Aboard the Jade Shadow [Sunday, Fandom time]

[momslilassassin]

It had taken a few days to break free of the Kathol Rift, but the minute the ship cleared the interference, Ben had his comlink out to make a few long-needed calls back to various galaxies.

Ender and his dad had been good to talk to--or not talk to--but he needed to reconnect with some others, too--especially Jaina.

[OOC: If you think you got a call, you did! Ping on back!]

Comments

[solo_sword]

"Get any answers you liked?" she asked quietly.

[momslilassassin]

"No."

His voice was barely audible.

[solo_sword]

When he answered, Jaina realized that she'd kind of figured as much. She'd dwell on that more later.

"I'm sorry, Ben," she said.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, well--" he said, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry too. How are you?"

[solo_sword]

"Always busy," she answered. "How about you?"

Because no she was not done checking up after that.

[momslilassassin]

"I've had better weeks," he admitted softly. "I just thought maybe I could fix something."

He was such a Skywalker.

[solo_sword]

"You can't fix things after the fact," she said gently. "Which stinks, but that's the way it is. At some point all you can do is hope for closure." Hopefully he'd at least gotten that.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, maybe someday," he said quietly. "Right now it's like I stuck a vibroblade into a wound I should've left alone."

[solo_sword]

"Need to talk about what you say?" She was betting he'd say no, being a repressy type, but it might help.

[momslilassassin]

"Not really," he admitted. "I miss you, though. I could use a hug."

Which took a lot for Ben to admit.

[solo_sword]

"I'd love to give you one," she told him honestly. "I don't suppose you get to stop back at Fandom much to visit at the moment."

[momslilassassin]

"Not for another nine years or so," Ben said. "Well, Ender'll go back in seven months, give or take. Time's been weird here. It's still summer in Fandom."

[solo_sword]

"Time moving weirdly. Somehow not shocking," Jaina said. "How long's it been for you?"

[momslilassassin]

"A few months," Ben said. "I turned seventeen just before we went into the Rift."

[solo_sword]

"Happy belated birthday," she replied immediately. While feeling a little old.

[momslilassassin]

"Thanks," Ben said with a quick grin. "I feel much more mature now."

[solo_sword]

"You're spending all your time in close quarters with your dad and you feel more mature. That's impressive," she teased.

[momslilassassin]

"I've only been tempted a few times to toss him out the airlock," Ben said. "I think that signals real growth."

[solo_sword]

"I'm sure he'd agree," she said with a smile. "How's he handling all this?"

[momslilassassin]

"It's Dad," Ben said. "They took away everything he's been working on his entire adult life and he's still plugging along, learning new things, trying to fix past mistakes--I think I'd have thrown the galaxy's biggest temper tantrum."

[solo_sword]

"Tell me about it," she said. "How does he even do that?"

[momslilassassin]

"I don't know," Ben said, blowing out a slightly frustrated breath. "He got a little snippy on our first stop, but they were living in a hole."

[solo_sword]

"...Who were you visiting and why were they living in a hole?" Maybe she was asking the obvious.

[momslilassassin]

"A particular branch of the Baran Do sages and because their leader was insane," Ben said uncharitably.

[solo_sword]

"Which explains why Uncle Luke might get snippy, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to live in a hole," Jaina decided. Then she paused and asked, "Are you taking a greatest hits tour?"