The Park, Most of Sunday

[fh_thumbprick]

Had the carnival changed? Retreated? No, but perhaps it had filled up even worse over the past twenty-four hours or so.

The look on that mustached man's face certainly exuded a certain amount of triumph as the lights went on again early on Sunday morning. He stabbed the ground with his cane and watched; if experience counted for anything, then there would be yet more pouring into his carnival today.

The feeding was good, here.

That scent of cotton candy rolled over the island once more, and the carnival's music touched what it could not.

It's a new day, Fandom. Come, enjoy it.

Comments

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

That was good. That was definitely good.

Now to hope that this would work, because it really would be a stupidly silly way to die.

Ender shut his eyes and hugged Cade as tightly as he could.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade went still for a moment, then hugged back tightly. "Ow," he complained.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"Cade?" Ender asked softly.

No time for that. "You might want to get out of the way," he whispered, "Now."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade, danger sense twinging, rolled out of the way immediately as Ben launched himself at Ender, teeth bared.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

At least he didn't have any vibroblades any more...

Ender didn't have Jedi reflexes. He knew better than to try to outmove Ben.

Instead he'd keep his arms open and hope for the best - namely catching Ben.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[momslilassassin]

Ben twisted out of the way, leaving only arm captured by Ender. He waved his free hand out for a vibroblade.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"Cade!" Ender snapped.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade jumped on Ben from the back, forcing him back into the world's most awkward hug sandwich against Ender.

"Like this?"

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"It'll do," Ender managed, switching rapidly from 'how do I keep from getting killed' back to 'how do I hug Ben as much as possible'.

He clung tight.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[momslilassassin]

Ben continued struggling for a few moments longer, then went still.

Then he buried his face against Ender's neck and quietly hyperventilated.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, shifting his arms - he no longer needed to hold Ben still, after all. "It's okay," he murmured.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[momslilassassin]

"How's your shoulder, Cade?" Ben asked shakily. "Do you need the clinic?"

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Nah," Cade said, stripping his shirt off and tying it into a bandage. "It probably won't even scar."

It was still bleeding, but Cade wasn't about to admit to it.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"Let's get you two back to the hotel," Ender said quietly. "We still have some bacta patches lying around."

He knew for sure; he'd nabbed some last time they were on Naboo.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, standing up and holding out a hand to help Ender up (and because he needed to hold his hand).

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

Ender let Ben help him up largely because he figured that Ben needed it. He gave Ben's hand a quick squeeze once he got to his feet. "C'mon."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade trudged along after them, looking tired.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

Ender ushered them into the hotel, then into the elevator, then into the hotel room.

"Sit down," he ordered and headed towards his first aid kit.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade flopped onto a chair because he didn't want to bleed on their bed.

He didn't make eye contact with Ben, who was hovering guiltily.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"Pull your shirt up," Ender ordered a moment later. "I need to see."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

Cade pulled his shirt over his head to reveal a deep, thin gash right in the meat of his shoulder.

For all that Ben had been under the influence of the carnival, he hadn't hit anything vital.

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

Ender didn't bother to comment, he just got to work, cleaning out the wound first, then slapping it with a bacta patch. Or two. "There."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Cade said quietly. "I should go. I need a shower and to sleep for a week. And to brush my teeth. I think I ate my body weight in cotton candy."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[endsthegame]

"You can stay here, if you want," Ender said quietly. He looked up at Ben. "Hell, we might head over to Naboo for a couple of days."

Re: Illusionists & Magic

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "We don't have to be back until Wednesday."