I don't know if I hate the guy enough to sic you on him.
[ though to be fair han would happily pull up a chair and watch. still, though, he doesn't need leia's help. he just needed to vent. and having his frustration being valued as worthwhile definitely makes him feel a lot better. even if the situation hasn't really changed. ]
I think I can swing getting him to leave her alone, but I'm stuck babysitting a kid, though.
[ which is. infuriating. but with some quick typing on his device, han sends her their discussion. ]
[She gives him a Look--sic her on, wow, Han--and takes a few minutes to look through what happened. It's not exactly what she'd call diplomatic, but Han gets the job done, and there's a little thrum of pride in her chest when he says I grew a conscience a year or so ago and I decided to keep it.
What a man, Solo.]
At least that means she's got someone in her corner.
[It sounds like she sorely needs it.]
If she's around twelve, she's old enough that you aren't going to be doing too much babysitting. She just needs ways to occupy her time. I'll see if I can find some holobooks for her.
[She doesn't want to talk about Jabba--she really, really doesn't--but the words slip out anyway. Agreement, reassurance, the fact that the Hutt has been pressing at her thoughts through most of this conversation: who knows? She shakes her head in an attempt to clear it, looking down for a moment.]
The Atroma have no business bringing these children aboard their Fleet in the first place. [Things she's still pissed about, even if it sounds like it might not have been a bad idea in this case.] But since they're here...it sounds like she could use a friend, more than anything else. You can do that.
[Han's a good man, when it comes down to it. She's certain he can manage this.]
[ he knows when he mentions the hutt that he's made a mistake, but his voice trails off as leia continues. and han decides to drop it, but he makes a mental note to drop by and visit her.
no part of that journey had been good. for anyone.
and so han continues where leia leaves off. ]
It'll be fine, one way or another. No telling when the Atroma are going to drop off another kid, so we may as well get used to it now.
{ elize lutus, too, is by herself. why is han adopting all of these lonely little girls, god dammit. ]
It just means I'm stuck on this ship until further notice.
[She shakes her head a second time when he says her name. Don't. If they have to have that conversation--and one of these days, they'll probably have to--it's not happening from two ships away.]
Considering how many they've already picked up, I'd guess tomorrow. [Let's be completely real here, Leia might have been in similar straits with Steven Universe if he hadn't mentioned that he had someone here to take care of him.]
I'll transfer as soon as I can. [Because let's be real, she still has every intent of doing so.] Until then, I'd rather you were there. That captain of yours sounds like a real piece of work.
[ with the world's laziest salute -- though now that koala is squared away, and han more or less knows what he wants to do with greed, he can shift his focus to leia. that shake of the head had been read loud and clear, and he's not going to force her to talk about anything.
[And be just a little keyed-up until that point, neatening things up and generally doing a ship-long equivalent of pacing. Idleness--let's be honest here, boredom--feels more egregious to her when something's about to happen.]
[ true to his word (though it's closer to two hours), han steps onto the windrose from the transport. it only takes a moment or two to find leia, and he leans in the doorway of the kitchen.
[She glances up from where she's telling herself she's organizing things (she's not, she's just keeping her hands busy, but the point remains), and a little smile crosses her face.]
Took you long enough.
[There's no real bite in her voice, just fondness as she crosses the small room.]
[ a bit shrewdly, but. you know. han is in a testy mood. his ship is full of teenagers and hot messes and smol children and han doesn't deal well with any of those (or, at least, he's convinced he doesn't). but he sighs, and shrugs to himself. ]
The stupid fake show is gonna get their ratings, anyway. I better get a paycheck out of the headache -- has over here been calm?
[The Windrose is mostly full of adults and droids at this point, praise be.
But she doubts he's only here to compare ships, and there's no way she's discussing anything private within earshot of any crewmates. Leia glances down, reaching out for his hand.]
Come on, let's go somewhere with a door that shuts.
[ reasonable. han never thought he would actively miss having lando around but this is ridiculous. but at her request, his catty remark is immediately tempered, and he lets her take his hand, threading his fingers neatly through hers. ]
-- lead the way.
[ he's really only here to check on her, and to see her -- he's already vented out all he needs to vent out, but han is fairly good at reading leia. something is bothering her on a deeper level than she's willing to admit, and so he lets her lead him along, though he's curiously looking around as he goes.
[It's not a long walk from the kitchen to her bunk, and while the door latches, there's not much else to recommend the space. It's tiny, the cot is lumpy, and the only thing Leia's added to the room is a palm-sized salt statue from Arslae.
But it's what she has to work with, and Leia waves him in, taking care to shut the door behind her.]
That poor girl. There must be something more we can do for her.
[Easier to talk about than most of what's on her mind, and probably, she thinks, more productive.]
[ han is fortunate, and the huntress is heavily upgraded. leia's room is smaller than his, and his bed is bigger. but he keeps that to himself, and lets leia close the door behind them, though he soon takes up position leaning against the far wall, sighing. ]
Who knows.
[ with a slight frown ]
I got told to be patient.
[ ten points if you can guess what wise jedi master told him that okay ]
[Leia gives Han a sour expression, but it doesn't hold. With a sigh, she tips her head back, the braids at the crown of her head brushing against the wall.]
I hate thinking of a child living that way. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
[What happened to her and what happened to this girl aren't the same thing, not in the slightest, but that's what she keeps coming back to: a bone-deep sense of disquiet at the thought.]
[ and, finally, han pushes himself up off the wall to cross the room, taking a seat on the cot next to her, leaning back against the wall. he's quiet for a long moment, almost giving leia the room to talk more if she wants -- but then han decides he wants to continue. ]
He's dead, Leia.
[ it's said quietly, and he rests his head against the wall too, considering that for a moment before speaking. ]
You two shouldn't have even gotten involved in what he was doing.
[Which is to say, I know. The memory still lives inside her, though, and there are times when her skin still crawls with remembered sensations. You don't forget the texture of a Hutt's tongue that easily.]
The alternative seemed worse. [She turns her head slightly in his direction, watching him from the corner of her eye.] We couldn't have left you behind.
[ his eyes are watching a spot on the ceiling, as he talks. luke and leia really could've just left -- they just chose not to, and han is grateful for that. he knows chewie wouldn't have stopped until he found han, and he knows lando probably wouldn't have either. under threat of death from said wookiee, or maybe because he cares.
who knows. ]
But I'm glad you didn't.
[ han pauses, though. ]
He deserved worse than whatever you gave him.
[ he has no idea what happened, really, on much of that day. he had been out of it, and blind, and trying to recover in way less time than was needed. everyone was fine, in the end, but a lot of the details are hazy. and luke and leia hadn't exactly been forthcoming with the information. ]
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Date: 2016-01-11 07:49 pm (UTC)[ though to be fair han would happily pull up a chair and watch. still, though, he doesn't need leia's help. he just needed to vent. and having his frustration being valued as worthwhile definitely makes him feel a lot better. even if the situation hasn't really changed. ]
I think I can swing getting him to leave her alone, but I'm stuck babysitting a kid, though.
[ which is. infuriating. but with some quick typing on his device, han sends her their discussion. ]
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Date: 2016-01-11 08:03 pm (UTC)What a man, Solo.]
At least that means she's got someone in her corner.
[It sounds like she sorely needs it.]
If she's around twelve, she's old enough that you aren't going to be doing too much babysitting. She just needs ways to occupy her time. I'll see if I can find some holobooks for her.
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Date: 2016-01-11 08:16 pm (UTC)I guess so.
[ he rests his head back against the chair, letting his eyes flicker off camera. to ensure the room is empty, maybe. ]
I've never...
[ ugh, it's just leia. ]
There's never been a kid on any ship that I've ever been on. Not even Jabba kept them around this young, not while I was around.
[ though, maybe he did, and han just didn't see. he really only visited jabba's lair. he didn't see his enterprise. ]
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Date: 2016-01-11 08:28 pm (UTC)[She doesn't want to talk about Jabba--she really, really doesn't--but the words slip out anyway. Agreement, reassurance, the fact that the Hutt has been pressing at her thoughts through most of this conversation: who knows? She shakes her head in an attempt to clear it, looking down for a moment.]
The Atroma have no business bringing these children aboard their Fleet in the first place. [Things she's still pissed about, even if it sounds like it might not have been a bad idea in this case.] But since they're here...it sounds like she could use a friend, more than anything else. You can do that.
[Han's a good man, when it comes down to it. She's certain he can manage this.]
no subject
Date: 2016-01-11 09:58 pm (UTC)[ he knows when he mentions the hutt that he's made a mistake, but his voice trails off as leia continues. and han decides to drop it, but he makes a mental note to drop by and visit her.
no part of that journey had been good. for anyone.
and so han continues where leia leaves off. ]
It'll be fine, one way or another. No telling when the Atroma are going to drop off another kid, so we may as well get used to it now.
{ elize lutus, too, is by herself. why is han adopting all of these lonely little girls, god dammit. ]
It just means I'm stuck on this ship until further notice.
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Date: 2016-01-11 10:12 pm (UTC)Considering how many they've already picked up, I'd guess tomorrow. [Let's be completely real here, Leia might have been in similar straits with Steven Universe if he hadn't mentioned that he had someone here to take care of him.]
I'll transfer as soon as I can. [Because let's be real, she still has every intent of doing so.] Until then, I'd rather you were there. That captain of yours sounds like a real piece of work.
no subject
Date: 2016-01-11 11:11 pm (UTC)[ with the world's laziest salute -- though now that koala is squared away, and han more or less knows what he wants to do with greed, he can shift his focus to leia. that shake of the head had been read loud and clear, and he's not going to force her to talk about anything.
but... ]
Mind if I come see you later?
[ read: he's going to come see you later. ]
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Date: 2016-01-11 11:23 pm (UTC)You're always welcome over here.
[Read: Please come see her later.]
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Date: 2016-01-11 11:28 pm (UTC)Give me an hour or two, and I'll be there.
[ he has to ensure greed isn't, like. doing anything stupid. ]
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Date: 2016-01-11 11:32 pm (UTC)[And be just a little keyed-up until that point, neatening things up and generally doing a ship-long equivalent of pacing. Idleness--let's be honest here, boredom--feels more egregious to her when something's about to happen.]
no subject
Date: 2016-01-11 11:55 pm (UTC)throat clears. ]
I like your ship.
{ he's made an attempt. ]
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Date: 2016-01-12 12:01 am (UTC)Took you long enough.
[There's no real bite in her voice, just fondness as she crosses the small room.]
The Windrose is all right. Good people on board.
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Date: 2016-01-12 02:48 am (UTC)Well, nobody shot me when I came on board, so I guess that counts for something.
[ lightly, and han pushes himself up straight. ]
no subject
Date: 2016-01-12 02:57 am (UTC)[Ah, bickering and back-and-forth. Something to take some comfort in.]
How're things over there?
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Date: 2016-01-12 03:15 am (UTC)[ a bit shrewdly, but. you know. han is in a testy mood. his ship is full of teenagers and hot messes and smol children and han doesn't deal well with any of those (or, at least, he's convinced he doesn't). but he sighs, and shrugs to himself. ]
The stupid fake show is gonna get their ratings, anyway. I better get a paycheck out of the headache -- has over here been calm?
no subject
Date: 2016-01-12 03:31 am (UTC)[The Windrose is mostly full of adults and droids at this point, praise be.
But she doubts he's only here to compare ships, and there's no way she's discussing anything private within earshot of any crewmates. Leia glances down, reaching out for his hand.]
Come on, let's go somewhere with a door that shuts.
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 04:08 am (UTC)-- lead the way.
[ he's really only here to check on her, and to see her -- he's already vented out all he needs to vent out, but han is fairly good at reading leia. something is bothering her on a deeper level than she's willing to admit, and so he lets her lead him along, though he's curiously looking around as he goes.
the ships are different, as it were. ]
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Date: 2016-01-13 04:28 am (UTC)But it's what she has to work with, and Leia waves him in, taking care to shut the door behind her.]
That poor girl. There must be something more we can do for her.
[Easier to talk about than most of what's on her mind, and probably, she thinks, more productive.]
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 04:31 am (UTC)Who knows.
[ with a slight frown ]
I got told to be patient.
[ ten points if you can guess what wise jedi master told him that okay ]
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Date: 2016-01-13 04:41 am (UTC)For the moment, Leia takes a seat on one end of her cot, back against the wall.]
It's not bad advice [these things take time, after all], but I don't want to sit around and do nothing.
[A glance over at Han.]
How are you doing?
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 05:01 am (UTC)You first.
[ c: ]
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Date: 2016-01-13 02:52 pm (UTC)I hate thinking of a child living that way. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
[What happened to her and what happened to this girl aren't the same thing, not in the slightest, but that's what she keeps coming back to: a bone-deep sense of disquiet at the thought.]
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 06:49 pm (UTC)[ and, finally, han pushes himself up off the wall to cross the room, taking a seat on the cot next to her, leaning back against the wall. he's quiet for a long moment, almost giving leia the room to talk more if she wants -- but then han decides he wants to continue. ]
He's dead, Leia.
[ it's said quietly, and he rests his head against the wall too, considering that for a moment before speaking. ]
You two shouldn't have even gotten involved in what he was doing.
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 07:08 pm (UTC)[Which is to say, I know. The memory still lives inside her, though, and there are times when her skin still crawls with remembered sensations. You don't forget the texture of a Hutt's tongue that easily.]
The alternative seemed worse. [She turns her head slightly in his direction, watching him from the corner of her eye.] We couldn't have left you behind.
no subject
Date: 2016-01-13 07:22 pm (UTC)[ his eyes are watching a spot on the ceiling, as he talks. luke and leia really could've just left -- they just chose not to, and han is grateful for that. he knows chewie wouldn't have stopped until he found han, and he knows lando probably wouldn't have either. under threat of death from said wookiee, or maybe because he cares.
who knows. ]
But I'm glad you didn't.
[ han pauses, though. ]
He deserved worse than whatever you gave him.
[ he has no idea what happened, really, on much of that day. he had been out of it, and blind, and trying to recover in way less time than was needed. everyone was fine, in the end, but a lot of the details are hazy. and luke and leia hadn't exactly been forthcoming with the information. ]
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