The Roof, Sunday Morning
Things were starting to get a little fraught with Ben under the surface; the tension was starting to get on Ender's nerves, which meant some pressure was building, and that was never good. Still, barring locking Ben up bodily with Tahiri and taking off for Eros, never to return, there was very little he could do about it right now.
Hence, he was back up on the roof with his laptop, which was only marginally less irritating.
"I'm sorry, which research in particular are you requesting?"
Ender sighed, rubbing at his forehead. That vein was starting to throb again. "The latest research on Formic farming practices," he said, "If you please."
"I hope that's not some disguised Cincinnatus complex speaking," the little blonde female avatar said, chirpily. "You don't really have that rugged farming look about you."
"Maybe I should specialise in that next; all the new colonies are going to need food, after all. I could become a recluse."
"Just to spite me? Uncharacteristic! What next? Will you enter your rebellious teenage phase and buy a motorcycle?"
"Black leather doesn't really suit me, unfortunately."
"Probably not. Though I was referencing other takes on Jesus Christ Superstar the other day..."
"Don't say it."
"Let's face it, if you had gone for the 2000 edition, Karla would have been even more sure that the New Testament was a tortured homoromantic tale of betrayal and death. Right now, you at least stand a chance of convincing her otherwise! Look on the bright side."
"Thanks for that illuminating analysis."
"No problem. So what's next? Oooh! You could try Islam! That way, she'll learn how to be offensive to three different world religions!"
"Jane?"
"Yes?"
"My research."
"Here you go. You know, I'm measuring a 50% increase in your teenage angst lately. Should I purchase you some My Chemical Romance records while I'm at it?"
Ender paused. Then laughed. "I don't think I'm that bad."
"If you say so."
[[ open! Jane bits NFB as per usual. ]]
Hence, he was back up on the roof with his laptop, which was only marginally less irritating.
"I'm sorry, which research in particular are you requesting?"
Ender sighed, rubbing at his forehead. That vein was starting to throb again. "The latest research on Formic farming practices," he said, "If you please."
"I hope that's not some disguised Cincinnatus complex speaking," the little blonde female avatar said, chirpily. "You don't really have that rugged farming look about you."
"Maybe I should specialise in that next; all the new colonies are going to need food, after all. I could become a recluse."
"Just to spite me? Uncharacteristic! What next? Will you enter your rebellious teenage phase and buy a motorcycle?"
"Black leather doesn't really suit me, unfortunately."
"Probably not. Though I was referencing other takes on Jesus Christ Superstar the other day..."
"Don't say it."
"Let's face it, if you had gone for the 2000 edition, Karla would have been even more sure that the New Testament was a tortured homoromantic tale of betrayal and death. Right now, you at least stand a chance of convincing her otherwise! Look on the bright side."
"Thanks for that illuminating analysis."
"No problem. So what's next? Oooh! You could try Islam! That way, she'll learn how to be offensive to three different world religions!"
"Jane?"
"Yes?"
"My research."
"Here you go. You know, I'm measuring a 50% increase in your teenage angst lately. Should I purchase you some My Chemical Romance records while I'm at it?"
Ender paused. Then laughed. "I don't think I'm that bad."
"If you say so."
[[ open! Jane bits NFB as per usual. ]]