Room 204 [morning]

[momslilassassin]

Prom had been fun and the evening after prom had been even more fun (Ben liked Ender in uniform, so sue him), but being fairly bright Fandom students who had been at the school for four years, both guys had remembered to put some clothing back on before falling asleep just in case.

Ben was curled into Ender now, sleeping in for once (so...past sun-up) and enjoying a weekend where he had nothing planned.

[OOC: You know the drill by now, folks! For the boy, then the visitor.]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Thank you, Yoda," Ben teased. "You're happy, though? Wherever you are?"

He paused.

"And whenever, too, since I'm guessing that's also a thing."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm happy," Val said, with a tiny quirk of her lips. "Life isn't always easy where we are, don't get me wrong. But there's plenty of work to do, and no one shooting at me - though I'm not sure Kol thinks of that as a plus - and I've got my family to back me up. Infuriating as you can be."

[momslilassassin]

"Kol?" Ben repeated, glancing at Ender. "Whose idea was that?"

[endsthegame]

Ender held up one hand. "It's not a name that runs in my family," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"Mine either," Ben said. He shrugged philosophically. "Probably not a major issue."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"And here I thought names contained our genetic destiny, and a terrible one was a ticket to Great Grand Doom, or whatever the Jedi call it." Val made expressions to go along with that little statement. Heavily exaggerated ones.

[momslilassassin]

"Ungrateful offspring," Ben replied fondly. "Should have named you Kreetle."

[endsthegame]

"Mmm. That could have gotten confusing," Ender said, giving Ben a nudge. Then he got up. "But I'm getting a little hungry," he said. "Mind if I run downstairs to grab us something from the cafeteria?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked momentarily surprised: Ender wasn't normally all that hungry. "Sure," he said with a quick smile. "Bring me back a coffee?"

[endsthegame]

"Will do," Ender said, ruffling his hair and stepping past him, heading for the door.

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

Val watched as he shut the door behind him, then snorted.

"Well, that was transparent," she said.

[momslilassassin]

"Little bit," Ben agreed with a chuckle. "So. Hi."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"Hi."

Val got up from where she was sitting and moved over to join Ben, though she didn't take Ender's spot.

So maybe cuddly ran in the Skywalker genes. ... the Luke line?

Okay, maybe it was just Ben's part of the family tree.

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out with one arm to hug her again. "Does he seem better this time?"

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

Val dropped her head onto Ben's shoulder and relaxed noticeably. "Much," she said quietly. "Though he's still reserved, but I guess I could've expected that."

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out to tug her hair playfully. "He's Ender. He's always reserved until he has some time to process."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"I know. I'm just not used to having it directed at me," she admitted, and reached to tickle Ben a little to make up for it.

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed, half out of ticklishness and half out of relief. Her being this physically affectionate meant that he must have done something right as a parent.

"So we're around, then? Together?"

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Val said without thinking. After a pause, she added, "Well, I suppose it doesn't seem so 'of course' to you. After last time..."

[momslilassassin]

"That worried you, huh?" Ben asked with a tiny smile.

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"There was such a gap here," she said, making vague gestures that indicated sensing something. "And you were so confused..."

[momslilassassin]

"I figured it out," Ben said, "but then he didn't seem interested..."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's Ender. He's always reserved," she teased gently. "Wasn't that the line?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben blushed. "Well yes, but I thought I knew him a little better than that."

[bend-in-time.livejournal.com]

Val's mouth curved. "For what it's worth," she said quietly, "This works with the timeline as I know it. Not that that necessarily has to mean anything."