Hotel Room *handwavy*, Monday Morning

[bitten_notshy]

Jack hadn't expected much from Emma after their run-in with Adrienne. He'd stayed with her, taken her shopping, talked of nothing. He assumed she'd tell him more about her sister when she felt like it, or never.

His curiosity about the Frosts was itching at him. Sometimes, even when it was important, it was hard for him not to treat people he cared for as potential witnesses.

Perhaps especially when it was important.

She'd stayed in his hotel room that night, and now it was morning. He stroked her hair, trying to decide if they should go off the island again today.

"Are you awake?"

[OOC: For one, NFB.]

Comments

[icecoldfrost]

"Of course not," she agreed, voice deceptively mild. "I wasn't an option to start with."

Emma had known she'd lose from the start, so she kept telling herself that she hadn't ever actually wanted to be a candidate. Most days, she even believed that.

"Anything else you're worried about Adrienne throwing at me, darling?"

[bitten_notshy]

She wasn't but saying that would be salt in the wound.jack wisely considered the subject closed.

"Nothing I don't think you can deflect with dazzling wit and the sure knowledge you're the prettier sister and the better person," Jack answered.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma snorted. "I'm hardly the prettier sister or the better person," she replied, shaking her head. "I'm just not as annoying."

[bitten_notshy]

"What on Earth makes you think you could possibly be a worse person than her?" Jack asked, genuinely mystified. Prettier he'd leave up to her. "You're brave. Loyal. I know you can be ... flexible, in some ways, but the world is one where you have to be."

This was Jack code for 'lacks telepathic morals', yes.

[icecoldfrost]

"I could be just as ruthless as she is, if I let myself," Emma answered. "I have been, before, and I can do it again. There's not that much difference between us."

Emma was far more loyal to people than Adrienne had ever been, true, but she also saw it as expanding her network.

[bitten_notshy]

"You could say that a million times and I wouldn't believe it," Jack said stubbornly.

He meant it. But he also wouldn't want Emma as an enemy.

[icecoldfrost]

"Mmmm...I've got you bamboozled, then," Emma replied smugly. "Excellent. With a Jack, I could take over the world."

Distract and repress! Emma liked those options.

[bitten_notshy]

"You and the eldest Wiggin," Jack said wearily. "I think I'd rather you were in charge, though. I'd have more power in your regime than in his."

[icecoldfrost]

"Oh, you met Peter too? Interesting fellow isn't he?" Emma asked. "So much that he doesn't say, but it's all right between the lines. If shook the right way, it might all fall out. Like pocket change."

[bitten_notshy]

"Did you prod at him much?" Jack asked. "He was in before your sister. I didn't have much time to tweak at him. But yes, very interesting."

[icecoldfrost]

"I met him the day before," she answered. "But I never found Val, who is the Wiggin I was keeping an actual eye out for."

[bitten_notshy]

"I didn't either," Jack said. "She must have been keeping quiet. Though we were together most of the day, yesterday -- perhaps she was everywhere except where we were."

[icecoldfrost]

"Hiding, that's what she was doing. Most like in 'Dite's helping herself to the merchandise." Emma rolled over on to her stomach, looking over the edge of the bed to see if she could spot her pants. She had a few more hours until class, but finding them before she had to go wouldn't be a bad plan. "That girl is incorrigible."

[bitten_notshy]

"Peter said she's working to get people to join the colonies and go out to space," Jack related. "It's strange, knowing I may never see her again."

[icecoldfrost]

"He told me the same. Two years? Or something close to that. He said Ender is supposed to be on the same ship as her," Emma shared. "Shakespeare. That's the name of their colony."

[bitten_notshy]

"So Ender's going into space as soon as he graduates," Jack mused. "I don't begrudge them it."

He played with her hair a bit more as he added, "Would you go, if you could?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Go to a colony?" Emma shook her head. "Why would I, when everything I want is here on Earth?"

"A trip to see the moon, maybe, if that's ever possible, but I'm happy with this planet."

[bitten_notshy]

"See new worlds, meet new creatures, I reckon," Jack said. "Don't ask me -- I'm from before all of it. And rather fond of Earth."

[icecoldfrost]

"Yes, and you've adapted so poorly to this century," Emma deadpanned. "Poor, easily confused Mr. Priest."

[bitten_notshy]

"I probably wouldn't have picked the century, if I knew what I was doing when I came to school," Jack confessed. "There would have been no way to prepare. It's just happy chance I ended up loving it."

[icecoldfrost]

"I think the school picked you," Emma mused. "I don't think anyone who can't handle it is ever accepted."