Dathomir [Saturday afternoon, Fandom time]

[momslilassassin]

The trip to Dathomir had gone quietly. The planet had fit Ben's criteria: off the beaten path but still livable (so no Hoths, thanks), temperate, and largely unexplored.

He hefted the backpack he was carrying into a more comfortable position on his back, and glanced over at Ender before beginning to walk through the forest in front of them, leaving the shuttle parked behind. "This is the planet my uncle won in a card game decades ago," he said. "Singing Mountain is a few klicks that way."

Well, Ben's definition of "a few" was closer to fifteen. "Is this what you had in mind?"

[OOC: For the bff. NFB due to distance.]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"That would be an interesting conversation," Ben said dryly. "You two deciding my diet and exercise regime like I'm nine or something."

[endsthegame]

"We'll also judge everyone you're friends with," Ender informed him, "And you'll be stuck with us all day and all night, just to make sure you're doing it right."

He had no idea that that sounded in any way dirty.

[momslilassassin]

"The squirrels would love that," Ben said, steering away from a section of trees they were beginning to approach.

Whatever lived in there wasn't a rancor, but didn't seem particularly friendly through the Force, either.

[endsthegame]

Ender noted the sudden deflection, but said nothing about it. "I'm fairly sure there's a good mix of rum and nuts you can use to get rid of them."

There was a reason his goings-on didn't make it to the radio very often.

[momslilassassin]

"You would probably know," Ben said with a smile. "You're very rarely mentioned. Here I thought you just didn't do anything."

[endsthegame]

"The squirrels and I have an understanding," he joked. "But I'm joining the play, so that should change."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's eyes went a little wide. "Acting?" he asked. "Really?"

[endsthegame]

"It seemed like a nice way to pass the time," Ender noted, "And I'm not sure about my reelection for student council yet."

It was also a good way to deflect attention while doing what he was good at.

[momslilassassin]

"It's a little...out in front of everyone," Ben commented.

[endsthegame]

Ender raised an eyebrow on him. "Do you think I got to be commander by hiding in my room?"

[momslilassassin]

"I don't think you got there by reciting other people's words," Ben countered.

[endsthegame]

"Peter always said that great leaders got there on the right words at the right time," he said, following along as he cast another look at the patch of forest they'd avoided. "But it's not the words that count."

[momslilassassin]

The hair on the back of Ben's neck was beginning to rise up. His hand flicked toward his lightsaber again, but kept his voice casual as he continued talking. "Does this mean I have to come watch you?" he asked.

[endsthegame]

"Only if you feel artistically inclined, or you want to laugh at me."

He took the cues with ease, his own body shifting subtly closer towards Ben's.

It wasn't that Ender couldn't defend himself; it was that Ben was better at it, in this environment, and he didn't really want to.

[momslilassassin]

"I only laugh at you if you're gremlin bit," Ben declared as his eyes flickered around, looking for a way out. "We're being tracked."

[endsthegame]

"I noticed," Ender said, clipped.

Not because of the actual tracking, but because of Ben's reaction. "Which way?"

[momslilassassin]

"Two to the right, one behind," Ben replied. "They're trying to herd us."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded once, taking that for fact. He spied the area up ahead. "They're driving us that way," he surmised, "We'll need something fortified."

He hadn't gotten where he was by panicking in a crisis.

[momslilassassin]

"And not in that direction," Ben agreed. "Whatever they want, I'm not going to be a fan of."

[endsthegame]

"One behind," he repeated. "They're not in front of us yet-- North with a bent to north-east."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "They don't know we know yet," he added, "but you'll be able to hear them soon. Rancors aren't subtle."

[endsthegame]

"That's a relief," Ender said, idly, glancing in that direction from the corners of his eyes. "Let's not speed up too much-- it'll give them ideas."

[momslilassassin]

"Exactly," Ben said, reaching into the Force for help. An empty cave, a rock wall, anything to make sure nothing could sneak up on him as he tried to figure out what to do about--Force help him--three rancors.

"How do you feel about caves?" he asked.

[endsthegame]

"Depends on how narrow the entrance is."

There was nothing else that needed any concern about caves. He felt some anxiety setting in.

[momslilassassin]

Ben felt the anxiety and empathized. "Big enough for us, small enough to block something three meters tall," he said. "Plenty of wiggle room."