Hijra [A few weeks later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was catching up on emails from home--news about the Sith, the latest gossip from Jag and Jaina's corner of the galaxy and whatever Allana had gotten herself up to while being unsupervised (there was a lot of "it'd seemed like a good idea!!!" in her correspondence)--and then poking around scientific journals about advancements in reproductive technology.

You know. For no real reason. Cough.

He drank tea and really missed having those yummy red fruits around. He'd need to ask when they came back the next time he went to the market.

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"True enough," Ben said, reaching out to give Ender's hand one last squeeze before they headed out the door.

[endsthegame]

Ender slipped on the jacket and followed him.

It was a little chilly, but only for Hijra standards. While the streets before them were quiet, noise drifted in from the city at a level it usually didn't. "Sounds like they're having fun," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"It does," Ben replied, smiling. "I hear music."

[endsthegame]

"I was told there'd be plenty of food as well," Ender said, flashing him a quick smile as they began to walk towards the source of the music.

[momslilassassin]

"The food here has been much better than Shakespeare's," Ben admitted.

[endsthegame]

"They've had more time to iron out the kinks in their food supply," Ender noted. "It shows."

[momslilassassin]

"I think they might have a longer growing season, too," Ben said, "or else I was just tired of our old options."

[endsthegame]

"I'd almost forgotten you never ate nutritional rations for six years on end," Ender teased. "You're spoiled."

[momslilassassin]

"I am not," Ben said, grinning back. "We just had better food tech, that's all."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled, though he didn't poke Ben the way he would've before they came here. Many of the people here were very moderate, but he had no interest in provoking them anyway. It made him perhaps overly careful.

"We have more options here, at least," he said. "Who knew growing more than three crops would help?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Almost everyone?" he teased.

[endsthegame]

"We'll find you some of those cakes you like," Ender said, "And I'll ignore that you tried to mock me."

[momslilassassin]

"This is why I keep you around," Ben replied. "You're terribly forgiving."

[endsthegame]

"No," Ender said, "You're just very terrible at insulting people."

[momslilassassin]

Be laughed. "Am I?"

[endsthegame]

"It's one of your more charming features," Ender said, as the music began to increase in volume.

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed again. "I'm very interested in hearing about my other charming features," he said as the festival began spilling out toward them.

[endsthegame]

"I'll need some time to think of more," Ender said, and shot him a brief grin. "But look-- food stand."

[momslilassassin]

"Mmmm, food," Ben said. "Oooh, they have those flaky pastry things you like."

[endsthegame]

Ender reached for his wallet. "Honey cakes for you, I take it?"

[momslilassassin]

"Please," Ben said. "They're astral with coffee."

[endsthegame]

Ender stepped forward and bought some snacks for himself and for Ben. He passed the honey cakes on to Ben and took a firm bite of his own, much less sweet, pastry. "Mm."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm going to have to run another three kilometers every morning here," Ben said. "Their pastries are ridiculously good."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "I did detect some pudge," he teased.

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked genuinely horrified. "Really?"