Private Private Practice

[Vyn Daldoure]

Vyn had let his outstretched arms fall to the side. As he listened to her speak. It was interesting to hear the words come from another person. He wished it was that simple. It was more than control and release. There was a euphoria that came along with it. The feeling of sending someone into organ shock with a knee to their liver, the reverberation from bones breaking through contact, the rush of serotonin when he managed to hit another person with a blaster round.

"You're right you know. I don't want to. I'd step into a cage match for free. I wear a blaster on my hip hoping someone draws theirs first. That will always be who I am." He leaned back in, grabbing ahold of the cliff face, and found his footing again.

"But I'm trying to be more. Maybe it isn't selfish, but when I could be out in the galaxy protecting people. I don't know, maybe it's just me." He knew that it was just him. Even if he didn't admit it aloud. He should be permitted to take breaks. Unafraid to step away. Yet he was afraid. Hell taking a break from hurting other might be his biggest fear. His most recent experiences after the war didn't help him either.

He looked up at Alora Vizsla when she mentioned orbital drops and just shook his head in a sarcastic manner. "Is that you trying to scare me off, or convince me? He looked to the ground as he found his next foot hold. "On second thought the fall might be what takes me out of both scenarios"

His grip passed from surface to surface as he gained another meter or so. Exhaling in a calm rhythm. "But I'm here now because of who I am. I grew up in a war-cult and managed to slip out unharmed." His eyes came up to her silhouette and with blunt familiarity asked "What about you?"

 

[Alora Vizsla]

"It's not the fall that kills you, Vyn," Alora called back cheerfully, "it's the uncontrolled inertial momentum." In short, the impact. "Drop pods have great cushioning forces. You could fall asleep in one!" Well, certain people could. Otherwise would find all the shaking and shimmying and rattling too unsettling to sleep.

Protecting people, huh? So, then, he was wrestling with the old 'what am I even doing with my life?' Yeah. No good answer to that. Whatever kept a roof over your head.

"Oh, you know... Grew up on Mandalore, bought a rundown ship to take on some jobs. Spread my wings or something. Then they invaded Mandalore and razed it." Which had been a few decades ago by that point, not that her youthful appearance showed wrinkle, sag, nor faded color -- or was that what the dyed hair was for? "I was off-world when they did. Then my ship crashed and I met... Gambit."

Alora stopped to drive in one of the stakes into the cliff to secure their line in case either of them did fall. Unlikely as it was, she'd almost lost track of their ascent by that point. Should have done one sooner.

"The crash is what made me who I am. Took a lot of time to recover from that. But it's alright. Gam and I met and we've been breaking every rule ever since." It wasn't that Alora didn't want to engage Vyn socially, but being too forthright about the events she was talking about was not... natural. Some things a person didn't like to talk about, no matter how good it might be to do so.

Vyn Daldoure​

 

[Vyn Daldoure]

"Right. Even a short drop with a quick stop can kill I guess." Though falling asleep mid drop sounded insane to him. Typically on the way down he was thinking about all the different tactics he'd need to use. Meditating, in his own insane way. But what other might find insane, some might find completely sane. So who was he to judge someone for falling asleep in a drop pod?

"Yeah... Mandalore was. Bad. I'd already been injured and discharged by then. But I lost a lot of friends that day. Makes you wonder right." He pulled himself upward as he weighed the words on his mind. He'd already opened the door, why stop? "Wonder if you'd have been there.... If you could've made a difference." It was dumb, there was no way of knowing that was the case. But there was something deep down in Vyn. He knew he could've saved at least one person. Yet now here he was. Life went on. Currently climbing up the the side of a cliff with Alora Vizsla . A stranger. Spilling their war stories and survivors guilt to one another.

"I think... I envy you." He kept making good pace as he spoke. "Everything I've done. Even the good things. I'd always been directed to them by others. Sure my own choices are the end result. But you? You found your own purpose, and you seem to be thriving."

 

[Alora Vizsla]

Alora chuckled to herself. "Nope. I was way too young to solo an invading army or be a fulcrum or a linchpin of some master plan." There was a moment of silence. "Though sometimes I think about... being there with my family." The levity had evaporated as she expressed her own reflection or regret about those times. Sure, she'd be dead, but at least they could have fought together. Futilely, maybe, but better than being so far away you couldn't even think of getting back in time.

Then Vyn Daldoure said he envied her. She continued to climb at the same rate as before, but her honey-brown eyes narrowed for a second.

A few seconds passed before she would respond again. "I didn't have a choice, Vyn. It was take to the stars and ply our skills, or die. Seeing how Gam and I had both decided to pass on the whole death bit, odd jobs and the reputation of the Mandalorian Warrior was all we had. Trust me, it sounds far more romantic than it was." No one talked about the downtime and the failures when they talked about that wandering soul with a disruptor rifle and a fist full of credits.

"You got a good opportunity now, Vyn, to forge that future for yourself. My advice? Hold on to it. Find something that matters to you and go from there. Maybe a few friends along the way so you aren't bored." Alora chuckled again.