As my mother is far too fond of saying, they had to make do with way worse during the Rebellion. So I guess there's no point in complaining. [The taller man said with a hint of exasperation or maybe irritation in his voice. It was hard, being what was essentially a second generation of rebels when your parents had paved the way in far more dire circumstances.
At least they weren't being hunted from one end of the galaxy to the next by the Empire and while the New Republic officially had written them off as persona non grata, there were still people like Leia and other sympathetic Senators who were helping to funnel them support and supplies underneath the nose of the Senate.] I'm not surprised his astromech left him to hang, we had a really enlightening conversation and apparently he wasn't just a kriffing ass to me but generally everyone in his vicinity. Not everyone treats their droids as nicely as you do, Poe.
[The pilot was ridiculously close to his droid but it was something he actually admired in Poe Dameron and had been one of the first things he noticed when they'd been introduced when Ben had been assigned to the base. There were a lot of people who took droids for granted and dismissed their own thoughts and feelings as them being nothing more than well...droids.]
I do say so and I've seen the recruitment posters to back that statement up. [He shot the other man a teasing smirk before turning his attention back to the engine. Ben's hands were as large as the rest of him but somehow, he managed to slide them inside the internal mechanisms of the engine all the same and after a minute with a hydrospanner, he was able to pull the power generator out along with the offending new part.] We could try and do a work around with a bigger power-cell but honestly, I don't want to do that and then have you head out on a mission only to have the entire engine fail at the wrong time. Let's get with the other mechanics and see if they can come up with any ideas. And see if BB-8 has any suggestions too.
It's better to appreciate what you have versus complaining about what we need. Sometimes we could just get lucky and those parts could be around. We could go digging ourselves if we get pointed in the right direction. [ Poe meant his words since he knew they could have way worse starfighters, more outdated things. Things could be breaking off versus being in way better condition than they were. The Resistance still had resources and supplies thanks to Leia being great on her connections. However, there were times where plans didn't always pan out. The First Order could get to those supplies before they could even swoop in for the taking. No matter how in the shadows they could have been. ]
Maybe I won't be the only one to treat astromech's with respect. If that guy couldn't be respective to a droid he wouldn't be able to be respective to the pilots he was working with. [ There's a small smile after that. ] I know I can get very opinionated over certain things but... I'm only trying to do the right things. [ Even if they may not be exactly right at the time. ]
Oh, have you? I'm sure you have. They can be a bit embarrassing. [ Poe shakes his head while pressing his lips up a bit at the tease.There may have been a small eye roll to go along with it. He watches Ben though carefully. ] I'm not heading out for a while. Unless something major happens but you never know around here. That sounds like a great idea. Going to find the other mechanics. BB-8 has already tried, he's probably with the other astromechs trying to get suggestions from them.
It helps that mom can get her senator friends to mark certain things that happen to fall in our lap as ‘military excess’ too. [Ben was all too aware of the shell games Leia and her compatriots in the Senate had to play in order to supply the Resistance under the table. The fact that she’d spent her youth in the original Rebellion and had trained at Bail Organa’s elbow had certainly helped sharpen her resourcefulness.]
That was sorta my thoughts too. Sure, Bothans can have a bit of an attitude to begin with but this guy was a real asshole. [And Ben had a pretty healthy respect for astromech droids or even droids in general. Sure, he didn’t have much patience for the protocol droids like C3P0 but he’d cut his teeth trying to tinker with R2 much to the foul-mouthed droid’s exasperation. The fact that he’d learned how to swear in binary from R2 and Basic thanks to his father just meant his childhood had been interesting and colorful.]
Me and just about everyone else on the base and probably a good portion of the New Republic Navy as well. I have it on good authority your recruitment poster hangs in more than a few cadet’s lockers. [When Ben smiled like that, all slow and sly, you could definitely see Han Solo’s influence on him despite Leia’s attempts to civilize her son and make him respectable.] Well, let’s not tempt the universe by saying that and just concentrate on getting you back in the air, flyboy.
[Again, there was that note of something akin to wistful envy in the younger man's voice honed with a trace of bitterness.]
Yeah, but, how much longer can those few friends of her keep that up? [ It's a worry he could question. Poe knew that it could go on for so long before it stops. The missions for those supplies could be tough never knowing if the First Order was right around to swoop in for them instead. ]
Glad you could do us all the favor and get him re-stationed to a different system. [ He grinned a bit because it's the truth in the end. Poe knew how to treat other astromechs and BB-8 could always surprise him by being doing things he wouldn't believe to do on his own. ]
I don't need to hear all or any of this. [ He looks at Ben with a small smile but it slowly fades at the tone of the other's voice. Poe moves a bit quicker to stop in front of him while looking up at Ben. ] Why don't you join me on my next mission? When the next one comes around.
I have no idea but I learned a long time ago not to underestimate my mom. [Leia had made a habit of making people regret having underestimated her time and time again.] 'Sides...just between you and me? I think she likes being a Rebel way more than she ever did being a Senator.
[Ben just smiled in a serene sort of way and held up the hydrospanner as though to illustrate his point.] Allegedly. And I will denounce you as a filthy, filthy liar if you ever tell anyone that story. [The taller man climbed from one side of the X-Wing to the next by using the s-foils as a bridge from one side of the ship to the next so he could get to the engine on the other side.] That's what you get for agreeing to be the Resistance's poster boy.
[He said with perfectly cheerful schadenfreude but some of that humor faded when Poe made that unexpected request. Ben's expression closed off abruptly and he spent a moment ignoring Poe while internally, he seethed.] No can do, I'm too much of a flight risk. Besides, mom isn't going to let me get right in the middle of the action." This time, he didn't even bother to try and mask his bitterness. Being dragged home to Leia like an errant schoolboy still chaffed his pride something fierce.]
What made you come to that conclusion? [ He had to be curious about it. Ben had a reason to say that. Poe had seen how her planning strategies goes. There's always little surprises that can be put in or she would expect Poe to figure things out on his own. ] You think so? I would think she would be great as a Senator too.
No one would believe that story of me as a liar. You can try though but I don't have to say anything. People may not believe me anyway. [ Poe smiles giving him a slight tease at that since it's Ben Solo. He follows after the tall man while sighing at the comment. ] I never asked for the job.
[ Leia Organa though would use it as a political move, trying to recruit more pilots, get more people to see their side. Poe doesn't argue over those things knowing that it's true. Plus Ben wasn't wrong about underestimating his mother. ] Flight risk, really? So did she ground you or is this just a suggestion don't do it kind of thing? You can't even do one simple supply run? That's all it would take for her to see you're not. Everyone out there is. We need more pilots and she knows that.
It’s easier to be a Rebel than trying to work within the lines, especially when it comes to something like the Senate. Sure, it might not be as corrupt as the Imperial Senate but you saw the way those bastards dragged her name through the mud when they found out about my grandfather.
[Anger kindled in the younger man’s dark eyes when he thought about that disastrous time and the air around the disgraced ex-Jedi trainee grew almost palpably thick. It wasn’t the Force per-se but there was definitely an air of menace surrounding the other man.] Let’s be honest, I doubt my reputation could get any worse so I guess it doesn’t matter either way.
[He finished pulling the second chip from Poe’s starboard engine and jumped down off the wing. His heavy boots made an audible thump when they hit the ferrocrete and that tall, lanky body absorbed the shock of recklessly jumping from such a great height with ease.]
She doesn’t trust me, Poe. [Ben said sharply as his hands curled into fists at his side.] She thinks I’m going to run off and pull another disappearing act again. [The ‘just like my father’ hung unstated bitterly in the air. And really, considering the fact that Ben Solo had quite literally dropped off the radar for years after he’d run away from his uncle’s Jedi Academy, maybe Leia was justified in her fear of her son pulling another disappearing act. But he wasn’t the same scared boy he’d once been!] Feel free to tell her that.
[He said with bitterness dripping from each word while he concentrated on cleaning some of the engine grease from his hands with a spare shop rag.]
It's probably easier to be a Rebel, but she's a General too. She has to keep other people in line. I'm sure some don't stay within their paths. [ He knows that he has to drive her nuts with his moving forward and decisions. A lot of them being reckless but they worked it got the job done. ] I know what they did. I don't like it. They would use anything to get people on their side. When we're so desperately trying to get people to understand our story. We're trying to get them to see who the real threat is.
[ He presses his lips together while moving to get in front Ben to get him to stop moving from whatever path he was going in. It almost felt routine as if he was on autopilot. ] She can't keep you grounded. I'm sure you're feeling as if you're not being able to do enough. [ Poe seems to go through a few emotions before looking as if he's agreeing with Ben. ]
I will tell her. You should tell her how you feel about this. If you're going to run off and disappear... I think... maybe... [ He glances away while putting his hands on his hips. ] I think you would have already done so.
That’s mom for you, always trying to save the universe. [Ben scoffed quietly but wasn’t able to mask the trace of bitterness in his words when he said that. Growing up in Leia Organa’s shadow was hard enough but her continued split attention between being a senator and being a mother had left the young man feeling as though he’d always come secondary in his mother’s list of priorities.] Look, let’s just…no talk about this anymore.
[Judging by the way the taller man’s shoulders had grown tense, Ben’s infamously notorious temper was at risk of boiling right over. Luke had tried to teach his nephew how to control his wild emotions and had tutored him in the risks of those very same emotions leading him on a path to the Dark Side.
But the way Poe physically moved to put himself in his path had the younger man jerking to a halt and for a brief moment, irritation flickered across his face.] I’m pretty sure she can keep me grounded. Can’t risk those Solo genes taking over and me turning into yet another flight risk.
[A sneer started to pull at the man’s lips when he spoke about his father before his expression started to turn rebellious and petulant.]I don’t need you fighting my battles for me, Poe.
[ Poe read up on his own parents when he got the chance to do so. He knew that they both helped Han Solo and Leia Organa. The life he lived was peaceful. A community home that his father built and on a ranch. Poe took in the stance of the other knowing that the conversation needed to end. ] You do know you can tell me things. When you're ready to tell them.
[ Sometimes certain conversations needed a bit more face to face interaction. ] She can. But, would you take the risk of disobeying her command and fly if you saw it to be the right thing to do?
[ Poe gives a nod at that. ] I'm not trying to fight your battles. I'm only offering to help if you don't want it, I can provide it somewhere else.
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At least they weren't being hunted from one end of the galaxy to the next by the Empire and while the New Republic officially had written them off as persona non grata, there were still people like Leia and other sympathetic Senators who were helping to funnel them support and supplies underneath the nose of the Senate.] I'm not surprised his astromech left him to hang, we had a really enlightening conversation and apparently he wasn't just a kriffing ass to me but generally everyone in his vicinity. Not everyone treats their droids as nicely as you do, Poe.
[The pilot was ridiculously close to his droid but it was something he actually admired in Poe Dameron and had been one of the first things he noticed when they'd been introduced when Ben had been assigned to the base. There were a lot of people who took droids for granted and dismissed their own thoughts and feelings as them being nothing more than well...droids.]
I do say so and I've seen the recruitment posters to back that statement up. [He shot the other man a teasing smirk before turning his attention back to the engine. Ben's hands were as large as the rest of him but somehow, he managed to slide them inside the internal mechanisms of the engine all the same and after a minute with a hydrospanner, he was able to pull the power generator out along with the offending new part.] We could try and do a work around with a bigger power-cell but honestly, I don't want to do that and then have you head out on a mission only to have the entire engine fail at the wrong time. Let's get with the other mechanics and see if they can come up with any ideas. And see if BB-8 has any suggestions too.
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Maybe I won't be the only one to treat astromech's with respect. If that guy couldn't be respective to a droid he wouldn't be able to be respective to the pilots he was working with. [ There's a small smile after that. ] I know I can get very opinionated over certain things but... I'm only trying to do the right things. [ Even if they may not be exactly right at the time. ]
Oh, have you? I'm sure you have. They can be a bit embarrassing. [ Poe shakes his head while pressing his lips up a bit at the tease.There may have been a small eye roll to go along with it. He watches Ben though carefully. ] I'm not heading out for a while. Unless something major happens but you never know around here. That sounds like a great idea. Going to find the other mechanics. BB-8 has already tried, he's probably with the other astromechs trying to get suggestions from them.
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That was sorta my thoughts too. Sure, Bothans can have a bit of an attitude to begin with but this guy was a real asshole. [And Ben had a pretty healthy respect for astromech droids or even droids in general. Sure, he didn’t have much patience for the protocol droids like C3P0 but he’d cut his teeth trying to tinker with R2 much to the foul-mouthed droid’s exasperation. The fact that he’d learned how to swear in binary from R2 and Basic thanks to his father just meant his childhood had been interesting and colorful.]
Me and just about everyone else on the base and probably a good portion of the New Republic Navy as well. I have it on good authority your recruitment poster hangs in more than a few cadet’s lockers. [When Ben smiled like that, all slow and sly, you could definitely see Han Solo’s influence on him despite Leia’s attempts to civilize her son and make him respectable.] Well, let’s not tempt the universe by saying that and just concentrate on getting you back in the air, flyboy.
[Again, there was that note of something akin to wistful envy in the younger man's voice honed with a trace of bitterness.]
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Glad you could do us all the favor and get him re-stationed to a different system. [ He grinned a bit because it's the truth in the end. Poe knew how to treat other astromechs and BB-8 could always surprise him by being doing things he wouldn't believe to do on his own. ]
I don't need to hear all or any of this. [ He looks at Ben with a small smile but it slowly fades at the tone of the other's voice. Poe moves a bit quicker to stop in front of him while looking up at Ben. ] Why don't you join me on my next mission? When the next one comes around.
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[Ben just smiled in a serene sort of way and held up the hydrospanner as though to illustrate his point.] Allegedly. And I will denounce you as a filthy, filthy liar if you ever tell anyone that story. [The taller man climbed from one side of the X-Wing to the next by using the s-foils as a bridge from one side of the ship to the next so he could get to the engine on the other side.] That's what you get for agreeing to be the Resistance's poster boy.
[He said with perfectly cheerful schadenfreude but some of that humor faded when Poe made that unexpected request. Ben's expression closed off abruptly and he spent a moment ignoring Poe while internally, he seethed.] No can do, I'm too much of a flight risk. Besides, mom isn't going to let me get right in the middle of the action." This time, he didn't even bother to try and mask his bitterness. Being dragged home to Leia like an errant schoolboy still chaffed his pride something fierce.]
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No one would believe that story of me as a liar. You can try though but I don't have to say anything. People may not believe me anyway. [ Poe smiles giving him a slight tease at that since it's Ben Solo. He follows after the tall man while sighing at the comment. ] I never asked for the job.
[ Leia Organa though would use it as a political move, trying to recruit more pilots, get more people to see their side. Poe doesn't argue over those things knowing that it's true. Plus Ben wasn't wrong about underestimating his mother. ] Flight risk, really? So did she ground you or is this just a suggestion don't do it kind of thing? You can't even do one simple supply run? That's all it would take for her to see you're not. Everyone out there is. We need more pilots and she knows that.
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[Anger kindled in the younger man’s dark eyes when he thought about that disastrous time and the air around the disgraced ex-Jedi trainee grew almost palpably thick. It wasn’t the Force per-se but there was definitely an air of menace surrounding the other man.] Let’s be honest, I doubt my reputation could get any worse so I guess it doesn’t matter either way.
[He finished pulling the second chip from Poe’s starboard engine and jumped down off the wing. His heavy boots made an audible thump when they hit the ferrocrete and that tall, lanky body absorbed the shock of recklessly jumping from such a great height with ease.]
She doesn’t trust me, Poe. [Ben said sharply as his hands curled into fists at his side.] She thinks I’m going to run off and pull another disappearing act again. [The ‘just like my father’ hung unstated bitterly in the air. And really, considering the fact that Ben Solo had quite literally dropped off the radar for years after he’d run away from his uncle’s Jedi Academy, maybe Leia was justified in her fear of her son pulling another disappearing act. But he wasn’t the same scared boy he’d once been!] Feel free to tell her that.
[He said with bitterness dripping from each word while he concentrated on cleaning some of the engine grease from his hands with a spare shop rag.]
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[ He presses his lips together while moving to get in front Ben to get him to stop moving from whatever path he was going in. It almost felt routine as if he was on autopilot. ] She can't keep you grounded. I'm sure you're feeling as if you're not being able to do enough. [ Poe seems to go through a few emotions before looking as if he's agreeing with Ben. ]
I will tell her. You should tell her how you feel about this. If you're going to run off and disappear... I think... maybe... [ He glances away while putting his hands on his hips. ] I think you would have already done so.
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[Judging by the way the taller man’s shoulders had grown tense, Ben’s infamously notorious temper was at risk of boiling right over. Luke had tried to teach his nephew how to control his wild emotions and had tutored him in the risks of those very same emotions leading him on a path to the Dark Side.
But the way Poe physically moved to put himself in his path had the younger man jerking to a halt and for a brief moment, irritation flickered across his face.] I’m pretty sure she can keep me grounded. Can’t risk those Solo genes taking over and me turning into yet another flight risk.
[A sneer started to pull at the man’s lips when he spoke about his father before his expression started to turn rebellious and petulant.]I don’t need you fighting my battles for me, Poe.
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[ Sometimes certain conversations needed a bit more face to face interaction. ] She can. But, would you take the risk of disobeying her command and fly if you saw it to be the right thing to do?
[ Poe gives a nod at that. ] I'm not trying to fight your battles. I'm only offering to help if you don't want it, I can provide it somewhere else.