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Practical Philosophy, Monday

"I've been given to understand that some of you had your emotions manipulated by the island last week," Ender said. He was sitting cross-legged on the grass of the dorm lawn, as per usual, a glass of water in his hand. "So I propose we talk about that on a primary note this week. Did you experience that? Did you know anyone who experienced it? Did it teach you anything about yourself, or was it a pain in the ass? There are a range of issues coming into play when these things occur - questions of consent as well as what this did to you. I'm opening the floor today to any and all of them."

He sat back.

"Otherwise, it's Memorial Day today," he said. "I've personally served in my home's armed forces. It was an unusual program, but not all of us came back alive. Many of us didn't come home whole. I've heard and seen of many brave people who died, serving humanity to their utmost best. They deserve some thought today. I don't care if you want to do it in discussion in this class or later, but please keep it in mind."

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Cade flopped back down on the ground. "Did the weird affect you?"

"No," Ender said. He cast Cade a sideways glance. "Did it affect you?"

"Nah," Cade said. "I'm almost disappointed."

Ender let out a soft snort. "Almost."

"Not enough to want it to happen to me, but I wish I'd seen people being weird?" Cade offered.

"That's an honest answer," Ender said. "I can respect that."

"Trying this new 'being honest with Ender thing'," Cade replied. "Seems to be working out so far."

"I, for one, think it's working perfectly well," Ender agreed, shooting him another quick smile. "Thanks, Cade."

Cade smiled and turned away, embarrassed. "Sure."

"Is your old granddad embarrassing you?" Ender asked dryly.

"A little," Cade mumbled.

Ender rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Did you want to talk about anything?"

"I figured I talked enough the last two weeks to got for the next few," Cade tried. "You?"

"I'm game to talk if you have any questions," Ender said.

Which was probably technically a dodge, but innately honest.

"Does this day make you think about stuff you'd rather not?" Cade asked.

"It makes me think about stuff," Ender said, "my feelings about the matter are largely irrelevant. It's stuff that deserves to be thought about."

"Who comes to mind first?" Cade asked.

"Bonzo," Ender said. Always. "Though technically he didn't die as a soldier."

He'd died on the field of battle, though.

"Many don't," Cade replied. "Does it really matter?"

"Technically, it does, for the holiday," Ender said. "But otherwise-- no."

"So tell me about Bonzo," Cade said, echoing Ender's pronunciation of the name.

"He was a ten-year-old kid who died because he had too much Spanish pride and he challenged the wrong person," Ender said quietly. "He had a pretty face, for a ten-year-old, and he was clearly his parents' favorite, if not only, son."

Cade's lower lip caught between his teeth. "Sometimes I forget how young they were in your war," he murmured.

"Six was the age they deemed us ready to be taken apart," Ender murmured.

Cade bit out something vile in Huttese. "Though that explains why Dad came so late to Jedi training..."

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