Batuu- Wednesday

[thatwaslucky]

It really had been a while since Rey had been home, and making this trip meant that she had a chance to show Adrian a little corner of where she came from. And sure, there was some post-First Order cleanup work that had to be done because Rey truly did not get vacations, but there was nothing to be done on the last day except get some free time.

After leaving the Falcon and wandering a bit, Rey brought Adrian into Oga's. The cantina was a little loud thanks to the music, but not too busy, with the patrons being about half human and half various alien species. One of those aliens was the Twi'lek waitress, who upon getting to their table, told them their tab had been covered before leaving them with the drink menus.

"Well, there's that, I guess," Rey said, scanning the room in case it was obvious who'd done that.


[NFB and for that guy!]

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[witchoftheflesh]

Adrian was also scanning the room, though his intention was to offer a smile and a nod of appreciation if he could tell who it was. "They're grateful," he said. "Nothing wrong with that. A lot of what we witches do is covered by trade and barter. Most people are a little proud, you know? They know they can't do what you do, and buying your dinner helps them feel like they've evened the scales, just a little. It's a good thing."

[thatwaslucky]

"It's still very weird for me," she admitted, turning her attention back to him. "It's better than the attention I get in other places sometimes, but I never feel like I've done anything out of the ordinary to deserve it."

[witchoftheflesh]

"You don't think saving people's lives and livelihoods is out of the ordinary?" Adrian asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, now I'm concerned about living up to your expectations."

[thatwaslucky]

"The only expectations I have are for me," she assured him, and shrugged. "It's less saving lives than you'd think. And an uncomfortable amount of the time people seem to be impressed if I show up and be someone they've heard of."

[witchoftheflesh]

"What have they heard of you for?" Adrian asked, propping his chin on his hand and watching her with a small smile.

[thatwaslucky]

"The Jedi were basically gone before me," she began. "So during the war, my Master thought it would give people hope to know there was a news Jedi around, so word of me spread." She smiled, just slightly. "It's been a double edged sword ever since."

[witchoftheflesh]

"That's all?" he asked. "You're just known for being a Jedi?" Color him skeptical, Rey, but he had met you even once.

[thatwaslucky]

"What else do you think I'd be known for?" she asked, curious.

[witchoftheflesh]

"Rescue missions," Adrian replied without missing a beat. "Rebuilding efforts. Protecting civilians. Supply runs. Humanitarian aid. Fighting the remains of the First Order."

[thatwaslucky]

Rey smiled. "So... being a Jedi."

[witchoftheflesh]

"Sure," he said, smiling back. "But there's a difference between being known for what you are and got what you do. I don't know these people - heck, I don't really know people, but I'm willing to bet that even if the people who start by seeing you as some kind of symbol learn to see you as you pretty quick." His smile warmed. "And, for the record, none of the things I listed are ordinary."

[thatwaslucky]

Rey blinked, having never actually considered that the people she worked with it helped for a short time might actually see her as Rey. Ther might be something to examine. Later.

What she went with instead was a teasing, "What, you're not running rescue missions regularly?"

[witchoftheflesh]

Adrian shook his head, a smile still playing around his mouth, but it had shifted slightly, became a little more sardonic. "That would require leaving the Blackwood. More likely to need rescuing than not, I'd say. Toddled over to a dragon, remember?"

[thatwaslucky]

Rey laughed. "Oh, I'm never forgetting that."

And then, more seriously, she asked, "You really didn't leave the Blackwood?"

It wasn't like she could talk.

[witchoftheflesh]

"Only once before coming to the island," Adrian replied. "It's the same reason why you were getting all those weird vibes from my mother and my aunts. I can explain? But it's a long story and not one that's in the same emotional tone as a celebratory dinner..."

[thatwaslucky]

"We have plenty of time to celebrate later," Rey said. "I'd rather get to know you."

[witchoftheflesh]

"Fair enough," he said, and tried to think of where to begin. Forest, there was just...a lot of history. "So, I think I've mentioned to you before that we Blackwoods are the last remaining bastion of human magic in the world...?"

Wait. Had he?

[thatwaslucky]

"...I don't think so?"

She had some background on his situation back home, but she was pretty sure that detail had not come up.

[witchoftheflesh]

He winced. "Okay, so then I can back up even further to give you context on everything? Or we can start with that as a given and go forward."

Her call, since she was the one who would be listening to it all.

[thatwaslucky]

"You can start there. If I have questions I'll ask," she replied.

She already figured there were things she could possibly string together with what she did know.

[witchoftheflesh]

He nodded once. "That works," he said. "Okay, so...honestly, we're surviving mostly by bribery." His voice was frustrated. "Bribery and being too expensive to fight. Our coven invests every bit of magic we get into making sure that any war the Eternal King launches against us will cost him just as dearly. We're also the only producers of potions, magical cosmetics, and other luxury magical goods that are highly prized in the Holy City, which is why we're allowed into the Boston Anchor Market despite being heretics. But while these factors keep Gilgamesh from sending his princes to burn the Blackwood to the ground, they don't protect us when we're outside our forests. For that, we have a complex network of agreements with local officials. The most notable of these agreements is that every boy born in the Blackwood be be apprenticed to the New England warlock cabal."

His face twisted with loathing. An easy guess for what he thought about them.

[thatwaslucky]

"And that's what you kept escaping from," she said, reaching for his hand. "That part you told me about."

And honestly it was impressive.

[witchoftheflesh]

Adrian nodded, relived he'd be spared talking about that six month period. "Over and over again, for six months. But once my mother won the vote and I was allowed to stay, it meant I couldn't leave. Because there was always a warlock or a demon waiting outside our borders, ready to snatch me up and bring me back. In lieu of being able to grab me, they just made life hell for my coven instead."

[thatwaslucky]

"Was everyone else trapped because of the people waiting?" Rey asked, hoping 'made life hell' wasn't worse than that.

[witchoftheflesh]

He waggled his hand. "Not in the same way I was," he said, "but they've been harassing my coven ever since, locking down our borders and taking shots at every witch who steps out of the trees. They can't bother us at the Anchor Market because the denizens of Heaven still demand our crafts, but they can and do make our lives miserable everywhere else."

How did you define that? Sure, they were free to go wherever and whenever they wished, technically, they just had to try not to get shot at or otherwise harassed.