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

[t65]

[Luke can't begin to express how much that means, the idea that he's consistently interesting to her, even when things are at their most depressing. He's not sure how to begin telling her about the warmth that thought gathers in his chest. Instead, taking what seems like a wild risk at the time, he murmurs,] thanks, [as he quickly pecks her cheek. He hopes she won't mind.]

The oven's done. I've been trying to make the crystal-- it takes more work than I thought. [Go figure. He pulls one of the failed crystals out of a pouch at his belt.] Here's what they look like when they turn out wrong.

[deal]

It's still nice to look at.

[She tries his being optimistic and positive thing, and reaches out to touch at the crystal. It may be a failed crystal, but it is still pretty, and something interesting to keep as a reminder of the steps to building a lightsaber.]

Are you going to keep it?

[t65]

I- [was going to throw it away; it's completely worthless. But she said she finds it pretty, and he... well, he's going to make an inspired choice and take a risk, here.] I hadn't decided. Would you want it?

[He hands it to her. It's bubbly and awkwardly shaped, far too light, iridescent when it should be monochrome, porous in some places. It's hers if she wants it.]

[deal]

You don't want it?

[She hesitates, wondering if it's a test. It's something Murphy would do to her, test her to see her reaction when offered something. But Luke isn't anything like Murphy, she trusts him. So she relaxes, and nods.

Before he can change his mind, she reaches over to grab it, so she can hold it up and turn it so the iridescent surface changes color. Watching it do so makes her smile.]

It may not be what you wanted to make, but I can turn it into something anyway.

[t65]

Well, there's no way to use it for what I made it for, so... [He hesitates, not wanting to sound like his gift is just some castoff afterthought, but... isn't that exactly what it is? He sighs.] That'd be good, if you could find some use for it.

[deal]

That's one of the few things I'm good at.

[She says it with a slight hint of pride, and moves to pocket the crystal so she's not constantly looking at it like an idiot.]

I can scavenge anything and make it useful. I'll show you what I come up with.

[And since that's the end of that, she moves to look at some of the other droids and things he's making.]

What else are you working on right now?

[t65]

You're good at plenty of things! [Just then, that idea has all of his attention. He stops tinkering with the droid completely, which, knowing Luke, is an accomplishment.] You- you know how to swim! And fight with that little knife, and drive, and make things.

[deal]

I'm a pretty good cook, too.

[Feeling awkward about his complimenting her, she tries to do it for herself. It ends up making her feel more awkward. So she's glad that she can hop to something where she might be able to go do something.]

I promised you dinner, didn't I? Murphy distracted me before I could grab and make anything.

[She glances over at her droid, smirking.]

[t65]

Murphy-? [Luke laughs, and mentally scraps the name he'd given it. It's her droid, anyway.] That's a good name for it.

[He's just glad she seems happy.] I'm glad you can cook-- I sure can't. Or swim.

[deal]

Anyone can cook.

[Some just do it better than others. She pokes at some of Murphy's outer parts, smiling as there's beeping and booping involved.]

And I'm sure if I throw you in water enough, you'll be able to swim. Just like a cat.

[t65]

I can boil vincha root in bantha milk, that's about it. [He laughs.] I bet you can make things that taste good. As for swimming, well, I tried that, and it didn't work so well last time.

[deal]

[She doesn't know what vincha root or bantha milk is, but she doesn't tell him that she really can't make things taste good as much as just edible.]

You'll do better next time. There's a pool here, we can practice.

[t65]

[Hey, edible is good. Luke smiles.] I'd like that, if- if you wouldn't mind. I won't be very good at it.

[deal]

[The look she gives him borders somewhere between amusement and concern.]

You don't have to be good at everything you do, Luke. It's okay to suck at something and still do it anyway.

[t65]

[Luke smiles, and cringes a little when he says this next bit-] I know. Believe me, I'm not great at plenty of things. But I don't want to look bad in front of you.

[Saying it now, when she's clearly taking such an effort to be kind to him, makes him realize what a foolish worry that is. Still, it clings to the back of his mind even now.]

[deal]

[The fact that he doesn't want to look bad in front of her makes her feel oddly self-conscious. It means he really must like her in return.]

I like you. You could do the dumbest thing in the world, and you wouldn't look bad to me.

[She points it out with a soft laugh, and looks away from him to fiddle with her little droid. She's feeling ridiculously vulnerable for having just said that.]

[t65]

[Luke, meanwhile, feels like he's on top of the world. The galaxy. He's glad Cassandra's looking away, so he can grin like an idiot and stare at the ceiling, letting her words really wash over him. She likes him that much? She doesn't care what stupid, silly things he does?]

[It's also very freeing, because Luke knows he's not very suave. He things being genuine and earnest is more important than being charming, and he's deeply, deeply glad that Cassandra agrees.]

Well, good, [He says after that little pause,] because I get into some pretty big scrapes, you know.

[deal]

Yeah, and so do I. If you do anything too stupid, I'll just hit you.

[She glances back over at him, smirking. Like it's a joke. But no really. She's serious. She is a patient person with people she likes, but once her short fuse is lit she reacts accordingly.]

Scrapes aren't that big of a deal, anyway. We'd be boring without them.

[t65]

Good; I could use practice dodging. [He's smirking, too.]

No, I mean scrapes. [He holds up his prosthetic hand, waving it.] Really big ones. You can ask Han if you're curious, he's pulled me out of a few. Don't- tell him I said that, though.

[deal]

[She looks at his arm and smiles a little, because while she's noticed his prosthetic it's never been something that feels out of place.]

I don't know Han, so you don't have to worry about me telling him anything. You'll have to introduce me to him.

[So she can ask all about the big scrapes Luke's managed to get himself in.]

[t65]

[Luke's always been a part of small groups of friends, and even on the base, filled with people, everyone knew everyone. Luke can't think of why Cassandra would know Han, beyond natural happenstance, but for some reason, he just thought she would. Luke laughs softly,] Well, he's my best friend.

[Luke points to the Millenium Falcon sitting a little ways away from him.] That hunk of junk is his. I wouldn't be surprised if he stops using his quarters and just starts sleeping there. I wouldn't be surprised if he already has.

[Luke laughs, and speaks with the simple and direct opinion that all good people would, innately, be good friends with one another.] You'd like him. Just don't play cards with him, or lend him anything. [Yes, he still remembers that thing he's never getting back.]

[deal]

[She laughs as she realizes just how much Luke looks up to Han. She can tell he does by the way he talks, and she has to really refrain from teasing him a little.]

I'd stop sharing a room so I could sleep there, too. I wouldn't blame him if he's doing it. Privacy is always better than being stuck with three other people.

[She plays it surly and discusses that over his adorable fondness toward his friend.]

Do you think he knows how to play poker? He could host card nights in that thing.

[t65]

You've never slept on the Falcon. The bunks are awful. [Whine, whine, whine. But there's some fondness in his voice; he thinks little of the Falcon, true, but Han's fondness for it is... well, not contagious, but it's a part of his fondness for Han.]

I don't know. I've never heard of, um, poker, [it sounds dirty,] but Han might. It seems like the kind of thing he'd know.

[deal]

[She gives him a look that clearly says to stop whining, because she's slept on worse.]

I don't know. It has to be better than the ground.

[The look on her face melts away at the prospect of being able to swindle teach Luke poker, though. ]

Anyway, poker is a card game. One you can win a lot of money at if you're good at bluffing. I used to win food and medicine playing against idiots who underestimated me.

[t65]

Oh! Like sabacc. [Luke nods. He's heard of that, at least.] If poker's anything like it, he'll play with you.

[That's a match Luke would love to watch.]