tramitem_net

[Bail was anxious all day, keeping that weapon locked in his room until his daughter left for her friend's home for the night. He told her he needed to run an errand, so she'd know he was out, but that he'd have his cell phone with him if she needed him. He even wondered if she heard any of that as she ran out the door with her backpack.

When he showed up at Ben's, he was carrying the weapon in a tool box because it seemed like the safest way to transport it.

And...]

Seems like I over dressed. [He said as an apology for his button up shirt and slacks.]

[ He lets Bail in and shuts the door behind him, while Elsa appears to sniff at his shoes and slack.]

You're fine, I just didn't want to stay in work out clothes, and putting on an entirely different outfit seemed.... wasteful.

[So things are a bit awkward for a moment. He'd been upset for a brief moment at Ben earlier. He wasn't upset now. But he's pretty sure Ben understood he'd been upset.]

So... This is the phaser. I didn't know what you had to store it in.

[Ben had been pretty irritated and embarrassed, but he'd pretty well put it aside and moved on now.

Though he could also feel Bail's awkwardness. ]

In my bedroom. Let me show you?

[Concerned about the blaster, Bail had actually forgotten about Ben's new empathic abilities. He was more focused on his gratitude that Ben would take the weapon off his hands.

When they were in Ben's room, he handed over the toolbox.]

Thank you for helping me with this. Hopefully I'll never need it or you'll never need it.

[And he really did wish for that, but couldn't help but feel his world was so turned upside down that he couldn't say for sure he would never need a laser gun.]

[ He goes into his closet, opens a chest and then closes it securely and piles blankets on top of the closed lid. ]

I have a laser sword if I need to use something. I don't think I have a high opinion of energy weapons that work like guns in my memories and in this life I'm pretty... pacifist.

[Bail smiles slightly.]

A pacifist who wants a laser sword.

[Bail looks down for a moment, before saying,]

Ben?

It's pretty and fun and it was the only item I owned.

[ The. Only. ]

Yes?

[That is a record scratch on the thoughts in Bail's mind. Will they ever reach a point where Ben doesn't drop truths as the second half of an incomplete thought?]

First, can I have a hug? And then while your at it, explain to me how it was the only thing you owned?

[ He gives Bail the hug -warm, solid, surprisingly strong for his size - but ]

Only after you tell me what it was you wanted to say? Or was it asking for the hug?

[Bail liked Ben's hugs. He wouldn't deny it.]

I just wanted a hug, Ben. That's all. Now I'd like to understand the context of what you just told me. Because you left that part out.

[ Why can't he speak in topic sentences? Outlines? Important parts? He gives the rest like he considers it largely irrelevant, because he does, though he's still concerned about Bail and still holding onto him, albeit loosely. ]

Effectively a monk. No personal possessions aside from the light-saber, really.

[Bail likes effective communication. And that requires details.

He doesn't let go either. This hug is very reassuring.]

A space, warrior monk?

[ He's perfectly effective at communicating the important things. He may learn to fill in details for Bail, at least. ]

Yes. Exactly.

[Bail is very amused at the idea of Ben being a space warrior monk. But Bail was a space senator, which was also amusing.]

Do you want to sit down? Or just keep standing here?

"I guess that depends on how long you're staying and if you're still feeling awkward." Oh wait, was he not supposed to have noticed?

Bail was almost feeling not awkward again. Hence the request to sit down, which was meant to imply he intended to stay a while.

He would have to be more clear, it seemed.

Also, he was back to feeling awkward, but he wasn't sure if it was mostly because of the exchange over the network or if it was Ben's question... Was Ben reading his emotions?

Bail didn't know how he felt about that.

"I would like to stay for a while and talk."

He smiles a little and lets go to move back toward the living room couch. "Then let's stay and talk. Is this a conversation we can have while touching?"

There were moments when Bail wondered about Ben. This was one of those moments.

"Uhm... yes?" he said, uncertain as he followed Ben. "I would like to continue touching you... What are you really asking?"

"There are conversations that are heavy enough that, at times, they're easier to have, and have honestly, without physical contact. What I'm asking you is what I asked you." Not defensive or upset at all just... very much clarifying.

"Ah," Bail said. He supposed that was absolutely correct.

He took a seat on the couch and tugged Ben to join him.

"No, nothing that serious. I just figured if I was going to stay a while, sitting would be better than continuing to stand. Unless... you had something serious you needed to discuss?"

He went with the tug and settled down against Bail, relaxed and comfortable after a moment. "I owe you an apology. I wasn't taking your anxiety about the... phaser." Blaster, his mind supplies, "nearly seriously enough and then didn't exactly handle being called out on that well. I'm sorry."

"Ben..." Bail started, instinctually wanting to help smooth this over, but he stopped himself to say first, "Thank you."

But he did also feel he should add, "I could have explained my reasons... I don't want to do anything to harm my daughter. That's who I instantly thought about the moment I saw the thing."

"And it shouldn't have taken me as long as it did to realize that." He appreciates the apology being... accepted, though he's faintly confused at being thanked for it. It just needed to be said. Especially since he got defensive from being wrong to begin with.

"It's okay," Bail said. "It's not as if knowing I have a daughter inherently imbues you with my perspective." He smiled. "If only gaining all the right knowledge about how to deal with children came to each of us that easy. But, then, I wouldn't have much of a job."

Yippie!

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