roguesquadron | hurt/comfort meme

hurt/comfort meme

the hurt/comfort meme

It is in times of distress that hope is truly found. How you handle those periods of duress is a mark of character. Whether you're the one in pain, providing sanctuary, or even if that ache is mutual, hurt/comfort is all about empathy. Connecting with the people around you.

Instructions:

→ Post with your character (note name, canon [if relevant], and preferences in the subject line).
→ Others reply by either generating a number between 1-21 for a prompt, ~~or go off script, I'm not the boss of you~~.
→ Go forth and connect.

Options:

o1. injury: somehow, you've been injured. the severity, whether a mortal wound or "just a scrape" is up to you.
o2. sickness: thinking of calling out of work today? chances are you've got a common bug...or worse.
o3. fear & anxiety: careful where you throw that "scared to death" nonsense...it might just be an omen.
o4. loss of senses: you're missing one of those fundamental six senses, whether it's your sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, or the Force.
o5. despair: the idea of hope looks more and more like a pipe dream right now.
o6. breakup: and we are never ever ever ever getting back together. ever.
o7. makeup: but you called me up again tonight...
o8. rescued: it's time for one of you to get your damsel in distress on.
o9. bad romance: i knew you were trouble when you walked in.
1o. loss: one of you has just experienced a loss of some kind; can you cope?
11. insanity: for whatever reason, "reason" is lost to you. you're seeing and hearing things. sometimes dead people.
12. tired/insomnia: is it the caffeine or the fact that you never leave your damned senatorial office? whether it's just lack of sleep or lack of energy, this exhaustion is bone-deep.
13. addiction: something's got you hooked, and you might just need a helping hand to give it some distance.
14. nightmares: okay, now you're definitely seeing dead people. do you dare go back to sleep?
15. blackmail: you've been caught and the evidence is compromising. do you seek help or vengeance?
16. separation/homesickness: whatever it is, the nostalgia's got you missing something (or someone) awfully.
17. betrayal: your trust has been violated, but is it a real or imagined slight?
18. stranded: you're stuck. maybe someone crashed your only ship for the 50th damn time. are you sure this isn't reality tv?
19. sins & guilt: the weight of your past deeds is like holding a world on your shoulders. maybe it's time to seek some help, atlas.
2o. secret: loose lips sink spaceships.
21. wildcard: "take your script and shove it, meme."

[adapted and remixed from here.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ezra doesn't argue, just scrambles up to the turret and straps himself into his seat. He's had enough experience with turrets now to only need a moment to orient himself to the controls before he's swiveling in the direction that sensors are already telling him they've got pursuit coming in from.]

Incoming TIE fighters! Hope you're good at flying!

[Though either way, he's already firing, trying to take them out!]

If I wasn't, I'd be dead long ago!

::...Ignoring the fact that if he hadn't ended up in carbonite again, he would be, due to age if nothing else.

He debates for a moment before flicking on shields. He originally wanted to wait until they were out of the atmosphere to avoid its effects on them but with incoming, he didn't really have a choice. Best to have them on and focus on getting them into space quickly.

He lets the Force guide his flying, jinking and juking to keep the TIEs from getting a clear shot at them, eventually breaking out of the atmosphere. One hand goes to the navcomputer to punch in a destination as his eyes flick between where they're going and the computer before he has both hands focused on flying the ship again as the computer makes its calculations.::

Just waiting on the navcomputer, and it should be done any time now.

[Ezra doesn't respond for a moment, busy concentrating on his targets. TIEs might not have shields, but they make up for it in sheer maneuverability. It's hard to hit them, and that's why the Empire keeps building them by the droves.

What the Empire doesn't take into account with them, though, is any fight that involves someone who can use the Force. Ezra hasn't mastered the skill yet, but the Force still whispers to him, guiding his shots. A lot of them still miss.

The ones that hit count.

One TIE explodes just off their port bow, then another goes spinning out of control.

Still too many TIEs left, though!]

Any minute would be good now, Garth'zel!

There is this thing I like to call patience. You may have heard about it from your Master.

::Why, yes, he is indulging in a bit of snark. The navcomputer will be done when it's done. All the staring at it in the galaxy won't speed it up.

Even still, it beeps its readiness a moment later and he's pulling the lever to send them into hyperspace, the stars streaking and disappearing into the light of hyperspace.

He leans back in his seat and blows out a slow breath. This was rather more excitement than he'd planned for his day. On the upside, he may have gained an apprentice.::

[Ezra doesn't bother responding to the snark. He's used to getting a certain amount of that (and giving it in return!) and besides, they've gone into hyperspace now. He's more interested in slumping back into his seat with relief.]

Man, I'm glad that's over.

[Just give him a minute for the adrenaline rush to fade and for his nerves to settle down. Then he'll come down to the cockpit, wiping sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.]

Where are we headed now?

Nar Shaddaa. I figure we can get a few things there.

::He rises from his seat a moment later, having settled his nerves to head further back into the ship. More specifically to his room to grab a shirt and a pair of pants to shove them Ezra's way.::

Two doors down to the right is the 'fresher. Use it. Clothes can be dealt with in the room before it. Assuming your leftovers survived the trip, I can put them away for you to heat up later.

::Don't argue with him, just destink yourself.::

[The pointed hint might have rankled Ezra under other circumstances, but he is sweating, and it's been days since he's had a proper shower, or gotten to clean his clothes. And really, Garth'zel did just save his life. He can stamp down on his flicker of exasperation and just take the clothes being offered, juggling them so he can undo his satchel and offer it in return. He doesn't have anything of value anyway, just the food.]

Right. Thanks. I'll be back out in a few minutes.

[Maybe more than a few minutes. He's pretty filthy, and then he has an unexpected fight with the borrowed clothes that are way too big on him. A few extra minutes pass before he comes out, scowling and flushing pink in a way that has nothing to do with his cleanly scrubbed skin and everything to do with the too-large shirt that looks like it's drowning him, threatening to slip off one shoulder, and the pants that would be falling down if he hadn't gone back for his belt. Pants that he's had to roll the legs up on several times.

Dammit, why do all the Jedi Masters I meet have to be so tall?]

...you don't have anything smaller I could borrow, do you?

[He's pretty sure he knows the answer to this already.]

::Ezra's food is in the kitchen and the satchel and its remaining contents are left in the crew quarters for Ezra to put away properly.

Garth'zel looks up from the remote he was working on building to give him a level look. That would be a 'no'.::

Why would I have clothing too small for me to wear laying around?

::Just to make it clear. He gestures at the mess in front of him.::

When this is done, it'll be for practicing with blocking blaster shots. I'm mainly working on tweaking how much power is in the shots.

I dunno, maybe from the last time you saved a guy from getting snatched up by the Empire?

[He's being mildly facetious to hide the disappointment he knows he has no business in feeling. Really, why would Garth'zel keep someone else's clothes around?

(He's really just embarrassed here.)

Dropping down into a seat across from Garth'zel, he watches what the man is doing with mild interest.]

Thanks for that, by the way. I would have been in some real trouble if they'd found me by myself.

You'd likely be either a prisoner or dead if I wasn't around, yes. They probably would have preferred the former.

::Not a particularly cheerful thought, but true.

He frowns down at the innards of the remote thoughtfully, before making an adjustment and starting to close it up. Time to see how well it worked.::

I think probably one of the first things we'll be doing when we arrive is getting you some more clothes so you aren't stuck with mine when yours need to go in the wash.

We can figure out what to do from there after.

[Not cheerful at all, and Ezra grimaces at it. He doesn't want to think about what the Inquisitors would do if they got their hands on him.

At least the shift in conversation offers a convenient distraction from that. Ezra blinks, turning his head to look at Garth'zel in surprise.]

You don't have to do that. I mean, you've already done more than enough. Just- You can drop me off somewhere and I'll get out of your, uh, horns.

[Although, remembering where Garth'zel said they were heading, Ezra has to make a chagrined face and amend-]

Maybe not on Nar Shaddaa, though, if you don't mind. Getting stuck in Hutt territory without money or friends is... prooobably not a good idea.

[Probably a very bad idea.]

I don't think it would hurt either of us for you to have more clothes to wear. It's not like I'm planning on buying you an entire wardrobe. Just a couple of changes of clothes.

::Garth'zel finishes closing up the remote and stands with it in his hand, making his way over to the area behind Ezra.::

You may want to take my seat where you'll be out of the way. Unless you want to risk being shot by the remote because of being in its range.

[Ezra knows Garth'zel said he had a lot of money, but it still feels weird to have someone offer to spend any kind of money on him. Not someone he's really only just met. It makes him cautious, and yet at the same time, the part of him that grew up begging for handouts says he shouldn't pass free things up if there's really no strings attached.]

If you're sure... [Just a hint of doubt.] But only one set. I can't carry much more than that.

[Not without sacrificing the very limited space in his satchel. Maybe if he was on the Ghost, it'd be a different story, since he has a place there to store a few extra things. Here, though, there's no place that's his.

Figuring that's settled, he scoots over into Garth'zels vacated seat, curiosity rising now. His interest in the remote had only been passing before, but now...]

Are you going to train?

[And by extension, let Ezra watch?]

First I'm going to let it hit me so I can see if adjustments still need to be made.

::Which will be annoying. The shots from remotes sting.::

Then I'll take a few minutes to block some of its shots.

::As he talks, he turns on the remote and tosses it up in the air where it immediately started floating, waiting for commands.::

Five minutes.

::The instruction is given as he pulls his lightsaber off his belt and flicks it on, the snap-hiss loud in the otherwise quiet room.

It promptly takes a shot at him and he makes an annoyed sound as it hits him. He felt that a little too well.::

Looks like I should turn the intensity down a notch.

::Then he's blocking the other shots, sending most of them back in the direction of the remote; albeit carefully to make sure they just missed it.::

[There's no way those near-misses aren't deliberate. Ezra saw how good Garth'zel was at deflecting blast fire back and enemies back when the stormtroopers first attacked. This is just a drone, and it's not even doing any evasive maneuvers. Those misses must be where Garth'zel wants the blasts to go - somewhere that still treats the remote as his target, but doesn't damage it after he just repaired in. Ezra props his elbows on the tablet, and his chin in his palms. It's neat, seeing someone else train - and more so because it's someone new, not just him or Kanan and the things they always do.

And since Garth'zel seems to have no problem with him watching, Ezra lets his mind slip into that kind of listening mode he has when he's studying something new. A focus that leaves him open to absorb the things he sees and hears.]

Do you ever have problems predicting shots when it's a droid that's shooting? Something besides a training remote? I mean... It's different, predicting things that aren't living, right?

Edited 2017-02-15 02:33 (UTC)

It is different, yes. Droids only react according to their programming, making them fairly predictable. People and creatures have more variety in their responses, so you never quite know what you're going to get with them.

::He talks as he blocks the last few shots before turning off his lightsaber and hanging it back on his belt before holding out his hand and using the Force to call the remote to it to turn it off.::

It's why I usually prefer live opponents when I spar. They make sure I have to pay proper attention.

I am aware that everyone has their strong points, so just because its easy for me...

::He shrugs a little. Of course, given his power levels and skill, a lot of things are easier for him than they are for others.::

It's the opposite for me. I... I can feel people better than droids. People have a bigger presence in the Force.

[But droids are what he faces more often than not. Having a weakness against them like that was bad news. That's part of why he felt like he needed to build a blaster into his lightsaber, to help him compensate and give him another option for fighting long range attacks.]

But if you want a live opponent, I could help you with that. Consider it paying you back for all the help.

It does rather make them more noticeable. If it were droids on the other side of that wall, I almost certainly wouldn't have felt them; not until the Force warned me something was about to happen. But once I know they're there, it's easy to keep track of them.

::He claims Ezra's original seat to open the remote back up to tweak the setting for the bolts. At least it should only take him a minute.::

I'll probably take you up on that. After I've had time to properly evaluate your skill level.

::Best for him to know Ezra's level of knowledge so he knows how much he may need to hold back to avoid an unfortunate accident.::

[Ezra wrinkles his nose. Why does he have the feeling that probably means he's going to have to practice with the remote?]

Well, once my clothes are clean, I could go through the forms I know.

[Yeah, sure, he could technically do that even in the clothes he has on now, but he's not above making things a little easier on himself by waiting until he's got clothes on that fit. And also trying to dodge a session with the remote ball.]

Edited 2017-02-15 03:25 (UTC)

::Because like he said while they were eating, he's not an idiot. Garth'zel fully intends to wait until Ezra has his own clothes back on. He doesn't really see him getting too active in what he's wearing going too well.::

That'll be a start.

::He taps the remote meaningfully as he closes it back up again. You're not wriggling out of this, kid.::

Edited 2017-02-15 03:37 (UTC)

[Ezra's not an idiot either. His shoulders slump just a fraction as he picks up on that hint. Figures a Master would hone right in on one of his weaker points.

Slumping his shoulders ends up being a mistake, though, because it just makes Garth'zel's oversized shirt just try to slip off his shoulder again. Ezra tugs it back up with a mutter of annoyance. Yeah, it's probably just as well that they wait until he's got his own clothes back on. There's no way Garth'zel would take him seriously if they tried to fight right now.]

It'll be a while before we get to Nar Shaddaa. If we're waiting for my clothes... Do you have anything else I can do?

[He'd rather do something useful than sit and meditate for however long.]

I imagine you should probably explore the ship so you'll know what's where. It'd be best if you can find the crew quarters for whenever you're ready to get some sleep, hmm? Not to mention the kitchen for when you need food.

::It's not like there's anything he's trying to hide, so it's safe enough to give Ezra run of the ship.::

After you've had time to work out where anyplace you think is relevant to you is, since you apparently aren't so good at history, I do have books on the last few thousand years. You might want to start with Taris and Nar Shaddaa and then work your way to anything else that looks interesting.

::There, a constructive way for Ezra to keep himself busy when he's not doing other things.::

[Ezra has to fight a grimace at the suggestion of reading. He can read, despite dropping out of school at seven. He'd quickly realized on the streets that reading was important if he wanted anything like a decent life, for knowing when he had valuable information, to making sure he didn't get swindled, being able to get and give directions, and so many other things. He'd made sure to build on what he'd already learned from his parents.

But that doesn't mean he's good at reading anything that gets too lengthy. And doesn't mean his reading vocabulary is necessarily the greatest, especially for things he hadn't bothered to keep up with.

Things like history.

Pride keeps him from admitting to any of that, though. Not like Garth'zel needs to know.]

Alright, I guess I'll leave you to it, then.

[He is happy enough at least to go explore.]

::If he keeps the dictionary program handy, it'll be an education in more than one area. And if Garth'zel ever finds out how poor Ezra's reading skills were, he'd make him work on them.

He's also aware of how important being able to read was, although he comes at it from the point of view of a former slave. Being able to read made him that much more valuable to his owner and less likely to be sold to someone worse. Not to mention how it gave him an advantage over some of his fellow former slaves when they were sent to Korriban. ~~Too, if he ever managed to escape, it would have helped there as well. In numerous ways.~~::

All right. I'll likely take my own shower soon and do a few things around the ship before finding you. Don't be afraid to take a break from your reading if you need to. And count yourself lucky that a friend of mine isn't here. He's an archeologist and sometimes needs reminding that not everyone has the patience to listen about history for hours and some need to have things laid out in laymen's terms.

::See? It could be worse. He could have Talos gushing at him about the digs he's been on. At least with reading, he can go at his own pace and not go glassy-eyed after about five minutes.::

Edited 2017-02-15 23:36 (UTC)

[Things could always be worse. Though Ezra's just as glad not to be talking to someone who's enthusiastic about something he could care less about.

Though speaking of which, maybe it's time to escape before Garth'zel gets any other ideas about how Ezra should spend his time. Really wasn't expecting to get a teacher here.

Not this kind of teacher, anyway.

Standing up, Ezra heads off to start on his exploration, not really intending to ever get around to that reading.

...

But an hour later, he's finished getting familiar with the ship, and he's bored, and Garth'zel hasn't come to find him yet. If this were the Ghost, there's plenty he could find to do, but it's not, and he doesn't even know what he's allowed to touch in terms of doing repairs and maintenance. His benefactor might not want him messing around, even if it's something he thinks he can deal with. So all he has are the books Garth'zel left him, and at least that's better than having nothing to do at all.

When Garth'zel emerges, he'll find the teenager curled up in the room he's been given, slowly making his way through the text on a datapad.]

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