[video - should-not-be-drinking-alone o'clock in the morning]

[candor1]

[ooc: just keeps this open for the duration of threads]




[The camera has been set up to point at a blank wall. As the feed turns on, there's a heavy shuffling sound; and Cassian slumps into frame, thudding his back to the wall, and sliding to sit on the floor against it. He's… more or less still in frame. He looks an absolute mess. And there's a bottle grasped in his hand.


It had been difficult. Deciding who to tell. Last life, he would have told no one who didn't need to know. But a much narrower, more coldly calculated definition of 'need'. This life... he wouldn't withdraw entirely into that cold. Which made it harder.
Jyn knows. It wouldn't work if she didn't. Cassian would have told her regardless.
Kaytoo knows. It would work better if he didn't. But Cassian told him anyway.
He wasn't going to put them through more.
Poe knows too. If he didn't, he might ask such questions that would ruin this. Even though Cassian knows he would understand being misled after the fact—even if Cassian hated doing it. He also has a feeling Poe could lie if he needed to.
Veronica he goes back and forth on. Somewhere between Poe (could lie, would roll with it after) and Kay (worth the hurt and betrayal...?) He lets himself form the justification that the household would have gotten the live version and not need to continue on comms. And tells her too. Very different from last life.
He wants badly to tell Cosima, Lando, Han, Luke, how does he have even that many friends, and more… I'm sorry. Whoever it was might need the additional convincing of his interactions with friends. I'm sorry I'm sorry.
Amazing to reckon how long he'd managed to be here and this was his first return to lies.

He would have told Bodhi…

Cassian's searched, they've all searched; all over, including tailing Hux until he found out where the man lived and breaking in and searching all his belongings for any shred of evidence to back up his claim of having had something to do with it.^{[w. permission]} There'd been nothing. The man lived so impersonally Cassian was inclined to suspect he had a real personal space elsewhere… though perhaps not. Cassian himself had lived as impersonal and light, usually out of a single duffle even when he'd had stable quarters.
Whatever. Cassian had rearranged all the books and turned every article of clothing inside out before folding it and putting it back exactly where he'd found it. The place looked perfect, just as it had when he'd first entered, but nothing would be where it was supposed to be. It was petty and could make things worse but it was that or yield to all their desires to kidnap and torture the man, so go with petty.

Anyway. There was nothing he could do for Bodhi in this moment. Only wait and hope.
But that stunk to kriffing hell. So in the meantime, tackle a problem he might be able to touch. Especially on the remote chance they could be related.


Apparently (impeccably) drunk, sloshing the bottle's contents onto himself just for good measure, Cassian tugged his free hand through his worse-than-usual hair and slurringly moaned into the camera.]

She kriffing left. Our friend's gone and she… She left me and says it's too much and she can't cope with both and I should know why and I don't. Says I said things… don't karking remember. Wouldn't I know better what I said than she…? I never would've… ruskakk-loving… Any of you remember me saying…? S'all bantha… one of us's gone felek and I don't know…

Tell me the truth—

[He leveled the bottle accusingly at the viewscreen, splashing again.]

Did I ever say… skragging… snogwash… what was it… "I got…" something… "…got what I wanted so I'm done"…? Does that even sound like me? But she… said… after hearing in my voice… she tried but… can't go back from… she… And he's… Això no passa…

[His mumbling devolved into a sob. He drew up one knee to wrap an arm around it and bury his face in that arm.


And I'll stay here sniffling until you bite you mimicking blasterpfassked sithspawn..]

Comments

video;

[earnedmystripes]

[Oh Dear. Drowning your sorrows is of course a pastime Kotetsu knows only too well, so he doesn't bother to ask the man if he's okay. He might, however, regret this sincerely in the morning.

So, as gently as he can:]

...Hey. I think your video's on.

(public) video;

[candor1]

[Another friend. Not warned. I'm sorry.]

Know it's on.

[He gesticulated indistinctly with the bottle]

Asking. And she. Així que tothom—

[Trails off like he couldn't remember how he'd planned on finishing that sentence. Grunts, swigs, and hiccoughs instead.]

video.

[flightforfreedom]

[Poe's already got a reputation for standing up for his friends when people treat them terribly, and the last public conversation they had was when his impostor was saying that Cassian would beat the shit out of him. So, this isn't all that hard to fake.]

This is low even for you, Cassian. [His voice is hard.]

You've done enough. Leave her alone.

video.

[candor1]

[Not everything I do is a plan

He'd agreed when Kay decided it would be better for him not to respond at all. He'd asked Jyn not to, capable as she'd be of playacting… partly because if it was, as Sabriel had suggested, a shapeshifter, then this could be a kind of bait; but also because… he had absolutely no desire to fight with Jyn, even in pretend. He'd left it up to Poe himself how involved he wanted to be. This is… good, as in helpful. Though not fun.

Cassian tried to lurch to his feet and ended up sitting back down, succeeding only in spilling more liquor.]

Whaddiddie do?! It wasn't me. You're s'posed to be the ones who believe me. Or doesn't it matter…

[More bitter than what was in the bottle]

Guess t'her it doesn't matter…

And I'm low…?

…guess so… no should believe me right.


[Without it showing, he mentally reaches out to Jyn. Reassuring one or both of them. Ugh. This used to be his whole life.]

Re: video.

[flightforfreedom]

Yeah. This is pretty damn low. What did you think this was? "Oh, I know, I'll broadcast everything on the network just so that she'll know how much she hurt me, so she'll come back to me."

You should have given her space, but you had to press it, didn't you. You had to smother her, to force her to prove that she felt no ill will when she was still hurt.

So yeah. This is pretty damn low.

And you can tell me until the day is long that it wasn't you, but pulling this kind of shit only proves it was.

video.

[candor1]

[Inward: ouch. Has the sense this isn't the first time Poe's given this kind of speech. Will have to ask him about that later.

Outward: barks a laugh]

And you're so objective 'n' uninvolved… seen the wayou've looked at'er… admit you're loving this 'ndon't pretend it's not for yurself…

Re: video.

[flightforfreedom]

[Oh, that was an idea. That was a very, very good idea.]

I'm the opposite of uninvolved, Cassian. Someone had to step up when you failed her. When you failed all of them. She deserves a hell of a lot better than you.

video.

[candor1]

[Actually, this wasn't entirely not-fun. Certainly preferred playing the scene with someone consensually playing back rather than just lying.

Cassian was tempted to do a spit-take.

(He didn't. Don't strain credulity. —Including for Jyn's behavior.) ]

Yeah she does you kanushka filswik nerf herding… better 'n' you too… 'n' fact I don' believe you…

Re: video.

[flightforfreedom]

I don't care what you believe.

Just put you drunk ass to bed and leave her the hell alone, you hear me?

video.

[candor1]

[Growls.]

Y'know… who're you to talk for her? Doesn't matter—involvement. Doesn't give you authority to… She can fight her own battles.

…But I'm not.

[tone and volume change for emotional shift]

I'm not.

video;

[therewillbeorder]

After that pitiful display, I better understand why we won the war.

[Just...yikes.]

video;

[candor1]

[Ah, old reliable. You can actually be helpful this time around. If anything comes of it.]

Up yours.

[in a surly, slurred cascade]

Mudlicking imp don'think I dunno why you can't stop takingyurkarking Rimmer issues out on me prugnuficating gravel maggot.

video;

[therewillbeorder]

This is just pathetic. I know the Rebellion didn't have the best and the brightest but anyone knows getting drunk and broadcasting it is an incredibly stupid decision.

video;

[candor1]

Pffffft, deflection. 're talkinabout you and your vaping inferiority… superiority… something… complex. Overcompensation.

video;

[therewillbeorder]

That makes no sense and this is just sad. The Rebellion really must be scraping the bottom of the barrel if they don't train officers not to broadcast the fact they're drunk.

And if this on purpose for some reason, it's ridiculous.

video;

[candor1]

[Getting a bit too close to something there, General. Cutting the transmission would highlight that. So Cassian launched into another invective-ridden tirade, on a rail they've ridden before.]

How many times you milking… Different universe. Not at… war not here. Not an officer. Karking civilian. Gonna behave like one. Hi ha dies estúpids i hi ha gent que és estúpid cada dia; nerfas sap més que tu. What will it take to get that through your motherless skull? And leave us alone?

[…as if suddenly back in a previous conversation.]

video;

[therewillbeorder]

It must be nice to be able to set aside your duties so lightly. How fortunate for the galaxy we won.

I'll leave you to your drinking then. Clearly, I don't need to do anything here.

video;

[candor1]

[Another string of insults, increasingly unintelligible.

Which was not inflected as agreement but was. Why prolong this. The desired effect was achieved.]

Video

[stretchy_girl]

[Gemini tunes in to the broadcast curiously, nose wrinkling in distaste at Cassian's drunken stumbling. Why any person would want to reduce themselves to that state was beyond her, but clearly her earlier transmission as Andor has had it's desired effect.

Drinking in all that pain, her attention now glued to the screen, enjoying every moment of the drunken man's agony despite the barrage of unfamiliar words. Now how can she make that worse? Ah yes.

Facial features twist and swirl, skin and hair moulding into an entirely different likeness before Gemini switches on the feed.]

Cassian...can we talk?

[Jyn blinks back tears, her voice shaking as she gives Cassian a pleading look.]

Video

[candor1]

[He didn't stop himself—in fact he emphasized how sharp and fast he sat upright.

The quickest of mental checks. He and Jyn were staying close enough for him to share her power… and confirm.

Whatever Jyn, actual Jyn, was doing right now, it wasn't this.

we have contact

you piece of—

His eyes were as wide and full as hers]

J— yes, I…

[…even over transmission, the imitation was impressive… though it didn't take a shape-shifter to be able to accomplish such a thing over the 'net…]

I'm sorry… yes…

…like this or…?

[face to whatever's passing for face…]

Re: Video

[stretchy_girl]

You were so awful...but maybe...

[Jyn wipes at her eyes, trying to get her emotions under control, her voice shaking. Watching Cassian for any hint of suspicion.]

Not like this...together somewhere...down by the canal perhaps?

[Somewhere they can be alone without anyone seeing. She stifles a sob, trying to pull at his heartstrings with the face of the woman he loves. It's obvious by the redness of her eyes that she's been crying a lot.]

Video [-> action?]

[candor1]

[He shows none of it

I "was so awful"… If this was the same being, would that be some kind of self-congratulation…?

Together somewhere.

Should he bring backup… Kaytoo or the real Jyn or…

Facing an adversary whose full capabilities he didn't know, but what he knew was threatening enough… what are the limitations of shape-shifting? can it become anything? does its strength and capabilities stay the same regardless of apparent form or do they also change to match…

Don't waste this chance.
Don't betray Jyn and Kay by putting himself right back in harm's way again if he can help it.
Certainly not in their names.

…or their likenesses.

This isn't just personal gratification in vendetta. This is someone who's obviously been studying them. Stalking them. Wants something from them. And could vanish too easily again.]

Anywhere… yes, I'll be… I'm coming.

[With a quick private transmissions to Kay, Jyn, and Poe.

And intangible personal energy shield preemptively up.]

Video -> Action

[stretchy_girl]

Video

The towpath near West Canalside Drive? Half an hour?

[Jyn asks, looking for his assent and receiving it, she shuts off the feed.]

Action.

[It's half an hour later and the towpath is starting to darken as the sun goes down. Out of the deepening dusk walks a figure, indistinguishable at first but as she nears it's obvious that this is Jyn Erso, her face, her clothes, even her walk. When she stops to look around it's with Jyn's usual poise, Gemini's nothing if not a good study.]

Cassian?

[She calls out, uncertainly, hiding her expectation and malice behind a cloak of grief, the tremor in her voice pitched to make it sound like she didn't believe he was actually there.]

Action

[candor1]

[He'd gotten there first—no need not to—to get the lay of the land. And make sure other pieces were in place.

Poe, Kay, and Jyn, nearby but out of sight. His comm muted but transmitting audio in his jacket.

No blaster, still.

But… borrowed, still don't ask …a concealed but prepped pair of handcuffs.

He's gonna see how much he can get just from talking. But after what he's learned, what he saw after the fact, what he saw when Bodhi went missing… whether or not it's all the same person, if there's any connection, he's not letting this get away.

He's alternating between pacing and agitated leaning when he hears her approach. But doesn't turn to her until she calls.

So much like Jyn.

It makes him angry.

Even if it isn't really a violation of Jyn in this moment—while somehow feeling like it—it's definitely a violation of them in the past. Someone has been studying them.

He doesn't show anger. He's mastered body language and expression too, reading others' and controlling his own.

His face and posture show… also grief. Mixed agonizingly with hope he's trying not to indulge.]

I'm here.

[stretchy_girl]

[Jyn approaches, half-reluctantly half-longingly, a wariness in her body language, as if worried that Cassian might lash out and hurt her again.

Stopping a few feet away she gives him a look that's part anger part heartbreak.]

Aren't you going to apologise?

[For all the things that she had said. It's a test to see if this scenario is real, whether Andor had been talking to his friends and worked out what had happened. The smallest flash of anger is all she's looking for.]