The gym [early evening]

[momslilassassin]

After a few good hours of wallowing, Ben made his way down to the gym to work off his tension in a more productive way.

The punching bag might not be all that appreciative of it, given the way the chain was squealing each time Ben hit it.

[OOC: Open like a gym!]

Comments

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

Gavin hadn't been down to the gym in awhile but he was restless enough to head down there today. He wasn't surprised to see Ben down there but he was surprised to see how hard he was hitting that punching bag.

"Bad day?" he asked after a moment.

[momslilassassin]

"Dad's not coming this weekend," Ben said, slamming his foot into the bag.

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Ah." Well, that kind of sucked. More for Ben than him. "Sorry, Ben. He okay or just busy?"

[momslilassassin]

"I don't know," Ben said, smacking the bag hard. "Jacen's coming instead. I haven't heard from Dad since I got here."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Not your version, at least," Gavin said, recalling Luke's Homecoming visit, at least. "Jacen's Jaina's brother, right?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "The other Dad gave me a stuffed frog. It was strange."

He had it on his bed. Shh.

"And Jacen's Jaina's brother, yes. And my teacher. And, apparently, the co-Chief of State of the government."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"He's still young," Gavin said like he was old or something. "And wow. That's...a pretty high rank because he can't be that old, can he? Not older than Luke, at least."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled. "Jacen's thirty or so. Dad's twice that."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Tell him I called him grandpa the next time you talk to him," Gavin said. "Do you not want Jacen to come?"

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, I do," Ben said quickly, the big liar. "I just kind of wanted to see my mom, too."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"What about a trip to them?" Gavin asked. "Not possible?"

[momslilassassin]

"Only if they send a ship," Ben said. "And they've got to be busy."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"They might be," Gavin said and nodded. "Doesn't mean they've forgotten you."

[solo_sword]

Jaina had been back in Fandom for a day, but the return to slower time wasn't any easier on her than it ever had been, so it wasn't till now that she actually managed to get down here. And somehow it was unsurprising to see Ben. "Hey there."

[momslilassassin]

Ben barely looked up from his bag. "You went away."

[solo_sword]

"Had a little occupation to help out with," she nodded, tilting her head at him. "I didn't realize you'd notice."

[momslilassassin]

Another smack to the bag. "I noticed. I don't like being left behind."

[solo_sword]

Ooh, someone was having issues today. "I'll let you know next time," she promised. "So what's up."

[momslilassassin]

"Jacen's coming this weekend."

Another smack.

"Instead of Mom."

[solo_sword]

It immediately occurred to her that that shouldn't scare her. But her last encounter with a Jacen hadn't exactly gone well, and her immediate assumption was that Jacen was checking up on Ben for all the wrong reasons. "Do you know why the switch?" she asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Jacen's saving me from explaining the Ethics teacher," Ben said, shifting back to kicking the bag. "Mom and Dad never even got the transmission."

[solo_sword]

"Did you want to explain him?" she wondered, folding her arms. Because if so, that was another strike against Jacen.

[momslilassassin]

Ben shook his head. "Not really," he said, "but if was explain him or see Mom, I'd rather see Mom."

He scrunched up his shoulders. "I didn't the last time I went home."

[solo_sword]

She wasn't sure what good offering suggestions would do, since Ben seemed smart enough to have thought of some. "You'll find time to see her," Jaina assured him quietly. "If not this time, then soon."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm not sure she knows what I did when I was home," Ben said softly, "and it's not the kind of thing I can tell her over a comlink."