Fixer-Uppers, Monday

[endsthegame]

A few emails back and forth with Valentine had gotten Ender an invitation - one he wasn't as keen on turning down as he might have been in the past. His portal was set for tonight, and so he'd brought a bag with a few things with him to work.

Not a lot; he had no doubt clothes would be provided for him on Eros, and anyway, the baggy pants and hoodies of Fandom served no purpose on an asteroid where everyone knew who he was anyway.

But that still left a full shift and some change before he could go. He was spending that time the same way he'd spent the past few days: working furiously, both back in the workshop, and occasionally on emails at his laptop, going through some research.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

After her conversation with Ben on Friday, Karla would have come to check in on Ender even if he hadn't asked. Thus, when one of Mini-Morton's arms fell off and needed to be reattached, she took it as a sign from the Darkness that she had no choice but to see Ender and soon.

Though that did make for an excellent reason to come visit Ender at work, when she'd never done so before. A reason completely unrelated to Ben, fussing, or anything else.

Holding her broken droid out like a hall pass, Karla ducked her head into Fixer-Uppers. "Kiss kiss," she called. "Anyone here?"

He'd better be here. The universe was sending signs for her to come and visit.

[endsthegame]

"I'm back here," Ender called from the workshop. His bag, he'd kicked to lay somewhere near the holographic projector, which he was once again abusing for his own research. He didn't think Rikku would particularly mind. "Hey."

[glacial_queen]

"Hey," Karla called, following the sound of his voice. "Paying customer here. Ender, I need you to help me fix Mimi-Morton. His arm fell off."

The droid was making some of the saddest beeps ever and kept looking forlornly at his fallen limb.

"Can you help me?"

[endsthegame]

"I'd be happy to," he said, shutting off the display. He was going to head up to the front now, and lean on the desk. "It's what I'm being paid to do, after all. Can I have a look at him?"

[glacial_queen]

Karla gently handed him over, looking more than a little anxious. "I think he got caught on something or maybe tried to drag something too heavy for him? I'm not sure, I didn't see. But now his arm is off and I can't fix it."

There were the remains of some scotch tape and few rubber bands to suggest she'd tried.

[endsthegame]

"Don't try to tape it on next time," Ender said, gently, as he leaned in to get a better look. "It wouldn't fix any of the connections that make it possible for him to move it. I'll have to do some work on it, but it shouldn't be too hard."

[glacial_queen]

"Oh, okay," Karla said, a little meekly. "It was just the only thing I could think to do for him."

Well, that or race to their room and pound on the door until they agreed to fix him there, but that would be a little counterproductive for her plans today.

[endsthegame]

"It's fine," Ender said, glancing up with a quick smile. "It's my area of expertise, not yours. You gave it a good shot. I should be able to get it done by the end of the day."

He took the robot and the arm, and turned around with intent to head for the workshop.

[glacial_queen]

"Wait!" Way to play it cool, Karla. "I've got a few minutes before I have to head to 'Dite's," she said, waving him back to the counter. "You don't have to just fly off and start. Unless...will fixing him really take all day?"

For all she knew, he could have said a month and she'd've thought it natural.

[momslilassassin]

It was a Monday at lunchtime, so naturally, there was a Ben with a sack full of hamburgers and two coffees.

His expression was one determined to insist everything was normal. "Ho, Ender."

[endsthegame]

"Back here," Ender called from the workshop, though he took the time to shut off his welding tools. "I'm working on Mini-Morton."

[momslilassassin]

"What happened to Mini-Morton?" Ben asked, sounding concerned as he came in.

[endsthegame]

"Broke his arm off," Ender replied, taking his gloves off as Ben came in. "She tried to reattach it with rubber bands." His mouth managed a little fond twitch.

[momslilassassin]

Ben snickered, half because that was ridiculous and half to cover for his reaction to Ender looking kind of grease-spattered and grubby. He was not going to give into his natural inclination right now. It would just make things fifty times more awkward.

He leaned in the doorway to keep his distance and ran a hand through his hair. "Think he'll survive, doctor?"

[endsthegame]

"I think he's going to make it through the night," Ender said, fake-seriously, because if there was anyone who was a champion at this playing normal thing, it was him-- at least with the foresight of some time spent away from all this. "If I can just fix the last two servomotors before I have to catch my portal."

[momslilassassin]

Don't panic, Skywalker.

"Portal?" he repeated. "Where are you going?"

Totally normal, see?

"Are you going to wash the oil off of your face before you go, too?"

...mostly normal.

[endsthegame]

... Very. That last comment even got a funny look from Ender before he managed to recover a few beats later. "Val invited me back to Eros for Christmas and my birthday," he said, somewhat self-consciously rubbing at the stain on his cheek now. "No need to have a heart attack, I should be back on Sunday."

[glacial_queen]

So, Ender had mentioned that Mini-Morton would be finished by the end of the day, but Karla couldn't help but head over there to check on him during her lunch break anyway. She missed her little droid and it felt wrong to just abandon him at the repair shop all day.

Maybe he'd feel better if she stopped in to say hello. So he knew she hadn't forgotten him, even if she couldn't take him home yet.

These were thoughts she was never, ever allowed to share with the boyos, it was true. Speaking of--was that Ben inside? Oooh! Maybe he brought extra lunch to share!

[endsthegame]

Ender was closer to the front of the store now, so he could kind of tell there was a familiar figure closing in on them. He broke off his conversation with Ben to shoot a glance in her direction. "Karla," he said, "I think you might be a little too optimistic about my welding skills."

[momslilassassin]

"I don't know," Ben said, shooting Ender a little grin, "you looked like you knew what you were doing. Karla just broke her droid really well."

[glacial_queen]

Wow. Ben managed to flirt obliviously and insult Karla at the same time. He was some kind of special.

"I did not break him!" Karla protested, frowning in the doorway. "I woke up and he was like that!"

[endsthegame]

"I don't really want to know," Ender said, one eyebrow inclining upwards, "I'm just here to fix it." He reached up in a futile attempt to rub a grease stain away from his forehead, where it was starting to itch.

They really needed a shower at Fixer-Uppers. He'd have to talk to Rikku about that.

[momslilassassin]

Yeah, that would really fix things for everyone...

"Was he off weight lifting or something?" Ben asked.

[glacial_queen]

"He might have been trying to drag something," Karla said, shrugging. "I think sometimes he tries to clean my room and stuff. Someone has him programmed to over-fuss," she added pointedly.

Watching Ender try to rub away the grease, Karla just sighed and started rooting through the lunch bag for napkins, stealing a few fries as she did so. "Mother Night, Ender, you're covered in grease. I didn't know working here could get you so dirty."

Karla: still fairly oblivious to what actually happened in this store.

"Ben go damp these down with water so Ender can clean up. What, did you not notice?"

Thank the Darkness she was here. Left to their own devices, who knew how they'd end up, honestly.

[endsthegame]

"I need soap," Ender pointed out, "I'm not sure Rikku keeps a lot of it stocked up. Besides, I'm supposed to get back to work soon anyway - if it wasn't for you meddling kids."