Room 529, Friday Midday

[weetuskenraider]

The datapad on Tahiri's lap currently displayed a map of the Outer Rim -- the Sluis sector, to be specific -- with planets color-coded according to whether they were held by the Yuuzhan Vong or the New Republic . . . no, wait, it was the Galactic Alliance now, and she wasn't sure she was thrilled about that. The notebook lying on the bed beside her held a couple of pages of scribbled notes on ideas for Flight Club, since she'd completely forgotten about it on Monday after Ben had come by to tell her where he was going.

Tahiri's attention was split between the two, but that was a completely livable kind of division; she'd be smiling at the thought if she wasn't concentrating so hard on the map on her datapad.

You'd think she was trying to plot a course into the Dagobah system or something.

[OOC: Expecting a phone call, but it's open! As is the door. I keep forgetting to mention that.]

Comments

[weetuskenraider]

"At all?" So was Tahiri's, especially in light of the maps she'd just been studying. "And here I was worried."

[momslilassassin]

"At all," Ben said. "Ender's stupid friends keep looking at Karla and I as annoyances to be dealt with or, ideally, ignored. She's getting cranky."

And Ben certainly wasn't. Really. Picture of diplomacy, he.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri couldn't help a tiny grin of amusement. "And you, on the other hand, are a ray of sunshine, right?"

[momslilassassin]

"That's my nickname, actually."

Ben was a big liar.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri growled the Tusken equivalent of 'poodoo,' laughing. "I think I know you better than that, Ben."

[momslilassassin]

"They started it," Ben said. "It's all 'oh, but you didn't go to Battle School' this and 'oh, you don't know Ender like we do' that and being married and pregnant and our age."

Shrieking, Ben. Less shrieking.

[weetuskenraider]

Yes, please, because Tahiri was not a fan of having to hold the comlink at arm's length all of a sudden.

Although that last thing he said . . .

"Emperor's black bones, are they thermal?"

[momslilassassin]

"Completely," Ben said, rolling his eyes. "And not in a fun way."

[weetuskenraider]

"Obviously." Tahiri was right there with the eyerolling too. "Well, you're having an astral time, aren't you?"

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, completely," Ben said. "We finally found Ender, though. Haven't had a chance to really talk to him yet."

[weetuskenraider]

"But you found him," Tahiri said gently. "Can you tell if he's all right?"

[momslilassassin]

"I think he's trying very hard to be, which isn't the same thing," Ben replied.

[weetuskenraider]

"Sounds like someone's speaking from experience," Tahiri observed. "In that case . . . I really hope you can take care of everything and get back here soon. Oh, and by the way, I miss you."

[momslilassassin]

"I miss you more," Ben said, sounding tired. "I never thought our world would be one that makes the most sense."

[weetuskenraider]

"That's why you need to hurry up and get everything taken care of, so you can get back to one that makes more sense," Tahiri replied, only half joking.

[momslilassassin]

"These people are absolutely exhausting," Ben said. "They make the Council look upfront and open."

[weetuskenraider]

". . . boy," Tahiri said after a moment. "I'm amazed you sound as calm as you do."

[momslilassassin]

"We have Ender now," Ben said. "It's why I didn't call before--I was far too frustrated to be an interesting conversationalist."

[weetuskenraider]

"Well, I suppose you're forgiven for that," Tahiri decided. "I'm glad you found him. Otherwise you'd be impossible."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Don't ask Karla. She's biased."

[weetuskenraider]

"Oh, I don't know. You're pretty close to impossible most of the time anyway," Tahiri told him.

[momslilassassin]

"Why did I call you again?" Ben asked, tone teasing.

[weetuskenraider]

"Because I'd have been mad if you hadn't?" That was pretty much patently untrue. "Or you knew I missed you?"

[momslilassassin]

"I like the second one better," he decided.

[weetuskenraider]

"Uh huh," Tahiri replied. "So do I. Now the question is, did you know?"