dear_mun | voicetesting, considering eudio

[She snorted as well.]

Figures you'd apologize for something you can't help when you don't even apologize for the things you can.

[Regardless, she gave him a dry smile.]

Glad to know that you're still doing okay, though.

Yeah, well - growing old ain't my fault, either. It just sort of... happened.

[He smiled a little, too, though it was wearier than hers. A lot had happened to him since the last time he had seen her looking this young, after all.]

Not sure 'okay' is the right word for it.

That's what we call "life", I believe.

[She let out a laugh.]

Really? What's wrong?

[Her brow furrowed, and suddenly her joking demeanor was gone. If Han wasn't putting on that cocky attitude, then something was amiss.]

Yeah.

[Han hesitates. Last thing he wants is to cause Leia more pain, and... she's still so young. She doesn't yet know what lies ahead.

So he shakes his head, giving her that crooked smile of his.]

Nothing for you to worry about, Leia.

You've still got the good times ahead of you.

Edited 2016-02-03 14:44 (UTC)

[That was just unusual. Han wasn't riling her up or teasing her, and his earnest words and expression made her all the more doubtful. He wasn't telling her something, that much was obvious - but what was it?]

[She stepped closer to him, surprised at how easy it was for her to reach up and touch his cheek - it was familiar, yet new, because he was Han, but he was different - and it wasn't just because of his age. Time had wearied him, made him less self-assured, made him more vulnerable.]

[Leia's gaze softened as she looked up at him.]

Whatever it is that you're protecting me from, I'm sure we can take it on. We always have, haven't we?

[She gave him a small smile.]

[ Han didn't like being those things, either - he didn't like being seen as vulnerable by anybody. Leia was different, of course, but... maybe that was part of the reason why he had taken off after Ben betrayed them. It didn't matter how many times Leia insisted it wasn't his fault, he had still taken the blame. The guilt had been too much to bear. He was Ben's father, after all - surely he had done something wrong or failed his son somehow, causing him to turn away from them. Maybe he wasn't around enough, and wasn't a good father. He'd never really known how to play that role, anyway.

When Leia stepped closer and touched his cheek like that, it was so tempting to just give in and tell her everything. She just had that effect on him, and keeping things from her was near impossible. And when she said those things and looked at him like that... the guilt returned. How to tell her that when she probably needed him the most... he just took off, returning the smuggling life he'd once been so good at? ]

You will, Leia. You'll take it on with your usual ease and elegance.

[ Until he went and ruined things again when he failed to bring Ben home. But he doesn't tell her that now. Instead, he smiles again... before leaning forward to kiss her forehead gently. ]

You'll be just fine, Princess. Hey - would this face ever lie to you?

Edited 2016-02-03 21:41 (UTC)

[Leia's own mistake in the future would've been to bury herself in her work - she could've tried harder to talk to Ben, or to Han, but instead she tucked her feelings away and focused on rationality, on effectiveness. It wouldn't have been rational for the Princess/General to just run off and to chase after her family - but it would've been the right thing to do. Besides, with Leia's own level of organization, she could've very well planned out a system to function without her for a while - at least during the time it would take to try to get through to Ben and/or Han.]

[However, that was a mistake that she had yet to make, and yet to learn from.]

[She closed her eyes, sinking into familiarity as Han laid a kiss on her forehead. It was almost as if Bespin was going to happen all over again. There was an air of farewell between them, and she didn't understand it.]

Now you're flattering me?

[Her mouth quirked in a grin.]

Han . . .

[She peered up at him keenly.]

Why does it feel like we're in Cloud City again? You're not going to be frozen in carbonite again, are you?

[It was an attempt at humor, but there was a serious question there.]

[ Han had known exactly who he was marrying when he and Leia had tied the symbolic knot. Okay, so maybe they hadn't known every last little thing about the other person, but he knew her status in the Republic meant she wasn't going to be the type of woman staying home, watching the kid and waiting for him to arrive after a 'hard day's work.' But he did play the general for a while, and though it wasn't smuggling, it wasn't all bad. Maybe, when they lost Ben, it was just an excuse for him to return to smuggling, and what he thought he had not only been good at, but also better at. This world of politics wasn't for him, that was where she excelled.

He probably should've been the one to stay, or to go back to her but then those years just kept going by, and he felt like they were drifting further and further apart.

Still, it's nice to enjoy the quiet moment with this younger Leia, knowing he hasn't yet disappointed her.]

Believe it or not, I'm not flattering you because I'm trying to get something I want.

[His smirk fell a little under her keen gaze, however. No, he wasn't going to be frozen in carbonite again. What had happened to him was far, far worse. Still, he smiles a little, shaking his head down at her.]

No, I'm not going to be frozen in carbonite again.

Can't I just want to kiss my young wi... you? [Not that telling her she became his wife was a big deal, but maybe something he shouldn't really be spoiling for her.]

[Meanwhile, Leia herself understood who Han Solo was, and that she'd never be able to truly have him commit to the cause. In the same way that Luke had his own duty, Han had his own priorities and desires. She loved him - there was no denying that fact - but how much was he willing to compromise? That was important because Leia never did when it came to her duty.]

[She was also sharp, and she definitely caught what he meant to say. Wife? She had time for a wedding ceremony amidst reestablishing the Republic?]

[A slow smile spread across her face. There was no doubt as to her feelings for Han, and she was glad that her future self would find time to marry him. After all, she told herself, she believed that it was right to do the things in life that were worth doing.]

I thought that your proposal would be a little flashier. Maybe something in the middle of a high-speed chase or in battle.

[Her smile turned dry, and she let out a laugh.]

[Han still thought he had been a fool for turning his back on Leia and returning to smuggling. Maybe things would have been different if they had banded together in their shared grief over the loss of their son. He'll never know. But he also knows this Leia doesn't have to worry about that yet.

... of course him and his big mouth had to go and ruin the wedding surprise for her. If she stuck around here, it was likely to happen sooner rather than later, anyway - if not by one of the other Han's running around, then someone else.

He sighed, settling his hands on his waist and giving her an exasperated look, but he wasn't really all that annoyed with her. Mostly, he was just annoyed with himself. Nice going, Solo. He can almost hear Chewie's snuffling laugh now.]

I'll have you know my proposal was very well-planned and carefully thought out, if I do say so myself. [He raised his brow.] But if you think I'm gonna tell you just how great it was, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment, Princess. I ain't saying anything.

[But he smiled too, shaking his head at her.]

Sorry you didn't end up finding yourself a nice man.

[Oh yeah. He remembers.]

[She didn't even know that there were so many Hans running about and getting into trouble. Leia wasn't certain that any system could have that many scoundrels all at once.]

[The Princess returned his look of exasperation with a cheeky one of her own. It was his own fault for slipping and ruining the big surprise.]

Well, I'm certainly not begging for details. [She raised a brow, daring him to counter. This verbal sparring was familiar to them, and comfortable somehow.] I'm just going to have to wait and see if it does live up to the hype you've set up for it.

[To be fair, nothing Han ever did was boring - and she was looking forward to it.]

I suppose someone had to keep you in line. [Her smirk was wide, her eyes teasing.]

[Well, Han was aware there were just nearly as many Leia's running around, so surely they were enough to keep his counterparts in line. Poor guys.

He smirked dryly at her words, raising his brow.]

Good. Some things are worth waiting for, you know.

[Whether or not his proposal was worth waiting for remains to be seen, of course. But no matter how well or badly it had turned out, she had said yes and that was really all that mattered in the end. Though, he couldn't help but wonder if the older Leia, the one he had left, regretted ever making the decision to marry the scruffy scoundrel.]

Well, you certainly tried to keep me in line. Don't think anyone could have done it better than you. [Their marriage hadn't been without its bumps, even before they had lost Ben. But maybe that was part of the reason why it worked so well - arguments meant pretty amazing make-up sex, and him leaving meant she seemed to look forward to him returning that much more.

But that had been a while ago now for Han.]

I know. [Her smile was warm.]

I've still got a lot of years to catch up on to match you, though. I hope you haven't made my hair turn completely gray. [She gave him a dry, amused look.] I'll blame you if that happens.

You're certainly singing my praises today. [She curled a hand in his jacket and would've pulled him in for a kiss, but realizing that that might've been odd, she close to step in close instead. Han was Han, no matter how old he was - and when she thought of it, she'd kissed her own brother, so kissing the white-haired version of her future spouse wouldn't be the most outlandish she'd ever do in her life.]

[Still - better take it easy on the old man. She smirked to herself.]

Edited 2016-02-08 18:00 (UTC)

[Though Han would later tease Leia about kissing her brother, he had continued to be a jealous man for some time. Even after they were married, all a guy had to do was look at his girl the wrong way and there was the danger of a fistfight breaking out. But love had never been a problem in their marriage, not really. It had always been there between them, even during the fighting and later the loss of their son.

He chuckled a little at the quip about her hair, and shrugged a shoulder lightly.] Don't worry, sweetheart - my hair went a lot grayer than yours ever did.

[But then, in all seriousness, because his Leia, the one from his timeline was still just as beautiful in his eyes-] You aged like fine Corellian wine. Me, I just got old. [He gave her a drylittle look, but there's a smirk there, too.

Han certainly didn't mind her being so close. He only hesitated a moment before settling his hands on her little waist gently. It felt familiar, being close like this, even with all the years between them. If he stopped to think about it, he really wouldn't want this beautiful young princess having to dally with an old smuggler like him, his face lined and wrinkled with age and stress... but he can't find it in himself to care that much at the moment.]

Well maybe I just missed you. [He smiled crookedly, that old charm coming back easily.]

[If Han had been in any condition to fight at the time, all Leia probably had to do was to tell him that Jabba had gotten his slime all over her and that ridiculous metal slave costume that barely counted as underwear. Han probably would've single-handedly busted them all out of that joint. However, as far as rescues went, it went rather well. Certainly better than their stint aboard the Death Star.]

[Leia returned his smirk with one of her own, her eyes flashing with mirth.] You are old, old man.

Can't say I don't like it, though.

[She laughed and laid her head on his chest, settling close to him easily. After the Battle of Endor there was still so much to do, but at least she had this moment to catch her breath. Maybe being here wasn't so bad after all.]

[It was true that if Han had known about it, he definitely wouldn't have stood for the way Jabba had treated Leia. If he'd been in better shape, he would've blasted the giant slug away. As it was, Leia did a great job of joking the slimy thing, and Luke's elaborate plan of escape worked out pretty well in the end. Of course, that all seemed like a lifetime ago for him, now.

He snorted dryly and rolled his eyes a little when she called him old, though he knew it was true. But when she admitted she didn't mind it so much, the smugness just returned in that crooked grin of his.

In all reality though he was just a big softy, proved by the way his expression softened when she laid her head against his chest. Han wrapped his still strong arms around her and leaned his cheek against her hair, wishing not for the first time that he could somehow take away the pain she would yet have to face. At least for now they could just enjoy this embrace and not worry about what waited for them both.]

Now who's the delusional one here, huh? [But he's teasing. He knows she'll get to go back to the younger him, and that's fine with him. Leia still has the good times ahead of her.]

[Their stint on Tattooine had been a lifetime ago for Leia too, not because it had been so long ago but because so many things had happened since then. She was left at the edge of a precipice and uncertain of which way things were going to go, but she had to push forward, because that was her role and that was who she was.]

I married you, so you can't doubt my taste.

[She let out a laugh, smiling to herself as Han wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. She didn't know that this would mirror the last embrace they had before - ]

[Well, she wouldn't know. At least, not yet. She didn't know how she could take it, knowing that her request sent him to his doom. She wanted both of them home - Ben and Han.]

Well I always knew your taste in men, Leia. I knew your thing for scoundrels meant you'd never actually marry some nice, boring guy.

[Sure, Han might play it smug as always, but there had been a time he'd been afraid she wouldn't choose him. And even when it was clear she had, he'd had his moments of doubt. Theirs was never a perfect marriage, and he wondered if maybe she had married someone else, someone who didn't feel the pull of the sky and smuggling, that maybe she'd still have her son with her.

But now isn't the time for such dark thoughts. Not when she's here and everything isn't nearly as complicated as it will be someday.]

Just - go easy on the young me when it comes to the committees, okay? You know I'm not good with politics. [And yet, he'll still do it because it's Leia and he loves her. That doesn't mean he won't act out during the boring meetings sometimes, but at least he'll try for her.]

What'd it be like to have a boring life? I can't imagine.

[Leia let out a laugh, shoulders shaking in mirth. How nice it was just to laugh. It was so rare for her.]

Han Solo, when have I ever made things easy for you? [She pulled away a margin just so she could look into his eyes, giving him an expression of the driest amusement.]

[However, her eyes softened, and she gave him a squeeze. She appreciated it, despite how iron-fisted she might have seemed. For her, doing these things was merely doing what was right, but she knew, of course, that it was a difficult road. She believed in Han, though, and believed in the goodness of his heart. Maybe he wasn't invested in politics but he too wanted to set things right.]

voicetesting, considering eudio

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wow this got kinda long, sorry!!

no worries, I like long tags! :3

just late this time, sorry!!

feel free to take your time!

life just gets in the way, grr. <3

aww <3 hope you're having a calm weekend!

aw thanks!

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