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

[momslilassassin]

Ben lit up at that. "Maybe see if Karla's free too? There's more space for guests on Naboo than in the ship."

[endsthegame]

"True," Ender said. He steered Ben towards the quieter part of the city they hadn't yet visited. "And she's less likely to get into a fight with angry indigenous fauna."

Which would be an issue on this planet.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smirked because yeah. "Much less likely," he agreed. "And we can get her a Naboo headdress and tell her it's cultural important to wear it."

Not nice, Ben.

[endsthegame]

"Do the Naboo care if outsiders wear that kind of ceremonial dress?" Ender wondered, because of course he did.

[momslilassassin]

"Not that I've ever seen," Ben said. "I mean, don't put on the Queen's ceremonial ones, obviously, but the rest are fair."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "Maybe we should let someone do Val's hair in the traditional style sometime," he said. "It is part of her heritage."

[momslilassassin]

"Aunt Leia would love it," Ben said. "Jaina never had the patience to sit for it."

[endsthegame]

"That doesn't surprise me," Ender said wryly. "But this one here, maybe..."

Val let out a happy burp and blinked at Ender.

[momslilassassin]

"I think she'll have more patience," Ben agreed. "But she needs more hair first."

[endsthegame]

"And here I was impressed by the amount of it she had already," Ender sighed.

Val burped again, then looked very, very focused for a second before apparently giving up on whatever was going on in her head.

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, it's very impressive," Ben said, "but Aunt Leia's used to go down her back. I think it's for the structure of the wicker baskets and stuff."

[endsthegame]

"The Naboo certainly like to make things elaborate and heavy," Ender said, with a faint smile.

Neither were words he'd associate with Ben.

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, they do," Ben agreed, grinning. "I mean, the face makeup on the Queen alone..."

[endsthegame]

"Never been tempted to follow in your grandmother's footsteps?" Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Into a life of politics, or a life of white pancake foundation?" Ben asked.

[endsthegame]

"The white pancake foundation," Ender said. "I think you'd look adorable with buns."

[momslilassassin]

Ben wrinkled his nose up at him. "Because I look adorable all the time?"

[endsthegame]

"Ba!" Val contributed.

"What she said," Ender said, smiling.

[momslilassassin]

"Thanks for the backup, little one," Ben said, kissing the top of Val's head.

[endsthegame]

"Ba," Val mumbled again, swatting at Ben's shoulder with her tiny fist.

"She seems frustrated," Ender mused. "Maybe you're a little too adorable."

[momslilassassin]

"I can find you some clip on buns, Val, if that'll make you feel better," Ben said, kissing her nose.

[endsthegame]

"Dah," she insisted.

Then her expression brightened.

"...I guess that did it," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"You are going to be so cute," Ben told her. "Were you really replying to me, or just making noise?"

[endsthegame]

"Dah," Val repeated, swatting at his chest with her tiny hands. With it came a burst of projected emotion that sort of shaped into the tiny core of important-loved-need-food that Ben was to her.

[momslilassassin]

Ben stared down at her, eyes welling with tears. "Stang. You figured it out!"