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Luke's, Wednesday

It was paperwork day at Luke's. Again.

This was Eliot's absolutely least favorite part of running a business. Sometimes he missed living entirely off the grid and just committing violence on people for cash.

On the other hand, it was way harder to take a break and make a souffle when he was living entirely off the grid and just committing violence on people for cash.

So there was that.

Today's specials
Zesty crab souffle
Spinach pantry souffle
Hot chocolate souffle

Luke's was open.

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Kanan had so many things to worry about with his dimension when it came to tax laws. Like technically not even legally existing. So... sorry for that added headache, Eliot.

He was also swinging by the diner today with a little grin on his face, because he hadn't just stopped by to pester his boss in far too long. Or something.

"... You look busy," he mused. And then glanced at the specials board. "But I still have to ask, are souffles the pancakes of Wednesdays, or were you just in a specific mood today?"

Pancakes were his life on Sundays, Eliot. His. Life.

Edited 2019-01-16 18:17 (UTC)

Are souffles the pancakes of Wednesdays sounded like a zen koan.

"Souffles are . . . picky. They require concentration." Eliot shrugged. "And I like them better than taxes."

Souffles were very zen, okay?

Diner zen, with your pal Kanan.

"I feel like I should be apologizing," he mused, sliding into a seat at the counter. "I haven't filed a tax return with the Empire in... ever."

Ever. And never would.

Eliot nodded. "Yeah, you're gettin' paid under the table anyway. It's the rest of these guys who come from places with, like, seventeen different tax schemes."

The cook's America had a VAT. And it was still slightly simpler than Eliot's America's tax system.

"And here again we have a prime example of the reason why I didn't decide to do something respectable when I had to pick a new identity," Kanan half-joked, musing over the specials. "You've got more patience than I do."

And this was a guy who just happily sat and meditated entire days away on occasion.

Eliot was very good at sitting quietly places! Usually because he was waiting to ambush a mark.

He raised an eyebrow at Kanan with a small smirk. "You're a teacher," he said. "And work in a diner."

Both were actually quite respectable professions.

"I babysit teenagers and then I babysit grown adults," Kanan corrected, "which is hilarious because goodness knows I need someone to babysit me half the time."

At least he owned it.

"I mean, I'm doing better now at 'respectable' than I have," he allowed a moment later. "On the whole."

"As a whole," Eliot agreed, still smirking. "How're things goin' other than that? You and Hera make any progress?"

Whether he meant "with the Rebellion" or "with your relationship", Eliot left up to Kanan to interpret.

"It's... a process," Kanan offered. "She knows I'm in it for the long haul now. Jobs have been slow lately but there are people here who are interested in getting involved too. Even if, uh, I kind of hate the idea of dragging folks into a fight that isn't theirs."

He paused a few moments more.

"Been leaning back into some old habits lately." A beat. "The good habits, I mean. Been dry for months now, that's not what I'm talking about. So there's a bit of a balancing act right now while I reconcile what I want with what I need to be."

Eliot nodded. "You know I'm down to help if I can," he said. "With either the fights or the habits."

"I might have to take you up on that," Kanan replied. "On either. So far, I'm the strategy guy. Or maybe the guy with the terrible plans that somehow work out anyway, I haven't decided which. Either way, there's only so far meditating and listening to the same old lectures on a dusty holocron can get me, and for all I need to be a Jedi... I can't be a Jedi about it."

Look, it made sense in his head, anyway.

From what little he knew about the Jedi, Eliot thought he understood, anyway.

"Man, I spent a good chunk of my time before comin' here as a common sense filter for a mad tactical genius." That was certainly . . . a way to describe Nate. Sure. "I ain't gonna know the ins and outs of your galaxy, but I can probably at least let you know if somethin's gonna get you and yours killed."

Kanan nodded. Looked relieved, even.

"It's only a matter of time before something goes ugly," he replied. "I'm going to need every second opinion I can get. The Jedi wired me for war and the Empire geared me up for survival, but this is..." He waved a hand around while he searched for the right words. "It's bigger than I am. And I have cards in my pocket that someday I'm going to have to bring into play, but I can't afford to paint that target on my back yet, either."

Eliot nodded. "Havin' to think bigger'n yourself can be . . . an adjustment." He'd been more or less forced to make it, when he decided to leave Moreau's employ. And then do it again when his crew was coming together. "You got your girl to keep you honest, though. That'll help."

"She's the best captain I could have asked for," Kanan replied with a nod. "Especially if this gets bigger than it already is. When I signed on, I figured... hey, we fly around the galaxy, irritate the Empire, maybe make a few credits along the way."

He hiked up a shoulder slightly.

"I'd follow her into anything. I..." He smiled crookedly. "You know?"

Loved her. Force save him, he loved her. And he'd never know how to say that to her.

Eliot had that little knowing smirk again, but he nodded anyway.

"Yeah, son. I know real well."

How long had it taken him to finally get with his partners, after all?

Kanan was still smiling as he blew out a little breath, leaned forward against the counter, and ducked his head a little.

"I need to do right by the galaxy, first and foremost," he said, "As a Jedi. As a man trying to get his feet back under him. As someone who just wants to see a better tomorrow. But... I really think the way to do that is to do right by her." And then, a little more soberly, "The Order would have hated that."

"Yeah, well. Near as I can tell, the Order was full of shit on that front."

Kanan made a noise in reply to that, something not entirely in disagreement.

"They're right about one part, though," he noted. "If there's any one person I might completely come apart over, I think she's it."

"Yeah," Eliot said. "That ain't a bad thing, though."

It had taken him a long time to come to terms with that, and it was something he still struggled with on occasion. The key was remembering that the person you were coming apart over was -- or would be -- rooting for you not to.

"... It's not?"

Eliot, you were talking strange alien concepts again.

"They're the ones who keep you human. Keep you honest." Eliot shrugged. "Folks you're real tight with are usually a lot better at that than those who you follow just 'cause you think you're supposed to."

"Keep me human, keep me honest," Kanan echoed.

He blew out a breath.

"I can use all the help I can get in that area, I can't deny that."

"Especially when you're wagin' a war. No matter how justified."

Eliot spoke from mountains of experience on that front.

There was a long moment then before Kanan replied again. His gaze had dropped down to the counter. His voice came quiet, when it did.

"It's not a war, yet."

He didn't want another war.

Was terrified of the prospect.

Of what would come after, of what would come during.

Knew it would happen anyway.

But needed that denial, for now.

Eliot just nodded. Kanan wasn't the first war-weary soldier he'd met.

He wasn't even the first war-weary soldier who'd done his soldiering that young.

"So. Wanna souffle?"

Kanan glanced back up at Eliot after a second. And then up again at the specials board.

"Sure," he replied. "Whichever one comes most highly recommended."

At this point, he'd eat his weight in chocolate, but he'd leave this one up to the chef's discretion.

"I'm partial to the crab," Eliot said. "But for you? Obviously the hot chocolate one."

Kanan's sweet tooth wasn't exactly a secret.

Did that earn a little cough that was meant to disguise a laugh? Why yes. Yes it did.

"I'll try the crab first," he replied, "and follow it up with the chocolate. I do eat actual meals too, on occasion."

Yeah, it surprised him too, sometimes.

"Good. I don't need another sugar fiend to worry about." Parker and Hardison already ran him ragged on that front. "Comin' right up."

"I have been leaning into it a little hard since I dropped that other vice," Kanan allowed, smiling wryly. "I can't blame all of that on being surrounded by enablers."

... But most of it, sure, easy.

"But thanks, I appreciate it."

Eliot snorted. "At least you ain't gone with controlling people like some kind of deranged puppet master."

Sober!Nate could be very creepy when he wanted to be.

"Yeah, I'm not supposed to do that without a damn good reason," Kanan agreed, frowning faintly.

... He didn't have the Nate context. He just had the Force.

Eliot shot him a sharp look. "You ain't supposed to do that at all."

There was a reason he used the word 'deranged', here.

"I'm really not puppet master material," Kanan replied, holding up his hands in surrender. "I can be very persuasive, but I have a line drawn, don't worry."

"Best keep it that way. I don't need more'n one of those in my life."

Nate had mellowed considerably, but he definitely still got that "mastermind" glint in his eyes from time to time.

"Hell, I can hardly make up my own mind half the time," Kanan noted, "the last thing I need is to be the one trying to make up everyone else's, too."

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Luke's, Wednesday

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