[the fireworks can stop, literally any time now. once in a while it still catches him off guard and he'll jump, especially if he's not back home by the time they start. today is one of those days where they go off when he's a few blocks from the communal housing. this time, however, his brusque walk home is accompanied by an animal.]
[it may be his own fault, because he tossed it some of his food. it gets spooked by the fireworks and hides between his legs, and when cassian starts walking home, the feline starts to follow him.]
[it follows him all the way the home, making little mewing noises while cassian steadfastly ignores it. it follows him into the elevator and paces at his feet the entire ride up. as he walks down the hall towards his room, cassian realizes the ignoring method probably isn't going to work.]
[when jyn comes home, cassian's cooking up some dinner, and the cat is still there. now it's just sitting near the cabinet, occasionally mewling up and headbutting at his ankles.]
[ it was jyn's turn to grocery shop -- a dangerous activity to relinquish to jyn -- and she'd lingered at the grocer's while the fireworks kicked off, listening to the cheerful pop music instead of the booms and crashes of the fireworks. cassian isn't the only one ignoring stuff.
jyn's stuff doesn't have paws.
she brings their reusable bags up all eleven flights of stairs, making one trip because she refuses to make any more than that, regardless of how many bags she has, letting herself into the apartment they share, dropping her keys on the little table by the door before she closes it behind her. ]
I hate this stupid celebration. [ hefting one of the bags to rest on her hip, she moves into the kitchen so she can put it all away and cassian can see if he really should have trusted jyn with the shopping. ]
[the moment of grocery truth. he did send jyn with a list, but who's to say if she followed it. she's jyn, she doesn't like following directions of any kind.]
It's almost over. [this has been the Longest Month. they've taken to playing the radio extra loud sometimes when the fireworks start.] Did you get everything I asked?
[the cat trots over towards jyn, curious about this new person?? it runs between her legs and then prances back over towards cassian.]
[ jyn has indeed bought everything he requested -- all the spices and meats and vegetables on his list -- but she also added more of her own selections. way more than one bag of chocolate chips, bunches and bunches of grapes, only one box of oreos, something like twelve varieties of tomatoes, an absurd number of sparkling, glossy, brightly color fruits she had never heard of before she'd arrived in the quarantine. ]
I bought a pair, but I don't know what the other half is meant to be.
[ will the pair/pear joke ever not be funny? no, my friend, the answer is no. it is always funny. jyn looks down at the small creature as it moves back to cassian, lifting her eyebrows. ]
I did not buy food for... what is that? Is that a fox? Did you see the squirrel picture I sent you? [ she says squirrel like it's a foreign language. skwhirl. ]
[she can get anything extra she likes, as long as she got what he needed. it's been months and sometimes he still takes a moment to think about how creative they can be with food here. no rations necessary.]
[he lets out a huff of a laugh. it's so dumb, why is it funny when she tells it??] Hopefully what you got is enough then.
I saw the picture, yes. [she won't stop sending him pictures of squirrels, now that they know the name of them. he kind of likes it.] But I think it is some kind of feline.
[still no explanation as to why it's in their home. it meows again and circles cassian's feet.]
It's ears are so small, [ jyn murmurs softly as she crouches down next to the table, food half abandoned in the process of putting it away. she'll get back to it.
the only felines she knows of are tooka cats and lions. saw was the lion of onderon, she had been very excited to look up lions on her data pad the first time she'd heard someone call him that. (did that make her his cub?) but tooka ears were long and tall with gaping wide mouths full of teeth. she supposes its little mouth and heart shaped nose do look like a very small version of a lion's, complete with tiny little whiskers.
she holds her hand out and the kitten sniffs the air before sauntering over and pushing its head against her palm. the way jyn's fingers scritch behind its ears is simply automatic. she whispers something soft and sweet in her father's native tongue and then scoops up the cat in one motion, tucking tiny paws against her chest and letting it curl up against the crook of her arm. ]
Why is there a small feline in our kitchen, Captain?
[cassian is completely unsurprised that her focus shifts from the food to the animal. just from being outside the wall with her, he's long since figured out she loves animals as much as she loves plants. for someone who hates climbing out of the blankets, she sure loves being outside.]
It followed me home. [he starts to put away some of the other remaining groceries, just to take a peak at some of the things she's bought. if he sneaks a peak at her cuddling the apparent cat, it's because the animal is now the topic of conversation!] I don't think it liked the fireworks very much.
I wonder if she belongs to anyone? [ she can't help thinking of the tooka cat in garel city that the storm troopers had tried to take from the little blue girl before jyn had, um, interrupted. she's hate to already be thinking about keeping someone's beloved pet. she starts fiddling around for tags but the kitten doesn't even have a collar. ]
She seemed to be looking for food when we first crossed paths. [which suggests to him at least no owner. strays scrounge; animals with a solid food source don't often do the same.]
[cassian also 100% gave her food, which is probably also part of why she followed him home. he was clearly a food source!]
[ as she is not currently mewling for food... jyn gives cassian A Look. it isn't like she wouldn't do the same thing, but he is Cassian Kriffing Andor, tough as nails sniper and rebel captain, bfd. she suspects he melted but she won't tell his secret. ]
What we have goes beyond words, Captain. [ she boops the kitten's nose, smiling at the way she immediately paws at jyn's hand. ]
[he gives her A Look right back, one that says he has no idea what she's talking about, he did nothing.]
[watching her with the kitten tho. that's....fucking adorable. adorable is not a word he would use to describe jyn very often, but now it's applicable.]
You have only just met her. The bond can't be that strong.
You had only just met me and you let me keep the blaster I found.
[ "found".
strong bonds are instant, is what she is saying, even as she crouches down to let the cat slither out of her arms like she is made of liquid and not bones and fur. straightening up, jyn moves over to peer at what he is making as hither to unnamed cat winds between his legs again. ]
[OBVIOUSLY!! she was right, it was a war zone!! but it is true enough. he did kind of trust her right away with a stolen blaster. and even now, they can speak to each other without...really saying much.]
[but he's not a cat, jyn!]
[he doesn't look down at the way it winds between its legs, because apparently he's already used to that happening.]
A stew. Vegetables, the poultry called chicken. The broth is mild, but I did use a few spices.
Chicken. Is that the ugly one with the tail feathers or the ugly small one? [ they're both ugly, sorry not sorry. without a thought for sanitation, she dips the stirring spoon in the pot and scoops up some broth to task before stirring with the spoon that just touched her mouth.
The small ugly one. The tail feathers are not noticeable.
[they are literally the only ones eating it, or he would yank the spoon away and start using a different one.]
[instead he just shakes his head, trying to ignore the way the cat jumps and leans her little paws on his legs to stand up. she's curious and the food does smell delicious.]
Use a clean spoon next time please. [but he is half smiling, pleased that she likes it.]
[ jyn doesn't ignore the cat, picking her up again like she is a crying baby seeking attention, cuddling her against her chest with one hand. ]
Do you think we can get sick here? We are... [ you know, dead. it's not like rey who is clearly living and breathing back in their galaxy, in some other time. jyn and cassian are very much dead, historical footnotes in stories not very well known. maybe they are too close to being dead to get sick.
Not now. [he mutters it, stirring the pot with the very same spoon which proves he really doesn't care much.]
[he does frown thoughtfully over her question though, trying to pretend her trail off is No Big Deal. never use the d-word.]
We are still effected by other physical things. We get tired. Hungry. I would assume we can get sick too. [he tastes the broth, making sure it's what he wants.] But I have always had a good immune system.
[ she certainly never remembers more than the agony of monthly cramps that she ignored because she equally didn't have time for that. she buries her face in the cat's gingery fur, muffling a laugh when it paws at her head, getting her claws caught in jyn's braid. ]
Are you sure you didn't just ignore being sick because you didn't have time? [which is #relatable.]
[he finds himself half smiling as he watches jyn with the cat, offering zero help when the paw gets stuck. she brought this upon herself.] We are keeping her, aren't we?
She is a stray, like us. [ jyn looks up at him under her eyelashes as she carefully plucks the cat's paw free, tucking it back down against her chest. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action | end of january
[it may be his own fault, because he tossed it some of his food. it gets spooked by the fireworks and hides between his legs, and when cassian starts walking home, the feline starts to follow him.]
[it follows him all the way the home, making little mewing noises while cassian steadfastly ignores it. it follows him into the elevator and paces at his feet the entire ride up. as he walks down the hall towards his room, cassian realizes the ignoring method probably isn't going to work.]
[when jyn comes home, cassian's cooking up some dinner, and the cat is still there. now it's just sitting near the cabinet, occasionally mewling up and headbutting at his ankles.]
no subject
jyn's stuff doesn't have paws.
she brings their reusable bags up all eleven flights of stairs, making one trip because she refuses to make any more than that, regardless of how many bags she has, letting herself into the apartment they share, dropping her keys on the little table by the door before she closes it behind her. ]
I hate this stupid celebration. [ hefting one of the bags to rest on her hip, she moves into the kitchen so she can put it all away and cassian can see if he really should have trusted jyn with the shopping. ]
no subject
It's almost over. [this has been the Longest Month. they've taken to playing the radio extra loud sometimes when the fireworks start.] Did you get everything I asked?
[the cat trots over towards jyn, curious about this new person?? it runs between her legs and then prances back over towards cassian.]
no subject
I bought a pair, but I don't know what the other half is meant to be.
[ will the pair/pear joke ever not be funny? no, my friend, the answer is no. it is always funny. jyn looks down at the small creature as it moves back to cassian, lifting her eyebrows. ]
I did not buy food for... what is that? Is that a fox? Did you see the squirrel picture I sent you? [ she says squirrel like it's a foreign language. skwhirl. ]
no subject
[he lets out a huff of a laugh. it's so dumb, why is it funny when she tells it??] Hopefully what you got is enough then.
I saw the picture, yes. [she won't stop sending him pictures of squirrels, now that they know the name of them. he kind of likes it.] But I think it is some kind of feline.
[still no explanation as to why it's in their home. it meows again and circles cassian's feet.]
no subject
the only felines she knows of are tooka cats and lions. saw was the lion of onderon, she had been very excited to look up lions on her data pad the first time she'd heard someone call him that. (did that make her his cub?) but tooka ears were long and tall with gaping wide mouths full of teeth. she supposes its little mouth and heart shaped nose do look like a very small version of a lion's, complete with tiny little whiskers.
she holds her hand out and the kitten sniffs the air before sauntering over and pushing its head against her palm. the way jyn's fingers scritch behind its ears is simply automatic. she whispers something soft and sweet in her father's native tongue and then scoops up the cat in one motion, tucking tiny paws against her chest and letting it curl up against the crook of her arm. ]
Why is there a small feline in our kitchen, Captain?
no subject
It followed me home. [he starts to put away some of the other remaining groceries, just to take a peak at some of the things she's bought. if he sneaks a peak at her cuddling the apparent cat, it's because the animal is now the topic of conversation!] I don't think it liked the fireworks very much.
[so, you know, #relatable.]
no subject
It, [ jyn starts, unsubtly feeling up the cat's belly. ] Is a girl.
[ so it is a she. jyn looks down at the cat in her arms, down at the sharp little claws dug into the sleeve of her sweater from jyn manhandling her. ]
I like her.
no subject
[before jyn even speaks, he suspects this cat is not actually going to go anywhere? jyn is already in love with it.]
The feeling looks mutual. [he moves back over to check on the cooking pot.] She is very friendly, so far.
no subject
Do you have a name, little lion?
[ the cat says nothing because it's a cat. ]
no subject
[cassian also 100% gave her food, which is probably also part of why she followed him home. he was clearly a food source!]
I don't think she is going to answer you.
no subject
What we have goes beyond words, Captain. [ she boops the kitten's nose, smiling at the way she immediately paws at jyn's hand. ]
no subject
[watching her with the kitten tho. that's....fucking adorable. adorable is not a word he would use to describe jyn very often, but now it's applicable.]
You have only just met her. The bond can't be that strong.
no subject
[ "found".
strong bonds are instant, is what she is saying, even as she crouches down to let the cat slither out of her arms like she is made of liquid and not bones and fur. straightening up, jyn moves over to peer at what he is making as hither to unnamed cat winds between his legs again. ]
What's that?
no subject
[OBVIOUSLY!! she was right, it was a war zone!! but it is true enough. he did kind of trust her right away with a stolen blaster. and even now, they can speak to each other without...really saying much.]
[but he's not a cat, jyn!]
[he doesn't look down at the way it winds between its legs, because apparently he's already used to that happening.]
A stew. Vegetables, the poultry called chicken. The broth is mild, but I did use a few spices.
no subject
honestly jyn. ]
It's good.
no subject
[they are literally the only ones eating it, or he would yank the spoon away and start using a different one.]
[instead he just shakes his head, trying to ignore the way the cat jumps and leans her little paws on his legs to stand up. she's curious and the food does smell delicious.]
Use a clean spoon next time please. [but he is half smiling, pleased that she likes it.]
no subject
[ it would take more water to clean, it would take more effort to wash another one when she could just... reuse this spoon. ]
no subject
[she's not, obviously, but it's the fact of the matter!! maybe he's just being purposely argumentative to keep ignoring the cat.]
[speaking of. the cat moves over to jyn, pouncing up at her legs in the same way and letting out a little mewl.]
no subject
[ jyn doesn't ignore the cat, picking her up again like she is a crying baby seeking attention, cuddling her against her chest with one hand. ]
Do you think we can get sick here? We are... [ you know, dead. it's not like rey who is clearly living and breathing back in their galaxy, in some other time. jyn and cassian are very much dead, historical footnotes in stories not very well known. maybe they are too close to being dead to get sick.
surely that is how science works. ]
no subject
[he does frown thoughtfully over her question though, trying to pretend her trail off is No Big Deal. never use the d-word.]
We are still effected by other physical things. We get tired. Hungry. I would assume we can get sick too. [he tastes the broth, making sure it's what he wants.] But I have always had a good immune system.
no subject
[ she certainly never remembers more than the agony of monthly cramps that she ignored because she equally didn't have time for that. she buries her face in the cat's gingery fur, muffling a laugh when it paws at her head, getting her claws caught in jyn's braid. ]
no subject
[he finds himself half smiling as he watches jyn with the cat, offering zero help when the paw gets stuck. she brought this upon herself.] We are keeping her, aren't we?
no subject
She is a stray, like us. [ jyn looks up at him under her eyelashes as she carefully plucks the cat's paw free, tucking it back down against her chest. ]
We'd need to name her.
no subject
[jyn you can't just call it a stray, that means cassian is extra doomed. he should have known when he'd let the cat come inside in the first place.]
Her colors remind me of a Mon Calamari. [which he finds hilarious because feline versus fish.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)