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

[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.

[momslilassassin]

Taryn smiled. "Thank you," she said, then turned back to Ben. "Tell Tahiri we say hello, okay, Skywalkers?"

She opened the door. "The Queen Mother awaits."

[endsthegame]

Ender took Ben's hand in his. It was both a signal and a reassurance. Or perhaps, a certainty.

He stepped into the room.

[momslilassassin]

Tenel Ka rose from her throne and walked to greet them. "Ben Skywalker," she said, smiling at him, "and Andrew Skywalker. I trust your rooms are sufficient?"

[endsthegame]

"More than sufficient," Ender said easily. "We've been very comfortable. Thank you. And thank you for having us."

[momslilassassin]

Tenel Ka smiled. "I am always pleased to show friends the beauty of Hapes," she said. She turned to Ben. "And how is your father?"

"Enjoying the idea of retirement," Ben said. "Aunt Leia, Uncle Han and Amelia are as well," he added, knowing who Tenel Ka was really asking after.

[endsthegame]

"We saw some of them recently," Ender said. "I'd say they're more than enjoying it."

[momslilassassin]

"Amelia's learned how to completely rework a lightspeed engine," Ben said, grinning. "Uncle Han's probably going to write you about it, he's so pleased."

[endsthegame]

"Of course," Ender said wryly, "That means the days of getting away with hiding the starship keys are entirely over and done with..."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "That's never worked in our family."

[endsthegame]

"That means the delusion that it might work is definitely over," Ender amended. "Better?"

[momslilassassin]

"Better," Ben said, helping Tenel Ka into her chair, to her vast unstated amusement. All of Ben's diplomacy lessons had really sunk in without him realizing it.

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked the tiniest bit, but no further, and he moved to get seated himself.

[momslilassassin]

Ben made light smalltalk as the food arrived: course after course after course.

"Please tell me you don't eat like this every night," he finally said to Tenel Ka. "I'd explode."

She smiled. "No, normally I can choose to have only the soup and a salad alone in my chamber."

[endsthegame]

"You managed to put down enough food to fill even Ben up," Ender said fondly, "That takes skill."

[momslilassassin]

Tenel Ka laughed. "His appetite is legendary in our kitchen from the time he was a young teenager."