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]

"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."

[weetuskenraider]

"Not to worry. I leave that sort of thing to your family," Tahiri assured him. "In situations like that I'd rather take the passenger seat."

And comment a lot, most likely.

[momslilassassin]

"Probably pretty smart," Ben admitted. "We got to hallucinate spiders."

[weetuskenraider]

Spiders weren't Tahiri's worst nightmare, but she wasn't exactly fond of them. "I miss out on all the fun, clearly. How well did that go over?"

[momslilassassin]

"Weird," Ben said. "Spiders aren't really that scary, all things considered. Squish, end of problem. But it seemed to be something kind of hardwired into the human consciousness that bugs are scary."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri made a vague noise of assent. "Part of me completely understands that. Part of me thinks it's odd. It's . . . interesting."

Which didn't mean she envied them the experience.

"That didn't mess things up too badly, did it?"

[momslilassassin]

"The spiders? Not really. Once I remembered that if I couldn't feel them in the Force, they weren't actually there I was fine."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri grinned. "There's hope for you yet, Ben."

[momslilassassin]

"I like to think so," he said, blushing hard.

[weetuskenraider]

Teasing Ben was always fun, but more seriously she had to add, "You wouldn't be you if there weren't."

[momslilassassin]

He was quiet for a moment before he replied with a small, sincere, "Thanks."

[weetuskenraider]

"I know you, remember?" Tahiri replied softly. As frustrating as she found his stubborn need to fix other people and their problems sometimes, she really hoped right now that he wasn't going to get that knocked out of him the longer this exile wore on. "I think I can say that about you and be reasonably certain about it."

[momslilassassin]

"I really needed to hear that today," he murmured, running his hands through his hair.