IC Inbox - Eastbound

[deescalate]

cal kestis

missives | encounters

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un: witchful thinking ☾ audio

[nochnaya]

[ It hasn't even been that long since they were separated, but— ]

Cal. Are you alright?

[deescalate]

[It hasn't been long, but it's still so good to hear Merrin's voice. He smiles as he answers, even though she can't see it.]

Better now, hearing your voice.

I'm okay. I've stayed in worse places. How about you?

[nochnaya]

[ Oof, the relief that floods through her, knowing he's okay. ]

Worse than the floor of that bantha barn?

[deescalate]

[He goes quiet, pondering this.]

Well, barns are meant to house life, so I can't rank it too low. I can still smell it, though, now that you mention it.

[nochnaya]

Yes, the stench was quite strong. You smelled like bantha for days afterwards.

[ So did she, but—well. She's conveniently not mentioning that. ]

[deescalate]

[Convenient.]

I think I smell better this time, at least. I think.

[She may not consider his opinion valid, but...!]

[nochnaya]

That bar is very low.

[ A beat. ]

I'm fine. It sounds as though my accommodations are much more comfortable than yours.

[deescalate]

I knew you'd understand.

[His voice drops a little lower, trading some of his teasing tone for tender fondness.]

I hope so. This place really isn't the worst, but even the Mantis is cozier.

[nochnaya]

[ The soft tone makes her relax—wish that they weren't forced apart. ]

Where did they take you?

[deescalate]

I'm housing with the other gladiators near the stadium. They feed us, though, and don't seem to want any of us to actually die. Not sure how much I trust that, but for now I'm okay.

What about you?

[nochnaya]

That is good. For now, as you say.

They've taken our group to a villa just outside the citadel, with the rest of Messalina's entourage.

[deescalate]

You know I'll keep my eyes and ears open.

[And trust in the Force, of course.]

A villa. Fancy. Get some good sleep in for the both of us, all right?

...I know you'll be careful, but I still wanna say it.

[nochnaya]

Say it to yourself, Cal Kestis. I know you will keep your eyes and ears open, but you have a habit of getting yourself into trouble.

[ Her tone is somewhere between gentle and teasing. ]

[deescalate]

[He opens his mouth to retort, to say something like 'Trouble finds me,' but he decides against it.]

...I'll be careful. I wanna be in one piece when see you again.

[nochnaya]

[ It's not the retort she was expecting, so her voice softens. ]

As do I. Despite the villa, I find myself missing our little hut.

[deescalate]

It was a pretty good hut, wasn't it? As far as huts go.

[It wasn't anything special, nor was it especially comfortable, but staying there with Merrin is what made it worthwhile.

Cal is quiet for a moment before he volunteers another statement.]

We could...we could build one. On Tanalorr.

[nochnaya]

[ After all this time, all this pain and loss and suffering, the fact that Cal is finally talking about the future—their future... her chest aches, but in a good way. Like pressing your thumb into a healing bruise. ]

I would like that. [ A little wistfully: ] You would need a workbench. For your tinkering.

[deescalate]

[It's still hard to think about Tanalorr in a positive light after everything that transpired there, after everything in general. And it's hard to loosen his grip on life for fear of losing anything or anyone important to him when that very thing has happened, too. But he has to, eventually. Tanalorr is their home now and they have to make it better. They have to make themselves better.

There are no guarantees the Empire will never find it, though the likelihood is slim. But if Cal keeps worrying and never gives them a chance, then he'll definitely be left with nothing. At least planning for the near future gives them the opportunity for something.]

Gotta keep my hands busy, right? We can have a room decorated in all kinds of reds for you. Maybe grab some things from Dathomir so you can still have a piece of home.

[nochnaya]

Just one room?

[ She's teasing. Though... the whole house would be red and black if she has her way, to tell the truth. She can picture it now: her and Cal, their home, at least a few small, precious snatches of peace. ]

We need a garden as well. So you can continue your collection.

[deescalate]

[He laughs softly.]

As many rooms as you like. I've grown pretty fond of red, it turns out.

[The smile remains in his voice when he speaks next because he was thinking of starting a garden there, too.]

It'd be good for Kata, too, I think.

[nochnaya]

She does seem to enjoy spending time on the roof with Pili.

[ She sighs slowly, gently. ]

She will need her own space as well.

[deescalate]

Yeah. I hope she can grow to not be as scared of Tanalorr one day. Whatever we can do to help.

[nochnaya]

It may take time. What little time she has spent there...

[ Hasn't been pleasant. ]

[deescalate]

I know. It's not gonna happen overnight.

[Truthfully, Cal is at a complete loss when it comes to Kata. He worries that if she doesn't outright hate him, she at least fears him, both of which he understands. But he struggles to connect with her, not like Merrin, to whom Kata attached herself almost immediately.

Call understands that, too.

He could tell her all this - Merrin would probably encourage him to do so - but he doesn't want to lay out his doubts and fears when they've been having a nice conversation, for once. He likes having nice conversations.

They haven't even been separated for too long, but Cal finds himself sighing after a time, his voice soft.]

I miss you.

[nochnaya]

As do I. I wish you were here with me now.

[ But she knows him well. She can't see him, but she can picture him in her mind's eye on the other side: the pause, his expression lost in thought, his gaze faraway—then the sigh. ]

What are you thinking?

[deescalate]

[He knows what Merrin is getting at, but he's also stubborn. She's said it himself.]

I'm thinking...I miss our bed in that hut, too.

[nochnaya]

[ He's stubborn, but she'll let it go—for now. ]

I miss it too. Sleeping beside you at night.

That is something we will need for our home on Tanalorr as well.