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]

"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."

[endsthegame]

"So you mean to say you came prepared," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

Tenel Ka's smile widened. "We did."

[endsthegame]

"I'm sure you'll outlive your reputation some day, Ben," Ender said, a twinkle in his eye.

[momslilassassin]

"Some day," Ben said, sighing as the dessert course came in, "but until then, it's rude not to eat what's in front of us, right?"

[endsthegame]

"If you think you can handle the dessert," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"I might regret it later, but I'll enjoy it now," Ben said, smiling at Tenel Ka.

[endsthegame]

"Spoken like a Skywalker," Ender said fondly.

He looked to Tenel Ka. "Life has been peaceful here as well?" he asked.

You know. For local standards.

[momslilassassin]

Tenel Ka's smile was dryly amused. "It has been several months since a serious assassination attempt, yes. That is practically sleepy for Hapes."

Ben snorted. "Wouldn't want your bodyguards to get too bored," he said.

[endsthegame]

"I'm sure they enjoy the exercise," Ender said, studying Tenel Ka.

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, they do," Tenel Ka. "They would get worried if no one was attacking. It would mean they were missing a larger plot somewhere. Hapans breathe and scheme at about the same time."

Sometimes Tenel Ka was very Dathomiri in her approach, and she had never had patience for the constant undercurrents in Hapan politics.

[endsthegame]

"Does it get tiring?" Ender asked, after a moment.

He wasn't sure if he was overstepping, but he was... curious.

[momslilassassin]

"Sometimes," Tenel Ka said, "but it keeps the ruling family strong. If we rolled over at the first hint of discomfort, we would not be worthy of rule."

[endsthegame]

"True," Ender said, "But there is a balance between slacking and fielding monthly assassination attempts."

[momslilassassin]

"It's a lot nicer without the assassination attempts," Ben said. "Dad and Aunt Leia are figuring that out themselves right now."

[endsthegame]

"It's taking them some time to get around to recognizing it," Ender said wryly, "But yes."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, we move in interesting circles," Tenel Ka said dryly. "Tell, me Andrew Skywalker, is it like this on your homeworld as well?"