The Salle [afternoon]

[momslilassassin]

Ben had noticed an influx of children as he made his usual rounds of exercise-coffee-ice cream shop this morning, but so far none had approached him.

Which was totally not why he was hiding in the salle this afternoon.

He figured if they were his hypothetical children, or any of his relatives, a little lightsaber practice wouldn't keep them away.

And he needed the practice.

So he put a sign on the door warning of live fire and began practicing with a series of remotes.

[OOC: Because I was tired of room posts. Open, especially for Skywalker spawn!]

Comments

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"Just two," Cassa told him, frowning. "But I don't see Uncle Jacen often."

She . . . didn't sound like she minded.

[momslilassassin]

"You don't sound that upset about it," he observed.

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

Cassa shook her head, looking slightly guilty. "He's been a little weird since Dad died. I don't think I like it."

[momslilassassin]

"Have you talked to your Mom about it? Or your me?" Ben asked quietly.

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"No," Cassa said slowly. "Do you think I should?"

[momslilassassin]

It could change everything. But looking down into the eyes that Ben only recognized from a holos and a horrifying biometric copy in Centerpoint Station and realized things were already changed.

"I think you should trust your feelings," he said firmly. "And if Uncle Jacen doesn't feel right, you should tell someone. It could be really important."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"I think Master Luke should know," Cassa decided. "What if I tell them, and they don't believe me?"

[momslilassassin]

"Do you have a habit of lying to my dad?" Ben asked, crouching down to look into her eyes.

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

Cassa shook her head firmly. "Uh uh. Not ever." She'd tried, once, and felt so bad about it afterward she'd run right back to tell him the truth. The look on his face meant she'd never wanted to do it again.

[momslilassassin]

"Then he'll believe you," Ben said. "And if he doesn't, talk to my mom."

Assuming she was alive...

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"I like your mom," Cassa said, brightening; that ought to about answer that question. "I'll do that. Thanks, Uncle Ben, you're the best."

[momslilassassin]

He reached out to bop her on the nose. "I'm astral," he corrected.

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"That too," Cassa agreed as her eyes crossed and she giggled. "Did Dad teach you to say that? He said it all the time too."

[momslilassassin]

Ow. That hit Ben straight in the gut. "No," he admitted. "In my world, I never really knew your dad."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"But . . ." Cassa tilted her head and looked at him curiously. "You weren't at Haven that long, were you? You'd have met him after the war?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked pained. "He died when he was a teenager. He didn't see the end of the war."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Cassa swallowed, looking horrified, and reached out to hug him again. "No wonder he's not here. Oh, kr -- I mean, no wonder Mom said she wasn't surprised when I told her what happened to him."

[momslilassassin]

"Does that explain a little about why she's so sad?" he asked.

Because it was better to focus on Tahiri than him, of course. He wasn't turning down the hug, though.

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"Because she'll never know me," Cassa answered, squeezing him a little tighter. Smart kid. "But I don't understand why it makes you so sad, Uncle Ben."

Also very much Tahiri's.

[momslilassassin]

"Because I prefer when Tahiri's happy," Ben said, keeping to the absolute truth, "and Anakin made her happy."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"Uh huh. Because he was Dad," Cassa said, a world of meaning in the word. "I didn't know it was that important to you how happy she was, but at least you're here to keep her company. She must miss him a lot."

She chewed on her lip. "She's doing better than she was when he died in my world, though. It was awful for a long time."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "I think it helps that Jaina and I are here, and not off on missions all the time if she needs us."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"Because you're family, and that's important," Cassa agreed. She gave him a bright smile. "I'm glad she has you here, then."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks went a little pink. "Well, we're closer to the same age here. That helps things. Not many people want to confide in a toddler."

[iceblueeyesomg.livejournal.com]

"You're blushing, Uncle Ben," Cassa said with a giggle, although luckily she didn't ask why. "You're not a toddler at home any more, either. And you let me train with you sometimes!"