diametrically | — open post

1. why is your name on a gluestick in a plastic baggy stuck to my door?

2. i just threw up again because I opened my eyes... i resorted to taking the twi'lek dramamine because I feel seasick from walking. not helping.

3. it was all good till you had ppl chasin shots of ciroc with fucking applesauce

4. i had to replace her ruby bliel with red vitamin water. so if she’s alive, you can thank me

5. that isn't the worst part. it got even more awkward when he read me a poem he wrote about his dead cat.

6. do you remember yelling out "insecurity makes my pussy dry!" unnecessarily loud at the cantina?

Edited 2024-12-22 05:43 (UTC)

( when wanda had said that she needed a break from earth, a respite from all the bullshit that she had gone through as a sokovian, an avenger, and a fugitive, she hadn't meant going off-planet. but rocket had been there, offered the possibility for adventure in the 'great beyond', and in not wanting to be stuck in the limbo of the aftermath of thanos, she had agreed.

what had started as a little misadventure with the guardians soon became wanda's own exploration of the world beyond earth; she had no where to return to, but she still kept a radio attuned to rocket's signal—should she ever need help, she could always call in the guardians. that much made her feel a little more grounded. but, otherwise? she was on her own.

time has passed without much importance for wanda, her days measured by the amount of fuel on the tank of her borrowed space-ship. it's a ratty old thing, but it works fantastically well, and the controls were easy for her to learn. it just needs some fine-tuning once in a while. right now is such a time. she has landed in a planet with a name she can't quite pronounce (so she chooses not to), and while she initially thinks it's a fuel situation again, she is forced to admit to herself that it isn't. not when one of the pieces under the hood is smoking and it looks like she's got a leak from a broken tube somewhere. with a sigh and a scoff, wanda pushes her way towards the settlement, wondering if the scrapyard or the tavern would find her a finer choice in assistance. rocket had tried to teach her the basics, but wanda knows when she's out of her league.

wanda is lucky despite her misfortune, finding a spot of vendors by the scrapyard.

.... )

Nyeta. ( this much jawaese she knows. ) I don't want — I don't want the latest model. I just need a fix.

( it's clear she's been at this a while, the sun scalding up ahead. she rubs sweat from her forehead, sighing as the jawas present her with more and more expensive options. )

I don't un-der-stand you.

[ The work that Luthen has Cassian doing for the rebellion isn't easy. But he hadn't expected it to be easy. Nothing in his life so far had been so why would this? Even with that being said, there's a part of him that needs this. It keeps his mind and abilities sharp and provides the fuel needed to keep his slow burning rage towards the Empire simmering beneath his skin.

He'd never been much for work - or steady work, rather. Prior to this he had done odd jobs, not quite mercenary or bounty hunting work, but enough for Maarva's medicine and to make ends meet. Rebellion work is the most steady that he's had in years and for that he's grateful. He needs something to drown the grief that he feels about Maarva no longer being there, along with the blame that he places on himself for failing his friends.

But with spy and espionage work, he's coming to realize, there's lulls. Periods of time where he has no choice but to sit and wait for orders or a new mission from Luthen and the blossoming rebellion that he and Mon Mothma were building from the ground up. It's what brings him to Taris. A planet that had been practically levelled and then built up again over thousands of years. If there was any place that was a hot bed for recruitment - and for the Empire - it would be here. Luthen had sent him here telling him to wait until he contacted him again and that's where he finds himself with plenty of extra time on his hands.

He'd since taken up work at a local mechanic's shop; it was busy work, and positioned him to interact with the working class. If he could build trust now, it would be easier later. And what brings him to the market that day. Running errands in his spare time is less about padding out his credits and more about ingratiating himself with more members of the community but he hadn't quite expected to add an unexpected interaction to his list of to-do's today.

It's clear that the young woman is having trouble and from what he's seen so far, it's only going to lead to her being ripped off or not getting the fix she needs. Leaving things alone is more in his nature, but sue him if choosing to help has a little to do with her being attractive. Cassian steps up to the stall beside her. ]

They understand you. They're just being difficult.

[ And with that he offers up in flawless Jawaese something along the lines of getting them to agree that swindling this nice young lady here would probably only result in future trouble for them should they ever wish to deal with his employer. After some brief grumbling the Jawa takes the part they're holding before shuffling off to get Wanda's requested part at which point he turns to her again. ]

Malfunctioning part?

( one thing rocket has taught her is to not outright trust just about anyone that comes up to her with a good samaritan spiel. she is already someone who doesn't trust easily to begin with, so it almost goes without saying, but she won't deny that it is certainly lucky to have someone come to her aid.

wanda huffs out a puff of air and then steps away from the sunshine and onto the shadow of the stall, glancing at her—as of now—savior. )

I think so.

( she eyes him with some skepticism, despite it all. arms crossed, she pulls inward. )

I don't know much about spaceships. Hoping that I can just replace the part and it'll be fine.

( putting a lot of hope in that, huh... )

[ Cassian knows skepticism when he sees it and he isn't offended in the least. It's smart for her not to trust anyone right off the bat. Even someone like him who really didn't have any sort of ulterior motive aside from ensuring that she didn't get ripped off by some enterprising Jawa's.

When she steps under the awning of the tent he follow suit still giving her plenty of berth. ]

That depends on the ship you're flying.

[ He tilts his head to the side, a silent question in the gesture. ]

( here, now, more than ever, wanda feels remnants of a life in sokovia when she'd have to constantly be on the alert for anyone trying to take advantage of her teenage-naivety. everyone she meets in these galaxies beyond the milky way seem to be all far too familiar with space travel; going to another planet or to a nearby constellation is like hitching a ride to another country. the guardians made a fair point in not letting her 'newbie'-space status be a known factor.

before she had people who would look after her.

wanda brought this whole situation upon herself, in wanting to escape a life that no longer felt worth living. her eyes look over the man before her, lean and seemingly friendly, with a face that carries the underlying traits of someone who hardly sleeps and is more tired than what he gives himself credit for. she'd use her telepathy to get a sense of him, here, but something about the pull of the planets and the different stars have her feeling queasy whenever she tries to draw out her powers.

(or maybe she's nauseous with guilt—)

she sighs, ultimately, taking a deep breath afterwards and her face clicking into tense consideration. )

Are you some sort of mechanic? I'll have you know—I don't have a lot of credits.

[ While he's unaware that there's the possibility of his mind being probed or even his uppermost thoughts being read, Wanda might find it surprising that there's an odd amount of resistance there for someone who is just a normal human. Luthen had given him little training on how to mentally block his mind, but that had been enough, coupled with the natural resilience that he'd developed over the years from just being so fucking stubborn.

He offers her what could be taken as a sheepish shrug as an affirmative. Of course, that in itself is sort of an act. Part of the persona that he'd built for the time that he was going to spend here. Then again, he's also never really been the sort to brag about any kind of skill that he's in possession of. ]

My boss is known to do quid pro quo work. Even if they didn't, I'm off the clock and I don't mind taking a look. These might cost you enough as it is.

[ Right on cue the Jawa merchant comes shuffling back holding out not one but two parts. Cassian grasps hold of the both of them giving them a discerning eye before asking how much. Even without understanding Wanda will be able to tell from the look Cassian offers them that it isn't acceptable. After more grumbling they offer another price. ]

You might need both of these parts. He's giving them to you at a decent price.

( it's almost disarming, and wanda wonders if she should be allowing herself to trust the overall picture and not her gut feeling. wanda has met more reassuring individuals in her life, built on the stirrups of confidence and arrogance, but something gentler than the preening of macho feathers is perhaps what she needs during these trying times.

there is still an ounce of reservation as he makes subtle references to his generosity. but, before she knows it, the jawa merchant comes along and this (kind) stranger is taking over the negotiations here.

suppose she will have to trust someone with more experience than her.

with a wordless nod, wanda pulls out the device that ticks away with credits, allowing for the scanner to transfer the credits to the jawa merchant. the color on the narrow screen goes from a healthy green to a wary orange, and wanda huffs, knowing that she ought to find a way to get some more before her resources deplete entirely. putting the device away into her bag, wanda then urges the stranger to follow her to where her ship is currently parked at. )

I have some tools you can use.

( it's not hard to notice the stranded ship, a colorful model, but one that's definitely a little older, put together with scraps and new gears. it's an amalgamation of mechanical generations; rocket made sure to provide her with something that wouldn't just randomly explode, and with the things they could acquire in knowhere? it's a pretty decent piece of junk

for a solo traveler, anyway, though wanda tries to ignore the extra seat at the cockpit that remains empty in her travels.

she motions at it, bringing out the key to the side door. )

This is it.

Edited 2024-07-30 20:00 (UTC)

[ Even when he's playing the part of a preening creature, Cassian has never fully enjoyed it. This persona of a mechanic who was sheepish about his ability to fix something - even if it was scrap - was more akin to his usual self. His confidence lay in his belief in his own abilities and that if he didn't do it, who else would? Granted this was no life or death situation. But the principle was still the same.

If he left her to it, she could probably figure out how to fix her ship on her own. Knowing what part she needed was half the challenge after all. And if she didn't trust herself to actual install and diagnose the rest of the problems that may arise, finding a mechanic in this city wasn't that difficult either.

There's nothing particularly private about paying for the parts but he looks away, feigning interest in the other things that the Jawa merchant has on offer. But out of the corner of his eye he can see the way her credit balance flashes that familiar orange. When all is said and done he nods, shifting his saddle bag and following her. ]

We can head to the shop if we need anything else.

[ The ship does look like it's been pieced together in a somewhat haphazard way. He can pick out familiar looking parts but there's nothing to discern it as a specific model. It's not the first hunk of junk that he's seen. It probably won't be the last. As they enter the ship he pushes the goggles atop his head that he'd been wearing to cut the glare of the sun beating down on them (it was an odd heatwave for Taris; something about a mostly harmless set of cloud systems blanketing the atmosphere so that heat was being trapped for longer than usual) to get a proper look around as the lights flicker on. ]

Did you put this together yourself? Or did someone do it for you?

[ His expression remains even, but there's the barest hint of judgement - like he's suggesting he's surprised this even made it here in the first place. ]

( wanda isn't entirely too sure that she feels very comfortable in this man using such familiarity in how he talks to her, referring to 'we' as some kind of team up, currently, but perhaps it's enough of a brash thought for her to realize that she has far too many hangups to be judging people so harshly. still, she steels herself to her circumstances, tries not to be appreciative of this stranger's help when he owes her absolutely nothing.

inside the ship, she pulls off at the scarf that she had wrapped over her head and shoulders, setting it down on one of the wall-benches. she herself circles around the center console, looking at him as he looks about. )

The best mechanic I know put it together for me. He reassured me it wouldn't give me trouble as long as I didn't push it.

( —and push it she had. even if rocket's job under the chassis speaks of an expert's hands at work, the general look of the ship was meant intentionally, so that wanda would be able to camouflage easier with the other heaps of metal without catching anyone's greedy eye.

it isn't rocket's fault that she attempted so many jumps between galaxies. )

I thought I'd try fixing what's wrong first before calling him. Don't tell me it's a lost cause.

( she stops by a ladder that leads onto an alcove; that's where she sleeps, a general living space behind her. a box of tools sits atop a table.

despite her arms being crossed, her shoulders relent in their tension. )

My name's Wanda.

[ Cassian wouldn't fault her for her guardedness; he would be too were the situation reversed. But this version of him on Taris is friendly and amiable - or rather, friendlier and more amiable than he is now. As jaded as the days and months have made him, that hasn't completely smothered the desire to help (even if that does admittedly come with some level of ulterior motive which, he reminds himself, is all for the Rebellion).

As it stands with Wanda, he really does have nothing to gain. She reads as an off-worlder, someone merely passing through who had fallen on some ship troubles. If there is anything to gain, it's company for a drink in a cool out of the blistering heat. His eyes flicker over towards her as she removes the scarf that covered her head. And it's attractive company at that. Cassian's gaze doesn't linger as his head turns back towards their surroundings. ]

It's hard to say without looking at the engine. I'll need to get down there.

[ At the sound of her name he turns back towards her. ]

Gavnic.

( it sounds like a name that isn't really a name, but what does wanda know about those in the other side of the galaxy? a frown pinches her expression as he tells her that he needs to check the engine.

that much makes sense, but — it won't cost her anything, will it? seeing that he has to put extra effort into this. )

Do you have your own tools?

( guess she is going to let it happen.

wanda grabs at the toolbox; it's a little light, but rocket supplied her with just about everything she would need. )

—I have this. I also want to see what you do.

( not because she has trust issues or anything. is that insulting? anyway, she adds, hurriedly, )

To learn.

[ It's more of a surprise that Wanda hasn't encountered names that don't really sound like names. After all, the galaxy is vast and complex and 'Gavnic' is purposefully common in plenty of circles (particularly) on this planet, that it wouldn't so much as cause a wrinkle of suspicion to anyone looking through paperwork for rebel activity.

That is neither here nor there though. He's part way to answering that he does have his own tools (he's taken to carrying them with him because most of the mechanics on this planet do) when she offers her own toolbox. Raising an eyebrow in amusement he reaches out for it, brushing his fingers briefly against hers before taking a hold of it as she finishes her thought. ]

Would you prefer that I use what you have? [ His lips quirk an inch higher. ] So you can learn.

( wanda feels her cheeks flush, because it sounds (and looks like, as his lips lift into a grin) like he's teasing her. she draws her hand back, crossing her arms. she also feels as if she needs to explain herself; though he is human, like her, he is from a different galaxy.

customs are different. )

Where I come from, women who get stranded and are on their own are usually taken advantage of. I'm not helpless, even if I seem like it.

( even if much of her magic is hurt by different cosmic factors at this time (or maybe, really, a blockage of her own emotional stunting). )

You're still a stranger to me, Gavnic. Though I do need... your help, and I appreciate that. ( that being said— ) I'd rather you use my tools, yeah.

[ It would be easy to tease her about the rise of colour to her cheeks but she says something else that gives him pause, sincerity peeking through the persona of the smooth-talking mechanic he'd donned. The slight lift of his lips fall into something more sincere. ]

I would never assume that. I'm sorry if it came across that way.

[ And that is perhaps one of the truest things he's said to her thus far. Or the truest depending on how short this interaction goes. The women in his life have imprinted on him, are woven into his bones like a tapestry. They come from all walks of life but that doesn't make them any less stronger, any less resilient than the last. The things he does for the rebellion, the places it takes him, they all cling to him like ghosts, reminding him of what he's come from. Who he's fighting for.

And if he's trying not to be so sentimental about it - in his line of work, he can't underestimate anyone. ]

Let's your use tools then. [ He sets to work then, propping the box open on the floor to take a look at its contents. ] Tell me what you know about the tools in here.

( her guard seems to go down the moment he apologizes, the moment she can register sincerity in his actions and tone. wanda has always been direct, and she isn't afraid to be it, even now, in space. thankfully, gavnik seems a more decent sort than most others.

wanda inhales deeply, then gets down on her haunches alongside him. he asks her to tell him what she does know about the tools, and the reality is—not much. )

I know this one is for soldering. ( she points at one of them, then continues pointing out others that she's familiar with. clearly her knowledge is there, but she lacks practice, certainly. ) I'm a quick learner, but it helps me to see when you work. I'm very visual.

( well, she certainly is a little warmer towards him now, at least. )

[ When her haunches relax, so do his. If she ever discovers he'd lied to her about his name she may very well rethink that statement about him being a decent man. In the grand scheme of things someone could lie to someone else about it's probably not so bad; and if Cassiann's being honest, it's one of the few things he's done that doesn't keep him up at night.

Each alias was merely something to be burned. It was his armour, a way to keep himself and those tied ot the Rebellion safe. The chances of him seeing Wanda again after this were slim to none because even he knew that his days on Taris were coming to a close.

It has become second nature by now for his mind to race, to always be constantly on edge and alert, coming up with plans to stay one step ahead of any inevitability. But here, at least for now, most of that quiets so he can focus on this. ]

Tell me if you want me to slow down or explain something further.

[ It doesn't take long to locate the hatch into the guts of the ship. Offering the headlamp to her and then slipping his own onto his head he hops in. It's a smaller ship and that much is reflected in the the tight fit but he manages to get in here and makes room for her to before getting to work. ]

( wanda follows his lead, with the headlamp, and joins him—all while doing her best to not get in his way as he gets to work on sorting out what's wrong with her ship. she figures that rocket would never let her be in a situation where she's completely out of luck with the ship, but it's good to have someone who seems to know what they're doing working on it.

she's definitely putting a lot of trust in him.

pressing to his side to see better, she asks a few questions, here and there, about why he's doing something or another. she has other questions, about hypotheticals, and he answers them for her, too.

it's unlikely she will ever become a mechanic, but — she's getting the gist of it.

wanda watches him working on one contraption or another, and asks, )

How'd you learn to work on ships?

next time a random bus filled with jawas pulls up to the bar, i'm not getting on it.

Edited 2024-12-22 05:45 (UTC)

Surely it wasn't so awful

they invited me back tonight if you want to find out for yourself
you could have last night but you disappeared

Is that an official invitation?

Ah, yes I sincerely apologize

My padawan had something of an emergency

i don't want to spoil the answer to your question about whether or not being on a bus full of jawa's is awful

is everything okay?

[ In other words: Is it something that Cassian needs to help take care of? ]

To be fair I was debating the level of awful more so than whether it had been at all

Everything's fine, you know how Anakin gets sometimes

The smallest conflict becomes the end of the world when you're as young as he is

I'm a little more interested in your current whereabouts

aren't those the same thing?

[ There's a brief pause in the message that follows. He does understand having spent enough time with the pair. And while Obi-Wan is more than capable of caring for himself and his padawan, this bleeding heart of his can't help but worry more than he is capable of expressing. From Obi-Wan's message however that seems to be the end of that. ]

hm? does that mean you're taking me up on my offer?

📍 your location has been shared

Of course
Awful or not, I won't leave you on your own again

And while I do hate flying, it seems the quickest way to reach you

[ aka thank u for the location pin ]

In the meantime, with as much as you can tell me: what can I expect tonight?

[ Despite this being silly and light-hearted, the conviction in that message has the corner of his lips quirking upward unconsciously with no small amount of fondness. ]

you might change your mind about flying after tonight
but i'll fly us back in return for you joining me

and ruin the surprise?
your guess is as good as mine. just don't expect much scavenging

Stranger things have happened
And I do feel much safer in your ship than Anakin's

[ The boy can be so reckless. (affectionate) ]

I haven't the foggiest idea what to expect

But then my master used to say the Force works in mysterious ways and that one ought to expect the unexpected

I suspect it's a better response than 'I don't know'

i won't tell anakin you said that

[ Except he totally would if he thought it would mean seeing Obi-Wan on the other end of something remotely funny. ]

have you used that line on him yet?

i told you at least what not to expect
if you want another clue i can tell you more about what happened last night

I appreciate that
I especially appreciate not having to witness a brawl over such a controversial statement

[ It's only funny until Anakin takes it to the next level. He does so love his Very Extra padawan. ]

Unfortunately my master and I didn't always see eye to eye on the so-called intentions of the Force

So no, and I won't be using such a line in any future scenario

But do tell me what happened last night

you wouldn't step in to defend my honor?
i'm hurt

you'd rather read it instead of listen to a reenactment? or do you need something to keep you company en route?

— open post

– tfln | @ jyn

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🪐 tfln / @ ascetical

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