The sauce makes the dish

[jedi_interrupted]

Moving and traveling is pretty much all Ahsoka does nowadays. Sure, she meets people; helping those taken advantage of by the Empire, trading information with those who either have it to sell or can use it to the best advantage against the Empire, or bringing in those who are ready to fight more actively. She's helped to built the back bone of Rebel intelligence and spread the codename of Fulcrum across the galaxy.

And she is very much alone.

She doesn't know why that is. Okay, that's not quite true. She knows people. She interacts with people. But she leaves them and they know nothing about her once she's gone.

(The faces of Nix and Kaeden Larte swim to her inner eye and just as quickly fade away.)

Sighing, Ahsoka shakes her head and heads towards the canteen of this small rebel base. She only has a few hours until she needs to fly out and it's always a good idea to eat or sleep when you can. She can ruminate on the past during hyperspace when she can't do anything else.

It's while absently chewing on whatever rations the cooks have scrounged that she recognizes a distinctive flavor, a sauce which brings to mind an old friend form Milliways. She looks up, hopeful, to see if the man she'd met so long ago, at least for her, was still around.

Comments

[childofrebellion]

Since his last mission, Cassian's been enjoying the comfort of being on base. He knows he'll have to leave again soon so he took a chance to do cooking duty.

Once everyone's served, he has his own plate and he's leaning on the side of the door to the mess eating and enjoying the camaraderie of being around people who understand.

[jedi_interrupted]

Ahsoka stands, once she spots him, and walks over with her bowl, careful to keep a friendly expression on her face.

Assuming he hasn't bolted, she says, "I noticed the cinnamon* missing. What did you substitute in it's place?"

*Or whatever the SW equivalent is to cinnamon.

[childofrebellion]

He stays where he is and his eyes widen slightly, he'd known there was a Togruta, more than one involved with the Rebellion even seen hints that Fulcrum might be one, but he hadn't expected it to be Ahsoka. Talking about food is simpler,

"Some catabar, its too spicy but its not a good round of rations."

[jedi_interrupted]

She can feel his surprise through the Force and the smiles slightly.

"I like it. Potent, but it covers the staleness of the rations rather well. I think it would go with some jet fuel, or whatever other home brew is around, quite well."

[childofrebellion]

"Jet fuel but its not a good batch. The good still took some damage and the second best one doesn't work as well. I've got the end of some hot chocolate that I've added some spices too,"

Cassian gestures into the kitchen, its a more private place to talk if she wants. In their conversations in Milliways, he hid a lot and he doesn't know her role in the Rebellion and what she knows of what he does.

[jedi_interrupted]

"I would like that, as long as it didn't have any lactose. Togruta don't digest it well."

She follows his gesture, stepping easily before him and trusting him at her back. Once they're alone, she turns and smiles as she reaches for a mug. It's tempting to talk of things, but she decides to wait until she has an idea of whether he's found Milliways yet or not. Human age has always been a thing she had trouble predicting accurately.

[childofrebellion]

"No, I usually make a batch without and then have it for people to have if they want it," As he talks, he starts heating up the hot chocolate and decides to try a test to see about Milliways,

"There's a place I go that's been good for finding trickier spices. I always try to bring some back from there when I can."

[jedi_interrupted]

She smiles broadly, though not to show any teeth.

"Sounds like a place I've been to before. I met a guy there when I was younger who taught about sauces, your mole for example. I owe him some thanks for that. My brothers loved it."

[childofrebellion]

He nods as he hands her a mug as he realizes she's talking about the clones she fought with,

"I remember talking sauces there and time moves strangely there. Your brothers that you fought with?"

[jedi_interrupted]

"Yes. Once I got that mole down, I explored other sauces as well. It definitely won them over when I was newly arrived." Her smile wanes as the old familiar sting of grief flares.

"Much like your cooking at various bases, I believe."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian rubs his neck as he doesn't think of his cooking winning anyone over, its a way for him to do something that's lighter for the Rebellion,

"I'm just doing my part for everyone and its something I'm good at."

[jedi_interrupted]

"We are never quite aware of the ripples our lives leave," she says cryptically and takes a sip of the drink, sighing appreciatively.

[childofrebellion]

“No, probably not,”

He’s fairly certain most of his ripples have hurt and that has the sound of a Jedi saying.

[jedi_interrupted]

Master Yoda would be so proud of her casual use of it, she it sure.

"I'm glad to have bumped into you again. Familiar faces can be few and far between."

[childofrebellion]

"They are, the galaxy can be too large at times,"

Most of his familiar faces tend to die so he tries not to connect too much, "What's brought you here?"

Its a vague enough question that she can answer how she wants and will show him what to say.

[jedi_interrupted]

She nods and takes another sip.

"That same largeness helps our work though," she adds with a shrug. "A difficult balance, blending in to be forgotten and finding connections with those that matter."

She knows she's had to leave so many people behind.

"Stopping by between jobs. Playing courier while I wait. You?"

[childofrebellion]

He gives her a sharp glance, what she's talking about is how he would describe a lot of what he does,

"It does, it can be easy to be forgotten. Also between, getting everything in order. I work with Draven and don't like to leave anything to chance."

It feels like the right opening for that.

[jedi_interrupted]

Her smile turns a bit tight as she's had to work with Draven too often for her tastes. There's nothing inherently wrong with the man, she just doesn't like his approach to the war is all.

"I can understand that, but it's a good idea to leave some wiggle room so you can turn chance to your favor." A point of view only a jedi could depend on really,

"I've worked with Draven a little. Mostly getting him supplies or arranging transport for his personnel--at least the ones he'll let me know about. I work closer with Senator Organa, but I go where I'm needed."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian notices that tightening and sips his hot chocolate, he's used to that.

It would be nice to do brighter work but better he does what he does than someone else,

"He doesn't share information easily. Senator Organa's work is inspiring."

[jedi_interrupted]

"That he doesn't," she says with a chuckle. Dark she can handle really, it's just how suspicious he is over people he works with, like he's afraid someone will screw it all up. "I'm glad we have him though, and you. Sometimes we need people who aren't Senator Organa."

Of course, the challenge is making sure you know where the line is that you don't cross.

[childofrebellion]

He's glad that she understands that that they have to do the difficult parts of fighting,

"We need both, I think to do what will change the galaxy."

[jedi_interrupted]

"Just so long as we don't become what we are fighting."

She smiles again, honestly, though weakly. "Although I doubt there's risk to that."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian looks into his hot chocolate as he remembers his father saying that and wonders how true her belief is,

"No, we can't do that."

[jedi_interrupted]

Her eyes dart to his and she studies him. She can feel the conflict within him and wonders at it. His work with Draven or something more?

"It helps to remember what you are fighting for. I know when you just focus on the fighting, it's easy to lose sight of why you are fighting in the first place. I like to go out and wander cities when I can. See how people are living and how things could be better."

She shrugs again. "Though I admit I try to stay out of conflicts, so my experiences are not yours."

[childofrebellion]

"That's where I spend a lot of my time and I usually end up where the conflicts are. That's the best way to find the Empire's weaknesses,"

Cassian meets her gaze, he's surprised she's still talking with him. He knows how uncomfortable what he and Draven's men do can make others in the Rebellion. Organa's view and philosophy is about as opposite as possible.

[jedi_interrupted]

She meets his eyes with a friendly expression, as if to say, "I see you and accept your purpose."

"True enough. I guess I work to strengthen the Rebellion while you weaken the Empire. Both seem equally important to my view."

[childofrebellion]

Cassian’s face softens at that acceptance and he half smiles, her gaze is humbling, “Yes, we need to do both and plan for better days. My father used to say the same thing about not becoming our enemies.”

His father had been talking about the worst of the Republic but Cassian hasn’t forgotten his words. There are some days its hard to look in the mirror because of how awful the things he's done have been.

[jedi_interrupted]

A bitter sweet smile pulls her lips and she gets a far away look to her eyes.

"An old friend once pointed out that it's often more important how we fight than if we win." She laughs. "While another friend taught me to never approach a problem the same way. To be flexible and adapt to changes. Plans are well and good, but that you can't allow them to trap you."

She pauses, as if remembering or thinking on her words. "I'm not sure what my point is. I guess that we just need to do our best, for ourselves and for the Rebellion."