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It had been an exciting few days!
Well, not to Ben, but people seemed pretty happy. Grampa was off doing work and Sammi was uh, somewhere, the twins were doing their usual machiney stuff and.. oh yeah! Cora came to the praxeum finally.
That sure took long enough. She probably had to go into the baby level classes though, since she didn't wanna do anything with the Force. He thought about going to talk to her but she'd been sticking close to Jacen and he didn't really like him very much, so he tended to do stuff alone. Unless Annie was around! Annie always wanted to hang out and do stuff. He wasn't sure where he was right now, though.
He had intended on going to look for him, but he made the mistake of going through the kitchen on his way to searching, and had gotten very distracted by fresh blue milk and cookies. Thus, he was lingering there, stuffing his face happily.
Well, not to Ben, but people seemed pretty happy. Grampa was off doing work and Sammi was uh, somewhere, the twins were doing their usual machiney stuff and.. oh yeah! Cora came to the praxeum finally.
That sure took long enough. She probably had to go into the baby level classes though, since she didn't wanna do anything with the Force. He thought about going to talk to her but she'd been sticking close to Jacen and he didn't really like him very much, so he tended to do stuff alone. Unless Annie was around! Annie always wanted to hang out and do stuff. He wasn't sure where he was right now, though.
He had intended on going to look for him, but he made the mistake of going through the kitchen on his way to searching, and had gotten very distracted by fresh blue milk and cookies. Thus, he was lingering there, stuffing his face happily.
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Date: 2012-09-30 04:00 am (UTC)From:So, Annie took his time in leaving the meditation rooms. He'd taken to spending most of his mornings there, his afternoons training in between classes and his evenings studying. He found mastery of the Force really, really enjoyable! And he knew innately that only he and Ben were really quite so talented, as far as students in the praxeum went.
He wouldn't, however, ever badger his friend to work harder. These things happened on their own time.
For now, calm but happy, Annie pushed his way into the kitchen and gave a knowing smile when he spotted the red hair.
"Ben! Hi." Waving lightly.
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Date: 2012-09-30 04:05 am (UTC)From:Ben exclaimed happily, with a very full mouth, spitting crumbs on the counter. When he realized what a mess he'd made, he blinked and wiped his mouth off with the back of his hand, then used said hand to sweep the crumbs off the counter. There! All clean!
Looking to his cousin and friend, he smiled and showed him his glass of milk. "You want some? It's fresh!"
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Date: 2012-10-01 12:39 am (UTC)From:"Did you finish your homework yet?" Curious if they had time to go out and play, or if Ben would be busy instead.
He tried not to eye the crumbs. He'd have to clean those when Ben wasn't looking.
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Date: 2012-10-01 12:42 am (UTC)From:Most of it, anyway. He only had a tiny bit left.
Ben drank down the very last of his milk and wiped off his mouth again, before smiling at Annie, nice and big. "Let's go play! I was just looking for you, but then I found cookies and got hungry."
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Date: 2012-10-01 12:45 am (UTC)From:"I'm glad to have found you while you were still here, then! I'd like to go play. Do you want to go swimming, or practice lightsaber technique, or go into town and make wishing-well wishes?" Offering some suggestions.
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Date: 2012-10-01 12:48 am (UTC)From:Ben wiped his hands on his pants and then went over to Annie, sticking his hands in his pockets. He didn't notice the crumbs at all.
"Maybe the wishes or the swimming though because my lightsaber is waaaay back in our room and I don't wanna go get it. Is that okay?"
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Date: 2012-10-01 12:54 am (UTC)From:Plans usually came down to how sleepy Ben was feeling. Often, the answer was 'very'. But he had his moments of extreme energy, also.
It was always fun for Annie, to see what kind of mood he'd be in.
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:00 am (UTC)From:Ben looked down at his feet, thinking it over. He was pretty sleepy... but he did like to swim a lot...
"Let's go swim! I'm just gonna swim in my shorts because I don't wanna walk allll the way back and get my swimmer shorts." He nodded, deciding that was the best course of action.
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:09 am (UTC)From:He shook his head gently before reaching out to grab Ben's sleeve, leading him out towards the exit closest to the river now. It was funny, but something about Ben always made him feel warm in a way that the others didn't. He knew Ben could be lazy and pouty, but he never ever really found it annoying; it was endearing, really! He was always so honest about how he felt. Annie really liked that about him.
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:12 am (UTC)From:When they got outside he took a big breath and smiled, turning to look at him. "I'm going to beat you to the lake, Annie, just you watch!"
He pulled away from his grasp suddenly and started to run-- but about a dozen paces in, he tripped over a rock and went rolling down the little hill that led to the lake. Tripping and having ridiculous things wasn't out of the ordinary for him; he was too much like his father, as a child.
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:20 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-01 01:24 am (UTC)From:Ben grumbled as he slowly pushed himself up onto hands and knees, rubbing a scraped cheek with a sniffle, blinking back a few tears. He really tried not to be such a crybaby anymore, but when things like that happened... it was hard.
He got to his feet and let out a little huff, composing himself. "Okay, let's go."
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:29 am (UTC)From:"Wait."
Stepping up to him, he went to kiss he cheek, right above the scrape.
Ever since their first few summers on Mandalore, he'd taken to doing the things he saw Mara at when Ben was toussled and upset and she wasn't there to mend those feelings. He hoped through doing it, Ben could learn to rely on him, too.
"Better any?"
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:31 am (UTC)From:"Yeah... it's better. Thanks, Annie."
The redhead said quietly, going to take his cousin's hand shyly as he headed off, going to make the last tiny leg of their journey toward the lake. They were only a few yards off from the shore, now. "I like playing with you. You're my best friend."
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:47 am (UTC)From:Not that he felt unloved or unwanted ever, oh no. He quite liked his quiet independence. He often felt he was more mature than all of them for it. But...
It was still nice to hear that he meant so much to someone. That made him quite happy.
"Thank you, Ben. I like you, too."
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:50 am (UTC)From:His smile brightened and he sounded far too like his mother, with that sentence. Though there wasn't a threat in it, like there often was when Mara was concerned. He was only teasing.
Once they got to the lake shore, he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his shirt, tossing them off into the grass, not really paying attention to where. He ran toward the lake, hopping a bit, as he was pulling his socks off and while he meant to dive, he really more sort of.. flopped in, but still! He was in!
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Date: 2012-10-01 01:53 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-01 01:55 am (UTC)From:He pushed it back out of his face and swam further out into he lake. He was a very skilled swimmer, as his father had been taking him into rivers and such since he was a baby. It was what fishermen did!
"I like swimming. If there were more of us we could play Marco Polo but I like that it's just you and me right now!"
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:15 am (UTC)From:"Well we could play Marco Polo! Buuut... I feel like we'd end up finding a huge, nasty fish before we found each other." Drifting far out into a Nabooan lake with your eyes closed? Very likely!
"I don't think your mom would be very happy if you got eaten!" Called playfully, going to splash at him a little bit. "I wouldn't be, either."
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:18 am (UTC)From:Ben splashed back at Annie and then dove underwater, swimming down to the bottom to see what little creatures were down there. Sometimes there were tiny cute ones! And when there were, well, on occasion he liked to hide them in Grampa's bed~
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:20 am (UTC)From:Ducking out of the way of some of the splashing, he dove in soon after, curious as to what he was doing down there. While he usually had the ideas for what to do, once they were doing it, he liked to let Ben take the lead. Watching him have fun was almost more amusing than having fun himself.
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:22 am (UTC)From:Spying a large reddish slug, he picked it up off a plant and when he saw Annie approach, he pushed it toward his face, spitting out a few bubbles, looking rather pleased with himself.
It felt pretty slimy and gross. And thus, it was really cool!
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:26 am (UTC)From:Blowing a few bubbles back at him and making a face to amuse him, Anakin ducked in the water, as if trying to escape the fate of being slug-faced!
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Date: 2012-10-01 02:28 am (UTC)From:He was getting short on breath though, so he let he slug go and swam up to the surface, taking a big breath, laughing a little as he wiped off some slime on his shorts. He then brushed his wet hair, now straight from the weight of the water, from his eyes.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:05 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-05 02:09 am (UTC)From:"No tickles!"
... so he could sulk at him for tickling him.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:24 am (UTC)From:"No slugs either, but it hadn't stopped you!"
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:27 am (UTC)From:Ben complained, but with a smile. He squirmed and swam off toward shore, which wasn't far. They were going to play chase if Annie came after him like he wanted him to!
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:31 am (UTC)From:"I'll get you!" Called, trying not to laugh.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:33 am (UTC)From:Ben called back, laughing, so happy as he always was, to be out playing with his best cousin! He booked it, a little slower than usual because his shorts were sticking together from being wet, though he didn't seem to notice it at all.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:42 am (UTC)From:Not Anakin's, of course.
"There you are. I've been looking everywhere."
Annie just barely managed to slow his speed not to go crashing into them.
Mara smiled, impish. "Wet as a mop and running shoeless. You get that from your father. And you--" Looking at Anakin briefly. "--must have borrowed it from your Uncle too."
"Hello, Auntie." He just smiled in return, biting his lip. Oop, well there went the chase.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:44 am (UTC)From:"Mom!!" He loved his mom so much, more than anything! Annie was a very, very close second. Oh, and Dad was in there somewhere too.
"We decided to go swimming and then I fell but Annie kissed it better than we did go swimming and I found a slug, and then I pushed it into Annie's face, then he tickled me and I ran away!"
There! Since she missed it all, looking for him.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:50 am (UTC)From:Firstly, because it was fast. Secondly, because there were other things they'd apparently borrowed from Luke's conduct... hm.
"That sounds like an eventful afternoon. Aren't you tired out from all of that?"
Annie absolutely wasn't, but he politely said nothing, assuming that Mara wanted her son to clean up.
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Date: 2012-10-05 02:52 am (UTC)From:Ben leaned against his mother, hugging her as he smiled adoringly up at her. That was a blatant lie of course, but he didn't mean to lie! It felt good to think about playing with Annie all the time and not get tired at all.
"He's my best friend, okay, Mom?"
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:05 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-05 03:07 am (UTC)From:He perked up and went to hug her again, giving her a big squeeze, before going to do the same to Annie, tugging at his arm afterward. "Come on, let's go, we gotta get dry and dressed so we can go for dinner, Annie!"
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:15 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-05 03:16 am (UTC)From:Ben hugged Annie's arm as they walked, happy to keep him close and chat with him. Playing and Mom always put him in a really good mood.
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:23 am (UTC)From:"I'm happy for it, too. Although, Ben; we did leave our clothes at the bank when you started running off..." He pointed out lightly, knowing that would be enough of a diversion from the other topic. But then, deciding after a pause that... it might be all right to talk about; but only with Ben; he went on, "I like being with your family, yes. I wouldn't like it all the time though, or not so much as you do. And I often miss my own." He didn't think the topic would be pressed; but it felt rather nice, to have been asked at all.
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:28 am (UTC)From:Nodding to himself, Ben was very sure! He wanted to do something really nice and help Annie out and that sounded pretty easy, so... he would just make it happen!
"Oh, uh, we can just remember that our clothes are there and go back later. They'll be there. Unless a fish grows legs and steals them... but that's not going to happen." A pause, and he gave Annie a conspiratorial look. ".. I hope."
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:35 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-10-05 03:38 am (UTC)From:Ben frowned when Annie pulled away to stretch. He went quiet for a moment, sticking his hands in his wet pockets as they meandered along toward the praxeum, nearly there. Quite suddenly, he turned, going to grab his cousin and give him a tight hug.
"... they do love you. And they'll come see you. And they miss you, so don't be sad, Annie. I don't like it when you feel sad."
Maybe Ben was a bit more perceptive than he let on.
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:47 am (UTC)From:It took a longer moment then usual for him to regain himself and when he had, he gave a warm, placid smile and went to hug the other boy in return. Ben was all sweetness, really... and would be ever so talented, one day!
"I'm not sad, Ben." He assured lightly. Maybe when he was younger he had been. But through the Force he'd learned how to combat it-- through indifference. He cared for people, but he had no real attachment to his family. He did not mind if he never saw his mother again, so long as she was happy and healthy. That he could feel in the Force and that was enough. He didn't mind if she or his father loved him less; so long as they loved, it was all right. He really didn't feel entwined, in the way he knew Ben did, with his family.
Perhaps the only person he came close to that feeling with was Ben himself. But even then, sometimes, he wondered if he wasn't trying to convince himself to feel more than he really did, or could. He knew he was connected to Ben on a deeper level-- but he also knew that connection would end prematurely, and so he did not feed into it the way he saw Cora feeding into hers with Jacen. Fully, unabashedly.
"I know that they love me and miss me and that I'll see them soon. I don't mind the wait; they're very busy. In the meanwhile, I get to have dinner with you; so I'm very, very happy." He assured, drawing back and giving another brief smile, bumping foreheads with him before backing up a bit.
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:51 am (UTC)From:"Okay, Annie. As long as you're happy."
... which he really didn't think his cousin was, but again, was not going to argue. He'd think of ways to make Annie even happier soon enough! He didn't like it when he felt so empty, which was more and more often these days.
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:56 am (UTC)From:"Let's hurry! Auntie Mara looked ready to go already."
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Date: 2012-10-05 03:57 am (UTC)From:Ben nodded and took off at a run, pulling his cousin alongside him. "Let's hurry, then! I'm hungry!"