The broth cart vendor nodded at Aria, and gave a little smile from his wrinkled-worn round face.  Taking out two bowls, he ladled the savory broth into each one, slicing chunks of protein cake and adding three into each bowl.  Followed by a modest scoop of cubed vegetables, the vendor paused as if judging the bowls and deciding something was lacking.<br/><br/>Artfully arranging the display, he winked at Aria, reached out and patted her hand, before withdrawing a battered tin from underneath his workcounter.  Opening the container carefully, he gave a measured shake over each bowl, sprinkling razor-thin curled shavings of preserved meat,<strong>real meat</strong>, upon the surface of each bowl of broth.  Closing the precious tin and replacing it underneath his worktop, he presented the bowls to Aria and murmured in a warm tone.<br/><em><br/>"Get your strength up, dearie.  This is no place to let yourself go...  That'll be two bowls, at 2.5 scrip each, so 5 Imperial Credits...."</em><br/><br/>When Teslo approached after Aria in line, the old vendor nodded silently for him to wait until the girls' order was finished.  Neatly covering his brothpot with a battered lid, he opened a side compartment where a smaller pot simmered inside a heating chamber.  From within, he revealed a dark rich brown concoction of savory stock, oils, and various chunky ingredients.  Ladling nearly half the small stewpot into a large bowl, the old man scooped up a sticky fist-sized clump of steamed pale grains from another cooking compartment of his cart, and deposited them in the center of the stew like an island.<br/><em><br/>"I don't have any cola, but I've got a chilled dispenser of photon-fizzle if that'll do?  If you have your own thermos or canteen, I'll fill it up and we'll call it an even seven Imperial credits for the stew and beverage, deal?"</em>