Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

There were no particular disasters today - at least not in the shape of food items raining down or sitting around somewhere - which meant Ender actually had time to get back to his usual routine.

Only to be interrupted by one of the printers as it started making noise. The moment he made it over there, though, it stopped.

Fifteen minutes later, the holographic projection unit suddenly blinked on, releasing a high-pitched sound in the process. Again, as Ender approached it, it stopped.

Then it was one of the terminals in back. Then the server. Then--

"If this is you," Ender muttered into his Bluetooth, "It's not funny."

"Oh, I think it is."

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Ho, kreetle," Ben said with a quick grin. "Nothing falling from the sky today?"

[endsthegame]

"Not so far," Ender agreed. "Just some rebellious machinery."

[momslilassassin]

"How rebellious?" Ben asked warily.

[endsthegame]

"I think they might be planning to rise up and destroy us," Ender said, stone-faced.

"You humans," Jane said. "Always so convinced you're worth conquering."

[momslilassassin]

"Serves us right for teaching them to think," Ben said, grinning.

[endsthegame]

"And so convinced you can teach us anything," Jane huffed. "Just because he had to be trained like a monkey doesn't mean we all do."

Ender ignored her, flashing Ben a wry smile. "It was only a matter of time," he agreed.

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned in for a quick kiss. '"Hi there," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Ho," Ender said, pecking him on the lips a second time. "I guess this means we won't be getting our lunch for free this time."

[momslilassassin]

"Since you didn't seem to relish the idea of free waffles last week..." Ben teased, "I brought sandwiches."

[endsthegame]

"That's acceptable," Ender decided. "Let's just not go near the workshop while we eat."

[momslilassassin]

"It's a nice day," Ben declared. "Fresh air won't kill us."

[endsthegame]

Ender snorted. "You just want to head out to the beach again," he teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Work on my tan, get sand in weird places..." Ben laughed.

[endsthegame]

"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?"

Ender got up, though.

[momslilassassin]

Ben blushed. "I'm not desperate for it or anything, no matter how exposed the tents are. But at least there's a tent. We didn't have those on Dathomir."

[endsthegame]

"Weren't we still playing the 'I'm not attracted to you, really' self-torture game back in those days?" Ender said, but he reached for Ben's hand in lieu of kissing him to make a point.

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe," Ben admitted, squeezing Ender's fingers. "Besides, Vestara was there. I figured the less she could figure out about the two of us, the safer you'd be."

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. "Insert annoyed comment about not needing to be saved here," he said, but he sounded amused. "I think I vastly prefer this to Dathomir."

[momslilassassin]

"Far fewer rancors here, for one thing," Ben said, looking amused as they arrived at the beach,

[endsthegame]

"I thought that was part of the Skywalker vacation experience," Ender said dryly, reaching down to take off his shoes.

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe," Ben said, "but I've heard that not everyone is excited by that." He winked. "Those wimps."

[endsthegame]

"If that's an invitation to go back to Dathomir and sleep together in a cave while being chased by rancors," Ender said, "I'm out."

[momslilassassin]

"Is it still a no if we go back and hang out on your hill?" Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"Ah, so it's exhibitionism instead," Ender said, and shot him an amused glance over his shoulder as he stepped into the water.

[momslilassassin]

"Not exactly," Ben said, stripping his shirt off. "Besides, I think it's pretty tough to shock a Dathomiri witch."