Voicemail

[momslilassassin]

Hey, you've reached Ben. I'm probably at the gym or Stark's or eating ice cream--shh, I don't want to hear about it, Ender and Karla--but I'll get back to you when I turn the comm back on if you leave a message!

Comments

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I try but they see that picture of you in the phone and they just can't help but dial you," John teased. "It's really more about you needing to stop looking like a player."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed harder. "Yes, that is my problem. All of the people throwing themselves at me."

Oblivious, party of one.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

Ben's milkshake brought all the boys to the yard.

"It's good to be aware of your faults," John answered. "Probably a tenet of something. Somewhere."

[momslilassassin]

"I can ask Dad," Ben replied. "He can turn it obscure and Jedi Master-y in no time. It's a talent."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That is a gift. Now, can he do the same in regards to not over-cooking nachos?"

[momslilassassin]

"About cooking them, or turning the horrors of nasty gummy chips into a pithy statement?" Ben checked

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Pithy statement. I don't even pretend to believe your people capable of cooking," John said, smirking from afar.

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, Sithspit, you've had Aunt Leia's spiceloaf, huh?" Ben replied.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Spiceloaf?" John was going to gape for a moment. "First, that sounds disgusting in name alone. Second, really? Leia bakes?" No wonder Jaina could hardly boil water.

[momslilassassin]

"It's got meat in it," Ben explained, the "oh, gross" implied in his tone. "She makes it for family dinners and no one can stop her."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Remind me to be glad I don't go to family dinners," he answered, completely horrified by the idea. "And to come down with some terrible disease if I am invited."

[momslilassassin]

"It's something really special," Ben said. "But I think Jaina might like it, so don't tell her that Dad and I hate it?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Never," he promised. "How is your dad? I heard he was around."

[momslilassassin]

"He kicked Granddad's ass in lightsaber combat," Ben said gleefully. "I have it on holo. Want me to send it to you?"

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"That would be a yes," John told him, laughing. "Tell me your gramps hit the deck at some point on this holo?"

[momslilassassin]

"He's still limping around," Ben said with a slightly evil giggle. "Dad smacked the poodoo out of his knee."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Must've been some smack," John remarked. "Though I heard someone else did some smacking." And maaaaybe he sounded a little proud right then.

[momslilassassin]

Ben was quiet for a second. "She mentioned that?"

Yeah, Ben, that was going to come up.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"One of the few things she did mention," he realized. "Must've left an impression." On his face!

[momslilassassin]

"He'll deserve it eventually," Ben said darkly, "and he was a pain when he was younger, too."

Oh, the cynicism of those whose heroes have let them down.

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"Hey, sometimes we all need a nice hit to remind us where our head should be," John told him. "And sometimes it feels good to hit someone, even if they're not quite the right someone."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, Dad gave me an earful about that," Ben said, "but it felt good anyway."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad it felt good," John told him. "I kinda wish I'd gotten to see it."

[momslilassassin]

"It just all muddled, you know?" Ben admitted. "I hate him and love him and miss him and want to punch him all at the same time."

[missed-the-gate.livejournal.com]

While technically that made very little sense, John was all too familiar with screwed up feelings that made very little sense. "I hear you. And you don't really have the option of figuring it out, right?"