Post by Jake Palmer Calmcacil on Mar 17, 2023 20:08:39 GMT -8
"That should do it," *Jake said, applying the final bacta patch to the burn mark on Roma's shin. He smiled up at her.* "How you feeling?"
"Doesn't hurt," *the girl replied, lifting her leg and turning it side to side as she examined the patch.
Jake stood up, pulling a datapad to him before tapping details in it.* "You're very strong. Many kids your age don't take a remote bolt this well, let alone multiple."
*She lowered her leg, shrugging her shoulders.* "I've been hurt worse..."
*His eyebrows rose as he looked up from the datapad.* "Really? ... I mean I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
*She nodded, sitting up and scooting closer to the edge of the table.* "Yeah! Sometimes the bowstring would hit me when I shot it, or this one time I fell off a rock I was climbing! ... and I slipped on rocks sometimes..."
"That—"
"Oh! And I cut myself with my skullblade! ... more than once."
*Jake blinked, then laughed nervously.* "That does explain some of your scars..." *He handed the datapad to the attending med droid and pulled up a chair beside the table.* "I'm just glad you're okay. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, if anyone knows how to take care of you out there, it's your mom."
*Roma nodded, smiling.* "Uh-huh! She'd wrap it up, tell me it's to keep it from getting infected."
*He smiled fondly, then chuckled.* "Well, here, she's out of her element... and I guess that's what I'm here for."
*She lifted her arm, looking at the bandage on her bicep.* "Mama can't put these on me?"
"Well, not what I mean, so much as... all the little details. And of course the bit of Force healing I did to slow the swelling. Plus keeping your records updated. Still not quite ready to treat any serious injuries on my own, but a few burns are no big deal for me." *He smiled.* "Actually, it was your mom who inspired me to do this so long ago."
"It was?"
"Yeah! She... well, you've seen her scars. I wasn't there when it happened, I still hadn't actually met her yet, but hearing about it... I guess I just didn't want something like that to happen to her or, well, anyone again. And now I get to take care of you. Er, well—" *He opted not to float the notion of Roma suffering more serious injuries aloud and forced a smile instead, nodding.* "Yeah."
*Without warning, Roma slid off the table and onto his lap, throwing her arms around his neck.* "Thank you, Uncle Jakey!"
*He caught her and returned the hug, then stood and let her down.* "Better get you back to your mom."
*She shook her head as she backed away excitedly.* "Going to grandpa's! Mama's still out. Bye Uncle Jakey!"
*He smiled and waved as she runs out, meeting up with a Bothan boy at the reception. Wistfully watching her go, his mind suddenly traveled to all the time lost from his twin's disappearance. He knew it was futile to think about, fully aware Morgan harbored her own regrets, but some part of him longed for the reality where they grew up together. Barring that... he wished she'd come home when Roma was born, so he could have watched her grow.*
"There's still time," *he said aloud.
The droid turned to him.* "Did you say something, sir?"
"Huh? Yeah... didn't mean to, though. Let's clean up."
*He looked to the entrance, where Roma had already vanished through, before focusing his attention on his immediate area. There indeed was still time, and he intended not to waste a second of it.*
"Doesn't hurt," *the girl replied, lifting her leg and turning it side to side as she examined the patch.
Jake stood up, pulling a datapad to him before tapping details in it.* "You're very strong. Many kids your age don't take a remote bolt this well, let alone multiple."
*She lowered her leg, shrugging her shoulders.* "I've been hurt worse..."
*His eyebrows rose as he looked up from the datapad.* "Really? ... I mean I guess I shouldn't be surprised."
*She nodded, sitting up and scooting closer to the edge of the table.* "Yeah! Sometimes the bowstring would hit me when I shot it, or this one time I fell off a rock I was climbing! ... and I slipped on rocks sometimes..."
"That—"
"Oh! And I cut myself with my skullblade! ... more than once."
*Jake blinked, then laughed nervously.* "That does explain some of your scars..." *He handed the datapad to the attending med droid and pulled up a chair beside the table.* "I'm just glad you're okay. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised, if anyone knows how to take care of you out there, it's your mom."
*Roma nodded, smiling.* "Uh-huh! She'd wrap it up, tell me it's to keep it from getting infected."
*He smiled fondly, then chuckled.* "Well, here, she's out of her element... and I guess that's what I'm here for."
*She lifted her arm, looking at the bandage on her bicep.* "Mama can't put these on me?"
"Well, not what I mean, so much as... all the little details. And of course the bit of Force healing I did to slow the swelling. Plus keeping your records updated. Still not quite ready to treat any serious injuries on my own, but a few burns are no big deal for me." *He smiled.* "Actually, it was your mom who inspired me to do this so long ago."
"It was?"
"Yeah! She... well, you've seen her scars. I wasn't there when it happened, I still hadn't actually met her yet, but hearing about it... I guess I just didn't want something like that to happen to her or, well, anyone again. And now I get to take care of you. Er, well—" *He opted not to float the notion of Roma suffering more serious injuries aloud and forced a smile instead, nodding.* "Yeah."
*Without warning, Roma slid off the table and onto his lap, throwing her arms around his neck.* "Thank you, Uncle Jakey!"
*He caught her and returned the hug, then stood and let her down.* "Better get you back to your mom."
*She shook her head as she backed away excitedly.* "Going to grandpa's! Mama's still out. Bye Uncle Jakey!"
*He smiled and waved as she runs out, meeting up with a Bothan boy at the reception. Wistfully watching her go, his mind suddenly traveled to all the time lost from his twin's disappearance. He knew it was futile to think about, fully aware Morgan harbored her own regrets, but some part of him longed for the reality where they grew up together. Barring that... he wished she'd come home when Roma was born, so he could have watched her grow.*
"There's still time," *he said aloud.
The droid turned to him.* "Did you say something, sir?"
"Huh? Yeah... didn't mean to, though. Let's clean up."
*He looked to the entrance, where Roma had already vanished through, before focusing his attention on his immediate area. There indeed was still time, and he intended not to waste a second of it.*