Dealing With Loss [Friday, October 1, after classes]

[momslilassassin]

When the students came into the room, they would see Ben and Anakin talking quietly with an older blond man who resembled them both rather closely.

Ben turned around and smiled at the assembled group. "Hey. I'm betting the next few days might be pretty tough on a lot of you," he began, "which is why I want you all to meet my dad." He waved his hand towards the older man. "This is Luke Skywalker, the Grand Master of the Jedi and, even if this totally blows all of my teenaged disdain out the airlock, a pretty astral listener."

Luke gave his son a slightly bemused look. "Thank you, Ben."

Ben ran his hands through his hair. "So, yeah. I don't want any of you to feel alone on this weekend where we kind of get beat over the head with family time." He smiled. "So you can borrow my dad." He looked around at the rest of the students. "Anyone got something they need to talk about?"

Comments

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"And you too, Karla," Luke replied. "I'd ask if you've been keeping out of trouble, but since you're friends with Ben, I'm afraid of that answer if you say no." He grinned, looking very much like his son for a second. "You haven't gotten any ill-advised tattoos lately, have you?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"Good," Karla said, dimpling. "I wouldn't want to lie to you, but I was having trouble coming up with a suitable long-winded explanation that you might assume was a no just to stop listening."

What? Sometimes it worked on people.

"But I remain happily untattooed and certainly not laughing at anyone I know who cannot say the same."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"He has a job now to help rectify that error," Luke replied, eyes sparkling. "In exchange, I promised not to tell his Uncle Han."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"Just to be clear, you never promised that I couldn't tell his Uncle Han, right?"

It was important to know.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

Luke's eyebrows quirked up. "I didn't. Are you planning to take advantage of that oversight?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"It would make such a nice present for Ben's uncle one holiday," Karla said impishly. "Or, at least, an excellent threat for when Ben's being surly."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Is he surly often?" Luke asked.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"There may be a direct correlation between how often he's surly and how often I do something not fully thought out," Karla said, projecting innocence as hard as she could. "So, I wouldn't say often."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"If it's something that Ben finds reckless," Luke replied, "it must be some adventure."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

There were a particular adventure with an orgy and a meat-tree that Karla felt it was prudent not to mention.

"I have been very good lately," Karla said. "You can ask him! In fact, I asked him to accompany me on a trip home so he'd know it was perfectly safe!"

Asked. Acquiesced to his demand. Same difference.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Sounds relaxing," Luke said a little dryly, getting the distinct impression that Karla was trying to spin him.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

It wasn't a spin, exactly. The events had occurred as she'd outlined! There was just some very important background she wasn't including, like why Ben would need to accompany her home.

"Honest!" Karla said, helping her case immensely. "He hasn't had to fuss in--" pause to try to count the time "--weeks!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Weeks like two or like ten?" Luke replied.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

Karla had to count again. "Sevenish?" she offered. "And I've been really good since then."

See Ben? She was getting Luke to grill her about her activities and not yours. You're welcome!

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"And Ben?" Luke asked. "Has he been good?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

Karla just smiled. "You do know that the answer to that question will always be yes, right?"

He had way too much dirt on her for it to be anything else, and they visited Kaeleer far too often for her to try.

"We made ice cream a few weeks ago in the common room," she said. "We even shared!"

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Was it edible?" Luke asked dubiously. "Cooking is not generally considered one of our family's skills."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"Well, we didn't get much of the Chocolate Coffee Crunch," Karla said ruefully. "That was the one we shared with everyone."

And the answer to that was 'no.' "But the strawberry was delicious!"

Ender had made it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Then Ben has learned new skills," Luke said with a laugh, "and I gladly turn over dinner making duties to him."

He would regret that decision.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"I've been a big influence on him that way," Karla explained, nodding. "I've been improving my baking skills with classes and such."

You just keep paddling down that river, Karla.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Has he taught you anything?" Luke asked.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

"Yes," said Karla, dropping her jocular tone. "He's taught me a great deal. And been a good friend to me the entire time. One of the best. One of my best."

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

Luke smiled. "I am very glad to hear that."

Ben had always been a little lonely at home.

Re: Arrive and Mingle [10/1]

[glacial_queen]

Which just meant Karla should try that much harder to keep Ben in Kaeleer. So there.

"No more than I am to have him," Karla said.