Chupacabra campfire: early Monday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Today was the first day of classes. Karal was quite pleased, because having nothing he needed to do felt rather odd.

Not, however, as odd as waking up to see the Valdemaran history he'd been reading nesting next to the bed. And clucking. And apparently quite determined to set on the balled up piece of paper it had found on the floor.

His inability to quite believe what he was seeing - and hearing - didn't seem to bother it.

Karal went into the common area to fetch a cup of tea and returned to find the book chicken had somehow incorporated his pillowcase into its nest. Which made it easy to scoop it up and carry it outside.

Settling it safely against a rock, he - after some fumbling - kindled a fire and sat down to watch it. "How in Vkandis' name are you making those noises? You're a book!"

[ooc: open!]

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal folded his hands over one knee and tried to put it together. A pilot was obviously someone who flew, and deliberately travelling to a place under the control of the Empire and joining a squadron, a description he'd only ever heard applied to the military..."Your Rogue Squadron is involved in fighting the Empire?"

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Yep," he said and stomped at the ground a little. "I've been with them for just under a year."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"That was an admirable thing to do, to go and fight to free a world not your own," he said, studying Gavin with mild concern. "It must have been difficult to leave."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Leaving Tatooine?" He shook his head. "No, I wanted to leave. There was nothing there for me. I was stuck there."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, leaving the squadron to come here, is what I meant," he explained.

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Oh." He shook his head. "I didn't leave. I was ordered here. By my commanding officer. It wasn't voluntary."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal blinked in surprise. "That's also why I'm here. I was told that I would come here, and so I came. I was given no choice, and almost as little warning." He sighed. "It's not easy, is it?"

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"No," he said, bowing his head a little. "And I want to go back. I don't know if that feeling's gonna go away anytime soon."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It's hard to be in a strange place that you didn't choose, even harder if there's somewhere else you need to be. But it is easier to bear with good company," he said, smiling warmly at Gavin. "Who will listen if you need to talk. Plus, there are books that wake up and believe they are chickens."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

The last part made him laugh and he felt a little better. "Thanks. I think, I just gotta hope that I'll be able to go back and it won't all be over."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal would be happy if he returned to find it was all over, as long as it was resolved for the best. He knew it wouldn't happen. "I guess, trust those who sent you here, and have faith that they will bring you back when it's time," he said. "Hope is never a bad thing. And classes start today, which will certainly give us both something else to think about it."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I got two," he said and looked a little fearful of that. "I haven't been to school in a long time."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I also have two today, one on Stupid People and one on Treasure Hunting, and I have no idea why I'm taking either. But you'll be fine, Gavin," he assured him, responding to the look. "Truly you will. If you get lost or stuck, I'd be happy to help, but I'm sure you won't."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Treasure Hunting?" He smiled at that. "I think I got that one too. And thanks."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," he said, ducking his head a little. "And it will be very good to know someone in the class."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Are you interested in treasure hunting?" Gavin asked, smiling a little at the head ducking.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Not in the least, unless seeking out old archives, ones that were thought lost long ago, counts. Or finding the answer to a puzzle, or solution to a problem." His enthusiasm for those filled his voice, and he leaned forward. "Especially when it's something important to more than just me. But I doubt that's what they're referring to in the class."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

His lips quirked into an amused grin and he said, "Yeah, I don't think that's what this class will be about. But, hey, I'm taking it in hopes I become a better observer. A sharper eye for detail."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"To help with flying?" he guessed. "And that I can see being a a part of the class. I'd imagine hunting for lost treasure wouldn't be an easy thing to do." He grinned back. "I may end up coming to you for help when I become completely lost."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"You know where to find me," he said with a grin. "And yeah, I think it would help with flying. And maybe spotting bad things before they happen. Picking up signs and indicators and stuff like that."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Reading people, you mean? And situations?" he asked, and that was something he'd had almost too much experience with. "Or something completely different that I'm not going to understand?"

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"No, you got it," Gavin said and nodded. "That's what I'm looking for. Might be the wrong class to take but I figured it couldn't hurt, you know."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I've had some exposure to that." Which may be a significant understatement. "Learning when to see that the right word can keep things from sliding into disaster, or the wrong can send it plummeting into chaos. My master was extraordinarily gifted at such things." He smiled sadly. "It's a valuable skill to have."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"I don't really have it," he admitted. "Others in my squadron, they can, like, sense when there's something wrong. I can't do that."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Then maybe it's not entirely a bad thing you were sent here?" he suggested gently. "You can learn what you want to know, and then be an even more valuable member of your squadron when you return. Not to mention stories to tell that they probably won't believe, like book chickens."