fandomhigh | Practical Philosophy, Monday

The sky was overcast, but the temperatures weren't terribly low and the threat of rain not so high that Ender opted to stay indoors. Instead they were out on the dorm lawn again, a bag of sandwiches sitting in what would soon be the center of a circle of students.

Before he started talking in general, he glanced towards Yeul and said, "I'd like to see you after class, please."

Then his attention shifted. "Last week, we experienced some interesting events," Ender said, only a little dry humor obvious from his tone of voice. "The peppers were a nuisance, that's for sure. I hope all of you made it through unharmed and unsinged." They usually did at Fandom-- he didn't think he spotted any major injuries.

"Now, the phones are a semi-annual problem. I've experienced that one several times since I came here. I always don't realize what is going on until I've already made a few calls of my own - and I'm always left wondering what prompted me to respond in the first place," he said. "What is it that makes us want to say something back when someone says something to us? Why can't we just let obviously confused, crazy people be?"

He shrugged. "Maybe it's because our lives are built and supported by our ability to communicate, so when someone communicates oddly at us, we're alarmed," he said. "Maybe we've just all got tempers. Maybe we're just trying to turn a freak occasion into some amusement for ourselves. Or maybe it's just human nature for the entire tribe to start shouting when one member does."

He stretched his legs out. "How was your week?" he asked.

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Cade's face took on a very familiar stubborn look. "You don't need to know that."

"I think I do," Ender said mildly. "It kicked you in the butt so hard I can still see you screaming."

Well, that was slightly nicer than the way Luke had put it: he'd accused Cade of standing over the open grave and refusing to move on.

That was part of why Cade used drugs to shut him the kark up.

"It's when Dad died," he muttered. "I got left for dead too."

Ender got up to his feet. "I'm sorry," he said. "I thought it was something like that. That's why I didn't want to do this in front of the class."

Because he actually cared about your feelings, Cade. Deal.

Cade took a few wary steps back. "Please don't karking hug me."

Ender shot him a dry look. "I've met you," he said, "Of course I'm not going to hug you, you karking idiot."

Emphasis his.

"Then stay where you are, thanks," Cade said, still looking wary.

Because Cade didn't know what to do with feelings.

"I just want you to tell me about what happened," Ender said mildly. "And if you prefer, afterwards, you can give me a manly nod and walk away and get drunk like you usually do."

"You don't want to know what happened," Cade said vehemently. "It was bad."

"That's exactly why I want to know what happened," Ender said.

He wasn't Ben. The thought of something terrible happening to offspring they hadn't even had yet-- well, it did get to him, too, but he was better at handling that.

"Why?" Cade asked, honestly baffled. "You don't even know him yet."

"No, but I've met you," Ender said. "You don't have to worry I'm going to bombard you with hugs and kisses, but frankly, someone needs to give a damn about you, and since your uncle isn't here, you're stuck with me."

"Why does anyone need to give a damn about me?" Cade replied. "No one has in years."

"Because I'm your grandfather, a position which I believe affords me no small measure of eccentricity," Ender said, "as well as being allowed to call you a young whippersnapper and smack you with my cane as the need arises."

Edited 2013-05-20 21:37 (UTC)

"You're maybe five years older than me," Cade snorted. "I'm not calling you Gramps."

"I don't care what you call me," Ender said. "We're family. That means you're accorded a certain amount of concern. Deal with it. And stop avoiding my question."

"I'll avoid it as long I can," Cade muttered stubbornly. "You've seen war. Take that, make it lightsaber to lightsaber and you've got a good idea what Ossus looked like."

"And you were stuck in the middle of it," Ender said.

Cade shrugged. "I was an apprentice and Dad ran the Order. Where else would I be?"

"Did you fight?" Ender asked. "Or did you run?"

Anger flared in Cade's eyes. "Of course I fought!"

"And then you ran," Ender said calmly. "It's not an accusation. You're alive."

"I didn't run!" Cade yelled, his hands balling into fists. "They all but shoved me onto that karking transport!"

"Do you wish they didn't?" Ender asked. He was glad he'd stood upright now - his superior length kept the power balance squarely in the middle.

"Of course," Cade snarled. "I could have helped."

Sometimes he acted as young as he was.

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