Atton's Apartment, Manhattan, New York City, Thursday Afternoon

[suitably_heroic]

You know, Atton was finally starting to get into a rhythm with this life, a daily and weekly routine. It hadn't saved him from careening past an episode of... something... last week, but now that the reality of the potentially-long stretch of life in front of him had settled in-- well, it at least kept his sanity intact.

End of the week was usually Lana time. They'd spent some time earlier that day sparring in the band's practice space. It'd been a good workout.

But now he was home, holding the door open for Lana to come on in. "You're welcome to grab a shower, if you want."

[[ expecting one, but as always open for messages and phone calls ]]

Comments

[unusual_sith]

Lana took her glass and sipped from it.

"Kanan, my first Jedi teacher, once told me that there was a master who insisted there was no such thing as trying, only doing. It stuck with me." She paused for another sip. "Mostly because of what rubbish it was. Trying is all anybody can do."

[suitably_heroic]

"Yeah, we're about five steps away from 'doing' anything here anyway."

Okay, someone might still be twitchy about some comments Summer had made.

He sat back down on the sofa. "I don't know. It's good so far. It's just-- complicated-- for me, doing this at all."

[unusual_sith]

"I have absolutely no interest in knowing about that part," Lana said.

"I'm pretty sure it's complicated for everyone, even without the ridiculous number of extra complications you've got," she pointed out. "All you can do is keep trying."

[suitably_heroic]

"I'm grateful," Atton said.

Because the comments from Summer were way, way, way more than enough.

"But yeah, frankly the fact I'm not on one of the moons of Jupiter right now is character growth," he said, and took a sip of his lemonade. "I'm just clinging to that."

[unusual_sith]

"I think I remember going to Jupiter for class once," Lana said. "It has very nice moons, but Earth is more conducive to human life. And I for one am glad to see you here."

[suitably_heroic]

"Trying," Atton said. He lowered his drink again. "It's just. It's-- nice."

Ugh. There was that word again.

"Last weekend was nice," he said. "Most days are nice, too."

Ugggh.

"Which is weird," he settled on, finally, "Because it used to be that most days I was just tired."

[unusual_sith]

"Nice is better than tired," Lana agreed, nodding gravely. "Maybe someday you'll get as far as 'good'!"

[suitably_heroic]

Atton snorted. "Woah, woah, let's not go nuts," he said dryly, shooting her a wry look.

[unusual_sith]

"Right." Lana nodded. "Taking it slow. Good is a far-off objective."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton nodded.

Then he shook his head.

Then he let out a little laugh.

"Space, I like camping," he said.

[unusual_sith]

"Oh? What brought that on?" Lana asked.

[suitably_heroic]

Atton dropped his head forward and let out a wry laugh.

"It's just one of those things I think I always complained about, just for the sake of complaining," he said. "Nature. Wet. Bugs. Eugh. Just another in a long line of complaints that made people think of me as that guy who rambled all the time, hated almost everything, and was just generally a pain in the ass."

He sipped his lemonade again.

"But when I was out on missions, I liked it," he said. "Being alone with nature. I just never went 'oh, I actually like this, I just complain about it for the cover', you know? Then Dane started dragging me out into the parks, and I just..."

He trailed off.

Then: "I actually like camping."

[unusual_sith]

"Congratulations!" Lana grinned and nudged him. "You've found another hobby."

[suitably_heroic]

Atton nudged her back, a little dramatically. "Not the point," he said.

[unusual_sith]

"Isn't it?" Lana asked. "You've found out something about yourself, and you've also found something that makes you happy! Those are good things!"

[suitably_heroic]

"Yeah, but I'd say it's not 'finding a new hobby'," Atton said wryly. "It's figuring me out that's the weird part."

By weird he meant 'good'.

[unusual_sith]

“Only if you think you’re weird. Which honestly I have no standards by which to judge,” Lana answered with a laugh.

[suitably_heroic]

"Definitely less weird than you," Atton decided, sitting back.

Trying to relax a fraction.

[unusual_sith]

“Oh, now I have to hear these criteria.” Lana settled in and turned toward him. “Go on. How am I weirder?”

[suitably_heroic]

"Well, for one, for someone from our universe, you are freakishly calm and well-adjusted," Atton said.

[unusual_sith]

Lana laughed. "There are other well-adjusted people in our galaxy!" she protested. "All right, but go on. Tell you what, if I like your arguments enough, takeout's on me."

[suitably_heroic]

"And they're all freaks!"

Atton needed to assert this!

He took another sip of his drink. "Now, the whole 'born and raised as a Sith, just kind of sauntered to Camp Do-Gooder' thing is also weird enough," he said. "But how many times have you been shot or stabbed or exploded at this point?"

[unusual_sith]

"I never sauntered anywhere." Lana sniffed. "I've always done what I felt was right. When I had the option, anyway."

She thought about the other question. "Are we counting shot at, nearly stabbed, and barely escaped an explosion?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Sure," Atton said. "Let's throw in dead or grievously wounded friends and family, while we're at it."

[unusual_sith]

"My parents died a few years ago, in the Zakuulan attacks on Dromund Kaas," Lana answered, subdued but not grieving. "I lost most of the other acolytes in my class in our trials. And Darth Marr - I would count him a colleague I had great respect for, if not precisely a friend. His death was certainly a blow."

She shook her head. "As far as injuries, I've got plenty of burns from near-misses and glancing blows with sabers or blaster fire. Been knocked out a few times. Got a nasty stab in the shoulder from a Knight of Zakuul once; went right through my armor. And I've escaped several exploding or crashing shuttles, usually when the Commander is piloting." Seriously, their shuttle budget was ridiculous.