004 | text

[carbonfrozen]

[It's 2 AM when this message pops up on the network—it had been meant for Lando's more private channel, but. Well. Considering Han's early morning texting habits, this was bound to happen at some point.]

hey Lando if you're still up I need some help

where are all the best places to take someone out for a classy first date

[Oops.

He doesn't wait for a response or even check if he posted it to the right place before he passes out for an hour or two. In the very near future, he's going to come to regret that.]

Comments

[private text]

[candor1]

i don't know her as well as you but was my guess

[Cassian's aware there's a gap in his ability to understand, anticipate, if it would feel good or painful to be in a place reminiscent of the home she'd loved and lost. (He's never had one as such. Not one that would live as much in his grown consciousness.) At the least, though, he'd bet a lot that such a display of support and recognition from Han would serve Han and Leia both. Connection, respect, volunteering to share losses, give them room to exist and be processed, help keep them alive. He's seen the power in that. And the ordeal of the alternative, of someone feeling isolated in their grief, feeling they had to hold it alone.

At the least, most beings felt particular resonance in places similar to where they'd grown up. For many, that resonance was pleasurable.

…But just in case:]

if wanting contrast

[He wouldn't violate a confidence or share unnecessary intel. And if it was someone else, he wouldn't share even this casual information, lest it be a violation or potential manipulation. His read on Han, though—for all Han can be regularly (mis)interpreted otherwise—is that Han's motive was to give Leia happiness, not use her for his own.]

she mentioned it's been a long time since she danced


[…as soon as he's sent it, he does wonder if it's too much… shifts the balance from demonstrating that Han had wanted to think of her, to perhaps making her feel… well, spied on. (Because, let's face it, Cassian never had a relationship in that life time that was disentangled from his work.)

…Well, he believes Han can draw those lines. He'll back off.

Relationships without ulterior objective. Still new to him. He feels like Kaytoo.]

[private text]

[carbonfrozen]

yeah well

it's been a while since either of us have danced

[It's a rare moment of honesty, out of Han. He's usually just content to play the charming rogue and carefree smuggler, with no worry in the world, though that's been slipping lately, but—well. It's. Been a while, since that was true.]

wouldn't wanna step on her toes [And he's back to playing it off as flippantly as possible, as per usual.]

[private text]

[candor1]

[On the other end of the transmission, Cassian's smiling. Don't always have to think everything twelve steps ahead.]

whatever you go for - tell us how it goes?