if i think i can figure things out, is that curiosity or arrogance?

"Yeah, I am, and my parents want me going into something Ivy League," Peter said. He was wisely abstaining from the whole Tony discussion, mostly because it was starting to bore the crap out of him.

Seriously, you two and your video games and your obsession with interpersonal relationships. Let him never end up like you.

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"Yessssss!" Kenzi dropped her controller and did a victory dunk, coming up wet and giggling as she pointed at Topher. "I win I win I win!" Then back at Peter, "So they're still existing?" She started climbing out of the tub, grabbing her huge hotel towel. That would be leaving with her, thanks. She had smiley boxer shorts and a Strawberry Switchblade T-shirt on over her suit. "The Ivy Leagues? Heh. And did you get another tattoo without me, Topher? Say you didn't."

Sophomore, junior, it wasn't like it mattered to someone not going to college.

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SIGH. Topher sulked and hit the pause button, though he was fully prepared to demand a rematch.

"You should go to MIT like I'm gonna," he suggested to Peter, rolling onto his back on the floor and glancing over him. Sure, he slacked off in class and didn't give a crap about how well he did, but he was one hundred percent sure that MIT was the plan, yes.

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"Technology is not really my forte," Peter told Topher, who was on a slightly more relevant path of questioning. "And yeah, the Ivy Leagues still exist. There's just a bit more of them, I suppose."

Not that Peter cared. He wasn't actually going. If he was going anywhere at all, it'd be community college, so classes wouldn't be a distraction from, you know. Taking over the world.

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Kenzi got mostly dry and padded over to the fireplace, asking over her shoulder, "On or off?" Then adding, "I can't believe you guys are worried about this when it's almost three years away for you. We're on vacation. God."

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"I'm not worried," Topher said reasonably, making a fun game of opening the cabinet under the TV with his toes. "Gonna get in, so..."

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"And it's never too early to work on your future," Peter mused. "Too late, on the other hand... Really now, Kenz."

Edited Date: 2011-10-13 05:34 am (UTC)

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"I'm not even seventeen yet! And it's not like I want to go back to *school* after I graduate from this place and have a clean record when I turn eighteen," Kenzi said, starting the fire so she could get dried off faster. "I'll want to be going places! Italy! Brazil! Hong Kong!"

... yes, she'd just decided that. Shush.

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"Gross," Topher evaluated, demonstrating his respect for other cultures. Oh, wait. "College, med school, doctor-ness," he outlined, pointing to himself, then pointed at Peter. "You?"

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"College, law or politics, then picking a party to ally myself with, then political office," Peter partway lied with ease. "And how are you going to get the cash to go there?"

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Kenzi waved her hand, unconcerned. "There's always money somewhere. I might even work a passage, if I have to. Heck, there's projects like this Habitat one always looking for people." She tilted her head. "I bet Mr. Caffrey would have some ideas. Or Bo. She traveled a lot before she got here." Then to Topher, "Wait, you're going to be a medical doctor? Seriously?"

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"I guess," Topher answered, though he didn't sound all that invested in the subject. Also, he was still opening and closing the cabinet door with his feet, which sort of took up most of his attention. "I'll be able to play with brains and stuff. 's fun." Neutral, uninterested tone. Whatever.

"You know in politics you have to wear suits, right?"

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Peter shot him a dry look. "I have suits," he said.

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"He does. He wore one to a dance. Though why he bothers when that's the only place he's ever gone out...." Kenzi was warmer now, and pulling the house phone toward herself by its cord. "We should order room service. And you can't talk to the bellhop guy again, Topher. You have lousy bedside manner for service people."

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"He couldn't figure out the tip!" Topher protested.

Amateurs.

"We can order room service," he began, then paused. "If Peter plays a level."

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Peter shot Topher a look like he was particularly dumb. "No," he said. "I'd be crap at it anyway."

Edited Date: 2011-10-13 06:12 am (UTC)

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"So for once, be crap at something," Kenzi told him, pausing in dialing for food. "It has to happen sometime." Ha!

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"Yeah!" Topher agreed. "C'mon. It's not that hard."

HA. Be on the other side of the peer pressure for once, Peter.

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Peter Wiggin: not nearly as susceptible to peer pressure as you, Topher.

"I came here to talk to you," he said lightly. "No video games - we agreed on that."

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"Have you even tried any?" Kenzi asked, more curious than insistent. Also, soon to be getting hungry enough to call no matter what terms Topher set. "Or are you judging without trying?"

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"That would be racist," Topher informed Peter solemnly. "Which is bad. For a politician."

Except that... no, Topher. Just no.

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Peter eyed him. "Do you even know what the word 'racist' means?"

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"He didn't know what civil disobedience meant the other day, either," Kenzi said with a mild eyeroll. "I think he lives in his own virtual reality."

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"It's comparable!" Topher insisted. "Come on. One level. It'll teach you democracy."

He meant diplomacy. And it would teach Peter no such thing.

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