Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

There was always a shroud over Fandom on the week after graduation. People leaving left and right: emotional times. Ender himself would have to admit there were one or two graduates he'd have a passing fond thought of over the years.

But he'd already been through this once with the people he'd fought with, and by now, every year, it left him mostly detached. Almost zen about it, really.

Which would explain why absolutely nothing was different at Stark's today. Not even the bananas behind the machines.

[[ open! ]]

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[momslilassassin]

"Ho, Ender," Ben said, coming into the shop with coffee and sandwiches.

[endsthegame]

"Ho, Ben," Ender said, and held up his hand for coffee without looking away from his laptop.

[momslilassassin]

"What are you working on?" Ben asked, handing the coffee over.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Ender," Tony greeted--in the loosest sense of the word--him, passing on through toward where there simply had to be coffee.

[endsthegame]

"Nothing I'm not pretty much always working on when you're here," Ender said, with a wry grin. "Poking at the arc reactor."

[endsthegame]

"Stark," Ender greeted. He wasn't flummoxed by the way Tony was 'greeting' him in the slightest.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

Once he had his coffee, Tony returned. "Congratulations. You're the new manager of the shop."

[endsthegame]

Ender paused. "And what have I done to deserve that honour?" he asked, calmly.

[momslilassassin]

"Has it poked back yet?" Ben replied, smiling back.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Made my employees look dumb." That was a nice solid answer. "And you haven't blown anything up, so I suppose you're responsible enough for it."

[endsthegame]

Ender didn't argue with any of that. "So where will you be going?" he asked, instead.

[endsthegame]

"Not yet," Ender said, "But it will be once I tickle it under its bottom."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"New York. I'll keep in touch, of course."

And Jarvis was still wired into the building.

[endsthegame]

Until a new AI rode into town some day.

"And you've got cameras all over the building," Ender filled in, wryly. "Fine."

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"If you're so worried about Jarvis, design your own AI."

[endsthegame]

"I never said I was worried," Ender pointed out, "And an AI might take a few too many resources from the company just for a pet project."

He didn't need to design one; he had a baby AI stalking him over the internets. Oh, Orson.

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"I'm not stopping you." Considering Ender was doing well to keep SI afloat...

[endsthegame]

"So noted," he said. "Anything big on the menu for us?"

[not-ironmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Not at the moment no. Did you have any plans?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben snorted. "Can I watch?"

Not dirty.

[endsthegame]

"No. I'll expect you to face the door and be very, very quiet."

[endsthegame]

"Beyond keep this place running?" Ender asked, lightly. "I won't be expected to go home and play governor for another two years."

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out to ruffle Ender's hair. "Well, as long as you ask nicely..."

[endsthegame]

"I plan to ask you at gunpoint.

A slight pause.

"Stark's leaving."

[momslilassassin]

Ben blinked. "Really? What's that mean for you?"

[endsthegame]

"It means you're looking at the new manager of Stark Industries," Ender said, wryly, "As always, authority flocks to me."

[momslilassassin]

"Congratulations," Ben said, grinning. "You hiring?"

[endsthegame]

"Oh, sure," Ender said, shooting him an amused look. "I inherit a toyshop, he wants to play in it..."

[momslilassassin]

"It's not my fault you have the keys to the most astral store on the island," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "Come back here when Stark's actually gone, and I'll see about getting you an interview."

[momslilassassin]

"Deal," Ben said. "I'll try not to eat into your profits too much."