oratorical | IC Contact

[...what.

Sorry, Leia, Ezra's brain just screeched to a halt. You didn't say what he just thought you did.]

Vader has a son?!

I did tell you his name was Luke Skywalker.

[Look, it worked on Galen, just using Luke and the last name "Skywalker" to explain that deep dark family secret. Even if Leia isn't including her part in this just yet, it's simple enough to understand, if you ask her.

Her tone is gentle, but matter-of-fact as she responds. She knows Jedi rules weren't that fond of attachment and all that, but it's not as if she's lying, and she wants him to understand that.]

Yeah, but I thought maybe it was a common name where he's from! Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi. Why would I think he'd have a kid?

[He's only just now finding out that Anakin wasn't exactly a model Jedi here! That's not the kind of detail they include in war hero stories.]

[Just wait until you learn everything, Ezra....]

Admittedly I don't know how common of a name it may be. [Which is kind of sad, she can admit to herself, considering it's her own family history too, as much as she denies that half of her parentage.]

But regardless, you can see why I trust Luke to have some impact on him.

[When he learns everything, his mind's going to break again.]

Good impact or bad?

[He is suddenly worried here.]

...I don't know how he will react, but Luke wants to believe the best in him. He's gotten through to him before, at least briefly.

[Briefly, because Vader was dead, and Leia has no proof that he'd continue to behave in a less Sith-like manner had he not died.]

...he has?

[There's too much uncertainty in Ezra's voice to call any part of the note in it hope, but Leia's clearly trying to help assuage his worry here. He values their friendship enough not to reject whatever she's trying to offer him.

Still, getting "through" to Darth Vader isn't something Ezra's certain is possible.]

You really trust Luke a lot, don't you.

[Ezra remembers that Luke's name was one of the ones Leia told him was a safe person to contact here. And that's despite the fact that he's the son of Darth Vader.]

He'd be able to explain better than I would. I wasn't there to see it myself.

[She didn't want to be there, she would have wanted to be anywhere else in the galaxy than where Luke had gone while she was on Endor. As much as she would have liked the satisfaction of seeing the end of Palpatine, she wouldn't want to have actually.]

I do, and not without reason. Luke came through for the Alliance when we needed it most.

[When she needed it most, too, but that counts as coming through for the Alliance. Any uncertainty about Luke's getting through to Vader and getting him to see the light is gone, and replaced with nothing but a strong fondness. Even if she weren't his sister, from their experiences alone, she would trust Luke just as much. She had before, after all.]

Maybe I'll ask him about it sometime.

[Maybe. It's a tempting story, but he doesn't know Luke that well himself. It might be a little weird if Ezra calls him out of nowhere to ask him about the time he got through to his father, Darth Vader.

Weird and uncomfortable and awkward.]

I almost want to ask how he helped the Rebellion, but I'm not sure my head can handle the headache of hearing about the future right now.

[He tries to say that with humor, but it's actually pretty true. Leia might even be able to pick up on the persistent, dull ache creeping in on the edge of their connection.]

[It would be especially weird if Jabba the Hutt called him up to ask about that. Don't do that, Ezra, it's best to wait a bit.

But at the mention of his headache, a fresh wave of concern comes through from Leia's side of the connection. It's not that she forgot about what happened, but being reminded of it is different than being aware it happened, in a way.]

No, I think that conversation should wait until you're feeling better. If it's one you want to have.

[Yeah, that might be a good idea.

Oof. Speaking of good ideas and not so good ideas, maybe using the amulet right now is something he should reconsider. He'd wanted to reassure Leia, but now the emotions leaking back and forth aren't really helping his headache here. Even something as mild as Leia's concern feels a little disconcerting right now.]

Maybe later? I should probably go back to bed.

I think that sounds like a good idea. You need to rest. We can talk again later, once you've had time to recover more.

Alright.

Thanks, Leia. I'll be in touch.

[Tired he might be, but he's smiling when he lets the connection go.]

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