So either you don't have any hobbies, Wong isn't speaking to you, or you want me to play you later with some booze on the side.
[ "Play" is left vague on purpose. Logan plays everything.
It's also a good excuse to admit he wants to hang out with Stephen without outright admitting he wants to hang out with Stephen, because who does that. Not him. ]
conveniently that was mostly the time I was also away from the net, this worked out
[ how suggesting he has no hobbies and is being ignored by his only other regular conversational partner is cooler than admitting to just wanting to spend a little time with Logan is beyond sense, but if he's not obstinate about every little thing then what's even the point. ]
[ he just wants to... get him a book? this is hugely baffling. endearing, but baffling. to the point that he doesn't even actually think to tease him about it.
what does he... want? to read? for fun? he doesn't know. time to take some wild stabs in the dark. ]
Be good to read some fiction for once. No fantasy magic. Beyond that I really don't know.
[ everything he reads is for learning. this is??? ]
Edited (the wrong icon >:c) 2018-07-28 16:58 (UTC)
[ As is probably evident in the class Logan teaches and the fact that most of his personal items in his room are books, this is actually-- weirdly-- important to him.
The world has changed too fucking much. Reading and board games are the only hobbies from Logan's childhood that he's been able to take to the present with him. He already does the latter with Stephen, so it makes sense to share the former.
It does not occur to him whatsoever that this is actually a big deal to him. ]
[ it's a strange thing to be offered, you want books to read? Stephen had been anticipating that Logan might have a certain subject he'd wanted him to read up on, or that he thought Stephen might be specifically interested in. something about mutants, maybe, perhaps some of Xavier's work.
that would make sense. that would fit the way books have always folded into his life, something to bring progress, help move him forward.
books for the sake of books, for the sake of spending a little time being somewhere else, through the eyes of someone else and the words of someone else... it's not an alien concept. now that he thinks about it, it's probably weird that he's so caught on the back foot by the offer: people read for fun. they do that. and he does too, yeah, but - specifically. with focus.
Logan's not offering him a book in the hopes he'll learn something specific. he's not even offering him a book because it's his favourite, and he wants someone else to like it too. he's just... offering him a book. any book.
and he honestly has no idea what to do about it. ]
I wouldn't say that. I like to learn, so I read for that hobby.
[ so instead he just - does nothing about it. doesn't ask. doesn't know what he would ask. just carries on the conversation and sits feeling vaguely off-kilter. ]
[ It doesn't surprise Logan, to say the least, that Stephen reads for that reason. Logan learns through books, too-- though the learning tends to be more of a side-effect than a main reason. Interest had always been the first thing for him, but it's easy to develop interest in reading when you spend all your days inside.
Of course, he doesn't do that any more. But the habit's stuck all the same. ]
Think I already have something to give you, though.
[ that’ll be... his two core specialisms and the only things he’s really read in depth about in the last twenty or so years. hyper-fixation on single topics in pursuit of practical betterment? him? no...
which is to say that he only knows what he knows, and he’s very open to something new. which, apparently, is something a little corny.
hang on. ]
I beg your pardon.
[ if Logan could stop throwing him weird lines that set off little frissions of unnecessary glee, that would be great. thanks. he’s not fifteen, he doesn’t need to get consistently overjoyed about being teased or promised a book by a friend.
[ Stephen. Your wit is creaking and rusting and Logan is as close to whatever approximation of "losing his shit" as he is capable of.
Which isn't good for being an exam proctor. He's already in some hot water for letting out the haha that he did earlier.
The change in dynamic between them right now is so startling. ]
OK.
You get this look on your face when you do minor spells. The little things like sticking your hand into a portal to grab a book in my office or pulling tea out of thin air.
You really like this magic thing even when universe protecting is a pain in the ass. It shows. You look happy as shit when the kids and I think it's cool as hell.
[ That's it. ]
You like making people smile. It's cheesier because you pretend you don't.
[ he’s going to need a little time before he’s got a decent way to respond to... any of that. he’d asked the question, sure, but whatever answer he’d been expecting it certainly wasn’t this. ]
[ ... what the fuck? don’t encourage him with friendship, treacherous fingers!! was that supposed to be funny? did that sound funny in your head? scathing, maybe? too bad. it’s just true and horribly uncool. quick as a flash, a follow-up, in hopes of rescuing himself from the jaws of defeat: ]
But I think it could do with a reference list. You have no citations, where’s your proof.
[ go away from me, let me Rest, Do Not Look, etc ]
[ Congratulations, Stephen. For a while Logan's kind of just... staring stunned, primarily due to a warm feeling in his chest that won't go away.
Fortunately for him, the period ends and it's schoolwide recess for everyone. He takes some time collecting the papers, putting them in a pile on his desk, and then.
He's always known Stephen liked him; their friendship isn't exactly secret or anything. The bluntness of it hits him hard, though-- distinctly he realises he's wishing he could have heard it in person. ]
I'll take notes when you come by later.
[ His thumb hovers over the right button on his Nokia, where "Send" rests just above it. It takes him a bit, but. ] And hey. I like you, too.
[ it’s a nervous wait. not because he thinks it’ll be taken badly, because if he thinks about it at all there’s clearly nothing to be worried about. but you send a corny text as a corny man in denial of your natural state and it’s going to put you on edge. and Logan takes his damn time, and then when he replies and Stephen pointedly picks up his phone in a calm and steady manner, he’s only responded to one part of the message.
he should take that as a mercy. instead, he gets just that little bit more anxious about it. he’s putting together a response when another comes through - and the tension in him breaks, turns into a sideways punch to a part of his spiritual map settled directly between his third and fourth right rib that he doesn’t quite recall a name for. it definitely doesn’t feel bad.
drafting a new reply is easy. ]
That’s supposed to be the part where you tactfully ignore I said anything for the sake of my ego.
[ proof enough that it wasn’t a mistake, even if it was sort of an accident. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Meditation's for every day except a day off.
oh my god my internet wouldn't load dw for like the longest time bye
[ "Play" is left vague on purpose. Logan plays everything.
It's also a good excuse to admit he wants to hang out with Stephen without outright admitting he wants to hang out with Stephen, because who does that. Not him. ]
conveniently that was mostly the time I was also away from the net, this worked out
[ how suggesting he has no hobbies and is being ignored by his only other regular conversational partner is cooler than admitting to just wanting to spend a little time with Logan is beyond sense, but if he's not obstinate about every little thing then what's even the point. ]
But sure. I could go for a round or two.
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How often are these days off?
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[ he can give himself that much as a guarantee. ]
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Sure. What books?
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Don't say anything's fine. Don't be that asshole.
[ Also, Logan wants to pick something Stephen'll actually like, he guesses. ]
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what does he... want? to read? for fun? he doesn't know. time to take some wild stabs in the dark. ]
Be good to read some fiction for once. No fantasy magic. Beyond that I really don't know.
[ everything he reads is for learning. this is??? ]
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The world has changed too fucking much. Reading and board games are the only hobbies from Logan's childhood that he's been able to take to the present with him. He already does the latter with Stephen, so it makes sense to share the former.
It does not occur to him whatsoever that this is actually a big deal to him. ]
OK. I'll see what I can do.
Not a reading-for-hobby type, huh?
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that would make sense. that would fit the way books have always folded into his life, something to bring progress, help move him forward.
books for the sake of books, for the sake of spending a little time being somewhere else, through the eyes of someone else and the words of someone else... it's not an alien concept. now that he thinks about it, it's probably weird that he's so caught on the back foot by the offer: people read for fun. they do that. and he does too, yeah, but - specifically. with focus.
Logan's not offering him a book in the hopes he'll learn something specific. he's not even offering him a book because it's his favourite, and he wants someone else to like it too. he's just... offering him a book. any book.
and he honestly has no idea what to do about it. ]
I wouldn't say that. I like to learn, so I read for that hobby.
[ so instead he just - does nothing about it. doesn't ask. doesn't know what he would ask. just carries on the conversation and sits feeling vaguely off-kilter. ]
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[ It doesn't surprise Logan, to say the least, that Stephen reads for that reason. Logan learns through books, too-- though the learning tends to be more of a side-effect than a main reason. Interest had always been the first thing for him, but it's easy to develop interest in reading when you spend all your days inside.
Of course, he doesn't do that any more. But the habit's stuck all the same. ]
Think I already have something to give you, though.
The ending's a little corny, but so are you.
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[ that’ll be... his two core specialisms and the only things he’s really read in depth about in the last twenty or so years. hyper-fixation on single topics in pursuit of practical betterment? him? no...
which is to say that he only knows what he knows, and he’s very open to something new. which, apparently, is something a little corny.
hang on. ]
I beg your pardon.
[ if Logan could stop throwing him weird lines that set off little frissions of unnecessary glee, that would be great. thanks. he’s not fifteen, he doesn’t need to get consistently overjoyed about being teased or promised a book by a friend.
shut up, he is so not corny. ]
the shortest tag...
have we entered the twilight zone 1/2
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Corny how?
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Shit. Seriously?
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[ what the fuck is going on in this conversation, he’s clinging on for dear life. book man is the best he’s got. ]
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[ Stephen. Your wit is creaking and rusting and Logan is as close to whatever approximation of "losing his shit" as he is capable of.
Which isn't good for being an exam proctor. He's already in some hot water for letting out the haha that he did earlier.
The change in dynamic between them right now is so startling. ]
OK.
You get this look on your face when you do minor spells. The little things like sticking your hand into a portal to grab a book in my office or pulling tea out of thin air.
You really like this magic thing even when universe protecting is a pain in the ass. It shows. You look happy as shit when the kids and I think it's cool as hell.
[ That's it. ]
You like making people smile. It's cheesier because you pretend you don't.
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a. while... and then: ]
Okay. I didn’t ask for an essay.
[ he’s going to need a little time before he’s got a decent way to respond to... any of that. he’d asked the question, sure, but whatever answer he’d been expecting it certainly wasn’t this. ]
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You like it?
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[ ... what the fuck? don’t encourage him with friendship, treacherous fingers!! was that supposed to be funny? did that sound funny in your head? scathing, maybe? too bad. it’s just true and horribly uncool. quick as a flash, a follow-up, in hopes of rescuing himself from the jaws of defeat: ]
But I think it could do with a reference list. You have no citations, where’s your proof.
[ go away from me, let me Rest, Do Not Look, etc ]
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Fortunately for him, the period ends and it's schoolwide recess for everyone. He takes some time collecting the papers, putting them in a pile on his desk, and then.
He's always known Stephen liked him; their friendship isn't exactly secret or anything. The bluntness of it hits him hard, though-- distinctly he realises he's wishing he could have heard it in person. ]
I'll take notes when you come by later.
[ His thumb hovers over the right button on his Nokia, where "Send" rests just above it. It takes him a bit, but. ] And hey. I like you, too.
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he should take that as a mercy. instead, he gets just that little bit more anxious about it. he’s putting together a response when another comes through - and the tension in him breaks, turns into a sideways punch to a part of his spiritual map settled directly between his third and fourth right rib that he doesn’t quite recall a name for. it definitely doesn’t feel bad.
drafting a new reply is easy. ]
That’s supposed to be the part where you tactfully ignore I said anything for the sake of my ego.
[ proof enough that it wasn’t a mistake, even if it was sort of an accident. ]
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[ Well. He is a little bit that nice. But that's not the point. ]
Sorry. [ Except not really, as proven by the next message: ] It was too cute to ignore.
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