2nd Floor Common Room, Tuesday After Classes

[endsthegame]

It had been a while since Ender had put in any effort to spend time out in the open. He wasn't really avoiding anyone - he never really was - but he had been busy: with colonists, with research, with the mess going on in Ben's universe.

It had been a while, and he was planning to change that, at least right now.

So when his classes had finished, he ambled into the common room and put on a documentary about insect hives. Took out a notepad, just in case there was anything to take notes on that he didn't already know - he'd spent a lot of time comparing Earth insects to Formic behavior in his time - and sat back.

Maybe not the most fascinating material. But if worst came to worst, this was just going to be a quiet moment by himself. He was fine with that, too.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"He's checking up on the best breed of goat possible," Karla assured her. "You know Warren. Why sacrifice a common goat when you can get a purebred, super-fancy goat instead?"

Which, you know, was exactly how Warren would approach a goat sacrifice if there were to be one.

[life_inshadow]

"Tell him, not too cute a super-fancy goat," Tara protested. "If it's a mean old one I won't feel as bad about it getting all ... sacrificed."

Which was how Tara would approach a real goat sacrifice, too.

[glacial_queen]

"I'll make sure he adds it to his list of demands," Karla promised. "Nasty, old, and already on his way to becoming glue. Or jerky. Or...whatever happens to goats."

Queens were expected to know all about the land, not livestock, okay?

[life_inshadow]

"Curry, I think," Tara mused. "... not that I'm the goat expert."

Wiccans: Also not necessarily well-versed in livestock.

"So how have you been? Has Warren quit floating yet?"

Tara had not, quite.

[glacial_queen]

"Pun intended?" Karla asked with a laugh. "I don't think he has, though. I think, more than anything else in his whole life, this is his first chance to do something in a normal way, you know? Just...apply and wait to hear back, like any other kid."

[life_inshadow]

"... okay, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy," Tara decided. "Also, really glad they let him in. Not -- surprised, like at all, but glad. S-sometimes it's good to be the normal one."