Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

Ender had gotten himself a spot behind the counter in a timely manner unlike his tired mun. The store didn't have any particularly new sheen to it now that he managed it; it just became a convenient place he might be able to start storing things.

For the first time in a while, Ender bugged JARVIS, asking him questions about this thing or that in the spirit of exploration of his new workspace.

And no ulterior motives at all.

[[ open, but I might be slow. ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben came in at the usual time, carrying Thai food and iced coffee. "Ho, Ender." He flashed a smile. "Or is there a new title I need to use now that this is yours?"

[endsthegame]

"Yes," Ender said, dryly, "I thought I'd add 'mechanic overlord' to my list of inappropriate and unearned titles."

[momslilassassin]

"Is there a hat or uniform that comes along with it?" Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"It's made of tin foil," Ender said, solemnly.

[momslilassassin]

"Fashionable," Ben said with a chuckle. "Maybe you could start a trend among the new students."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "Because they're all going to turn to me for their cues," he said, "The quiet, unassuming boy who isn't in any way popular or special."

[momslilassassin]

"They can't all be such terrible judges of character," Ben said loyally.

[endsthegame]

"I'd prefer it if they were."

[momslilassassin]

"Why?" Ben asked, taking a sip from his coffee and handing the extra cup to Ender.

[endsthegame]

"Easier to fly under the radar," Ender mused, taking the cup. "I have no particular need to be defined by my past by everyone around here." For reasons that were fairly obvious, really.

[momslilassassin]

"Kreetle," Ben said fondly, "you don't have to mention your past. Tell them you're from North Carolina but spent some time in space, then ask about them and dodge the rest of their questions."

He smiled. "Like you do with me."

[endsthegame]

"And now you're implying like I'm talking about doing something new," Ender said, giving him a little dry look. "You know me. I enjoy being dull."

[momslilassassin]

"You enjoy having people believe you are dull," Ben corrected. "I don't spend time with boring people."

[endsthegame]

"Oh," he said, "So how fascinating I am is now completely dependent on your judgement?"

[momslilassassin]

"Yes," Ben decided. "Though the tinfoil hat will help with how interesting you appear."

[endsthegame]

"Is that also a Ben Skywalker decision," Ender asked, "Or do I get to choose whether or no the hat is interesting?"

[momslilassassin]

"The hat design is entirely up to you," Ben said airily.

[endsthegame]

"How kind of you," Ender said, dryly. "So how's life on this end of newbie weekend?"

[momslilassassin]

"I met someone with Obi-Wan's face," Ben said with a tiny grin, "but no new relatives."

[endsthegame]

"Well, that's something." Ender took a sip of his drink. "None for me, either, which I think is for the best."

[momslilassassin]

"Imagine knowing two Valentines," Ben teased, choosing the least volatile Wiggin sibling.

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "I have a hard time doing that," he admitted, "Knowing how complicated just the one is."

[momslilassassin]

"Two Tahiris is one too many," Ben said with a grin. "I'll keep the one here."

[endsthegame]

"The one at home might have a few thoughts about that," Ender said, vaguely.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's lips pursed. "Well, she's kind of dropped off the grid for a while."

[endsthegame]

"For now," Ender said, and clacked his tongue.

He didn't actually want to ask the question about Tahiri and graduation, so he didn't.

[momslilassassin]

Ben shrugged a shoulder. "She's not affiliated with the Order any longer. I think Jaina might know where she is but I haven't asked."

[endsthegame]

"And you're not curious at all?"

[momslilassassin]

Another shrug. "I think she should've come back to the Order."

[endsthegame]

And now Ender wanted to find Ben's reality's Tahiri, and see how she was doing. "Sure," he said, idly, and finished up his coffee.

[momslilassassin]

Ben slanted his eyes at him. "You don't agree."

[endsthegame]

"I never said that."

[momslilassassin]

Ben handed over lunch. "What are your thoughts?"

[endsthegame]

"I'm thinking that I'd like to know what's going on in her head," Ender said, taking said food and unwrapping it carefully. "Sometimes what's good for someone isn't what everyone else thinks it is."

[momslilassassin]

"Sometimes running in just trying to avoid the inevitable," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"It'd be fun," Ender said, a little dryly, "If people were that simple, right?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben took a bite of something spicy and gave a wry smile in return. "Yes. It would make life much easier. Get on that, would you?"

[endsthegame]

"Maybe she's not running away," Ender said, stealing a bite of something himself. "The Jedi are a hotbed of moral absolutes. If you've bounced between poles as often as she has, maybe that doesn't work anymore."

[momslilassassin]

"But turning bounty hunter?" Ben made a face.

[endsthegame]

"No," Ender said, dryly. "After I finish learning how to be a super-powered knight for justice, take a few spins on the bad side of town, and learn what it's like to torture people, I think I'll settle down and spend the rest of my life as a fry cook."

[momslilassassin]

"If you're going to try to straighten your life out, I'd think a better choice in careers would be one where torture and killing people for money wasn't part of the job description," Ben shot back.

[endsthegame]

"Or maybe it's a way to take control of who and what you hurt," Ender said, glancing at him.

He took a big bite, and chewed on it.

[momslilassassin]

"Shouldn't you be working on not hurting anyone?" Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"Not if you think you lost ownership of yourself, and that's the first problem you have to tackle," he said, once he'd swallowed. "I mean, this is all just theory, of course. That's why I'd like to talk to her."

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked thoughtful. "Maybe. If you're serious about it, I can ask some people."