Milliways, Thursday evening

[momslilassassin]

Ben had been to some stupidly decadent restaurants (being the son of Luke Skywalker had its privileges), but this one blew even those most ridiculous on Coruscant out of the water.

"This is barvy," he muttered to Ender as their waiter led them to their table. "Look at all of the people here. And...other beings...of course."

Ben hadn't been knocked so completely off-stride in years.

[OOC: For the boy and great SP justice.]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"No, sir," the waiter said, sounding terribly patronizing.

Then she swept off.

"Well, that's a relief," Ender said, nonplussed.

[momslilassassin]

"The waiter didn't have to be so snotty about it," Ben commented. "It's not like most people expect the dish of the day to introduce itself."

[endsthegame]

"I usually see eating meat as simply being part of the cycle of life," Ender said, after a pause. "Our species being omnivores - it's part of us. But this is... unsettling."

[momslilassassin]

"Very," Ben agreed, looking up at the roiling galaxy above them. "So's that."

[endsthegame]

"Maybe that's the point of this restaurant," Ender said, looking up as well. "To leave us unsettled in luxury."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, if that's the case, they're doing an astral job," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"Hopefully their salads and wine will be decent," Ender said quietly. "Can you sense anything out there...?"

[momslilassassin]

"Kind of trying not to," Ben said. "It feels as bruised at it looks. Heck of a light show, though."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded. "Probably a good idea to close up as many of your shields as possible," he said softly.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben agreed, biting his lower lip. "It's something to see, though. I mean, when else will we get a chance like this? Except tomorrow, apparently, which is slightly confusing to me."

[endsthegame]

"Time travel," Ender said. "It's like they're playing off a movie over and over again, it's just that the spool is firmly on the time-space axis."

[momslilassassin]

"It's such a strange pull on the Force," Ben said. "Reminds me a bit of flying through the Maw, gravity forgetting which way to go."

[endsthegame]

"But more than gravity," Ender guessed.

[momslilassassin]

"A lot more than gravity," Ben said, "but I'm trying not to pay too much attention. My brain will go all wibbly."

Technical term.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "Good thing your wine is coming our way," he said, nodding at the waiter.

[momslilassassin]

"Might help to dull the headache," Ben said with a little smile. "No idea what your milk will do."

[endsthegame]

"It'll keep my teeth healthy and my bones strong," Ender said, as the waitress set their drinks down in front of them.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at him. "Oh, you nerd," he said fondly.

[endsthegame]

"I believe in the power of calcium," Ender said, holding up his glass of milk in toast.

[momslilassassin]

Ben clinked his glass against Ender's. "To a night out."

[endsthegame]

"To the circle of life," Ender said wryly, and took a careful sip of his milk.

[momslilassassin]

Ben took a cautious sip of his wine and decided it was drinkable--not that he'd be enough of a pain to ever send something back just because he didn't like it--and glanced back up at the ceiling. "The circle of life we'll watch fall apart just after the dessert course, right?"

[endsthegame]

"So we'd better make it a very good dessert," Ender said. "Something with a lot of chocolate."

[momslilassassin]

"Want to split it?" Ben offered.

[endsthegame]

"Sure," Ender said, smiling. "I'll even let you choose."