notallofus | (no subject)

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One area of the old Temple Kanan had rarely thought back on was the library. It had never been his favorite place – he had only ever gone there when he had to, when some assigned reading was waiting for him, and Master Nu had little patience for those younglings who obviously didn't want to be there.

But this place, enclosed entirely in one large and dusty room, isn't much like the tall, glittering shelves he remembered from the Temple. Much like the rest of Akiva, it has a damp, musty smell throughout it. It's especially noticeable in here, maybe because of the long, narrow openings cut in to the floor to drain away flood waters – most other buildings in the city of Myrra seemed simply built to be flooded time and again. Bright orange sunlight drifts through smudged windows, and where there are shelves of glittery digital records, it looks as though they've been partially ransacked. Long sections of the shelves are simply left empty, yet unlike much of the library, those spots hadn't yet started to collect dust.

Despite its humble appearance, Kanan already feels more comfortable in this library than he had in the Temple's. Where the Temple's library had an enforced quiet, the others milling around this one talk openly as they look through texts on antique datapads or watch the holorecordings they've pulled down from the shelves. At a cluttered desk along one wall, a Besalisk librarian uses two hands to sort through datatapes, while the other two help a young Ihtorian girl with a search on their computer. Along another wall, Imperial recruiting posters that have been pasted one after another are ripped and defaced, goofy eyes painted onto Stormtrooper helmets and rude jokes in various alphabets scrawled over TIE fighters.

Hera had insisted they arrive early to scope out exits and possible surveillance. It's very quickly apparent that no cameras or surveillance droids are snooping around this place. They count off the three exits together, before separating, wandering through the shelves and careful to appear as though looking, rather than waiting.

After a second loop around, Kanan turns to see that Hera has stopped at a short shelf that rises to just below one of the round windows. It looks as though it's been placed to catch the sunlight along the covers of its handful of paper books. A sign beside the shelf announces that these books may not be removed from the library. There had been a massive room of paper volumes in the Temple, and Kanan had never seen anyone in there aside from Master Nu and her droids.

Hera slowly reaches out, and runs her finger along the faded red spine of one of the covers, and Kanan realizes then, suddenly certain, that she hasn't touched a paper book before. Deciding that's a reasonable distraction, Kanan looks away, and focuses his own attention on watching out for their contact.

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Cassian had learned about the library from Mig and it had become an alternate meeting place. There were good sight lines when you knew where to look and Cassian appreciated the shadows.

He wanted to see who the Rebellion had sent and then get Mig and the others off safely. Near one of the round windows, he saw a Twi'lek and shifted to get a better look, nodding slightly to himself as he recognized Hera and Kanan beside her.

Of all the people that Kanan expected to sense today -- and most of that was being prepared to feel strangers -- Cassian was not quite last on the list, but it was close.

It takes Kanan a moment to gather himself not to react, exhaling and pulling another book off the shelf to peruse in his own time.

Of course, then he looks up over the edge of said open book, gaze unerringly meeting Cassian's for a second, and then he looks back down again. A momentary shrug, an impatient sigh, and he returns the book to the shelf before ambling in Hera's general direction.

He hates to interrupt her fascination with the paper books, but the mission always comes first.

Edited 2019-09-10 03:32 (UTC)

Hera looks up when she hears Kanan step toward her. Her eyes go to him, and then up, just past his shoulder.

Unlike Kanan, she has no trouble schooling her reaction. It's not anticipated, but somehow, it doesn't feel like a surprise.

She moves closer to Kanan, but allows Cassian to approach them.

He scans a list of titles, taking down a datatape to check the date on it before returning it to the shelf. Then he makes his way through the shelves towards them, he dodges out of the way of a little girl calling out, "I found the next episode."

As he reaches the round window, Cassian gives a ghost of a nod as he considers them and says in a volume pitched just to them, "All is not lost."

His face is calm but there's a tension as always present in him and he looks tired, but that fits his cover here as a pilot on the edges.

Kanan rubs one hand over his eyes -- much like someone who has been here a long time paging through text -- as if to ease eye strain.

Just as quietly as Cassian --

"So long as the Force remains."

There's still some comfort in that, if he lets himself think about it.

Hera, however, smiles slightly.

Quietly, below the voices of other patrons and running holoprojections, "Funny seeing you here."

He returns her smile with a small but sincere one, "We have some mutual friends who are looking forward to seeing you again,"

The cell, all of them will be safer with the larger Rebellion.

Kanan fights back a sudden grin of relief. Contact's been made, that's the first part of the job done.

"We've always been popular."

Hera looks sideways at Kanan, but nods.

"We're glad we could make the time to come."

"You have, me too. We didn't think you were going to make it. How was your trip?"

That's one of those useful questions that can cover many situations. He didn't worry about their appearing, it was a concern of when as what's going on keeps changing.

Kanan looks over to Hera briefly.

Then --

"Less eventful than it could have been."

This covers a vast range of possibilities.

"But maybe things will go smoothly from here," Hera offers, deciding to play the optimist.

"How about you?"

"That would be nice. Fairly smooth though I hit a few bumps when I arrived."

New Imperials are making the situation on Akiva more dangerous. "We should probably get moving, don't want to get stuck somewhere awkward if there's a hard rain."

"It'd make for great cover," Kanan offers, but he doesn't look happy about that thought.

"Unless no one here goes out when it rains."

"Either way, we're ready to follow your lead."

They're the newcomers right now, after all.

"They do, lots of covered spots around when you need them. I know a good route,"

He's actually planned out a few different routes in case they need them.

"That'll be helpful," Kanan agrees.

"I'm guessing you also know the best way out of here?"

Because if they don't stop talking soon, they're going to get more looks than they want.

"It'd be a shame if we can't stop by again after."

There's zero chance of that, they all know, but saying it might at least misdirect anyone who could be eavesdropping.

Edited 2019-09-14 18:21 (UTC)

"Maybe you can someday."

Cassian heads towards a side door which is almost hidden by the shadows of the stacks. On their way out, they pass a Mon Cala with two children, the littlest child waves to them and Cassian waves back before they head out the door.

Outside, the sky is grey as Cassian takes them onto a side street where there's a clear war of the posters going on; new Imperial posters over ripped and defaced ones.

"Someday," Kanan says, as they pass by the posters, "seems like it'll be a good time."

Now definitely isn't.

Hera keeps her pace relaxed, though she allows her lekku to tense, ready to sense nearby movement.

"There a lot of recruiting here?" she asks, with a nod toward an intact poster. That's still an innocent enough question.

"Yes, they're always talking about seeing new planets, but its very human focused."

One of the reasons it doesn't go over well and this is a planet where big governments aren't truly trusted.

Kanan makes a vague affirmative noise, because anything he genuinely wants to say isn't going to sound good if they're overheard.

"Sounds the same as everywhere."

With a glance at a poster featuring a Stormtrooper, and a very small smile, "Those helmets wouldn't fit me, anyway."

Cassian nods to Hera, "I don't think they fit anyone."