…Had it all been a set-up? Never about making a deal, but about putting him in a position to be rescued. To trust or consider himself in debt. Was he known or important enough for anyone to have bothered? What was there to be gained? Why would that work better than its premise would? Did he really think this batch ready to be so subtle or complicated?
Real or not real, he was in better shape (—no matter being in such bad shape) to salvage something from this by going with her now; rather than, as she pointed out, waiting for the authorities to get involved.
He reached back to her offered hand. He clapped his hand into hers. And accepted her help pulling himself to his feet.
You can trust me.
Right.
Still, wouldn't hurt to seem to. Go for it. Take the bait.
…And if by some chance it wasn't… accept the miracle.
His forward momentum didn't stop where he wanted it to; he got off the ground, all right, but then overbalanced forward and had to be caught. Then supported by her getting out.
Jyn might've been the only one on this Force-forsaken planet who didn't have any ulterior motives whatsoever. She was simply waiting for the rest of her crew to sew their wild oats so they could return to the job they were supposed to be doing.
She couldn't begin to say whether or not she had been meant to be here at this particular time in this particular place, and she knew that she couldn't save everybody, but once she parsed what was going to happen, she knew she couldn't just ignore it.
So. Here she was, panting, adrenaline high, extending her hand to a complete stranger, trusting that he had no ulterior motives for her. But in the state he was in, Jyn felt no danger whatsoever, not even pity, not really. Just worry.
What had they dosed him with? And how long would it take to work it's way out of his system? And could she really help without looking for medical intervention?
Too much to concentrate on when the most important thing was getting out of there, not to the freighter, but to the dirty little room she had paid for for the night, where she'd just ... watch over him, make sure he didn't die on her watch. And when the morning came, she'd be gone. She couldn't offer anything else.
He took her hand, and she grimaced at how clammy his were. And she had to curl an arm tightly around him when he stood and promptly almost fell forward. "Come on", she urged, her voice tight, urgency coloring every word. "Work with me here."
"Sorry," he said, and was… (upset? enraged? embarrassed?) …aggravated at how slurred he sounded in two syllables. Ugh… he'd known but not managed to avoid…
He threw more power from shields to navigation; focusing intently on staying on his own two feet and leaning a little less on her, and following whatever direction she set.
"You know who they were?" he said softly. Knowing it was a stupid question, he was unlikely to get a real answer… but staying talking might help with focus, and her answer, truthful or not, might be informative anyway.
Jyn made a dismissive little noise in the back of her throat as her arm tightened around his middle - just to help keep him steady and nothing more. She would release her grip if he wriggled out of it. It wasn't his fault that he'd been drugged, and it wasn't him that she had any ire for. "You don't need to apologize."
Once he was a little bit steadier on his feet, she led him toward where she hoped a back door was. It'd be easier to make an escape with any eyes on them as they did so. Jyn felt a small sense of relief when that door came into sight, and she urged him toward it.
She scoffed and shook her head, glancing at him momentarily. It was a positive sign that he was able to speak coherently. "Not a clue."
There was a darkness in her voice, but it wasn't directed toward him more than it was the group of men she'd left lying battered on the floor. "I was watching. They were going to hurt you. What kind of person would I be if I let that happen?"
"Self-preserving?" he said softly. Without malice, bitterness, or judgment for the kind of person who would be. "Not anyone's fault that… not everyone should have to…" The thoughts circled in on themselves and left him dizzy. He shook his head, closed his eyes, and focused on staying on his feet.
"Where are we going?" he said at last, instead. Stick with the immediate and concrete.
"Complacent", she replied, not a chastisement, but a reminder to herself that today was not going to be the day where she just sat back and did nothing. For as battered as her heart was, she still had the capacity to care, even about strangers that she had never seen before and would never see again.
She didn't blame anyone who couldn't step in, but she held herself to a higher standard. She wasn't yet so disillusioned with everything that she could ignore something so heinous happening right in front of her. Hopefully she never would be.
"Got a room nearby - ", she replied, grimly aware that it might've sounded like he'd been rescued from a bad situation and being led into another. "You can shower and rest, let whatever they gave you make its way out of your system.
"I know." And he did, somehow. …Or at least, the part of his brain that had to rationalize went ahead with, he'd behave as if he did.
But…
"Why are you helping me?" he asked, still softly, still damnably slurred; with an acuity, a tension, nevertheless.
Even though, in the same way he knew the other, he knew this too; he didn't need to ask. That single word—complacent—had given him everything he needed. They were alike, at least in this: not everyone should have to give themselves up, for the sake of others. Which was why they did.
That, too, was promising. It suggested that she wouldn't have to worry about having another fight on her hands if he suddenly freaked and thought that she was going to try to take advantage, too.
That was the furthest thought in her mind. Jyn just wanted to get someplace safe - she had injuries to attend to, as well, what felt like a strained shoulder and maybe a bruised rib.
Worth it, though.
She didn't know what he'd go back to once the drugs left his system, whether he'd be safe or not, but tonight, he had no worries that anyone else might have malice in mind for him.
His exhalation might read as a laugh. But it wasn't one. "Okay."
The right thing to do. Versus the easy thing. Versus the complacent or self-preserving thing. Versus even the right move. Versus…
"Okay," again, more softly, then he had to stop talking and focus on staying conscious. He couldn't stop it. He could only delay it. Until they got to somewhere where he could properly collapse.
Jyn wasn't offended. She was too busy leading him outside into the cool air and through a light crowd who barely even gave the pair a second glance. One step at a time, she was bound and determined to get to the room she'd rented for the night.
There, he could give in and collapse. She'd be there to watch over him until the morning came and she'd have to leave again.
Not really how she imagined spending a night, but again - worth it in the end.
"Nothing wrong with a little encouragement", she retorted, her lips lifting into a wry little smile. "You're up and moving. I'd say you're doing pretty well, all things considered."
She pointed toward the building they were heading for, carefully maneuvering the both of them to the right side of the walk.
"I'm Liana", she smoothly lied, her expressing belying nothing that would suggest anything less than total truthfulness. "What's your name?"
"Rilio," he answered, just as smooth and blank. It was the name on the arrivals roster. His hand momentarily gripped her shoulder as he stumbled and made sure not to fall. He released her just as quickly, as if appalled he may have bruised her. "Is that it?" Not hiding a hint of pleading in his voice. Not much further.
Jyn might have inhaled sharply, but she didn't pull away nor push Rilio away. He needed to steady herself - it wasn't his fault that he'd chosen to use her injured shoulder as leverage. But she was grateful when he released his grip and they could continue on, slowly but surely.
"That's it", she confirmed, nodding slightly. "You think you can manage the stairs?"
Was there an alternative? "Yeah," he said. Not actually sure but stubborn enough to make sure. He'd had to tackle worse, while in worse shape, unaided.
He'd noticed the inhalation and almost wanted to let go of her entirely. He was hurting her somehow. …Of course, for all she'd utterly demolished the gang, they'd probably gotten a few hits in. But she'd chosen to help him, it wasn't his call to what extent she opted in, and he suspected that she was probably stubborn, too, and his resisting that would just be a waste of both of their time.
Still, he tried extra hard to carry more of his own weight the rest of the way and up the staircase.
She was stronger than she looked - but Jyn didn't particularly feel like dragging him up the stairs behind her. That'd probably garner the sort of curious looks that she was hoping to avoid.
Jyn absolutely was stubborn and strong-willed once she put her mind on something. He was in far worse shape than she was, and she could deal with the sharp twinge of pain. She had had much worse, after all.
The most important thing was getting upstairs and into her room where they'd have a little privacy. One labored step at a time, until the stairs were conquered and Jyn was closing and locking the door behind them, so grateful that the rickety little bed was only just a few more steps away.
The vertigo hit him bad not nearly far enough up the stairs; but it was still better than dragging his crash-landed broken-limbed sorry self across the desert of Sevarcos II. He reminded himself of that with every teeth-gritted inhalation.
Then, thank the Force… He'd normally never intrude, let alone onto someone's bed, without specific invitation, but by the time Liana was finished locking the door, Cassian was already sitting on the edge of the bed, one hand gripping the mattress, the other pressed to his eyes.
Could've been worse. Jyn might have had to haul Rilio over her shoulder the rest of the way. She was small, deceptively strong, she probably could have done it. But she was glad that she didn't have to.
Door locked securely, Jyn turned around and for a moment, just observed him closely. He looked pale, on the verge of outright shaking, and she went toward her bag sitting atop the old bureau.
Rummaging through it for a moment, she finally kneeled in front of him and held up an old, battered canteen. "Drink some water. You need it."
Cassian was simultaneously parched and afraid that if he tried to ingest anything else, even water, he'd vomit. …But that would be aiding detoxification, wouldn't it…
Gingerly, giving her what he hoped was a grateful look, he took the canteen and drank—just a little, at first, easing into it.
"Are you okay?" he belatedly asked. "I won't be keeping you from your own bed?"
It wouldn't be the worst thing Jyn ever would have bore witness to. Besides, even if the room was small and the 'fresher was, again, only just a few steps away, he might need assistance in getting there.
She sat back on her heels, confident (for the moment) that he was going to be okay, given a little time.
"I can pull the chair over and put my feet up. Won't have been the worst place I've ever slept", she replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "Or we could just share. I'm small, don't take up much space. Whatever makes you most comfortable."
"I don't mind sharing," said Cassian—suspecting he was going to be too out of it shortly to notice either way. "Just don't know how restful a bedfellow I'm going to be… I thrash around sometimes." Not usually while on duty, especially undercover, but he couldn't vouch for how this state was going to affect him.
He covered his mouth, working on keeping the water down, and succeeded. …Again, probably should let himself purge… he just hated it. For future reference: "Which way to the 'fresher?"
Jyn probably wouldn't find much rest, anyway, not when the most important thing was making sure that Rilio didn't die on her in the middle of the night. She nodded her understanding, but didn't mention again that she had had worse, spent long nights sharing sleeping spaces with others who suffered from night terrors, faced her own, as well. "I'll take that into consideration."
Luckily, this room came with a tiny 'fresher all it's own. Jyn was grateful that if need be, they wouldn't have to struggle down the hall into the communal one. "Three steps behind you."
It took her a moment to stand - the only sign she gave that something was hurting - and peeled her jacket off, dropping it unceremoniously onto the little table in the corner. "You think you might know what they dosed you with?"
"Probably myocaine." An odorless, colorless, and tasteless muscle relaxant[1], favored by barside predators. "Could've been myoplexaril. A downer, whatever it was. Not a soporific." Though he was tired. But probably more from subsequent exertion than from the drug. He hadn't been sleepy when… and they would have wanted him conscious…
"'ve been dosed with it before. Probably just need to sleep it off." And look forward to a hangover and some withdrawal. Still, far from the worst possibility. (He'd take it, situationally at least, over skirtopanol.[2] Plus significantly better now that he was in a less vulnerable situation. Here was better than that bar even if Liana proved not to be what she said.
As for Liana… He wasn't so far gone as not to notice the way she stood and removed her jacket. "You're hurt…"
Jyn's eyes narrowed and her lips pulled into a grim line. 'I've been dosed with it before' left a sour taste in her mouth and a heavy weight in her stomach. She knew that she couldn't save everybody, but she didn't know if she could just leave when the morning came fearing that he'd just find himself in the same situation all over again ... or worse.
"Well, you can do that here", she finally answered, next making an effort to set her visible weapons on the table with her jacket, slowly, as if to show that she wasn't going to be a threat. Truncheons first, and then the stun baton she had lifted from the man that had tried to use it on her.
She set a hand at her side, frowning slightly. "A little. Hurt 'em worse."
Some well-integrated part of his training allowed him, through his haze, to note her action with the weapons. And mirror her: shrugging out of his jacket and setting the blaster (not his, damn them, the one he'd requisitioned off them) he'd stuck into his belt on the table beside hers. Ah, they'd left him his vibroblade, which he also deposited there.
(Whether he left his smaller, ankle holstered secondary blaster where it was because he was too tired to remember, too queasy to lean over, or because he really couldn't trust that much just yet…
Sort it out when he could think.)
He winced, in perhaps sympathetic pain. Simultaneous with the (pride? don't be ridiculous—) admiration in his eyes and voice when he agreed, "Yeah. You did at that. —But thinking you definitely should rest, too." He set the flask down at last, among the weapons, and swung his legs up onto the mattress—but paused and gestured down at it, to her. "Which side is yours?"
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Date: 2019-09-05 09:31 am (UTC)…Had it all been a set-up? Never about making a deal, but about putting him in a position to be rescued. To trust or consider himself in debt. Was he known or important enough for anyone to have bothered? What was there to be gained? Why would that work better than its premise would? Did he really think this batch ready to be so subtle or complicated?
Real or not real, he was in better shape (—no matter being in such bad shape) to salvage something from this by going with her now; rather than, as she pointed out, waiting for the authorities to get involved.
He reached back to her offered hand. He clapped his hand into hers. And accepted her help pulling himself to his feet.
You can trust me.
Right.
Still, wouldn't hurt to seem to. Go for it. Take the bait.
…And if by some chance it wasn't… accept the miracle.
His forward momentum didn't stop where he wanted it to; he got off the ground, all right, but then overbalanced forward and had to be caught. Then supported by her getting out.
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Date: 2019-09-06 01:20 am (UTC)She couldn't begin to say whether or not she had been meant to be here at this particular time in this particular place, and she knew that she couldn't save everybody, but once she parsed what was going to happen, she knew she couldn't just ignore it.
So. Here she was, panting, adrenaline high, extending her hand to a complete stranger, trusting that he had no ulterior motives for her. But in the state he was in, Jyn felt no danger whatsoever, not even pity, not really. Just worry.
What had they dosed him with? And how long would it take to work it's way out of his system? And could she really help without looking for medical intervention?
Too much to concentrate on when the most important thing was getting out of there, not to the freighter, but to the dirty little room she had paid for for the night, where she'd just ... watch over him, make sure he didn't die on her watch. And when the morning came, she'd be gone. She couldn't offer anything else.
He took her hand, and she grimaced at how clammy his were. And she had to curl an arm tightly around him when he stood and promptly almost fell forward. "Come on", she urged, her voice tight, urgency coloring every word. "Work with me here."
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Date: 2019-09-08 04:23 am (UTC)He threw more power from shields to navigation; focusing intently on staying on his own two feet and leaning a little less on her, and following whatever direction she set.
"You know who they were?" he said softly. Knowing it was a stupid question, he was unlikely to get a real answer… but staying talking might help with focus, and her answer, truthful or not, might be informative anyway.
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:05 am (UTC)Once he was a little bit steadier on his feet, she led him toward where she hoped a back door was. It'd be easier to make an escape with any eyes on them as they did so. Jyn felt a small sense of relief when that door came into sight, and she urged him toward it.
She scoffed and shook her head, glancing at him momentarily. It was a positive sign that he was able to speak coherently. "Not a clue."
There was a darkness in her voice, but it wasn't directed toward him more than it was the group of men she'd left lying battered on the floor. "I was watching. They were going to hurt you. What kind of person would I be if I let that happen?"
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:21 am (UTC)"Where are we going?" he said at last, instead. Stick with the immediate and concrete.
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:30 am (UTC)She didn't blame anyone who couldn't step in, but she held herself to a higher standard. She wasn't yet so disillusioned with everything that she could ignore something so heinous happening right in front of her. Hopefully she never would be.
"Got a room nearby - ", she replied, grimly aware that it might've sounded like he'd been rescued from a bad situation and being led into another. "You can shower and rest, let whatever they gave you make its way out of your system.
... I'm not gonna hurt you."
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:36 am (UTC)But…
"Why are you helping me?" he asked, still softly, still damnably slurred; with an acuity, a tension, nevertheless.
Even though, in the same way he knew the other, he knew this too; he didn't need to ask. That single word—complacent—had given him everything he needed. They were alike, at least in this: not everyone should have to give themselves up, for the sake of others. Which was why they did.
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:43 am (UTC)That was the furthest thought in her mind. Jyn just wanted to get someplace safe - she had injuries to attend to, as well, what felt like a strained shoulder and maybe a bruised rib.
Worth it, though.
She didn't know what he'd go back to once the drugs left his system, whether he'd be safe or not, but tonight, he had no worries that anyone else might have malice in mind for him.
Worth it.
"It's the right thing to do."
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:52 am (UTC)The right thing to do. Versus the easy thing. Versus the complacent or self-preserving thing. Versus even the right move. Versus…
"Okay," again, more softly, then he had to stop talking and focus on staying conscious. He couldn't stop it. He could only delay it. Until they got to somewhere where he could properly collapse.
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Date: 2019-09-08 05:56 am (UTC)There, he could give in and collapse. She'd be there to watch over him until the morning came and she'd have to leave again.
Not really how she imagined spending a night, but again - worth it in the end.
"A little further. Come on, you're doing great."
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Date: 2019-09-08 06:14 am (UTC)…Which was, in turn… more true than he'd even meant to be.
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Date: 2019-09-08 06:21 am (UTC)She pointed toward the building they were heading for, carefully maneuvering the both of them to the right side of the walk.
"I'm Liana", she smoothly lied, her expressing belying nothing that would suggest anything less than total truthfulness. "What's your name?"
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Date: 2019-09-08 06:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-09-08 06:39 am (UTC)"That's it", she confirmed, nodding slightly. "You think you can manage the stairs?"
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Date: 2019-09-08 06:56 am (UTC)He'd noticed the inhalation and almost wanted to let go of her entirely. He was hurting her somehow. …Of course, for all she'd utterly demolished the gang, they'd probably gotten a few hits in. But she'd chosen to help him, it wasn't his call to what extent she opted in, and he suspected that she was probably stubborn, too, and his resisting that would just be a waste of both of their time.
Still, he tried extra hard to carry more of his own weight the rest of the way and up the staircase.
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Date: 2019-09-08 07:14 am (UTC)Jyn absolutely was stubborn and strong-willed once she put her mind on something. He was in far worse shape than she was, and she could deal with the sharp twinge of pain. She had had much worse, after all.
The most important thing was getting upstairs and into her room where they'd have a little privacy. One labored step at a time, until the stairs were conquered and Jyn was closing and locking the door behind them, so grateful that the rickety little bed was only just a few more steps away.
no subject
Date: 2019-09-08 07:23 am (UTC)Then, thank the Force… He'd normally never intrude, let alone onto someone's bed, without specific invitation, but by the time Liana was finished locking the door, Cassian was already sitting on the edge of the bed, one hand gripping the mattress, the other pressed to his eyes.
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Date: 2019-09-08 07:32 am (UTC)Door locked securely, Jyn turned around and for a moment, just observed him closely. He looked pale, on the verge of outright shaking, and she went toward her bag sitting atop the old bureau.
Rummaging through it for a moment, she finally kneeled in front of him and held up an old, battered canteen. "Drink some water. You need it."
no subject
Date: 2019-09-08 07:39 am (UTC)Gingerly, giving her what he hoped was a grateful look, he took the canteen and drank—just a little, at first, easing into it.
"Are you okay?" he belatedly asked. "I won't be keeping you from your own bed?"
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Date: 2019-09-08 07:44 am (UTC)She sat back on her heels, confident (for the moment) that he was going to be okay, given a little time.
"I can pull the chair over and put my feet up. Won't have been the worst place I've ever slept", she replied, shrugging nonchalantly. "Or we could just share. I'm small, don't take up much space. Whatever makes you most comfortable."
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Date: 2019-09-09 07:11 am (UTC)He covered his mouth, working on keeping the water down, and succeeded. …Again, probably should let himself purge… he just hated it. For future reference: "Which way to the 'fresher?"
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Date: 2019-09-09 03:58 pm (UTC)Luckily, this room came with a tiny 'fresher all it's own. Jyn was grateful that if need be, they wouldn't have to struggle down the hall into the communal one. "Three steps behind you."
It took her a moment to stand - the only sign she gave that something was hurting - and peeled her jacket off, dropping it unceremoniously onto the little table in the corner. "You think you might know what they dosed you with?"
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Date: 2019-09-09 08:44 pm (UTC)"'ve been dosed with it before. Probably just need to sleep it off." And look forward to a hangover and some withdrawal. Still, far from the worst possibility. (He'd take it, situationally at least, over skirtopanol.[2] Plus significantly better now that he was in a less vulnerable situation. Here was better than that bar even if Liana proved not to be what she said.
As for Liana… He wasn't so far gone as not to notice the way she stood and removed her jacket. "You're hurt…"
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Date: 2019-09-09 09:19 pm (UTC)"Well, you can do that here", she finally answered, next making an effort to set her visible weapons on the table with her jacket, slowly, as if to show that she wasn't going to be a threat. Truncheons first, and then the stun baton she had lifted from the man that had tried to use it on her.
She set a hand at her side, frowning slightly. "A little. Hurt 'em worse."
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Date: 2019-09-10 10:35 pm (UTC)(Whether he left his smaller, ankle holstered secondary blaster where it was because he was too tired to remember, too queasy to lean over, or because he really couldn't trust that much just yet…
Sort it out when he could think.)
He winced, in perhaps sympathetic pain. Simultaneous with the (pride? don't be ridiculous—) admiration in his eyes and voice when he agreed, "Yeah. You did at that. —But thinking you definitely should rest, too." He set the flask down at last, among the weapons, and swung his legs up onto the mattress—but paused and gestured down at it, to her. "Which side is yours?"
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From:oh nooooo my icons
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From:A ZILLION YEARS LATER…
From:right here waiting.mp3
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From:How did I lose this?? Ack! Sorry!! But I did just massively enjoy rereading all of it ^_^ ^_^ <3
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