galaxywon // Alexsandr Kallus
Sabine had been Imperial, even though their time had ended much before his own. They knew what it felt like to be forced to adhere to something that took away any case of individuality. But she didn’t know what it felt like to believe it with your whole being. He would have died for The Empire, almost had on multiple occasions. He thought his life was worth something with them, didn’t know true value until he had been challenged to question things. Being an Imperial had been his entire life. It was still his deepest shame. He could tell by the way they analyzed the images that they understood what it meant. “ I fear if I don’t do it soon, I never will. “ he admitted, turning away from them to try to hide some of the emotions passing through his face.
“ I can sit with you while you draw if you’d like. “ It was more for him than it was for Sabine, of course. He wasn’t sure he could sit around and wait for her to be done. “ I have some mission reports I could fill out. “ He knew without trying that he wouldn’t get a thing done while he was waiting for them, but he could pretend. “ Just….. Don’t tell Garazeb about this. Please. “
.
“ I understand.” She replied, though they both knew she couldn’t fully comprehend all he was feeling. Still, they felt the weight that sat on his shoulders. They understood its significance. None of the Spectres blamed Kallus for what he’d done, but Sabine knew that hearing something and believing it were two different things. Gods, did they know that...
“Please, make yourself at home,” she nodded, motioning to the cluttered interior of the ship. Sure, the cabin was a bit of a mess, but they got the feeling her friend wouldn’t mind. Well...maybe he’d mind a little, but the Ghost crew had always been so lovably chaotic. At their’s friend’s next request, though, her smile weakened, and they nodded solemnly.
“Speaking of Zeb,” they asked, already opening the digital art application on her datapad, “can I ask how you two are? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” they added with a rush, careful to give him the chance to say no if he wanted. “I just know that with the whole time skip shit, everything’s been so...different.” A pause, as she rested stylus on screen. “Have you talked to them since?”
@cravked // trilla suduri
her eyes rolled after the stranger’s comment, not quite believing it –– not that there was anything necessarily inherently wrong with what they were saying, but the mere fact that trilla did not think it was remotely possible that she could remind someone of a younger brother. there was nothing about them in general that would particularly be like that, she thought. nothing endearing or whatever else people thought about siblings. she didn’t know particularly much about what traditional family dynamics looked like.
“i wouldn’t know, i never knew my family,” trilla answered with a shrug of her shoulders. it had never mattered to her as a child because that was just the way things were in the jedi temple. there were other younglings, the masters, but nothing by blood.
gaze tilted over toward them, her gaze narrowing slightly and looking at her a bit closer. “what about me reminds you of him?” she doesn’t care, if it were the truth –– but she doesn’t entirely believe that they were being wholly honest with her, and that was what she was much more interested in.
The answer Trilla gave wasn’t entirely surprising. Terrible, yes, but not unexpected. For years, the Empire had choked the galaxy from the innermost cities of the Core Worlds all the way to the Outer Rim. The time was a ruthless one, full of orphans and hungry hands. But something about the quickness, the coolness, with which she answered the question dug into Sabine. Still, Trilla expected a response, and Sabine wasn’t one to deny her that after the personal question she, herself had just asked.
“He was...a quiet kid. Incredibly smart, but sometimes he’d go days without speaking.” Sabine allowed themself a smile, stumbling through past memories. “He grew out of it, mostly, but even when we were still learning the six tenets of the resol’nare, he would listen more than speak. When he did, though, you knew that what he had to say was important. The most I ever heard from him was...” They took a breath, remembering the cold greetings back on Krownest years ago. The planet’s icy temperature hadn’t been the only thing to bring a chill to her skin that day.
“Anyways, you seem to share that similar stillness. The looking before jumping. The taste for observation. If you don’t mind my saying so.”
They looked over at their walking partner to gauge her reaction. The two were both hesitant of each other, but Sabine wanted to show that she could be open to trust. It didn’t come freely (not by a long shot) but Trilla had been nothing but helpful so far. The Mandalorian might as well attempt the same courtesy.
“And, he had a real sense of humor, though he didn’t always realize it.” They grinned crookedly. “The little mir’sheb. So, I’m sure you can understand the resemblance there.”
cravked // Trilla Suduri
it did not surprise them when the other offered no response to her words, nor did it bother her. trilla did not have particularly strong feelings about the hapan either way, she would not have been here in the first place if it weren’t for cal, or what they needed for the younglings. she didn’t entirely hate the excuse to get to dress up a bit, either. it wasn’t often that they had one.
“it’s not an insult,” a wry smile paired with the words. it was hard for trilla to relate to the idea of wanting to stick out when she would have been happy to disappear into the crowd without recognition. “no, it’s not my type of function. i’m here with a…” they paused slightly. “a friend. we’re meeting someone else for some work.” no need to disclose anything of her association with the jedi.
.
A pause passed through Trilla’s voice at the mention of a friend, and Sabine’s eyebrow gave the slightest raise. She elected to ignore the other’s hesitation, knowing that they’d share if they wanted to. If not, well, then it really wasn’t any of Sabine’s business.
“That makes more sense. After the disaster of the last event like this...I think it’s fair to be a little on edge.” They nodded and raised the drink to her lips, the soft carbonation offering her a short repose from conversation. Beskar gleamed before the two of them, and the reminder of mission tugged at her gut. “Suppose I’m here on business, too.”
The landing at this hangar was a surprise to Sabine, believe it or not. Her little transport ship was having so many complications lately-- and they had had little time to repair the systemic issues that caused much of the damage. All she had been able to do lately was touch-ups, quick solutions to deep-rooted issues in the internal schematics. After one hyperdrive malfunction too many, they had decided to dock somewhere more permanent than the last few systems they had visited. She needed a place to stay and to work for a few days. They needed parts, and maybe a helping hand or two. In truth, she hadn’t expected to reunite with an old friend, but it wasn’t surprising. This was a place for pilots and mechanics to frequent, after all.
“Zay! I didn’t expect to see you here! The Starbird needed repairs, and I thought, where better than a Rebel hangar to get the job done?” They took her friend’s hand and squeezed it once, quickly, hoping to convey support for the other pilot. “How are you? It’s been a while.”
closed starter | @call-me-spectre-five
The day went on without Zay noticing. She had been busy tinkering on her ship, something she liked to do when she was nervous. And nervous, she was a lot. The shadow of the Corvus was all around the hangar bay for her, she couldn’t spent a second without knowing it was right there. In another life, Zay could have just walked in, get a hug. Eat her meals inside. Except that she couldn’t and had to lie to almost everyone she talked to. Zay shook her head, taking time to look around. She listened to the hangar’s familiar noise for a while, before noticing a just as familiar silhouette walking around. A smile on her face, Zay gave up her tinkering and almost ran to catch up with her friend. “Sabine!” she called. “Why didn’t you tell me you were here?”
// sabine’s look for the life day event //
not featured: bold purple eyeliner, white painted nails
generally-scheming // armitage hux
“Buckethead?” Hux turned to the petty officer stationed nearby. “They do know that officers don’t wear…” A pilot glanced back at Hux from under a rounded helmet that flared dramatically at the base. Hux cleared his throat.
“Bold talk, rebel scum. If you’re so confident, why don’t you come a bit closer?” He gazed out from the bridge of the light command cruiser he’d acquired for what was meant to be a stealth patrol. The rebel ship hailing them was just beyond range of their turbolasers.
“Oya, cyar’ika, at least buy me dinner before you start the sweet-talking, okay?” Sabine teased with an amusement that was only half nerves. Their Rebel ship was still out of range. She just needed time to calculate the hyperspace route. “The again, you’re not really my type. And, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess I’m not really yours, huh?”
The speaker had some sort of pride, they figured. Something to prove. Probably has a shit-ton of people under their ranks, but was still starving for blood, for a chance to be the best. Sabine had seen this type before. It was all too easy to piss them off, and it brought a genuine smile to their face.
“Listen, I’d love to stick around for that date, general,” she emphasized the title for effect (hopefully the other officers were listening). “But I think I’m gonna take a rain check.” Silently, they diverted power to the hyperdrive, but didn’t yet signal for the jump. She wanted to hear first if there were any parting remarks. Much as they hated what little remains of the Empire were left, she did enjoy this kind of banter. And who knows? Maybe they’d run into each other again.
beroyafett // Jango Fett
Jango sighed and pulled his helmet off before he noticed the Mando coming his way. If they had spotted the darksaber, he wasn’t about to fight in a crowded bar, so he hoped they were reasonable.
He sipped at his drink as he watched the other approach and raised a brow at her, gesturing to the empty seat across from himself “Not business. But I suppose that depends on if you’re looking for a drink or a fight, burc’ya.” he said with a chuckle.
He hadn’t been challenged yet, but he was sure it wouldn’t be long. He’d do all he could to retain the saber and his pride. He’d even finally repainted Jaster’s symbol on his pauldron.
_
The reveal of the warrior’s face was disorienting, to say the least. She’d seen that countenance a few times before, had shared meals and battlefield and laughter with someone who held the same lines of worry and laughter. Was this man a clone? But, then, why did he have the armor of a Mandalorian? For now, they resolved, all she could do was listen.
“Oh, I think you misunderstand me, friend. I don’t-- Er, I really don’t want that saber. I’m no leader, trust me. I’m just interested in how it’s traded hands since I last held it.”
They motioned for the bartender to bring another of whatever he was drinking, taking the seat across from him with a smile and an extended hand.
“I‘m Sabine. Sabine Wren. And I’d love a good story if you have the time.”
“That’s because he inherited Hera’s good sense,” they joked, with a gentle nudge at his ribs. She could tell there was a lot on his mind, but there was no need to pry. Their language had always been one of silence, of emotions unspoken. It was...well, they were beyond grateful to have him back. Sure, she was older and (hopefully) wiser than the last time they’d met, but it was still him. Still Kanan. They’d done nothing to deserve their family back, but goddamn if she was going to let anything happen to them again.
“Ka’ra, it’s good to have you back. I was starting to miss making fun of you. Even if I can’t exactly call you an old man anymore.” The flash of a smile, marked only with a small caliber of sadness. It was a gift to see him again, but something still stung with a phantom of guilt.
@call-me-spectre-five // sabine wren.
“jacen seems to be rather fond of you.” there was a warmth to his tone, even if his expression was somewhat contained. most of the results of the emperor’s rift would have been overwhelming to the average person, and it was to him, despite that he had been able to swallow much of it while maintaining his dignity. fatherhood, the restoration of the jedi order, what had happened to ezra… he was trying to follow his master’s teachings, controlling his emotions so that they did not control him. “you’ve been a good influence for him.”
@xspectre-1 // Kanan Jarrus
as soon as kanan heard her voice, it was clear that questioning wasn’t necessary. a little older– more hardened, perhaps, but it was sabine. he wouldn’t even question the fact that his hand had to be raised higher than he remembered. instead, arms moved to wrap around her, her own distress clear enough.
as if she hadn’t seen him in years.
regardless, as she spoke he slowly pulled away, desperate for some sort of answer. an explanation for what the hell had just happened.
lothal, that he knew it was… why, why he wasn’t on the same lothal. “i, i know that– last i remember you, ezra and zeb had just left– i was going after hera,” he blinked under his mask, trying to make sense of all of this himself.
His arms engulfed them in a warm embrace, and she stiffened, then melted into his side. They didn’t worry about the tears staining his shirt, didn’t care that their face was buried into his neck. He was real. He was back, and he was real. She knew so many people the Rift had brought through time (for better or worse), but this? This was nothing short of a miracle.
“Kanan,” she muttered, breaking away, but still drinking in his image. He was the same as they remembered. Messy hair, hand-painted mask, dirt-crusted boots. Here she was now, holding onto his hand, still on her cheek, like a lost child. “I can’t believe it’s you. I-- I mean. I.” They paused, taking in a breath. How do you explain that you’ve missed your parent for years, while he’s only missed a beat? “Kanan, that was...over seven years ago.” She let his fingers cup her cheek, smiling through tears. “We won. Our family, the whole Rebellion. Buir, we won.”
cptfulcrum // alexsandr kallus
Kallus has long since known that the Ghost crew had forgiven him for the atrocities he’s committed. Even as he struggled to understand how or why, he would be grateful to his final days for friends such as them. Sabine would understand the significance of this in a way that no one else tasked would. They would understand the research that had gone into this, the inner turmoil while he had struggled with the Imperial idea of his body. Years later and it haunted him, the guidelines beat into their soldiers. “ Thank you. “ he said simply, nodding his head as he put his personal code into the datapad. Then he handed it off to them, the picture simple and not able to be understood to someone that didn’t know him. The Fulcrum Symbol featured, with fauna native to Lira San in another image. Finally, a third image of some flowers native to Lasan. He’s no artist, but has a vision. He knows Sabine is the one to execute that for him. “ This is quite personal to me. I want a tattoo. “ it’s to the point, lacks the emotion he has surrounding the whole idea, and his insecurities about how Zeb would feel about the whole thing. “ If it’s amenable for you, I’d prefer you to help me with this. “
The image drew a sharp inhale from the Mandalorian. The concept was striking, a symbol equal parts sharp and soft, a contrast of edges and curves. It was as though the picture itself was blooming before her eyes; she could already see the colors springing to life, filling the spaces between lines. They thought of the equipment that sat just inside her ship and the weeks since it had been used. It was a practice she was well-versed in-- but this time was different. It was so much more than ink and skin.
“Kallus, I...” But what words could she speak to answer a request so heavy? Sabine understood, of course they understood, what this meant to him. They could imagine the struggle he’d faced just to ask so much of her, the nights he must have wrestled with the regulations the Empire had imposed on him since boyhood. The tattoos she had were-- like so many other things-- an act of rebellion against them. And now it was his turn. Wordlessly, she nodded, holding his tired gaze with their own. Their grip on his hand tightened.
“When do you want to do this? I can have a few digital drafts made up withing a few hours, but I won’t rush you. Take it on your own time, and I’ll follow you.”
cravked // trilla suduri
there was a natural spark of curiosity that arose as a result of their statement. asking would have been inviting in more conversation, given the other room to ask perhaps more personal questions about herself, which was truthfully what trilla was trying to avoid. there was no reason for her to have anything against them, even if relatively minor judgments naturally slipped in here and there. but at least thus far, they have proved capable of deterring anything unwanted.
“what kind of information are you looking for? i might be able to point you in the right direction.” that was very unlikely. trilla hadn’t been on the planet long and did not intend to stay on it for much longer, only knew enough to keep herself blending in and without drawing undue attention. still, the curiosity was there, and there was no reason for sabine to know otherwise. lying was something that there were too good at.
the offer was unexpected, although trilla had already given them a ride to an extent. a few minutes to town wasn’t exactly equivocal to somewhere off world, especially in terms of time spent together. “i have a ship of my own,” she answered with a simple shrug of her left shoulder. “that’s not really an offer you should go around making.” the words are harsh by themself, a beat passing before they added, “given your apparent lack of direction.”
.
And here was the fork in the road, the other shoe dropped. Sabine bit the inside of their cheek, the question of whether or not to reveal true alliances a weight on her tongue. She wondered about the biases Trilla held about her-- of course, the armor and its heritage carried assumptions (and they weren’t always positive; more than one scar could attest to that). Sabine resolved that the truth may as well will out this one. If there was going to be a fight, the Mandalorian trusted their instinct. Knew her skills.
“I’ve been tracking the remains of old Imperial intelligence units-- hard to pin them down, but worth a great reward to the New Republic.” Okay, so it wasn’t the full truth. It wasn’t for bounty that she worked, but for something else. For redemption. No, it was loyalty to a shared vision created by the sacrifices they and so many others had made. For the Spectres. For Mandalore. But the admittance answered enough in its words alone.
Then, at the half-insult--
“Hey, you just caught me on an off day. I knew where I was going, I just got a shit bike rental. Happens to the best of us.” Again, the Mando suspected that the person sitting across from her didn’t seem like the type to ask for assistance, but hey, they’d been wrong before. And it never hurt to return politeness to strangers, especially if there was any chance she’d run into them in the galaxy again. “If that ever changes-- if you decide you want or need help-- I’d be grateful to fulfill the debt.”
Sabine awaited their reaction in its totality, watched the direction hands travelled and eyes wandered. The next move was Trilla’s to make. Sabine felt no need to reach for the blasters or hidden vibroblades yet, but that could easily change.
Artist. Madalorian. Weapons Master. Rebel. "My friends make the impossible possible." // RP account for galacticshq
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