Two Dual Weapons…
Rey had been scouring the market place on Nar Shadda for over an hour. She only has today to search for a gift to give to Poe.
Three days ago, in the small mess room within their hidden base, Connix had asked Poe on whether he was planning to contact his father on Yavin IV to wish him a Merry Yuletide. Poe had told the young woman that he wasn't planning on it; but after Connix remarked that General Organa was sending Kes Dameron a coded message anyways, Poe agreed. It was after this that Rey learned about Yavin IV's Yule holiday.
"Happens every year during the cool rainy season. It originally was called Yuletide on Chandrila, where my mom's folks lived. She brought it with her when she and dad settled on Yavin IV and the other settlers adapted it." Poe had told her with a sad smile.
"How do you celebrate it?" She'd asked, watching him take a bite of the bean and meat mush that the locals on Nar Shadda called Chili.
"Well, families and friends gather, nibble on snacks, have a big meal, exchange gifts, play games, and just spend the entire day together." Poe explained before getting up and leaving the table.
Later on, Rey had spoken to Rose about the conversation in the mess room. Rose had explained the idea of gift giving to Rey and then excitedly proposed that they plan a small Yule celebration. Eventually Rose had notified General Organa of the idea and it spread through the base like wildfire.
Passing by another stall, Rey lets out a heavy sigh. She still has no idea what to gift the 'Best Pilot in the Resistance'.
"Miss." A reptilian voice calls out from a stall across the way. "Miss."
Rey turns and sees a Barabel point in her direction before waving for Rey to come towards her. She's still unsure about people, but swallows down her hesitation and goes over to the vendor.
"Miss looking for sssomething ssspecial, no?" the Barabel hisses out.
"A gift. For a friend." Rey states, while using the Force to check for any possible danger.
"Sssay no more."
The female Barabel pulls aside a curtain which leads into a small building. Inside is a larger, male Barabel cleaning a heavy-duty blaster rifle. The pair converse in their own language as Rey follows the female inside.
"Zeb make good deal for you." The female states, pointing at a pair of small, palm-sized blasters sitting within their black case.
"What are they?" Rey asks. She's never seen anything like these before.
"Dueling Blastersss." The male Barabel states, setting aside the blaster rifle. Then he makes his way over to Rey. "They are from our Barab I. Not many are ssold off our planet nor sssold to off-worlderss. For you, I make exception. Jedi."
"I'm not a-"
"You doubt yourssself. Maybe Saba can help you."
"What?"
"Saba iss mate. Mate very powerful. Do thingss that are only talked about in chroniclesss."
"I teach you about Force, in exchange for the blasterss." The female Barabel, Saba, tells Rey as Zeb pushes the dueling blasters into Rey's hands.
"Thank you." Rey says hesitantly.
"Come back again, Sssmall one." Zeb says to Rey as she's being herded out of the shop by Saba.
Once outside, Rey isn't sure what to make of what just happened. However, discovering that not only is there someone else who knows how to use the Force and can teach her has Rey feeling a bit better. Plus, she'd gotten a gift which means she has something to give to Poe.
The next day, during the Yuletide celebrations occurring on base, Rey finds Poe standing away from most of the crowds. Next to him is BB-8.
As Rey approaches, the little astromech lets out several excited beeps and whirls to her.
"Happy Yuletide to you too." Rey says to BB-8, kneeling down by the droid. "I hope you'll be ready for your present later. I have it on good authority that the oil bath down in maintenance will be available this evening."
At hearing Rey's little gift for the droid, Poe lets out a chuckle as his droid deeps happily and begins doing circles around Rey.
"Spoiling him I see." Poe comments to Rey, moving one of his hands to behind his back where his gift for Rey is currently nestled in his back pocket.
"It's rather dusty here and he'd been complaining about a few of his servos jamming up." Rey states before holding a black case out to Poe. "Happy Yuletide, Poe."
"Happy Yuletide to you too, Rey." Poe responds, pulling his gift to her out from behind his back.
The pair exchange their gifts, not realizing that a few members of the Resistance are watching them. Particularly Leia, Finn, Connix, and Rose. The four of them watch as Poe opens his and hear him exclaim in joy.
"Barab Dueling Blasters!"
Leia, Connix, and Rose try to muffle their laughter over Poe's excitement which leaves Finn confused.
"What's so funny?" Finn asks.
"Giving someone weapons as a Yuletide gift on Yavin is only done between those who are married or dating." Connix explains to the confused man.
"I blame Shara for starting that tradition. She gave Kes a set of throwing knives while they were still dating." Leia shares before taking a sip of Chandrilan wine. "Of course, Kes gave Shara her own blaster at the same time and three months later they were married."
"Oh." Finn says, then looks back over at his two friends. He watches as Rey now opens her gift from Poe.
Rey removes a small, slim cylinder from the wooden box. With Poe's prompting, Rey hands him the wooden box before igniting the cylinder.
"Oh come on!" Finn says loudly at seeing the short-bladed green lightsaber.
"Three months and we'll be hosting a wedding." Leia says with a wide smile, placing a hand on Finn's shoulder.
Not AU and can fit in well after TLJ. Many thanks to Darksidefan5 for the awesome Beta skills.
Side note: Barabels are reptilian and from what I could wager from looking over all my EU books (Legends), the writers used multiple s's when they spoke words that had a single s in them.
Reviews are welcomed, loved deeply, and forever cherished.
Selene
Chapter 3 preview: Three Raging Rens