potato salad for the soldiers

[t65]

Who: Luke Skywalker and YOU maybe
When: The merry month of May.
Where: The Moira, Amissis-Re and possibly other universes, who knows.
What: Catchall log for Luke, with open prompts and closed prompts in comments.
Warnings: None for now, but I will let you know if things progress to the level of (gasp) PG-13.

Comments

april 22

[backsassin]

[Zam doesn’t know Luke that well. The last time they spoke to him, it was when he first arrived on the Moira through the Ingress. But after hearing he was hospitalized by a certain giant purple death-machine, some vague sense of solidarity persuades her to take the time out of her busy schedule of jumping into fusion-worlds to visit him in the medbay.

He’s tinkering with his prosthetic arm when Zam walks in, and she watches from a distance for a beat before walking over.]

That also get busted in Tarn’s little tantrum? [The words are flippant, but her tone is sympathetic enough. Luke may or may not recognize her: Zam was wearing a different face when they first met and not to mention was down one arm. However, if he keeps up with the network, he might know that the woman speaking to him now and the man who had greeted him coming out of the Ingress are one and the same. Zam just has a habit of "forgetting" to tell people that from the start.]

[t65]

[One day, Luke will be good at keeping up with the network, keeping an eye on strangers and near-strangers, and keeping tabs on newsfeeds and the holonet. That day is about a year from now. Luke looks up with a concerned expression and absolutely no recognition.]

Oh, you, too? I'm so sorry.

[backsassin]

Oh, don’t worry. It’s been weeks since it happened to me. [Said with the breezy non-concern of someone describing a bad bruise rather than three broken ribs and a 25-foot drop.]

Honestly with his attitude, I’m surprised this doesn’t happen more often. What were you doing hanging around that psychopath anyway?

[She’s talking as if she knows Luke, with no time spared for an introduction or explanation. Luke unfortunately has not met their minimum friendship criteria that would qualify him for such a courtesy.]

[t65]

[Luke, jovial as always, thinks nothing of her demeanor.] He was going to get lost in the fake Ingress; I pulled him out.

[And then he waits for the inevitable judgement. He's pretty sure no one who calls Tarn-- however fairly-- a psychopath is going to appreciate what he's done.]

[backsassin]

[He’s correct. Zam gives him a look that can, at best, be described as extremely unimpressed.]

Well, you must feel like a regular idiot now.

[t65]

[Luke sighs, and then winces-- that wasn't fun.] I feel like an extraordinary idiot, for your information. [Ugh.]

What happened with you?

[backsassin]

[Well, at least he admits it. Zam’s still not happy to learn that they could have been free from Tarn for good if Luke had just minded his own business, but it’s rather difficult to be angry at someone when they’re already lying injured in the medbay.]

He attacked me after he came out of the Ingress. Not the first time a new arrival’s snapped like that, but usually they aren’t that big. Honestly I was pretty lucky to get out of it with just a few broken ribs.

[Zam doesn't say as much, but there's the uncomfortable knowledge hanging between them that what could have happened has been aptly demonstrated by Tarn's treatment of Riptide.]

[t65]

[Luke gasps, and then wheezes with the pain that invariably brings.] Re-really? Right out of the gate? I didn't know he did that; I'm so sorry.

[backsassin]

Hey, take it easy, [Zam says, amused by the kid’s earnestness.] I don’t need you puncturing a lung in penance. Though if the pain’s bothering you...

[She leans over slightly, voice lowering.] I have a few painkillers from Del Pascia stashed away somewhere. Made a world of difference when I was recovering. [She leans back again and shrugs.] I can part with a bottle or two, if you’ve got something worth trading for them...

[t65]

[Luke frowns, before understanding blossoms into shock on his face.] I've got enough for one lifetime, believe me. Um, thanks for the offer...?

[How does one politely turn down a drug deal?]

[backsassin]

[There’s the briefest smirk seeing the shock on his face before Zam leans back and shrugs.] Suit yourself. Offer still stands if you run out. [At the very least they got a comical reaction out of it.]

Anyway, from the sound of the trial, they’re thinking of giving Tarn some kind of medication to calm him down. So hopefully there’ll be a lot less of-- [A vague gesture at Luke.] --this in the future.

[t65]

[Luke nods.] It sounds like that might do some good. He needs... something to hold him back, if he gets spooked. He doesn't attack mindlessly, it's clearly for some kind of reason.

[A dumb one, but a reason, still.]

[backsassin]

[Zam snorts.] Spooked? You’ve seen the size of him, right? He’s not allowed to get spooked by anyone who doesn’t come up to his ankle. [Her tone grows more serious.] He attacks people because he’s a sadist. Seems pretty obvious to me.