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[With the confirmation that everything is fine, that confusion fades for the most part, replaced instead with the telepathic equivalent of a smile. Because both Ezra's invitation and actually hearing him describe her as one of his closest friends here are something she may not have been expecting, but is glad to hear.]

I'd like that. When would we be doing this?

[Something in his mood lightens a little at her agreement, nervousness easing.]

Today? Maybe this afternoon? I took the whole day off, so whenever it's convenient for you.

This afternoon should work.

[and while part of her has an idea what the reason for this might be, based on the combination of cake and friends, she doesn't actually know when Ezra's birthday really is. If that's the cause for the get-together. And so--]

Can I ask what the reason behind this is? Or is there no reason in particular, beyond wanting to spend time with friends?

[It's tempting to go with the second reason. Really, it's not like he needs a reason to want to hang out with her. But...

But that's not the point of him asking. It would almost defeat the point, in fact.

Ezra hesitates, emotions rippling uncertainly, then finally...]

...I'm sixteen.

[Still can't quite bring himself to call it his birthday, but even admitting that much, giving her the pieces she needs to figure it out, is more than he's said in years.]

[it's enough for Leia to figure out what he means, without him coming out and saying it outright. She may not understand exactly why he's so hesitant to admit it, thanks to time differences and Empire Day having seemingly happened a few months ago from Leia's perspective. Or what would have been Empire Day, anyway.

But, Leia is no stranger to birthdays being difficult, regardless of the reason why, so she won't pry into that, not unless Ezra opens up about it himself.]

Should I bring anything?

[regardless of what he says, she might bring something small anyway. because even if birthdays are hard, sometimes a thoughtful gesture from someone you're close to makes them better. Like actually being able to spend her birthday with her brother, or Han thoughtfully making them a cake and leaving it at that.]

No, it's alright. Just going with a friend to get some cake is enough. I don't... normally do even this much.

[Should he explain? She'd understand, he's sure. But he doesn't want a big deal being made for him here. Big deals on this day are for the Empire.

But he doesn't want to say it out loud. Doesn't want to verbally acknowledge the connection. Instead, he just lets the date transcribe into mental text. Just the month, day, and year. He'll trust Leia to recognize the significance of that date.]

This isn't usually a good day for me.

[She does recognize the significance of that date, and while it does clarify why he doesn't want to celebrate his birthday, there's something else that has her confused.]

I can understand why. I can't say I'm a fan of doing much for my own birthday, for similar reasons.

[She wouldn't want to do much of anything to remember that day either. But that calendar confusion is still there, something Ezra might notice, if he wants to ask about it.]

[Ezra blinks in surprise at what he thinks he's hearing her say.]

You were born on- You were born the same day?

[Yeah, no, he's not going to subject someone else to being asked if they were born on Empire Day.]

Edited 2017-01-21 02:36 (UTC)

...Not on that day, but close to it. My own reasons for not celebrating are a bit different.

[The reason is, of course, Alderaan. With Alderaan gone, her birthday only reminds her of what she's missing and of the things she should have had but now never could and never would. So rather than celebrate it, she ignores it.]

But, by my estimation, my birthday was months ago according to the calendar here.

[Or more accurately, counting based on when she arrived, or when Luke arrived. They figured it out together.]

Huh. I guess being from different points in time kind of throws things off.

[A pause, then...]

So, am I older or younger than you? By our calendar, I mean.

[It can't hurt, he figures, to steer the conversation a little away from the things that neither of them want to talk about. Better than letting it drift any closer to the other reasons he hates this day, or the reasons she might hate her own birthday, if they're like his. He's not trying to be depressed today, after all.]

You'd be older by a few days.

[Which makes it doubly weird that she's from like seven-ish years in the future.]

[This tickles him for some reason he can't quite pin, the emotion sweeping through the bits of gloom in their connection.]

Darn, if you were my sister, I'd totally claim big brother privileges.

[on one hand, it's nice to see (sense?) Ezra cheering up about something, and it is nice to learn that his birthday is almost the same as her and Luke. But on the other hand--]

Two days is barely anything. That's hardly enough to claim "big brother privileges."

[wait until she learns about Luke's like two minutes on her.]

Hey, two days more experience can make all the difference sometimes.

Hm, I wonder if there's some kind of big brother privilege equivalent for friends born at almost the same time...

You're forgetting you're still several years younger, based on our timelines.

[Is she maybe a little bit huffy about Ezra's claims? Well, that's surely just his imagination. Princesses don't get huffy.]

What even are big brother privileges?

But I would be older if things were normal. I was older when we met.

[Leia, don't get huffy. That's taking this way too seriously.]

I've never been a big brother before, so... I dunno? First dibs on the cookies? Full rights to tease you for being shorter than me? Threatening to kick someone's butt if they don't respect you?

Wait, I'm already doing those things...

[WOW EZRA. Wow. It's not her fault she's super short. Everyone else is just too tall!]

You don't need to threaten someone in my name, Ezra.

[Especially when she knows at least one person he's already threatened.]

[But see, now she can just blame it on being younger than him!]

I know I don't need to. That's why it's a privilege. I know you can take care of yourself just fine.

Unless you have a better idea for what big brother privileges are?

[The only explanation: she's so short because she's really younger than this 16 year old, even though she's in her 20s. It all makes sense.]

I'd say, perhaps better than continuing to threaten Han--even when he deserves it--those privileges should include spending more time together. Or we could visit one of the other cities.

I could live with privileges like that.

[A pause.]

No promises about Han, though. If he does something to deserve it, I'm not holding back.

Only if he does something to deserve it.

[Which, probably, is pretty often. But she doesn't want unnecessary fighting when it can be avoided.]

But I promise you, you don't need to worry much about him.

Deal.

[In hindsight, Leia might realize that a teenager's sense of what someone deserves might be a little bit skewed. That's probably a lesson she'll have to learn from experience, though.

Experience from Ezra and Han.]

Speaking of Han, he is treating you right, right?

[She'll grow used to it fast, largely because Han also has the tendency to act just as immature at times. It's a bad combination, Han and Ezra trying to one-up each other somehow.]

He is. I told you before, you don't need to worry about him. He may seem... prickly, but he cares.

He's not just prickly. There's things that he says.

Like, are you really okay with him calling you "his woman"?

Edited 2017-01-23 01:32 (UTC)

I've spoken with him about that before.

[Calling her "his woman" is one she's not sure how she feels about, if only because she doesn't like the implication that he owns her or anything like that. "Old lady" was kind of amusing and she didn't truly mind that one. And everyone knows it's actually the other way around, that Han is "her man."]

What else has he said?

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