galaxydealt:
in a way, lando is also powerless to do anything, and it frustrates him. he just wonders how long leia will last, mostly with the people that she has to deal with. illness alone might not be able to fully defeat her, but the company inside this glass cage might manage it. it’s part of why he even showed up, to survey the collection of people laid low by the virus.
she smiles, small as it is, and lando knows exactly what she’s doing.
there’s a small chuckle. “can you imagine the force doing anything directly? one of us looks out the window and the stars just happen to spell out the cure for all this?” his smile stays even if his tone draws itself more serious. “if only.”
he shakes his head mildly. “i’m not infected - or at least, i hope not. i’ve been trying my best to avoid it.” lando gives her a wry smile. “we’ll see what happens. i’m working alongside what could very loosely be called naboo’s best and brightest on a cure, though. can’t say i’m terribly impressed with most of them so far, but maybe they’ll surprise me.” the rebellion (or, really, leia and luke and han) certainly surprised him during the war, and lando would love to be surprised again. “i’ll try and get you updates whenever possible.”
the progression of the illness, as far as leia can tell, is random. she has minor symptoms compared to some of the others, though the medics say that’s normal for the recently sick. on the other side, there’s people who contracted the disease yesterday and are already coughing up blood. her heart aches for the people, especially the rebels, who will inevitably die from this, but she doesn’t know what else to do for them and it’s killing her.
(not like she can let that show.)
instead, she laughs softly at lando’s comment. it does make her happy seeing him, but her smile is forced and perhaps her response a little too fake. there is nothing pleasurable about being powerless like she is, but she has to make the best of this bad situation. “if luke were here, i’d tell you to ask him,” she says softly, letting out a small sigh. force, how she misses her brother, but there is nothing she can do about that, either.
“i would appreciate that,” she nods, voicing her approval. there is no one on the other side of the glass she trusts like she does lando, despite everything. “please do try and take care of yourself,” she says after a beat, a hint of desperation entering her voice. her next words were perhaps a bit selfish, but she didn’t know what else to say. “i don’t think i could bear it if i lose anyone else.”
