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[Mando is keeping a very watchful eye on the tensions in their apartment. He knows that Boober means well, and that Riz is grateful for all his help, but he also knows how too much together time and too much fussing can make things boil over. Hell, he's had to get along with Paz Viszla enough times to recognise when everyone needs a break. So, with Riz under the watchful eye of an Indeedee, he's whisked Boober away to a giant household supplies store. Everyone gets a break, everyone gets something they enjoy: he'd slipped Riz some new notecards and string for his conspiracy boards before they left, so he'll have the privacy to do some speculating; Boober gets to be impressed by kitchen supplies; and Mando gets to spend some time with Boober.]

[Everyone wins.]

[Mando is currently tasked with pushing the shopping cart, and he's just following Boober up and down the aisles. This place is completely out of his wheel house, but he's enjoying watching Boober have fun.]

Impressive.

[That's a good thing, right? He's guessing it is, based on Boober's reaction.]

That'd be good for your soups, right?

It would be wonderful! A revelation, even!

[One can tell Boober's particularly passionate about something when he goes hard with over-enunciating words. This is one such time. He looks at the box a moment longer, just smiling, before he setting it back down.]

Someday, maybe. For now, I need a new whisk. [Shadow, his easily-disgruntled Furfrou, got mad and used his current one as a chew toy.] That should be in this section too, I think.

We can get it if you want it, Boober.

[Mando leans over to get a look at the mixer's price tag. Expensive, but not outside the realm of possibility.]

If it's something that would be a revelation for your cooking, I don't know how we can not pick it up.

Oh. [Boober hesitates, in part simply because this wasn't what he most needs, and he is certainly the practical sort. But he has got most of a handle on money's value, by now, and he knows this isn't cheap. But he also trusts, very much, that Mando won't say what he doesn't mean, so he nods and picks the box back up again, to place in the cart.] Thanks, dad, that's really nice.

...So, "revelation" is the magic word. I'll remember that.

[He's joking! Mostly.]

Don't tell Riz. I can't afford both of you having that information.

[He kids, he kids... mostly.]

Look at it this way: I'm going to benefit from this thing too. We all are, so it's definitely worth it.

[Boober has also been pulling double duty keeping Riz entertained and happy, so the kid deserves a treat.]

[Boober nods, smiling more softly now.]

I guess that is a good point. And I'm glad about that, I want to be able to keep expanding my recipe collection for you guys.

[A beat.]

To a point, of course. You and Riz are still on your own when it comes to meat.

You want to know something wild? I don't even miss meat.

[Turns out when someone is making delicious vegetarian meals all the time, you stop even thinking about eating meat. Congrats, Boober: you've converted the big tough Mandalorian to the vegetarian lifestyle.]

It's weird to think about it here, anyway. Where does it come from?

[Are the burgers Pokemon?]

Oh, well I'm glad for that too, then. And that's the thing, exactly! It shouldn't be uncomfortable to think about where your food comes from! That just ruins it all, if you ask me. It's just nicer when you can find your food yourself. Or at least imagine the garden it comes from!

That's true.

[Back home, Mando could and would hunt for his food sometimes, but it's different here. When all the animals around are possible friends, the idea loses appeal.]

Boober... do you think you'd like your own garden someday? One here?

[Boober tilts his head in thought for a moment, then shrugs.]

I'm not sure... I mean, to be honest, I've thought about it before. About how practical it could be. But I don't really know about having a garden, just about taking from one.

[He frowns deeply as he adds:] And believe me, I am not the fraggle you want for that, anyway. Mokey is the one who knows how not to get caught.

[Mando chuckles and shakes his head.]

I'm not planning on stealing from any gardens, don't worry.

[Although if he did, he'd be talking to Shadowmaru about it.]

I meant, have you ever thought about getting a house here? Something more permanent, and with more room than our apartment?

Ohh, I see.

[Not that he's against stealing from gardens, for the record! He just wouldn't want to steal from anyone nice, but... Hey, fraggles need their vegetables one way or another. And it's hard to grow things underground.]

A little bit, yes. I've thought about having a bigger kitchen, anyway. And maybe a room for doing laundry, with a washer and dryer of my own. [Although he does like laundromats. He'd probably still use them from time to time, but well, that's where washing blankets comes in anyway.] But I guess I never thought about a whole house. Apartments are more like how fraggles live, really, in the caves.

[He shrugs.]

Then again, fraggles don't have all the things to put in houses like there are here.

A bigger kitchen for you would be nice.

[Mando is quiet for a few moments. C'mon, son, he's trying to come at this idea from the side, but you're not making it easy.]

I've been thinking about trying to get a house here. Somewhere permanent for us to stay.

[There, he just came out and said it.]

[Look, you want a fraggle who's going to pick up on subtext, that's also Mokey. And even then, she's probably going to pick up in it wrong.]

You have been?

[The word "permanent" has come up twice now, and it feels weird to Boober how much that doesn't scare him. Maybe even feels wrong. Of course he misses his friends who aren't here, not to mention being a fraggle inside and out! He just... He has a lot here that matters to him, and people he fits with.]

I think that could be nice... Yeah, I'd like that.

All right.

[Okay, he has the approval of one of the kids! Mando reaches out and claps Boober's shoulder.]

I'll look into it. Just... keep this from Riz and Shadowmaru for now, will you? I don't want anyone to get too excited before I figure out if this is something that can even be done.

Of course, I'll do my best.

[Sure, sure, Boober is not much good at keeping secrets, but he can lie by omission perfectly well. And he likes this trend where he knows things first. It feels special.]

Oh... Maybe we could get a house with a guest room? For whenever Gobo stops by.

I know you will.

[In Mando's opinion, Boober is perfectly adept at keeping secrets. 10/10 son, no complaints.]

We could get one with a bedroom just for Gobo, if he wants one.

[Obviously they're going to have a room for Gobo! What, does Boober think Mando is some kind of monster and would leave a Fraggle out in the cold?]

Yeah? Alright, I'll ask him-- Well, you know, once you're ready for other people to know you're looking into it.

[He starts to return to browsing, but a thought occurs to him, and he looks back up.]

Where would we live? Have you thought about that?

Not really.

[Look, kid, everyone knows Mando isn't someone to plot things out in advance! He's a shoot from the hip, dive right into the hive of scum and villainy kind of guy, so planning out a house location hasn't crossed his mind yet.]

I'd ask everyone, once I had the funds raised. Everyone should get a voice in the decision.

Heh, of course.

[But Boober only shrugs, because sure, Mando's not a thinker-ahead, but it is nice that he wants everyone's input. And really, the fact that Mando isn't a planner helps balance out Boober's own nervous anticipation, so he can't complain.]

Well, let me know if you need any help, okay?

I will.

[Mando is going to take Boober up on this; he knows his own lack of talent in the planning department, and maybe his own laissez-faire approach to it can be countered by Boober's diligence.]

In the meantime, let's go find you some more kitchen tools. I'm expecting an excellent soup this weekend.

[Haha, all of Boober's soups are excellent already.]

Oh, sure, no pressure.

[But his sly little smile shows he's playing around. It doesn't take much to stress Boober out, but he knows Mando likes his food. He even likes it when it's not up to Boober's standards, and while he can imagine a few reasons for that, well-- He can't help but think that maybe it's also just how dads can be with their kids.]

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