[He didn't deny the contact. But perhaps more astonishingly, he sought it out. It wasn't a huge, grand gesture, but then, it didn't have to be. The very fact that he was maintaining contact was more than enough for Jyn.
Maybe she had been wrong all along. Maybe she hadn't been reading the signs correctly.
Maybe this was her opportunity to learn how.
Jyn didn't much mind the silence - it wasn't oppressive, after all. For once, it was comfortable and companionable and it left her feeling warm, not like she had ice in her veins.
Still, she let out a surprised little noise as Cassian finally did break the silence, shaking her head gently even though he couldn't see.]
Think that's my line, actually.
[Jyn flinched as a burst of raucous laughter outside announced the presence of a few others who were awake at so late an hour, but she didn't pull her hand away and sit back as though nothing more than sharing a meal was going on between the pair of them.
And that, too, was something new, not locking everything away so no one else could see.]
[Jyn wasn't exactly happy about the interruption, but as Cassian turned his hand over and they were able to touch palm-to-palm, she found no real reason to complain.
While it was difficult to find the words - the courage, if she was being honest, to ask about what they were, what they could be, how he felt, but in his eyes and in his touch, she felt something.]
Should finish eating.
[And then - ? Maybe a walk, maybe more talking, just ... the simple of pleasure of doing so together.]
[He gave a wryer smile, climbing back to a more public face—though his eyes were still warm and open and all hers. He dared to squeeze her hand so slightly before pulling his away to pick his fork back up.]
Yeah. I didn't make enough for anyone else.
Sounds like X-squadron out there. Don't let them bully me into an overnight sabacc tournament, please?
[It was enough just to know and be sure that feelings that she thought were unreciprocated … were not. It was enough that the blanket of uncertainty had now changed to one of - well, maybe not a promise of, but certainly the hope of … something.
Something more.
Jyn huffed out an amused chuckle and shrugged one shoulder with practiced nonchalance.]
I'm not that great with sharing, anyway. [Her lips turned up just a little higher and she nodded seriously.] I won't. Sounds like you've got some experience there.
[Maybe he'd tell her. Maybe there was still so much to share with each other. Maybe Jyn wanted that.
Soon, pilots began filtering in, scrounging for their food and drinks. There were a few curious glances their way, but for the most part, all they received were respectful nods and congenial greetings.
When Jyn finished eating, she turned her attention back to Cassian (as if it had ever really left) as she gestured to the exit as if to ask -
[He exhaled an answering laugh about her ability at sharing. Like veterans joked about hard-earned things. Lifetimes of survivalism, crime and deprivation, having to take and horde and defend for themselves, behind her; them.
Experience… yeah: he gave a wryer smile.]
I'm not so good at sabacc unless I cheat. And there's no fun in that.
[Well… he was good at aspects of it: reading others and keeping others from reading him. He just loathed the aspects relying on chance. And would rather leave calculating probabilities to Kay. He played sabacc when he had to and chose in advance, based on objective and stakes, whether he'd win or lose. It was never a game.
Dejarik, likewise, was no fun. Just more strategizing. And so many others: weapons practice.
Of course, he'd have to think about it if anyone asked for a game he did like. Whatever it was probably didn't involve competition. To much struggle in the universe one didn't get to choose.
It was good they took some time just to eat, and enjoy sitting together—him trying not to watch her awkwardly while they chewed, but still occasionally flashing her smiles in light of nothing. The others around them gave them a friendily wide berth, maybe not wanting to intrude; maybe just relieved not to try and force Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor to be particularly sociable.
As they finished, Cassian stood and slid her plate to his side to stack theirs together, and took them back around to the washer. He returned, and didn't sit again; but regarded her gesture with a tilt of his head in the same direction, in agreement. Let's go.]
[It wasn't really funny, given their backgrounds, but it was an experience that they could share, and experience that both understood intimately. And being able to share understanding like that was a luxury that Jyn was wholly unused to.
...
She understood Cassian's comment about sabaac, too. Jyn was only good at the game because she had to be, not because it was just a game that she happened to enjoy. She had learned not only to read most tells, no matter how inconsequential, but also how to hedge her own bets to her best advantage in order to come away with as many winnings as she could. That wasn't even mentioning the pickpocketing skills she had gathered along the way, too.
A game was never just a game. It couldn't be, not when survival from one day to the next was on the line. It was much the same with other games and hobbies. If they could not benefit her in some way, they were not worth her time.
Yeah. She understood.
Conversation could wait a bit in favor of finishing their late dinner. It sometimes felt a little bit awkward, especially when their gazes met and it was more than obvious that they were watching each other, but Jyn just huffed out a chuckle, shrugged, and went back to her plate, grateful that the others were allowing them time and opportunity to eat. Maybe she put off an air of unapproachability, but it wasn't as though she had it in her mind to be rude or insulting if anyone did try to engage. She wanted to be accepted.
It was just ... a process.
Finally, the food was finished, and Cassian took the used dishes to join the others waiting to be washed. It didn't take much more than that look shared between them when he returned to convince Jyn to stand, nod her acknowledgment when others glanced their way curiously. Still, she kept a respectable distance away as she joined Cassian and prepared to leave.
She didn't yet know where they were going to go or what they were going to do, but at the least, they'd be together. A soft shrug. The lifting of an eyebrow just so.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 06:40 pm (UTC)Maybe she had been wrong all along. Maybe she hadn't been reading the signs correctly.
Maybe this was her opportunity to learn how.
Jyn didn't much mind the silence - it wasn't oppressive, after all. For once, it was comfortable and companionable and it left her feeling warm, not like she had ice in her veins.
Still, she let out a surprised little noise as Cassian finally did break the silence, shaking her head gently even though he couldn't see.]
Think that's my line, actually.
[Jyn flinched as a burst of raucous laughter outside announced the presence of a few others who were awake at so late an hour, but she didn't pull her hand away and sit back as though nothing more than sharing a meal was going on between the pair of them.
And that, too, was something new, not locking everything away so no one else could see.]
no subject
Date: 2019-11-29 03:56 am (UTC)In fact… he turned over his hand, so, for just a moment, it fully touched hers.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-04 11:39 pm (UTC)While it was difficult to find the words - the courage, if she was being honest, to ask about what they were, what they could be, how he felt, but in his eyes and in his touch, she felt something.]
Should finish eating.
[And then - ? Maybe a walk, maybe more talking, just ... the simple of pleasure of doing so together.]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-09 11:02 pm (UTC)Yeah. I didn't make enough for anyone else.
Sounds like X-squadron out there. Don't let them bully me into an overnight sabacc tournament, please?
[And… yes… afterward…?]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-12 04:42 pm (UTC)Something more.
Jyn huffed out an amused chuckle and shrugged one shoulder with practiced nonchalance.]
I'm not that great with sharing, anyway. [Her lips turned up just a little higher and she nodded seriously.] I won't. Sounds like you've got some experience there.
[Maybe he'd tell her. Maybe there was still so much to share with each other. Maybe Jyn wanted that.
Soon, pilots began filtering in, scrounging for their food and drinks. There were a few curious glances their way, but for the most part, all they received were respectful nods and congenial greetings.
When Jyn finished eating, she turned her attention back to Cassian (as if it had ever really left) as she gestured to the exit as if to ask -
What next?]
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 07:29 am (UTC)Experience… yeah: he gave a wryer smile.]
I'm not so good at sabacc unless I cheat. And there's no fun in that.
[Well… he was good at aspects of it: reading others and keeping others from reading him. He just loathed the aspects relying on chance. And would rather leave calculating probabilities to Kay. He played sabacc when he had to and chose in advance, based on objective and stakes, whether he'd win or lose. It was never a game.
Dejarik, likewise, was no fun. Just more strategizing. And so many others: weapons practice.
Of course, he'd have to think about it if anyone asked for a game he did like. Whatever it was probably didn't involve competition. To much struggle in the universe one didn't get to choose.
It was good they took some time just to eat, and enjoy sitting together—him trying not to watch her awkwardly while they chewed, but still occasionally flashing her smiles in light of nothing. The others around them gave them a friendily wide berth, maybe not wanting to intrude; maybe just relieved not to try and force Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor to be particularly sociable.
As they finished, Cassian stood and slid her plate to his side to stack theirs together, and took them back around to the washer. He returned, and didn't sit again; but regarded her gesture with a tilt of his head in the same direction, in agreement. Let's go.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-12 08:53 pm (UTC)...
She understood Cassian's comment about sabaac, too. Jyn was only good at the game because she had to be, not because it was just a game that she happened to enjoy. She had learned not only to read most tells, no matter how inconsequential, but also how to hedge her own bets to her best advantage in order to come away with as many winnings as she could. That wasn't even mentioning the pickpocketing skills she had gathered along the way, too.
A game was never just a game. It couldn't be, not when survival from one day to the next was on the line. It was much the same with other games and hobbies. If they could not benefit her in some way, they were not worth her time.
Yeah. She understood.
Conversation could wait a bit in favor of finishing their late dinner. It sometimes felt a little bit awkward, especially when their gazes met and it was more than obvious that they were watching each other, but Jyn just huffed out a chuckle, shrugged, and went back to her plate, grateful that the others were allowing them time and opportunity to eat. Maybe she put off an air of unapproachability, but it wasn't as though she had it in her mind to be rude or insulting if anyone did try to engage. She wanted to be accepted.
It was just ... a process.
Finally, the food was finished, and Cassian took the used dishes to join the others waiting to be washed. It didn't take much more than that look shared between them when he returned to convince Jyn to stand, nod her acknowledgment when others glanced their way curiously. Still, she kept a respectable distance away as she joined Cassian and prepared to leave.
She didn't yet know where they were going to go or what they were going to do, but at the least, they'd be together. A soft shrug. The lifting of an eyebrow just so.
Where to?]