Before - Legends With Swoop and Stylus -- OC (Dear Diary challenge) Updated 2/26

This will make more sense if you've read [link=http://boards.theforce.net/Before_the_Saga/b10475/16257981]Crash Course 2 : Perfect[/link] (which makes more sense if you've read [link=http://boards.theforce.net/Before_the_Saga/b10475/14453520]Crash Course[/link]).

With no further ado:



Yes, this is old-fashioned flimsy and stylus. If you knew my mom you'd understand. Anything committed to a computer or datapad is not safe from her, and I'm not good enough yet to keep her out. The same with the Trianii glyphs I'm writing in. Someone will find this eventually, and I'd rather they not be able to read it instantly. The downside is that writing Trianii glyphs with a stylus is slow, since they're meant to be written with all five claws dipped in ink. I don't have claws. I don't even have a bottle of ink, just this cheap stylus I swiped from Death's office and a not-so-cheap book of blank flimsy I bought from a specialty store. Saved for months for this, then had to sneak out to get it. I didn't want mom to know. I don't think she'd understand.

I'm sitting in the lift, parked at the top of the shaft. I'd sit on the roof but it's like a monsoon out there. The rain is moving sideways. I can see it through the window. I can hear it too, howling like the biggest swoop engine ever, revved to the redline.

You might think that's a strange place to sit and write, but other than locking myself in the 'fresher it's about the only privacy I'll get, with the added bonus that nobody'll start pounding on the door asking when I'll be done or if I'm sick. There are drawbacks to living with nearly a hundred other beings in a single building. And I'm not talking about an apartment building. Those things'll hold thousands, easy. I'm talking about a smallish warehouse, a third of which is taken up by a combination parking lot and maintenance bay for swoops. The rest is bunks, tables for dining and lessons, and an area my mother demands be left clear of any obstructions. She loves to dance. The kitchen, pantry and 'freshers make up the west wall. Death's office is the first door on the east wall. The other offices down that side were long since converted to private rooms with sound-proofing and doors that lock, but there aren't enough of them to go around, so the married folks take turns. There's a rota.

It makes things tricky if you've got your eye on a girl.

On the other hand, the only girl my age around here is my sister, Tyche.

Life's so unfair sometimes.

Mom says I'll meet a nice girl someday. A nice girl? In a swoop gang? Isn't that an oxy... something? Besides, I'm not sure I'm looking for a nice girl. Nice girls sound boring. Don't get me wrong, I like predictable. I like routine. Surprises are not my favorite things in the world. But nice? I'm not a seat-of-your-pants kind of person like my mom, but I'm not planning on getting a desk job at some corp, either. There's a big difference between predictable and boring.

 

Man it's been so long since I've read both of the linked fics, that I can't figure out who the OC is! Is this a new one, Lilith, or one from the series? Is it Crash's son?

 

Besides, I'm not sure I'm looking for a nice girl. Nice girls sound boring. Don't get me wrong, I like predictable. I like routine. Surprises are not my favorite things in the world. But nice?

I love it! I especially love that he is trying to write with paper and pen to avoid mom's awesome splicing skills.

 

Thanks you two!




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The Jotlipans visited again yesterday. I like Mrs. Jotlipan, she always brings a cake or something nice to eat. She makes sure that all us kids get a bit, too, before she lets the others swarm over it. She's nice to everybody and smiles all the time. She practices her Lorrdian on us and doesn't mind when we laugh at her grammar. Her kids are a different matter. They're all older than Terryl, but they include him. Zith, Tyche and I can tag along, but that's about the extent of it. I don't mean that they're snobs or anything... I don't know. They just seem to be happier if we're not 'bugging' them, especially Terryl.

He thinks he's sooo grown up, just because dad got him his own swoop this year.

Mom says I have to wait a while before they'll get me and Tyche swoops. Even then she says we may have to share. I don't mind sharing, especially with Tyche. She'll hog it, but she won't fuss when I ask for my turn. We're nearly twins everyone says, even though we look nothing alike.

Anyway, Dellan Jotlipan, he's the middle one, he asked me what it was like to be adopted. He was a bit confrontational about it, like it was a secret I was deliberately keeping from him. The adults always shushed him before, but there weren't any around to stop him this time. I shrugged and told him I couldn't tell the difference. He acted like that was the wrong answer and ignored me the rest of the visit. He seemed disapointed that I hadn't gotten upset. Honestly, how'm I supposed to know? Mom treats me the exact same as she does the others. She calls me Seo only when she's trying to guilt-trip me into doing something I don't really want to do. The rest of the time she calls me Chance like everyone else. I mean, I know, in my head, that she's not my physical mom. She's not the one that gave birth to me. But she rocked me to sleep and held me after nightmares and fed me over-salty soup when I was sick. She's a great mom, but a bad cook. I mean, even what she named me, Seo, it means 'mine' in Lorrdian. And it's the emphatic possessive, not the passive. I mean, how many kids out there can say that their mom had a choice and picked them?

Dad's actually more protective of me than the others. It's probably something to do with over-compensation or something. It works out okay, though, because I'm not nearly as daring at Terryl and Tyche. She's talked me into some crazy stuff that I'd never have done on my own. Zith's always up for one of her stunts, and I usually go along to keep them from doing anything really stupid.

Speaking of which, she wants to try and sneak out tonight through the tunnels and drop in on Phillipa over at the Wildcards. She's our age and the two of them will sit and talk about boys all night. I'd be bored to tears. Maybe I'll 'accidentally' trip over something and make a racket to get us caught. Better a lecture from mom than girl talk all night.

 

Anyway, Dellan Jotlipan, he's the middle one, he asked me what it was like to be adopted. He was a bit confrontational about it, like it was a secret I was deliberately keeping from him. The adults always shushed him before, but there weren't any around to stop him this time. I shrugged and told him I couldn't tell the difference. He acted like that was the wrong answer and ignored me the rest of the visit. He seemed disapointed that I hadn't gotten upset. Honestly, how'm I supposed to know? Mom treats me the exact same as she does the others. She calls me Seo only when she's trying to guilt-trip me into doing something I don't really want to do. The rest of the time she calls me Chance like everyone else. I mean, I know, in my head, that she's not my physical mom. She's not the one that gave birth to me. But she rocked me to sleep and held me after nightmares and fed me over-salty soup when I was sick. She's a great mom, but a bad cook. I mean, even what she named me, Seo, it means 'mine' in Lorrdian. And it's the emphatic possessive, not the passive. I mean, how many kids out there can say that their mom had a choice and picked them?



What a meanie that other kid was, shoving it in his face that he was adopted, but it's nice that Seo has such a good head on his shoulders! Excellent job, Lilith So it is Crash's kid, I was right!

 

I like very much. One question, though--how old is Seo in these entries? I'm guessing not very old. Preteen? Anyway, lovely, lovely.

 

Thanks to all who are hanging in there and commenting. I really appreciate it.

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I'm hiding from mom so I thought I'd write a bit more.

Terryl and I had a fight. It's just boy stuff. Mom's a girl and doesn't understand. I don't want to try and explain it to her again, especially since I think I've got a terrific shiner developing. The skin around my eye feels all tight and hot, anyway. She'd get all protective and tell Terryl off for picking on his younger brother, but I can handle myself. If I couldn't I wouldn't have needled him like I did. Even dad can't get her to just let us be when these things happen. He understands at least.

Tyche sort of gets it, I think, though she thinks it's a complete waste of energy that could be used doing something more fun, like playing pranks on folks or trying to sneak out and explore the tunnels or streets. Sometimes I think she's not flying with all thrusters firing. That sort of thing isn't daring, it's dangerous, which is the next best thing to stupid if you've got any other choice.

I'd much rather sit in the lift and listen to the wind.

Ah bantha poodoo. Someone's called the lift down. I bet mom found Terryl and is all mad now.

Too bad my hair isn't long enough to hide my eye.

 

I'm hiding from mom so I thought I'd write a bit more.

Terryl and I had a fight. It's just boy stuff. Mom's a girl and doesn't understand. I don't want to try and explain it to her again, especially since I think I've got a terrific shiner developing. The skin around my eye feels all tight and hot, anyway. She'd get all protective and tell Terryl off for picking on his younger brother, but I can handle myself. If I couldn't I wouldn't have needled him like I did. Even dad can't get her to just let us be when these things happen. He understands at least.


Well can't really blame Crash, it's a woman's nature to worry when boys fight

 

Ooooh, just found this! Add another reader!

 

Oh I love it! Please put me on your PM list!

 

Shiny! New readers! Thanks for dropping in and I'm glad you're enjoying it.


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Ever seen a wookiee with bald spots? Believe me, you don't want to. Someone, and I have dark suspicions about who that someone is, put depilitory cream in Reeabok's shampoo. The worst part of it is that the cream didn't get mixed in well, so it got applied sort of unevenly. 'Bok's got some really oddly placed bald spots now, as well as some places that just got thinned out a lot, and some that are totally untouched. It looks like she's terribly ill and losing her fur. She's also mad enough to rip a construction droid apart at the seams.

I just have to say, my sister is nuts. This sounds like something right up her alley. And I have no idea how long ago she planned it, either. 'Bok doesn't need to wash her fur all that often, but she uses a whole bottle every time she does. That tampered bottle could have been sitting in her supplies for weeks, months maybe. Long enough for Tyche to start to reconsider whatever urge had overcome her, but not long enough for her to actually go looking for the bottle to keep it from happening. I'm certainly getting guilt vibes from her, though she's working hard to keep it out of her body language.

Mom suspects her. Kriff, everyone suspects her, but no one can actually prove anything, so Tyche's just getting a lot of dark looks and a few cold shoulders. She may learn her lesson about playing pranks on other Horsemen this time around. Force, I hope she does. I swear I'll have grey hair before I even get my own swoop, the way she carries on. Covering up for her may not have been the best way to get her to learn, but she's my sister, my not-a-twin. I just don't know what to do with her sometimes.

In better news, I met Bobby Carde's neice yesterday. She's just joined the Wildcards official-like. She rides better than Terryl, which has him all torqued up. Meilyn, her name is. She smiled at me real nice and I didn't blush or stutter or anything.

 

Ever seen a wookiee with bald spots? Believe me, you don't want to. Someone, and I have dark suspicions about who that someone is, put depilitory cream in Reeabok's shampoo. The worst part of it is that the cream didn't get mixed in well, so it got applied sort of unevenly. 'Bok's got some really oddly placed bald spots now, as well as some places that just got thinned out a lot, and some that are totally untouched. It looks like she's terribly ill and losing her fur. She's also mad enough to rip a construction droid apart at the seams.

 

Ever seen a wookiee with bald spots? Believe me, you don't want to. Someone, and I have dark suspicions about who that someone is, put depilitory cream in Reeabok's shampoo. The worst part of it is that the cream didn't get mixed in well, so it got applied sort of unevenly. 'Bok's got some really oddly placed bald spots now, as well as some places that just got thinned out a lot, and some that are totally untouched. It looks like she's terribly ill and losing her fur. She's also mad enough to rip a construction droid apart at the seams.

I just have to say, my sister is nuts. This sounds like something right up her alley. And I have no idea how long ago she planned it, either. 'Bok doesn't need to wash her fur all that often, but she uses a whole bottle every time she does. That tampered bottle could have been sitting in her supplies for weeks, months maybe.




Sounds like his sister is one to watch out for

 

She smiled at me real nice and I didn't blush or stutter or anything.

Awwww!

 

Yeah, I didn't expect it, but his sister is turning into quite the troublemaker.


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Sweet dancing Force! I finally sliced one of mom's files today! She says I was messy and left 'fingerprints' all over it, but I got it open, which is more than Terryl ever managed. Mom finally gave up on trying to teach him. He's just not interested in much that doesn't involve moving really fast. Tyche and Zith aren't interested either. Just as well. If Tyche knew the kinds of havoc that could be created with the help of computers no one would be safe, anywhere. I'm certainly not going to be the one to tell her, either.

Reeabok's still upset about the depilitory cream. Doc says that it could be as much as a couple months before her fur gets back to normal. In the mean time she refuses to leave Armageddon to do patrols or anything else. Mom's trying to get some riding leathers made up for her, so that 'Bok can hide the bald spots, but it takes a lot of leather to make an outfit for a wookiee, and they can't really use leather anyway since she'd overheat in no time at all. No one's found any proof that Tyche's the one who pulled this prank, but she got in trouble for talking back yesterday and got grounded for a week, instead of just an hour or two sitting in the corner, so it looks like dad has decided that she's guilty, with or without proof.

Mom's taking me to see the new Jaren Kai holo, as a reward for my slicing. Terryl saw it last week with some of his friends, though he was nice enough not to spoil it for me. Tyche can't come 'cuz she's grounded and isn't talking to me right now, and Zith's behind on his schooling, so dad's staying home to help him with it. It's just me and mom tonight, which is really the biggest part of the treat. Except when we're in front of a computer I don't get much time with her anymore. Oh, gotta go or we're going to be late!

 

Poor, poor Reeabok...

Seo certainly gets the whole member-of-a-large family thing. I know I treasure the (increasingly rare) times I get to have alone with my mother.

 

Sweet dancing Force! I finally sliced one of mom's files today! She says I was messy and left 'fingerprints' all over it, but I got it open, which is more than Terryl ever managed. Mom finally gave up on trying to teach him. He's just not interested in much that doesn't involve moving really fast. Tyche and Zith aren't interested either. Just as well. If Tyche knew the kinds of havoc that could be created with the help of computers no one would be safe, anywhere. I'm certainly not going to be the one to tell her, either.

Love these little peeks into this "universe." Lovely work, as always!

 

Mom's taking me to see the new Jaren Kai holo.
Super sweet! When's the new Trika Adair holo coming out?

I've been meaning to pop in here... been busy elsewhere, but I already know how your style is so addicting and completely awesome, so here I am, posting! Add me to any PM list you might have 'round here! You're kick-butt awesome, Lilith!

 

Can I be added to the PM list?

 

Trika, Moose, welcome!



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I'm sitting in the tunnels of the Highway waiting for Tyche. Supposedly I'm watching the swoops she 'borrowed' to make sure the don't get 'borrowed' again before she and Zith are done and we can sneak them back to where they're supposed to be. I don't know what they're doing. I don't want to know what they're doing. I'm just the only one stupid enough to let them talk me into coming along. Fortunately I stayed sane enough to refuse to do more than watch our rides.

So I'm sitting against the wall, peering out the door, waiting. I don't know how much longer they're going to be. For all I know they're out spray painting some skywalk. Force, I hope it's something that simple. Knowing my sister, that's not daring enough. It'll probably be something much more dangerous and stupid. Death doesn't even like it when she's out tagging stuff. He tells her we don't do that sort of thing. We don't need to.

The Imperium, the Angels, they may need to mark their territory, but the Horsemen don't. Our clients do it for us.

The folks who hire us put signs in their windows with our logo on it. It makes Death laugh that the people in our territory actually want us here. It wasn't always so, and he's worked really hard to bring us to it. Mom still talks about the days when we didn't wave in a friendly fashion at the cops when we pass them in traffic. Mom says the Angels are jealous of us.

Personally, I think it's just Velocity. She's holding on to her possition with claw and fang. I've heard the stories and read the old news flimsies. And I've seen her once or twice. She can't pass mom without giving her a nasty look. She lost a lot of credibility with the other gangs the first time mom tangled with her. I think she's still trying to figure out how to win it back.

It just hit me. I'm sitting in the tunnels at the entrance closest to Angel territory. Please, please, dear sweet Force let her not be painting over Angel tags! She'll start a fight with them and Death may never forgive her, especially if someone gets hurt over it. What's worse, I think, is if someone gets hurt as a result she'll never forgive herself. She just doesn't think!

Tyche's all creative when it comes to getting into trouble, but she doesn't think through the consequences. I've tried to tell her, but she just says that she's got me for that, so why does she need to bother?

I know I'm probably oversensitive about consequences. I have absolutely no memory of my biological parents because of choices other people made. I'm living in an underground warehouse, raised by a swoop gang because of other people's choices. Not that I'm miserable, or that I wish somewhere along the way different choices had been made. I love my family, all ninety plus of them. I like the way my life has turned out. But the way it started has made me aware of consequences in a way that my sister just hasn't ever grasped. I'm not sure any of my sibs understand why I'm this way. Mom does, and it worries her. She's constantly afraid that I might wish for my biological family back. Maybe I'm not saying it right. Even here, just for me, I'm not sure I'm using the right words, but there it is.

What-might-have-beens don't bother me at all, but I worry about the future.

Right now I'm worried about Tyche's future and just how short it might be.

 

I like the way my life has turned out. But the way it started has made me aware of consequences in a way that my sister just hasn't ever grasped. I'm not sure any of my sibs understand why I'm this way. Mom does, and it worries her. She's constantly afraid that I might wish for my biological family back. Maybe I'm not saying it right. Even here, just for me, I'm not sure I'm using the right words, but there it is.

What-might-have-beens don't bother me at all, but I worry about the future.

Right now I'm worried about Tyche's future and just how short it might be.



Awwwww, can't blame the poor guy. That was very touching, to see him so concerned.

 

Lilith, you are just super! Your stories read so easily. I love it!

 

I know I'm probably oversensitive about consequences. I have absolutely no memory of my biological parents because of choices other people made. I'm living in an underground warehouse, raised by a swoop gang because of other people's choices. Not that I'm miserable, or that I wish somewhere along the way different choices had been made. I love my family, all ninety plus of them. I like the way my life has turned out. But the way it started has made me aware of consequences in a way that my sister just hasn't ever grasped. I'm not sure any of my sibs understand why I'm this way. Mom does, and it worries her. She's constantly afraid that I might wish for my biological family back. Maybe I'm not saying it right. Even here, just for me, I'm not sure I'm using the right words, but there it is.

Simply wonderful!

 

Thanks, Ladies.


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Mom stole my journal. Just took it right out from under my pillow while I was sleeping. When she found she couldn't read it and couldn't find a way to make her computers read it for her, she cornered Nash. She didn't manage it right away. I made a bit of a fuss looking for it and mom finally confessed she had it. I demanded it back. She demanded to know what was in it. I refused. She refused to give it back and stalked off to see if Nash would read it for her. Nash, Force bless her furry hide, made herself scare. That only worked for a day or two. When it stopped working, she was 'busy'. Finally, she couldn't stall anymore. Mom was fuming by that time, I mean there was steam coming out of her ears and even dad was avoiding crossing her in any way.

When mom finally cornered her, it was just after dinner. The whole gang was standing around, only a few of them pretending not to listen in. I was so embarrassed and so mad that I'm surprised I didn't burst into flame on the spot.

Nash took the journal from her, very solemnly opened it, scanned it for a few moments, opened her mouth, and sang.

If you've never heard a Trianii sing you're missing a memorable experience. Not necessarily a good experience, but memorable.

Then she turned the page, and kept singing. She sang my journal to the gang, in Trian, thank the Force, for nearly ten pages before mom waved at her to stop. She should have remembered that Nash is really big into personal privacy. There's not a lot to be had in a gang, especially not one that lives in a warehouse, so what you can get is usually respected.

Mom reached out to take the journal back, but Nash turned and handed it back to me. Mom about flashed over into supernova, I could see it in her eyes. But she took a deep breath and let it go. She shook her head and walked away.

That hurt. She didn't understand and thought... I don't know what she thought. I rarely do. I can see her brain working behind her eyes, but somewhere along the way she learned to control her tongue, because she doesn't just blurt stuff out. She still acts without thinking. I mean, if she'd thought about it she'd have asked me what was in my journal, not stolen it and demanded to know the contents when she couldn't read them for herself. But I'm certain she doesn't understand why I'm doing it, why I need my private thoughts.

I would never do anything to hurt her, not if I could help it, but reading this would hurt her worse than my refusing to let her see it. I really don't think she'd understand. She knew her folks. She and dad are my folks. I wonder sometimes, though, who my bio-mom is, why she gave me up, or if I was stolen like mom was. Mom doesn't think I know the whole story, but Nash told me. She thought I needed to know.

I don't want my bio-mom back. I just sometimes wonder. I bet all adopted kids do. I wonder about her, whoever she is, but I know that mom wanted me, loves me. Sith, my name's enough to tell anyone that much. And I'd never want to give that up.

But sometimes I wonder.

 

Nash singing in Trian, eh? We may all one day only be so blessed to hear it.

Super stuff, Lilith. As always, your writing is superb.