Brawln and Nomi 4

Brawln is staring off into space, looking grim one day as he gazes out one of the windows of Rogue Ronto. As Nomi approaches he brightens and turns in her direction. HC pipes up to translate the Wookie’s growls.

“Doing the rounds?”

Brawln is watching Nomi closely, his grim expression gone and replaced by one of amusement.

“I can’t help but notice Efnir’s been in better spirits than I’ve seen him in since this whole mess began.” His eyebrows are raised as he says it.

Nomi nods. "Just finished actually. Everything is hanging together as I would expect. It's not that I fear anything is falling apart. This is a good ship. I just sometimes am struck by the fact that she is all that stands between us and the vastness of nothing of space and so I just like to make double-sure."

Nomi crosses to sit facing Brawln and casually pulls a leg up to get comfortable. "Something eating you? Efnir may be happier, but you certainly didn't look like you were having the best of thoughts when I walked in."

Brawln looks down as Nomi's question lands, he waves a hand and speaks - and the translation comes. "Brawln says its nothing that hasn't already been discussed, nothing worth concerning yourself over. He just still gets a bit melodramatic sometimes when there's not much to busy himself with. But what about you, Nomi - anything on your mind this evening? Life's been pretty crazy for you lately, I imagine."

"Yep, mmmhm. Having your super secret life as a spy revealed and then your spy master betray you for the Darkside, literally, is quite a turn on the head in a person's life," she jokes. "I have had long conversations with Somi and Efnir about it and I am coming to grips. I will admit that I still love Lilikai. Somi feels that Lilikai loved us only to control us, but I don't feel that sentiment exactly. I certainly feel used to an extent. But it is liberating to be able to look over what I learned from her and abandon those lessons I no longer feel should be considered authoritative truth."

"Do you talk to your mom much? Does that help? And how about that Pup Stew? Have you managed success yet?"

Brawln gestures and HC translates “Brawln speaks to his mother occasionally on the holonet. Hearing her stories and getting to know her again has been good for him.”

“Brawln is surprised to hear that you were a spy, he admits. Most spies he knows do not genuinely care about those around them. They do not typically have many genuine friends. You are lucky to be good at your craft and still have so many willing to follow you.”

“And… Brawln is glad to hear you are taking Lilikai’s betrayal well. Or at least as well as could be expected given the circumstances. He would offer a question, if it is not too painful to think about, do you still hope to see Lilikai again? And if so, what would you say to her?”

"I..." Nomi stops and thinks for a moment. "I did what I did because I cared about the Republic and Lilikai and the people that I thought I was helping. Though they were lonely years of not being truthful to those around me." Nomi looks sheepish. "Thanks for being my friend. For what it's worth, you are right about the fact that I care."

Nomi stands, nervous energy making her legs carry her across the room and back. "I mean, you didn't see me for those first few days after it happened... I have... a lot of feelings about it all. I am mad at Lilikai and also sad for her and I am especially mad at Damasa. I have poured over the transcripts of Firith's memories from the artifact trying to make sense of what has happened. I am pretty convinced that what Damasa said to Lilikai those ten years ago started Lilikai's downfall. She lost one of her best friends and grew apart from the other and she never replaced them with anyone that she could talk to about what she was facing in the world. She became more and more alone and was drawing closer and closer to the time that she was told she would do the worst thing that a Jedi who is faithful to the Jedi council and the ways of the Light can do- fall to the dark. What else could she do but embrace it when the time came? That or truly go insane. I haven't given up on her. That is why I am hoping that she will answer me at the dead drop and I can get her to talk to me. I don't know what I will say her when I see her again, but whatever it is that I say and do, I hope that I can help her."

Brawln shifts his weight from one leg to the other, and leans back against the wall behind him.

“You will have time to think on what to say.” Brawln’s tone is calm. “Brawln wishes he had some advice to offer, but convincing others with words is not typically an option available to him. Lilikai’s path is an unfortunate one, Brawln hopes she is able to change her mind. ”

“And he hopes Efnir and Somi were able to be there for you while you were getting through it all.” Concern is not something that looks natural on a Wookiee's face, but it is there on Brawln’s as he says it. “Have you or your sister been sleeping much?”

"There have been some rough nights, but with people to talk to it's been easier. I have never been a good sleeper alone. If there's someone near that I trust it goes better."

Thinking back, Brawln does not recall her being very restless in the shared spaces on their way to and from Kashyyyk.

"I think, if I can get Lilikai to respond to me on the dead drop - if she thinks to check it - it will become clearer to me what I should say and when I should say it. Hopefully we find Damasa and I can ask her some questions that will give me a bit more insight as well. Or maybe she'll help me fix it. She is Lilikai's oldest surviving friend and confidant, after all, even if she was cruel the last time they saw each other. Ten years is a long time to hold a grudge, and a fear of what will come. I'm honestly not surprised it turned out the way it did. Of course, that's all based on the theory that Damasa herself is still an adherent to the Light."

Brawln nods. “Brawln agrees,” says HC, “Hopefully, Damasa will want to help. I’d not be surprised, though, if Damasa had her own agenda to accomplish. Or, after all this time...”

There is a pause and HC looks at Brawln, who is looking down, as though examining something interesting on the floor. “After all this time, with all those prophecies battling for space in her head, if she hasn’t found an outlet, we may find we need to save Damasa first.”

Brawln shakes his head, as though to clear it. “Whatever the case, hopefully things will get better instead of getting worse when we find her.”

"I very fervently hope that too."

Nomi brushes get hands together like she is dusting them off.

"Now, how about I make good on that promise and help you cook your mom's stew? Did I ever tell you I have two stomachs? Twi'leks used to eat the grossest things... Not that what we will make is gross. I'm sure it's delicious when it's not crunchy."

Brawln’s eyes perk up when she suggests the stew. He begins to speak rapidly, and lean up away from the wall he had been resting on.

“Brawln has had some difficulty making it in the past. He believes it is deceptive in how simple it is, but that there must be some larger trick to it that is difficult to share through writing. He wonders if perhaps you might be able to show him where he is going wrong.”

Brawln gestures at a datapad, and on it is a recipe that is quite simple. It is a picture of something handwritten, with an accompanying translation in galactic basic. It has far more in it to make it palatable than is absolutely necessary- but again, it is pretty simple. Low number of ingredients, low amount of preparation, something one could whip together without spending an undo amount of effort into it.

When Nomi looks up from it, Brawln is watching eagerly, as though hoping for some sage advice or insight.

"I'll have to see what you do." She holds out her hand, gesturing for him to get up and accompany her to the kitchen. "Come on. It'll be fun."