Video, backdated to Sunday

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[It wasn't that long between volunteering to take over Jacen's care (well, volunteering, like there'd been any other choice. What else could they do, send him to strangers?) and Wes realizing that he was now responsible for the safety of one of the three most kidnapped children in the galaxy. While it does seem there would be less motivation in a completely different universe, he's not about to take that risk.]

I... need some help keeping an eye on Jacen when I'm flying patrols. If anyone wants to pick up a bit of extra pocket money.

[That's how you find babysitters, right?}

Rather not be the guy who let the Chief of State's kid come to harm.

[It's this thing he has okay?]

Comments

[diplomaticsolutions]

Major. [A smile of welcome offered.] If you need a hand, I'm more than happy to help. I- I have yet to meet him, actually, but I would very much like to.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Of course. Dump the kids on Grandma. The old standby. Why didn't he think of that?]

He's a great kid. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to meet you.

[diplomaticsolutions]

Then that will make two of us.

[The family she has thought about but never actually thought she would get... Surprising, how these things happen.]

But you can keep your money.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

I... wouldn't want to impose, ma'am.

[He's always careful to be particularly polite with Padme]

[diplomaticsolutions]

It is not imposing when it is offered- and offered freely.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Well, if you're going to insist.

[He really needs a sitter, he's not going to argue]

[diplomaticsolutions]

I fear that I will insist.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Well... more family would be good for him, right now.

[Even hilariously young grandmothers. Perhaps especially.]

[diplomaticsolutions]

I have nieces of my own. I'm sure I can find ways to amuse him, and keep him out of trouble.

[Although if he is anything like her or Anakin...]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Out of trouble. He'd like to see that.]

More realistic to hope for a low level of trouble. He's... energetic.

[diplomaticsolutions]

Alive and in one piece.

A pity R2 is not here.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Alive and in one piece sounds good.

[Also unkidnapped]

He was, for a while. When Threepio was around.

[diplomaticsolutions]

Excellent.

[And a small pause.]

Both of them? That is- [But wait one moment.] Are they still around in your time, or did you know them from here?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Still around. Usually Threepio sticks with the Solos. He's more useful in Leia's line of work. Luke's had Artoo so long that he has a counterpart level relationship with his X-Wing.

[diplomaticsolutions]

He is a brave little droid. He helped to save my ship when it was under fire- the only droid to make it back.

[She is quite fond of the astromech droid.]

I'm please to hear that they are. Anakin worked quite hard on Threepio.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Nevermind Artoo. He must have just misunderstood what she said there.]

Wait, what?

[diplomaticsolutions]

What to which part?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

The... Anakin and Threepio part.

[That can't mean what it sounded like]

[diplomaticsolutions]

[She pauses.]

When I first met Anakin on Tatooine, he showed me the droid he was building from parts he had found. That was the droid.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[One more time just to be clear]

Anakin. Skywalker. Built. C-3PO.

[His brain hurts now.]

[diplomaticsolutions]

Yes, he did. [Old news for her, after all.]

He was quite good with things like that. He built his own pod racer, as well.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Somehow that's not as... strange as Threepio.

[The droid has a bit of a reputation]

[diplomaticsolutions]

Why? What has he been up to?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Uh... giving new meaning to the words prissy and neurotic, mostly.

[He also makes ill advised one night stands worse]

[diplomaticsolutions]

He is a protocol droid.

[Who did help Anakin's mother, while she lived...]

He can be a bit- over-zealous.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

That's one word for it. I had to babysit him the entire honeymoon.

[diplomaticsolutions]

... pardon?

[kettchmeifyoucan]

After Luke and Kaylee got married. Someone had to keep Threepio out of trouble.

[Occasionally switched off and in the closet]

[diplomaticsolutions]

Oh!

[A laugh, because he had been a witness to her own wedding...]

He can't have been that much trouble...

[kettchmeifyoucan]

I'm used to being in close quarters with fighter pilots. He's more or less the opposite.

[diplomaticsolutions]

No, that he's not, although he was not created to be either.

[nothingbitesme]

[ Slightly grumpy nine year old. ]

I can look after myself, you know.

[ DON'T LISTEN TO HIM this is always when the kidnappings happen. ]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Oh, he saw this coming]

Jacen. You know that tone of voice your mom has when she's really mad?

[nothingbitesme]

[ wince ] ...yes. But my mom's not here!

[kettchmeifyoucan]

She's your mom. She would manage to wake up right when something happened.

[Seriously Jacen. No one wants to be on Leia's bad side.]

[nothingbitesme]

[ His eyes widen. He glances in the direction of the ship. ]

...she's good at that.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Scary good at that.

[He considers Leia waking up right when something happens to be a legitimate threat]

[did_i_say_percy]

I can help as well. I work in the library in the mornings, but I can't see why he couldn't be there with all there is to read and do. And I don't see him being trouble in the afternoons, even if I have errands.

How old is he? And I suppose it would matter if he liked me or not. [Armand wasn't worried about him liking Jacen. He generally gets along with children.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

He's nine. A very energetic nine.

[Just so we're clear on that]

He loves animals, so maybe he can find some books about that.

[did_i_say_percy]

You should know what kind of child minder I am. [Yes, he's a bit amused.] I remember being energetic. [That he's prepared for, but he probably isn't as prepared for just how bright Jacen is.]

[kettchmeifyoucan]

[Wes laughs. There is that.]

Trees are probably a good bet.

[did_i_say_percy]

They're always a hit with boys and more energetic girls. And at the library, I can try to find things he likes to read. There's so much here that there must be something.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

Trust me, his sister would be up a tree just as fast if she was here.

[Maybe faster. What do boys and girls have to do with it?]

Hopefully that'll get him to sit still for a bit.

[did_i_say_percy]

He has a sister? I didn't realize.

[Armand is still battling a bit of cultural sexism. Forgive him if you can. He chuckles about the sitting still.]

I can only hope.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

A twin sister. It's hard for him to be separated from her. Little brother too.

[The cultural sexism is... not unfamiliar to Wes. The Empire took it up for some reason. But his people never much cared for it.]

[did_i_say_percy]

As much as I miss my own sister, I can imagine it must be harder for a twin.

I'll try to find things to keep him occupied.

[kettchmeifyoucan]

He's never been apart from her before, so to not even be on the same planet...

[And the Jedi thing but that was so not Wes's area]

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand doesn't get the Jedi thing anyway, and would probably be a lot more nervous about this whole thing if he thought about it.]

That can be disturbing. I have to wonder what it's like where you're from with so many of you here.