[Changing his path over to the other, shoving his hands in his pockets.] Story? Nah, I just tried to find things that made me think of everyone or I thought you guys would like. Figured this one had enough different textures and lines that it'd at least be a nice fingering stone or something like that.
[Christmas not being a thing in space won't and hasn't stopped Leia from following along with the traditions of some of the otherworlders and adapting it into a "gifts for people I care about" sort of deal. And Cassian, though she may not know him well, is one of those people.
Cassian will find a basket filled with pastries (enough to share, but if he wants to keep them to himself, well, it's not as if Leia will know) and a pair of gloves and a scarf to go with them. She may not know what Cassian already has or needs, but well, having more useful clothing like this is something she's sure people can appreciate.]
[…this is ridiculous, continuing to comm message when they live in the same house… but it feels like the level of interaction Cassian wants right now. Communication without anyone looking at his face.]
not sure i should drink right now after last month want to stay above water for now
ive never asked you more about your own situation back home dont have to tell me just to distract me but i dont know joint catharsis opportunity
[Either he isn't aware half of what he says to her sounds like a come-on or he isn't worried about it because they're comfortable enough.]
[True to her word, Veronica's out in the yard, a little bit tipsy already. Also true to her word, Cassian's mug is purely an orange-flavored slushie, but she's drinking beer straight from the bottle. The past few months have been hard for her, to say the least, and she'll regret doing this in the morning, but for now she just needs a drink.
As soon as Cassian comes out to the backyard, she waves him over to the patch of grass she's sitting on and makes no move to budge.]
How're you holding up? [says the underage girl drinking beer.]
One day, after finishing a day of work in the Nexus, Cassian finds a small brown box left on the counter -- with his name on it -- and no other card or anything to identify who left it behind.
He spent some time treating the box like a potential explosive. Once he was satisfied it wasn't, he emptied the box, verified all the contents were the same, and unrolled one of them to see what it was made of. A local variety of cigarra, he concluded, with less narcotic composition. These seemed just designed to… well, poison you. But not without your own active participation. So why had it been left for him? Didn't seem like a threat. But also a strange gift unless someone knew he smoked (which he didn't). So…? He double checked the box and every cigarra. Then started asking around.
He doesn't take any of the offers, though notes the info re: quality and demand. Eventually, he places the gift in an otherwise empty lockbox, and keeps an eye out for others like it.
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