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[psychometries]

@ scraprat

"Hey, it's Cal. Leave a message."

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[psychometries]

[ Is now the time to tell Toko that Jedi aren't allowed to be in romantic relationships? And that, furthermore, Anakin is actually already married, despite this?

Nah. Actually, he kind of just assumes she has a soft spot for Anakin... in a platonic way. ]

Yeah, mayb—

[ Oh. She's just grabbing his hand. Okay! He lets out a surprised little huff of laughter and relaxes around the touch, allowing it easily enough. ]

Don't worry, I wasn't even thinking about complaining.

[ But... good to know her hand is clean? He guesses. It is kind of weird, holding hands with someone else for the first time since... he can't even remember, honestly. But also kind of nice too? Her hand is small in his, and warm, and much softer than his own, but it's... a connection. ]

[shiftybladesofcray]

[don't RUIN THIS FOR HER

Anakin can ruin it by himself thanks.

She gives him a look at his admission. Was he being for real?

Her glance flicks down to their entwined hands. Hers might disappear under his. It's broad and tough, a little calloused. He's no soft-palmed high school boy. And yet when she looks at him, hears him talk with that easy chagrin, it's almost like being with that guy. Mr. No Offense Taken, Mr. Easy Goes It, Mr. I Believe in You No Matter What. How can anyone keep that attitude their whole life? Isn't it exhausting? How the hell are you supposed to blindly believe in people when all they do is let you down?

When Toko catches Cal's eye now, that wary look has intensified into an assessing squint.]

You know... [Her hand twitches. Involuntary. This is odd for her too. The first time she's ever held hands with a boy, and of course it's on a stupid dare.] F-for someone who's been through as much as you, you're way too trusting.

[psychometries]

[ This isn't really the first time he's been on the receiving end of such a wary look, so he just raises his eyebrows in response, as if to ask: what?

Ah. ]

I am?

[ It's funny, because that's not really how he'd describe himself. Maybe not compared to other Jedi—Jedi who are fully in tune with the Force, who are open to emotions through the Living Force, are very difficult to lie to or trick, so it's easy for them to decide where to place their trust.

Cal isn't quite there yet. It's more like... he wants to trust, after so many years living in hiding, paranoid and closed off and so very alone. Even if it isn't always so easy as just wanting.

Using his free hand, he reaches up and sweeps his hand through his hair, expression thoughtful. He's looking at this the wrong way—is it just that he's too trusting compared to her? What kind of life has she lived? What kind of place does she come from? ]

Are you saying I should be more suspicious of you?

[shiftybladesofcray]

[There it is again. That non-plussed "Who, Me?" face, like what she's said is so beyond the measure of reason. It fits Cal with the same ease it fits Naegi.

Then he slaps her caution back into her face.]

Pluh—k-k-k—I-I meant this s-situation! Not me! [Toko takes a break from spluttering to shove her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. The effect is that of a slighted professor, vying for control after a raucous student prank.] Though it's p-pretty stupid to trust the first person that messages you. You have no idea who I am. What if I'd lied about my result? What if that survey t-told me to go rob somebody, or cut off their fingers? You led me right to your location without thinking twice about it. What, did you assume j-just because I'm some pathetic little girl that nothing could go wrong?

[She gives a short huff and scowls at her knees.] You can't m-m-mind-float your way out of everything, you know. No one is invincible.

[psychometries]

[ No one is invincible. He thinks of the Order and its many thousands of powerful Jedi, all strong in the Force, and how it should have been invincible. But it fell, along with all those Jedi, in a matter of moments.

That sobers him, his gaze falling to their still-entwined hands, though he isn't really seeing them. ]

I know I'm definitely not invincible, trust me. [ And added a second later, a small thread of humor laced through his tone: ] And I would never underestimate you.

[ He still has an ache in his side, where that Sith Lord stabbed him—always a reminder of how close he came to never leaving Nur. A humbling experience, if there ever was one. ]

I didn't trust the first person who messaged me. I trusted you. And you didn't lie, did you? And my fingers are still here.

[ He gives her hand a gentle squeeze, as if to punctuate his point. There's an equal amount of gentleness in his voice. ]

[shiftybladesofcray]

[Never underestimate her, huh?

Her lips thin. She's done a decent job keeping things under control so far. The longer they're on this train the less chance she has of keeping it up. Maybe living in a world with actual super powers does force you to think twice. Anyone could be anything. Maybe he's met worse. What would a true sadist do with abilities like his?

She shudders. If Jill had been anything more than human, they'd have to put her down. Sometimes Toko wonders if she shouldn't have anyway. Spoken to the police. Retreated somewhere quiet and dealt with it alone. The only reason she's still kicking is because the world went crazier than she already was.

He mentions chides her over the jab about fingers and gives her own a squeeze. Toko has to look away then. She's gone squirrelish all of a sudden. How does the universe keep spitting out personified sunshine when it's so determined to go to pot?

She still squeezes back. A delayed reciprocation, but a poignant one.]

F-fine...just d-don't expect anything more than this...

[Not like she's got a lot to offer in the first place, but...she doesn't regret asking him to help.]