Nagoya [a month later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was still smiling as they walked away from the Portalocity terminal, his hand in Ender's. "That was a nice visit," he said. "Dad's really, really excited about becoming a grandfather, huh? I think the Ewok-themed nursery might be a bit much, though."

[OOC: For the boy!]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, that sort of thing," Ben said with another smile. "I'm used to that. It's like talking to a Yuuzhan Vong."

[endsthegame]

"I can imagine," Ender said wryly. "It's been a struggle getting her to open up about it, but I think I'm starting to get some level of understanding of her perspective on this."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm all ears for whatever you want to share," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

Ender let out a little breath. "She seems convinced there's... I can't describe it any other way than 'unborn souls'... living in this web of hers," he said. "Apparently when it was time for a new queen to be born, they would do some kind of ritual to coerce this soul to come to the body. I think. I'm not sure. But the Force doesn't work like that, so when we went to the cloners in your world... she was confused."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's own forehead was knitting up in confusion. "Can't really blame her. That seems...not at all how we do things."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled wryly. "She doesn't care what gender or sex we are," he said. "From her perspective, before, we were just trying to build a body, but now that we're back here we're doing things properly by building a body and coercing a soul to come live in it."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, from that point of view, then yes, what we were trying sounds a little unnatural," Ben admitted.

[endsthegame]

"It's funny, when you think about it," Ender said. "From her point of view, you're a bit of a Pinocchio story."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Think I'm a real boy yet?"

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "We did just check," he teased.

[momslilassassin]

"I could be an incredibly talented droid," Ben said, kissing Ender's chin.

[endsthegame]

"With some very lifelike man-parts," Ender said, chuckling.

[momslilassassin]

"Never ever call it man-parts again," Ben replied, nipping Ender's neck.

[endsthegame]

"Sorry," Ender said, "I'll make sure to call Wango by his name next time."

[momslilassassin]

Ben burst out laughing. "Yes, please do."

[endsthegame]

Ender peered down over Ben's shoulder. "Hi, Wango."

[momslilassassin]

Ben was laughing so hard that he shook with it. "Kuso, I love you."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled broadly. It was hard not to, with Ben laughing like that. "Well, I'm a fantastic conversationalist for both of you."

[momslilassassin]

"If the other part starts talking, I might never stop screaming," Ben warned.

[endsthegame]

"You should at least be polite," Ender said. "Greet it back first."

[momslilassassin]

"No," Ben declared.

[endsthegame]

"You're a cruel man," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"Talking penises are my villain origin story," Ben agreed.

[endsthegame]

"You're lucky I like you slighty better than him," Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Only slightly," Ben laughed, leaning in to kiss him.