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WHO: Finn, Leia, anyone camping on the lawn?
WHERE: Leia's place
WHEN: Backdated to Thanksgiving
WHAT: Finn checks in on the general
WARNINGS: Potential talks of patricide? TBD otherwise

Most of the day had been spent watching Poe on TV, feeding the roomba crumbs (again, Poe's fault. Rooma's didn't eat, but the man kept treating it like a pet so. There you go), and watching the roomba watch Poe. It was starting to get a little concerning, even if he couldn't quite shake the feeling that the moment he looked away something bad was going to happen. Like Rey getting snatched up by Ren. Or Solo getting killed by Ren-

Basically he spent a good amount of time thinking of all the times Ren had screwed things up. And how, on this day where ;family' was supposed to be together, the dark Jedi may get some ideas. So it wasn't with food or a skip in his step that he made his way to the General's door, but with one hand on the lightsaber at his hip and a frown on his face.

And a small prayer to the Force this wouldn't end in him in a coma. Again.

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Thanksgiving was... Well, it was different. It was also interesting to read the network and see the flood of discussions concerning it. Leia's understanding was that it was a day of thanks, a day to reflect on what she was thankful for. What exactly did she have to be thankful for?

Luke was number one; she was thankful for the opportunity to have met the brother she'd never had or known growing up, there was still so much to learn from him. Han was another person in her life whom she was thankful to have. There were others, many others she'd crossed paths with, either back home or here. People old and new from their galaxy.

Today she would find herself thankful for one other.

A finger slipped between the pages of her book and she looked up from where she was sitting in one of the armchairs. She was looking at the door, brows knitting. Leia could sense that someone was there, though she couldn't make out who, just a presence. A faint presence.

The book was set down, corner of the page marked. She crossed the living room and went to the door, waiting another moment before undoing the lock and opening it to possible reveal who was there.

"Oh." Leia felt her shoulders relax. She smiled. "Finn. Hello. Is there something I can help you with?"

Finn looked behind Leia, trying to make sure there are no one- what, exactly, Finn? Lurking in the shadows, forcing her to open the door pleasantly? Demanding she smile? It sounded insane even to him. So the look of concern melted into a mildly embarrassed smile as his hand fell away from the saber.

She was the General of the rebellion. Of course she wasn't going to fall now from something as simple as a holiday celebration.

"General. I just wanted to check in. Say happy celebration. See if there were any-" what was the simplest way to put it? "- family problems?"

That was curious. Leia shifted in the doorway and looked back as he was looking inside. Who was he looking for...? Poe wasn't here, he had to know that.

"And happy celebration to you, too, Finn. Though I hear they call it many names - Happy Turkey Day, Happy Thanksgiving. Something to do with the Bountiful Harvest?" Leia waved a hand dismissively. "The Internet has many names for this day of celebration. Let's not get into it. Let's get into why you would think there are family problems."

Stepping back she gestured for him to enter.

"What kind of family problems do you think I would be having? And would you care for a drink while we discuss?"

Her zeroing in on his statement after the holiday-specific prelude set him back on his heels a bit. A few months here and he still wasn't totally used to the round about way people used conversation. It shows on his face, as does the gratitude for the added offer of a drink. That, at least, was a custom he'd adapted to.

"Yeah, sure. Thank you. Let's grab a seat?"

He almost had to actually bite his tongue to stop the Ma'am.

"Of course. Make yourself comfortable." She waited until he was inside to close the door, motioning to the sofas.

The last time she spent time with someone from the future of her galaxy, they'd sat on a sofa and snacked out while watching a street rat on a magic carpet. Leia had a feeling they wouldn't touch the television.

"Do you have a preference for what you'd like? There's caf, tea, some kind of juice. I should warn you, it's very sweet. A little too sweet in my opinion."

If he'd been wise, he might have brought Beth's Disney collection along. It was a good distraction, and he had no real plan after making sure she was safe. He'd half convinced himself on the way over that this would end in him and Ren having a show down again- only this time without Rey there to pick up the fight after him.

There's no battle, so Finn is all obedience as she leads him in, taking a seat more or less exactly where she gestured to, back straight and hands on lap.

"Whatever you're having is great. Just...great."

Edited 2017-12-09 17:18 (UTC)

She pauses before heading for the kitchen, watching him curiously, noticing the stiff line in his back. Leia's seen it quite often when someone has an audience with her. "You can relax, Finn." He was once a Stormtrooper, a soldier. Perhaps a gentle command would help. "At ease."

One more smile and the princess disappears around the corner.

"I guess we're having a cup of caf," she calls. "Do you take anything in it specifically? Milk? Cream? Sugar?"

"Plain, thanks."

It worked. He's more than a little embarrassed it does, but he was getting used to that feeling around Skywalker's and other notables. They were just in a different league. One that had him space his feet the appropriate at ease amount and relax a little into his seat.

"I really didn't think you'd be here by yourself."

Fixing up her cup with a milk and a sugar, she brings them both out and sets his on the table. Leia wouldn't want him to burn himself in case he reached for it.

"Really? I'm usually alone." She takes up the seat from across him, cup cradled in her hands for the warmth. "Who exactly did you think would be here with me?"

"Kylo Ren."

It should have been 'Han,' but the little he'd seen of them together had been after, when everything was said and done. It was easy picturing them staying apart. Ren, though...

"Without the Order to keep him busy- I just. I can't picture him...living. Like a person."

"Maybe he never had the chance to live like a person." She blows on her coffee before testing a careful sip. "Maybe being here away from the Order will help him."

Finn's mouth opens and closes a couple times, like a fish. A big, uncomfortable fish. He has some choice words for that. But, well, she is the General. She is inviting and kind and terrifying. So he at least takes a moment to speak.

"With...respect, General. I never had a chance to live. Like a person. I grew up in the Order. FN-2187. That was my designation. From as long as I remember until I helped Poe escape. Escape being tortured by Ren. And I'm here. Living. Ren grew up Ben Solo. With you. And Han, and Luke, and...and a life. A family that loved him. And chose to be there."

He half raised the cup to his mouth, then lowered it again.

"He ordered a whole village of people- innocent people- slaughtered. Without a thought. It made me leave the Order. To him it was nothing. I know...he's special. To you. But, please, General. Be careful. I- just I wasn't worried he'd be here for drinks."

Well now. If that wasn't enough to kill the mood, Leia didn't know what would. Her cup had been brought up for another sip and instead of her lips touching the porcelain, the cup froze in place as she stared at him.

What she needed to do from here on out was get everyone from her galaxy in one room and sit them all down and demand answers. Demand the truth. It was like one thing after another, with those from the future.

Leia sits in silence still and digests everything, lowering her cup back down to the table. She needs to find her voice before she can answer and she clears her throat.

"I'm sorry, Finn."

Good job, Finn. He came to make sure she was okay and ruined any okay she had. By making sure she knew her son was evil. On a day about family. He's silent for a long moment as he just stares at the wall and basks in his failure.

It's not until that has been dealt with that he actually processes the fact that, for some reason, she was apologizing.

"No- General, no. I'm sorry. I can't imagine having to process this mess. Kids and the First Order and everything and- I don't know how you're dealing."

"I've been dealing by not talking to anyone for the past few weeks. I feel terrible ignoring messages and calls but I needed time to process everything." Her hands smooth up and down her thighs before clasping over her lap. "What I'm apologizing for, Finn, is the life you were forced to live. I'm apologizing for the life you never had, as a child, growing up."

Leia would've hoped that her son had had a decent upbringing, she knew he would've been loved. She'd seen the memories, she'd been to his bedside when he was a child. There'd been a connection there between mother and child. But now?

"And I'm here- Right. Should I go? I can go."

He was here forcing her to deal with more than she was already processing. He half stood up, cup in hand, then just kind of hovered there. In this thigh-aerobics pose. Waiting for instruction.

She held up a hand as he began to rise, taking her by surprise. "Finn, it's alright. Look, you can go if you want to. I won't keep you here, you're free to come and go as you please. I do appreciate the company, however, and that you came to make sure I was okay."

A short sip was taken.

"I would like to get to know you better, though."

Finn sits, a little more- not relaxed, but less rigid than before. A little slumped. There is some odd relief in already having messed up, no longer having to wait to say something wrong. Just moving on past that exploded mine.

"I'm all yours, General. We'll just, ah, stay away from family talk?"

"I would appreciate that, for now, yes. I...need to think some things over." Her thumb runs along the rim of her mug for a moment. "Poe told me his version of how you met. I would like to hear yours, if you don't mind."

"I...don't think that falls into the no family? Bit? Ren was a pretty big part of it."

Just a disclaimer. He didn't mind telling, he'd even be honest about his attempts to lie to Poe about his own motivations. But he was trying to obey contradicting orders.

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