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video @nina

[ You can make VIDEOS ON THIS THING.

Now that Nina knows this, no one is safe. Well, okay, not true, because she's still got to get the hang of it. You, the viewer, are once again treated to a vision of... the Aid Station wall.

Nina: "Where's the camera again?"
John, her long-suffering patient who isn't suffering as much as he is laughing at her: "On the corner, there."
Nina: "But that means I have to hold my wrist like--" Abruptly, the picture changes and now Nina's squarely in view, "--oh yes, you're right. That's a better idea."
John: "...so are you gonna say something or?"
Nina: "Oh Saints, is it recording already? Blast--"

Bright smile is go! ]

Hello, everyone! If we haven't met yet, I'm Nina Zenik.

There are so many of us here from so many different places. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two months, and now more of us are coming. I’m not used to making announcements like this [ some noise from beside her, Nina looks toward John and corrects: ] -- or, posts? Apparently they’re called posts. -- but even some the Adament crew I’ve spoken to are interested in my questions, so they’ve assured me they don’t mind if I - post - with this.

So tell us - what’s it like where you’re from? What are the legends that are most popular? What are the courtship practices? [ She’s absolutely not crafting this whole post because she’s searching for ideas on this, nope. ] Are you one of those of us have been fighting a war -- excuse the question if it’s rude, there just do seem to be a lot of us. I’d ask you to talk about your favorite foods instead, but that might be more depressing than helpful. Oh - here’s one: If you’re from an Earth, how do you know it’s a different Earth than all the other Earths? And if not, does your planet have a name or is mine the only one that doesn't?

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[ Nina doesn't miss a beat, she just shrugs. ] Fun? We don't have many such practices among the Grisha in Ravka. I've recently learned there are some places where courtship is much more... structured.

The Grisha? Is that the name of your people?

Uh... yes? Kind of? I am Ravkan and I am also a Grisha. Other Grisha are born to different countries, and I would consider them my people, but... there's messy war nonsense.

[ Somehow, he's more confused than when he started. ]

So... it's more like an order? An organization?

Uh - [ look, it's not every day you get to explain being what gets you hunted over five countries. Especially over a network where she doesn't want to plant that idea. ] To be Grisha is to be born with the ability to manipulate matter in different ways. In Ravka, when Grisha are discovered, we're taken for training before we join the Second Army. So it would be the Second Army that's the organization, while to be Grisha is just to be... different.

[ Ah. There's a look of realization on his face, as well as complete understanding. ]

That sounds a lot like my own order. [ He hesitates slightly, because he's also been hunted—across the entire galaxy, actually. It's taught him to be cautious, and so he doesn't really advertise himself this way very freely. ]

I'm a Jedi. We don't manipulate matter, exactly, but we're also... different. I was taken in by the Order when I was young, and raised and trained at the Temple on Coruscant.

So... I get it.

[ Nina, quite visibly, brightens with interest. She is making a determined decision to not get caught up in all the downsides of what being taken like this means, but it's interesting to run into someone who's been in a similar position -- across worlds, galaxies, and times. ]

Oh, that's interesting! You're the first person I've met here who's like that - besides other Grisha. What kind of order is the Jedi, if you don't mind me asking? Or - if you'd rather meet in person to talk about it, I'd be happy to do that instead.

We were peacekeepers. We worked closely with the Republic, trying to maintain harmony, correct injustice across the galaxy. But it might be easier to talk in person.

[ He's not really too keen to air out the Jedi Order's ultimate fate all over the network, after all. But he has no real problem telling Nina, judging by his somewhat relaxed demeanor. ]

Where are you? I can come to you.

[ Peacekeepers. That was a word that meant a lot and didn't actually tell her very much, though she appreciates the clarification later. They're also words that are pretty flexible in her experience, even if they shouldn't be. ]

Oh, I'm just finishing up at the Aid Station. If you want to meet me, I'll be happy to talk outside for a bit.

Sure. I'll head over.

[ He's volunteered enough time at the aid station that he can find it with ease, so it only takes him a few minutes to show up outside the front. As always, he has BD-1 riding shotgun in his back, the droid perched so that he's peering over Cal's shoulders.

When he spots Nina, he gives her a little wave. ]

Hey.

[ Nina waves back with a smile. ]

Hello, Cal, BD. [ She stands. ] Come on, I know a good place where we can talk.

[ She can't really leave yet; she's still on duty. But she can sit in a corner and work on organizing bandages and taking other inventory while they talk. The table is a rickety little thing, but there are two chairs. She takes one, pushing the basket of supplies a little out of the way so that there's room for him to take the other. ]

Thanks for coming by.

[ BD-1 trills happily in greeting, riding along as Cal follows her inside. The droid hops onto the table, making it wobble slightly, as Cal takes a seat at the empty chair. ]

It's no problem. It's probably better to talk like this, if this could get into... messy war nonsense.

[ One corner of his mouth quirks up slightly, echoing her earlier turn of phrase. He gestures towards the basket of supplies. ]

Can I help?

[ Nina rolls her eyes expressively at 'messy war nonsense' because -- it is, it is such nonsense, but it's also the defining factor of her life and she rather hates that it is. Why must people be awful?

She shoves the basket of bandages over toward him. ]

These have just been cleaned, so we're rerolling them. [ She squirts some hand sanitizer on for good measure and then passes that bottle to him too before taking her first strip of... rag... that is now a bandage. ] So! What's a Jedi?

[ He shoots her a sympathetic look when she rolls her eyes, wishing he could more easily share the sentiment—but all that nonsense is over for him, and it didn't end in a good way. Instead, he rubs some of the sanitizer into his hands and gets to folding and rolling. ]

It's, uh. [ He pauses, clearly struggling to pick and choose his words. This is actually a little more difficult to explain than he expected? ]

You know, I've never really had to explain it to someone before. [ It's admitted with a small, one-sided smile, before he continues. ] There's an energy that exists in all living things, connecting us even through all time and distance. The Force. Jedi are just more sensitive to the Force, and we're able to listen to it, use it.

[ If this sounds like a lot of mystical mumbo jumbo, it kind of is, but he says it with absolute sincerity and conviction. ]

...huh. [ She processes that, tilting her head, her brow furrowing slightly. It sounds a little bit like how she's heard other world's systems of magic explained. ] Use it how, exactly?

Here, I'll show you.

[ He can't help it—he casts a furtive glance around the room, to make sure nobody's really looking their way. Not that it matters so much here, but... old habits. He doesn't even really realize that he's doing it.

Then he lifts an open hand, using the Force to telekinetically roll the bandage into a neat little spiral, then lift it up and deposit it into the basket. His hand follows the motion slightly, but he otherwise doesn't even come close to touching it. ]

Among other things. [ He shrugs. The Force is useful in plenty of other ways, but telekinesis happens to be the showiest and therefore easiest to demonstrate. ]

[ Cal's caution is noted, but quickly eclipsed by his demonstration. Nina leans forward, eyes wide, to closely examine the bandage that's moving by itself. ]

Oh, now I've never seen anything quite like that before. I've seen something called Mist power a flying vehicle, but nothing that can just make -- objects move on the own. [ She leans back and looks at him with bright-eyed interest. ] So - I thought you said the Force connected all living things -- you're not going to tell me the bandage is alive, are you? If it is, I feel I owe it an apology.

[ The joke makes him chuckle, then shake his head in reply. ]

No, it's definitely not alive. But I can still use the energy around it, or feel the energy left behind when someone touches it. [ He pauses again, his expression thoughtful, still figuring out how best to explain this to someone completely new to the concept of the Force. ]

Nothing exists on its own. Everything is connected through the Force, in its own way. It's just that living things are different. I had a Master who would call us luminous beings—it's kind of like we're beacons of light in the Force.

[ He looks at her hopefully. Is this making any sense at all? ]

Luminous beings - that's a nice thought. [ She leans back a little bit, thinking. ] So - what you're saying is the Force is connected with life, and because life infuses everything, you can use it to impact even completely inanimate objects?

Yeah, exactly. [ He smiles a little, nodding his head once. Then he reaches for another bandage and starts rolling it up—with his hands, this time. ]

Is it different for Grisha? You said you manipulate matter.

[ Nina nods. ]

Yes. I'm a Corporalki - we can manipulate what goes on in a living being. Their emotions, their physical form... it's why I can use my abilities to heal, or to take away pain. But there are also Etherealki and Materialki, who manipulate the elements and basic materials, respectively. What I wouldn't give to have a Fabrikator here... [ She shakes her head slightly. ] You said the Jedi are peacekeepers?

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video @nina

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sorry, looks like I had half a tag written out for this that I... didn't post???

it's all good! ❤

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sorry for the delay!

no worries!

sorry again - I wasn't able to keep on vacation like I thought I'd be. lmk if you want to drop!