Popular Mechanics, Tuesday, May 26, 2015

[momslilassassin]

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?"

Comments

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

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

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

"You just like phallic things?" Ender joked.

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

"Yes, yes we do," Ben said, grinning back.

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

They were going to miss talking like this when Val was older, and they were going to embarrass the hell out of their children when they were teenagers, just to get revenge for it.

"Well, I'm not asking Valentine Senior to babysit for us again this soon," Ender teased, "But hold that thought. Maybe we can indulge that later."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

In the fine school of "Han and Leia talk about their sex lives to their children"!

"If Tiny Val would sleep longer than two hours at a stretch when we also weren't sleeping for two hours at a stretch..."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

"So maybe later will be next week," Ender said. Optimistically. "I still want you to hold that thought."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned. "It's me. I'll remember."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Just don't whip out your lightsaber in class."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

Ben burst out laughing. "That's Granddad's class."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

"Oh, right," Ender said, shooting him an amused look. "Him and his friend's."

Ahem.

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

"Think we should tell them?" Ben said, grinning.

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

"Your grandfather would get very defensive," Ender said dryly, "And then deny everything."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

"Well, yes, but he also does that if you tell him it's Tuesday, even when it is Tuesday," Ben said.

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

Ender let out a soft laugh. "True," he said. "But that takes the last of the charm out of it, if he responds to everything the same way."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled, happy to hear the laugh. "It's knee-jerk. Give him a minute and he's reasonable...for him...again."

Re: Talk to Ben or Barry!

[endsthegame]

"Well, let's try not to piss him off," Ender said. "We might have to rely on him to babysit Val sooner or later, if we want to have any time to ourselves."