The weather was still behaving itself, so the sun was beaming down brightly (which might not be appreciated by those who overindulged last night), the humidity wasn't unbearable, and the mosquitoes were keeping to themselves ( Read more... )

The weather was being kind - perhaps unnaturally so. There was a large gap in the clouds right above Fandom island, sending sunlight streaming down even as the sun made its way towards the horizon ( Read more... )

There was one advantage to being back here: one incrementally small thing that Ender would take advantage of. There was water near Shakespeare, but it was well away from the city itself. Most of the colony operated on what they drew out of the ground, a relic of the days when making sure their water was filtered was a major necessity ( Read more... )

So, Sparkle wasn't sure, but he was starting to get the feeling that maybe he was actually the only Demon Marcus employee on the island that didn't up and graduate last week. And, really, he wasn't certain what to make of that. Did that mean he got free reign over the place, now? Maybe nobody would give a shit if he took a peek at the spring ( Read more... )

"Just make sure the portal comes first thing in the morning on Monday," Ender sighed. "I don't want to be stuck here any longer than I have to-- yes, I know. I know. I realize there may be any number of layovers before we reach next weekend-- yes, I know. What I'm wondering is why it's possible for us to travel back in time here, when it's ( Read more... )

It was awfully quiet on the causeway - what with it being graduation weekend, Ender had expected more... well, more people. Not that he had an issue with peace and quiet. It just... struck a strange chord.

"Your Portalocity people screwed up," Jane whispered matter-of-factly in his ear. "You're a week early.... Of course. This was the last time ( Read more... )

Ender had purposefully let Ben go off on his own. The man needed some time with his friends, and Ender's presence would just get in the way. After some time spent strolling around the beach, he walked back into town, stole into the Perk, and sat down ( Read more... )

"Ah, come on. It's not all that bad. The shades really go with your coat."

Unimpressed silence as Sparkle reached out to adjust the shades in question.

"And the little scarf brings out your eyes!"

More unimpressed silence.

"Oh, come on. Don't look at me like that. You've been going around naked for the last week. Think of this as, I dunno ( Read more... )

Ender had decidedly mixed feelings about coming back here - he'd been happy to leave Fandom, and his interest in looking back was... middling. Still, if nothing else, the sight of the school up ahead was a good reminder of how much he'd changed since he'd last stood here. More stable now, older (though wiser, he wouldn't be able to say) and finally ( Read more... )

Ender had expected some sense of nostalgia when he opened up the shop that morning - for the very last time. And he did, but it was nothing acute, no deep longing in the pit of his stomach: more like the tingle at the edge of a bruise, knowing it was the first sign of healing some terrible damage.

"You seem happy," Jane observed. "Finally done ( Read more... )