CL   < Its rather boring, thats what it is >

CL   < And they want me to take notes? Cant we hire people for that? >

You grunt in response, your eyes refusing to leave the paper.

CL   < I just know theyre underutilizing me, too >

CL   < Ive got a brilliant mind like any of them! >

CL   < Just because, eh, Im not stirring up crowds or kissing hands and all that >

CL   < Doesnt mean theyre not good ideas! >

CL   < I could easily pay someone to explain them for me better! >

CL   < For conveniences sake >

MT   Mmph.

CL   < Not because Id /need/ it >

CL   < Because Im sick of people treating me like... >

CL   < Like Im handicapped! >

You glance around the classroom. Thank the Gods that it's just the two of you at the moment.

CL   < Is it the glasses? Thats just for my eyes! >

CL   < Im handi-capable! >

MT   Is that really the word you want to use?

CL   < Eh? >

CL   < Isnt that what handicap means? Some kind of limitation? >

MT   ...

Rather than giving him a diatribe about an outdated term (disabled people being synonymous with beggars, after all), you shake your head and re-focus on your assignment.

MT   It's not something you want to be shouting willy-nilly, that's all I'm saying.

MT   Bad PR.

You see Clark frown in your periphery.

CL   < Youre really sure? Youre not just guessing? >

MT   Just keep sentiments like that to yourself.

MT   Make it easier on the rest of us.

CL   < ... >

CL   < I didnt... /offend/ you, did I...? >

MT   No, you FUCKING IGNORAMUS.

Hearing him ask earnestly makes you angrier. What the hell does he know?

MT   I don't give a SHIT. I wouldn't waste my energy on giving a SHIT.

MT   But your stakeholders and customers will.

MT   That's why I'm bothering to tell you. It's just good business practice.

CL   < Eh? You know about business things? >

MT   My dad has a production company, dipstick.

CL   < He does? Wow >

CL   < I thought artsy types were always poor >

MT   You didn't... what the FUCK?

MT   Why would you think that? I can afford to be here, for Christ's sake!

CL   < They do scholarship admissions, dont they? >

CL   < And you seem, eh, like youve got a good head on your shoulders >

CL   < The glasses, too. Its why I wear mine >

CL   < And because Im blind as a bat I suppose >

MT   Stop. Shut up.

MT   It's like you only say things that gum up my mental processing.

A quick exhale. Leave this guy enough silence, and he'll start yammering again.

MT   So, if I'm getting this right,

MT   I didn't appeal to you because I'm a valuable connection in the entertainment industry.

MT   This wasn't part of a broader plan you had.

He frowns, his eyebrows scrunched.

CL   < No, definitely no nefarious plans here >

CL   < At least, I dont think so? >

CL   < I just thought, well >

CL   < And this was my own intuition guiding me, here >

CL   < You might have good opinions on the things that matter >

CL   < Which you do >

CL   < Brilliant discussion we had on ant societies, by the way >

CL   < We should revisit that once we have the time >

You're not giving him credit for his entomological expertise. A broken clock is right twice a day, and an idiot can have decent talking points now and then.

MT   Sure. Whatever.

MT   Jot it down for another unfortunate lunch period.

MT   My point is... you're not factoring in how useful I could be?

CL   < Eh? I dont understand >

CL   < Are you offering something? >

MT   Would you even know how to haggle if I did?!

CL   < Pretty sure thats grunt work. You give that to the grunts >

If it wasn't made of such exquisite material, you'd throw your pen at that empty head of his.

MT   Why do I bother.

MT   Why I am I FUCKING bothering with you?

MT   Why do I bother with anyone here? At all?

MT   A GODDAMN INSTITUTION of chiseled tryhards and nepotistic idiots...

MT   The only people I end up with are too inept to look elsewhere!

CL   < Hey, was that a dig at me? >

CL   < I try a reasonable amount! Enough to break a sweat, even! >

MT   You know the worst part?

MT   I fall for it. Every time.

MT   The pitiful losers, the freaks of nature...

MT   I wouldn't be bothering if I didn't find you all FUCKING FASCINATING.

MT   Real specimens made up of who knows what. Down to the atom.

MT   If I wasn't such a FUCKING masochist, maybe I'd make some half-way decent friends.

MT   God.

MT   I do this to myself.

MT   I do this to my DAMN self.

You lean back in your chair and shield yourself from those fluorescent ceiling lights with your arms. When the world is painted in darkness, the stars come out of hiding. And if you close your eyes hard enough, they'll put on a whole production for you.

Across from you, your classmate shifts in his seat.

CL   < Thats, eh, a real bummer way to go about things >

CL   < Thinking that if people want to just get to know you as a person >

CL   < Theres something wrong with them >

CL   < And those who have their marbles together will only want something out of you >

CL   < Doesnt leave much room for, eh >

CL   < The good guys >

You scoff.

MT   As if there's a lot of them to begin with.

CL   < Not true >

CL   < First off, we have Supers. Read a book sometime >

CL   < Theres me, of course. Well-established by this point >

CL   < And, I suppose >

CL   < Theres my brother >

CL   < Hes, eh, definitely strategic when it comes to it >

CL   < But Id hardly call him a bad person >

CL   < Youve met him, right? Axel? >

MT   ...

MT   Yeah.

MT   You two couldn't be more different. Weird how that works.

He's the biggest smooth-talker of all. He introduced himself like some kind of councilman and, in a stunning world record, made it clear that he wanted something from you. Axel Tran approached you because you were beneficial to him, and it didn't surprise you in the least.

Clark Tran didn't approach you at all; you sized him up and studied the strange little projects he kept bringing to class. And when you spoke up next to him, his posture stilted and his expression grew wary. Exactly as you were told.

AX   > Hes kind of nervous-looking, thats for sure <

AX   > But believe me. Once you get him started, its hard to make him stop <

AX   > You seem like the type too <

AX   > No offense <

AX   > And dont tell him I said anything, okay? <

AX   > That tends to makes things worse <

AX   > Ehehe <

AX   > Maybe thats just how things are supposed to be <

AX   > Maybe he needs someone more like him and less like me <

AX   > You get that, right? <

No. You're not like either of them. You'd never allow yourself to get classified, dissected so easily. You're the one getting to the root of everything, and you'd never let yourself be the one on the surgical tray.

You're smarter than that. You're better than that.