rebuilder | ☄️

[ The Rebel base was alive with celebration, as much as Cal had ever seen it. For the first time the normally somber soldiers focused on their missions danced and laughed and cheered as they reviled in the destruction of the Death Star. It had cost so many, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't understand the need to celebrate the victories, one that would hopefully tip the scales in the Rebel's favor.

Sitting back, drink in hand, Cal used to wonder why he'd come to the Rebels. The crew of the Mantis had scattered to the winds to each follow their own path and he'd thrown in with Saw and the partisans until his methods had turned him away from the man. He sighed and tipped back his glass, draining the liquid and leaning back in his chair before dismissing himself without a word to wander outside into the darkening night.

Thinking that he was alone, Cal stood in front of the temple that served as a base of operations for a long time before seating himself on the ground and preparing to meditate. But as it should be, there was another woman outside. Perhaps having similar thoughts in the crowd and needing some air. In the lights of the buildings, he recognized her as one of the few living soldiers from the recent mission on Scarif, he recognized her from the holo of the council meeting he'd seen. The ones who'd got the plans and made all of it possible.

A beat. He clears his throat, deciding to break the silence. ]

Hi. You're Jyn Erso, aren't you?

[She can hear the celebrations of others behind her in the distance. It's not that she isn't happy, that this isn't the big thing they needed. It feels like something big, and they all have needed that for quite some time. She isn't unaware of all of that, but it still weighs heavy on her, the casualties, what they did, the loss of her father.

She heard the footsteps of someone coming out, but doesn't address them, figuring they're likely just going back out, but her name, her real name is on his lips as she flicks some of her hair out of her eyes to look up at him. Her tone is a little muted, but not wholly unapproachable like she normally is.]

I am. [She looks him over. She doesn't think he's one of the pilots. He might not even have been on Scarif, but either way he doesn't look familiar.]

Who are you? [Not the best introduction, but certainly not the worst she's ever had.]

( continued from here )

I never claimed to be otherwise.

[ He might've at one point been more defensive or withered under Dagan's disdainful gaze, but now it doesn't really bother him. Different times, different lives. Maybe if the Order hadn't fallen, maybe if he hadn't lost some of the mannerisms and teachings in favor of blending in on Bracca. Either way, it's the middle of the night - he'll be presentable when he's hasn't just woken up from a very good dream about the Empire becoming a fast food Empire instead of being a scourge on the galaxy. ]

They've been keeping their end of the deal. As long as the townsfolk aren't being bothered, then I've had no reason to go back on my word. [ a beat. The echo whispers and calls out. It had left an impression, and a powerful one. ] And if there was an Inquisitor here, I think we'd know by now but it is possible.

Put it down on the table.

[ Dagan bites his tongue and makes a concentrated effort not to say how his shabbiness reflects poorly on him. As satisfying as a bit of petty yelling can be on occasion it will not serve him here in any capacity. He files his personal criticisms away for later, and slides the leg before the other Jedi. ]

From what you've said they do seem on a whole too dramatic and bombastic for even the illusion of subtilty. [ Says one of the most dramatic assholes himself. ] But even the slowest dog can learn a few tricks and if they've found out even a hint that something lays beyond the Abyss...

[ Dagan feels he doesn't need to even get into just How Bad that would be. He frowns, faltering just a moment as he tries to cross his arms only to remember belatedly it's difficult to do with only one of them. For all his poise there are moments where he still struggles. ]

[ Cal lifts his shoulder in a slight shrug. Already his attention is drawn to the disembodied droid leg sitting on his table. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of it as he studied it. He's seen his share of droid parts, it's nothing new but he really is worried at what the answers will tell him. Another Jedi? But more likely it would be the Inquisitors; Fifth has had it out for him personally --]

They'd destroy it. Just like they do everything else in the galaxy. [ Illum, Bogano. Sacred places once held special meaning lost to their war machine. Hesitation gone, Cal reaches for the leg and Dagan and the room disappear in favor of the droid's last few moments of life.

Echoes, particularly of death or suffering are usually difficult for him. He's gotten better at not letting them completely take over, but usually the death or torment ones were enough to leave him on the floor. But it's not a human death and the droid feels no pain when the saber finally cleaves through it (Cal has perhaps felt the pain of dying more than any single person, and it doesn't matter how one goes, it's never painless).

Not before he'd gotten his answer. Snippets of a conversation and shocked whispers of other droids.

"There's something there."
"Don't know, go check it out, will you?"
"Me? Why me? Oh, fine."
"Is that a person? They're waking up."

Their sensors don't feel fear the way that a human does but it knows enough to know that the dark shape stalking towards him is Bad News. Red plasma blade disconnects it's legs, and then head from it's metal body.

And then he's back standing in his kitchen in his pajamas in the dead of night. Cal remains silent for a moment before raising his eyes to Dagan. ]

It's not the Empire.

But it's... I think we have a problem.

5. the fact that i fell through a skylight is the least humiliating part of the night.

___________

Somehow, I can believe that Padawan.

Outsmarted your men, though. That counts for something.

[ please stop sassing Darth Vader, Cal.

(he can't, not in the face of his fear - the Sith Lord is terrifying and it's this or he throws up). ]

Stormtroopers vs a Force Weilder, with the Troopers losing is the expected outcome. The other wouldn't have made your life worth any Jedi's death, much less two.

maybe they need better training, if one unarmed jedi has to not only outmatch but beat them.

They do not hunt Jedi. I do.

You turn them, make them monsters like yourself or you kill them...

I'm not letting you take anyone else. Next time we meet, I'll stop you. You won't hurt anyone else.

Oh those men. I have a feeling a few would be insulted by that. Sidious created them, I lead and execute them if they fail too often or prove incompetent.

[ Want to know how many that has been? ]

You know what system to start searching, little Jedi.

[ from here ]

Ha, I knew I could trust you. I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of pizza, and how many different kinds there are.

But I also appreciate the simplicity of a sandwich.

[ (because i've found myself making a whole stranger things au for him) well, they didn't give them this kind of food... back there. ]

[It's almost poetic, how adventurous she tends to be with food, considering how controlling her mother is and how she generally feels about it. But it's a work in progress.]

I'm very trustworthy I assure you.

Sandwiches are great because you can eat them while reading and not have to worry about making a mess.

( ooc: i started watching s4 again and i'm thinking cal was a special kid never found but somehow he and eleven meet when she ran away. and once the upside down is closed at the end of 3 and she leaves, he decides to give the town a chance to do... teenage things like high school and sports. idk it was just a half formed thing but i've got ST brainrot right now so LMAO ]

i dont doubt that... feel like you'd definitely be someone i could go to for advice. and not just about kinda food is good.

do you have a favorite?

[ooc: Okay but that sounds really good. I haven't even finished Fallen Order yet, but he def deserves to take a vacation to ... hell town. lmao]

I'm not sure how good I'd be at giving advice, but I'd like to try.

Sandwich? I think I'd have to go with peanut butter and banana.

[ ooc: ty! my entire time or so of playing him has just been "okay how can i make his life worse?" and running with that. lolol worst vacation spot ever.

ooh let me know what you think when you finish. and when you get to survivor! ]

alright cunningham, hit me with your best shot.

huh, have to try that. i think i'm pretty partial to grilled cheese.

[ooc: isn't that usually the way, though? lmao 0/10 vacation spot.

I may just do that!]

Are you going to tell me what I'm giving advice on or?

Grilled cheese is excellent. Have you ever had fried banana?

[ ooc: true that, true. btw if you have plurk, feel free to add me

dyads - if you want! you seem rad and have good taste in characters ]

oh i dunno. school in general? fitting in at hawkins?

no, i dont think i have. is it good?

[ooc: aww, thanks! hearing that made my day. <3 adding you now!]

It's easy enough to fit in in Hawkins if you like basketball. That's what most people like, and there's not much room for being different, unfortunately.

It's amazing! Maybe I'll make one for you sometime.

so i guess that puts me out, huh? basketball would interfere with the robotics club. and i got asked if i've ever played some kind of rpg? dragons and something?

yeah, i'd like that.

Don't worry, I'm right there with you. I probably wouldn't even go to any of the games if I didn't have to. Haha. What's robotics club like? Oh! Dungeons and Dragons? I think that's what it's called.

Sounds good!

no offence to any of the players or anything, i just think its kind of boring? glad to know i'm not alone on that one.

but robotics is really interesting! right now its mostly theory and engineering concepts but we're gonna be designing a robot of our own - best one gets to enter a huge statewide competition at the end of the year.

yeah thats the one. some guy with long hair said i look like i'd fit in. not sure if i should find that as a compliment or not.

I just don't find it that exciting, but it feels like the whole town is in love with the game. I thought maybe it was a me thing.

Oh wow, that sounds really interesting! I don't think I'm good at either of those things. Do you know anything about the design you're going to use yet?

Oh! You met Eddie Munson! I know he looks kind of scary sometimes but he's a really nice guy. I suppose you do look like you might fit in with the other guys he plays with.

link

"Indeed it is." Was Anakin dead before Cal was? No - but it didn't honestly matter here. That's not what this was.

Cal gives a slight start as the other person in the room speaks, he hadn't realized that he wasn't alone. He only has the vaguest recollection - trailing behind his Master while he spoke to a newly appointed Knight. Cal had barely peered out from behind the lasat when he finally waved to him.

"General Skywalker?"

"In the flesh." Kind of anyway. But the smile Anakin offered Cal was warm, proud, a little cock-sure. And he hadn't been there before, but Anakin kept a feel out - always. "Jedi Kestis, Master Tapal's Padawan, correct?" He knew, but well.

"Yeah. That's me. Cal Kestis." Cal can't say he's disappointed to see Skywalker here, he's not -- but he's surprised. Maybe it's because he's not really who he was expecting. He raises a brow.

"Not that I'm not happy that I'm not alone here or anything, I can't say that you were the person I was expecting to see." Master Tapal, Cere - Prauf, maybe. "Then again, this really isn't what I was picturing death to be like."

Maybe a bit less... of a train? Some bright lights, that kind of thing.

"You've grown up." In another world, Anakin would have been quite at ease working with the Initiates, but it would have taken a different type of Jedi Order, one that wasn't an impossibility but didn't exist for them. But that shade of a life that could have been, it's there in Anakin now, the pride and the warmth offered, entirely different from what Cal would ever had seen in Vader. But he's grown since then too.

"No, I suppose not. I've made a choice, to stay here." To help other Jedi go, those who have been harmed by Vader, by Palpatine, by himself.

"It's been a long time." A lifetime ago, it feels like now. World weary; it's been long enough to feel like it's been several lifetimes. Cal used to think back on Bracca, of that particular meeting and wondering he met his fate like the other Jedi. The initiates he'd shared meals with, the padawans he'd traversed Illum with.

"So you're like a guide, then? Sticking with us until we reach... where are we going, anyways?"

"A teacher." And occasionally, comforter. "You'll have a choice to make, soon. To allow your consciousness to fade, become truly one with the Force, or to stay. Become a Force Ghost, to serve the future generations. There's no wrong choice. But for now, you can relax. Heal, if you need to."

The problems with having an intense and prolonged battle inside a cave network involving lightsabers and Force based attacks are many.

Throw in it being sub zero temperatures, much ice, a liberal use of the environment as weapons and well.

Parts of Vader's suit normally lit are dark, there's a good deal of damage to his limbs (including a crushed knee), a cracked eye lens which is at least just cracked.

And he can hear Kestis coughing behind the rock he's taking cover behind while some little droid hopped about on it angrily, giving Vader a good telling off. A glance on the ice proves its bloodstained.

And one way is already choked with ice and snow, Vader can hear the howling of wind and predators outside when a deep groaning makes him drive closer to Kestis as ice and rocks shower down closing of the backtrack.

And his left hand is bent backwards.

"Well. Kriff."

It's not like this had been planned. If Cal had been planning a duel, he probably would've picked somewhere a little more... open. Definitely not in the frigid wastes, a cave, of all places.

Cal really is starting to hate the snow. The cold. And of course, Vader. It's not ideal, none of it is. BD-1 chirps a question at him and he shakes his head, coughs wracking his frame, each one causes a flare of pain at his ribs. A wound bleeds sluggishly down his face but he's out of stims. And he's cold. Exhausted.

If Vader wanted to strike him down, now would be his chance - but his own skills have improved since they last met and so he'd managed to do his own share of damage this time.

And now -- they're trapped.

"...karablast." The lasat swear drops from his mouth as their way out is completely blocked with who knows what outside. It all had gone from very bad to even worse. He keeps his eyes trained on the dark figure as he once again addresses the droid.

"B-BD... bring up the map." His scanners light up as he projects a perfect recreation of the system and outside.

Vader appears to be ignoring both of them for a moment, staring intensely at the rock slide. His helmet's display which augments his vision was doing its own scanning.

He is capable of clearing the way with the Force, and even if not, they both have their lightsabers, and with some time could tunnel out. The issue at present (for Vader anyway) was the knee joint and now wrist. Cheap load of shit Palpatine keeps ordering.

"Breathe slowly and shallowly, you will cough less." Despite his monotone, he manages to project annoyance. As if Cal broke his own ribs or whatever, instead of Vader. "You might as well announce to the predators you are injured and they should plan their dinner."

☄️ | OPEN RP

sending you some picture prompts

fudges with some timelines, nobody dies au kind of thing

works for me

tfln overflow for ~darkpride

no subject

no subject

Tfln / 5

oh lets pretend that i totally got this notif whoops

It's cool, but also GODDAMN VADER

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

@bubblegumheart

please say more about the stranger things au <3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Body heat

no subject

no subject