dollpocalypse | Room 307, Tuesday Evening

So for Topher, today had been noteworthy due to a variety of circumstances, the most obvious of which being:

1.) His best friend was apparently a world-famous political blogger who'd saved a whole bunch of kids' lives
2.) Said best friend had just been forced to go into hiding to avoid being killed by a Belgian psychopath
3.) Topher's room was still full of paint fumes, and
4.) It was his sixteenth birthday.

As a result of all of that, plus the portal-lag that came from the round-trip excursion to Peter's universe, Topher was just a little bit exhausted by the time he got back to his room in the evening. Too exhausted, in fact, to indulge in his usual birthday tradition of a cupcake and a couple rounds of laser tag at the nearest arena. So instead, by the time he got to his room, he flopped down on his bed to try to repress concerns about Peter by playing Tetris on his phone.

At least he was kicking ass at it, so, you know, there was that.

[[open! billy | dave | kenzi | ben ]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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"The part about him being him or the part about whatshisface being an asshole?"

From:

regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com

"Him being him, because I don't think anybody could've predicted that kid would be such a pain in the ass," Kenzi said, cracking open her bottle. "What the hell, future people. If that's what being in military academy does to little kids, they need to re-think their strategies."

From:

dollpocalypse

"It might be person-specific," Topher offered with half a shrug. "Ender's not that bad."

"But Peter... I mean, that explains a couple things. Not that I would've guessed. I mean, 'cause weird."

From:

regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com

"Okay, so not just me," Kenzi said, feeling a little better. "And point. And -- crap, so much makes sense now, though, yeah. How addicted to the news he is. And how sometimes he just wouldn't sleep."

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher shook his head. "Not what I meant," he said slowly. "'Cause I don't think that's -- I mean, I think that's just a Peter thing. Like he would've done that either way, 'cause... control freak."

From:

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"True. Then what'd you mean?" Kenzi asked, curious.

From:

dollpocalypse

"I just, uh. Saw his screen over his shoulder one time," Topher half-lied. "There was stuff on there that was... weird."

From:

regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com

"Did you go sneaky-spying?" Kenzi asked, eyes widening, and taking another sip from her bottle. "What did you see? Tell! I already know who he is, so you can tell me this bit."

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher shook his head. "It's a thing," he said vaguely, wringing his hand a little. "A me and Peter thing. I just. Saw his stuff. That's it."

From:

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"Topherrrr." Kenzi growled, trying to figure out how to get the information out of him. "He caught you?" That would make it even harder to chisel the news out of him.

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher frowned. "No. I was there. I saw his screen. That's it."

Edited Date: 2012-04-25 02:48 am (UTC)

From:

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She was going to remember this. And try to figure out what it was. But maybe not this minute. Later. Ish.

"Do you think his parents really don't have a clue?" Kenzi asked instead, wondering about that.

From:

dollpocalypse

Doubtful. Topher was firm in his decision to Not Tell Her, and he somehow doubted Peter would be any more forthcoming on the subject. So.

"Yeah," he said, grateful for the subject change but a little puzzled by it. "I mean, they seem pretty... you know. Not that bright."

From:

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"They're not stupid. Not the way they were getting under his skin on purpose. That's all Wiggin." Kenzi hummed and took another drink, thinking. "But they do seem really, really oblivious. And his mom hates him. Well. At least really dislikes him. I wanted to smack her."

From:

dollpocalypse

"I don't think so," Topher said honestly. "I think she just doesn't get him. And the kinds of things that piss him off."

He thought he knew what that was like.

From:

regretiz4suckas.livejournal.com

"I think she's mad that Ender didn't come back. And Valentine left." And was needling Peter as a result. Partly because of the stuff Kenzi had overheard Peter's mom say on her last visit. "I wonder if they'll believe them when he tells them they have to leave? I mean, I guess they have to, or they might get a missile in their home."

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher bit on the knuckle of his index finger. "I don't know if they will," he said after a minute. "I mean. It's kind of far-fetched. He's -- you know, he's smart, we get that he's smart, but his parents probably don't."

From:

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"Shit," Kenzi sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. She bit her lip. "Should we send him an e-mail? Ask him how it went? Or would he just bitch at us about bugging him when he has to be ready to flee soon?" More thinking aloud than anything else, there.

From:

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"Don't stress him out," Topher said immediately. "He'll do it. If they don't believe him, probably he'll just have to find a way to bullshit them into leaving anyway."

From:

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"Now, that I can believe," Kenzi said, relaxing a little. "Even if it's about calling in exterminators or telling them they won a free trip to Mazatlan." She shook her head, and took another drink, thinking. "Damnit. I want something to do. You know?"

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher nodded. "Trying to think of what I can do to help," he admitted. "But there's nothing. Except -- making some kind of impenetrable bubble to follow him wherever he goes, which would probably get awkward."

From:

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"Extremely." Kenzi made a face. "I need to go to the gun range tomorrow. Practice some more. I mean, I doubt anyone's ever going to follow him here, but. Sister Karla and that kid found him here, so. Of course, that's for when he comes back." She tilted her head. "Body armor for him? Maybe?"

From:

dollpocalypse

Topher shudded. "Carlotta," he corrected her.

Beat.

"Wait, you shoot guns?" Oh dear god, the world had just gotten about 70% more terrifying.

From:

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Kenzi grinned. "Wes showed me how, yup." She drummed her feet on floor. "It's important around here! With all the invasions. And if assassin types are going to show up, might as well use it, right?"

Yup. Terrifying.