Private Collecting Things

[Loomi]

Collecting Things
Coruscant
Tags: Ragdoll

Loomi loved shiny things.

Most of it was probably junk, but she didn't really understand or care. She had an old shoebox hidden in her room at the Temple full of shiny things that she found on the ground. Strange rocks, bits of scrap metal and glass, buttons and zippers... Nothing was off the table. If the light could hit it in such a manner to fill the Godoan's lone good eye with sparkles they were going to find their way into her box.

So there Loomi was, in an alley not too far from the Jedi Temple, as she so often did. Scouring the gutters for shiny things to collect. Today was different though. She was also trying to take her mind off of something else. Braze . She could feel him in the back of her mind, of course. Their force bond was growing stronger by the day, but now her own thoughts on the matter were beginning to become confused. It had all started at the birthday party for the Noble children and finding out that Shan and Colette were dating, which was like a date but plural and also that thing that Braze had taken her on. Of course, that only begged the question: Did he want to do a dating with her? For one reason or another, Loomi was irrationally afraid of this. He would feel this fear, of course, but that didn't mean she wanted to confront him about it. So for now she was trying to just clear her mind.

For one reason or another, Loomi was not very attentive when looking for shiny things. Nothing seemed to jump out at her today... at least until she came upon a lone box. The young teen made her way over, peering in. A smile spread across her face. It was a lone plush animal, torn and losing fluff, but notably very cute. Suddenly, very much a product of her poor attention span, nothing else in the galaxy seemed to exist.

"Hello!"

Why did she greet it? It was just a toy, right? No, emotions swirled around the object in a strange way. There was something different about it. Not that Loomi cared. She was just happy to meet a new friend.

"Are you lost?" she asked it.

 

[Ragdoll]

| LOCATION: Coruscant |
| TAG: Loomi |

Proof that some things never changed, the streets of Coruscant remained ever busy. The click-clack of boots bounced off the alleyway's walls, a distant echo faded as soon as it arrived. Offhand chatter that blurred a collection of voices together, too cluttered to properly decipher any one conversation. Ever since her abandonment, these sounds were Ragdoll's only company: a mocking reminder of what used to be.

Sometimes a stray animal would wander by, curiosity beckoning it over to nudge at the lone box that sat discarded, tucked away from any eyes that would have spared it the time of day.

The plush never cared, however. Perhaps she was bitter, deep down, but she'd neither the energy nor the reason to pick herself up and march right out of the umpteenth box she'd found herself thrown in. Should her memory serve correctly, all Ragdoll had done prior to being adopted was sit and wait for the love she was so clearly made for. It worked for her all of those years ago.

Why wasn't it working now?

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and as Ragdoll lay slack in her prison, she'd quickly determined that there was a passer-by. Not uncommon, with plenty having passed by, but for once there was a distinct lack of noise as the footsteps paused right in front of the unassuming shoebox.
For the first time in what felt like months, light poured into her life, and Ragdoll was greeted by a face she'd never seen before, her button eyes unblinking.

Her visitor - of a species unfamiliar to her - seemed older than her previous owner had been when he'd been gifted her. The creature, not quite human yet not quite beast, called out in greeting, voice soft and genuine. While Ragdoll remained unmoving, the Force stirred inside of her, noting that the girl was far from adult.

Finally, the plush toy sat upright, movements stiff for the faintest of seconds. Ragdoll peered up, and while her eyes never blinked, there was life behind their glimmer. One leg bent forward, followed by another, as Ragdoll got to her feet - only to fall forward, not accustomed to the gift of functioning legs, her front now slack over the shoebox's side.

Despite her struggle, the doll never made an effort to correct it. Instead, she simply maintained eye contact, and slowly nodded her head.

 

[Loomi]

Coruscant
Tags: Ragdoll

"Aw," Loomi frowned, pouting a little. "I'm sorry you're lost..."

She knew what that was like. The Godoan never stopped to question what had brought the toy life, or why it was lost. These things were not really present in her mind at all. All she felt was sympathy. After all, Loomi herself was not too dissimilar. She reached into the box, picking up the plush and bringing it rather lovingly into her hands.

"It's okay," she assured. "I was lost too..."

Loomi sighed, giving the toy a reassuring pat on the head. What to do? She hardly knew what it would be looking for, let alone how she was supposed to help. Still, she should give it her best shot, right? That's what Jedi were supposed to do.

"Hey, maybe I can help," the Godoan offered. "I know some pretty good places. Maybe one will be just right for you."

It was worth a shot.

 

[Ragdoll]

| LOCATION: Coruscant |
| TAG: Loomi |

Ever silent, the plush doll stared, head tilted. Ragdoll's body never stiffened, if such a thing was even possible, when two hands gingerly scooped her up. She made an effort to sit upright, her paws placed over her lap - such a dainty little thing, and yet she felt right at home. A wave of nostalgia washed over the patchwork cat, a feeling she had nearly forgotten over the years. One she so sorely missed.

Ragdoll's features never once shifted, although a change was certainly felt. One with the Force, Loomi would feel a familiar aura emanating from the plush she held so gently in her palms, a comforting warmth swallowing her whole. It was as though the world had lit up, suddenly so much brighter, with Ragdoll taking another stab at slowly getting to her feet. A few wayward wobbles, but no collapsing this time.

The Force spoke to the both of them, and the doll listened attentively. Her handler was sweet, that much was clear, yet so burdened by a world she was still trying to understand. Ragdoll felt a pang of sympathy, pitying the poor girl, for no kindred soul deserved unrest. An instinctual urge welled at the plush's core, something burrowing deep inside her - an energy that tugged at metaphorical heartstrings, that compelled her forth with a feeling she'd never experienced before.

Shaking her head in response to Loomi's words, Ragdoll pointed an arm the Godoan's way, before both arms were outstretched in clear set-up for a hug. The doll stepped forward, wanting to hug the girl, only for her feet to run out of walkway; having taken one step too far, Ragdoll felt her footing slip as she fell from Loomi's hands and plummeted straight to the floor.

The fall was harmless, thankfully. While it had dizzied her, Ragdoll nonetheless picked herself back up with a stagger, but quickly regained composure as she waddled forward and wrapped both arms around Loomi's leg. Clutching it tightly, she looked up at the Godoan, wanting to help her.