You'd have to get in line until after I kicked my own ass first, but yeah.
I wouldn't expect anything less. [ There's no joke to his voice. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself for hurting 622. Still hasn't forgiven himself for the first time.
But after a second he looked embarrassed and glanced down, rubbing his head. ]
[ Still in a certain amount of disbelief, but coming to the conclusion that this is just something he's going to have to accept, Akobi gets back to his feet, then walks around behind Poe and-- carefully and awkwardly because it's a hovering carpet not a fucking sensible mode of transportation like a landspeeder-- climbs on. ]
You'll feel a lot better in about twenty seconds. Promise.
[ He flashed a smile back at him, before leaning over to grap the edge of the carpet. ]
Feel free to hold on if you need to. [ Which was about as much warning as Akobi got before the carpet rose suddenly and rapidly straight into the sky. ]
[ Yeah, see, Akobi was Imperial Army, not Navy. He was much more suited to being on the ground than up in the air in a ship or-- on a carpet, as the case may be.
He absolutely grabs hold of Poe, one hand gripping his shoulder and the other fisted in the carpet to keep from falling off. ]
[ He didn't laugh, though he did smother a smile out of view where Akobi couldn't see it.
He lowered them slowly down, then came to a hover about two feet above the ground, only a couple blocks from where they'd taken off in the first place. ]
Lesson learned, I'll bring a ride with walls and a roof next time.
[ He's heard it all before, every time he needs to work alongside pilots. He's fine on large, enclosed ships. Even speeders feel more secure. But a flimsy piece of fabric, hurtling through the open air... Not his idea of a safe method of travel. ]
[ The dark irony isn't lost on Poe, though he doesn't let it slip into his expression. ]
Just a block this way, we're nearly there.
[ It was actually less than a block, he realised as he pointed in its direction. The sign cheerfully read 'The Wired Monk', and in a couple of minutes they were inside. ]
[ Akobi noticed the ironic of his words as soon as they escaped his lips, but he doesn't say anything and it's grateful that Poe doesn't either. Another point in his favor.
He follows him to the cafe, careful eyes taking in the surrounding neighborhood. He's surprised once they get inside and Poe offers to order for him. Normally he'd insist on ordering for himself, but he decides to use this as an opportunity to test Poe's judgement by seeing what he'll choose. ]
Fine by me.
[ Instead, he walks over to a table in the corner, full view of both the door and the counter, removes his jacket, and sits. ]
[ He takes a minute - smiling and joking with the barista as he makes his order - though she thankfully doesn't ask for an autograph. He comes back with two cups of coffee - both straight black - and sets Akobi's down for him before taking the opposite seat. ]
You said you just liked it straight, right? Some people add milk and sugar here, but the milk is the wrong colour and the sugar is way too sweet, if you ask me.
[ Akobi watches Poe's interaction with the barista carefully from across the room. Either he's well known here, or he's just that charismatic with everyone he meets. Akobi wouldn't be surprised by either. ]
Yes, you remembered correctly. [ Test passed. Akobi reaches for his cup and blows on it before taking a sip. ]
[ It was probably for the best that Poe didn't even realise there was a test to pass. ]
White. [ He made a bit of a face. ] So you can tell a Bantha hasn't even breathed on it, which is more than a little depressing. I know a couple people tried just adding food colouring to it, but it's not the same.
[ He clasped his hands around his cup, warming them up without drinking yet. ]
I have to imagine you've got more questions, though. At least about Earth. I'm happy to answer anything I can, if you want to run it by me.
Interesting. [ Not all that unusual in the grand scheme of things-- white milk wasn't unheard of-- but still unsettling. ] Good thing I take my caf black anyway.
[ He does have a lot of questions, even after 622's briefing and his own research. But honestly, that's not what he'd rather get out of this time with Poe. He wants to know more about this man that 622 calls a friend. This Rebel who apparently has developed feelings for his loyal sergeant. ]
How long have you been on-planet? TK-622 mentioned that stays can last anywhere from months to years.
[ Poe turned the cup in his hands, frowning as he did math in his head. ]
A year and four months. I've been ported out twice - once for a week, though I was only home for a few hours, and then once for three days. I don't remember being home at all, for that one. So I've been here- well, honestly, longer than most. I haven't lost any of my memories here either, which - well, sometimes people port out and then don't remember anything when they come back.
Does that happen often? Porting out and coming back? [ This is the first he's heard of it. It seems cruel, like the porter is teasing someone with the chance of returning home, then snatching it away again. ]
I've heard about the memories thing. There was a man on the network who said he'd been here before but had no memory of it.
[ Cassian Andor. He hadn't replied to that post, but Andor had replied to his, so he'd done his research. ]
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[ But he says it teasingly. ]
622's a grown man. His mind doesn't work the same way as a natural-born human would, but he's an adult, and capable of making his own decisions.
[ That said, he levels a stern finger at Poe. ]
You know that if you hurt him, I'll be on your ass, right?
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I wouldn't expect anything less. [ There's no joke to his voice. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself for hurting 622. Still hasn't forgiven himself for the first time.
But after a second he looked embarrassed and glanced down, rubbing his head. ]
... Yeah. I'd want you to.
But let's - let's get that caf.
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[ He claps Poe on the shoulder and keeps walking. Though he does give a lingering glance to the rolled up carpet. ]
Do you have an errand to run to an interior design store or something?
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[ He sounded honestly and completely confused - until he followed Akobi's eyeline to the carpet. ]
Oh. No, sorry. I uh - I told you I could fly anything, right?
[ He shrugged his shoulder with the carpet in it, making it wiggle. ]
This is just the most portable. [ There was a slight pause, and then - for the first time in several minutes, cracked a small smile. ]
You wanna see?
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[ A demonstration would go a long way. ]
Go ahead.
apparently i half wrote this tag on my phone six hours ago and thought i sent it
He then sat on it, uncerimoniously, and a second later it rose, hovering three feet in the air directly in front of Akobi. ]
Well.
Want a ride?
UGH the worst
But-- How--?
[ He drops to a knee, bending to look underneath the carpet as though Poe has hidden an engine on its underside. ]
It doesn't have any propulsion ability... It's just a carpet!
me, excitedly waiting for a tag, like an idiot
Yeah. It's just a carpet. It's not the one flying.
Powers, remember? This is mine. Anything I can plant my ass on, I can fly.
Nothing like trying it out, so. Hop on.
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I feel ridiculous.
i can show you the world
[ He flashed a smile back at him, before leaning over to grap the edge of the carpet. ]
Feel free to hold on if you need to. [ Which was about as much warning as Akobi got before the carpet rose suddenly and rapidly straight into the sky. ]
they're space latino, not space arabic
He absolutely grabs hold of Poe, one hand gripping his shoulder and the other fisted in the carpet to keep from falling off. ]
Are you a madman?!
look if the carpet fits
If you want to head back to ground, we can, but - I mean. You gotta admit.
That's a hell of a view.
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Yeah, set me down. I think I'm good.
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He lowered them slowly down, then came to a hover about two feet above the ground, only a couple blocks from where they'd taken off in the first place. ]
Lesson learned, I'll bring a ride with walls and a roof next time.
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Sorry, just... The wind. The height...
[ He's not a fan. ]
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Then he gives Akobi a warm pat on the back. ]
We call it being Born Infantry. [ He offered a grin. ] No apologies required - I should have given you a gentler introduction.
You alright?
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[ He's heard it all before, every time he needs to work alongside pilots. He's fine on large, enclosed ships. Even speeders feel more secure. But a flimsy piece of fabric, hurtling through the open air... Not his idea of a safe method of travel. ]
Anyway, which way's that cafe?
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Just a block this way, we're nearly there.
[ It was actually less than a block, he realised as he pointed in its direction. The sign cheerfully read 'The Wired Monk', and in a couple of minutes they were inside. ]
Take a seat, I'll put our order in.
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He follows him to the cafe, careful eyes taking in the surrounding neighborhood. He's surprised once they get inside and Poe offers to order for him. Normally he'd insist on ordering for himself, but he decides to use this as an opportunity to test Poe's judgement by seeing what he'll choose. ]
Fine by me.
[ Instead, he walks over to a table in the corner, full view of both the door and the counter, removes his jacket, and sits. ]
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You said you just liked it straight, right? Some people add milk and sugar here, but the milk is the wrong colour and the sugar is way too sweet, if you ask me.
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Yes, you remembered correctly. [ Test passed. Akobi reaches for his cup and blows on it before taking a sip. ]
What color is it?
[ How do you mess up milk, of all things? ]
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White. [ He made a bit of a face. ] So you can tell a Bantha hasn't even breathed on it, which is more than a little depressing. I know a couple people tried just adding food colouring to it, but it's not the same.
[ He clasped his hands around his cup, warming them up without drinking yet. ]
I have to imagine you've got more questions, though. At least about Earth. I'm happy to answer anything I can, if you want to run it by me.
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[ He does have a lot of questions, even after 622's briefing and his own research. But honestly, that's not what he'd rather get out of this time with Poe. He wants to know more about this man that 622 calls a friend. This Rebel who apparently has developed feelings for his loyal sergeant. ]
How long have you been on-planet? TK-622 mentioned that stays can last anywhere from months to years.
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A year and four months. I've been ported out twice - once for a week, though I was only home for a few hours, and then once for three days. I don't remember being home at all, for that one. So I've been here- well, honestly, longer than most. I haven't lost any of my memories here either, which - well, sometimes people port out and then don't remember anything when they come back.
Like they just reset.
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I've heard about the memories thing. There was a man on the network who said he'd been here before but had no memory of it.
[ Cassian Andor. He hadn't replied to that post, but Andor had replied to his, so he'd done his research. ]
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think we can wrap up?
sure!