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]

"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."