Sorelledolce [let's call it Sunday]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was starting to feel at home on Sorelledolce: he had a routine for getting produce for the week at the same store, where the older man behind the counter insisted on spoiling the baby with strawberries, plums or apples, depending on what he had available when they arrived. He'd then get bread at another shop (and a roll for Val to gnaw on), and then a coffee for himself (and an espresso cup full of whipped cream that Val smeared all over her face, to her great delight) before heading back to the ship.

He kept up his normal one-sided conversation with his daughter as they walked. "That's a puppy, Val," Ben explained. "And that's a chicken! And that's a lady who's glaring at us for no real reason but we're going to walk faster anyway..."

Just another Sunday morning. Ben kind of loved his quiet little life.

[OOC: For calls or the boy!]

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender had been busy; since last week, Valentine's research had intensified, and she had drafted him into it as she frequently had in the past. This morning, he had spoken at length to an old man who had been part of this colony for so long that his memories hadn't been colored by the glitz and the commerce that had defined it for the past few decades.

It'd left him with something to think about.

He needed some air.

He knew Ben's routine by now; coffee last. And so not long after Ben and Val left the coffee shop, they would be able to see Ender, walking up towards them.

[momslilassassin]

Ben felt Ender approaching and glanced down to see when Val noticed. It took her another minute, then she began babbling, eyes lit up. "That's right," he told her. "Here comes Dad."

[endsthegame]

That response at least managed to wipe the thoughtful look off of Ender's face; he smiled brightly at the baby, crossing the last of the distance. "How are my two favorite brats?" he asked, teasing.

[momslilassassin]

"Sticky and covered in whipped cream," Ben said, grinning at him. "Val likes to share today, so be warned."

[endsthegame]

"So I guess that's a no on breaking open the applesauce today," Ender said. He reached out and booped Val gently on the nose. "Messy."

[momslilassassin]

Val shrieked in delight. "Definitely no on the applesauce," Ben agreed, laughing.

[endsthegame]

For a second there, Ender thought he heard something that sounded faintly like 'Plle' in that shrieking. But maybe that was just wishful thinking.

He leaned in to kiss Ben gently on the cheek. "I'm glad you two had fun," he said, "Even if you really are all sticky now."

[momslilassassin]

"Baths for everyone," Ben said with a smile. "How was your meeting?"

[endsthegame]

"Long and interesting," Ender said, sliding his arm through Ben's. "I think Valentine has finally found her angle for her story."

[momslilassassin]

"Oh yeah?" Ben replied, kicking the notifications "what is it?"

[endsthegame]

"The man we spoke to today, Bosco," Ender said, "He was a leader in the community during the early days - not the first generation, but the second generation of settlers. He was there when the colony shifted from being a rough survivor's post to the capitalist free zone it is now."

He smiled at Val. "It's the engine of that change she's looking into now."

Ender just thought Bosco was interesting.

[momslilassassin]

"Sounds like a human jackpot," Ben said, smiling at him fondly. "You had fun, huh?"

[endsthegame]

"Bosco's a very contrary individual," Ender said. He gave Ben a wry smile in return. "I'm not sure Valentine always knew how to deal with him."

[momslilassassin]

"You were better at it?" Ben guessed, sipping from his to-go cup of coffee.

[endsthegame]

Valentine knew how to people-please, but she didn't quite know how to make herself smaller to make space the way Ender did. It had been something of a trial.

"She started arguing with him eventually," he said, "He got her rattled. But she saw it through."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his cheek. "It's okay that you're better at something than your sister is. I'm not going to tell her."

[endsthegame]

"She might scowl," Ender said, "And that would be terrible."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "I've been on the receiving end of some of her scowls back when we were all students together and she was sure I was a bad influence on you."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled softly. "Now that feels like longer ago than the centuries it's been," he admitted. "We've all grown. But she still scowls."

[momslilassassin]

"Think she would've liked me more if I'd promised early on to name my firstborn after her?" Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "I think it would've helped more if you'd been able to convince me you weren't in this to whisk me away to another galaxy without her," he said. "But water under the bridge."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him quickly. "Instead you whisked me here, with her."

[endsthegame]

"We're all family now," Ender said softly. He smiled at baby Val. "You too."

[momslilassassin]

Val waved her sticky little fists in the air. "Do you have other plans for today?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"No," Ender said. He glanced at Ben. "Did you have any ideas?"