Stark Industries [all day]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was trying to catch up on the news from home through his laptop, but his research into Tahiri's new lawyer kept getting interrupted by annoying pop-up advertisements for sales on women's clothing.

"That was one weekend," he snarled at the computer, "and I wasn't me!"

The shop was open! Ignore the grumbling.

[OOC: *facepalms* We'll pretend this in townies, yes?]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Again?" Ben teased.

[solo_sword]

"Hush, you," Jaina smiled. "So I guess I don't have to ask if you've found your sense of humor about the weekend..."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I kind of have to. That other guy spent the whole time crying and blaming things on Taiwanese hookers," Ben replied.

[solo_sword]

"...Taiwanese hookers," she repeated. "Getting married is not more worthy of teasing than that."

[momslilassassin]

"It's apparently why Ender left me for Tony," Ben said ruefully. "Can't really blame him."

[solo_sword]

"Well, yeah, once Taiwanese hookers get involved, you just can't look at that person the same way. I think your weekend was weirder than mine," she said.

[momslilassassin]

"You got almost married and disinherited. I'm happy calling it a tie," Ben decided. "How are you?"

[solo_sword]

"Okay. Back to work. Not sharing anything that happened." Because seriously. "How about you? I'm sorry I didn't get to see you."

[momslilassassin]

Ben knew better than to say fine.

"Adjusting," Ben said. "I'm getting why it was so hard for you to keep coming back when things were happening at home."

[solo_sword]

"It's not a lot of fun," she said knowingly. "Are you going to get to go back much?"

[momslilassassin]

"I don't know," Ben said. "Dad hasn't exactly been thrilled-sounding about me returning to the Shadow, and he's heading back into the Maw soon."

[solo_sword]

"Sorry," she said, not unsympathetically. "I'm sure if he doesn't want you back there yet, he has his reasons. As completely annoying as they must be to you."

Of course, it was easy for her to say that, not being involved or knowing everything that was going on.

[momslilassassin]

"Not that he'll explain them to me, either," Ben said, sounding bitter.

[solo_sword]

In like a year they were going to really be able to bond over this sort of thing.

"Okay, that would be nice if he did," Jaina said. "it's easier to take if you know why."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said shortly. "Instead he packed me off with your parents like I'm still nine and not a Jedi Knight."

[solo_sword]

"But you know he can't actually think that, right?" she checked.

[momslilassassin]

There was a long pause. "I guess," he admitted finally.

[solo_sword]

"Trust me, as someone who was shipped off a lot because of what was going on at home, I know how hard it is," Jaina said. "But if you're a Jedi Knight, it's because he thinks you're ready to be one, and whatever reason he has for sending you back, he thinks it's the right thing." Probably. "Look at it this way. You were probably at risk of much more trouble with my parents than you were with your dad."

[momslilassassin]

"Normally I'd say you're right," Ben said, "but Dad's got some new...friends...that I wouldn't trust further than I can see them."

[solo_sword]

She almost didn't want to know. Almost. "What kind of friends?"

[momslilassassin]

There was a long pause. "I'm not sure if I should say."

[solo_sword]

"I do already know about Daala's anti-Jedi stance and the Mandos," she pointed out. "Would saying more really be that big a deal?"

Mostly Jaina doubted she'd be able to care much until she got through the first big thing she had to worry about, and then it'd be time to move on to the next.

[momslilassassin]

"Sith."

[solo_sword]

"What, more?"

She really had to wonder just what Jacen was going to get up to.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, it's been a few years," Ben said drily. "A whole planetful of them."