Shakespeare Colony [A month later]

[momslilassassin]

They'd waited for the weather to turn more reliably warm and dry before hosting an outdoor dance in the center of the village. The fight over music had been mostly smoothed over by agreeing to vary the selections between what the colonists who'd arrived recently liked and what the natives had become used to after Ben had offered to provide enough droid spoken word albums to last the entire dance to break the impasse.

Because everyone had agreed that droid spoken word albums were the worst.

And now, in the fine tradition of dances everywhere, no one was dancing in the area cleared for that purpose as everyone gathered in nervous groupings around food and drink tables, staring at people across the floor and hoping someone would ask them to dance.

Ben sighed and tugged at the tie around his neck. "Should we draw names from a hat or something?" he asked Ender.

Comments

[endsthegame]

"You might make a better peace-time Jedi than you think," Ender teased. "But yes, they did. They trust you."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm glad," Ben said, surprised by how true that was for him. "I was worried I was going to end up being 'guy who hangs out with the governor' rather than 'Ben.'"

[endsthegame]

"I did tell you that wasn't going to happen," Ender said fondly. "You've been putting yourself out there to make these people feel welcome. You've given them ways to have a good time regardless of how hard adjusting to the new circumstances might still be. This dance alone is a beacon of normalcy for a lot of the new colonists, and I do believe it was your idea."

[momslilassassin]

"Well it was a natural progression from the game nights aboard ship," Ben said, still blushing. "Happy colonists mean less work for you."

[endsthegame]

"The colonists do notice when you care about their wellbeing, Ben," Ender said wryly.

[momslilassassin]

"I'd have to be pretty heartless not to," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"There are plenty of people who wouldn't care," Ender said, "Or who'd care but wouldn't take action."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled. "Well, that's not really me."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender said. "Which is why I didn't think you'd have any trouble leaving your own mark in the first place."

[momslilassassin]

"Leaving a mark is a family tradition," Ben said a little wryly. "I think I'm the first to do it via party planning."

[endsthegame]

"You say that, and tomorrow, your long-lost ancestor shows up on Fandom island wearing a chef's hat," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled a little wistfully. "Wonder if we'd ever hear about it."

[endsthegame]

"Who knows," Ender said, touching his hand gently.

[momslilassassin]

Ben squeezed his hand back. "Love you."

[endsthegame]

"Take a little pride in what you've done here," Ender said. "You're helping shape a community."

[momslilassassin]

"Never really had one of those before," Ben replied. "The Jedi aren't big on team building exercises."

[endsthegame]

"Lucky thing for us you're more than just a Jedi," Ender murmured.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at him. "I'm still remembering that some days."

[endsthegame]

"'Some days' is a lot better than it used to be."

[momslilassassin]

Ben squeezed Ender's fingers. "True. You having an okay time? I know dances aren't really your thing."

[endsthegame]

"I'm fine here, truly," Ender said, squeezing back. "These are my people. For now, but they are."

[momslilassassin]

"Just let me know when you've had enough," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"Trust me, if I want to go, you'll know," Ender said wryly. "Now don't keep hanging around here - I know you want to go talk to some of the others, and I have my own rounds to make."

[momslilassassin]

"Think I'll go ask Val to dance," Ben said with a smile. "Meet you back here in an hour?"

[endsthegame]

"I'll be right here," Ender promised. I'm going to go talk to Sel."