[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.]
[ he's looking at the x door and lingers for a second before following after john again. it's a curious thing. dangerous, he thinks. always three steps behind now, swinging arms at his sides with still uncontrollable energy.
he moves next to a case while john puts the code in ]
You know, I think the professor has a bondage ki--- ...[ oh there go the lights. he moves next to john quickly ] I didn't do it.
[And then there are flashlights bobbing toward them through the pitch darkness, and John doesn't need to see a single face to know that he's brought down the wrath of the staff somehow. Fingers slipped, maybe, wrong code and it set up an alarm.
He pulls out his lighter, still high and ready to fight every single one of them, and about a split-second later they're in detention.]
[ he's leaning an elbow on the desk, his head propped up on his hand. fire energy long since burnt out. sunglasses on his face. burnt mark on his shirt. siiiigh ]
[John's own head is pillowed on his folded arms, and he lets out a groan.]
You didn't tell me I'd come down off this. [Maybe he didn't know. It was a unique high, after all.] I just went after the whole staff with my lighter. I'm gonna get lockdown for the rest of my life.
My bad. [ he didn't know. fire's hard to predict and john's a unique case. ] I doubt you'll get lockdown. I had to tell them what I did so they could reason that you can't be held entirely at fault for that one.
[ he's looking side-long at him ]
Then I got a long lecture about how I'm new and probably didn't realize befriending you was a horrible idea.
Oh, nice. Slam both of us in one "supportive" statement. [Yes, he definitely gestures those air quotes as well as using emphasis in his voice.] They really never lose their style.
They're style is hysterical. They were really trying to be supportive like they genuinely were but ended up just insulting me repeatedly. There was this one remark where they were like 'your father raised you better than that.'
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no subject
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?]
no subject
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? ]
no subject
[Okay, now he's leaving the elevator. Harry's move.]
no subject
[ ...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 ]
no subject
- 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?
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[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.]
no subject
[ he's looking at the x door and lingers for a second before following after john again. it's a curious thing. dangerous, he thinks. always three steps behind now, swinging arms at his sides with still uncontrollable energy.
he moves next to a case while john puts the code in ]
You know, I think the professor has a bondage ki--- ...[ oh there go the lights. he moves next to john quickly ] I didn't do it.
no subject
[And then there are flashlights bobbing toward them through the pitch darkness, and John doesn't need to see a single face to know that he's brought down the wrath of the staff somehow. Fingers slipped, maybe, wrong code and it set up an alarm.
He pulls out his lighter, still high and ready to fight every single one of them, and about a split-second later they're in detention.]
no subject
Well. That could've gone better.
no subject
You didn't tell me I'd come down off this. [Maybe he didn't know. It was a unique high, after all.] I just went after the whole staff with my lighter. I'm gonna get lockdown for the rest of my life.
no subject
[ he's looking side-long at him ]
Then I got a long lecture about how I'm new and probably didn't realize befriending you was a horrible idea.
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Standard procedure. They know I hate it around here and I'll raise hell however I can. Any new friend I make, they figure I'm starting up a gang.
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[ he huffs and blows a hair out of his eyes ]
Quote "he'd be a destructive influence on your addictive personality" unquote.
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no subject
[ actual laughing ]
They think I was raised.