Room 529, Just After Third Period

[weetuskenraider]

Master Atreides's class today had been the first real test of her newly integrating personality, and Tahiri was relieved that it had gone well. There were still things she had to get used to, new reflexive reactions and thought patterns, but instead of feeling like she was at odds with herself it was more a case of trying to unlearn bad habits or adjust her way of thinking.

That wouldn't be an instant fix, but it was a hell of a lot less stressful to deal with.

After class, she headed back to her room to check her messages and get caught up on what was going on at home. She might've had a little bit of an ulterior motive there. She had an Idea.

It couldn't be that bad an idea, could it? Those had only ever been a real recipe for trouble when she'd been around Anakin.

. . . keep telling yourself that, Tahiri.

[OOC: Hey, look who hasn't roomposted in forever. For the boy, but open after.]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben, clad in khakis and a sweater (and looking ridiculously uncomfortable in them), rapped impatiently at her door.

His hair showed signs of having his fingers repeatedly run through it. "Tahiri?"

[weetuskenraider]

The fact that Tahiri could sense as much agitation from Ben as she did was ample cause for concern, and she scrambled up off her bed and over to the door, yanking it open.

The clothes, not to mention his expression and his hair, were more of one.

"What's going on, Ben?" she asked immediately. Sometimes hellos were a waste of time.

[momslilassassin]

"Ender is a kriffing moron," Ben replied, scowling. "He's gone home, something about a storm and Caligula and not worrying but he's gone and didn't even say goodbye."

Hello there, abandonment issues.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri growled a mild Tusken curse under her breath; it was the 'didn't even say goodbye' part that triggered her sympathy the most.

Ben's outfit was a clue in more ways than one, and matter-of-factly she asked, "You're going after him, aren't you?"

[momslilassassin]

He nodded. "He doesn't like home," he said. "He doesn't want to be involved with whatever's going on there. I don't think he wanted to go back."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri could understand that feeling. She stepped back from the doorway, belatedly, to let Ben in if he wanted. "You know I won't stop you. But --" and her voice was firmer than it might have been not that long ago -- "you'd better come back, both of you."

[momslilassassin]

He nodded again. "Karla's coming too," he added, walking into the room and slumping onto the bed. "She wouldn't take no as an answer, plus she had Valentine's number handy."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri nudged the door shut and went to curl up beside him. "As if Karla will ever take no for an answer when she doesn't want to? Good. Someone has to be around to knock some sense into you and Ender when you need it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben wrapped his arms around her and held on tightly. "I don't need sense knocked into me. I'm being very calm."

Liar, liar, liar.

As if he realized that, he hastily slammed up his mental shields.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri went very slightly tense at the sudden disconnect, but it didn't make a difference, because either way she still would have looked at him and replied evenly, "No, you're not. And you can't fool me that way, Ben. Tell anyone else that, but you'd have better luck building a beach resort on Hoth than convincing me."

It might have come out slightly less hurt -- and a touch exasperated -- if he hadn't put his shields up, granted.

[momslilassassin]

"I need to get very calm," Ben amended, "because I do extremely stupid things when I'm mad."

Or hurt and worried, which was a lot closer to the truth.

[weetuskenraider]

"That's more like it." Tahiri nudged him lightly, curling closer into him. "Was that so hard to admit to?"

Well. Yes. That was why she was glad Karla was going with him.

"Anything I can do to help with that?"

[momslilassassin]

"Tell me it was just him being a social moron and not being kidnapped that made him leave so fast," Ben replied softly.

[weetuskenraider]

Maybe she should put off her own plans for the next few days, Tahiri considered.

"He was just being a social moron," said the girl who wasn't exactly a social-skills prodigy herself; not that she knew it for sure, but it wouldn't do any of them any good if Ben headed out in a panic. She projected calm toward him, reaching up to smooth down his hair.

[momslilassassin]

Ben took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Thanks," he said, leaning in to nudge his nose against hers.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri closed her eyes and nudged back, maintaining the projection of calm. "Any time, Skywalker."

[momslilassassin]

"I love you," he murmured before leaning in to kiss her.

[weetuskenraider]

It was a little hard to respond verbally, now, but luckily Tahiri had other options. Love you too, she sent, running a hand along his back. Don't make me have to come after all three of you, okay?

[momslilassassin]

Ben shivered and pulled her closer. Deal. Hopefully this'll just be a day trip.

[weetuskenraider]

Yes, these sort of things always lasted about as briefly as anticipated, of course.

Tahiri turned the motion into a light massage at the base of his neck. Okay. You know, at least it's nice to know you're sleeping better now. Can't have you running off across the planet completely exhausted.

[momslilassassin]

Yeah, the insomnia would be raring back now, but he wasn't going to mention that. Good thing, too. I'll need all of my energy to figure out where he went.

[weetuskenraider]

She'd be glaring at him if he did. For now, she'd just be keeping up the massage. Boy, you really know how to pick the challenging ones, Tahiri teased gently. You'll do fine.

[momslilassassin]

Hope so, Ben replied as some of the muscles in his neck relaxed. He's a pain, but I'd miss him.

[weetuskenraider]

You will, Tahiri replied determinedly, still telepathically although she'd pulled back to look him in the eyes. Do fine, that is. You didn't give up on me, and I know you won't give up on him. You're too kriffing stubborn to, anyway.

[momslilassassin]

He gave her a smile--which was clearly a bit of an effort, but it reached his eyes--and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Stubbornness runs in the family," he said.