if i think i can figure things out, is that curiosity or arrogance?

Judging by Kenzi's giggling, yes, he did. "Does this mean I can get a second job as a phone-sex operator?" Wait. "Why didn't I think of this before? Hey, Topher, does your man-reaction react if I talk about positions?"

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Topher buried his head in the pillow on the floor, singing, "La la la la la!" to block out the imagery.

GROSS, KENZI.

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Even Peter pulled a face. "Kenzi, please," he said, "Nobody needs to know about Topher's man-reaction."

Edited Date: 2011-10-13 06:54 pm (UTC)

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Kenzi's lack of TMI filter meant she was still giggling. "I think we all know the answer anyway... so yeah. No asking about Ben and Ender, or I'll talk more about my next enterprise."

Hmm. "Although that would probably count as some form of cheating on Toby, so maybe not."

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Cautiously resurfacing, Topher informed her, "You're awful."

She was.

"Should be nicer to me now that I'm doing what you said," he added. "Gonna take lessons on how to duck and run away and stuff from Tony once we get back to school."

And wouldn't that be... interesting.

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"Because that's absolutely not a recipe for disaster," Peter judged, "Though it's nice you're trying to take measures to keep our icepack levels up."

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"We appreciate the effort," Kenzi agreed. Then told the phone. "And desserts. Surprise us." She hung up finally and said, "Tony knows that stuff? Hunh. Wouldn't have pegged him for it."

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"He's good at a lot of stuff," Topher replied absently. Almost dreamily, one might say.

Shut up.

"And sometimes I use ice cream sandwiches instead of ice packs, so -- okay?!" God, Peter.

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Beat. "Well, I'm never eating ice cream again. Thank you, Topher."

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"I can't believe you wasted food like that," Kenzi marveled at Topher. "Just when I think you can't get weirder..."

And that was a pillow now aimed just past Peter. Since he freaked if you touched him. "Play with us! XBox!"

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Topher was about to comment to explain that he'd eaten the ice cream afterwards, but that last exclamation by Kenzi effectively distracted him.

"Yeah! Play!" he echoed. "I'll make you any kind of robot you want!" Yes, Topher. Start the bargaining there. "And Kenzi will... do something else! For you!"

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"I think you should apologise to Kenzi right now for making her sound like a prostitute," Peter told Topher. "I'm not playing. I need to go grab coffee with my brother soon, anyway."

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"And a cheap one," Kenzi said, throwing another pillow in Topher's direction now. "Dude, watch the phrasing... Really? Coffee? With Ender-Ender-Ender?"

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"Maybe he'll play with us," Topher suggested, trying and failing to dodge the pillow.

Topher, no. No one wanted that.

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That way laid getting your ass kicked three ways from Sunday, Topher.

"Yes, with Ender," Peter said, ignoring Topher, since that seemed to be the sane option. "He practically begged me to when we left."

Not entirely a realistic portrayal of events.

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Kenzi's eyebrows might be hinting she wondered about that, but what she said was, "Hang out 'til the food gets here. You can have whatever isn't ice cream. Since that's been ruined for you forever... We need to take you out drinking."

YES. IT HAD TO HAPPEN.

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Fine. He'd just ask Ender to play sometime. And, of course, live to regret it.

Then the idea of Peter drinking hit him, and Topher snorted. "Yes! We have to! And you can try those jello thingies!"

And that tattoo thingy! Or maybe that was just him.

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Oh, come on, guys. You couldn't say you didn't see this one coming.

"I don't drink, either. Bad for the brain."

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"Peter, you're such a middle-aged geek, I swear. Come on. Take one night out of your life to do something teenagery and fun," Kenzi said in exasperation. Or come along to watch Topher get drunk!"

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Topher considered threatening withholding geek services, but remembered how well that had worked for him last time.

Instead, he just decided to caution Peter, "It's better if you plan it than if she tricks you into it."

What a surprising display of insight!

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"Not everyone is you, Topher," Peter reminded him. "Look, I hope you guys have the best time of your lives doing things that are teenagery and fun. I just don't want to get too distracted."

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"From what? School's always going to be there. In fact, with time travel, you can take as long as you want to get it perfect," Kenzi said, bemused. "Politics will always be there too. Maybe not exactly the same, but..."

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"It's not like doing something fun once will completely wreck your career plan," Topher added. "'sides, you're already smart. 's not like you have to work hard or anything."

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"When you're smart," Peter said, "You have to work even harder than anyone else to get something real done."

But that came a bit too close, so he turned back to Kenzi. "Look, I've had my wild days in the past, but not anymore. I'm not a drinker."

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