fandomhigh | Popular Mechanics, Tuesday, May 26, 2015

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practical mechanics

Popular Mechanics, Tuesday, May 26, 2015

True to his word, Ben had constucted a 28-foot platform down by the docks for the mechanics students to launch their flying machines into the water from.

How much did you trust your own ability to fight gravity, kids? Because it's now or never.

In the spirit of fun, Ben had even constructed his own craft that looked like a big wheel bicycle--mostly because he'd felt like it.

"Right, we're going to help push each other's machines over the edge and see who's gets the furthest," Ben said with a grin. "Hope no one here melts if they get wet. As a reminder, all of your machines must be human-powered and can't be longer than 10m or heavier than 150 kg, including yourself."

He pointed to some squirrels chittering down at the bottom of the platform, waving digital cameras. "All of this will be filmed for posterity, so if you don't want the pictures getting out, take it up with them after your run. So...who's going first?"

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"Sounds astral," Ben murmured. "What do you think, Val?"

Val was trying to stuff her entire fist into her mouth.

"Don't do that, sweetheart," Ender said, reaching out largely by reflex now to dislodge the hand.

Ben smiled over at him, loving the way Ender used endearments without thinking about it.

Ender's speech had always molded itself to whoever he was around, and after years of exposure to Ben, the endearments had naturally molded into his vocabulary until he didn't even realize he kept using them.

Having successfully removed Val's tiny fist, he looked up and shot Ben an absent smile back. "Sorry," he said, "I keep worrying she'll get in the habit and bite herself later."

Ben leaned in and kissed Ender, first on the mouth, then on his knuckles. "I love you."

Ender laughed, a little sheepish. "I'm glad my being overprotective gets such a reaction."

"It's a very good look on you," Ben said.

"Thanks," Ender said wryly, "Co-dad."

Ben's entire face lit up. "Best title ever."

"Well, you earned it," Ender said, looking fondly at where Val laid cradled in Ben's arms.

Ben smiled back at him, eyes fond and only a little exhausted.

Ender leaned in and kissed him again. "I love you too," he said.

"I know," Ben whispered, eyes fond. "Let's get walking."

"All right," Ender said, with a little chuckle. "You can tell me about your class in-depth."

And as such, he started to walk.

Since Ben was carrying Val, he couldn't use his hands to describe the splashes of the various vehicles the kids had come up with, but his voice was hopefully animated enough.

Val was certainly entranced by it.

Probably because he was talking so much...

Ender listened to him happily, if not with completely rapt attention; he liked Ben's enthusiasm more than he was specifically interested in any of the splashes. "You're having fun."

"I am," Ben agreed. "It's fun to see what kind of random and unnecessary embellishments Thorin's going to put on his project every week."

"What was his take this time?" Ender asked.

Ben laughed and described it. "Not as bad as the car," he concluded, "but still about twenty pounds of stuff he could have gotten rid of."

"But where would be the fun in that," said Ender, who was not of that particular mindset but knew enough people who were.

"Dunno," Ben said, "but maybe it would have floated for a few more seconds."

"Function over style?" Ender said. "That's not how I know you."

Well, maybe a little bit.

"I like style with function," Ben said, grinning. "Like a lightsaber."

Ender chuckled. "You're going to hear a lot of this," he told Val. "I'm not sure why the Jedi are so obsessed with their phallic toys."

"You know about 80 percent of why," Ben teased.

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