Aboard the Jade Shadow [Tuesday, Fandom time]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was grabbing a quick snack as he waited in the galley for his father to finish docking the ship on the first human-majority planet they'd seen in months and taking the chance to catch up on more reading about the Aing-Tii Monks. As soon as they restocked their supplies and checked for physical mail (Ben hoped that Tony's package would catch up with them here), they'd be heading into Aing-Tii space, which was a challenging enough flight that Luke Kriffing Skywalker looked slightly apprehensive about it.

Ben stopped being nervous by remembering that if Jacen had been able to do it, Luke would be able to do it better.

...it had never been said that Ben could not be very petty if the occasion called for it.

[OOC: Open for calls, texts, visits from the boy who's in space with him, care packages from home full of YA gay literature...]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"Probably a good thing we're here," Ender said, with a brief quirk of a smile. "No matter how concerned."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, we have a lot of time to think," Ben said. "if we come up with brilliant thoughts, we can always send an email."

[endsthegame]

"Avoiding the phones, are we?"

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe a little," Ben admitted. "She was loud."

[endsthegame]

"'Karla is loud' is right up there with 'the sky is blue'," Ender said, shooting him an amused look. "Eardrums still functioning?"

[momslilassassin]

"As far as I can tell, yes," Ben replied. "You can check if you'd like, but I'm not sure how that would work, other than you yelling at me."

[endsthegame]

"I could flick you in the ear," Ender offered. "Save Karla the trouble, too."

[momslilassassin]

"That seems a lot like asking to get hit," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"Oh, if I wanted you to hit me, I'd like to think I'd have to push a little harder than that."

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe it would get you a retaliatory poke," Ben admitted, "and then there's tickling and really that's just undignified for the both of us."

[endsthegame]

Among other things. "Yes," Ender said, thoughtfully, "I think I'll avoid that fate, if it's okay with you. I'm contractually obliged to keep the undignified tickling to my sister, as part of my little-brother status."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I'm an only child, leaving me without a tickle partner," Ben said, "but I think I can live with that."

[endsthegame]

"You could ask your dad," Ender said, "But I think he might look at you even funnier than he already does."

[momslilassassin]

"I was hoping you hadn't noticed that look," Ben said with a laugh. "He'd probably suggest you, and then we'd be back where we started."

[endsthegame]

"Well, the poor man is stuck with two teenagers on one ship," Ender said, wryly. "You have to feel some sympathy."

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe a little," Ben replied. "Think we should ask Tony to send aspirin next time?"

[endsthegame]

"You don't think bacta'll work?" Ender asked, poking him in the shoulder. "How are you handling being stuck with him, at that? I hear fathers can be real pains, too."

[momslilassassin]

Ben shrugged a shoulder. "It's weird. I think this is the first time I've spent this much time with him...ever."

[endsthegame]

"Good thing, or bad thing?"

[momslilassassin]

"I haven't decided yet," Ben said finally. "It's nice to finally feel like some of his focus is on me, and I'm realizing I'm more like him than I'd wanted to admit. But it's a lot of time to spend with your dad."

[endsthegame]

"I think being forced to spend every day with your parent is something all normal kids have to go through until they're eighteen," Ender offered, with a little smile.

[momslilassassin]

"Like either of have more than a passing acquaintance with normal," Ben said with a smile in reply.

[endsthegame]

"So see it as a brief but bizarre brush with the ordinary," Ender offered.

[momslilassassin]

"I think I will, not!Peter," Ben replied. "I guess I understand why some people complain about their parents knowing all of their business."

Just...no one he knew that well. He seemed to hang out with orphans a lot.

[endsthegame]

And people who refused to talk to their own parents. Which was almost the same thing.

"Afraid Luke is watching over your shoulder?" Ender asked, glancing towards the door. "I think he already knew more about your life than he lets on, kreetle."