momslilassassin: (Ben: side profile)
Ben Skywalker ([personal profile] momslilassassin) wrote2008-12-05 12:19 pm

Room 424 [afternoon]

After going for a long run and an even longer workout, Ben finally made it back to his room and collapsed onto his bed.

The message light was blinking on his comm.

"Finally," he muttered, waving it over to him. It'd been weeks since he'd heard anything from home. Not that he thought Jacen would call, but Master Horn had promised to keep him updated on what was happening.

He pressed the button to play the message, expelling a breath he didn't know he was holding when Master Corran Horn's image floated in front of him. A message from Jacen would have been hard to hear. And a message from his father would have been unrealistic.

Ben ignored the pang that realization gave him.

Five minutes later, after listening three times to Master Horn's message just to make sure his ears weren't messing with him, Ben began to wonder if hearing from Jacen might not have been the better choice.

"Jacen's taken the academy hostage," he repeated aloud, just in case that would help it sink in.

It didn't.

[OOC: Door's cracked, post is open!]
endsthegame: (might be mocking you)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not if you're good," Ender countered, serious-faced. "Otherwise, you can use it."
endsthegame: (considering you)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
He finally looked back at Ben. "I'd rather not find out," he said, casually.
endsthegame: (that's my name)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
It must have hurt other people his age, he supposed, when things like that wound up said. Ender just felt detached from it, any emotion quickly, and methodically, buried behind the usual wall.

Besides, Ben was being ridiculous.

"I know what happens to people who are good at this game," he said.
endsthegame: (musing)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Either they find out they like it too much," he said, thinking of Bean, "Or they'll do something horrible and fall apart because of it. Or they burn out. Or both."
endsthegame: (biting his lip)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"They like it," Ender pointed out. "One of my old commanders is running the military of my planet right now. I'd rather not be him."
endsthegame: (hm.)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you're that good," he said, "You'll find out."
endsthegame: (grey)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Ender shrugged. "I was the best," he said, without any version of the modesty that really had no place in his history. "Now I'm in exile. And I don't mind."
endsthegame: (not impressed)

[personal profile] endsthegame 2008-12-06 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then stop worrying about whether somebody thinks you're good," he said, "Figure out how to do the job well."