ɴᴏᴡ ᴀᴛ asperamusae

It wasn’t that Temiri wanted anyone to leave, the man seemed nice, but the fear of his Master was more palpable than spending time with a nice person who wasn’t being rude and mean. But it didn’t mean Temiri couldn’t help. He isn’t working at the moment after all and it shouldn’t take so long before Bargwill notices.

Taking the man by the arm, Temiri pulls him along, “I’ll take you there, I’ll show you…but we have to be careful so that we are not seen…come…I’ll show you the way.”

The boy had seemed so frightened moments before, but when he grabbed Cescelly’s arm, it dawned on the pilot just how brave he actually was. He wasn’t letting his fear get in the way of doing a good thing.

the   man   who   walked   beside   her   was   CHARMING   in   his   own   more   rugged   way.    the   shift   in   colour   to   his   cheeks   was   humorous    ━━━━     ━     yet   not   the   kind   one   would   bring   attention   to   &&   tease.    that   was   an   act   Astra   RESERVED   for   her   cousin’s   visits.     she   listened,   paying   key   attention   to   each   syllable   that   sounded   off   from   his   name   before   nodding   in   understanding.     ❛       Ces…   celly …   Rufa …     Moro…       ❜    she   repeated   back   to   him   with   CAREFUL   PACING   to   ensure   proper   pronunciation,   gaze   lingering   on   his   for   approval   or   correction.

                               Cescelly’s   question,   however,    had   a   SOFT   LAUGH   falling   past   light   pink   lips.   she   quickly   dipped   her   head,   gaze   cast   to   the   floor   out   of   embarrassment   of   her   little   outburst.   though   it   might   not   seem   loud   in   the   eyes   of   the   pilot,   to   someone   raised   &&   working   within   an   environment   that   required   calm   &&   neutral   mannerisms,   it   took   her   by   SURPRISE   to   behave   in  such   a   way   in   front   of   the   stranger.     Astra   cleared   her   throat   soon   after,   shaking   her   head   in   response   to   the   question.       ❛       A   PRINCESS,    no.     though    I   will    take   your   enquiry   as   a   compliment…   ❜      she   hummed   in   amusement.

As cryptic as her answer was, he supposed it was suitable for such a NAIVE question. He had no idea what she was which probably meant that he wouldn’t fully understand it even if she told him. His question was all but forgotten as she laughed— the first purely joyous laughter he had heard since leaving Felucia, and won so easily.

❝ Go & ride your light; let it burn so bright. Reaching up to the sky & it's open wide. — You're electrified. ❞

Cescelly bounded up to the woman like an excitable pet, with a perhaps too friendly smile taking up half his face. “Hello! I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. That’d make you a new recruit or an off-world operative. Or a supplier! I suppose you could be a supplier.” Regardless of what she was, he was always happy to make a new acquaintance. He made it a point to familiarize himself with everyone on base which meant that he often nearly flung himself at strangers so he could greet them before they left.

  She’d been meditating ( a rare sight indeed ) when Cescelly emerged from the trees that surrounded the base. Dark eyes looked up at the male as he spoke. “Perhaps just eating the berries might not have been the best idea in the world.” The female stood up, dusting off her pants from where she’d been sitting on the ground. “A garden is a great idea - just try not to keel over.”

“Yeah, okay, I’ll try not to.” A horrible thought came to Cescelly’s mind, urging him to act on what little of a mean streak he had. He supressed a smile long enough to lurch backwards and gag, flailing his arms before falling to the ground with eyes closed— a deliberately exaggerated performance of faked death. His stilled state didn’t last long before he let out a giggle and looked up at her. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

❝ Got lightning in a bottle; hands on the throttle. Even in the dust we SHINE — with fire & gold in our eyes. ❞

The stranger in front of him didn’t seem all that worried about getting into trouble, he didn’t seem to take it all that seriously, but Temiri had no time for that. If Bargwill found out the man had gotten in here, if Bargwill sees, there was going to be a lot of trouble.

“Doesn’t matter…you need to leave…I don’t need trouble…my master will be angry…” He spoke more urgently, willing the man to understand the seriousness of the situation.

All joviality left Cescelly’s face at the boy’s mention of a ‘master’. Was this boy a slave? It wasn’t usual for workers to refer to their employer so reverently otherwise. His chest ached at the thought.

                     Astra   knew   the   journey   had   been   long,   yet   URGENT   DISCUSSIONS   still   had   to   be   made.    The   First   Order   would   NOT   kindly   wait   for   The   Resistance   to   rest   &&    re - group.    still   ━━━   ━     those   that   could   be   spared   &&  STOLEN   AWAY   from   the   talking   would   be   her   priority   for   now   so   that   was   what   she   would   do.

IT   WAS   AN   AFTERNOON   that   came   to   an   ending   with   gentle    breezes   &&   a   kind   heat.   not   too   intense   as   the   sun   readied   to   let   the   thirty - three   moons   stand   in   her   place.    DUSK.    a   fond   smile   crept  over   the   girl’s   lips   at   such   a   COINCIDENCE   that   the   group   would   come   to   her   planet   at   this   exact   time   ━━━    though   it   prompted   a   conversational  topic.    

                     ❛      the   force   binds   us   in   MYSTERIOUS   WAYS,    humble   pilot       ❜        she   begins,   hands   clasping   neatly   in   front   of   her,   inclining   her   head   ever   so   softly   as  heels   turned   away   from   the   group   ━━━   hoping   he   might   follow.      ❛     the   dusk   is   upon   us   &&   is   the   meaning   of   my   name;   Astra.   so,   what,   might   your   name   be   ??     ❜

Any sense he had of being out of place faded as he listened to her. His mind stilled and focussed on her words with deep interest. She was aptly named; her entire demeanor was as calm and comforting as Makem Hek’s ocean at dusk. She spoke of their surroundings with such gentility that he felt like he might have been conversing with a piece of nature come to life.

A soft blush reached his face as she used his own words to refer to him. It wasn’t as impersonal as ‘sir’, and something in the way she said it pleased him. He stepped into stride with her, unsure of their destination but unconcerned. Although he had just met her, he already trusted her implicitly. He had no reason not to.

                          ❛    family   ??    ❜    he   parroted   with   a   HUGE   GRIN   that   seemed   to  be   creeping   ever   wider   to  rival  that   of   a   nexu.   there   was   a   hint   of   disbelief   in  his    tone   but   appreciative   all   the   same   as   his   nerves   somewhat   settled.   tools   were   soon   gathered   back   up   &&   a   sheepish   attitude   overcame   him   more   than   what   might’ve   been   before.

TOOL   BOX   REMAINED   on   the  floor,   not   risking   more     c l u m s y     actions   whilst   hands   fidgeted   so   nervously.   one   hand   raised   to   rub   the   back   of   his   neck.     ❛    right    ━━━    Ces…     ❜    he   tries   the   name   out,   some   SKEPTICISM   over   how   casual   it   sounded.     ❛    BUT   I   MEAN  ━━━         ❜          Skitch   began,   practically   leaping   to   his   feet   with   enthusiasm.      ❛     you   were   the   guy   who   managed   to   navigate   through    that   asteroid   belt   WHILST   ALSO  dodging   First   Order   fire   &&   taking   out   half   the   tail   chasing    you,    RIGHT   ??   ❜

“Oh, that was just good luck and an even better TEAM watching my back. I’d be long dead and my X-Wing would be scrap metal without the other pilots and mechanics like yourself.” A deep blush colored his face. The praise from this boy seemed endless, and he couldn’t help feeling the credit was undeserved.

It was undeniable in his mind that his life had been saved by mechanics as many times as by pilots, if only because THE GENERAL might’ve killed him herself if she’d seen what he’d done to his starfighter for the zillionth time. How he was still considered an asset with all the credits for parts he’d cost the Resistance, he couldn’t say. Maybe his uncanny resilience on missions was what balanced that out in the end.

                   hands   had   BUSIED   THEMSELVES   under   a   panel   on   the   belly   of   his   fighter.   there   were   plenty   of   capable   hands   the   resistance   took   on   to   deal   with   maintenance    but   Poe   felt   both   more   comfortable   &&   happy   to   deal   with   the   minor   upgrades   himself.   the   majority   of   the   time,   his   mind   became   NUMB   to   the   environment   around   him.   most   noises   were   tuned   out.   well…   maybe   not   ALL   noises.

A   PARTICULAR   SOUND   of   an   electric   laced   bang   had   pulled   him   from   his   work   rather   abruptly.   so   much   so,    the   pilot   had   sat   up   rather   quickly   &&   caught   his   head   against   his   ship   before   rolling   out   from   underneath.   a   hand   (  smothered   in   oil   )   reached   to   massage   the   sore   spot   on   his   forehead   as   feet   carried   him   around   his   fighter   to   find   Cescelly   lying   on   the   floor.

                             ❛     ….   hey   buddy.      ❜     came   an   AMUSED   GREETING,    smirk   tugging   at   the   corner   of   Poe’s   lips.   arms   folded    over   his   chest    as   he    nodded   at   his   fellow   pilot’s   words.      ❛     I    see…    kind   of   you   to   WARN   ME   about   that.    I’ll   be   sure   to   watch   out.     you   uh…   you   need   a   hand   up   there,   pal   ??    ❜

His left hand cautiously reached up to pat his hair. He was only now becoming conscious of a peculiar sensation that meant each curl had straightened and stood on end. Although he couldn’t see what he looked like, he could see the HUMOR of the situation. “Oh my.” His words shook with laughter. “I wonder how much grease it’s gonna take to fix that!”

Wide eyes looked back to Poe at the offer of a hand. “N-no, I’m fine, thanks.” It was true that Cescelly felt fine considering what he’d just been through. He could have died, but instead his limbs ached and his digits felt like they’d fallen asleep. He didn’t think that would be a problem until he tried to push himself up and his arm was too tingly to support his weight. He COLLAPSED onto his back again with a groan.

PEOPLE LOVE YOU BECAUSE — YOU ARE A LOVER

Passion is the driving force in your life. You live your emotional life more vividly than most, & you frequently feel compelled by those emotions to act. Sometimes your lack of forethought gets you in trouble, but for the most part your friends love how passionate you are about your relationships & your work. There is an intensity about the way you live that your friends envy. Life around you is never dull. You are always finding new causes & new people to fall for.

Rose had just finished a particularly complicated and messy repair when a pilot shouts, clearly trying to get her attention. Normally she would be happy to see a friendly face, but she can’t help but feel a bit tired and irritable. The last pilot she performed repairs for was reckless or a bad flyer… Perhaps a bit of both. She struggled to make sense of the damage and fixing it had been even more difficult.

“Yeah, I’m a mechanic,” she sighs, wiping stray oil off of her face. Her tired and generally sour mood improves at the mention of the droid. The small R6 unit, with its orange paint, could be mistaken for a BB unit at a distance. However, BB units tend to be slightly better at fixing ships, due to their small, nimble bodies. Although Rose must admit, the droid looks like it’s trying it’s best.

His whispered additions make her laugh. “You can’t judge him too harshly. He certainly looks like he’s trying harder than you.” Her tone is light and teasing. “I was going to take a break but your droid really does look like he needs help.” The poor droid does not fit nicely under the ship, frequently bumping into the bottom of it. “Your ship better not be like the last guy’s,” Rose mutters, wagging a wrench at him. “He both did and didn’t rip his ship in half. If that doesn’t make sense you can imagine how fun of a time I had fixing his ship.”

She looks more tired than he realized at first and he almost feels bad for asking. Still, she seems willing to help, and he can pay her back later. He wholeheartedly believes that when someone does something nice good things will happen to them, which means she’ll have plenty of good luck in exchange for her deed. As long as her good luck isn’t as ironic as his, she should be fine.

Her comment about his droid makes him laugh. “Of course! That’s because he actually knows what he’s doing.” Having grown up on a farm in the jungle, Ces had little experience with machines. Now every day seemed like a crash-course on how to fix parts of his ship most people didn’t even know could get broken. “It’s more rattled than torn, I think.” he assures her. “Thanks so much for this! I owe you big time.”