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*:･ﾟ✧
Dozing away on a collapsible cot within the Razor Crest, Gaia is missing out on Mando repairing his ship outside. He's been doing some basic maintenance ever since they returned — and after he told Gaia they would leave as soon as the night bleeds out and dawn chafes the horizon. However, the hour of darkness is currently young, murmuring of serene tales while Gaia is settled inside with The Child snuggled against her. He was not there to begin with though, and had only found his way to her later in the evening.
As such, the conversing between Mando and the two arrived krill farmers goes unnoticed.
Gaia writhes a little when the dull voices slither to her ears. The echo hisses lowly, causing her eyes to flutter open and close again through exhaustion, her lucid blue skin a slightly paler variation of the usual. The talking ceases. Mando wanders inside and gazes wordlessly at Gaia in the following moment, prior to making his way over. He kneels by her side, watching her briefly until he extends a lone hand toward her jutting shoulder. His movement ceases, doubting.
Mando's uncertain fingertips remain an inch from caressing her eased limb. He eventually pulls back and softly voices to her, "Gaia. . ."
She does not stir the least bit.
Mando attempts once more: "Gaia."
No response. Mando heaves a nervous sigh and reaches for Gaia's shoulder entirely unlike before, feebly shaking her. She groans noisily in objection, squeezing her eyes as if that would bring Mando to unexpectedly leave her be. The Child gurgles questioningly and arches his head to observe him. "Leave me alone. Just five more minutes. . ."
"Come on," Mando coaxes, his palm still pressed to her shoulder. "I found us lodging. We're staying for a while longer — a nearby village needs our help. Desperately, in fact."
"Village? . . ." Gaia drones tiredly. "Lavendea, you make no sense sometimes, you know. . ."
Gaia starts to wrap her hand around Mando's own which — even now — is resting against her shoulder. She picks it carefully up while her eyes are still closed, as if it were made of polished glass, and hugs it protectively with an affectionate grasp that is swathed atop his knuckles. She alights their conjoined hands on top of the cot, parallel to a cherished amulet kept in one's hold for safekeeping.
Mando freezes in place. "Who's that?"
A frown decorates Gaia's brow by the sound of Mando's voice. She opens her eyes at last, kindly gandering up at him until realisation dawns harshly upon her and her dark eyes goes wide. She unclasps his hand from hers at once. Gaia adopts a flustered demeanor as she swings her legs over the edge, breath tangling in her throat:she wholeheartedly mistook Mando for someone else. She even said the wrong name. "I. . .I'm so sorry," Gaia blurts, her gaze turning to steel and regret. "It's no-one important. Forget you heard it."
