fifthcurriculum | INTRO LOG

[He shrugs at that.]

I don't even know you, man.

[Now that he's been hit back, he's considerably more casual about everything. No big deal. If he underplays the whole situation, it also underplays Ryan's tiny victory.]

You don't make much sense, y'know that?

[At least it's not personal. He can work with that, he guesses, and he's managing to relax a bit while he soaks up the sun.]

Of course I don't. Look at me, I'm responding to nothing. Anyone who doesn't know us probably thinks I'm nuts.

[Yeah, he's teasing Ryan, but it's not entirely unfriendly either. "Don't make much sense" is better than "loose cannon asshole," so maybe he'll work with it a little. See if this guy could be interesting.]

[It's the kind of teasing he actually doesn't mind, at least-- more at the situation than directly at himself-- and that gets a grin out of him, as well as a nearly-silent laugh.]

You get used to that.

[And after a moment's pause he adds, cautiously:]

But, uh, you don't have to. If you don't want to look like you're having half a conversation, I mean. Like I said, I don't dig, I just-- overhear things sometimes, so... if you thought at me it'd be pretty much the same.

[He's careful to keep his 'voice' neutral as possible-- he's not pushing for that, this doesn't bother him at all. Just offering, in case.]

Nah. [His shrug is deliberately careless.] Everyone who knows me already does think I'm nuts, and I don't give a shit about any of them anyway. If you're at Xavier's and can't figure out telepathy when you see it, you're really too dumb to care about.

Okay, okay, fair.

[He's just counting himself lucky that didn't irritate the guy, honestly. There's another beat of silence.]

I don't think you're nuts. [It's casual, comes with a one-shouldered shrug.]

[He gets up on one elbow, glances back, full of jokes about just how often Ryan's life involves potentially deadly pyrotechnics. But what comes out isn't really humorous at all.]

You will.

[Then he's looking into the sun again.]

John Allerdyce. And apparently you're Ryan something.

--Farrow, yeah.

[He answers reflexively, before he's really had time to consider the first comment. The lack of humor in it is something he's not sure what to do with, and tempted as he is to try 'overhearing' a thought or two for once... it still feels too invasive. It wouldn't be right, especially not doing it to someone who already doesn't like telepathy.]

And I think you're calling it a little early, yeah? You're kind of a dick, I'll say that much, but I don't think you're that bad.

Say what you want. I'm used to people not getting my idea of fun.

[He almost had a partner in crime last year, but then the asshole turned around and blamed the whole thing on him, and got off scot-free. Which is exactly in line with his idea of fun, really, but not when it backfires on him. Dick.]

Maybe it works out. If you had too much competition for your kind of fun we might all be in trouble, yeah?

[He quirks a brow, grinning slightly. Several of John would be kind of worrying, maybe, but the thought's entertaining.]

Nah, you've got it backwards. No one would be in trouble.

[Because they'd all get it. Get it?]

Some of us might still be.

[He'll concede that much, because damn, the thought of everybody feeling the same about that isn't something he can stretch his imagination enough to accommodate.]

Fine, if you're that determined to be uncool.

[No, he's still not very nice, but it's definitely settled into banter now. It has the feel of how he relates to people he doesn't actually mind, because although it's unkind, it's not barbed.

Maybe he just doesn't know how to relate any other way.]

[Ryan can deal with that-- he answers with another bit of silent laughter, shaking his head as he gestures to himself. Glasses, gangly limbs, ill-fitting clothes and all.]

Do I look like I could pass for cool in the first place?

It's an attitude, not a look. Not saying you don't look like a massive dork, but you could still pull it off if you -

[He plays at considering the statement again.]

- okay, if you really wanted to. We're talking serious dedication.

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.

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