Too much? [He flips his lighter closed - it's not enough for him, but he'll get the rest out later.] I do this every time I get out of there. That explosion barely made up for three hours of pages turning as my soundtrack, okay.
[He crosses his arms over his chest and watches Harry jitter away with a sharp grin.]
Besides, you're my best audience. You deserve the best.
I don't know about too much. [ it's not like harry does moderation but ] You can keep going but I haven't exactly stood in a burning building before so I have no idea what would happen. Pretty sure overcharging batteries makes them explode, dude.
[ he's talking quickly now. jittering around like a humming bird. he smiles back - BEAMS even. stupidly happy grin. gives him a thumbs up. ]
I'll give you a break. Just this once. [Lighter in his pocket. Harry's naturally got such a slow, drawling voice that the amusement of hearing him chatter like this is enough to make up for his own pent-up energy still waiting to be released.]
So when you said you could take away my bad mood without draining me - does that mean it's a two-way thing?
Gee, thanks. [ he's snapping his fingers for no reason, bouncing on his heels. grabbing the pole to the basketball hoop with a hand and spinning around it a little. hello energy. ]
Yeah, I mean - How do you think I get laid without everyone fucking dying on me? Ha ha. I have to like actively focus on giving it back. It's not an involuntary thing that stays on all the time like the other way around. I usually don't even bother sharing that it could go both ways because it's draining as shit. I give back double what I take. It usually sucks unless I'm hyped to shit to begin with but you looked like you needed it more than I did at the time. I don't know. [ talking a mile a minute ]
[Okay, now the rambling is starting to give him a headache. He thinks he gets the idea, at least, and can't help but be curious about kinds of energy; do they feel different? Harry talks about them almost like highs, variations on a narcotic effect, but -
Close your eyes, John. You don't know things don't work unless you try them.
[ he's thinking of a way to trick this. trick john's perception. he could get him. he's positive. he's so fucking hyped up about it too. this is definitely too much energy. ]
[He's going to end up on his ass, or right on his back, on the lawn. He knows this. But regardless, he closes his eyes, tense and practically bracing for the jerk backward that will toss him ass over breakfast.]
[It's not actually the touch that gets him this time, because there's just enough time for the force of the fire energy flowing through Harry's veins to hit him, and that throws him forward onto his hands and knees. Jesus. It feels like his mutation short circuits for a moment, trying to read heat within his own body, then combusts itself because there's simply too much. Not heat in the sense of burning, not arousal, not being piled under too many blankets or in a stifling room: pure, raw, in a way that even he can't explain because it shouldn't rightfully exist. Only fire itself should understand this sensation, and it has no power of comprehension.
He can't get up just yet. In fact, he falls to his elbows, shaking with the force of it. What Petre never got in the bursts of energy he received from Harry was the negative feedback effect of it being his own mutation bounced back at him, only in a form it can't understand. His body and mind are confused and snarled, but unquestionably exhilarated.]
How long does this last? [It's almost a wail. He drops his head, clasping it in his hands and trying to reorient himself in the world.]
[ pure raw fire energy. harry gets it, because it's his to take. harry converts rawness. gets it. it's indescribable in a way. he explains energy the best way he knows how to - compares them to drugs. the feeling. it's all a different form of high. john reacts by falling over. harry rationalizes it as a bad trip. ]
Are you okay?
[ he crouches next to him, hands on his knees. furrowing his brows. there's a look of concern but it isn't too deep. what a drama queen, he thinks for a moment. it's a shock to the system the first time - always is. he thinks that's what it is for a bit. though he wonders if feeding fire back to someone who controls it could have consequences. act first. think after. john will thank him when he gets used to it. ]
I only poked you. Just a minute. I take most of it back.
[He rides it out, Harry's voice grounding him, and then just as suddenly - something clicks into place. His head clears. There's a buzzing, he could swear it's audible, right under his skin and through his muscles and down to his bones. He's steady when he gets up, eyes a little too wide, irises nearly blacked out.
It's not quite the hyperkinetic energy Harry gets, but something more controlled, dangerous. He feels slightly blurred at the edges, but not in a way that weakens him; more like he's moving so quickly that the afterimage is all people can see. No, not movement - like light-blindness. Like staring into the heart of a fire and then glancing away.
At the very core of this feeling is a soaring euphoria verging on mania. He can do anything. He can be anything. The world is absolutely his, never mind this school. A million Professors couldn't stand in his way.]
Holy fuck. [He stares at Harry, hands trembling at his sides.] I need - to do something. Something huge.
[ there it is. he got used to it. john's high off fire - he figured he would be. more than anyone else might be. harry can't help but grinning when he looks at him, hands clasping together in front of himself. he rubs them together. ]
You're going to get in serious trouble if you blow something up.
[Even the way he's moving back toward the school is different; he's got a predatory sort of prowl to his step now, not his usual swagger. He absolutely reeks of bad things about to go down, not a single care for stealth, but that's because he doesn't give a shit if he's caught. Nothing can get in his way right now.
It's just another bland, paneled corridor to which he leads them, but there's one panel that can be nudged in just such a way, such a place, to make the wall swivel inward and reveal a faintly blue-lit elevator car that looks like some kind of space pod. He steps in first, then waits for Harry.]
[ oh we're going. he's picking his stuff back up and follows behind john quickly. he's watching him carefully. the switch in walk. the lack of actually caring anymore. john on fire is intimidating and hot. (ha ha ha HOT) ]
Do all round elevators go to secret labs?
[ he steps in after him, going against the wall. drumming his hands at his sides ]
[The elevator stops and spins open again, revealing the sub-basement of the school, but John doesn't move.]
Osborn.
[Any mutant with sense knows Oscorp. They're into genetic manipulation, and that's the kind of work mutantkind watches very carefully. Anything from weaponizing the X-Gene to eradicating it could come out of a company like that.
[ harry pushes away from the wall, thinking they're going to step off now. but then he presses his back against it again - cutting his eyes to john and blinking. ]
Yeah?
[ it's awkward. he smiles awkwardly - that sort of nervous smile like he's waiting for john to snap at him. like he's expecting to be lit on fire. ah, yes. the reason harry doesn't introduce himself by first and last name here ever and waits for it to come out of something else. the reason people might not sit next to him even if they didn't know what his mutation did. slip up because he's so fucking high on fire energy right now, he's just excitedly expressing how people favor rounder elevators when they're doing lab work. it's either round or glass.
there's a pause and he straightens himself out, chin up. hardens his gaze. no weakness. ]
Nothing. [And he's just as high, so he smirks arrogantly and cocks his chin even higher.] Just surprised you're here and not in one of your own labs as the prime test subject.
[Okay, now he's leaving the elevator. Harry's move.]
[ ...maybe. he's not exactly informed on that one. it SHOULDN'T. he sounds offended at the suggestion. he waits a moment then follows john out of the elevator, keeping three steps behind him instead of almost invading his personal bubble like usual. he's looking around the hall. ]
Besides the mutant gene is genetic. [ a vague gesture ] I seriously doubt my father's going to do anything that fucked up. [ PROBABLY? unsure face ]
That's comforting. [His tone is scathing. He doesn't believe it for a second.] Mutation'd be the goldmine of genetic science, I'd think. Look at what some of us can do. Isolating the source of each individual mutation, finding a way -
- but yeah, ethics. Way more important. Of course they'd never do that.
[He shakes his head briskly, then stops in front of a huge, round door with an X carved into it, a perfect replica of the school logo. There's a small circle at the center of the X: a retina scanner, which means he's never been in here and probably never will. But one hand presses against the door, fingers curling a bit hungrily.]
This is how he finds us all. Cerebro. You know about that, right?
I mean ...sure. They probably do some testing into it. Just some samples and - [ puts a hand on his chest ] They cured a disease with mine. Nothing bad! Just helpful stuff. Ethics is important. It should be.
[ he's about to go into a full ramble about it but just closes his mouth and looks to that round door. yeah, he knows about that. heard about it from someone else. ]
Now that's questionable. [ pointing at the door ] Guy connecting to everyone's heads? Not okay with it.
"Should" doesn't matter much when it comes to mutants.
[The comment about Cerebro makes him snort coldly.]
Yeah. The king with his little crown. Watching over his subjects. Makes me fucking sick. How'd they take three years with this thing around? C'mon, it's not this way anyway.
[Everything is very lab-like, all lit in the same cool blue light, but there's no science happening here - just uniforms on display and doors they can't open. He's confident, when he gets to the door to the jet hangar, that he can get it. Somehow, through massive shit-stirring, he knows the code.
But somehow when he enters it, the corridors all go black.]
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[He crosses his arms over his chest and watches Harry jitter away with a sharp grin.]
Besides, you're my best audience. You deserve the best.
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[ he's talking quickly now. jittering around like a humming bird. he smiles back - BEAMS even. stupidly happy grin. gives him a thumbs up. ]
Number one fan right here.
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So when you said you could take away my bad mood without draining me - does that mean it's a two-way thing?
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Yeah, I mean - How do you think I get laid without everyone fucking dying on me? Ha ha. I have to like actively focus on giving it back. It's not an involuntary thing that stays on all the time like the other way around. I usually don't even bother sharing that it could go both ways because it's draining as shit. I give back double what I take. It usually sucks unless I'm hyped to shit to begin with but you looked like you needed it more than I did at the time. I don't know. [ talking a mile a minute ]
Close your eyes for a second.
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- oh jesus, not this again.]
It won't work.
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[ he's thinking of a way to trick this. trick john's perception. he could get him. he's positive. he's so fucking hyped up about it too. this is definitely too much energy. ]
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[ he walks very carefully, making sure he's heard walking away - and then quietly tip toes back to him, trying to get him off guard.
and then pokes the back of his neck. surprise. ]
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He can't get up just yet. In fact, he falls to his elbows, shaking with the force of it. What Petre never got in the bursts of energy he received from Harry was the negative feedback effect of it being his own mutation bounced back at him, only in a form it can't understand. His body and mind are confused and snarled, but unquestionably exhilarated.]
How long does this last? [It's almost a wail. He drops his head, clasping it in his hands and trying to reorient himself in the world.]
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Are you okay?
[ he crouches next to him, hands on his knees. furrowing his brows. there's a look of concern but it isn't too deep. what a drama queen, he thinks for a moment. it's a shock to the system the first time - always is. he thinks that's what it is for a bit. though he wonders if feeding fire back to someone who controls it could have consequences. act first. think after. john will thank him when he gets used to it. ]
I only poked you. Just a minute. I take most of it back.
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It's not quite the hyperkinetic energy Harry gets, but something more controlled, dangerous. He feels slightly blurred at the edges, but not in a way that weakens him; more like he's moving so quickly that the afterimage is all people can see. No, not movement - like light-blindness. Like staring into the heart of a fire and then glancing away.
At the very core of this feeling is a soaring euphoria verging on mania. He can do anything. He can be anything. The world is absolutely his, never mind this school. A million Professors couldn't stand in his way.]
Holy fuck. [He stares at Harry, hands trembling at his sides.] I need - to do something. Something huge.
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You're going to get in serious trouble if you blow something up.
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Licking his lower lip idly, he glances toward the school, then back at Harry.] Weren't we gonna take a joyride?
[He doesn't mean the car.]
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Yes, we were!
[ the levels of excitement here. it's hardly his fault. he's still running on fire. ]
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[Even the way he's moving back toward the school is different; he's got a predatory sort of prowl to his step now, not his usual swagger. He absolutely reeks of bad things about to go down, not a single care for stealth, but that's because he doesn't give a shit if he's caught. Nothing can get in his way right now.
It's just another bland, paneled corridor to which he leads them, but there's one panel that can be nudged in just such a way, such a place, to make the wall swivel inward and reveal a faintly blue-lit elevator car that looks like some kind of space pod. He steps in first, then waits for Harry.]
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Do all round elevators go to secret labs?
[ he steps in after him, going against the wall. drumming his hands at his sides ]
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You know a lot about - either of those?
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he pauses ]
And I dig survival horror games. Totally expecting to find zombies down there.
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Osborn.
[Any mutant with sense knows Oscorp. They're into genetic manipulation, and that's the kind of work mutantkind watches very carefully. Anything from weaponizing the X-Gene to eradicating it could come out of a company like that.
God, how did he not figure this out before?]
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Yeah?
[ it's awkward. he smiles awkwardly - that sort of nervous smile like he's waiting for john to snap at him. like he's expecting to be lit on fire. ah, yes. the reason harry doesn't introduce himself by first and last name here ever and waits for it to come out of something else. the reason people might not sit next to him even if they didn't know what his mutation did. slip up because he's so fucking high on fire energy right now, he's just excitedly expressing how people favor rounder elevators when they're doing lab work. it's either round or glass.
there's a pause and he straightens himself out, chin up. hardens his gaze. no weakness. ]
What of it?
[ got a problem? ]
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[Okay, now he's leaving the elevator. Harry's move.]
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[ ...maybe. he's not exactly informed on that one. it SHOULDN'T. he sounds offended at the suggestion. he waits a moment then follows john out of the elevator, keeping three steps behind him instead of almost invading his personal bubble like usual. he's looking around the hall. ]
Besides the mutant gene is genetic. [ a vague gesture ] I seriously doubt my father's going to do anything that fucked up. [ PROBABLY? unsure face ]
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- but yeah, ethics. Way more important. Of course they'd never do that.
[He shakes his head briskly, then stops in front of a huge, round door with an X carved into it, a perfect replica of the school logo. There's a small circle at the center of the X: a retina scanner, which means he's never been in here and probably never will. But one hand presses against the door, fingers curling a bit hungrily.]
This is how he finds us all. Cerebro. You know about that, right?
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[ he's about to go into a full ramble about it but just closes his mouth and looks to that round door. yeah, he knows about that. heard about it from someone else. ]
Now that's questionable. [ pointing at the door ] Guy connecting to everyone's heads? Not okay with it.
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[The comment about Cerebro makes him snort coldly.]
Yeah. The king with his little crown. Watching over his subjects. Makes me fucking sick. How'd they take three years with this thing around? C'mon, it's not this way anyway.
[Everything is very lab-like, all lit in the same cool blue light, but there's no science happening here - just uniforms on display and doors they can't open. He's confident, when he gets to the door to the jet hangar, that he can get it. Somehow, through massive shit-stirring, he knows the code.
But somehow when he enters it, the corridors all go black.]
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