Open to burning_youth

[brice]

Brice didn't really know what he was getting in to. At the school, he'd always been a background player. Family rich enough to keep him from the bottom, not powerful enough (yet) to be considered top tier. But still, he'd someone ended up in Warren's orbit and their texts back and forth had been fun. The idea of eating greasy food and watching a movie with him was enough to keep Brice's attention.

After shooting off his address in case War didn't have it, Brice fluttered around his parents' home, trying to decide what needed to be hidden or what deserved more time in the spotlight. This just left him not doing anything but he made sure the iced tea was ready to go as well as some sports drinks and sodas from the basement he moved up from the basement.

Unsure what to wear, Brice didn't want to try too hard or come off too desperate so he'd decided on comfy gray cotton pants and a larger-than-necessary long-sleeved shirt. He was used to hiding his physique, because it wasn't like anyone cared anyway.

At the knock at the door, Brice floated off the sofa in a rush and settled himself to walk to the door, heart hammering in his chest. He knew enough to ask, but if it was Warren, the door would swing open with no effort.

Comments

[brice]

"Cool," Brice said, pleased that he'd given Warren some ideas that might be useful in the future. He picked up the shake again and tucked back in, turning the substance over on itself as he tried to think of more ideas.

[burning_youth]

"You have anything you're looking forward to in the future?"

Because he doesn't mind suggesting things for Brice too if he wants.

[brice]

At the question, Brice pausing, thinking about it, then shrugged. "I guess. Maybe try and go pro on skateboarding. I'm too short for swimming or basketball, but I know I want it to be something physical. Mom and Dad don't really want me to go into heroing, not that I blame them."

He took a bite of milkshake and then looked over at Warren. "Why? You have ideas for me? Underwear model?" He grinned.

[burning_youth]

Skateboarding? What an interesting thing to hear.

"There's no such thing as too short for swimming, if you've got the rest of what you need. Phelps has short legs, right? And insane arms."

It works out.

The underwear model thing makes him roll his eyes though.

"Don't be stupid. You said you want something physical."

[brice]

"He's also like, a mutant, genetically speaking. Me? I'm just me, everything's proportionate." Well, not everything, but Warren didn't ask him to specify.

"I'd have to keep in shape for that, though. I've never seen a tubby underwear model." Brice helped himself to another scoop of his milkshake. "But I think skateboarding might be the way. Get some endorsements, plus I really like it. It's the one time when I'm not using my powers that I don't feel clumsy." He realized he used a double-negative, so Brice rephrased.

"I mean, I feel clumsy except for when I use my powers. But with boarding, I don't need them to be graceful. I just...am.

[burning_youth]

"There should be. Everyone needs to know how underwear fits," Warren says with a shrug. He's not really impressed by the fashion industry. But given his sense of style, that's not too shocking.

"You ever do competitions?"

[brice]

"Yeah!" Brice answered, excited. He leaned forward to place the cup on the table so he could talk with his hands. "The games are are like off-broadway plays. They're just not as advertised as some of the bigger X-Games have been. I've been on ESPN Ocho a couple times, but they all aired around three in the morning but it was wild seeing myself on TV. I've placed and even won my last one, so that's convinced my folks that I might actually be able to pull it off."

It was evident that this was something Brice was actually excited about, and something he'd given a lot of thought to.

[burning_youth]

"If it's what you want, don't let anything stand in your way with it," Warren says. "Let me know the next time a local competition happens. I can go and cheer for you."

Because there's nothing wron with supporting friends. It's actually the best thing he can offer.

[brice]

Warren's offer warmed Brice's belly, but he just smiled and shrugged. "I've done my best when no one knows what I'm doing. Even at school, no one knows. So keep it quiet, please." It wasn't a no, but it definitely wasn't a yes, even if Brice appreciated the sentiment. It did feel nice to share his secret with someone, and it being Warren, who was - ironically - warming to it, gave Brice hope.

[burning_youth]

"Who the hell do you think I'm going to tell?" Warren asks with a roll of his eyes.

He wasn't exactly the most social person at the school. At all.

[brice]

The question was met with a shrug, Brice's eyes going a little wide as his eyebrows inched upward. "Your friends," Brice said, quietly. "But it's just something people say, I think. So, yeah." He leaned back into the couch, hands on his stomach as the alligator creature finally made itself known.

[burning_youth]

"Could stand to have put more money into their effects here," Warren says as he returns his attention to the movie.

[brice]

"Yep, but I can appreciate how they didn't take the easy way out and just make it a straight-up dinosaur. That mouth though." Brice cringed as the thing screamed, exposing all the teeth and...whatever else was inside its maul.

[burning_youth]

"Really, they need to make sure they do some sort of black out fabric liner," Warren sighs.

Really, you can't go to a super hero high school without having opinions on costuming.

"So fucking lazy."

[brice]

Hearing Warren curse made Brice's jaw drop, closing before he turned his head to look at him. "My god man." He laughed, wiggling the remote in his hand.

"We can watch something else if this is triggering for you."

[burning_youth]

"It's not triggering, it's disappointing," he says with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. "Making movies is supposed to be an art. And this isn't an Art. This is corner cutting."

[brice]

"Well, that's true," Brice replied, his eyes ping-ponging between the television and Warren. "Do you think all movies are supposed to be art? Like....every movie? Step Brothers? Toxic Avengers? Even this, Rampage? I mean, art house films exist, but sometimes this is just entertainment." He waved at the screen, clearly believing the movie they were watching fit into that category.

[burning_youth]

"All creative endeavors are art. The quality of it is what is negotiable," Warren points out. There's a difference in quality between art house and this. And this wasn't trying.