Excerpt—Thrawn meets the mochi donut…(or, attempts at getting these free-form notes into something that might be arranged into an outline…)—
Yhana prepares to leave the Chiss teashop where she’d joined Thrawn's invitation (Chiss tea ceremony inspired by Japanese tea ceremonies/philosophy of wabi-sabi)…
The Supreme Commander Thrawn insists on settling the bill, even though the teashop was ready to write off the cost. Thrawn follows Rhyanon/Yhana into the crowded streets of Coruscant's lower district (resembling a Blade Runner aesthetic)…
Lower District Exploration:
The lower district is a lively mix of businesses, including pawn shops, gambling halls, dive bars, strip joints, and various alien food vendors.
Street kitchens and cheap knock-off comm cards establishments add to the futuristic atmosphere of the lower-city alleys.
This is one of the parishes where Rhyanon serves as an advanced practice medic with the Healers’ Guild, affiliated with the Terran Union of Federated Planets, represented by the Core Parliament, and the Anglo-Chi’in dynasties of the Firefly-Serenity universe meshed with the Keltiad…
Embarrassing Stand-Off Flashback:
Yhana comments on the embarrassing stand-off the previous evening, between Thrawn and Luke at a reception, where they acted like adolescents vying for Rhyanon's attention.
Inspired by a scene from 'Murphy's Romance,' Yhana humorously deserts both men on the dance floor, leading to an intervention by the ladies.
Feminine Graciousness and Intervention:
Thrawn admits the graciousness of the feminine gender, averting a diplomatic disaster between Luke and Thrawn.
The intervention involves female characters from the Republic Alliance, Keltoi factions, the crew of the Serenity, Imperial Remnant's fleet, and the Chiss Empire of the Hand.
Cynical Commentary and Teasing Banter:
Yhana comments on the post-modern age's cynicism, stating that flattery rarely achieves much but may still earn some things.
Thrawn, puzzled, follows Yhana to a street food booth, where they encounter various pastries from different planets.
Mockery and Teasing Gaze:
Yhana seems to abandon her usual reticence, teasing Thrawn with a flicker of mockery in her gaze.
Thrawn remarks about anticipation and earned rewards, prompting a snort and suffering look from Yhana.
Yhana purchases a cup of custard balls deep-fried in sweet dough or rice flour from a street food vendor.
Thrawn eyes the pastries suspiciously, questioning their nature.
Yhana describes the custard balls as Thrawn's "just reward for flattery," revealing them to be mochi donuts, Ancient Terra's finest saturated dairy fat delicacy.
Thrawn, cautious and unconvinced, faces the temptation of this culinary delight with the eye of a military tactician facing down an Ewok baby who just eliminated into its diapers…
