Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

"...me head over heels on gasoline--"

"Turn that off."

Jane let the music play for a few more seconds before she switched it off. "What, you don't like it? And here I thought all humans liked inane pop music."

Ender rubbed his forehead, then cast a glance towards the shop. "Howard is a much quieter taskmaster than Tony ever was," he said, "And I'd like to keep the place that way."

Which was naturally when the sound systems of the shop kicked in, and Ender was forced to get up and switch all of them off manually before he got fired for disturbing Howard's midday tweaking session. Or whatever else the man got up to when Ender didn't see him.

[[ open! apparently this song is a thing for me today. ]]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"Well I, for one, am terribly affronted," Ender said with a soft laugh.

[momslilassassin]

"Hush, you," Ben said, leaning in to give him a kiss. "You know too much about me as it is."

[endsthegame]

Ender cupped Ben's cheek with one hand, kissing him back. "I don't think this is such a terrible thing for me to know."

[momslilassassin]

"And if you hadn't figured it out by now--" Ben babbled.

[endsthegame]

Ender thought of offering up a witty rejoinder, but he didn't have one.

Shutting Ben up with a deeper kiss seemed like a better idea.

[momslilassassin]

Ben had no objection at all to that form of communication. "Hi there," he finally said when he came up for breath.

[endsthegame]

"I like you," Ender said, smiling. "In case that wasn't abundantly clear."

[momslilassassin]

"I certainly hope so," Ben said, chuckling. "Because I missed seeing that memo if that's how we're supposed to greet everyone."

[endsthegame]

"I'd rather you don't, even if it was," Ender said. He ruffled Ben's hair.

[momslilassassin]

"I think I'll keep that just for you," Ben decided.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little again.

Then he pursed his lips, and said, "How much Force philosophy did you get taught when you were younger?"

[momslilassassin]

"A fair chunk," Ben replied. "Jacen was my Master, and the subject fascinated him."

[endsthegame]

"What did you think?"

[momslilassassin]

"I thought it wasn't as interesting as lightsaber practice," Ben said with a smile, "but I've changed my mind since."

[endsthegame]

"It is much more interesting than lightsaber practice," Ender said, "But then I might be biased." He glanced at Ben. "Have you been revisiting anything you've heard of in the past couple of years?"

[momslilassassin]

"Are you looking for a study date?" Ben asked. "For the most part, I was reviewing the places Jacen ended up while we were on our trip this summer and then trying to see what the archives had to say."

[endsthegame]

"No, I'm not looking for a study date," Ender said, shaking his head. "I'm reading all the material, and that's interesting enough - but you grew up with it. I'm just interested in your perspective on it - anything you have to say about it."

[momslilassassin]

"You've started with the Living Force against the Unifying Force concepts?" Ben said, looking thoughtful. "Based on what I experienced in the Maw, I think the Force is so much bigger than the human brain is prepared to experience."

[endsthegame]

"It was a little overwhelming - for my standards," Ender said. "But then I don't know the Force like you do."

[momslilassassin]

"And the way I use the Force is different from Anakin does," Ben said. "He's much more instinctive about it, like Granddad. I was afraid of it for so long that I still have to think about it, even if it's only a split second reaction difference."

[endsthegame]

"So you feel more of a distance?" Ender asked. "I know you're a little more practically inclined than a lot of the Jedi I've heard of."

[momslilassassin]

"Mom was too," Ben said, gazing off into the distance a bit. "Dad's all intuition."

[endsthegame]

"Was that why you got along with her better?" Ender asked, watching his face.

[momslilassassin]

"I think that might have been part of it," Ben admitted. "The Force is a part of Dad, like his arm or his heart. I think he could intellectualize why I'd pulled away from it, but he never really understood it."

He shrugged. "At least until he had his own run-in with Abeloth, anyway."

[endsthegame]

Ender raised an eyebrow. "Did he mention anything like that?" he asked. "About understanding it?"