Chilly Boulder [Friday afternoon]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was a slightly obsessive listener to the radio, so it didn't take him long to take his speculations from his conversation with Aravis and the information from last night's broadcast and realize that dead relatives had come to visit the island.

And that his mother had not. But he was fine with that. Really. Even if Anakin had come for Jaina and

Comments

[notqueenyet]

Aravis, on the arm of a tawny-skinned, lanky boy with her eyes and smile, was clearly in the middle of waxing poetic about her favorite topic: chocolate. "You must try the chocolate in ice cream form," she was telling him. "It's wonderf -- Ben!"

She grinned over at him, tugging the boy over a bit. "There's someone you should meet."

[momslilassassin]

Ben glanced up from his ice cream and grinned back. "Hello. Is this your brother?"

[lostofcalavar]

Aravis nodded, while the boy stepped forward with a confident little step. "So you're the famed Ben?" he asked, smiling easily. "My sister was hoping I'd be fortunate enough to meet you." He ducked a swift bow, not unlike Aravis' usual Calmorene curtsy, and added, "Rishti Tarkaan. How does the day find you?"

[momslilassassin]

"Confusing," Ben admitted with a little laugh, "but the ice cream is helping. All of the good things Aravis might have told you about me are absolutely true."

[lostofcalavar]

"They seemed to revolve mostly around how you ply her with this lovely chocolate of which she's so fond," Rishti commented, smirking a bit. "Our mother only sampled a bit -- "

"Ladies do not partake of excess," Aravis interjected with a nod, clearly trying to hide a laugh.

" -- and even she rather loved it. So Aravis assured me I simply had to try this iced cream."

[momslilassassin]

"Ice cream is astral," Ben assured him. "There are almost no bad ones." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Skip the green tea flavor."

[lostofcalavar]

"Astral?" Rishti repeated curiously, though he gave his sister a significant look at Ben's advice.

Aravis sighed, and said, "I suppose courtly chivalry only extends so far when you have no money on you. I'll be right back." With that, she headed over to get their ice cream.

[momslilassassin]

"Sorry," Ben said. "It's slang for 'really, really good.'"

How to make smalltalk with a dead person? Ben went with, "So, enjoying your time here?"

[lostofcalavar]

"It is different from home," Rishti said thoughtfully. "I rather like the magic candles. And my sister is not as I remember leaving her."

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned. "She can't be too much taller."

Short jokes were universal.

[lostofcalavar]

"Only a pinch," Rishti laughed. "Though I do rather wonder who replaced my annoying twelve year-old sister with this very serious lady." He gave Ben a hesitant look, and added, "She won't speak much of why she's been spending time at the court of King Lune. Not that I disapprove -- the king has a son, I believe, and a match between our countries would be a diplomatic victory."

[momslilassassin]

Ben eyes turned serious. "Well, losing you made her grow up a bit," he said quietly. "She's happy in Archenland with the king's son, though things have grown a little stressful."

[lostofcalavar]

Rishti's brow quirked up. "I don't quite understand why she isn't at home, with our father and that woman he married. Or why she's still unwed. Not that I particularly object." He gave Ben a rueful smile, and added, "Aravis has never done things as she should. Drove our mother and a string of nurses to desperation."

[momslilassassin]

"She came here instead," Ben said with a little shrug, glossing details over, "and learned of other cultures where women can take some time in choosing a life mate. I don't believe there is anything official between her and Cor as of yet, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear of it sooner rather than later."

[lostofcalavar]

Rishti nodded. "She's getting old for a Calmorene bride," he admitted. "But I want her to be happy. And if this prince of Archenland can achieve that, then their union, whenever it may happen, has my blessing."

[momslilassassin]

"He makes her irritated and annoyed and very, very happy," Ben said, smiling. "I like him very much."