AU Week

[notallofus]

[oom: AU background, under the Terran Empire - ]

Whenever he walks beyond his room (his cell, the word rings in his mind, but he tries to ignore it) back on the ship, Kanan knows what emotions to expect. Fear, anger, rage. There are many species that don't look so different from humans at first glance, but his identity among the others doesn't seem to be any secret. He can't blame them for that reaction, really. He'd felt the same when he first spotted Hera. But it's hard to focus his empathy on such negative emotion, emotion that he's trying to feel less of himself.

A visit to Milliways can help with that. The emotion fluctuates around something more neutral, a glance in his direction is generally curious, rather than angry or suspicious. He takes a seat at a table in the center of the bar, relaxing his mind, letting his senses wander in a way he's almost never allowed of them before. For a few minutes, he just sits like this, occasionally sipping from a glass of water, and take in the calming sense of a group that while loud and vibrant, isn't nearly-uniformly furious with him.

Then, he takes out a device Hera had given him, something like an old PADD, and slowly starts to tap notes into it.



Hera, on the other hand, can rarely feel calm or comfortable in Milliways. She knows most who come here aren't Terrans, in that they're not from the same time, or from a different Terra, or not from such a planet at all. But most are human, and whatever she knows, it's hard for her to ignore that. It's hard for her to feel at ease when so outnumbered, and not even the chance at some kind of outdoors, open sky and grass and a forest, can make that tension worth it to her.

But if she's going to be here, she's going to be outside. Hera walks along the lake, a short distance from the edge of the water, in the direction of the mountains. She had spent so little of her life outside of walls of some kind, and how when she did, it was almost always with a job to do. There is something nice about the chance at free time, to run through the forest, or swim in the lake, or scale the rocky face of one of those mountains. Which is what she might be heading toward now.

Comments

[freedom_is_grey]

Also approaching the mountains at this point is a white-haired woman wearing a heavy fur cloak, using her staff as a walking stick, and carrying a pack of supplies on her back. Next to her is a very massive dog, and both of them look up as they catch sight of Hera.

The woman smiles.

The dog yips cheerfully, tail wagging.

"Hera, I didn't expect to see you out here! You're well, I hope?"

The woman's ears are pointed.

[for_everyone]

She's certainly not dressed like a Vulcan. But the woman recognizes her on sight, and Hera's not sure how she could, unless they've worked together in the past.

Then again, Hera's sure she would remember working with a Vulcan woman who dressed like that and had a big dog.

Hera stops, as she thinks over it. But she also doesn't lie, once she's sure she doesn't know the woman.

"You know me?" she asks. Her voice is mild, no hint of accusation, or apology.

[freedom_is_grey]

Ysalwen stops immediately, a frown passing across her face.

"Do you not remember?"

Her frown deepens.

"Maybe it's a different timeline thing. I hear those happen. Or -- "

[for_everyone]

Her head tilts. Then the more pertinent question seems to be -

"How do you know me?"

[freedom_is_grey]

"We're friends? You've been teaching me how to fire a blaster, and I've been teaching you how to use a sword. And we . . .well. We have some background similarities, as well."

Her smile is quick and very crooked.

"I'm not sure that matters so much, currently."

[for_everyone]

She's not sure what a blaster is, and she's very sure she would remember a Vulcan training her to use a sword.

"Does that mean you've known me in here?"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Um, yes. Just in here. We don't -- I don't think my people exist on your worlds, and yours doesn't so much exist on what I've seen of mine."

Liranan whines a little, head cocked in confusion.

[for_everyone]

"Then you're not Vulcan."

It would make the most sense, but at this point, Hera feels like she has to be sure.

[freedom_is_grey]

"I'm an elf."

It seems the most straightforward thing to do, just to say it.

[for_everyone]

"All right."

She thinks this over, and says, "Then I think it's still true that your people don't exist in my world."

[freedom_is_grey]

"It's nice to know that some things remain constant."

So far, anyway.

Hmm.

[for_everyone]

Hera just finds this whole notion off-putting. But there's not much to do but move on with it.

"All right. Then you know my name."

A pause. "What's yours?"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Ysalwen," Ysa answers promptly, because it's only polite. "Ysa, to my friends. And this is Liranan."

Liranan's yip is caution, and not accompanied by any tail-wagging.

"He's my first line of defense."

[childofrebellion]

(OOC: Cassian's an second year engineering student.)

One of the things that Cassian loves about Milliways is how different tech is just there.

He's holding an iced coffee as he looks for a place to sit and notices Kanan's futuristic tablet, and tries not to stare as he walks by. Today he's wearing a shirt that says: Yavin University: Making a Better World. A rat zips by him and he ends up backing into Kanan's table. "Sorry."

[notallofus]

Kanan glances up, though perhaps out of habit, not long enough to meet the other man's eyes.

"It's fine."

[childofrebellion]

"I didn't get anything on you?" That's always a worry here as he never knows how protected tech is and he can't tell if the man's annoyed at him or not.

[notallofus]

"No," Kanan says, looking up again, just as briefly.

"I said it's fine."

And, a moment later, as if to make sure he hasn't been unclear.

"I'm not upset."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian nods as he hears the dismissal, he has work he should be doing. Draven recommended a book to read about war and infrastructure. "Okay, enjoy your reading."

[notallofus]

It's less dismissal than general discomfort with talking to fellow Terrans. Because usually it's . . . not the fun kind of conversation.

Except this is Milliways, so --

"Did you . . . want to talk?"

[childofrebellion]

"I was wondering about your tablet and the tech behind it. I'm studying to be an engineer."

The man's discomfort is clear but he'll explain, that might help or not.

[notallofus]

"A starship engineer? Because I can tell you, the PADD's not going to help much with that. But I guess you can sit, if you want."

His shoulders look like they want to hunch, but he straightens them forcibly, mustering up a quick smile.

"It's just a handheld information device. Does your world not have those?"

[childofrebellion]

"No, my world doesn't have starships. Civil engineering, the kind that makes sure everyone has clean water and a roof over their head. We have tablets but they don't look like that and smartphones, all that kind of stuff."

He pulls out his phone, its a basic model in a sturdy case. Cassian watches the man force himself to sit up straight and worries. What's acceptable and what's welcome in Milliways aren't always the same thing.

[notallofus]

Kanan's eyebrows go up.

"Everyone has clean water? And a house?"

How strange.

[childofrebellion]

"That's not everything but the basics. If you know that you have a space that's your own, its easier to feel safe when you don't have to worry about those things. Its not possible everywhere but it should be. Are there different problems where you're from?"

Hopefully he's from one of the nice futures where no one has to worry.

[notallofus]

Kanan very carefully doesn't scoff.

"Problems seem like they're different everywhere. Maybe not historically, but in the moment . . . "