oratorical | IC Contact

[he considers that question for a moment, weighing his pride against how much he likes it when she pets him. finally he reaches for her blindly, seeking out her other hand but unwilling to move his head.]

I really miss Chewie. [there, he said it. no need to be ashamed. he's probably even told her that before, but he likes to think she hasn't noticed his little moods here and there where he actually gets sad about it.] It's like somebody cut me open and it won't heal up 'til he's here or I'm back there.

[they're supposed to be together, dammit. han solo barely exists without chewbacca, in han's opinion.]

[she reaches for his hand, lacing her fingers with his, while leaving her other hand resting in his hair. It's no secret that Han misses Chewie. Even without his moping moods and Chewie showing up in the smoke from his candle at Selenium, it would be obvious to Leia. Chewie and Han were always together, had been together for the better part of the last decade probably. Even more than that.

He may not be looking at her, but any worry drops from her expression, leaving only sympathy behind. Because while she also misses Chewie, she knows it's nowhere near as much as Han must be.]

I know. I can't pretend to imagine how hard it is for you.

[well she misses Luke, but it's not the same. Luke had been here before, and her last memory of him before arriving here was a good one. Quite the opposite from Han and Chewie, she knows.]

Was he okay the last time you saw him?

[rey's comment about chewie being hurt in the future has been a worry on his mind, too. he sounds anxious, almost antsy. it's knowing that his closest friend could be in danger but not having any way of getting to him.]

He was. Perhaps the best I've ever seen him.

[banged up and bruised and sore? Probably. But they all were. And there's no denying Chewie was just as overjoyed and celebrating as much as the rest of them. He even seemed to have made friends out of the Ewoks.]

The last time I saw him, he was celebrating with all of us.

[some of the tension drains from han's body at that, and he shifts a bit, turning his head to look at her. he would much rather hear this than think about the distant future.]

After the Emperor was killed, right?

[and she has no problem sharing stories about what Chewie happened to be doing back home when she left, especially if it helps to put Han's mind at ease. Both in terms of missing his best friend and his worries that Chewie may have been hurt.]

Right. He was with us down on Endor, for the battle and the victory celebration.

[that part, she's sure, is no surprise to him, that Chewie would want to be by his side.]

Is Chewie fond of parties?

[she doesn't really know, she never thought to ask. There really weren't many opportunities for parties in the rebellion. At least none as wild as the party on Endor was.]

[he seems to be settling down a little, that much is certain. it's much better to think of chewie having a good time somewhere out there.]

I bet he'd like that kind of party. Surrounded by friends right after a big fight? There's no way we'd miss it. Besides, he likes a good beat. Did we have a live band?

[it takes the sting out a little bit, too, for him to play along as though it's already happened to him too. thinking about timeline shenanigans stresses him out too, so he does his best not to seriously ponder it.]

[with him settling down slightly, Leia nudges him gently in an attempt to get him to sit up so she can slide in on the couch next to him. She doesn't want him to fully sit up, just move enough so she can sit more comfortably and he can lay on her lap if he wants to.]

I don't know if I'd call it a band, but there were drums and instruments.

[close enough to a band, she supposes. It's enough to give a good beat at any rate.]

[he shifts a bit at her nudge, twisting up a little to try and figure out what she wants him to do. there's room for her to scoot back when he does.]

Even better, he could sing all he wants. People tend to frown on that in, uh, reputable establishments.

[she's quick to scoot back and into a much less perilous seat on the couch once he twists up. As soon as she's settled, she pushes gently on his shoulders, hoping he'll take the hint and lie back down if he wants.

She does feel bad about just how much Han misses Chewie, but she can't help the obviously amused smile spreading on her face at the very idea of Chewie singing. It's not hard to imagine why most places wouldn't exactly approve of that sort of music. ]

I didn't know he liked to sing. Did he do that often when it was just the two of you flying together?

[he takes the hint almost eagerly, lying down and even snuggling into her leg a bit, not that he would use that term if his life depended on it.]

Men don't just randomly burst into song, you know.

[is his immediate and gently indignant response. he's a MAN'S MAN!! no whimsical stuff will be admitted to! although he does tack on,]

Not that he's a bad singer, I mean, particularly if you have an appreciation for Wookie lore--

[good job, han. he cuts himself off, clearly feeling better enough to embarrass himself again.]

[it's snuggling, don't pretend otherwise. She knows. But once he's settled back down, her hand is instantly back in his hair, like there's some kind of magnetic pull there or something.]

So what does he usually sing?

[because between his indignant response and embarrassment, she's taking this as 100% fact that Chewie used to sing a lot when it was just Han and him on the Falcon. And as always, she's interested in Han's life before she knew him and his friendship with Chewie.]

Wookie stuff.

[if he was in a better mood he might warble at her, but as it is he just sounds like a kid who got caught out at something. call it boyish charm, maybe.]

You know, family stuff, climbin' trees, hunting...Wookie stuff.

[for now, she'll give it a pass. Since she knows Han is still upset and missing Chewie on top of being slightly embarrassed.]

I'll have to ask him the next time I see him.

[partially because she wants to know Chewie's opinion on things Han has said, and partially because she's really curious about his singing talents now.]

It's not something that ever came up when talking with him.

Edited (Icons >:|) 2017-05-16 20:00 (UTC)

What'd you two talk about then? Me?

[he says this not defensively, but like he fully expects that he would be the topic of conversation and wants to know the details.]

[well he isn't wrong. And even though she does roll her eyes in a lighthearted sort of manner, she can't even really admonish him for having an ego here, since his tone doesn't sound like he's being full of himself.]

About you, yes. And about how his missions were going, and whether he was okay.

[and probably just as much about how she was holding up while they were searching for Han, but that, she's sure, goes without saying.]

How long was I, uh, out of commission?

[it hasn't really occurred to him to ask before, but chewie taking missions makes it seem like he was an unfeeling slab of mineral in jabba's palace for a long time.]

[he never thought to ask, and Leia never really wanted to bring it up, considering it wasn't the easiest time for her, either. Han is here and he had been rescued back home, and that's what was most important. But if he wants to know, she'll share with him.]

...a few months. It took us a while to find any trace of Fett, and to plan how we were going to take you back from Jabba.

[a few of the hardest months she's been through, since all she wanted was to immediately find wherever Boba Fett had run off to and take back Han then and there.]

Sorry.

[he reaches up with his free hand and caresses her face, feeling a bit bad for bringing it up.]

I used to think, [he hesitates, but only for a second. he's already embarrassed himself today, what's the harm?] that the carbonite killed me and this place was some kind of purgatory. Then instead of bein' worried about everybody who ain't here I was just relieved.

[sometimes he still wonders, honestly, but in moments like this he chooses to believe he's still alive and kicking.]

[Leia furrows her brow, slightly confused about why Han is apologizing. Since, in her opinion, she should be the one to apologize. It took far longer than she liked to find him, and he had been stuck in carbonite for such a long time as a result. But even that confusion doesn't stop her from leaning into his touch.

And just like that, with his admission, any lingering confusion is gone and replaced with only sympathy. It's not hard to see why he would've thought that, but that doesn't mean it isn't an upsetting thought.]

You're very much alive. All of us went to go rescue you. Even Lando decided to help us.

I feel pretty alive.

[that ought to sound like an innuendo, but he's being sincere. he'd rather believe he's really holding leia's hand than anything else. after he indulges himself by stroking her face some more, coincidentally reinforcing his point, he takes his inevitable jab at lando.]

Did he decide, or did you and Chewie convince him?

[she's perfectly happy with that face stroking, and it does help stop her from dwelling on the more painful past events. Han is here, Han is alive, they rescued him, and he'll be around and with her for a long time. That's what's most important, and that's what she needs to focus on.]

He decided to. Chewie did almost strangle him, though.

[she might still judge Lando deep down inside, but he's proven himself to be a good person, someone worth trusting. But even with that, she continues, the barest hint of a wry smile on her face.]

I almost let him, too.

Chewie would do anything for me, the big lug.

[he says it wistfully, but it's also easier not to dwell on it when he's curled up with leia like he is now.]

He must've decided he really likes you if you were able to talk him down. Part of the family, huh?

I would hope he does.

[because even though their initial meeting may not have been so great all those years ago, Leia really does like Chewie a lot. To her, he's always been kind and reliable, and a comforting presence when she needed it most.]

He is family. He's as much family as Luke is.

[after all, Chewie is basically like Han's brother, and Luke is someone she considered family long before actually knowing the truth.]

[this causes a genuine smile to take up han's entire face, even his eyes crinkling briefly in appreciation of the sentiment. of course he never doubted they were fond of each other--if they hadn't been chewie wouldn't have taken her side in most of their arguments on hoth--but when he's in this kind of mood the mushy stuff hits him harder.]

I wish they could've been here for the wedding. Even though I'm sure they'll be at our, uh, other one.

[he started to say "real" instead of "other", but their wedding here was real too, or at least he'd like to think so.]

IC Contact

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)