six_word_stories | (no subject)

[Bandit follows her to the AT-AT. He stops and stares in wonder at the giant fallen robotic beast. It's much bigger than anything he's ever seen before. It looks like an animal, but it doesn't smell as if it was ever alive.

He's a bit hesitant to go in at first, since it's a lot harder to escape danger when he's indoors, but this place has no smell but that of Rey. She's the only one that's lived her for a long, long time, so here is safe as any place.]

?Is home?

[He sounds hopeful. Bandit hasn't had a home for a long while.]

Yeah, I live here. [ as the lights come on, she looks sheepish about it once they enter, turning to face bandit, waving her hand to invite him further in. ] S'not much but I've made it mine.

[ there are many modifications that have been made over the years and she has brought in a few various items she has scavenged, some of them strewn across the main living space. tired, she flops into a makeshift seat that was once a pilot's chair and rests her staff against the wall. ]

[Bandit moves gingerly through the AT-AT. His suit is rather clunky and he doesn't want to knock something over or accidentally punch a hole through something. He doesn't really know his own strength sometimes.

He stretches out awkwardly, for the suit doesn't really allow him to ever rest comfortably.]

Gud place. Bandit stay.

[ she wouldn't be upset if he happened to knock something over. there's really little here of actual monetary value and she can replace or fix it without a problem. but the respect he shows is appreciated.

she leans forward, hunched over her bent knees. ]

Can't you take that off? Or have someone take your suit off for you?

[Bandit turns to look at his suit. He's been conditioned to wear it for so long that sometimes he forgets it's not natural. Most of it is mere plating and armor, things that can be easily taken off with the proper tools. It's the bits hardwired into his system that are more difficult.]

Does not come off. Is stuck. Need help.

Oh. [ he's trapped. just like she is. rey isn't sure if she knows how to be gentle and comforting but for his sake, she tries, reaching out to touch the top of his head. it is instinct to scratch behind his ears. ]

I'm going to look at your armor, see what I can take off for now. I don't want to hurt you. [ if necessary, she can probably put the armor back on, but there is a living being in there. he shouldn't be trapped forever.

she stands up again to find some necessary tools, gathering them in her arms so that she can plop right down on the floor next to him. her hands trace over screws and fastenings and, once she's determined where the plating isn't connected to anything important on his back, she begins to remove some of the bulk. ]

[The scratch behind his ears has Bandit leaning into Rey's touch. He knew she was a good person. Dogs had a sixth sense for that sort of thing. He stays still as she gathers up her tools.

Bandit gives a long, groaning doggie sigh as parts of the armor start to come off. It's been a long time since he could feel just like a natural dog instead of being stuck in his armor like a nut in a shell. When the piece covering his rump comes off, his tail unfurls, and begins to wag.]

Feels gud!!

Good!

[ rey chuckles quietly, pleased to see his tail wagging immediately. bandit gets a scratch under his chin before she moves onto the next piece higher up his furry frame.
her touch remains as delicate as she can be, knowing that this is more than mere hardware that she's working with today.

from here, she can at least see the tighter connections that are more difficult to remove,
so she's keen to avoid that, focusing more on the hard shell that's preventing him from full movement. ]

There! Another.

[Bandit waits for another piece to come off, this one the domed piece covering the top of his back. Despite having been encased in the armor for many months, he doesn't look all that bad underneath. Aside from the robotics that have been wired directly into his body, circuitry to make the armor work right, he has a lean, muscular frame. Even his fur still looks glossy.

The men at the lab had made sure to give the animals proper vitamins and supplements to make sure their investments would last as long as possible.]

No more arm-or. No more bad dog.

You are not a bad dog. Not at all.

[ with the biggest, bulkiest bits of arms cast aside on her floor, rey sits back, slumped over with her elbow resting on her knee, chin resting in her open palm. there is a faint, sad smile on her face as she watches him for a moment. ]

Let's have a look at you, yeah? [ scratching behind bandit's ear, she checks for any weak spots, any injuries. she's never had a dog but she has some idea as to what looks healthy and what doesn't. ] Looks good. You – you can stay here with me.

[Bandit is cheered by the fact that at least someone sees him as being better than the weapon that the lab had turned him into.]

Bandit try hard.
2 b gud.

[But it was hard to be good when he had a suit of armor that basically turned him into a furry, killer tank. At least now that was being taken care of.

He stretches his legs out, first the front, and then the back, claws scrabbling for purchase on the floor. Aside from the hardware embedded on all his joints, on his back, and the one in his head that allows him to speak, he's pretty much back to being a normal dog.]

Bandit stay.
Is home.

I'm sure you do.

[ it isn't like her, accepting someone so quickly in her living space. it's always been hers and hers alone and she's never needed anyone to help her out but – she feels attached to him, protective even if he had come with his own armor.

rey scratches the back of her head, watching him curiously, almost as if all that bulk hadn't really affected him. ] I don't have a lot of food. I'm sorry. Not much of a big pull this morning.

[Bandit goes over to Rey, licking her hand in thanks for getting him out of his armor.]

Is O.K.

[Despite having a healthy dog's appetite, he's willing to go without as much as usual if it means he gets to stay with Rey. He doesn't want to be forced to leave. Sometimes, mean people will change their minds about dogs when they get to be too much of a handful.]

[ she smiles faintly until he licks her hand and it eventually blossoms into a full grin. she scratches behind his ears again. ]

Tomorrow, maybe you can help me find scraps to trade? We can share what I've got today.

[ bandit gets another pat on the back before she pulls herself to her feet. the packets are in one of her pockets and she begins to rummage around for her hard-earned meal. ] I'll prepare the food. I'm hungry.

Bandit help Rey! Bandit find scraps.

[He's more than willing to do his fair share and contribute to make sure that he's earning his keep. He sits back on his haunches and scratches behind his ear, a doggie luxury he's long been denied.]

Bandit hungry too.

I think we'll find more together.

[ rey takes some time to prepare the divvy up the food available. the packets expand into her portion bread, with two near equal pieces for both herself and her new companion. she places them into two bowls and nods over to bandit to follow her outside. ]

Cm'on, we can sit out here for a bit. [ she trudges outside to plop down on the ramp leading into the sand,
placing bandit's food portion next to her. ]

[Bandit lets out a soft sigh as he sits down on the ramp. He eats his portion rather fast and with a lot of gusto. It's been so long since he had proper food instead of the cocktail of vitamins, minerals, and drugs the scientists had given him.

When he's done, he amuses himself by bouncing around on the sand, appreciating how he can feel the sane under his paws for the first time in a long while.]

[ rey goes quiet, setting her plate aside to watch bandit reclaim the use of his legs. they way, she thinks, a dog was meant to be. and she grins, holding a hand out. ]

Always thought there was too much sand here. Looks like you're having fun though.

Fun fun fun!

[Bandit bounces around on the sand, kicking it up under his paws. Once he's finally worn himself out, he returns to Rey's side, chewing and licking on the pads of his paws to get the grit back out.]