Ta'a Chume'Dun, Hapes, Hapes Cluster, Friday evening

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned against the balcony of their suite in the Fountain Palace and sighed softly. Hapes really was ridiculously beautiful, and while he preferred Naboo because of the lack of constant political posturing, he did enjoy getting to show Ender and Val off to Tenel Ka, who flatly refused to believe he was old enough to have a baby of his own when she could still remember changing his bottom.

The laughter from her guards at that had almost made the embarrassment worth it. "I think it's time for dinner soon," Ben called into Ender. "It's hard to gage here by the sun because it never gets fully dark."

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender shook his head. "Anything I should know?"

[momslilassassin]

"The gold wine packs a punch," Ben said with a small, rueful smile, "and the food is delicious. Beautifully presented, of course, and fairly light on the sauce and the mess. It's a culture where appearances are everything so even the food's been adapted to cause no offense. Val will have to stay here--Hapan children aren't seen or heard for years."

[endsthegame]

"Good thing I've already prepared her food, then," Ender said quietly. "We should have brought Big Val."

[momslilassassin]

"Next time," Ben promised. "I'm sure she'd love to watch a hereditary matriarchy in action."

[endsthegame]

"I asked," Ender admitted, "She says she's too deeply into her book to get side-tracked by ogling another culture now."

[momslilassassin]

"Makes sense," Ben said. "Any matriarchal societies getting started out in the colonies?"

[endsthegame]

"Not unless you count the planet Virlomi once governed," Ender said, "They apparently have a strong tradition now of female leaders."

[momslilassassin]

"...yeah, let's give that one a miss," Ben said. "Forever."

[endsthegame]

"We know it's not a suitable location for the Hive Queen anyway," Ender said, "So I wasn't planning to."

[momslilassassin]

Ben didn't try to hide relief about hearing that. "Good," he said, kissing Ender lightly.

[endsthegame]

"You're still worked up about that?" Ender asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Not as a constant thing," Ben said, resting his forehead against Ender's.

[endsthegame]

Ender cupped his cheeks. "I'm fine," he said, "And I look forward to being fine going forward."

[momslilassassin]

Ben tilted his head to kiss the palm of Ender's hand. "I love you," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I love you too," Ender said, smiling the tiniest of smiles in response to Ben's lips on his palm.

[momslilassassin]

"Let's go have dinner with the Queen Mother and then come back and snuggle up in a ridiculous decadent bed," Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Val will be okay with the droid?" he said, dropping his hands.

[momslilassassin]

"And the four members of the Queen Mother's personal guard we're supposed to pretend are just housekeeping," Ben said with a tiny smile. "They're loitering in the hall."

[endsthegame]

"Okay," Ender said. He leaned in to kiss Ben one last time, then pulled away. "Then let's have dinner with royalty."

[momslilassassin]

"Again," Ben said with a smile. "We're very spoiled, huh?"

[endsthegame]

"We're making up for the years we were the opposite of spoiled," Ender said, though really, he only meant that for Ben. He took Ben's hand. "C'mon."

[momslilassassin]

Ben squeezed Ender's fingers, then led Ender through the palace, if not with complete expertise, at least with comparatively few wrong turns.

They arrived at the Queen Mother's private quarters, and Ben smiled at the identical twins guarding the door. "We're here."

"And precisely on time," one noted. "She likes that in a male."

[endsthegame]

Ender gave a gracious little nod. "We do our best," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"Andrew Skywalker, I'm pleased to introduce you to Taryn and Trista Zel," Ben said. "We've been friends for years and years. Taryn is engaged to Zekk, Jaina's old friend."

Because the circle Skywalkers ran in were vaguely incestuous.

[endsthegame]

But Ender wouldn't comment on that.

"It's good to meet you," he said, "I've heard about you here and there. Congratulations on your engagement," he finished, looking at Taryn.