Aboard the Jade Shadow [Sunday, Fandom time]

[momslilassassin]

It had taken a few days to break free of the Kathol Rift, but the minute the ship cleared the interference, Ben had his comlink out to make a few long-needed calls back to various galaxies.

Ender and his dad had been good to talk to--or not talk to--but he needed to reconnect with some others, too--especially Jaina.

[OOC: If you think you got a call, you did! Ping on back!]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "I'm sure they'd say we were delicious."

[weetuskenraider]

"Well, I would agree," Tahiri pointed out. "Although I never really thought of it as informative, exactly."

[momslilassassin]

Ben made a slightly strangled sound. "Thank you for that."

[weetuskenraider]

"Any time." Tahiri smothered a laugh, but had to admit, "It's less fun teasing you when I can't see you turn red."

[momslilassassin]

"Next time I'll try to get a holo of it," Ben replied, laughing.

[weetuskenraider]

"Believe me, that wouldn't go unappreciated," Tahiri replied. "I'm also awfully curious about what sort of disaster zone your hair is now."

If you were growing a small animal on your face, Ben, so help you . . .

[momslilassassin]

"It's not that bad!" Ben insisted. "I got it cut before we went to see the Aing-Tii."

[weetuskenraider]

"Which has been how long for you?" Tahiri couldn't resist teasing him.

[momslilassassin]

"About a month," Ben admitted.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri snorted lightly. "Uh huh."

Her point: made.

[momslilassassin]

"Shhhhh, I can still see and I don't look like Kyp," Ben replied.

[weetuskenraider]

Her point was maybe not as made as she would have liked to think.

"For how much longer, though?" Tahiri persisted. "I have good reason to be concerned, if the weird but incredibly vivid impression that it would be a very bad idea for you to try and grow a beard counts."

[momslilassassin]

"There will never be a beard," Ben promised. "Even when we're 300 meters underground, I'll find a rock or something."

[weetuskenraider]

"And now I can relax, knowing you have some standards of appearance," Tahiri said dryly. "I'd feel much better knowing you have the answers you were looking for and are on your way home, but if I'm asking for that I may as well ask for my own solar system."

[momslilassassin]

"I think I could get you the system first," Ben said. "Dad's actually drawing a salary now. Well, savings, anyway. It's weird."

[weetuskenraider]

". . . that's beyond weird," Tahiri replied after a pause in which you could practically hear something break in her brain. "But then, I guess if he's not technically leading the Order right now . . ."

[momslilassassin]

"He's drawing on his retired military salary," Ben said, nodding.

[weetuskenraider]

"That makes sense," Tahiri realized. "Force, I hadn't even ever thought about that, but it's probably pretty decent."

[momslilassassin]

"We're getting by," Ben replied, smiling.

[weetuskenraider]

"Well, I don't guess there are too many incredibly tempting, expensive restaurants out where you are, either," Tahiri added. "But if you just happen across a gift shop in the middle of nowhere . . ."

[momslilassassin]

"...I'll get you a snow globe," he promised.

[weetuskenraider]

"Smart. If you'd said an hourglass, or a sand sculpture . . ." Tahiri trailed off there and chuckled. "Let's just say it wouldn't have been pretty."

[momslilassassin]

Ben chuckled. "That's also why I haven't offered you part of my astral new rock collection."

[weetuskenraider]

"Please, oh please, tell me you're getting lots of holos of what sounds like a breathtaking view, " Tahiri teased. "Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing pictures of what it looks like out where you are. Part of me still thinks everything is fascinating after the Interstellar Void."

[momslilassassin]

"The Kathol Rift was spectacular," Ben replied, "but I'd recommend never flying through it."