revivalproject | We All Float On

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We All Float On

WHO: Cal Kestis, BD-1 and you!
WHERE: Agrii Ship
WHAT: Keeping busy on the way back to Agra 10
WHEN: During the trip back
WARNINGS: N/A

It's definitely a different atmosphere aboard the ship, now that they don't have imminent threats hanging over their heads. Having a full ship also helps for the mood. True, there have been disappointments and frustration in the aftermath of rescuing all the Agrii, but Cal hardly thinks the Agrii themselves are to blame. It seems clear enough that someone else is at work in all this, and while that in itself is disheartening, there's little that can be done that they haven't already tried in order to get any further clues in that. The current state of those of their own that they've rescued along with the Agrii and Graq is worrying, and not knowing what else to do, he can only hope that Cloud and Bucky come out of their sleep soon.

The padawan takes the time to get to know the Agrii. It's a nice change to be able to speak face to face to them instead of wait for mysterious messages. It's nice to know they're real. But sometimes they can be overbearing, and so he finds retreat as he can.

Naturally it's work that Cal throws himself into, finding the need to do something. Being busy comes easier than meditation at the moment, and there's plenty enough to be done anyway.

A
With no rush to get things finished, he's happy to work on the ships, putting in some perhaps much-needed upgrades. Can't hurt to, right? Given how woefully under-equipped they've proven in what might be considered necessary functions, the padawan's priorities would be to retrofit ships with whatever parts are yet available to provide protection and increase travel speed. He won't mind an extra hand, of course. Or maybe you want your ship to be upgraded next?

B
In a quiet, empty dead-end hall or perhaps even the Green Room, when he's not picking at tech, Cal and BD-1 can be found going over some of the latter's interesting findings. BD-1's been pretty busy with the Soldier, it seems, and now that they've got the time, Cal's trying to catch up with what's happened on the other end.

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"We've been thrown into an unusual situation. One has to think differently to adapt, to get through things. It may sound like an obvious thing, but it really isn't. Especially when people may be used to different things."

Cal reaches up to try toggling a button or two, to no effect. He sighs, not really surprised, but no less disappointed. Picking up the panel covering, he carefully sets it back up.

"There's always potential for people to do things they've never done before," he continues, glancing over his shoulder with a faint smile. "Motivation in your case was your brother. Even opening up to asking about learning things was motivated by something else. So you're definitely working towards better. The only way to do otherwise is not to do anything about it at all."

Tommy's eyes flicker briefly to Cal. Yeah, that's not going anywhere, is it? Fucking hell this place sucks. Almost worse than Temba.

"Stop being so smart. Makes guys like me feel awkward."

Sensing Tommy's look, Cal gives a headshake as he finishes fastening the panel in place.

He does snort a little at the other's words. "It's nothing to do with being smart. I'm just pointing things out as I see them," he says, grinning a little. "And what's to be awkward about? It's only further proof that you're smarter than people may have been making you out to be."

Is it? Tommy just looks... sad for a moment. He wants to be smarter. But so many years of being told he's horrible and it sometimes stuck.

"I just want to be better than I was. Someone people can count on."

"Then you have to do more and not just think about what you want. There isn't going to be a set of guidelines. No one's perfect, and no one can tell you where you should aim to be. That's all decided by you."

Cal pulls himself to his feet, stretching out a bit before he turns to walk over to where Tommy and BD-1 have parked themselves.

"It doesn't have to be anything big either. It starts with little things. They don't even have to be noticed by anyone. You don't have to impress anyone, Tommy. And for what it's worth, BeeDee and I already know we can count on you, and I'm sure there are others here who feel the same."

In addition to that, BD-1 looks up from his reading to chirp his agreement.

Tommy keeps flipping pages, but his eyes are intent on Cal and what he's saying. Cal doesn't... he doesn't' get it. People don't keep him around if he's not impressive.

Except that hasn't been true here, has it?

"You're good people, Cal."

Cal smiles wryly, pulling out a chair to join them.

"...you know, when I was still training to be a Jedi back in the Temple, I wanted to be the best at everything. I'd handle every challenge they threw at me. So then when they finally assigned me as a padawan to a Jedi master, they gave me someone tough. Someone who'd push me. His training was difficult, and when I failed, he'd tell me to keep at it until I could succeed. Because he knew I could."

His gaze drifts towards the table and the piles of dictionaries and things. He wishes his more recent memories of his master were pleasant.

"...until things just suddenly fell apart and got turned upside-down. Then I lost my teacher, and whatever else I expected to be. I had to stop being a Jedi padawan, I couldn't use the things I was taught of the Force, because we were labeled traitors, and if anyone found out, I'd be killed." He lifts his shoulders slightly in a vague shrug. "...so I hid. It wasn't about being better or anything anymore. It was just about trying to survive. And I thought that was enough, until recently."

Tommy sighs.

“My life until now has just been surviving. Or, well, until the others found me. I want it to be more than that now. Everyone wanted to get rid of me. I want to be seen as someone to keep around.”

"The Empire wants me and any other Jedi dead. It's still survival for me. But I've realized I can't just hide forever either. I haven't cared too much about who might want to keep me around so much as wanting to be able to do something."

Cal shakes his head. "I thought I'd finally found a purpose, but then things happened... I failed a test, and it just felt like I was lost again. That was just before I got pulled into this Agrii business."

He looks at Tommy, smiling ruefully. "Maybe I'm still just distracting myself with this situation we've all been thrown into, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm glad I've been able to meet everyone here, to consider people like you as a friend. I haven't made many of those before
I got here."

BD-1 pauses in his reading, but then they've reached the end of the book at that point. He beeps with mock-indignation and Cal laughs, patting him. "Except you, BeeDee," he corrects.

Oh. That... got Tommy right in the feelings he proclaimed not to have. But he smiles at Cal and nods after a long moment as he closes the book and looks to Cal.

"Um, yeah. Me either. THanks for being my friend."

Grinning faintly, Cal nods back at Tommy. He then casts another look around.

"...I wonder if we should change our strategy for finding answers. With the computers down we can't do any in-depth search for whatever information the Agrii might have been using for bringing us here, and I think most of the things here is more their research on how to interact with us. What other angles should we be looking at..?"

"I mean, we could talk to them? But they seem pretty damn confused too."

That said...

"Talk to Wanda. The whole singing planet thing. She'll probably have details on that, right? She seemed shocked and angry."

"True, but it couldn't hurt to talk to them anyway. Especially given we haven't had much opportunity to do so before. I'm a little concerned about that confusion." Ga Re's responses had been a little off to him, and he's not sure why.

Cal nods at the suggestion to speak to Wanda. "Yeah. You're right. She's had previous experience with it, and the Atroma. Maybe she'll have some insight."

"Aunt Wanda is smart like that," Tommy says, half amused. "I can ask her to talk to you?"

But he's not certain it will get them anywhere.

"Sure," Cal replies. "And we can both try talking to the Agrii. At the very least we'd be able to get to know them better."

It's something to do, at least, and maybe they'll figure out something along the way.

"You're welcome to try. But I'm not going to. They creep me out."

Too many hugs. Too much excitement.

"I'll get in touch with her for you, though."

Well, he can't force anyone. Cal holds back a sigh, smiling crookedly instead as he nods again. "All right then." Not that he can blame Tommy about the overeager, touchy Agrii. That's not something he's entirely used to either.

"Thanks."

Tommy is a toucher. He's a snuggler. He's a hugger. He refuses all of these things. Except it's getting easier and easier to accept it here.

"No problem Caliente. Just what friends do."

At last. Nickname found. Hope you like that.

Cal arches a brow at that, unfamiliar with the word, much less the language. Still, he looks amused at least, eventually offering a shrug and a shake of his head. Could be worse, he supposes.

"Come on, let's get out of here," he suggests, a somewhat lopsided smile tugging at his face. "Maybe your other friend's waiting in the hall to say hi again."

His other friends. Tommy groans at the idea of the Agrii out there. He just wants to be with his family. He wants to be home.

"How about we go find food that doesn't taste like peanuts?"

Actually he meant the dog thing, but the reaction probably still stands. Cal still smiles sympathetically before pushing to his feet. He holds out an arm to the little droid.

"Sure, I'm good for that. Come on, BeeDee."

No. Not the dog thing. Dogs are horrible. The fear would be palpable if he even had the chance to think of it.

"See you two around, okay?"

Well, at least he can just zoom on through without the Agrii's pet even noticing. Cal tosses Tommy a salute, BD-1 beeping in accompaniment.

"Later, Tommy."

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We All Float On

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