Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

The day started well with an unplanned-for electrical malfunction in Ender's laptop. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't get the thing to boot up again. With a sigh, he flipped it over, and began the laborious task of taking it apart himself and poking around the insides.

The hard drive, however, was going to be handled like it was a religious artifact. He had copies of the data, of course, but that didn't mean he wanted to lose the originals.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Ho, Ender," Ben said, coming in with the usual two cups of coffee. He blinked. "Did your laptop die?"

[endsthegame]

"Seems like it," Ender said, busy with a few minor items on the laptop's motherboard. "I think there was a short and it's wrecked my boot."

[momslilassassin]

"Told you not to take it into the pool with you," Ben teased, coming closer. "Is it salvageable?"

[endsthegame]

"I'm hoping it is," Ender said, but patted the hard drive. "Otherwise, I think this is still functional." He smirked wryly. "21st century technology..."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smirked. "You primitives," he said. "I have a question for you--on the radio it said that it was Jaina's birthday and I have no idea at all about what might be a good gift. Do you have any suggestions?"

[endsthegame]

"You realise I don't actually know your cousin very well?" Ender checked, "Beyond what Val's told me."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "She likes taking stuff apart, too, or she did when she had time for it. I was thinking maybe some kind of project?"

[endsthegame]

"As long as it's not my laptop," he said, wryly. "I thought you'd be up to your elbows in droid projects."

[momslilassassin]

"I am, but I was thinking that maybe I shouldn't give her one of my things to finish," Ben replied. He flashed Ender a smile. "I won't give her your laptop either."

[endsthegame]

"That's a relief," Ender said, earnestly. "You want us to rig something up together?"

[momslilassassin]

"You wouldn't mind?" Ben asked, looking relieved. "I already feel like an idiot for missing her birthday to begin with."

[endsthegame]

"Do I ever say no to a project?" he asked. "She's a pilot, right?"

Boys, giving gifts together would not be the straightest thing you'd ever done.

[momslilassassin]

"A really good one," Ben said. "She was running her own squadron when she was only a year older than I am now."

[endsthegame]

"So maybe we should combine know-how and get her something to tinker with that'll enhance her fighter interface," Ender mused. "There's got to be a few surprises from home I can work into this."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's eyes lit up. "Think we could get a good chunk of it done today?"

[endsthegame]

Ender shot him an amused look, then the laptop. "It looks like my schedule's clear."

[momslilassassin]

"You help with this and I'll get the laptop back up and running," Ben promised, leaning against the counter. "And I won't ask you to model Jono's helmet."

[endsthegame]

"And now you're trying to imply that I can't fix my own laptop," Ender observed. "Thanks, Skywalker."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed and pushed the cup of coffee toward Ender. "You haven't fixed it yet, genius boy."