(D10, MM, Manka Cats Rule) Reading the Cards

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"I wonder," Dhel says quietly, scooping up a chunk of egg and swiping it through the oil around the little fish. "wonder if they knew my folks back then." Had there been a last breakfast with significant looks between them back then? She'd been too young and ignorant to know she should pay attention and remember all those last things then.

She gives his knee a squeeze. "It is our time, isn't it? I hope someday I get to watch my kids grow up and not have to chose whether to fight to make the whole planet better for them, or hunker down and protect them from the bad that's right there."

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin turns his head to watch her thoughtfully as she wonders and hopes for the future. It feels... different? special? to talk about days long gone and to hear Dhel talk about the future. Within him there's a nagging doubt that she has, and he has only wanted to hear it if it fit his hopes. Regardless, he was hearing her on this morning.

"I don't know," he says quietly of their parents. "I think my parents try to avoid talking about that time, but... Even I remember they knew a lot of people. Maybe all the people that the Empire got..." He puts a hand on her forearm, thumb stroking slow and gentle a couple of times.

"I, um... I'm probably passed due to talk about some things. I'll ask, if you want to know." He gives her a searching look, sensitive that unhappy certainty may not be worth as much as the small hopes that love in uncertainty.

While he watches for an answer, he adds quietly, "And I hope... for just what you said. For you." He squeezes her arm, and there's a sad attempt at a smile with that sentiment. Realizing he probably shouldn't have said anything, Korvin grimaces.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

"You too, hmm? I hope that for all of us." She covers his hand on her arm with her own clawed hand and a small smile. "You know, I've been pretty sure nobody could tell me anything more about what happened to them, and I've been..." she shakes her head. "But yeah, I think I might want to hear what your folks remember of them. If that's what I can have. I shouldn't scorn it."

She leans into him, pressing her face to his shoulder for a moment, debating, then deciding. "I imagine, everyone who gets through it in one piece is going to be on the run or hiding for a bit. But sometime after, eventually? Yeah, I'd like to hear that. Thank you."

Which is the point when Manka scramble-claws her way up Dhel's leg in the hope of a larger share of breakfast, and the Bothan is distracted a moment, lifting her plate up out of the way. "No you don't." The kitten is plucked up one-handed and settled back on the floor. Dhel tosses a small bit of egg for Manka to chase and pounce on for a few moments.

"OK...less mopey. What was it like growing up in Old Garden, minus the school stuff. Nobody likes school."

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin nods solemnly at her request, though she probably can't see it. "No prob--" his murmur is cut off by scrambling cat claws, and he leans away as Dhel deals with Manka. At the command not to mope he smiles, and then rolls his eyes recalling those days.

"No moping, and nothing about school. Um. Ok," he chuckles. "That narrows it down." He thinks for another moment. "I guess one of the big things is society. Like not just the 'Old Garden Neighborhood Society,'" he says with a tone of great seriousness, "but the social circles. Like, they all overlap. You don't go anywhere or do anything without seeing the same people that you saw at the last party, that you saw at school or work..." He gives a soft chuckle. "And my dad was on the council, so he knew everybody worth knowing, and everybody wanted him to know them. So there were always events -- not just parties, but formal dinners, ribbon-cuttings," he says scornfully. "Lots of stuff that was painful to sit through, especially when you're little. But you have to, because if you're not there, everyone else wants to know why." He shakes his head. "I don't know how my parents could stand it."

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel works on finishing her plate before the kitten could try stealing from it again, then sets it down to prove it's empty. Manka settles to carefully lick all traces of fish from the plate, which does keep her occupied for a while.

"I mean, I get that 'everybody knows everybody' thing. Our neighborhood was like...running around with other kids in a pack, but you knew if anyone caught you all doing something, it was almost certain your parents would know before you got home. But we didn't have the formal events stuff to deal with, that sounds pretty boring for a kid to sit through."

She smiles bit. "I guess they learned to stand it..or maybe were just raised in it and didn't hate it like you do."

[Korvin Hikarrin]

Korvin shakes his head and gives a little laugh at Dhel's wisdom.

"Well, maybe when I'm their age I'll have learned to be more patient for sitting through things," he says with a grin. "I'd say running in a pack with other kids sounds a lot better than worrying about whether you were impressing the right kids, but maybe things just always sound better if they're different." Finishing his last bite, he stands and steps over to gift the second plate to Manka.

"And I don't hate... well... I don't hate people having parties. I hate people that use their parties and other things to make certain people feel like they 'don't belong' or 'don't deserve'..." He stops himself and looks up at Dhel. "I'm headed toward mopey again, aren't I?"

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

She grins and kisses him. "Different mopey. I just kind of thought I should stop talking about dead parents and all of that. Can't do anything about that past right now, you know? Doesn't mean you need to steer clear of all the tough topics entirely."

"Like packs of kids are ok. There were friends and fun in there. But also cruelty. And not really belonging sometimes." Dhel tucks herself under his arm, resting her head on his chest. "Kids are kids everywhere, I guess."

"But...there's cards all over the place, if you want to waste time without so much risk of moping."

[Korvin Hikarrin]

He locks in a hug while she's already there. It's probably a reflex now to simply hold on whenever she's close. "Yeah, kids are kids," he murmurs.

"I can do cards," he says happily. "Though, I gotta ask, between cards and eggs, why is Manny so into the eggs?" The look on Korvin's blue and gold face makes clear he really needs an answer to this question.

[Dhelih Dotaivi]

Dhel happily holds on for a bit, rubbing her cheek along his as she answers. "Well...you can't juggle cards?"

Settling back and rummaging under the table for one of the boxes of random stuff that seem to collect when you're just living in a space, she adds, "when you're performing though, sometimes it helps to have a thing that distinguishes you from everyone else doing the same kind of thing. So if someone's like looking to hire, they remember you better. I'm the only Bothan singer in the bars here, so that's pretty much all I need to be memorable. I think Manny picked eggs."

She starts to shuffle before passing them his way. "I can do it, but the claws make it kind of awkward. Note that I'm not going to sit and check if all the cards are there. About half the time they aren't because they're lost someplace. So pick a card game where you're not going to be super annoyed if like the Sarlacc Queen isn't in there."