Room 529, Tuesday Evening

[weetuskenraider]

All in all, Tahiri felt satisfied with the results of today's class, although she was worried about Master Skywalker, Firekeeper, Jaina, and the others who'd gone off. She had absolute faith in them, of course, but well . . . she cared, and therefore she worried.

That was something she had practice at, of course -- she could worry about her friends and carry on with her day unimpeded, because that was just something you got good at after you'd been doing it all your life. And maybe, just maybe, she was still humming that kriffing "it's a small world" song as she paged through a small solar system's worth of files and notes from Danni Quee and Tekli.

That was, until a weird little impulse took hold of her, and she took time out of her reading to send an email that read simply:

Ben Skywalker, you had better not be doing anything unbelievably stupid right this minute!

No idea why. It wasn't even a bad feeling she had -- just a weird one.

[OOC: Establishy, but open if you want. Because I have new canon today, and I HAD TO.]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben got the email and snickered.

Well, I'm not cuddling with a Sith in Fandom turning gray, at least? How are you?

[weetuskenraider]

GOOD, BECAUSE WTF BEN. Good, Tahiri replied, then quickly added, I didn't turn grey. And that whole situation seems to be taken care of now, anyhow.

She was about to send the reply, then hesitated long enough to add:

I had an extra helping of ice cream after fighting things, since you couldn't. I'm occasionally thoughtful that way.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at the screen.

Thanks. Not a lot of ice cream around here, but Karla sent me an ice cream maker so I'm going to try to fix that.

Yes, following the directions. Ender insists.

[weetuskenraider]

Because Ender's smart, Tahiri replied, laughing quietly at the mental image of Ben tinkering with an ice cream maker on the deck of the Jade Shadow. And it's a relief to know you haven't done anything I'd need to drop a speeder on your head for doing, although I have no doubt Ender would be just as willing to do it if necessary.

[momslilassassin]

He's only had to punch me once so far, Ben said, and I deserved it. In related news, avoid the Maw.

[weetuskenraider]

Duly noted, Tahiri replied, a little sorry she couldn't roll her eyes playfully at him via text-based message. I'm impressed it was only once, since Force knows you really do deserve it sometimes.

Not as much as he did in this book though. GOD.

[momslilassassin]

'Sometimes' is a big step up from Karla's view, Ben replied. You're okay? How'd you beat a big rock?

[weetuskenraider]

'Sometimes' was the tactful way of putting it, Tahiri pointed out. I'm fine, though, honest. A bunch of the scientific and magical students teamed up to send it elsewhere. I'm just glad everyone seems to be recovering from what it did to them. That many people getting changed against their will was not exactly my favorite thing.

[momslilassassin]

Brought up some bad memories, huh? he wrote sympathetically.

[weetuskenraider]

A little bit, Tahiri sent back, absently petting her stuffed bantha's fur. Mostly, though, I hated seeing that happen to anyone else.

[momslilassassin]

At least you can help them afterwards, trying to reconcile stuff? Ben offered.

[weetuskenraider]

There's that, Tahiri agreed. How are things going out there, anyhow? Any closer to any kind of lead? Aren't you glad you don't have to worry about all the secondary plotlines right now?

[momslilassassin]

Not really--we ran into Sith. More than two. A LOT more than two. Should I send them a copy of their rulebook?

[weetuskenraider]

Too bad Ben couldn't hear the good minute's worth of guttural sputtering that was Tahiri's response to the email before she managed to type out a reply.

WHY ARE THERE MORE THAN TWO? THAT MAKES NO KRIFFING SENSE.

[momslilassassin]

Well, there's only one now--Dad, Ender and I did some damage to their strike team and we're tracking the survivor to Dathomir.

This year has been full of all of the really beautiful places in the galaxy...

[weetuskenraider]

No, really, how the kriff are there a whole bunch of Sith in the galaxy that we never knew about? Don't ask, Tahiri. Just don't. Dathomir, huh? Please don't get eaten.

[momslilassassin]

Or married, I promise. And we're still working that part out. You'd think we would have discovered a whole enclave of Sith before now, right?

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri couldn't help a quick grimace of a smile at the first bit.

Honestly, you'd think we'd have noticed if they'd been hiding under a rock all this time.

Then again, they kept discovering ancient Jedi who'd survived the Purge somehow, so . . .

[momslilassassin]

Maybe a really big one? I don't think they were living in the Maw, but we'll ask when we track this Sith down.

Not that I expect them to be super-cooperative, because, well, Sith.

[weetuskenraider]

Who knows? We've never heard of them before. They could be the previously unheard of helpful Sith! Tahiri teased.

I know I shouldn't tell you to be careful, but I'd like to make an exception to ask this time.

[momslilassassin]

Exception granted. Question for you, too: Ender killed some Sith and he's taking it pretty badly and the standard Jedi line of 'eh, but they're Sith' isn't really going to help him. Any ideas?

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri bit her lip and considered for a while before replying.

He did? I guess telling him 'good job' from me isn't exactly what you're looking for here. I don't know, Ben; no matter which angle I look at it from, it makes sense to me. Is it the killing that's getting to him, or what happened before that?

[momslilassassin]

The killing. He worries about the people they've left behind or the potential he's extinguished.

Ben didn't realize until that moment how much he'd missed Tahiri. He hadn't really allowed himself to feel it.

And telling him that he probably stopped half a dozen beings from their dreams of galactic dominance isn't going to help.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri had spent a good couple of weeks letting herself realize how much she'd missed him, and trying very hard not to think about it ever since.

No, I don't think that will. It works for us, but . . . he seems like a really logical person. We think about ideals and the big, broad picture. We believe the Force is guiding us to the right ends, and that's enough evidence for us. Maybe you should think less like a Jedi and more like a cop to help him with this, Ben.

[momslilassassin]

He's got a guilt complex that rivals mine, Ben wrote, venting a little bit of his frustration. It's like beating my head into a wall. You can't negotiate with Sith. I learned they were there when they plunged a lightsaber through a door at HEAD HEIGHT. He didn't slaughter toddlers.