[ She had chased Thrawn down for a way to correct herself, to fix some fundamentally failing aspect and prepare herself for an environment that she was never raised for. Most others who she had conveyed her feelings of inadequacy to had also drifted in the same direction — reinforcing her desire to fix it, to mitigate that failing.

Even after it had been these same failings to some degree which had caused her to make such an abysmal error in judgment with Thrawn, to expose them, Ben offers instead 'don't be upset.' Assurance that it doesn't have to be her strength.

She certainly hadn't expected that from him of all people. She doesn't quite know what to do with it, but she knows that she appreciates it, however stilted the delivery. It reminds her of the glimpse he'd given her of Chandrila. In these little ways, even though it doesn't come naturally to him, he — cares for her.

A smile tugs at her mouth as she looks up at him, gentle and grateful and for him.

For a moment after that, her eyes scan him, but whatever it was in consideration of, she wimps out and instead leans back on ambient conversation. ] Still. Like you said, I'll be glad when we play a different game. [ One she's better at. ] They sent out that announcement about the elective mission. Are you going?