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

[momslilassassin]

"Are you sure?" Ben asked, looking very, very young.

[solo_sword]

She went to put an around him. "Absolutely positive."

[momslilassassin]

Ben clung a little tightly. "Okay."

[solo_sword]

"Are you okay?" she asked.

[momslilassassin]

"I'm fine," Ben lied.

[solo_sword]

"Yeah, we're related," Jaina said, because she didn't believe it at all.

[momslilassassin]

"There's nothing to do to change it, so I'm fine," Ben said.

[solo_sword]

People's frustrations with her clicked a little more into place, but she also entirely got it. "Yeah, I know," she said, releasing him. "You'll get to the point where you can change some things, and that'll make a difference."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, we're running out of galactic leaders," Ben said thoughtfully.

That was probably not what Jaina had in mind, no.

[solo_sword]

"Not exactly what I meant," she told him.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's look was all innocence. "It wasn't?"

[solo_sword]

"Part of the bad thing about being younger is that everyone else has some sort of control over what you do. You have parents and teachers to answer to, but it starts to get better," Jaina shrugged. "It has nothing to do with work or politics, it's all personal."

[momslilassassin]

"Then I'll just have to get older faster," Ben decided.

[solo_sword]

"No, you have to suck it up, at least to some degree," she said bluntly. "Growing up fast is problematic at best and we've had that talk before."

[momslilassassin]

Ben blew out a breath and went back to smacking the bag. "Yeah. I'm a real kid."

[solo_sword]

"It's not a bad thing," Jaina said.

[momslilassassin]

"Sure it is," he said. "I have all the responsibilities of an adult and no one thinking I can do it."

[solo_sword]

"I think you can. I just think you shouldn't have to."

[momslilassassin]

"And if I say no, someone else has to do it," Ben said, shaking his head. "I couldn't do that to them."

He was very much his father's son.

[solo_sword]

"I know," Jaina said. Which was really sort of depressing.

Knowing there wasn't much she could do to make things better, she said, "So I saw you this weekend."

[momslilassassin]

"Was that weird?" Ben asked.

[solo_sword]

"Extremely," she nodded. "You're not a very good conversationalist there."

[momslilassassin]

That earned her a smile. "How old am I?"

[solo_sword]

"I don't know exactly- time difference- but I think about ten months? Still carryable, yet squirmy."

[momslilassassin]

"What was I doing?" Ben asked. "I don't remember much of that time. Um, obviously."