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[singlespacedad]

This is Mando.

[And then a beep.]

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[nightyorb]

[Riz thinks that over for a moment. Safety is nice and all but--]

Yeah, but, he wouldn't be able to be himself, right?

[From how Mando had described him, his kid had sounded... goblin-esque. Who knows, maybe he is too young to care about that sort of stuff, but Riz wouldn't want to give up being who he is just to be safe.

(he also doesn't trust that this place is really safe anyway)]

[singlespacedad]

He'd be turned into a human, yeah. But... that might be easier for him?

[It's hard to describe.]

He's the only one of his race in the entire galaxy, as far as anyone knows. He'll always be different, his entire life. That won't stop him from becoming a Jedi, or a Mandalorian, but...

[Mando shrugs.]

He'll always be on the outside because he's different. Here, he could just be a kid.

[nightyorb]

[Riz scoffs a little.]

That should be his decision though. Other people shouldn't get to decide for you what might make your life easier.

[He looks up at Mando.]

Not saying that's what you are doing, but that's what would happen if he'd live here.

[singlespacedad]

I know. And if he wanted to go home, I'd try to find a way to take him home.

[As opposed to how Mando has pretty much given up on trying to get home and is just vibing in Pokemon world these days. It's much easier to be here and not have to think about uniting Mandalore or whatever it is he's supposed to do with that damn lightsaber. Assuming, of course, Boba Fett doesn't get them both killed over a scrap of a town on a shitty planet.]

But I'd like him to have the option. And for him to get a chance to make that choice.

[nightyorb]

Nobody here gets a choice.

[Riz's hands tighten on the strings of light, his voice edged with a hiss.

Unlike Mando, Riz still desperately wants to go home. He's looked into every vague rumour he heard about going home, but unfortunately none had panned out. More likely than not, he needs to wait until Adaine and the others break him free from this place, and it rankles that he just cannot take care of things himself.]

[singlespacedad]

No, we don't.

[But Mando knows that having that choice taken away is a lot easier for some people than others.]

[He stays quiet for a few minutes, just untangling wires and laying them aside, before pushing back from the table and standing up.]

I'm making some coffee. What size mug do you want?

[Because come on, it's not like Riz doesn't want any.]

[nightyorb]

Like you really gotta ask.

[The biggest one they've got, of course.]

[singlespacedad]

I really don't.

[So yeah, while the coffee is brewing, Mando will rescue Riz's enormous, chipped mug from the bottom of the sink and give it a quick wash.]

Once you've got a string untangled, I can go get started in the hallway.

[nightyorb]

[Why even bother washing it! There was coffee in it before, and there will be coffee in it again. It's all the same, isn't it?

Riz sets aside one coil of lights, carefully arranging them in such a way that they won't tangle again.]

These are good to go. Do you need help? I could get up on your shoulders.

[singlespacedad]

[Dear god, Riz... the grungy, semi-homeless space hobo has better hygiene than you.]

Thanks.

[With coffee delivered, and his own cup outfitted with his drinking straw, Mando picks up the coil.]

I can handle this first set. And you're not getting on my shoulders until you're done with your coffee.

[nightyorb]

[His stomach isn't that of a puny human. He can handle this stuff. He is very powerful.]

What, scared I'd spill it down your neck?

[singlespacedad]

Yes.

[Hot liquid caught under beskar armour = not fun]

If you put it in a travel mug, we can talk.

[nightyorb]

[Riz glances at his massive mug.]

Pass. We don't have a travel mug big enough to hold all of this.

[He waves Mando away.]

Go, get started. I'll untangle the rest of these first.

another tag where I'm delightfully reminded that Mando actually isn't very tall for a dude

[singlespacedad]

[Note to self, by Mando: get Riz a giant American-sized travel mug for the next holiday that calls for giving gifts.]

Thanks.

[Mando takes the lights and his own much smaller mug out into the hallway. With some stretching--and maybe standing on a box--he's tall enough to start taping lights to the ceiling.]

Do we have batteries for these? Or do I need to find a plug for them?

THIS IS A SHORT HOUSEHOLD

[nightyorb]

Some of them got batteries and some have plugs. I wasn't sure if we had enough outlets to plug all of them in, so I got some of both.

I got these batteries that electric pokemon can recharge for you.

we stan short kings in this house

[singlespacedad]

Good idea.

[Mando checks the strand he currently has. It's battery powered, so no need to worry about plugs right now.]

You've got an electric Pokemon that can get up on the ceiling, right? Because we should put the battery lights up there.

[nightyorb]

Yeah, no problem. I can send Nasha up there to take care of it. Just nobody freak out if there's a two foot long spider above the door.

[singlespacedad]

... maybe let everyone know before you send her up there.

[Mando finishes with the string of lights he has and gets off the box he's been standing on steps back to get a better look.]

Hey, come look at these.

[nightyorb]

[Riz slurps down some coffee, then carefully drapes the strands he has untangled over his arms, so he can carry them over to where Mando is hopefully without them magically getting tangled up again.

He peers up at the lights -- just a few right now, but they've only just gotten started.]

Yeah, that looks good. Think-- think Boober will like it?

[singlespacedad]

Thanks.

[Mando glances down at Riz, then takes another strand of lights.]

I think so. They're pretty.

[And don't think he hasn't noticed how unusually sappy you can get where Boober is concerned, Riz! He just won't hassle you about it because he's a gentleman.]

[nightyorb]

[Boober is a friend okay! You are supposed to get sappy about your friends.]

Awesome. Here. [Riz trusts up the other strands at Mando.] Hold these, I'll climb on your shoulders and put them up.

[singlespacedad]

[Sigh.]

I knew that was coming.

[But Mando holds still so Riz can scale him like a tree.]

[nightyorb]

[Riz scrambles up until he can sit on Mando's shoulders. Stacked together, Riz's head very nearly brushes the ceiling, which is perfect for getting the rest of this lights up.]

Well, yeah. It's not like you can get on my shoulders.

[A grabby gesture.]

Hand me the lights.

[singlespacedad]

I could. It just wouldn't be pleasant for either of us.

[Once Riz has himself situated, Mando automatically reaches up and grabs one of his ankles. It's just to make sure he doesn't overbalance and tip backwards. Then he hands him up the lights.]

[nightyorb]

Okay, okay, we could but I would die and also, it'd go against the whole purpose of this.

[With his tongue sticking out just slightly, Riz starts sticking the lights to the ceiling with the same concentration he has while pinning pictures and clues to his clue board. It's a surprisingly transferable skill in this single instance!]