The Portal on Shakespeare [a week later]

[momslilassassin]

A mattress had been bought for guests, the house had been scrubbed from top to bottom and then bottom to top, and Ben, even though he knew that Luke wouldn't care in the slightest, had stressed out about what they'd have for dinner for the last three days.

Now he was a half-hour early for the time his father had sent him for the portal, bouncing nervously on the balls of his feet.

He was excited and terrified in almost equal measure.

Sounds like a fun vacation, huh?

Comments

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"There's going to be a pool?" Luke smiled. "I think I can stick around for a few days."

[endsthegame]

"Ben's been digging it for a while," Ender said. "In bits and pieces."

He kept getting distracted for some reason...

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks went slightly pink. For some reason.

"It'll be ready," he said, smiling. "You'll be able to see Miranda soon."

[endsthegame]

"It's just a few more kilometers," Ender agreed.

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"I'm looking forward to see your home," Luke said quietly, shooting them both a smile.

[endsthegame]

"We live near the edge of town," Ender explained. "Ben wanted somewhere quiet - and it's close to his plot of land."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm growing grapes," Ben explained. "So far they haven't died!"

He was a little too pleased with himself about that.

[endsthegame]

"He's got hopes of making his own wine," Ender explained. "Which I'm sure the colonists will appreciate."

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"I didn't know you drank wine," Luke said.

[momslilassassin]

"I thought it sounded more interesting than making beer," Ben replied, looking a little embarrassed. "Not that I'm trying to raise a colony of alcoholics or anything!"

[endsthegame]

Ender shot him a wry look. "I'm pretty sure people have been distilling potentially hazardous drinks here for a while," he said. "Providing something of higher quality and lower alcohol content can only help."

They passed over the top of a hill, and suddenly it was visible: Miranda village, home to more than three thousand colonists, a hodgepodge of two-to-five-story buildings made of sturdy brick and cement standing on green grass, trees everywhere.

It didn't really look like a campsite, no.

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Nice," Luke said, looking impressed. "Which one's your house?"

[endsthegame]

"Over there, on the left flank," Ender said, stretching up in his seat to point it out.

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"It looks very homey," Luke said, peering at it. "You're here for another year or so, then?"

[endsthegame]

"We'll be here for another year and a half," Ender agreed. "Then we'll see where we go. There'll be a new colony ship arriving by then - we'll probably follow to wherever's next on their itinerary."

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Will you be a governor again?" Luke asked, interested, "or just going somewhere else?"

[endsthegame]

"I think after this I'll retire," Ender said, with a brief quirk of his lips. "This assignment wasn't quite by my choice."

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Retiring at what, 22?" Luke asked with a smile. "Well done."

[endsthegame]

"I doubt it'll stick," Ender said cheerfully. "I retired from the military when I was eighteen, and yet look, here I am."

[notsoreckless.livejournal.com]

"Somehow I don't see either of you spending the next eighty years of your life as cheerful slackers," Luke agreed.

[endsthegame]

"We'll see," Ender said, as the skimmer slowed to a halt. "It's early yet."

[momslilassassin]

"This is our house," Ben said, stating the obvious but with pride.

[endsthegame]

Ender hopped out of the skimmer. "Welcome to our backyard," he added.

[momslilassassin]

"Watch out for the giant hole," Ben offered with a grin.

[endsthegame]

Ender walked past the giant hole - see, Luke? - to the door, unlocking it and pushing into the house.

They could follow, or they could have a moment outside. He wasn't going to push either way.