Stark Industries [all day]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was behind the counter as usual today, but instead of working on a droid or tinkering with some other bit of technology, he was working on a speech to explain to his father why he was going with Ender when the summer was over.

So far he had, "Um, Dad?"

Save him from himself.

Stark's was open!

Comments

[weetuskenraider]

Would a visit from Tahiri, who'd just arrived on the island, help with that?

Still dressed in the grey flightsuit she'd worn on the trip (with the helmet hair to match) but yes, still barefoot, she poked her head into the shop. "Somehow I thought I'd find you here, Skywalker."

She hadn't been on Zonama Sekot for more than a year and a half (and less than a year by Fandom time), but she'd somehow managed to gain another half inch or so since the last time she'd visited.

[momslilassassin]

Ben dropped what he'd been working on immediately, vaulted over the counter, and threatened to hug the breath out of her as soon as he got close enough to touch her.

Someone had been missed.

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri let out a yelp -- not because she was surprised, exactly, but because it was difficult to actually laugh when she was getting hugged that hard.

"It hasn't been that long since I was here last, Ben."

The argument was, most likely, blunted by the way she was hugging him back just as tightly.

[momslilassassin]

"It is so, so good to see you," he mumbled into her hair.

[weetuskenraider]

"I'd say it's mutual," Tahiri teased, "except you haven't given me a chance to actually take a look at you yet."

[momslilassassin]

"Details," Ben said, finally loosening his hold a little.

[weetuskenraider]

"I thought you paid attention to those," Tahiri replied, still joking, before she turned a bit more serious. "It's like you haven't seen me in decades."

She'd ask if he was okay, but she knew how well that usually worked.

[momslilassassin]

"Something like that," Ben murmured, still holding onto her shoulders. "The Tahiri at home...the news isn't good."

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri poked at that phrase for a few moments until she could puzzle out at least some of the implication. If she'd surrendered to custody after everything she'd done . . .

"Sithspawn," she breathed, looking up at Ben; she was less concerned about the fate of her counterpart than she was about how Ben was taking it.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Daddy issues were the bread and butter of Fandom. Which would be why Tony was very, very hesitantly looking around the shop before approaching Ben.

Just in case.

"I brought coffee for the graduate," he announced, depositing the largest cups the Perk sold.

[momslilassassin]

"And that makes you the very best of all the Starks I know," Ben said, grinning at him. "Thank you."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"I'll take that as a compliment, considering how man you do know." Oh, his life.

[momslilassassin]

"As well you should," Ben declared, taking a sip.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Looking forward to freedom?" Tony asked, stealing his own, half finished cup.

[momslilassassin]

"Not for a while," Ben said, smiling. "I'm here for the summer."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Still, no classes. And you can... vote?"

Oh god, he didn't know these things.

[momslilassassin]

"I can? On what?" Ben asked, grinning eagerly.

[offers-choices.livejournal.com]

You know what Ben needed? Another visitor. Actually, another three visitors. Because that was an excellent way to prepare that speech of his, right?

"I don't even want to know what kind of merchant shop this is," Lucivar drawled from the doorway. "Figures I'd find you here, though. Hello, Ben."

Khary and Aaron waved hello as well, though they were more interested in marveling at the weird technology than chatting, at least for now.

[momslilassassin]

"Hi!" Ben said, beaming at Lucivar. "Here for Warren?"

Beat.

"Here on the island, not the shop. Warren doesn't need to work. He helps buy penguins."

Stop talking, Ben. Please.

[theboyos.livejournal.com]

He managed to attract the boyos' attention, at least. "Penguins?" Khary asked, perking up. "You mean the little flappy, swimmy birds? Why does he buy those?"

"There's a joke in there," Aaron said, struggling to keep a straight face. "Dibs on harassing him with it when we meet up."

[momslilassassin]

"You know, I can't remember why we decided we needed to buy them," Ben mused. "There was some drinking involved."

Be surprised to hear that. Really.

[offers-choices.livejournal.com]

"Puppies," Lucivar snorted. With what may or may not have been affection, really! "Too much money, too many gravediggers, and not enough sense to be split between you, hmm?"

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe, Ben admitted, "but it was fun. We woke up in a completely different country!"

[offers-choices.livejournal.com]

"And how loudly did the witchling screech at that?" Lucivar asked with a laugh. "I heard all about the last time you lot woke up somewhere else and needed to call a teacher to escort you home."

[momslilassassin]

"She wasn't the happiest person ever," Ben replied, "but it was better than the time Tony and Warren bought a bar."

And Ben had played live-action Angry Birds with Warren...