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[The very thought makes him miss a step, stumbling for a moment- but, blessedly, the image doesn't translate. He shoves it aside fast enough for that, thinking about what to do instead.]
--alright. Alright, I have an idea, just go along with it.
[Ryan guides him along to the infirmary, where the presiding staff member looks like she's about to question them for being out right now-- but a look at John and a stream of thoughts from Ryan make her pause. They're not leaking out, whatever it is stays between them, but after he's 'spoken' to her (with a fretful, worried look the whole time) she eventually sighs, nods, gestures them in with a reminder to Ryan that he's not staying all night. ]
--alright. Alright, I have an idea, just go along with it.
[Ryan guides him along to the infirmary, where the presiding staff member looks like she's about to question them for being out right now-- but a look at John and a stream of thoughts from Ryan make her pause. They're not leaking out, whatever it is stays between them, but after he's 'spoken' to her (with a fretful, worried look the whole time) she eventually sighs, nods, gestures them in with a reminder to Ryan that he's not staying all night. ]
Reward? For what, exactly?
[He's losing track of all the things he's apparently done wrong and all the debts he owes Petre. Last he checked, this day together had evened up their ledger. Where's his head going now?]
[He's losing track of all the things he's apparently done wrong and all the debts he owes Petre. Last he checked, this day together had evened up their ledger. Where's his head going now?]
[Smart. Actually quite tricky, and fooling a teacher to do it as well. He stumbles into the curtained-off space they've been given and stretches out on the bed (sweet relief, he could just sleep right now if his mind weren't still so cluttered with the night before), another small grin appearing on his lips.]
Hidden depths.
Hidden depths.
[A matching, almost mischievous one tugs at the corners of his own mouth as he settles onto the edge of the next bed. Now that they have some privacy, he feels like John probably wants space after being so close on the way.]
I told her you weren't actually ill, just feeling stress-sick, and that I was worried about you and thought you needed to rest. She's letting me stay for a while, you can sleep here for the night.
I told her you weren't actually ill, just feeling stress-sick, and that I was worried about you and thought you needed to rest. She's letting me stay for a while, you can sleep here for the night.
[He likes that smile, in the safe, friendly way he likes a lot of things about Ryan that he'd never admit. It's not quite clear why he wouldn't admit them if they're safe and friendly, but he's got enough on his plate without questioning that. He's just not the effusive type, that's all.
(Charming. That's the word that's always coming to mind with Ryan. Charming.)]
She probably thinks I'm high. I'll catch shit for it somehow tomorrow. [He nods, though.] Still a good plan. Really good.
(Charming. That's the word that's always coming to mind with Ryan. Charming.)]
She probably thinks I'm high. I'll catch shit for it somehow tomorrow. [He nods, though.] Still a good plan. Really good.
I can get out of this place myself. Easy. [He tucks his hands under his head, stretches his legs lazily.] Gimme a better reason.
[Nevermind smiling, being told it was a good plan has him beaming, looking more than a little proud of himself. Like he's said, he takes risks when he has good reasons, and he figures this is definitely one.]
You're welcome. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll leave you alone in the morning?
You're welcome. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll leave you alone in the morning?
Maybe I'll get lucky and come down with the plague. Hide out here for the rest of the year.
[His eyes close for a moment, head tilting up and sinking more firmly into the pillow, but he's not ready to sleep yet; he rolls his shoulders, twists his back once or twice, and then his eyes open again. Even when he used to sleep on solid ground and park benches, his body never felt as tense as it has lately.]
It was just - that night. Everything, how it all happened. It didn't mean anything.
[His tone pretty much adds a giant I'm lying through my teeth to the end of the statement.]
[His eyes close for a moment, head tilting up and sinking more firmly into the pillow, but he's not ready to sleep yet; he rolls his shoulders, twists his back once or twice, and then his eyes open again. Even when he used to sleep on solid ground and park benches, his body never felt as tense as it has lately.]
It was just - that night. Everything, how it all happened. It didn't mean anything.
[His tone pretty much adds a giant I'm lying through my teeth to the end of the statement.]
[Leave me alone won't work anymore, not that it ever did. After that drunken night, John has at least spotted the bait, and he's hopelessly drawn to the hook; even if it seems impossible, he wants to figure out the real driving force behind Petre's obsession with him. Find out if there is actual emotion behind it or if this is just the longest con of all time.
It won't change anything, he tells himself. Petre will never get what he wants. But they're studying one another, now - circling one another, more accurately.]
If - when we get busted, you take full responsibility. It was all your idea. You lured me into it. You know sure as shit I'll still take some of the punishment, but I just wanna see you do it.
It won't change anything, he tells himself. Petre will never get what he wants. But they're studying one another, now - circling one another, more accurately.]
If - when we get busted, you take full responsibility. It was all your idea. You lured me into it. You know sure as shit I'll still take some of the punishment, but I just wanna see you do it.
[The look he gives John is entirely knowing - that he's in this for the power, too, just like Petre spins it every time. Could they get away with that? After all the times the blame was placed on John, suddenly Petre taking it for his misdemeanors would surely cause some kind of suspicion, and brand Petre as an even bigger threat.
But he's considering it, licking his teeth beneath shut lips.]
That's what's going to get you off?
But he's considering it, licking his teeth beneath shut lips.]
That's what's going to get you off?
I don't need to. The trip alone is worth whatever bullshit punishment they give. Seeing you confess to all of it? I'd scrub toilets with a toothbrush for a month to see that.
[He does enjoy your humiliation, Petre. It's what finally got you a kiss, if only you could remember it.]
Next weekend. We get separate day-passes into Salem, then meet up and catch the commuter train. That means I can't put a fucking toe out of line this week, though, so keep that in mind too.
[He does enjoy your humiliation, Petre. It's what finally got you a kiss, if only you could remember it.]
Next weekend. We get separate day-passes into Salem, then meet up and catch the commuter train. That means I can't put a fucking toe out of line this week, though, so keep that in mind too.
So - you get to see me get punished in exchange for a date?
[Hah. Who's the control freak now, John.]
A week long hiatus. [and a contemplative tone, looking off at the distance. After a pause he exhales, lips wide, eyes smiling with them.] You better hope you make it worth my while, John.
[Hah. Who's the control freak now, John.]
A week long hiatus. [and a contemplative tone, looking off at the distance. After a pause he exhales, lips wide, eyes smiling with them.] You better hope you make it worth my while, John.
We're breaking out for our sanity. It's no more a date than this is.
[Just making that damn clear. Yeah, he was the one who started with the terminology, but let's not keep it going.
His eyes move of their own accord, following the line of Petre's neck and jaw as he looks away, remembering that fierce urge to kiss a path all the way along it. Complete insanity, but just the memory is enough to make him shiver. A stray breeze, he'll say if Petre looks back in time to notice, and he quickly averts his gaze again.]
The seedy underbelly of New York, New York? How could it not be? You'll be right at home.
[Just making that damn clear. Yeah, he was the one who started with the terminology, but let's not keep it going.
His eyes move of their own accord, following the line of Petre's neck and jaw as he looks away, remembering that fierce urge to kiss a path all the way along it. Complete insanity, but just the memory is enough to make him shiver. A stray breeze, he'll say if Petre looks back in time to notice, and he quickly averts his gaze again.]
The seedy underbelly of New York, New York? How could it not be? You'll be right at home.
You can act classy.
[They're the same, after all. He's the one who's always saying it. He's got the same filth under his nails as John, whether he cleans them meticulously or not, and it doesn't take years on the streets to build up that kind of dirt; it comes completely naturally.]
And it probably won't do you much good where we're going, anyway. Get your ass kicked. Which you'd turn around and blame me for.
[They're the same, after all. He's the one who's always saying it. He's got the same filth under his nails as John, whether he cleans them meticulously or not, and it doesn't take years on the streets to build up that kind of dirt; it comes completely naturally.]
And it probably won't do you much good where we're going, anyway. Get your ass kicked. Which you'd turn around and blame me for.
I'd never let that happen.
[They'd be on their knees barking like puppies before they got to lay a hand on his precious face. John managed to accomplish that, but... Petre was caught unaware. That doesn't happen so much with anyone else.]
But I'd like to see you in a fight.
[They'd be on their knees barking like puppies before they got to lay a hand on his precious face. John managed to accomplish that, but... Petre was caught unaware. That doesn't happen so much with anyone else.]
But I'd like to see you in a fight.
Would you? You know what I'd do, just burn the place to the ground.
[He's more creative than that, though. He'd like the chance for a proper fight, without instant intervention. The chance to really play with his mutation, see how he could make people dance to his tune. His eyes are alight with the very idea.
This trip will definitely end with the cops driving them back up Greymalkin Lane. He's becoming more and more sure of that, and caring less and less.]
Besides, you'll be dealing with other mutants. Adult ones who don't give a shit about using their powers against you. Might meet your match.
[He's more creative than that, though. He'd like the chance for a proper fight, without instant intervention. The chance to really play with his mutation, see how he could make people dance to his tune. His eyes are alight with the very idea.
This trip will definitely end with the cops driving them back up Greymalkin Lane. He's becoming more and more sure of that, and caring less and less.]
Besides, you'll be dealing with other mutants. Adult ones who don't give a shit about using their powers against you. Might meet your match.
Finally.
[There's a light in Petre's eyes, too, not at the idea of getting into fights - or watching John - but just at the notion that he'll be out and about, doing what he wants, with someone on the exact same headspace. Not just fucking around to fuck someone. Actually getting to know the city. Its dwellers.
This place really is a cage, isn't it...]
What's the toughest power you ever dealt with?
[There's a light in Petre's eyes, too, not at the idea of getting into fights - or watching John - but just at the notion that he'll be out and about, doing what he wants, with someone on the exact same headspace. Not just fucking around to fuck someone. Actually getting to know the city. Its dwellers.
This place really is a cage, isn't it...]
What's the toughest power you ever dealt with?
[He chews his bottom lip as he thinks about that.]
In a fight? Aerokinesis. [Since haha probably hasn't met Bobby yet.] Like throwing mud into a fan. There's only so much you can do with fire when air's being manipulated around it - yeah, lots of shit gets burnt, but not anything you were actually going for.
[And then his brows draw down.] No, no, hallucikinesis. For everything. Fuck illusions. Fuck them forever.
In a fight? Aerokinesis. [Since haha probably hasn't met Bobby yet.] Like throwing mud into a fan. There's only so much you can do with fire when air's being manipulated around it - yeah, lots of shit gets burnt, but not anything you were actually going for.
[And then his brows draw down.] No, no, hallucikinesis. For everything. Fuck illusions. Fuck them forever.
[He's smiling, almost fondly, as John talks. Tries to imagine what that's like, but he finds himself being unable to quite make it work. It's be better if he saw it live, he's sure.]
You know who I'd like to meet? An empath.
[he just came up with that thought, for some reason.]
You know who I'd like to meet? An empath.
[he just came up with that thought, for some reason.]
[John's eyes snap up to meet Petre's, and he actually props himself up on his elbows.]
Why?
Why?
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