It's leather for leisure and a Velcro for sport

[jedi_librettist]

Ben stared at his brother for a full minute before he said anything. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"No! You promised, Bail! You said I could just be Ben still. What do you call walking around with you and an honor guard? Do you really think no one will figure it out? I'm not doing it!"

Comments

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shook his head. It had to be possible to do without that many. Slaves never had access to that quantity of clothes but he knew enough people who'd grown up in slavery.

He turned his attention back to Ani who was still crying. He tried to ease the shirt out of the child's grip but the boy just held on tighter. "Ani, we can't get that one..."

[middleoftheforce]

"It's fine, we can get it," Solo spoke up having finished his mental math. It would be a bit of a squeeze, but they could manage it.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben sighed, putting down the plain green shirt. He helped the child hold the shirt up to make sure it was the right size. Fortunately, this time Ani had grabbed a shirt that would fit. With the shirt he had on, that made five. Ben could make that work.

"Pants now." He picked the toddler up. It would be easier if Ani couldn't just run and grab the first thing that caught his eye. "Just the simplest thing here."

[middleoftheforce]

"Uh, over there," Solo gestured to the corner that seemed to have that item. He was trying to count up the cost of what they'd already got. Someone had to do the math, after all.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben ran over and grabbed a pair of brown pants that looked like they'd fit. "I think we've got everything now."

[middleoftheforce]

"...Think he needs more than one spare pair."

[jedi_librettist]

"He already has one. What does he need with more than two?"

[middleoftheforce]

"Did you not hear the guy saying kids just pick up mess?" Solo gestured back in the direction of the parent who had interjected before. He sighed. "Ben, it's fine to have a few more things. It might not have been then, but it is now."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben looked helplessly at Bail. He gestured dismissively at the pants section. "Then you pick them. But I don't know what we'll do with it all."

[middleoftheforce]

"...Make him wear them?" There was a shrug as he checked the size on the pair his twin lifted before grabbing a couple more. They felt kind of harder wearing than some of the others out, so they could be better for a ship lifestyle - and yes, he had a feeling this kid was going to attach himself to his brother, and his brother was probably not for leaving the ship any time soon.

[jedi_librettist]

"He's only going to wear one at a time."

He looked at the pants his brother had chosen and sighed. He'd already argued more than he should have.

"Fine. We have what he needs, then. Can we go?"

[middleoftheforce]

He held out his hand for the tops.

"I need to pay."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben handed the shirts over. Ani promptly started crying, reaching for the blue shirt. Ben sighed.

"He's just going to pay for them."

That didn't stop the crying. Ben looked at his brother.

"Maybe he can carry them?"

[middleoftheforce]

There was a wary look on his face as he just nodded. Sure, let the kid carry the tops, anything to stop the crying.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben handed Ani the shirts and followed his brother. The crying reduced to hiccups and sniffles as the child hid his face against Ben's shoulder.

[middleoftheforce]

At the counter, Solo pointed to the tops as he puts the pants forward to be price checked.

"Can we do that without taking the shirts off the kid and making him scream again?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben tugged one shirt free and handed it to his brother. He waited for Bail to give it back before he handed him the next one. It seemed to work. He glanced down. The kid had fallen asleep.

[middleoftheforce]

It was working, and they got through the piles of clothing quick enough. He was able to stop the small wince at the price appearing on his face, handing over the credits calmly. The items were bagged and he turned to Ben

"Now what?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shrugged. They'd bought more clothes than he expected. He wasn't sure he should say anything about getting a toy for the kid now.

"Ani's asleep. I guess it's up to you."

[middleoftheforce]

"I need a drink," he muttered, rubbing at his forehead.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shrugged, looking away. Drinking never led anywhere good in his experience. "I'll just take him back to the ship, then."

[middleoftheforce]

"We need to get food in," he said, that list coming back to mind. No drinks till you'd done the actual work type stuff, Solo.

[jedi_librettist]

"Okay." Ben took a deep breath. "I don't know how much can help now that he's asleep."

[middleoftheforce]

"Probably will get more done," Solo said simply, heading out of that stall and looking for one that did at least something quick to eat then and there. He'd need to get stuff for the ship, but the stalls weren't the place for that.

[jedi_librettist]

"Maybe you'd be better off without us. We'll probably just get in the way."

Ben took a step back, glancing the way they'd come. He had no business picking out what they'd need for the ship anyway.