If I'm going to do it, you'll have to do the same.
[Because it's very indulgent and very self-pampering and it's something Leia hasn't had the chance to do in years, both because of a lack of time and because of concerns about how others may have viewed her in the Alliance as a princess. Sitting there getting her nails and everything done while Eleanor waits for her doesn't seem as fun.]
What have you been crocheting?
[And as they're talking, a waitress comes over with drinks and things like that for the both of them.]
Well, all right, it's a deal then. [Hopefully it would be good for both of them in the long run.]
My projects? They've been mostly consisting of blankets and furniture coverings lately... [Leia would have likely gotten a glimpse of some of those when she had visited, a sort of protest to the accidental damages the house incurred, even if she didn't realize they had been handmade by Eleanor.
She pauses when the waitress steps over to them, accepting the drinks and putting in a light order for the meal, waiting for Leia to do so as well before the waitress steps away once more.]
I've also put together a few scarves and other miscellaneous pieces, which I donate to the charity and welcome center ever so often. [When not saving them particularly for an intended gift.]
At the very least, it's been something to keep myself busy with, until recently.
[Once Eleanor's placed her order, Leia does the same, and her attention is soon enough back on the other woman and her story.]
I didn't realize you had made all those. They're very well done.
[But really, the doctors are probably right in that crocheting isn't the best for someone with an injured arm. And even if Leia sees their point, she's not about to say it aloud, because she knows she doesn't always listen to medical advice when it's given to her.]
If your arm is feeling any better now, though, perhaps you can get back into it. The weather will no doubt be getting colder as winter goes on.
Thank you. [At her next words, she nods, still keeping cheery despite her slight annoyance at how the doctor had replied to her question, and at herself for well, complaining, such as it was.]
They suggested that I keep activity light for another week or so, but I am looking forward to getting back to it. And to a few other things as well. Out of curiosity, do you have any colors you favor? [Which probably would be helpful when it came to nail polish later, but she might have just been thinking of projects since they were on the topic.]
[Darker colors she'll wear depending on the occasion, but if she has to choose, pastels and other lighter colors are what she usually wears. White was customary, but she's branched out a bit here. At least as far as wardrobe goes.]
Is that so? [She's a little surprised; with what she had experienced of other woman's personality, she would have expected something bolder, or perhaps even sea-foam green ... All the more reason to ask, anyway; and she's quite glad she did.] Well, I'll just keep that in mind then.
[For her own reasons. It was nice to consider potential projects with a face to them. But. Getting off the subject of that, and coincidentally, off herself.] All that aside, how have you been doing lately?
[There's a lot to be said about gift giving, even when you don't really fully understand the concept behind this seasonal celebration. Luke likes the idea of giving gifts, and he'll take any excuse he can to give something nice to those who are important to him.
Which is why Leia will find several small packages, individually wrapped with care. Within are an assortment of hair decorations collected from the various cities. ]
[It's not so much that she dislikes bolder colors, it's more that as the last princess of Alderaan, Leia feels obligated to continue tradition as long as she's able. And really, wardrobe choices are the easiest to continue, not requiring much effort on her part.]
Now that Han finally admits he's feeling better, things have gotten easier. I can't understand why he pretended he was more helpless than he actually was.
[Well aside from Anakin being back, but Anakin isn't a subject Leia is about to discuss. In fact she spends most of her time trying to shove him out of her mind.]
Oh, I don't know... [That light, teasing tone is back, as she taps her cheek; the Solos certainly were an interesting pair, and she's quite grateful for them.] I'm sure he might just have reveled in the attention. In your attention, particularly. It's kept you fairly busy, hasn't it?
[Not that she minds being busy, that is, and it's not even as busy as she's used to being. But there's a difference between being busy and having to baby her sick fiance because he wants to pretend he's helpless for the sake of attention.]
It's more that I can't understand why he thinks he needs to go to that length for my attention.
Hmm... well, I can think of a couple of possibilities. One being, he might just be feeling insecure and this is the kind of behavior that results from it.
[That's the teasing answer.] Or ... he could purposely be trying to keep your attention from something else. [That teasing lilt fades, as she pauses to consider where she might be going with that line of thought. Although before she can speak further, the waitress makes a return with their brunch, settling down their plates and things. Eleanor won't pick up on the topic until the server has gone on her way again.]
Keeping my attention from something else? Do you know something I don't?
[Her tone is light as she asks, but there's no denying she's curious and maybe a bit suspicious of where that thought came from. Because as far as Leia can tell, judging from other recent behavior of Han's, she's leaning more toward insecurity as the reason for Han's sick clinginess. That, or he just really likes being taken care of.]
[She shakes her head once the waitress has left them.] No, I don't believe so. I was only considering your son, and wondering if that could have been another reason. I suppose I don't really know Han that well to be certain of his motives in the manner. [Men were silly creatures at times, but perhaps not without reason, one would hope.]
[Not without reason, but sometimes that reason is just incredibly ridiculous. Leia shakes her head at Eleanor's suggestion, a slight cold breeze wafting through a she does so.]
No, Han and I haven't seen Ben in around a month. Unless he's missing him, and that's why he's wanting to spend more time with me in response.
Hmm... [For some reason, that suggestion seemed even less likely. Something she didn't want to think about, perhaps.]
Well, it seems to me that you'll have to ask him yourself in that case. [That's a shift in emotion she can sense immediately, though she's a little confused as to why.]
But he probably just wasn't used to having someone take care of him like that and wanted to make the most of it.
[She misses Ben, and wants things between them all to be different. As complicated as everything is, especially knowing what he's done to the galaxy and to Han himself, Leia still wants nothing more than for the three of them to be a family. But there's a time and a place for that, so Leia decides to not dwell on it--for Eleanor's sake.]
I'll have to remember to ask his friend back home how he managed to deal with Han for so many years before we met. I have a new perspective for the struggles he must have gone through.
[poor Chewbacca, we know not what you suffered, stuck on a ship with Han Solo for however many years.]
[She smiles at Eleanor's assessment, a bit self-consciously, but a smile nonetheless.]
It is.
[And it took the both of them long enough and more than enough dangerous situations for them to realize that. Part of her wishes they could've gotten over themselves sooner, but she also knows that would've been next to impossible.]
And as ridiculous as he may be, I'm grateful for it. He may be stubborn and think he needs to go to extreme lengths for my attention, but he treats me like he'd treat any other person.
[well, minus the being in love part, she'd like to think that part is special for her.]
[Lightly teasing again for the younger woman's benefit, but it was clear enough to Eleanor that Leia wouldn't have put up with so much from the mechanic if there wasn't something deeper about their connection.]
[She appreciates the lighter tone, honestly, because even if it's teasing at her expense, it makes it easier to talk about things like this. Feelings aren't something Leia is always comfortable discussing, even with someone she feels a certain closeness to like Eleanor.]
I'm sure it's not what he tells himself. But honestly, I'm not sure I want to know his explanation.
[Well, she assumes it's something like "well of course she loves me, I'm a handsome and dashing guy, it's only natural."]
[Poe wanted to deliver a gift in person along. There's a leather bag in one hand and in the other a small metal tin. The pilot was making a surprise visit to the Organa Residence. Mainly to see Leia but if any of the others were around it would be fine to see them too. Because the important thing of the small tin was that the thing inside could be shared by multiple people. The leather bag held something meant for Leia though. BB-8 is rolling along side of him slowly not wanting to slide against the snow. Once they were both in front of the door, he gives a small sigh while looking down at his bb unit.]
Alright, Beebee-Ate, remember what I said about this place being weird with time. It might be a bit shocking at first.
[BB-8 lets out a short beep while facing up at Poe before putting his attention on the door. Poe gives a few sharp knocks upon it. He hopes that someone will answer. If not he could easily leave the gifts at the doorstep.]
[Luckily for both Poe and BB-8, Leia is, in fact, home at the moment, so shortly after Poe knocks, she opens the door for the both of them. Leia greets Poe with a smile and a nod of her head before her attention is drawn downward to where BB-8 is standing. Her expression is a bit curious at first, having not known there were any droids in Verens, but it fades quickly and she gives BB-8 a smile matching the one she gave Poe earlier.]
Finn must be relieved you're back. [well she is too, but Finn was extremely worried. Even if Poe had been back a few days before this, it's still the first thing that came to mind.]
The minds of men are best not traversed when it comes to topics like these.
[In a tone that's expressed all too knowingly. Putting her own marriage woes aside, it had been a long time since she had a conversation that was close to light girl-talk, such as it was. It was a bit refreshing.]
[It's a good gift on Luke's part. And while she does thank him after opening them, the biggest indication is that she can be seen regularly wearing them in addition to her usual ridiculously complicated braids. ...Well, maybe they're less complicated with the hair decorations, since the decoration itself makes the braid look more complex.]
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