video.

[ventifact]

[rey is sitting in the gardens, legs crossed, staring at something off-camera. a low whistle and a few beeps makes it clear that bb-9 is doing the recording. despite the intensity of her gaze, her breathing is slow and regular and her muscles are entirely relaxed.

for a couple seconds, the video is just fixed on her--then, then frame zooms out so more of the garden is visible. a few feet away from where she sits, her lightsaber is stuck into the ground. such a suitable place for such a dignified weapon. but to be fair, her staff is stuck next to it. with the zoom-out, it becomes clear that rey is staring at the lightsaber.

a few more seconds of nothing.

then, as if tugged by an invisible string, the lightsaber twitches towards her. it lifts into the air and floats a few inches--before tumbling to the ground. rey, whose face holds a slight sheen of sweat from her efforts, lets out an extremely frustrated groan and an even more frustrated expletive. bb-9 beeps sympathetically.]

Kark it! I just want it to karking fly towards me when I--

[and she makes a violent pulling gesture--and then her staff comes flying towards her head. she reacts just in time, letting herself fall backwards to avoid being impaled in the face. the staff skids into the ground behind her. bb-9 screeches in alarm, and the video starts to bump as the droid rolls towards her owner. the camera zooms in and focuses on rey's face, still caught in surprise. and then, she laughs. not a restrained laugh, but a real, arms-around-her-gut laugh. and then she winces because ouch, bruised ribs. but back to business.]

Well, that's half right! Progress is progress, right? [then, she addresses the droid.] You caught all that? I want to watch it later.

[a beep of affirmative relief, and then the video cuts.]

Comments

[imahologram]

[wow, excuse you, rey, luke is only kind of a whiner
sometimes
okay a skywhiner]

How have they done as teachers?

[ventifact]

[leia is and always will be the cool twin]

Fine, I guess. I don't really know how to judge that.

[imahologram]

[zero chill, but somehow cool]

If you've improved, that's probably a good sign.

[ventifact]

Having my staff hurtle towards my face is definitely an improvement.

[imahologram]

It could have stayed where it was.

[ventifact]

So I guess they're doing something right.

[imahologram]

They must be.

[A little pause.]

Be careful with your training. I'd hate to see you end up with a black eye.

[ventifact]

Thanks, I'll be careful. But I've had worse, for the record.

[imahologram]

Oh?

[Consider her intrigued.]

[ventifact]

[leia pls]

Not from training. But I did grow up in a desert, and scavengers aren't always the nicest people. [she doesn't want to talk about how she recently spent almost a week as a slave]

[imahologram]

[They can both skip that conversation, as far as she's concerned.]

So I've heard. [She knows enough about Tatooine to realize how rough desert outposts can be.] How does the Moira compare?

[ventifact]

I've got steady meals and don't have to worry about sudden sandstorms trapping me inside for days. So it's basically a vacation.

[imahologram]

If we didn't have things to do at home, I think I might feel the same way.

[Aside from that last stop, anyway. And without quite the same levels of desperation.]

I've had about as much vacation as I can take, personally, but I hope it's a good journey for you.

[ventifact]

Yeah. I know what you mean. Back home I hadn't-- [a beat. she knows leia wants to know about the future... but how much does she want to know? oh well, she's already started, so might as well go on.] --I hadn't even found my teacher yet.

[imahologram]

I'm sorry. [That moment of hesitation seems sad to Leia--or, if not sad, something that deserves sympathy.] You're doing well, even without the teacher you're searching for.

[A pause, and then, an offer she can't believe she's making:]

Maybe we can try a match sometime.

[ventifact]

[her cheeks go a little pink. praise from general organa, even before she becomes a general, is highly prized.]

Thanks.

[and yeah, she can't believe she's getting this offer. she sounds surprised--but also a little hopeful.]

Are you serious?

[imahologram]

[It's a moment's hesitation that Leia doesn't need, because it gives her time to doubt herself. Does she really want to pick that lightsaber back up?

Maybe she does.

(Luke would.)]

Yeah. I am.

[And then, with a wry smile:]

I hope you'll forgive me if I'm a little rusty.

[ventifact]

[rey can't help but grin. this is unexpected, but definitely welcome.]

Don't worry, I'm not that great myself.