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We've got our ways.
[He will pay Petre back for that order. He doesn't know how yet, but he will. The war rages on.]
Just my shitty luck that he's impervious to fire, or they'd be housing an arsonist and a murderer here.
[No John, not in front of staff]
[He will pay Petre back for that order. He doesn't know how yet, but he will. The war rages on.]
Just my shitty luck that he's impervious to fire, or they'd be housing an arsonist and a murderer here.
[No John, not in front of staff]
Just don't get yourself in more trouble. There's only so much you can cover with telepaths here.
Trust me, man, I know. [He shrugs, his eyes almost lit up from inside as he smiles wickedly.] But nothing's stopping me. They'll never kick someone outta here. Just means they'll learn how much it sucks to bleed out from the heart.
I'm not really the happiest with some of the things they do here either, but I haven't been around long enough to get a sense of the place.
Or I know all their secrets. [He flashes a big, toothy grin.]
Nah, not top secret. But you'll get to see the jet you're gonna fly.
Nah, not top secret. But you'll get to see the jet you're gonna fly.
A fuckload of snooping. [He tucks his hands into his pockets and shrugs.] Obviously. Some of the stuff's under retinal scan, no getting near it, but there's just punch codes and hidden doors for some of it. Get bored enough and you figure out just how much shit there is to stir around here. And I was nothing but bored when I got here.
I just brought you down to show you around. Like I said, it gets nothing but a lecture. The rest's on you, and you're new, so you didn't know any better.
[Hands back out of his pockets and held up at his sides. Fair?]
[Hands back out of his pockets and held up at his sides. Fair?]
[He'd heard about the trip and the punishment-- how could he not, when he picks up on thoughts the way he does-- but he doesn't come to find John immediately. There's a day's delay there while he figures out whether he thinks it's a good idea or not; whether he wants to isn't a factor, Ryan knows he wants to go talk to him, but with no idea where he stands after what happened... well, it's going to be a little awkward. Maybe more than a little.
When he finally shows up, bringing a couple books back early as an excuse to visit the library, he's visibly hesitant- he still flashes John a small smile, but he doesn't get too close.]
Exciting job, huh.
[And, after a brief pause-]
Worth it?
When he finally shows up, bringing a couple books back early as an excuse to visit the library, he's visibly hesitant- he still flashes John a small smile, but he doesn't get too close.]
Exciting job, huh.
[And, after a brief pause-]
Worth it?
[He jumps at the sudden thought in his mind, but then, he's rather jumpy - without his lighter and ensconced in this perfect silence, he feels like his nerves have just been waiting for something to set them off.
When he realizes that it was Ryan, sees that little smile, he almost feels guilty; instead, what he feels is amazingly uncomfortable. The reality of Petre sharing a room with John meant that they had to shuffle Ryan out of there quite fast after they messed around, and it means that nothing's been settles. He knows where he wants it to stand - a friend he can fool around with, the outlet he's needed for awhile - but part of him knows better. Some of Ryan's thoughts were so earnest, almost bordering on possessive (where does he find these guys?), that he suspects he's just taken a very small crush and caused it to blow out of all proportion.
But, well. He has to find out sometime, right?]
Ask me when I'm out of here. This place is driving me nuts. [He flexes his fingers, gives his neck a little roll, then manages a slightly edgy smile in return.] They're not as stupid as the roommate stunt made them look.
[Pyrokinetic in the library, probably looks pretty stupid, but then he turns out his pockets as he did for Otoha. No lighter, and no outer layer that could be holding it either.]
When he realizes that it was Ryan, sees that little smile, he almost feels guilty; instead, what he feels is amazingly uncomfortable. The reality of Petre sharing a room with John meant that they had to shuffle Ryan out of there quite fast after they messed around, and it means that nothing's been settles. He knows where he wants it to stand - a friend he can fool around with, the outlet he's needed for awhile - but part of him knows better. Some of Ryan's thoughts were so earnest, almost bordering on possessive (where does he find these guys?), that he suspects he's just taken a very small crush and caused it to blow out of all proportion.
But, well. He has to find out sometime, right?]
Ask me when I'm out of here. This place is driving me nuts. [He flexes his fingers, gives his neck a little roll, then manages a slightly edgy smile in return.] They're not as stupid as the roommate stunt made them look.
[Pyrokinetic in the library, probably looks pretty stupid, but then he turns out his pockets as he did for Otoha. No lighter, and no outer layer that could be holding it either.]
[He's not entirely wrong. That crush definitely has more substance to it now- Ryan just isn't sure what to do with that yet, especially not after how John reacted to those earnest thoughts.
Ryan tucks his hands into his own pockets, expression shifting into a small frown as he listens; at least it's light enough, and only for a couple of weeks, but he definitely gets how uncomfortable it has to be without something like that (he'd go nuts with nothing to fidget with, he knows.) It makes sense as a punishment, though.]
Just try not to let it get to you too much, yeah?
[And then he adds, almost as an afterthought:]
Brought you something, if you think you can keep out of trouble with it.
[It made sense as a punishment-- and, thanks to his telepathy, he'd already had a hint about it. Ryan nudges something in his pocket up, just enough that it can be seen at the opening.
He's a good kid. Quiet, keeps to himself, might even be a good influence on John. Of course nobody bothered to see if he was sneaking anything in, much less the lighter he's got in that pocket; it's not John's, he couldn't have managed that, but it's something.]
Ryan tucks his hands into his own pockets, expression shifting into a small frown as he listens; at least it's light enough, and only for a couple of weeks, but he definitely gets how uncomfortable it has to be without something like that (he'd go nuts with nothing to fidget with, he knows.) It makes sense as a punishment, though.]
Just try not to let it get to you too much, yeah?
[And then he adds, almost as an afterthought:]
Brought you something, if you think you can keep out of trouble with it.
[It made sense as a punishment-- and, thanks to his telepathy, he'd already had a hint about it. Ryan nudges something in his pocket up, just enough that it can be seen at the opening.
He's a good kid. Quiet, keeps to himself, might even be a good influence on John. Of course nobody bothered to see if he was sneaking anything in, much less the lighter he's got in that pocket; it's not John's, he couldn't have managed that, but it's something.]
[His eyes go wide at the sight of it, and he could swear that his fingertips actually start to itch. Just a crappy plastic lighter, nothing he could use for any length of time, but the point isn't really that he wants to burn anything here. It's just that if he needed to, he'd be helpless.]
You and your hidden fucking depths. [He bites his lip to stifle a laugh, and he's actually reaching for it before he realizes two things: he's going straight for an area very close to Ryan's crotch in (semi-)public, and his hand would never make it that close anyway.
Goddamn Petre.
Halfway through the gesture, he just holds his hand out palm-up, eyes dancing back and forth to make sure no one will see it. Ryan's probably never had to do a subtle exchange of goods before, but they can make this work, as long as it's Ryan who initiates the contact and not him.]
You and your hidden fucking depths. [He bites his lip to stifle a laugh, and he's actually reaching for it before he realizes two things: he's going straight for an area very close to Ryan's crotch in (semi-)public, and his hand would never make it that close anyway.
Goddamn Petre.
Halfway through the gesture, he just holds his hand out palm-up, eyes dancing back and forth to make sure no one will see it. Ryan's probably never had to do a subtle exchange of goods before, but they can make this work, as long as it's Ryan who initiates the contact and not him.]
I thought you'd like it. They don't check your pockets, right?
[Speaking of, this is exactly why he'd put his hands in his pockets before. He has foresight, sometimes.
He's not sure exactly how to work this, but he takes the lighter into his palm and pulls it from his pocket- it's easy to conceal with his broad palm, fortunately, and he casually presses it into John's like it's a totally normal gesture. That's how the guys in spy movies do it, right?
He wishes he had a trenchcoat. That'd look kind of cool.]
[Speaking of, this is exactly why he'd put his hands in his pockets before. He has foresight, sometimes.
He's not sure exactly how to work this, but he takes the lighter into his palm and pulls it from his pocket- it's easy to conceal with his broad palm, fortunately, and he casually presses it into John's like it's a totally normal gesture. That's how the guys in spy movies do it, right?
He wishes he had a trenchcoat. That'd look kind of cool.]
Only coming in. You're a genius.
[His hand jerks away fast and hard at the contact, almost fast enough to drop the lighter, but he just manages to keep his grip on it and tuck it into his pocket. So that's what it's like when someone touches him, huh? Some guy, anyway. The immediate reaction on his face is anger, followed by the guilt that flared up earlier finally touching his features.]
I. Literally didn't mean to do that.
[His hand jerks away fast and hard at the contact, almost fast enough to drop the lighter, but he just manages to keep his grip on it and tuck it into his pocket. So that's what it's like when someone touches him, huh? Some guy, anyway. The immediate reaction on his face is anger, followed by the guilt that flared up earlier finally touching his features.]
I. Literally didn't mean to do that.
[Genius, huh? He grins widely- but that dissipates when John's hand jerks abruptly away from his own, and for a moment Ryan's just staring at him in confusion. There's a touch of something hurt there, too, but the guilt on John's face lends some extra truth to his words, and that helps it soften.]
...what was that, then?
...what was that, then?
[Of course he's hurt. Of course, it's impossible not to take personally. The natural assumption is that he's gone back to twitching away from guys at the slightest hint of interest on their part, never mind what happened between them.]
Nothing. I'm just jumpy. The quiet gets to me.
[He's pointedly looking away, returning his attention back to the pushcart loaded with books and shelving another.]
No hard feelings about not telling you, right? It would've leaked out to someone, and I had to get away.
Nothing. I'm just jumpy. The quiet gets to me.
[He's pointedly looking away, returning his attention back to the pushcart loaded with books and shelving another.]
No hard feelings about not telling you, right? It would've leaked out to someone, and I had to get away.
[Ryan eyes him dubiously, not that John can see- that didn't seem like regular twitchiness at all, especially not when they were trying to be casual.]
...no hard feelings. I know I'm not really the best at keeping secrets.
[He shrugs slightly, hand slipping back into his pocket.]
Hopefully that helps you out a bit, though. Must be pretty damn jumpy if stuff you're expecting to happen gets to you like that.
[He doesn't buy it, his tone makes that obvious, but he's going along with it rather than just confronting John over whatever the hell this is.]
...no hard feelings. I know I'm not really the best at keeping secrets.
[He shrugs slightly, hand slipping back into his pocket.]
Hopefully that helps you out a bit, though. Must be pretty damn jumpy if stuff you're expecting to happen gets to you like that.
[He doesn't buy it, his tone makes that obvious, but he's going along with it rather than just confronting John over whatever the hell this is.]
You don't get it. You probably like quiet 'cause you almost never have it. But it's - heavy after awhile.
[Maybe a byproduct of growing up in a house with so much shouting, then living in the very heart of a bustling city with no walls around him. Who can say? It's just unnatural to him, no sound at all.
Still not enough to excuse what he did, but he's banking on it as a somewhat irrational reason.]
Not like I can send you silence to show you. Just trust me on that one.
[Maybe a byproduct of growing up in a house with so much shouting, then living in the very heart of a bustling city with no walls around him. Who can say? It's just unnatural to him, no sound at all.
Still not enough to excuse what he did, but he's banking on it as a somewhat irrational reason.]
Not like I can send you silence to show you. Just trust me on that one.
...yeah, okay.
[There's more concession in his tone there, still not completely convinced but willing enough to accept it. This really isn't the kind of space where a guy like John belongs, much as Ryan happens to be at home in it.]
I'll take your word for it.
[There's more concession in his tone there, still not completely convinced but willing enough to accept it. This really isn't the kind of space where a guy like John belongs, much as Ryan happens to be at home in it.]
I'll take your word for it.
I'd take the gardening over this. At least there'd be bees and shit.
[After a few more shelved books, he glances sidelong at Ryan.]
Go ahead and ask.
[After a few more shelved books, he glances sidelong at Ryan.]
Go ahead and ask.
It'd be harder to sneak visits if you were gardening. At least in here I can pretend to study.
[Ryan flashes him a lopsided grin at that. You're a bad influence, John.]
What am I supposed to ask about? How it went? What happened?
[Ryan flashes him a lopsided grin at that. You're a bad influence, John.]
What am I supposed to ask about? How it went? What happened?
[And of course Ryan will come to visit him, taking time he could actually be using to study. Which is actually important to him. He probably never considered not doing it when he heard about the punishment.
His lips twitch a little, but it's hard to tell if he's about to smile or frown. If only that could feel like a true, solid thing to him, his life would be so much easier. If only he wanted true and solid.
Which brings him back to the question.]
I figured the first one'd be why I took him in the first place. He only took the fall for it, y'know, the planning was all me.
His lips twitch a little, but it's hard to tell if he's about to smile or frown. If only that could feel like a true, solid thing to him, his life would be so much easier. If only he wanted true and solid.
Which brings him back to the question.]
I figured the first one'd be why I took him in the first place. He only took the fall for it, y'know, the planning was all me.
Edited 2014-09-27 01:38 (UTC)
[--right. He remembers the talk they had before they kissed- are you jealous- and it should have been obvious that was what John meant. Would have been, if he were thinking about it that way instead of just relieved John didn't get a punishment that'd keep them from talking.]
You thought I'd be upset you didn't take me? It wouldn't have worked, you already said so.
[He shrugs one shoulder. It's true, he'd have refused or accidentally leaked it by worrying too much.]
You probably should've taken Harry if you were sneaking off with anybody, but...
[This time the pause is because he can't figure out how to put what he means into words. It was a bad idea, Petre in general is a bad idea, but he's had time to have those thoughts already- and time to remember John's admission of kissing him. The things he'd picked up then. You didn't see him.]
But I remember when you talked about what happened with him. I guess I'm not really surprised you're not keeping away from him more.
[And there's the flash of jealousy, of worry. It'd been too late to tell John not to get wrapped up in things and to listen to his own warnings, hadn't it.]
You thought I'd be upset you didn't take me? It wouldn't have worked, you already said so.
[He shrugs one shoulder. It's true, he'd have refused or accidentally leaked it by worrying too much.]
You probably should've taken Harry if you were sneaking off with anybody, but...
[This time the pause is because he can't figure out how to put what he means into words. It was a bad idea, Petre in general is a bad idea, but he's had time to have those thoughts already- and time to remember John's admission of kissing him. The things he'd picked up then. You didn't see him.]
But I remember when you talked about what happened with him. I guess I'm not really surprised you're not keeping away from him more.
[And there's the flash of jealousy, of worry. It'd been too late to tell John not to get wrapped up in things and to listen to his own warnings, hadn't it.]
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