Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

It had taken him a couple of weeks, but Ender was now fairly sure that the telegraph was wired well into the Fandom communications network. Which meant that for all intents and purposes, it should work.

With that project relegated to the occasional test (mostly coming up positive), Ender was left the time to dig into a new helping of data from the colony; not just about the Formics, but also something about bugs they'd found. Hm.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

It was a somewhat distracted Jack who came into the shop today and gave Ender a small smile. "How goeth the project?"

[endsthegame]

"I think it's finished, or close to it," Ender replied, and Jack's smile got one in turn.

[bitten_notshy]

"Fantastic," Jack said, and stepped closer to take a better look at the device. "I could send a test message and see if it's recieved...?

[endsthegame]

"Be my guest," Ender said, pulling away. The device in question didn't exactly look like a classic telegraph - Ender had put in his own enhancements, and used more sophisticated materials, but it had vaguely the same...

...well, he called it 'interface' on the design schematics. "It might need some more fine tuning, but we'll see after you give it a shot."

[bitten_notshy]

"I'm not exactly a telegraph operator," Jack cautioned, but he'd seen it done enough, and Ender's model was similar enough, that it didn't take long for him to tap out a brief greeting to a telegraph operator at home who had been forewarned.

"... well, it's making the right noises...?"

Jack's fingers would be metaphorically crossed until a message came back.

[endsthegame]

"I think you're getting it." Ender's eyes had been on Jack's hands during the whole exchange, but now he looked up. "So how've you been, Jack?" Might as well fill the time.

[bitten_notshy]

"Counting or not counting the part where I dyed my hair pink for a straight boy?"

When that was the better -- or at least less confusing -- part of your week...

[endsthegame]

"Counting," Ender said, graciously. "I hear the usual trick when it comes to romancing people of the opposite gender is to give up and wait until they hit the college phase."

Ender, personally, was happily doing the first half of that.

[bitten_notshy]

"Noted," Jack said, and wrinkled his nose. "It likely also helps if you've liked the person for more than 30 seconds when you start pressing your suit. I did talk him into kissing me."

This totally proved Jack had won.

The telegraph started to tap out an incoming message.

[endsthegame]

"I'm impressed," Ender said, diverting his eyes back to the telegraph. "I think we might have a winner."

[bitten_notshy]

"I thought you would be," Jack returned easily as he read the incoming telegram. "Looks like it worked. And now I'm impressed."

[endsthegame]

"I'm a 23rd century boy using 21st century means to come up with 19th century tech," he said, wryly, "It's easier than it looks. I'm just glad it works."

[bitten_notshy]

"Now, if you fit in medieval times, I'd be really impressed," Jack said, equally wry. "Would it work if I installed it in one of the lounges pending admin approval? I doubt I'll be the only person who will want to use it."

[endsthegame]

"It might," Ender allowed, "Just as long as the wiring's right."

[bitten_notshy]

"Show me how to make it right?" Jack requested. "I mean, even if I can't stick it in the dorms, it can't stay in the shop forever."

Ah, technology, distractor extraordinaire.

[endsthegame]

"Of course," he said, with a friendly twinkle in his eyes. "I'd hate to drop off half-done work."

[bitten_notshy]

"Thank you," Jack said, and moved around to look at the wiring.

[endsthegame]

"Fandom has a peculiar system of communication," he noted, "Possibly connected to Portalocity, possibly something older than that-- I'm not an expert on multidimensional physics." Ender got up to help out with that, though. "But there's a standing network you can use."

[momslilassassin]

"Ho, Ender," Ben said, grinning as he came into the store with the usual two cups of coffee. "I'm finished for the semester."

[endsthegame]

"Ho, Ben," Ender said, smiling back. "I'm surprised you're not trying to celebrate with ice cream."

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe I did," Ben teased. "But I bring you coffee."

[endsthegame]

"I'm saddened," Ender told him, seriously, reaching for it. "How was Ghanima's class?"

[momslilassassin]

Tahiri was beginning to seriously freak him out, which was why Ben took a minute before answering. "Not sure I'm cut out for godhood. I'll leave that to Jaina."

[endsthegame]

Ender grinned. "It threw me for a loop or two, too," he confided, "But I think I'll get the hang of it."

[momslilassassin]

"Are you aiming to be a benevolent god, or one of those smity types?" Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"Smity," Ender said, after thinking for a moment, "That way I won't ever have to get my own ice cream again."

[momslilassassin]

"Ender would be an excellent name for a god, too," Ben said with a nod. "Would you like a helmet with wings like Thor?"

[endsthegame]

"I'd rather have them on my feet," he said, thoughtfully.

[momslilassassin]

"But helmets don't go on your feet," Ben said, apparently deciding that today was one to be ridiculous.

[endsthegame]

"Which is why mortal men shouldn't get mixed up in the affairs of gods," he said, "Even such lowly ones as I."

[momslilassassin]

"But if you're being a god, and not just a crazy teenager, helmets can go wherever you want," Ben decided. "You just need to be ready to smite everyone who laughs at you. And there will be a lot of them."

[endsthegame]

"I," Ender said, finally, "Am now glad I'm only a god as a hypothetical construct."

[momslilassassin]

Ender was now getting a pair of winged helmet shoes for Christmas.

"Good," Ben said. "Because I won't call you Your Worshipfulness."

[endsthegame]

"I wouldn't want you to bow for me."

[momslilassassin]

"Because it wouldn't happen," Ben said with a grin before sipping from his coffee. "Jedi don't worship gods, even if they live with them."

[endsthegame]

Ender shrugged. "I think I can figure out a way to get you to kneel," he said, "If I was thusly inclined. Which I'm not."

[momslilassassin]

Ben blinked. "Well, if you kicked me hard enough in the shin, I'd probably fall over," he said obliviously.

[endsthegame]

Ender's eyebrows went up. "I'll definitely consider that a viable strategy if it comes up, then."

[momslilassassin]

"It doesn't work in terms of leading soldiers into battle," Ben continued, "and as a god, it would be kind of unimpressive, but for a roommate, it fits."

[endsthegame]

"I don't know," he said, "You do like to tote the Jedi line. I bet I could impress with that."

[momslilassassin]

"By kicking a Jedi or pretending to be one?" Ben asked, grinning.