok gestures somewhere around his knee, indicating that terrifying age when toddlers gain mobility but not self-preservation all that much.] We gave him a little, hoping the taste would turn him off, but I'm sure you can guess the rest.
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That plan backfired.
[Do you know how much they spend every week on coffee, Pok? Do you? ... not that much, because Riz is a fiend, not a connoisseur, but the point still stands!]
So he was only that tall when he started causing trouble?
[Sounds like another little goblin Mando knows.]
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[Likewise, Pok wouldn't be keeping up this cheerful chat if Riz looked truly put out, but as it stands, the boy seems to be experiencing nothing more than the normal level of teenage embarrassment. That's fine. It builds character.]
He wasn't badly behaved, mind you. He was just far too quiet and smart for anyone else's good. [Pok ruefully shakes his head, looking at Riz with a warm pride despite his words. The kid is still too quiet and smart for anyone else's good and that's wonderful.] We considered tying bells to his tail to be able to keep track of him, but I'm not sure he wouldn't have found a way around that.
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[Mando's tone is of disbelief. He glances over at Riz, and you could almost swear he's smiling. The helmet hasn't changed, of course, but there's just something about it that seems like it's grinning.]
Smart, though... yeah, I can see that. I'd have put a bell on him too.
[Actually, a bell is a great idea for Grogu. If Mando ever sees him again, he's putting that into action.]
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[Riz, meanwhile, groans -- the long drawn out groan of a dying car or a teenager being embarrassed by a parent -- as he buries his face in his hands.]
I hate everything right now.
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I have a son about that size.
[Maybe a little bigger. But definitely pocket-sized.]
He's pretty quiet, though. But sneaky. Likes to get into things.
[He glances at Riz.]
He'd like Riz, if he was here. Would probably try to follow him everywhere and steal his coffee.
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Sounds like you have a little rogue on your hands. Don't bother with those childproof locks. Riz here was figuring them out as quickly as we could put them up.
[Pok lifts a hand as if to pat Riz's shoulder. He doesn't connect, knows he won't be able to, but the gesture is clear enough.]
What's your son's name?
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[It still feels weird to refer to Grogu as his son, but it's starting to get more natural. Mando notices the gesture Pok makes, and his chest hurts for a moment. He'd give just about anything to be toting the kid around right now...]
He looks a lot like you. Like a goblin. Except he's something different.
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[Pok gives a nod, before his expression grows more curious as he regards, Mando.]
Forgive me for being nosy, it comes with the job, but... was his mother a goblin? You don't look much like one yourself.
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[Not that Mando would necessarily be opposed to hooking up with a goblin! He's just never met one in all his travels.]
He's a foundling. An orphan. We just... ended up together.