He saw me building it. I just didn't know if he would let me have the power cell.
[Boba ducks his head at Branch's questions. He wasn't expecting there to be long-lasting consequences when he told Branch he was worried about being forced to fight. That was just supposed to help him get out.]
No one's forcing me, but I want to help. I'm a good shot. I could wear earplugs! Or a helmet that blocks out sound!
[He doesn't want to stay behind and just wait. He can do things now! He's not a liability!]
[To go that quickly from being afraid of being forced, to wanting to help, shows that the wanting to help is the instinct underneath - Lucky just didn't want anyone else to control him.]
[At first, Branch wasn't putting much thought to this - he'd actually thought Lucky just wanted to see them all off. But finding out he wants to go leaves him feeling incredibly anxious.]
It's good that you want to help. [He nods his head back and forth.] And yeah, you could find a way to block the sound. But one thing I know is... it's that bad things happen, even if you think you're ready for them. And sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.
We don't know what we're up against. And you're a kid [He holsters the baton in its new holster and holds up his hands] and I don't think that means you're not capable. It just means it'd be terrible if something took away your future because you deserve to have more of one.
[He holds a tiny hand over a heart much bigger than its physical size would suggest.]
I've known people like the ones we're facing. That want to - to consume kids.
[He goes for honesty because he can tell this is a kid that needs it, whose trust can easily be broken. He can hold this close to the vest or he can be honest about it. If Lucky were an adult, he'd withhold it.]
They almost got me when I was a kid. I just don't want them to get you.
I know bad things happen, and I've known those people too.
[Tyranus, Jabba, Durge, Libkath, the Republic... Aurra, maybe. Boba's met a lot of beings who want to hurt kids, or didn't let the fact that he was one stop them.
He looks at the ground, frustrated. Branch isn't going to be convinced. Boba shouldn't even be trying to convince him. Boba can make his own decisions, and he definitely doesn't need anyone's permission!]
Okay, I'll stay here, but you have to be safe too.
[He hates it. He hates that this kid knows that, has faced that. It makes something twist and knot in Branch's chest.]
[Branch debates whether he should do it, but he decides to slowly lower himself down from the little table, wrapping his hair around the table leg to have something to dangle from as he slowly slides down to the ground. Once his feet gain purchase, his hair withdraws again, back to its shorter length.]
[He walks closer, body language a little hesitant, afraid he's crossing a boundary here. But he wants to reassure and his people are very tactile. Despite his many years alone, he's started to learn to communicate with that part of his people's language again. It's starting to feel more natural.]
[And he has a very strong feeling Lucky has lived a life where he probably hasn't gotten any comfort in a while.]
[He approaches slowly and just gently places a tiny hand on Boba's knee, watching to make sure he doesn't recoil or seem uncomfortable. It is so gentle, Boba will barely feel it. Like the brush of a dandelion.]
[Branch finds himself wishing he could meet his eyes better, at the same height. And reach a human-sized hand to his shoulder.]
I will be. [He withdraws his hand, not wanting to be too pushy.] I know how to hide from big people when things get too dangerous. I've had to know how to do that my whole life.
[He reaches back to tap the handle of the holstered baton.]
And you just made it so I can be even safer.
[His soft impression morphs into a smile.]
Trust me, if I'd had this thing a year ago, I'd have solved a few Bergen-sized problems in half the time.
[Boba watches Branch and holds very still, and not just because he doesn't want Branch to feel threatened. He's never been put off by Branch's stature. The galaxy is a big place with species of all shapes and sizes-- he doesn't give a second thought to making accommodations.
The gesture itself is unexpected. The faint pressure lingers even after Branch pulls away.]
My dad taught me self-defense when I was a kid. He said it was a way of life.
[He remembers the words of the Resol'nare-- the six tenets of being Mandalorian-- but he doesn't remember what they mean. He knows armor, self-defense, education, and language are all part of it.
He looks back at Branch. He can defend himself with the stun baton, but that won't help him if he loses it. Or if he goes back to his planet without it.]
I can show you how it works. That way when you go back you can make your own, or something like it.
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no subject
[Boba ducks his head at Branch's questions. He wasn't expecting there to be long-lasting consequences when he told Branch he was worried about being forced to fight. That was just supposed to help him get out.]
No one's forcing me, but I want to help. I'm a good shot. I could wear earplugs! Or a helmet that blocks out sound!
[He doesn't want to stay behind and just wait. He can do things now! He's not a liability!]
no subject
[At first, Branch wasn't putting much thought to this - he'd actually thought Lucky just wanted to see them all off. But finding out he wants to go leaves him feeling incredibly anxious.]
It's good that you want to help. [He nods his head back and forth.] And yeah, you could find a way to block the sound. But one thing I know is... it's that bad things happen, even if you think you're ready for them. And sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.
We don't know what we're up against. And you're a kid [He holsters the baton in its new holster and holds up his hands] and I don't think that means you're not capable. It just means it'd be terrible if something took away your future because you deserve to have more of one.
[He holds a tiny hand over a heart much bigger than its physical size would suggest.]
I've known people like the ones we're facing. That want to - to consume kids.
[He goes for honesty because he can tell this is a kid that needs it, whose trust can easily be broken. He can hold this close to the vest or he can be honest about it. If Lucky were an adult, he'd withhold it.]
They almost got me when I was a kid. I just don't want them to get you.
no subject
[Tyranus, Jabba, Durge, Libkath, the Republic... Aurra, maybe. Boba's met a lot of beings who want to hurt kids, or didn't let the fact that he was one stop them.
He looks at the ground, frustrated. Branch isn't going to be convinced. Boba shouldn't even be trying to convince him. Boba can make his own decisions, and he definitely doesn't need anyone's permission!]
Okay, I'll stay here, but you have to be safe too.
no subject
[Branch debates whether he should do it, but he decides to slowly lower himself down from the little table, wrapping his hair around the table leg to have something to dangle from as he slowly slides down to the ground. Once his feet gain purchase, his hair withdraws again, back to its shorter length.]
[He walks closer, body language a little hesitant, afraid he's crossing a boundary here. But he wants to reassure and his people are very tactile. Despite his many years alone, he's started to learn to communicate with that part of his people's language again. It's starting to feel more natural.]
[And he has a very strong feeling Lucky has lived a life where he probably hasn't gotten any comfort in a while.]
[He approaches slowly and just gently places a tiny hand on Boba's knee, watching to make sure he doesn't recoil or seem uncomfortable. It is so gentle, Boba will barely feel it. Like the brush of a dandelion.]
[Branch finds himself wishing he could meet his eyes better, at the same height. And reach a human-sized hand to his shoulder.]
I will be. [He withdraws his hand, not wanting to be too pushy.] I know how to hide from big people when things get too dangerous. I've had to know how to do that my whole life.
[He reaches back to tap the handle of the holstered baton.]
And you just made it so I can be even safer.
[His soft impression morphs into a smile.]
Trust me, if I'd had this thing a year ago, I'd have solved a few Bergen-sized problems in half the time.
no subject
The gesture itself is unexpected. The faint pressure lingers even after Branch pulls away.]
My dad taught me self-defense when I was a kid. He said it was a way of life.
[He remembers the words of the Resol'nare-- the six tenets of being Mandalorian-- but he doesn't remember what they mean. He knows armor, self-defense, education, and language are all part of it.
He looks back at Branch. He can defend himself with the stun baton, but that won't help him if he loses it. Or if he goes back to his planet without it.]
I can show you how it works. That way when you go back you can make your own, or something like it.
no subject
I'd like to learn how it all works.
[He smiles a gentle smile at him.]
I promise we'll do that when I'm back okay?
no subject
Yeah, we can do that.
[He finds himself genuinely looking forward to it.]
I think people are getting ready. You should probably go too.