Private Fishing For A Guide

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

This was it. The way she liked to do things. Reina was just on autopilot as she worked over the different fishing rods set up. Taking a small break from studying to recuperate her mind, body, and soul. Every fight she was getting into nowadays was getting bigger and not necessarily better. Each one had been leaving scars in their own ways, be it physically, mentally or even spirituality. That was why she was here on Mon Cala. Reina could just fish. It would be like the good ol' days. Back when she was with the Crew. Back when she didn't need to worry about anything.

Back when you were weak. When you were the "pet" for the Crew. Do you honestly think they cared for you? Their entertainment?

Ah. There she was. She always came back when it was quiet now. Peace and quiet was slowly becoming a thing of the past for Reina. The murky reflection of the lass stared back at her. The glowing yellow eyes glimmering with glee. Was she going crazy now? Reina ran a hand down her face as she tried to focus. Ignore the voice. None of what it was saying was true. She had to remind herself that.

That's not fair. I don't lie. I told you I'd always be with you. I told you the truth didn't I? So why wouldn't I be saying it now?

"Shut up."

Reina hissed out loud, causing a few of the fellow fishers to turn their head in her direction, giving various looks of confusion or annoyance. No surpise they thought she was talking to them. It was either that or they thought she was talking to herself. It was a lose-lose situation for the girl as she just turned her attention back towards the water. The reflection was gone, for now. Just replaced with the visage of a tired and exhausted girl as she ran her hand down her face.

She didn't like this. Whatever was going on was a problem she couldn't solve. At least she couldn't solve it the ways she normally would. You can't punch your reflection. Well. Maybe you could. But punching glass or water wouldn't exactly help the situation. She needed to get this sorted. And fast.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

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Alana knew that feeling.

The weight of something crawling under your skin, gnawing at the edges of your mind, waiting for the quiet to sink its teeth in deep. She knew what it was like when the past refused to stay buried, when ghosts decided to settle in your shadow, whispering things you didn't want to hear but couldn't ignore.

Her fingers twitched at her side, an old habit, as if reaching for a deathstick she didn't have. Instead, she just crossed her arms, watching Reina from where she stood. She didn't move closer. Didn't say anything right away. She fiddled with her fishing pole, trying to recall how one put bait on the end of the hook. To say she looked lost was putting it mildly.

What was there to say? That voice isn't real? It wouldn't matter. That kind of thing felt real, and that was what made it dangerous.

She'd heard her own voice before. Not the one she used to joke, to threaten, to spit defiance in the face of death. No, the other one. The one that slid in when she was alone, when she was weak, when the weight of everything pressed too hard on her chest.

And she hated it.

But she also knew that if you let it fester, it just dug in deeper.

Alana exhaled sharply and finally spoke, voice dry but firm.

"Y'know, talking to yourself like that in public? That's how you get labeled the crazy one." A pause. "Not that I'd judge. Just saying. It's how I ended up in rehab, true story."

It wasn't an accusation. It wasn't pity, either. Just a quiet acknowledgment, the kind that didn't push, didn't pry.

But it was there.

A thread. A rope, if Reina needed one. Alana wasn't gonna drag her out of whatever hell she was in.

But she'd stand there.

Just in case she decided to reach. Well, not stand here exactly, as she went back to messing with the nightcrawler she had in hand, fighting with the small creature to just...get impaled on the damn hook....

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

"That's why I normally stay away from public. Everyone needs to talk to themselves every once in a while."

An attempt at a joke. poor one but an attempt all the same. Reina had slowly been working on her social skills. It was slow but steady work. Very slow work when you had some voice in the back of your mind. It was hard to practice on speaking alone when you never felt alone anymore. Reina sighed, shaking her head as she looked over toward the source of the new voice, tilting her head slightly.

"You struggling? Need my help with that thing? Been doin' this stuff since before I could walk Rods can be a bit fiddly with the string and bait. I normally go for bigger game with my harpoon but...."
Come to think of that, some people might have thought that was sad. Some might have thought that a childhood at sea was probably no childhood at all. But it was all Reina knew of. Maybe that's why she had some kind of weird voice in her head. She shook her head, turning her head off towards the water as she stared at her reflection. It was her. She was still normal. For now.

"I'm Reina by the way. I'm pretty sure I already got marked as a crazy one since I joined the Jedi."

Of course, she didn't have anything that marked her as a Jedi. Not yet at least. She hadn't worked at making a lightsaber and she refused to wear the robes whenever she didn't have to. Her casual clothes were what she wanted to wear. Even if they were patchy in some places and sewn together in others. Reina made do with what she had. There was no point in wasting valuable credits on new clothes when the ones she currently had still worked.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

​

Alana's lips curled into a wry smile at Reina's attempt at a joke, her eyes briefly flicking to the ocean and back. The words felt… familiar. She could relate, even if she wasn't the kind of person who would admit to struggling.

"Talking to yourself can be good practice," She replied dryly, letting the edge of humor creep into her voice. "But eventually, you'll need someone else to talk to. Otherwise, the voices start getting too loud, you know?” She winked, a playful jest in her red eyes. Then she looked to her rod, handing over the bait and rod. “But yes, help would be appreciated.”

As Reina spoke of harpoons and fishing, Alana tilted her head slightly, genuinely intrigued. She might not have grown up at sea, but she'd always had a deep appreciation for the survival skills people learned in places like that. And harpoons? That was something she could get behind.

"Big game, huh?" Alana mused, as if she'd been a hunter herself. "Maybe I should've taken the big game route. Sounds more fun than tracking down bounties. I guess in a way, I was a big game hunter too." She shrugged with a soft chuckle, as though it were nothing.

The mention of being marked as a "crazy one" caught her attention, and she gave a quiet, knowing nod.

"I get it, names Alana by the way," Alana said, the words carrying a weight that only someone who had been through it could understand. "Jedi or not, people have a tendency to assume things about you. Doesn't help things when you're not exactly following the script." She glanced down at herself, her mismatched clothing a silent testament to her reluctance to fit into any box. "I stopped trying to fit in a long time ago."

A lie, but a healthy one in Alana’s mind.

Her gaze softened as she looked back at Reina. "But you know, you're probably not crazy. Just a little… unpolished. You just need someone to show you how to make things work."

She chuckled lightly, her tone taking on a remaining light. "And hey, if you're really struggling, I could always show you a few management tricks. I mean, the older you get the better you get with managing the craziness of life…but it helps having someone to guide you through it."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

Technically I have someone to talk to...I just don't want to talk to her.

Awww. Is that any way to talk about yourself?

Reina flinched at the voice again. She knew she should have expected it but it wasn't something she was a fan of. Having someone who was both her but also not her in the back of her mind made the girl feel like she was going insane. Maybe she already was. That didn't matter right now as Reina worked on adding the bait to the fishing rod. It was simple child's play for her. Maybe because this was how she used to play as a kid...and then she'd get told off for wasting resources.

"It's not all fun and games hunting the bigger stuff. It's a lot more dangerous. Trust me. I had to learn how to use bandages and how to stitch from a young age. At the least it means I have a decent pain tolerance."

She tilted her head at the mention of the woman being a bounty hunter. Reina only had the bare minimum amount of knowledge about them. Sure, the ship's medic Hacksaw had said he was on the run from bounty hunters but that was mostly all she knew about them. Alana didn't fit the idea that Reina had for a bounty hunter. She didn't look like someone Hacksaw would be afraid of...but maybe that was the point.

"I'm...trying to fit in. It's what they wanted, I think. They wanted me to find a real life."

The girl didn't elaborate on that. Elaborate on who they were. Or what a real life meant...but it was how she felt. She had been the only one that the Crew had put their credits towards to get to a "good" planet. She had hoped that she was making them proud. Reina was trying to make something out of herself.

Yeah. You're making a fool out of yourself. Trying to be some wannabe Knight. You know as well as I do, you won't be a hero. Too selfish. Too greedy.

Reina sighed at that. It was hard for her to decide what parts of what her mind was saying to her was true. What parts were her subconscious and what parts were just there to add further insult to injury.

"...I think having an "evil" version of yourself talking to you counts as being crazy."

Blunt and to the point. There was no point for Reina to dance about it...Though some of the other fishing enjoyers seemed to hear that, giving Reina and now by association Alana a strange look before walking away.

"I wouldn't mind some help though. I'm not dumb enough to reject some help. As long as there isn't a catch."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

​

Alana watched Reina, her expression a mix of curiosity and something more guarded. She could hear the undercurrent of tension in her words, the way she danced around the true depths of what was bothering her. Alana was no stranger to self-doubt, but there was something about Reina's struggle that made her feel a little less alone in the madness that could swirl in one's mind. If anyone would know-okay well it wouldn’t be her. But her mind wasn’t entirely stable.

The brief, sharp remark about "evil" versions and the reality of what was happening inside her head made Alana pause. It wasn't a strange thought, not really. Everyone had their demons. It was just that Reina's seemed to have a voice of its own, and that could feel like a prison.

"I wouldn't say it counts as crazy," Alana said quietly, her gaze steady on Reina's as she worked. "It's more like... a side of you you can't get away from. Not a full version of you, but enough that it feels real. Like you're fighting someone who knows all your moves before you make them…being honest it’s not all that uncommon. Really.”

She leaned back a little, crossing her arms, but the tone of her voice was sincere. She didn't know if she could offer much in the way of advice on what Reina was going through—too much of her own mind was a mess to properly help someone else. But she had been through the grind of self-doubt, of questioning her worth and hearing the voices telling her she wasn't good enough, wasn't strong enough.

As for Reina's request for help, it seemed genuine enough. Alana wasn't the type to offer help freely, but there was something about the way Reina spoke—almost like a plea disguised as defiance.

"Help?" Alana repeated, considering. "I don't do charity work. I'll help, but first thing is first."

She uncrossed her arms and took a small step closer, her voice taking on a slightly more playful edge as she added, "There's always a catch, even if it's just the price of trusting someone. Seventh rule of galactic conduct, don’t forget it.”

Alana paused, waiting to see how Reina would react. She had learned over time that the real price of help often wasn't what you expected, but the willingness to accept it. For now, Alana could at least offer a little guidance—if Reina could take it. “Speaking of catch, I could use about one or two before we get to the good self help talks and all that.”

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

Reina gave Alan a quizzical look for a second. What she was going through wasn't that uncommon? She most definitely doubted that most people hallucinate sinking in a sludge of darkness and despair whilst another version of yourself offered to help you out. But maybe Alana didn't mean it in a literal sense. That it wasn't uncommon to have problems that eat away at you. Reina had dealt with plenty of problems that had tried to eat away at her from the outside when she was fishing or hunting...but this might have been the first problem she had that was eating her up from the inside. The first one that she couldn't just skewer with a harpoon or run away from.

"...You're right. At least partly. I can't get away from her. I see her. When I wake up in the morning in the mirror. When I look into the water. She's there. Staring back at me. She's me. Except...not fully. I can hear her as well. Not all the time at least. If I could hear all the time then I think I'd go crazy."

You already are crazy. You're just trying not to accept it. The sooner you accept me, the sooner you'll feel better.

"...There we go. Right on cue. It's easier to tell her apart from my own thoughts though. She's...It's hard to put into words. Sinister sounding? Darker? Like a predator playing with their food."

In a way, Reina was trusting Alana. Talking about this inner demon inside of her. It was a price that she was willing to pay. Even if she didn't fully know who Alan was. What she wanted. This was enough for Reina. She needed to get it out in the air. It made it feel more real now that she had said it out loud. To someone else.

"Here's your rod back. Make sure to keep a tight grip on it. I know that's obvious enough but you'd be surprised as to how many people forget that fact."

With that, Reina checked over the small group of fishing rods she had set up, tied to the railing as she made sure none of them had their bait taken yet. This had been the method of fishing she had gotten so used to. You could get more catch for your time and Reina didn't always have the value of time. Sure, she didn't need to worry about fishing for a living...but it helped to relax.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

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Alana took the rod back with a small nod, fingers tightening around the handle out of habit. Reina's words weren't lost on her. If anything, they struck closer to home than she cared to admit.

A voice that wasn't your own. A presence lingering at the edges of your mind, always watching, always waiting. Alana didn't see anything in mirrors or water, but she understood what it was like to feel something pressing in, whispering in the quiet moments.

She let out a slow breath, rolling her shoulders.

"Yeah. You're not as alone in that as you think," She muttered. "I don't see anyone staring back at me, not anymore at least, but I hear things sometimes. Feel things I know ain't mine. Like something's trying to carve out a space in my head that don't belong to it."

Maybe it was the side effects of the Empire's tampering. Maybe it was something that had always been there, lurking under the surface, waiting for the right moment to rear its head. Either way, it didn't change the fact that she knew what it was like to have something other trying to worm its way in.

She adjusted her grip on the fishing rod, glancing at Reina as she checked over her lines. There was a method to what she did, a rhythm Alana could appreciate. She'd seen plenty of people work with that same quiet precision—the kind you only got when survival depended on it.

"You're good at this," She noted, watching as Reina's hands moved over the lines with practiced ease. "Been fishing long?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

Reina stayed silent for a few moments, even after Alana's question. She was in her own head for a moment. It was something that happened a lot for her when she was doing something she was familiar with. It made it easier to focus on her own mind. She wasn't alone in this issue. That was a relief to hear. It helped to prove that voice in her head that she was wrong. That Reina wasn't alone. A rare smile graced her face at that...before she realised Alana had asked a question, causing the smile to fall almost immediately.

"Oh. Been doin' it all my life. As far as I can remember. My childhood was on a fishing ship. Working on fishing, mechanical junk, and diving. By the Spirit, I miss diving so much."

She let out a sigh at that, giving a wistful look towards the water. Being in the ocean always made her feel so alive. Even when she was submerged. Reina shook her head, trying not to focus on what she missed. That part of her life had been over for a long time.

"It wasn't all rainbows though. Did get in a few nasty scraps with some beasties. Had to learn how to bandage myself up, how to stitch, and how to cauterize wounds. All that fun stuff. But I'm here. I'm alive."

Fighting always made Reina feel so much more alive. Feeling the blood rushing through her. But she was slowly starting to realise that just...talking to people could help her feel alive. That she had a heart.

"How about you? You don't seem...as well experienced as me. Why are you here?"

That was Reina's polite way of being polite. If she was blunt, Reina would have said that Alana seemed like some kind of tourist trying out fishing for the first time. But Reina doubted that. Maybe she was biased because Alana seemed reliable.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

​

Alana listened, arms resting against the railing of the dock, eyes following the slow movement of the tide. She wasn't the type to get lost in someone else's words—too much of her life had been spent picking apart people's stories for the lies they told themselves. But Reina wasn't lying.

The way she spoke about diving, about the ocean—it was real. That kind of longing couldn't be faked.

Alana understood that feeling.

She had her own ghosts.

Her fingers twitched, itching for a cigarette she didn't have. Instead, she exhaled through her nose, letting the salty air sting her lungs. "Fishing, mechanical junk, diving," She repeated, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Sounds like you had a real upbringing....unlike mine..."

Reina's polite jab didn't go unnoticed. Alana huffed out a quiet laugh. "You're not wrong," she admitted. "I'm no fisher, that's for damn sure."

She tapped her fingers against the railing. The question hung between them, but Alana didn't answer right away. Why was she here?

Because the Sith told her to be?

Because it was easier to follow orders than to think?

Because if she stopped moving, stopped running, she might have to face the gaping hole where her past used to be?

The one seemed less depressing to linger on, which was probably pathetic.

Alana finally shrugged. "I've spent my life chasing things. Credits, people, ghosts." She glanced at Reina. "Figured it was time to try catching something real for once."

A half-truth. The only kind of truth she was comfortable giving. Another lesson that Reina might appreciate as she got older...learning to live with discomfort.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

"Not sure if you can call it a real upbringing. I nearly slapped a girl across the face for asking for her dad to come and help her when we were in danger because I didn't understand how he'd help. Because I didn't understand why someone might call out to their parents. I've...had a practical upbringing. I'm a practical person."

Practical was the best way she could call it. She knew the way she saw her parents was wrong. For her, her parents were the ones who birthed her. That was it. They weren't guardians, or protectors or any of that nonsense. Purely because she hadn't known them. For some people, that would have meant that she didn't have a proper upbringing. For Reina? She wasn't even sure anymore.

"...So practical that I ignored the fact that she was around the same age as me. I ignored the fact that it might have been her first time fighting against a threat that could kill her. That it might have been her first time seeing her own blood. I saw her as weak. Helpless. Thought how could I trust her to have my back. I'm not a good person...I want to try and be one though."

After that admission, Reina let Alana talk. Frowning as she debated over the words and stared off at the ocean. So vast. She could get lost staring at it. In the same way, she could get lost in her own mind. It was something she had found herself doing more and more recently. That was the downside of having plenty of free time. When you were working day in and day out to catch fish to sell, you couldn't afford to dwell on thoughts like who you were meant to be, who your parents were, or any of that nonsense.

"People can be real. If you let them. Same with credits. Not so sure about ghosts. Only ghost I encounter is my old Captain. He ain't dead though. I just...hear him sometimes. Encouraging me to keep moving on."

That voice had been pretty silent though. Ever since she swam through that murky river of darkness, despair, and oil. Reina would never admit it, but she was missing the sound of that old Nautolan's voice.

"I'll always be up to help you catch something real...and how to cook it."

Humour. Yes. That was always the response for Reina when she started to get serious. She was a somewhat decent cook at the end of the day as well.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

​

Alana tilted her head slightly, studying Reina as she spoke. It was strange—hearing someone else pick apart their own past like that, breaking it down piece by piece. Most people just ignored it, buried it under bravado or excuses. Reina didn't seem like the type to make excuses.


She smirked a little at Reina's last words, but there was something contemplative in her expression, like she was rolling the rest of it over in her head.

"Practical," she repeated. "Sounds lonely."

Alana knew what it was like to be practical. To push aside anything that didn't serve survival. To see weakness in places where others saw humanity. She'd been that kid, too. The one who didn't cry when things got bad because it wouldn't change anything. The one who learned early on that parents weren't saviors—they were just people, and sometimes, people left.

She exhaled, looking out at the water. "I don't think being a good person's got much to do with how you saw some scared kid in a fight. You were just doing what you knew. What made sense to you."

A shrug. "Not saying you were right, but…" She let that trail off.

The part about ghosts, though. That one stuck with her.

"People can be real if you let them."

Alana flexed her fingers against the railing. "Yeah? Maybe." A pause. "I don't let a lot of things in, I guess. People included."

Maybe that was why she couldn't remember half of them.

But Reina's humor pulled her back from the edge of that thought, and Alana snorted, the corner of her mouth quirking up. "I'm not sure if you're offering to teach me to fish or to cook, but I'll tell you now—I'm terrible at both."

A slight grin. "Good shot, though. So, if the fish ever try to run, I'll take care of it."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

"Except I was that scared kid as well. But instead of looking for someone to help me, my mind went to fight. Killing whatever was putting me in danger. I was scared. But I also felt alive. Part of me tried to come up with excuses. That I wanted to help protect people. Save people even. But I just wanted to fight. To feel. What kind of kid is meant to feel like this?"

Maybe that's why her parents had abandoned her out to sea so early. They knew that she'd be like this. That she wouldn't be comfortable just sitting around. That she was...

Broken. You know you can say it, right? You don't need to beat around the bush. You are B-R-O-K-E-N. Simple.

The voice. Again. She hated it. Hated everything associated with it. Change. Feelings. All of that. Things were so much simpler when she lived on a ship. Lived each day at a time. But now? She had things like plans. She had to worry about the future and what it might bring when all she wanted was to be a dumb kid.

Reina sighed to herself, listening to Alana as she said she didn't let people in. That was the logical thing. The practical thing. You can't get hurt from inside if you put up walls to protect yourself. It made sense. Reina normally did the things that made sense. So why did she want to tear down her walls? Why did she want to let people in? The simple answer was that she was lonely. But life was rarely that simple. There had to be more to it...

She snapped out of that thought at Alana's own joke, and Reina couldn't help but break out into a sly smirk, staring out into the ocean with a shake of her head.

"I'm not bad with my harpoon either. Had to leave it though. Wasn't sure how people would see me if I was walking around Mon Cala with an old harpoon on my back...Though now that I think of it, last time I left my harpoon behind I got attacked by a Mandalorian. Ended up breaking my knife against the thing. Huge disappointment, I used to use it to cook all the time."

Another thing that she missed. Another thing that was broken. Like her. But unlike her, it was going to stay broken. She couldn't fix it. But Reina could at least try to fix herself. Though Reina raised an eyebrow, glancing up towards Alana. Examining the woman for a moment.

"...You know it feels like you're letting me in. It's nice."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

Alana's gaze softened for a moment, as Reina opened up further. She could hear the weight behind her words—the conflict of wanting to feel alive, but also feeling like something had broken along the way. It was the kind of raw honesty that hit a little too close to home, and Alana could relate more than she let on. That feeling of being fractured, always trying to keep moving forward without acknowledging the cracks.

But it was the last part that caught her attention, and her brow furrowed slightly, even as she kept her gaze fixed on Reina. "You know it feels like you're letting me in. It's nice."

For a moment, Alana wasn't sure how to respond. She wasn't the type to open up easily, to let anyone in—not even to herself. There was too much history buried in that space, too many things she preferred to keep locked away. But Reina...maybe she just felt a kindred spirit close at hand.

She let the silence hang there for a second before giving a half-smile. "You're not as bad as I thought you'd be," She said lightly, nudging Reina with her shoulder. "Maybe you can stick around and cook some fish for me after all."

Her smile remained small but genuine. "Good relationships are like two way streets....you need to have a back and forth, and it needs to be equal. You understand? Don't...let them become one way, that's bad."

Alana's voice lowered, almost quieter than usual. "Feels... different. Not used to making friends I guess."

The weight of the admission wasn't lost on her. She wasn't used to being honest about this stuff. Hell, she wasn't even sure if she fully understood it. But right now, with Reina? It felt a little less terrifying. She found that idea ironic, and now she felt rather silly lingering on the idea.

"Just to check, you sure you didn't get attacked by the Mandalorian because of the harpoon, did you?" she said with a playful edge, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm starting to think it's you that causes all the trouble."

But even as the words left her mouth, it began to settle on Alana just how lonely her life had been as of late.

Only recently, did that feel like it was changing for the better.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

"I can be worse if you want me to be...I think."

Reina actually wasn't sure if she could be worse. She couldn't exactly become super chatty. It wasn't in her nature. None of it was. Making friends didn't feel right either. Not in that it felt bad, or that it felt wrong. More that...she couldn't wrap her head around it. What was a friend to her? She had people she got along with. But that was different.

"If I am going to cook for you, I expect payment. It's only fair. Nothing is given away for free. Don't worry about me and relationships though. That isn't ever going to happen."

An honest smile crept onto her face. It was hard not to smile. Even as she somewhat misunderstood what Alana meant about relationships needing to be two ways. Though her face softened when Alana spoke. Reina was somewhat similar. It was different. Reina felt more...hopeful. The small flame inside of her that had almost went out in the face of darkness was growing. Slowly but surely, she was getting confidence in herself again. She felt lighter. Like a weight had been lifted.

"That can be a good thing. Not being used to it I mean. It makes friends that much more valuable. When people have an excess of something, it loses value. Look here. Mon Cala is full of fish. It'd be common to have some kind of seafood here. But take Tattooine. Seafood there is more of a delicacy...And yes. I am comparing myself to seafood."

Of course, Reina had to find a practical example for something that was more of a metaphor. Reina nudged Alana with her elbow at what felt like teasing about the Mandalorian, before the girl gave a small little pout.

"No! The Mandalorian attacked me because they were attacking everyone on Keshi. I ended up saving some old guy after I got shot...and ended up breaking my shoulder saving him."

The more she thought about it, each of her important memories had both positive and negative things that she made her feel alive. She had felt alive saving that man but also felt alive killing the Mandalorian. She had felt alive siding with the Jedi on Jedha but also felt alive being in danger. This was the first time that Reina felt alive, without having something bad to dwell on. She just felt alive for making a friend. For talking. Normally whenever she started to feel good like this, she'd end up getting worried that the voice would come back...but the worry wasn't there this time. As Reina stared out at the ocean, with a smile growing on her face, she just felt happy.

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

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Alana chuckled, nudging Reina back with a playful smirk. "Well, if you want to be worse, I'm sure you'll find a way. But I think I'll pass on the challenge for now." The lighthearted banter felt easier with each passing moment. Maybe it was because for once, there was no immediate danger, no chaos threatening to pull them apart. Just two people, sitting by the ocean, finding a moment of peace.

"And payment for cooking, huh? Dunno, I have learned a very questionable, very dangerous technique to get what I want. Best watch yourself." Alana teased, her grin growing at the thought of Reina's attempt at trying to finesse her for payment. She'd like to think her words helped, somehow.

When Reina smiled, even for just a moment, Alana couldn't help but feel lighter herself. The guard she had kept up for so long—the one that kept people at a distance—was starting to waver. Maybe it was because she saw something in Reina that she could relate to. "Yeah," Alana agreed, her voice quieter, thoughtful. "You're right. Maybe that's the point. It's the value in the things you don't get often that make them worth holding onto."

She let Reina's comparison linger in her mind—comparing herself to seafood. It made her laugh softly, shaking her head. "So you think you're like a rare delicacy, huh? Might wanna keep that to yourself depending on the planet, lotta big fish out there."

But then, the story about the Mandalorian hit her harder than she expected. Alana could sense the way Reina spoke about it—something beneath the surface that Alana understood. The push and pull of life and death, fighting for survival, the weight of carrying someone else's life in your hands. Reina hadn't been the one looking for a fight; she'd been trying to save someone, even if that meant putting herself in danger.

"You broke your shoulder saving him?" Alana repeated, her voice softening. "That's... a hell of a thing. I get the feeling you don't take a lot of things lying down, huh?"

The change in Reina was subtle but undeniable, something shifting inside her. A smile that wasn't filled with the usual darkness. Something more genuine, more carefree. Alana leaned back on her hands, watching her for a moment, feeling the breeze against her skin. She wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about this moment that felt different. Was...she still a Sith soldier? She sure didn't feel like one now.

"You know," Alana said, finally allowing the quiet that had settled between them to hang a little longer. "I can't remember the last time I...got to just do this...fishing I mean."

She turned her gaze toward the horizon, following Reina's example as she stared at the water, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. Maybe, just maybe, things could be different for them both.

"It's nice. Just being here with you. No plans, no fights, no ghosts or Mandalorians. Just... talkin' with a new friend, yea?"

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

"Well...I know a very dangerous way of getting what I want as well! It's...well...asking really nicely. With like big eyes."

Puppy dog eyes. Those had always worked on the ship. If she wanted a few extra minutes to sleep or extra food, all she had to do was ask nicely. It was getting easier to joke now. Reina was less worried about making a fool of herself. Maybe because she was a fool. But she didn't care about hiding it anymore. This was a good moment for her and she wasn't going to let her worries ruin it.

"Exactly. And when you have an excess of something, you only realise what you had once it's gone. That's why it's always good to treasure whatever you have. No matter what it is. Food, water and friends. To name just a few things."

She nodded at that. It was one of the reasons why she still took time out of her life to go fishing in different places across the Galaxy. If she stayed to one planet, she'd be missing out on so much. There'd be so many little things she'd be missing in her life. She wouldn't have met Alana! Though she nodded when Alana repeated what had happened to Reina when she went against the Mandalorian.

"Yeah. I didn't realise how strong those suits are. The guy had chased me through the streets and I managed to lose him in a crowd that was trying to run away...but then the old guy bumped into him.And then...the Mandalorian lifted his blaster to the old man. I don't know what went through my head. Next thing I knew, I had slammed into the Mandalorian with enough force to knock him down...and to break my shoulder."

Reina was slowly realising she had a habit of getting hurt when she tried to help people. Breaking her shoulder against the Mandalorian. Getting clawed through the back and front of her shoulder on Jedha. Huh. Maybe Alana was right when she said that trouble followed the girl around. It was just trouble for Reina only.

"People with things to lose can take things lying down. I don't have things I can afford to lose. If I laid down on Keshi, either me or the old man would have died. Same on Jedha. Even after I got impaled in the shoulder, I knew I couldn't give up. I'd be dead weight. If I had given up...that girl I nearly slapped would have had to lose some more of her innocence. She'd have to went and cauterised one of her fellow Jedi's wound."

It was strange. To think of how much her views could change. She had seen Everest as a weakling. Something that would hold her back. But right now, Reina couldn't have been more jealous of the girl.

"This is nice. I've forgotten how it feels to have fishing just be...normal. Just talking and getting to know each other. No responsibilities or weight on our shoulders. At least not on mine."

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

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Alana caught a glint of puppy dog eyes and cringed, deploying her counter measure as she poked at Reina, variously tickling pokes added in to disarm this very potent, very dangerous weapon. “No-no, disengaged, deactivate, turn off-“​

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She had no idea if it would work, but, if she could make Reina laugh the spell would be broken. She just knew these things.​

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Alana smiled softly, a touch of warmth in her eyes as Reina spoke about how she took the time to fish in different places. It made sense—the variety, the change of scenery, the constant reminders of what it was like to have something to hold on to, even when life seemed unpredictable. "Sounds like you've figured out how to appreciate things, even when they seem simple."

She let the silence stretch for a moment, reflecting on what Reina had said about her encounter with the Mandalorian. The image of someone like Reina—who didn't back down, who had her own way of showing strength—struck Alana deeply. "You didn't just fight him to save the old man, did you?" She asked quietly, almost to herself. "You fought because... you couldn't leave him to hurt someone else. And maybe, you didn't want to be the one who backed down."

Alana had seen that kind of fire before in the people who pushed themselves past their limits. She could sense it in Reina now—the way she didn't let herself rest when it came to others, even when it meant pain and sacrifice. It was something Alana couldn't quite wrap her mind around but understood on some level. There was strength in the way Reina had no hesitation in protecting the old man, in how she carried her own weight and more.

Reina's words about not having things to lose settled into the air. Alana knew what she meant, in her own way. It was a kind of freedom, wasn't it? When you didn't have anything to protect, nothing to risk losing. But it was also a kind of burden. Alana shifted, leaning her back against the rocks behind them as she thought about it.

"I get that... I do. But I don't think you're dead weight. You don't let yourself be. You're just... not letting go of your responsibilities, of your fight. That makes you more than just someone who's lost everything." Her voice softened. "Maybe you've had to let go of more than most, but it's not the same as being nothing."

There was something freeing about their conversation, something rare in Alana's world. Reina's openness felt almost like a kind of bridge, something between their worlds. In that moment, it didn't matter who they were before. They were both in a new space now—no rules, no pasts to drag them down. Just... fishing and talking, like they had all the time in the galaxy. If the truth came out though….

Reina's final words about fishing hit Alana hard, and she couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Yeah. It's nice when things feel... normal. Like we're just two people out here without a care."

For once, she didn't feel like the weight of her past had to define who she was. Maybe, just maybe, she could let herself be a little more like this: lighter, connected to someone else in a way that was still unspoken but felt just as real as anything else.

"We've got all the time we need, Reina. No rush." Alana said, her smile a little brighter.

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: Mon Cala
Objective: Fish.
Tags: Alana Calloway​

She couldn't hold it in. No matter how much the girl tried to keep them in, the fit of giggles wouldn't stay inside of her mouth. Giggling away at every little prod and tickle. It wasn't something that she had ever experienced before. Tickling. It was nice. Giggling and laughing away like she was a typical teenager. It was fun and freeing. Not having to worry about holding in her laughter as she was starting to break out into a little grin. By the Spirit, she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed like that.

"I...don't know why I fought for the old man. The...other me says it's because I love to fight. I love the thrill. The aggression. To win when it's me versus them. And...she's right. I do like that. But I also like to see people smile. To know that I've saved someone. I want to save people. I want to be like...a knight."

It sounded even more stupid outloud. But ever since Reina had started to do research into what a Jedi was, and their history, she wanted to be a Knight. Not a Jedi Knight, no. A Knight. Someone who rushed in to help people, with a full suit of armour and a sword to guide their way. It was a childish dream. But that was one of the reasons Reina was holding onto it. It was a dream. She didn't have many of those. Her other dream, to go back to fishing like the old days was impossible. But being a Knight...That was still possible.

"...I keep fighting because I don't know if I could get back up if I stop. It's easier to deal with my problems if I throw myself at them head first. One side has to budge. And if I don't give up, I can't budge. I'll always win. At least...that's what I thought. It's harder when I'm the problem. Because what happens if two sides that never give up go against each other?"

At that, Reina just made both her hands into a pair of fists, pressing them up against each other. Once again, she had to give a practical showing of her thought process. To make a metaphor literal. It was just the way she thought of it all. Eventually however the young girl had to stop. Mostly because she was starting to hurt her knuckles...and also one of her fishing rods were starting to flail about.

With that, Reina rushed for it. Going pure silent as she focused on starting to reel the line back in. Taking a minute or two before she managed to pull the line all the way back up out of the water. And right at the end of the hook was a...fish. Just a regular ol' fish flopping around on the line. Though Reina did notice something shining inside of the fish's mouth. So she rummaged around inside to pull out...a little pearl.

"Huh. Well. This is pretty. I'm keeping it for myself. You can have the fish. I'll cook it later."

It must have been some kind of fate or luck that she ended up getting a nice looking pearl out of this fishing trip. Or maybe it was a sign that good things happen to you when you're in a good mood. She had Alana to thank for that.

"I mean. I still have cares. I care about my fishing. I care about getting a good catch. And...I care about you. That's what you're meant to do with friends, right? Care about how they feel?"

 

[Alana Calloway]

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Fishing For A Guide​

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Location: Mon Cala​

Tag: Reina Daival​

Gear: Casual Attire, fishing pole, tackle box, cheap beer.​

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Having broken Reina’s puppy dog eyes down, Alana took the moment as a victory.
Alana watched Reina with quiet amusement, listening to her work through her thoughts in the way only Reina could—turning ideas into something tangible, something real. The way she pressed her fists together, physically demonstrating her struggle, was so amusing that Alana couldn't help but smirk.

"A knight, huh?" she murmured, leaning back slightly, her arms crossed as she considered the idea. It wasn't as ridiculous as Reina seemed to think. The girl had the heart for it. The recklessness, too. And maybe that was the most knightly thing of all—charging forward no matter what, even when the odds were against you.

She didn't say any of that, though. She let Reina talk, let her work through her thoughts. Alana understood that better than she liked to admit. Keep moving, keep fighting—because if you stopped, you weren't sure you'd ever start again.

And then, just like that, the conversation was forgotten—at least for a moment—when the fishing rod jerked. Reina moved fast, her usual chatter falling into focused silence as she reeled in her catch. Alana just watched, her smirk deepening.

And when Reina pulled the fish from the water—along with the small, shining pearl—Alana huffed out a quiet laugh.

"Of course you'd fish up something like that," she said, shaking her head. "What, is the sea paying you for your trouble?"

Reina just grinned, rolling the pearl between her fingers before pocketing it. Then she handed Alana the fish like it was nothing.

Alana took it without complaint, holding the still-flopping creature in her hands. "Guess I'm on fish duty, then," She teased in spite of Reina’s words, shaking her fish with a bemused sigh. "Hope you like it crispy."

Then Reina said it—so casually, like it was just another fact of life.

"And...I care about you. That's what you're meant to do with friends, right?"

Alana shifting, settling the fish back down.

It was such a simple thing. A small truth. But for a moment, all she could do was stare at Reina, the weight of those words hitting her in a way she wasn't prepared for.

She'd spent so long pushing people away—out of necessity, out of fear. The idea that someone cared about her, just because they did, was…

It was something she wasn't sure she deserved.

And yet, here Reina was, saying it like it was obvious.

Alana exhaled, glancing away for a second, before looking back at Reina. Her smirk was softer now, a little less sure of itself.

"Yeah," she said, voice quieter than before. "I guess it is."

She paused for a moment, then, after a beat, nudged Reina's shoulder lightly with her fist.

"Just don't go breaking any more bones trying to be a knight, alright?" She said, falling back on dry humor, even as something warmer settled in her chest. "I can’t patch you up every time you throw yourself at a Mandalorian, you know? There’s alot of them…and they kinda hate everything."