fifthcurriculum | INTRO LOG

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.

Alright. If anyone sees us together, you got hit by an electrokinetic and I'm getting you to the infirmary.

[See? He's just never quite all the way to nice. But then he finally falls into step beside Ryan, and a sidelong glance that puts the top of his head at Ryan's shoulder prompts another:]

Holy shit.

Oh my god, fiiiine.

[It's definitely amused-sounding-- he likes that excuse, even if he's pretending to be put upon, here.

And, after that thought:]

Come on, it's not that bad, is it?

Don't do that!

[Automatic and sharp, even though he knows Ryan can't control it; his reaction to having a thought read is knee-jerk, regardless of who does it.]

And sorry to break it to you, but I'm cutting you off at the knees if we're going anywhere together. (This is fucking mortifying, jesus.) [As much as he tries to sound good-natured about it, the thought gives away a real trace of self-consciousness.]

(I'msorry--)

[He frowns, biting his lip; much as Ryan knows that it was just a knee-jerk response, he can't help but feel guilty. He really should have just let that one go--

Except on second thought, it's better to let John know when he's been read. With the way he feels about telepaths, Ryan's sure he'd be in shit if he hid what he overheard and it slipped later.]

...sorry. I'm trying not to, promise.

[And while he doesn't comment on that mention of his height, his posture does shrink down a little. Not near enough to even them out, but it's a token effort toward not being so damn tall.]

... I used to blow up smokes for blocks around when I got really pissed off.

[He doesn't know why he shares the bit of empathy as a thought. Maybe it feels like a secret that way, a half-shared truth. Not really the bonding moment it was, not out loud so it doesn't count, even if it was more intimate that way.]

Oh, dude, that's worse. Just stand up. I'm a man, I can handle walking beside a giant.

[He's confused, at first, assumes the thought's not intentional-- but then he realizes John had sent it to him on purpose, and flashes him a tiny, almost grateful little smile. Whether he just didn't want to say it out loud or was making an actual concession to Ryan's ability, it's nice to get it in thought rather than aloud.

And, at John's prompting, he does straighten (though he leaves his hands tucked into his pockets.)]

Okay, okay. Just promise you're not gonna hide behind me or something if we end up with company in there?

I never hide. [He looks indignant at that, but not really angry enough to make it totally sincere.] Your hair's gonna distract anyone we bump into from anything else anyway, it's the best camouflage I could have.

[He doesn't get it. How this is flowing so easily, just needling the guy and taking his mild needling in return and not having any real flare-ups of anger or offense. That's not how communicating with John Allerdyce works. But at the same time, he can't tell if he's going soft or if Ryan is just too laid back to get really, genuinely annoyed with him.

Or if he cares which it is.]

It isn't either, jeez, my hair isn't that ridiculous!

[He rolls his eyes and gives John a light little nudge with his elbow. This isn't too clear to him either, how they got to this after initial awkwardness and having fucking fire thrown at him and a near-argument-- but it's still good, he thinks. It's the first time he's really hung out with anyone here since he arrived a little over a year ago, uncertain and more than a little terrified.]

So what'd you want, anyway? Just going to poke around and see?

[He smirks and stops in the hallway, just outside the door to the kitchen.]

Crouch down for a sec.

[He wants to get a closer look at this. He's never seen hair quite like Ryan's before.]

Um, okay?

[He does, a little hesitantly- not quite uncertain, just... not really getting what's going on here. That smirk's met with a curious glance, and he's stooped down to roughly John's eye-level.]

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