( video )

[tradecrafted]

[ the feed opens up with what looks like the aisle in a store, devoted to a section of what looks like anxiety/fidget toys. there's a pause, and a hand reaches into the feed, picking up a familiar cube for some, turning it as the owner of the hand clearly examines it dubiously. ]

Someone suggested I pick one of these up-- [ for anxiety, though cassian doesn't offer that information. it's probably implied anyway. ] --but it seems a little silly to me. Has anyone else used.. things like this?

[ it's nothing he couldn't ask privately of people, or research, but well.. attempts at normalcy are being made. ]

We don't have these where I'm from. [ a beat. ] Well.. perhaps they existed before the war, or they're used on wealthy planets. I'm not sure. [ it's not like he's ever had the luxury of mental healthcare before. ]

Comments

Action, a little while later

[flightforfreedom]

[ He hasn't gone outside yet. The idea makes him queasy, but at least he can have ideas again. At least his thoughts make sense and are straightforward. But he hasn't really moved from the couch in several hours.

Partly because his recovery isn't exactly painless.

But now that the worst is over, he's getting restless, and relief floods him the instant he hears the door open. ]

That you, Cass? How'd your quest go?

[tradecrafted]

It's me. [ cassian takes a few moments to toe off his boots, then pads into the room and eases himself down next to poe. he hesitates for the space of a few heartbeats, as he often does before choosing to touch someone, before reaching out to brush his fingers against poe's.

he withdraws them again a moment later, lifting a plastic bag he's carrying in the other. ]

I picked things up. [ he reaches in, pulling out one of the little cubes and glancing down at it with a puzzled frown. ] Supposedly they help, but I can't imagine how. [ he glances back up, then, offering it out on his palm. ] One's for you.

[flightforfreedom]

[ His fingers curl, instantly, to return the touch - and the relief is clear, on his face, just from getting it. He doesn't complain when Cassian pulls away, however. The brief contact meant a lot.

He watched Cassian rifle through his stuff, his arm still sore and his eye still sometimes flickering blue, but otherwise he was okay. Just tired, now. ]

What is it?

[ He reached out and took it, turning it over in his palm. ]

audio »

[onlydoubts]

[ his voice is a little hoarse, after effects from spending a week in the Shimmer. which is also why Bodhi is vying for audio rather than video because of how not fully recovered he is. ]

I have a few of the ones that spin, if you were interested.

[ they're actually quite useful. ]

[tradecrafted]

[ he's pretty glad to switch to audio, actually. no matter how different things are here, he's still incredibly uncomfortable with video responses. ]

--Spin? [ it's probably easy to hear the puzzled note in his voice. ] How does it.. help?

[onlydoubts]

It's just... having something to do with your hands when you don't have anything else to do to keep them busy. [ clearing his throat, he's not really sure how to explain such a thing. except that having something like that back home might've been helpful. ]

[neverdied]

[Here's a sad dad who doesn't look hugely impressed with that fidget cube.]

There's always knitting.

[tradecrafted]

That's the-- you use yarn? [ he's not sure that it appeals to him, but hey.. supposedly he has time here to try things. ]

[neverdied]

That's the one. Yarn and pointy sticks. Get to make something useful and self defend at the same time.

video;

[smugler]

Looks like some kind of complex... remote detonator device?

[ But it's obviously not that. Why would they sell that in a store? ]

What does it do?

[tradecrafted]

[ cassian moves the little joystick, makes a musing noise. ]

Nothing, I think. It just gives you things to toy with.

[smugler]

That's mildly disappointing.

[ Here he was going it would at least make a noise. ]

I can think of better uses for my fingers, thanks.

[revolutionrocks]

[Hey, there's a rock guy responding, his high gentle voice and practical observation skills possibly a little at odds with his appearance.]

From the looks of it, it appears to have sensory tools on all sides, which when handled can help improve concentration and attention to tasks by allowing the brain to filter out the extra sensory information.

[tradecrafted]

[ cassian being a star wars character, the rock guy doesn't even phase him. though the gentle voice is a little at odd with his appearance, it's true. ]

So I'm told. There's.. apparently a lot of these things, for different purposes.

[revolutionrocks]

It seems as though it might become a source of annoyance to those in close proximity to the user, although that's probably not meant to be one of its purposes.

video;

[353]

I've got a Rubik's cube at home. [ He has no idea Cassian's cube is used for anxiety. ] How do you play with it?

[tradecrafted]

--A what? [ it occurs to him that he has no idea how to talk to kids, and he has to pause for a moment in surprise at the realization. .. well, all the kids he'd known growing up had been child soldiers like him. ] I'm not sure. I think it's just to give your hands something to do.

[353]

A Rubik's cube. I'm not sure why it's called that? I think it was probably named after the guy who invented it. Anyway, it's made up of colored squares and you have to twist and turn it until all the sides match up with one color. I've managed to do it but it took me a while. [ He's not sure he's explained it very well and wishes he had one to show him. ]

I think it'd be more fun than that thing. It's like, super satisfying when you've matched the colors.

video

[mortalweapon]

[ The blue robot in the video feed looks mildly curious. ]

Why would someone suggest such a specific thing to you?

[tradecrafted]

[ blue robot, and the name attached to the ID is.. danger? he hesitates, but then somewhat unexpectedly, cassian actually turns the video around so he's in it properly. he looks tired and cautious, but there's a surprising amount of bright interest in dark eyes. ]

You're Danger. Kay's told me about you. It's a pleasure to meet you. [ a beat, remembering her question: ] It's-- Since I won't go to someone for-- [ a quick, vague gesture to his head. ] I'm told it's probably PTSD. I was given a couple of suggestions to help with the.. feeling on edge all the time.

[mortalweapon]

[ She confirms her identity promptly: ]

I am Danger, yes.
Hello, Cassian.

[ A light pause. ]

Have you considered a companion animal for emotional support?
Or, perhaps if you do not feel confident you could care for such a creature, K-2 would be a cheekier but lower maintenance substitute.

[ A joke. Probably. She may or may not be attempting to be friendly with him. ]

video;

[nextsymbol]

Oh, I've seen those in supermarkets before.

[Because his planet happens to not be a war-torn disaster, though it certainly has its own problems. But anyway, here's a small teenage boy for you, Cassian.]

What did you want to know about them?

[tradecrafted]

Supermarkets? [ oh. ] The big groceries, you mean. [ not something he's accustomed to, either. ]

If they accomplish their intended purpose. Being sold so casually anywhere makes me doubt it, but..

video;

[cassassin]

[she rummages in her bag before pulling a fidget cube of her own, nodding. cassandra gets it, man.]

It helps.

[tradecrafted]

[ huh. ] It seemed like a gimmick.