fifthcurriculum | INTRO LOG

I think you're seriously overestimating my abilities, here.

[He gives John a curious look, though, leaning forward to prop his elbow on his knee and rest his chin in his palm.]

But okay, how do you make yourself look cool.

Nope, I was wrong. No chance. If you have to ask, you're beyond hope.

[Complete with a dramatic flop back onto the grass. Begone, Ryan Farrow, he has finished with you.

... except he's kind of enjoying this. But he'd never let on.]

Well, that's it, then. There go all my hopes and dreams.

[It's as dramatic as he can make it in response. Honestly, he's starting to enjoy this too, the banter as opposed to arguing.]

I'm just doomed to be a nerd forever, go on without me.

Don't pretend I dropped any kind of bomb on you with that one.

[He props his hands behind his head, looking more thoughtful now.]

So. This place. What do you make of it?

It's...

[He frowns thoughtfully, considering. It's not something he's put too much thought into-- it's here, and it's his only real option.]

It's a good thing, I think. To have somewhere people like us can go, instead of just-- trying to hide things you really can't. I mean, I sort of miss home, but it's not like I could've stayed, you know?

No, I don't really know. Never got the choice.

[It's flat and final. He's said that, sure, but it wasn't meant to leave any doors open.]

What about the bigger picture? This place is as much a recruiting ground as a glorified orphanage-slash-school.

[The way he bites his lip makes it obvious enough that he wants to read that as an open door-- but he's not blind to that tone. He knows better.]

I- god, I don't know. I still have a couple years of school left, I still need to learn to control this and use it better, that's just... something I guess I figured I'd think about later. When I had to.

So you'd consider it. [He finally just rolls over onto his stomach, chin propped on his hands, so doesn't have to keep turning to look at Ryan.] You actually buy what they're selling.

What else would I do?

[He huffs out a breath, shakes his head.]

Sure, maybe college, if I can get this under enough control to pass for normal, but-- it'd just feel a little wrong to do it, I guess. Maybe it's a recruiting ground, but we're probably better off together, right? It'd be a little shitty of me to just... I don't know, pretend like there's not gonna be other kids with the same problems after I've got mine handled.

Oh my god, anything? Just play the radio really loud everywhere you go. Carry a boombox. Don't join the X-Men because it's all you think mutants can do, there's gotta be better than that.

[His opinions are slowly becoming clearer, at least. The cold, arrogant distaste does fade just a bit with thought, though, and when he speaks again, it's not as harsh.]

There's worse, too. But that doesn't mean I'm buying in. Just taking what they'll give as long as I need it.

It's not all I think we can do, okay? Just- maybe all I could do. Or should do, if I want to make sure others still get help like this later.

[It's a little hesitant, a little uncertain, and he's fidgeting a bit. Interlacing his fingers, untangling them, repeating in different patterns.]

...I'd like to think they won't have to.

What a hero.

[He just sounds like he finds all that dedication mildly amusing. Already thinking about the next generation, how to guide them through the troubled life of a mutant.]

If you focussed more on your own shit, you'd have more options when you got out of here.

I am-- I mean, hell, I told you I hadn't really thought about this too much. Maybe I'll have better ideas later on.

[Ryan huffs out a breath, only mildly put out. It just seems like the right thing to do, as far as plans go, and he sure doesn't see what's amusing about it.]

...what are you gonna do?

No idea. [Ha, hypocrite.] I just know it's gonna be miles away from the X-Men and this place.

(all of that are you kidding me)

[He runs a hand through his hair, trying not to look a little bit frustrated.]

...we've got time to figure it out, at least. Can't be that hard.

Aren't high schools supposed to have guidance counsellors or some shit like that? All I know is I've been here two years and I haven't seen a single guidance counsellor. How'm I gonna choose my path without guidance?

[He's just being a smartass now, rather giving the feel that he enjoys the sound of his own voice. Ryan's frustration has got him in a playful mood again, because it's so amusing.]

I don't know, would you even keep seeing a guidance counselor? They'd probably try to talk you into a path that involved a lot less throwing fire at people and a lot more studying.

[That gets him cracking a small grin again, even if his tone had a bit of that lingering frustration in it at the beginning.]

Dude, don't act like you already know me.

[He's bang-on.]

[He holds up his hands in a vague gesture of surrender, still grinning.]

Or what, you'll push me back in the fountain on purpose?

Nah, I'll have to come up with something better. Can't fall back on the same tricks. And if you haven't noticed, I'm relaxing right now.

[His own grin is oddly catlike, especially combined with the way he stretches out his limbs to make the point.]

[...which he can't help but watch, because John may be short but he's definitely not the skinny guy Ryan is. (And also because he's still a teenager, okay.) Fortunately, he doesn't think about it.]

So what you're saying is I should maybe start keeping an eye out? At least I'm safe for now.

You're learning.

[He winks, very much playful rather than suggestive, and rolls onto his side now. The truth is, he doesn't relax well, and he's getting restless.]

You hungry? All the teachers are out doing the world's fakest parent-teacher interviews, it'd be a cinch to raid the kitchen.

Not really.

[And besides, he should probably be doing other things, like... well, he hasn't got his reading assignments yet, and his stuff is already in the room he'd been moved to, and-

Okay, fine.]

...but sure, why not? I think I'm dry enough.

[That also means he's looking a good bit like a poodle right about now, with his hair drying.]

[There's a tiny little smile of satisfaction on his face when Ryan capitulates. A kitchen raid is hardly the height of misbehaviour, but Ryan still feels a lot like A Good Guy, so it's progress.

When John decided to drag him down the path of corruption to rulebreaker, he doesn't know. But it's now officially on.

He gets up, brushing himself clean of any bits of grass that might be lingering on his clothes, then smoothes his hair back into pace. Which draws his attention to Ryan's hair.]

Holy shit, dude.

--what?

[He's not entirely aware of the decision to lead him unto temptation (or at least the risk of detention), nor has he seen his hair-- but when he realizes where John's looking, it's obvious what it must look like. Ran wrinkles his nose, combing through it with his fingers.]

Yeah, it does that when it gets wet. Gonna have to deal with that later.

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