Room 204 [afternoon]

[momslilassassin]

"Last load," Ben said from behind a pile of metal. "Think we could start our own branch of Stark's right here in the room?"

His side of his new room was already neatly organized--not that he had much that wasn't droid parts--and he was talking mostly to hide his nerves.

Given the room's other occupant, he wasn't sure why he was even trying.

[OOC: For the roommate, and then open!]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"So, you're being ruled by an Imperial admiral, but one that you have enough power over to keep her from being as bad as the old Imperials?" Karla was kind of piecing this together bit by bit, since she lacked a thorough grounding in the history of the conflict. "But then wouldn't things be different than when your father first fought?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "What made the Imperials so bad was the exciting combination of hatred for non-humans, enormous military might, and complete lack of accountability to anyone." He paused. "Well, and exterminating the Jedi. We'd prefer that not happen again."

[glacial_queen]

The side of her mouth quirked up. "Yeah. No getting exterminated, hero. I'll be ticked off if Ender and I have to lead a charge into your universe just to save you."

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, that would be very hard to live down," he agreed, snickering. "I'll try my best to remain unkilled to save you the hassle."

[glacial_queen]

"Because it would be," she assured him. "A total hassle. We'd be in the middle of doing something and then look at each other, sigh, and say 'Ben's in trouble. Again.' There would be lots of eye rolling."

[momslilassassin]

"At least I'm not as bad as Jaina," he said. "When she was younger, she spent a lot of time getting kidnapped."

[glacial_queen]

"Lots? Is that compared to your 'only sometimes'?" Karla teased. She had no idea whether or not Ben ever had been kidnapped, but he wasn't going to put it past him.

[momslilassassin]

"Only once," he corrected smugly.

Most people don't brag about that, Ben.

[glacial_queen]

"Congratulations," she said dryly. "Your parents must have been very proud. Most people brag about how early they learned to walk and talk and read, you know."

[momslilassassin]

"I was kidnapped before I could do either," Ben said, "which would be impressive except that Anakin was kidnapped before he was born."

Ben's family was special.

[glacial_queen]

"Your grandfather was kidnapped before he was born?!" Karla asked, blinking in disbelief. Also forgetting there were two Anakins. "How-- Why-- What in Hells is wrong with your universe?!"

Well, it was bound to come out sooner or later.

[momslilassassin]

"Not that Anakin," Ben said, "my cousin Anakin."

[glacial_queen]

"Okay," Karla said patiently. "That still doesn't actually change my original reaction. How does someone get kidnapped before they are born? Or did you just mean your aunt got kidnapped when she was pregant?"

Which made more sense, but was far less interesting.

[momslilassassin]

"She got kidnapped, but it was entirely because she was pregnant," Ben said. "The Emperor's clone had plans for Anakin."

He paused. "Okay, my galaxy is weird."

[glacial_queen]

The look she gave him was quite eloquent in its agreement.

But all she said was, "More ice cream?"

Okay and a muttered "At least my world makes sense."

[momslilassassin]

"Please," Ben said, politely ignoring her muttered comment.

[glacial_queen]

Karla handed Ben the container. It would be easier letting him decide how much he wanted that trying to guess herself. "You should find out what kind of food Tahiri likes," she said.

Segues were for losers.

"So I can make sure we have it at the party."

[momslilassassin]

"You mean other than ice cream and cookies?" Ben replied. He was such a healthy influence.

[glacial_queen]

"Exactly," Karla said dryly. "And if you could include food that has some kind of nutritional value to it, I'd be ever-so-grateful."

[momslilassassin]

"She doesn't like those," Ben made up.

[glacial_queen]

"Riiiiight. So Tahiri exists on a diet of ice cream and cookies? Or do you just think that because that's all she ever eats with you around?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks went pink. "Oh."

[glacial_queen]

Karla groaned and hid her face. "I had been joking, you know."

[momslilassassin]

"It's a party!" Ben replied. "It's supposed to be full of terrible foods!"

[glacial_queen]

"I'd been thinking of having it take the form of a dinner, rather than a regular party," Karla said, sighing a bit. "I thought Tahiri would be more comfortable with that than an actual party."