Stark Industries [all day]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was back for his last shift at his job and was making the most of his time (and his last paycheck) by putting together a small mountain pile of electronics that he was going to take with him when he left.

You know, just in case he needed them in space with Ender.

He'd just started feeling a little bit maudlin about things coming to an end and how much he'd miss it here when kumquats rained down from the ceiling.

...maybe he wouldn't miss it all.

Comments

[endsthegame]

Getting smacked on the top of his head by a kumquat while poking his head into the store was not, technically, the most impressive moment of Ender's life. "Kuso--!"

[momslilassassin]

"No, kumquat," Ben said with a tiny smile. "Ho, kreetle."

[endsthegame]

"Does the island hold a grudge?" Ender asked, apropos of... everything, and glanced up at the ceiling before he slipped in. "I'm going to need more than an umbrella for this."

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached under the counter and tossed him a helmet. "You'll look stupid but you won't get brain damaged."

[endsthegame]

Ender snorted, but he pulled the helmet on anyway.

Hey, he'd never been particularly afraid of looking stupid. "Thanks."

[life_inshadow]

Tara was still sleepy from having stayed out a little too late the night before, but it wasn't going to deter her from checking in with Ben before they both left the island.

The kumquat shower, however, almost did.

"Hi," she said, brushing fruit out of her hair. "Uh .... does it rain fruit in here a lot?"

[momslilassassin]

"Weirdly, yeah," Ben admitted, tossing her an umbrella. He was wearing a very stylish (yeah, not really) bicycle helmet. "Come on in!"

[life_inshadow]

Tara twirled the umbrella, then propped it over one shoulder with a little laugh. "I just wanted to say hi before we both leave," she said. "And see how you were. I didn't know to expect random kumquats."

[momslilassassin]

"Just one of the perks of working in a shop on this island," Ben said with a wry smile. "When do you take off? Ender and I leave Thursday."

[life_inshadow]

"Monday," Tara said, and that kept feeling way too soon. "Seemed ... better not to draw it out."

She raised her eyebrows. "Does the ship leave Thursday, or do you get time off first?"

[dollpocalypse]

"Oh, good," Topher said, sticking his head inside. "You weren't eaten by a tiger."

A kumquat landed on his head and then rolled to the floor.

"...what."

[momslilassassin]

"I don't even ask any more," Ben said with a shake of his head. "And no, I wasn't eaten by a tiger, a dinosaur or a goat."

[dollpocalypse]

"I'm pretty sure the goat was friendly," Topher informed him. For whatever that was worth. "Why'd you leave, anyway? You missed the part with the jungle."

[momslilassassin]

"I told Ender I'd be home by two," Ben replied with a tiny smile. "He's not a drinker."

[dollpocalypse]

He had noticed that, Ben, yes. "But... jungle."

Everyone loved a good safari adventure, right?

[solo_sword]

So how bad was the hangover?

Of course Jaina had to tease. Also, she was bored.

[momslilassassin]

Bad, Ben replied, but I didn't end up with a tattoo, a haircut, or a weird pet, so I think it's a good night.

[solo_sword]

That was all way too specific, Ben.

[momslilassassin]

Last time I gave Topher a haircut. It looked bad.

As hair cut by a drunk person would.

[solo_sword]

You boys have interesting nights...

Yes, yes, they did.

[glacial_queen]

"Kiss kiss and why is it raining--what the Hell are those things falling from the ceiling?"

See Karla. See Karla be RELENTLESSLY CHEERFUL.

[momslilassassin]

"Kumquats," Ben said. "Want a helmet? All the cool kids are wearing them today."

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked at Ben in his helmet, raised an eyebrow, and shook her head. "I'll just shield, thanks," she said, a flicker of Sapphire lighting up the air above her head. "But yours looks quite dashing. Really."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm hoping it'll taper off soon," he replied, getting up to give her a hug. "Welcome back. I've missed you."

[glacial_queen]

Karla clung to that hug a little more tightly that her wont, hoping that Ben would just write any extra clingyness off to the separation the next few days would bring.

"I've missed you, too," she said. "I'm sorry my welcome back comes so close to your goodbye. It's going to be a lonely island without you or Ender."

...And most of her other friends. But Ben and Ender were among the first that she had made and she would miss them dreadfully.