Han Solo is wondering around the market square, trying to find a present for his twins' naming day. Well one of his twins at least, he had already gotten the perfect gift for his little girl, he smiles at the repulser drive mechanism that he found in desperate need of repair. It was his eldest son which confused and confounded him at the moment.
Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed home until he had gotten both of the twins their naming day present. Sighing as he remembers the argument with Leia over his suggestion that he gets the present for Jaina, and she Jacen. He ruefully shakes his head, annoyed slightly that she still insisted that they need to both get them something.
He looks up at the sign of the shop he stands in front of now, the script of the signs one he is not familiar with. Shrugging, he steps inside, his nose assailed by the strange incense in the store. He wrinkles his nose slightly, hoping that he will become acclimated to the smell soon. Looking around at the various dresses and other women's clothing, shaking his head, he steps back out onto the walkway, hoping that nothing in that store would appeal to his teenaged son.
He glances around once more and notices a child about ten years old standing off to the side watching him. He smirks figuring that the kid is trying to see how easy of a mark he would be, the to Han's surprise the boy walks over to him. "Are you searching for a gift?"
Startled Han gives the boy a once over. "Yeah I am kid."
The boy smiles at Han. "Then come to my grandfather's shop, he has gifts for everyone."
Han smirks, and decides he has nothing else to lose. "I'm right behind you kid."
Han follows the boy to a small shop, he looks up at the sign, frowning at the strange script, and then deciding he has nothing to lose he follows the boy in. Once more Han's nose wrinkles at the strange odors in the shop. "Can I help you?"
Han glances towards the voice, noticing an old man sitting behind a counter, his most distinguishing feature a long white wispy beard. "Uh, I'm looking for a gift for my son."
The man smiles, and lifts a pipe to his lips. He inhales and removes the pipe from his lips, blowing a ring of smoke into the air. "We have lots of things that can be gifts here. Look around, and find what you think is best."
Han stares at the man for a second longer, and then turns his attention to the store proper. His mouth drops open slightly at the sheer amount of things laying on every imaginable surface, and some hanging from the ceiling. He begins slowly walking through the store, noticing odds and ends that everyone he knows would like. Everyone that is, except Jacen.
Sighing, he starts to go back up to the counter, when he hears a soft mewling sound. His attention attracted, he goes and peers inside an ornate cage, and finds himself staring at a small bundle of fur, with brown and white patches and large ears. The animal glances up at Han, his large brown eyes looking pitiful. He looks for a label or a price indicator, and fails to find it. Looking once more into the cage; Han grins, thinking that this is the perfect gift for Jacen. It's a new strange animal for his menagerie.
He turns to the old man still behind the counter smoking his pipe. "Hey, how much for this bundle of fur?"
The man looks over at Han, a look of surprise crossing his face before the features once more school themselves into calmness. "Mogwai not for sale."
"Oh, come on buddy, everything's for sale. How much?"
"No, Mogwai not for sale."
"I'll give you a thousand credits."
"No! Please leave."
"Fifteen hundred?"
"We are closed. Please leave."
Han frowns at the old man, and then nods his head. "Okay, I can take a hint, I'm going, I'm going."
He glances once more at the bundle of fur and then starts for the door. Once there, he faces the old man one last time. "You sure?"
"Yes sure, Mogwai is not for sale."
Han turns and once more goes out into the street, frustration etched on his feature. He shrugs and starts walking towards the next store. Suddenly he feels a tug on his arm, and a child's voice. "Hey mister, wait a second."
Han turns and sees the young boy that led him to the shop. "What do you want now?"
The boy looks up at him a pleading look upon his face. "We need the money, if I brought the Mogwai out to you, would you still pay the fifteen hundred credits?"
Han looks at the boy for a second, a frown crossing his features as he weighs his options. Finally deciding, he nods at the boy. "Yeah kid, bring the bundle of fur out, and I'll still pay fifteen for it."
The boy smiles at Han. "Wait for me in the alley behind my grandfather's shop. I'll be there in a moment."
Then the boy is scampering off into the shop, and Han slowly walks down the alley way next to it. With a soft crashing sound, a door is opened, and the boy comes walking out with a large ornate box. Han looks at it, admiring the craftsmanship that went into its construction. The steepled top, the red and gold woods, and a beautiful brass and leather lock and carrying system, yes Han has to admire the craftsmanship that went into building the box. But he was buying an animal. "What's with the box?"
The boy looks at him confused for a second. "Oh! Mogwai in the box."
Han looks at him skeptically. "Open it."
The boy looks up at the sky, and then scoots over into the shadows. Lifting the box lid just enough for Han to look inside and see the Mogwai looking back out at him.
Satisfied, Han passes over a credit chit worth fifteen hundred credits. As he starts to take the box from the boy, the boy speaks out again. "Wait mister, there's a few rules that I must tell you."
"Rules?"
"Yes. First Mogwai do not like bright lights, and direct sunlight will kill him."
Han nods. "No lights got it."
"Second, never allow them near water, not to drink, not to wipe the fur down, and most especially do not give the Mogwai a bath."
"Yeah, yeah, no water."
"Third and most important, never, ever feed the Mogwai after midnight."
Han looks at the boy, wondering if he's pulling his leg. "It's always after midnight; does that mean I can never feed him?"
"No, just between midnight and dawn."
"Okay, no lights, no water, an no eats between midnight and dawn. Anything else?"
"No, that is all." The boy looks over his shoulder into the shop. Then pressing the box into Han's arms, takes off back inside, allowing the door to softly close behind him.
Han stares at the closed door for a moment longer, and then shrugs and starts back to the Falcon.
