Summary: Caleb and Arran, two technicians on the Starkiller base, find that gaining so intensely in such a small space has its side effects.
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Arran yawned and stretched as he awoke in his and Caleb’s quarters/workspace. Of course, he didn’t actually stretch given that he didn’t have the muscle mass to manage much. He just lifted his fat laden arms and shifted slightly. Caleb was still asleep, they were curled up together - or at least they were both sat in their fat with their bodies pressed against each other. Arran reached out and wrapped a flabby fist around the bars fixed to the walls that helped them both move around. Caleb and Arran built them themselves, what the bars did was manipulate the gravity field around whoever touched it and as a result they could simply float. This morning however it didn’t work quite how it was supposed to.
Instead of moving forward, Arran’s adipose rippling and shifting gently like waves in the sea as he did, he couldn’t move very far at all. It was as if his body began to float, and there was something keeping him held back - like a ship that forgot to lift the anchor. He reached his right hand round to his side to see if anything had been interfering with the mechanism - maybe Caleb fell asleep working on something that was causing issues. He expected to feel a gentle shock against his fat, something cold and metallic. Instead however his hand met more fat, but it wasn’t right. That wasn’t supposed to be there.
Most assumed that given how huge Arran and Caleb were they didn’t keep track of how much they weighed. In actual fact they were meticulous about it - Arran was 3605lbs and Caleb was 3610.7lbs. There waist lines were 357 inches and 362 inches. They needed to know in order to work, they needed to know to adapt their equipment as they grew. They had an intimate, almost photographic, knowledge of each others bodies, of each others fat rolls, and this wasn’t normal. This chunk of adipose was connected to one that wasn’t there the night before. It also didn’t feel like Arran’s skin. His was a little dry and sensitive, in fact it seemed as if his own mass of blubber actually felt more like Caleb’s. It was definitely his, there was no gap and no way to pull away from it, it was a new mass of fat that felt like Caleb’s hairier, oilier skin. Arran attempted to shift with his anti-gravity bars, with great difficulty that caused his chest to heave, his throat gasping, and his skin blushing a deep red. Eventually he did, and what he saw didn’t explain anything - well, he supposed it did but he didn’t have any idea what it actually meant.
From what he could tell, his fat was joined to Caleb’s fat. It wasn’t as if they’d even surgically attached together, there wasn’t a substance between them, there skin was fused together as if it had always been that way. The flesh was smooth and there wasn’t a crease or fold where there bodies met. Arran investigated it with his fingers as his cybernetic eyes whirred in his skull biologically examining the flab. The joining seemed to go all the way to the floor. From just below their waist all the way to their buttocks they were now joined together. From what he could tell, they were absorbing each other. They weren’t losing anything, his eyes analysed the organic material in front of him and both bodies still functioned they were just no longer two bodies - more like two independent ones in a single case of fat.
Arran couldn’t fathom what must have happened to cause this, they hadn’t been working on anything new, they couldn’t have picked up a parasite… When Caleb awoke they’d have to begin work immediately. Arran wasn’t worried, in fact he was so calm about their bodies joining that he actually became a little nervous about why he wasn’t concerned. He actually quite liked the idea, the two of them spent every waking moment together, they ached when they were separated and now they would always be one.
Belated birthday gift for @venatohru of the Hux clones from Thursday’s Child! Gif of all of them together plus each one individually! Hope you like!!
Sorry the chin for everyone ended up being a little bit lopsided, some more than others. Missed up when I did the base sketch and tried to fix as I got to each one but... yah. Hope it’s not too noticeable D: Also since Armitage and Caleb had the same parents, they’re facial features ended up being more similar, hope that’s okay!
Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more.”
― Robin Hobb, Fool's Fate
Ren sat up in bed, his back pressed against the cool, reinforced steel wall. He was too tired to flow-walk. He’d thought to meditate in the calm darkness of the quarters but the atmosphere dripped with Hux’s irritation. His anger brought to mind a swarm of Geonosians – the short, clipped sounds of their language, the hum of their wings as the hive moved as one. There was an order to it, but an outsider was unlikely to perceive that order.
Ren was an outsider.
Hux shifted beside him, draping an arm over Millicent. Ren had discovered the fluffy, orange creature in Hux’s quarters a few days ago, and now it seemed she refused to leave his side. Her intelligent green eyes briefly flickered towards him, as if sensing her presence in his thoughts. Exasperated, Ren prodded Hux with his elbow.
“At least put more effort into it if you’re going to pretend to be asleep.”
“I was sleeping,” Hux snapped, quickly retracting his arm. “Before you woke me with all your tossing and turning.”
“No.” Ren knew he would have to tread carefully. “You have something on your mind.”
“Of course you’ve been mind-reading. I don’t know why I’d expect-”
“I haven’t,” he said firmly, making sure to meet Hux’s gaze. “Even if I couldn’t…feel it, your body language is hardly subtle.” He knew that Hux was being deliberately obtuse – he was well aware that it was impossible for even the most skilled knight to remain undetected during a mind-probe, whether their target was force-sensitive or not.
He shut his eyes and tried to focus on Millicent’s presence as he waited, either for a reply or for Hux to drift off to sleep. Ren had encountered many animals as a child, and more still as a young man, but this one must have been a rare creature. Her fur was soft, but her mind was sharp. She delighted in giving and receiving affection, yet also in the thrill of the hunt…and of the kill. Curious, since she did not need to hunt – her food was provided for her, in delicious, bite-sized chunks. Ren decided he liked this animal after all.
Hux did not reply, nor did he sleep.
Lucy woke when Caleb started coughing. She rolled out of bed, shivering as she shed her blanket and her bare feet touched the floor. The room was cold and dark, just like the rest of the ship, and she almost swore when she stubbed her toe. Instead, she merely bit her lip while her fingers swept over the desk in search of Caleb’s inhaler. When she found it, she slipped back into the warmth of the bed to hand it to him.
“Thanks, sunshine,” he said between puffs. She’d always thought the inhaler made a weird sound when he used it. “Sorry I woke you again.”
“It’s okay. I’m not really tired.” She stifled a yawn. It wasn’t his fault his breathing was worse on a morning.
“Sure you’re not,” he muttered, mussing her hair. “Well, you can always take a nap before your friend DeeDee visits.” She groaned.
“I don’t take naps. I’m eight.”
“So?” Caleb chuckled softly, carefully untangling her curls with his fingers. “Naps aren’t just for kids.”
“Maybe I’ll just drink loads of caf instead. Seems to work for you.”
“Eight is a little young for caf, sunshine. Besides, don’t think I haven’t seen the faces you’ve pulled when you’ve tried it.” Now it was her turn to laugh as she remembered sipping her mam’s caf, rich and bitter, so bitter, trying hard not to spit it out. Mam had winked at Caleb and Narue, and then flashed her that told-you-so smile. Lucy had been annoyed at the time – she’d only been six – but now the memory made her smile.
It also made her miss her mam.
“Can we comm Mam later?” she asked.
“Sure. I miss her too. We can tell her all about my dinner with the pig in a suit.” At that, Lucy lost it, descending into a fit of giggles. “Actually, we probably shouldn’t really say that in case we’re being monitored, but…” Lucy knew what he was thinking, because she was thinking the same thing.
Fuck it.
Bill had not expected to run into his wife quite so soon. Naturally, Lilith had found the whole affair hilarious when they’d turned up to see her sitting at the bar, wearing an elegant black dress and a pair of red heels with straps that wound around her calves. She was everything he remembered, and more.
“What’s a fine lady like you doing drinking on her own in a place like this?”
“Oh, William. The galaxy really is too small. And you brought a friend? How lovely.” She turned to Lilith with a grin. “Hmm, this doesn’t bode well at all – this one looks like she has more than a couple of brain cells to rub together. Won’t take her long to realise she can do better.”
“Maybe I already have,” Lilith replied, casting an appreciative glance in Rosy’s direction. You didn’t tell me what a lovely wife you had, Kera. Rosy sipped her drink, a look of amusement playing across her features.
“Yes, well, we’re here on business, actually,” he snapped, glaring at Lilith. She didn’t seem to notice, too caught up in the new, unfamiliar surroundings. He didn’t know where she’d come from before she was serving on the Finalizer, but he doubted it was filled with flashy neon lights and jovial laughter.
“And you’re conducting that business at the bar?”
“Yes.” Rosy shrugged, fidgeting with the straw in her glass. He recalled Lucy doing the same thing with her juice in the cantina.
“None of my business,” she said. “Just so long as you don’t cause any trouble on my ship.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.” Rosy rolled her eyes as she finished her drink. When she excused herself, he considered inviting himself to her quarters later – that is, before he was distracted by the other red-haired woman approaching the bar.
The observation deck was empty when Brendol arrived. He was tired and wheezing after the walk from his personal quarters, but he needed to see it. It seemed an age since Starkiller Base, since they’d first left the Unknown Regions to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, but now the Finalizer loomed over the familiar, rainy planet.
★ Thanks to Narue, Caleb learned some Zabraki phrases (most of them are rude, but a few are useful)
★ Although she has a translator, Roslin speaks six languages fluently (in addition to Galactic Basic), and another four to a high enough standard that she can participate in conversation
★ Constantinus understands Huttese and speaks Twi’leki, but prefers Nuro to accompany him on trips to Ryloth when possible - the reason being that although his verbal command of the language is adequate, he isn’t able to communicate via lekku gestures since, well...he doesn’t have any ;)
Very short, slightly angsty, mostly fluffy, SFW drabble. Because of someone force-choking him, Mitaka isn’t overly fond of having his neck touched. But he’s working on it.
Mitaka flinched as Caleb’s fingers brushed gently over his Adam’s apple.
“Sure you wouldn’t like me to stop?” Mitaka squeezed Caleb’s hand, guiding his fingers back to the nook between his neck and his shoulder.
“Yes.” Caleb nodded and leaned forward, close enough that he could feel his eyelashes flutter against his cheek. He smelled like apples. “Just…softly this time.”
“Like this?” His breath was warm on his neck, his lips light and - yes - soft. He shuddered and inhaled sharply, causing Caleb to hesitate for a moment.
“Sorry, I-” Mitaka laughed awkwardly. “That was the good kind of breathless. That was…” Nothing like being throttled by Kylo Ren or having the invisible noose of the force tighten around my neck? “Nice. I, um, didn’t apologise for overreacting earlier, did I?”
“Only around sixteen times or so,” Caleb grinned. “Nearly as many times as I did. And…thank you. You know, for telling me.”
“Well, I kind of had to after literally kicking you out of bed.”
“Actually, you didn’t. I knew you didn’t do that on purpose.” He paused, tucking a stray lock of hair behind Mitaka’s ear. “On the other hand, I’ve got to admit I’m definitely happier now that my safety is guaranteed.” Mitaka smiled back.
Caleb (34, scrawny) dressed as Armitage (34, scary). Because when your twin brother is a feared general of the First Order, who else could you dress as for Halloween? He was wearing the uniform correctly. For a bit. It wasn’t comfy, and Dopheld Mitaka is a very bad influence.
I am so sorry, I thought it’d be fun to interview Caleb and Tim together, and then I got a little bit carried away with this lol
If a lot of people, possibly innocent people, have to die in order to make a real change, is it worth it? Can you live with their deaths even if it helps people in the present?
C: I, um…I think maybe you’re asking the wrong brother.
T: And I’m a doctor so…this is kind of the opposite of what I do. I try to keep as many people alive as possible!
C: Yeah, exactly. And even though I work with weapons - mainly blasters - (Tim giggles, and Caleb cracks a smile) You’ll have to forgive his immaturity, he’s three whole days younger than me, you see. Anyhow, as I was saying - I specialise in non-lethal weaponry. Mostly paralysers. Very effective, perhaps not the most pleasant thing to be on the receiving end of, but you know, at least you’re not dead. If…if I had to make that choice, and it was guaranteed to make things better then maybe I would. But I’m not sure I could live with myself.
T: Sometimes people are going to end up dead whatever you do. Like the Death Stars, or…Starkiller Base. A lot of the people that died were technicians or worked in the canteen, things like that. They didn’t get chance to evacuate. I’m not saying that was necessarily the wrong decision, but I don’t think it’s one I could make. Not on my own.
C: Hmm, what about a dangerous medical trial?
T: Oh, well…if they’re volunteers, and they know the risks. But then that wouldn’t be a decision I was making on my own. And they’ve opted in. Naturally, I’d prefer it if every medical trial ran smoothly, but…you know.
Imagine there is a beast that craves attention. If you ignore it, despite being deadly, it will leave you alone. Could you live like that? Even if it possibly attacked others? Would you try and challenge something that unknown?
C: Do you mean Kylo Ren?
T: (laughing hysterically)
C: It depends, I guess. What happens if I give it attention? Will that make it happy or will it attack me, too? Because then I’m not sure how that would really help anyone. I’d be dead and it could still attack other people.
T: Maybe we could try to tame it.
C: I don’t think it’s that kind of creature.
T: What if everyone leaves it alone? Then will it keep to itself? I mean I’d feel kinda bad for it, it’d be pretty lonely, but if the alternative is people getting hurt…
If someone else stole something and you stole it back is that a good deed, a bad deed or one of equal worth? Are you better than the original thief?
T: What did I steal?
C: Chocolate chip muffins, obviously.
T: (laughing) Was I starving? Because then I think it’s probably not so bad…unless the person I stole from was starving, too. Then I’d have to hope they’d share the muffins with me, I suppose? Although, to be honest, we should probably have stolen something with more nutritional value.
C: You would go for the muffins though. I’m not sure, I mean…if you steal to feed yourself or your family when it seems like you’re out of other options, that’s pretty different to nicking someone’s credits to spend on whisky or sabacc or whatever. And it depends who you steal from. If they’re no better off than you are…I don’t really think you can call that a good deed. Even if you’re desperate.
