"Ah, Loki." Ben's beaming when he sees his friend, though that isn't the only reason why he's happy. He's been in a consistent good mood for a while now, and Loki will notice the sweeping black cape that the young man is wearing. "It's good to see you again. It's been a while, and some things have changed since we last talked." Ben looks up at the ship, curious. He's seen ships before, including giant ones, but this isn't the kind he's used to.

"I...used to believe in birthright. My family bears a long, complicated, and not completely happy legacy. I embodied the worst of it. The irony is that even though I spoke about killing the past I wasvery much a product of it, and it was only when I decided to come to terms with that legacy that I was free of that. A good friend of mine was born from a family whose legacy is one of evil - but she's one of the bravest and kindest people I've ever known. So our families are part of who we are, but they aren't the whole story."

Ben smiles faintly, waving to the children. "But I think children are entitled to protection, and acceptance, and people who love them. These things don't necessarily come from birth families. My family loved me, though our relationship was badly damaged. But those things can come from other sources, too."