The Playground in the Park, Thursday Afternoon

[glacial_queen]

Yesterday, Karla had made a very important promise. She'd promised Val a day at the playground and there was no way she was going to renege on that. Thus, Thursday afternoon found Kayla swinging on the swings in the park, while Karla sat on a nearby bench, holding Nommy, and pushing Kayla's swing with Craft. At her feet was a sizable picnic basket

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[endsthegame]

"And behold," Ender called - and though he was looking right at Karla as he walked towards her, he was actually talking to Val - "The playground."

"Play!" Val proclaimed, dashing forward. "K'yla!"

[glacial_queen]

"Val!" Kayla cried. "Mama, down! Down, Mama!" She had to go greet her friend, who was much less annoying than her new little brother.

Sadly for Kayla, her mother still wasn't letting her just leap out of the swing. She had to wait for Karla to come over and help her down a process again, slightly impeded by said new little brother.

"There," she said, placing Kayla on the ground to scamper over to Val. "You're free. Run like the wind, munchkin."

To Ender, she asked, "How was your first class, darling?"

[endsthegame]

"Cosy and quiet," Ender said, "And interesting, considering I'm teaching my own partner's mother right now."

Val let out a shriek of delight and barreled towards Kayla for a hug. A slightly clumsy one.

[glacial_queen]

"I taught her about poisons last semester," Karla said. "I feel you."

Because how do you say, 'Hi, I taught your mom to be a more efficient assassin'? Other than hoping a shrug and a 'It's Fandom?' does the trick.

"Val! Val!" It was going to be a toddler collision. Karla was almost tempted to take bets on who would remain standing.

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi was wandering by the park on her way to get ice cream, but stopped when she saw Karla, Kayla, and small person.

"You had another one?!"

Kenzi might be various people's future mommy, but right now that still felt unimaginably far away.

[glacial_queen]

"Oh no," Karla said with heavy irony. "This one, I just decided it would be more fun to kidnap."

[regretiz4suckas]

Kenzi flopped down next to her, eyeing the toddling Kayla, and then the bundle. "You are so crazed. Does it have a name yet?" She tilted her head and added, "Your daughter is getting cute."

Hellos and how are yous were for other people, obviously.

[glacial_queen]

"No," Karla said, shaking her head regretfully. "My people have a tradition of not naming our children until after they start developing a personality. Karla, in the language of my people, means She of meek and dainty demeanor."

If hellos and how are yous were for other people, snark and teasing was definitely for them.

[momslilassassin]

"Are there any little girls here who like fruit smoothies?" Ben called out.

[glacial_queen]

"Wiv spinkles?" Kayla was very particular about her food and beverage offerings.

"I do, I do!" Karla said, waving her hand. "No sprinkles need apply for mine!"

[momslilassassin]

"They even had your special sprinkles, Kayla," Ben said, holding her strawberry and wheatgerm smoothie out.

[glacial_queen]

Kayla gasped and clasped her hands together eyes wide. They had? Just for her? "Mine! Mine!" she demanded. "Smoothie for Kaywa!"

"What do we say," Karla intoned, pretty certain she could be replaced by a recording of specific phrases without anybody noticing.

"But it is for me!" Kayla pointed out with irrefutable logic.

"But we still have to use our manners anyway," Karla told her. "Or the next time, maybe it won't be."

"Oh," Kayla said, mulling this over. "Pwease can I have it?" she asked Ben, giving him a little curtsy. In her overalls.