""What is the freak doing here?!" Barbara said it accusingly, staring at Jonathan as if he was especially repulsive. "Pervert."
Granted, Jonathan probably had not chosen to be taped to a toilet stall door in the girls' bathroom, but she was not happy about it anyway. "This is the girls' bathroom, you shouldn't even be here. Oh, hi, Ed."
She changed her tone from one moment to the other, smiling at Ed and giving a short wave as he walked in with Deirdre, better known as Echo, evidently not taking any issue with that boy being here.
"Hey." Ed waved back, then looked at Jonathan, looking him over. "Wow. Someone had a lot of tape."
"Oh yeah, I heard them bragging about it in class. Yeah, no, someone has a lot of tape. I think it was a group effort from the football team." Echo explained as she looked in the mirror and checked her lipstick. She had to hand it to Jonathan, the weirdo was taking it in his stride, he was slowly cutting himself free with what looked like his house keys and he wasn't making any direct eye contact. Which was still very creepy. This guy truly did not know how to not be creepy, huh? "Is it rude of us to not help?"
"Yes." Jonathan answered for them but he wasn't expecting that to change anything, he just felt they should know that yes, it was rude to talk about someone like they were there.
Ah well, he didn't need their help, he had time and patience. And this was still nothing compared to the shit he got back in Georgia.
"I like the accent." Echo mused as she finished checking herself over, turning to Edward with a smile. "You?"
"Wow. If only our football team knew how to work together during a game." Not that he liked knowing anything about it, but he had heard Harvey rant. He had also, very reluctantly, watched a game or two, largely because of Oswald's crush on Jim Gordon, and because Oswald was oddly persuasive. Quick to blackmail, for one thing.
Still, only made him care less about sports. He looked at Echo when she smiled at him, musing over the question. "I don't know, I'd have to hear more of it."
"What's that shade called, Echo, girl?" Barbara moved closer to her. "It looks great on you."
Letting the girls discuss make-up, Edward - having checked his eyeliner and concluded that it still looked fine - finally moved over to properly address Jonathan. "I've got a knife. I'll help you out if you hold still."
As the girls chatted about their lipstick and swapped tips, Jonathan exhaled slowly and kept working his key slowly through the tape. This shit was driving him nuts but he was trying to get through it. Patiently.
Then Edward came over and he felt the urge to use what little wiggle room he had to kick the guy. There was something about his casualness that just inspire a deep hate in him. He loathed this place and he thought the people were absolutely garbage - and they were proving him right daily.
"...did you just call me 'son'?" How weird was that? "All righty, daddy-o." Edward laughed, getting his knife out and flipping it open. It was Gotham, he was from the Narrows, of course he had a knife on him. Would be stupid not to. He stepped forward, cutting through the tape and trying to avoid cutting his clothes or his skin. But, damn, there was a lot of tape.
"Use alcohol to get rid of the residue." There, that was just a friendly tip. "The tape residue, not any trauma you may have sustained. Although..." Might also help.
Jonathan landed on his feet as best he could, pulling off the rest of the tape from his hoodie and tossing it onto the floor. He was sticky and he knew he'd have to toss the thing in the washer after this. This fucking school, it was exhausting. "This ain't a trauma, it's an annoyance." Just to be clear - he was not even a little upset or scared, just pissed off. He would have to think of revenge but he knew he had to be careful, he had to leave his last home for a reason and it wasn't just his dad.
The two of them, they made quite the pair.
Jonathan looked Edward up and down for a moment and then he nodded in appreciation. "Thanks." Well, he had manners. "See you around." Hopefully not.
"They're gonna escalate it for your first week. They always do. It's like hazing." Really kind of was. And then it continued after, or maybe it would be over. Though for someone like that? Unlikely. "You should try some eyeliner, make those eyes pop."
Another piece of well-meaning advice. Although he would probably start with the dress sense, because he felt there should be an immediate cease and desist on all that plaid.
"Tell him to not be creepy," Barbara suggested, as she finished applying her lipstick.
"Tell a folk not to be himself is a tall order, ain't it? It's like asking you to not talking your head off in class. We can say it all the live long day to you but I reckon you won't ever change. Will you, darling?" Jonathan was firmly in the no camp for not being creepy. "People don't change." He couldn't change himself. He knew he was a target, he'd always be a target and he had kind of made peace with it. It would always come at him, he was a popular target in his old school for the same reason.
"I know he's being a dick but I think the accent is like... I don't know, I feel charmed." Echo teased, laughing as she turned to Barbara with a smile. "He's got a bite, maybe he won't get eaten alive here."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and yeah, he wasn't to leave this place but first... where the fuck was his bag. He pushed open the stall and tried to see if it was in here.
And yep, there it was. In the toilet. A very blocked toilet. Wonderful. "Fucking Christ. Give me strength."
"Aww, no, was it in the toilet? That's so mean." Echo was smiling though - it was funny!
"I get it now, Echo, it's the 'darling' that pulled me in." Edward was definitely beginning to hear the appeal of the accent. Barbara, not so much, but she didn't really care for anyone under the required threshold of popularity and, going by her huff, had apparently decided to simply loudly ignore Jonathan. And probably sic people on him later.
Looking back over at Jonathan he hissed in sympathy. "What's the difference between a car and toilet paper?"
Probably not a riddle that would be appreciated right now. They rarely were. "I stopped for a while. Bringing a bag, that is."
Jonathan sighed and walked one of the stall, tossing his bag into the trash because what was even the point. Nothing in there but school books so whatever, he'd just have to get more from the library. He gave Edward a weird look, unsure what he felt about -- well, anything he'd said. The eyeliner, the weird riddle, the fucking daddy bullshit. Even the people who weren't complete jerks were the worst here.
"Whatever. I'm out of here."
"Good luck but they plan to catch you after school so I'd really fucking haul ass home today." Echo teased as she came over to Edward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Do you think he's a fast runner, Eddie?"
"Probably, legs like that." Stood to reason. Stalking over cornfields or whatever, at least that came to mind with the accent. He might have a bit too vivid an imagination, but it enhanced life, so he wasn't complaining. He leaned slightly against Echo, different urges fighting inside him. Still, in the end he had thought about helping him and that meant he wanted to see it through. At least give it a chance. "If you come with me, I can show you an alternate exit. Unless we want to find out what's from the South and blue and black and red all over."
"Such a bleeding heart," Barbara commented, before patting Edward's face on her way out, which he decided to just let happen. Whatever.
"I was just gonna fuck off home, given the state of all my shit and all." But Jonathan sensed his father would be pissed, the teachers wouldn't let it slide and he didn't want to ruffle any feathers. With a sigh, he nodded his head with great reluctance. "I ain't got the pick up today but I usually got my wheels, it's easier then."
"A pick up. I love that." Echo kissed Ed on the cheek and then moved away from him. "This seems like a boy-bonding sesh. I gotta go find Query but Eddie, sweetie, text me."
Jonathan shoved his hands in his pocket and watched Echo walk away. Those two made quite the weird couple. Young love - he fucking despised it.
"Keep an eye on your phone, my love," Ed called after her, watching for just a few moments to admire the obvious beauty on display. Then he shook it off, focusing on Jon again and raising his eyebrows. "She's right though. Gotta love that you have a truck. Boy, who knew I had any country fantasies?"
Because they sure were rising to the surface right here. He moved over to hold the bathroom door open for Jonathan, checking his watch idly. He always liked to know what time it was, simple habit. "I'm Edward, by the way. Edward Nygma." There, he had manners. "Welcome to Gotham. Worst place to have the best life."
"I would introduce myself but I already did that today." The teacher made him stand up in every new fucking lesson and introduce himself. And when he just said his name and age, they made him list where he came from and fucking hobbies. He didn't have hobbies he could share, he just kept saying reading. That's why he got beaten with a book. The teachers were really not helping. "I assume you know but you can say Jon, I don't care."
He really did not. He shoved his hands into his pant pockets. His clothes had seen better days, his pants were faded and ripped at the knee, his hoodie was faded too and the print was flaking off. Overall, he wasn't exactly dressed to impress. And yeah, he kind of smelled like weed. Big shocker there. "There ain't no sun here, I know that much. Gotham rains all the fucking time."
"Oh yeah. Although it's been pretty sunny lately." For Gotham, which was probably saying a lot. Poor Georgia boy, if he was missing the sun so badly. Not that he looked as if he'd seen much sun, so there was that. Ed was pretty sure that he was tan compared to Jonathan. He walked next to him, hands in his own pockets, playing around with a little puzzle he carried around, casually solving it again and again. Helped him stay focused, he felt. "If you ain't got a weed guy yet, I can tell you where to score some."
The smell was kind of obvious. "Home-growing here is impossible unless you've got a whole set-up."
"I got a set up. All you need is a basic 150-watt LED and a crop." He was the weed dealer in his old town and now, he figured he'd probably only grow for personal use. Gotham had a monopoly on so many things, it wasn't something to mess with. There was probably a gangster controlling even high school weed business. "It's easier with the sun but I don't mind. I like it indoors. I'm in a basement set up now so it's nice, no natural light."
His father found it was better for experiments and Jonathan agreed. It was cheap because of the lack of light too so it was a fucking steal for them. "Cities are always so boring. The drugs are just -- dull." Less wiggle room for experimental. "I heard Gotham had a wild scene but half that shit is cut with SSRIs. And yet, everyone here is an anxious, nervous mess. Ironic."
"I don't know. You should meet me during test season high on coffee. Anxiety can be quite the ride too." Edward was joking, not aware what kind of interests might be being pinged here. Mostly he was taking note of Jonathan's interests, because clearly he knew a thing or two about weed growing, about other drugs. Interesting. "I'm saving my drug phase for after school." Hey, he was trying to indulge one thing at a time. More or less, anyway. He knew he'd want to experiment eventually. "But if you're worried about boredom in Gotham... Don't be. Half the time, even the water can send you on a trip."
"I know, I tested it the other day. The water quality is bad - the ED and TDS were in the toilet and the PH is acidic. Too far acidic." He had been bored waiting for school to start. He was used to exploring the country, sitting outside with a book, talking to his crows. He didn't have that now, he had to find other hobbies. As they got to the exit, he assumed the exit no one used, he frowned and gestured ahead.
"So you can get out of here without triggering the fire alarm?" Wasn't it a fire door? Woah. Unsettling and unsurprising. "Well. Thanks for the heads up." Jonathan pushed the door open, not really waiting around. "I reckon I will walk home now, I think today is just a hurt train and I don't want to be on it." He'd just have to hop back on tomorrow.
"Wow. Look at you, knowing chemistry." Where the hell did that come from? Edward felt as if he must have made him up, because that seemed too good to be true. Definitely feeding into the country boy fantasies he was currently developing. "You're all that and a bag of chips, aren't you?"
He was intrigued, because this was all very new. He knew the people here, even the ones he never talked to, they were usually not that difficult to figure out. Turned out that Jonathan had quite a few question marks surrounding him and, naturally, that was like catnip to him. "You'll just have to hop down the last bit. Fire escape is broken."
Edward was still following Jonathan, so clearly he planned on taking the same way. "I used to leave like this almost every day, a year or two ago."
"Then you got a girlfriend and the menfolk all high five you? I reckon that's it, ain't it?" That and Edward was very handsome but he figured that played a role - the sooner a guy scored, the more acceptable he was. Jonathan knew he would never be acceptable in that sense. Dating... ugh. He couldn't imagine anything worse. Jonathan looked down the fire escape and then nodded, approaching slowly and then just hopping down. He was glad he wore his sturdy boots today, they'd come in handy.
"You play the game and you can probably live a good life, that's what you wanna do. Play to the crowd, make lots of friends, get out of high school alive."
Jonathan pulled out his cigarettes and then raised an eyebrow when Edward followed him down. "You loving my company that much, son?"
"I dunno. I don't think they started the high five until after the second girl. And I don't much care for high fives with them, they are not the best about washing their hands." He'd just leave it at that. Edward climbed down after Jonathan, shrugging his shoulders. "It's a game, people are. Not a game you want to play, I imagine, if that impressive sneer is anything to go by, but they can be as fun to experiment with as chemicals."
Sometimes even more volatile. Especially around these parts. He glanced at Jonathan, amused by the 'son'. "Yeah, daddy, I just crave your attention." This accent was entertaining. "I'm headed vaguely homewards now too, I wasn't gonna walk all the way back down. Besides, I live in this direction anyway."
"I never said I didn't like to play with people, just said I don't like people. Doesn't change the fact you play, just changes the game and the rules." Jonathan had a lot of hurt to give back and not enough space and time to do it. He had to be patient, wait it out and then go for it. Then he'd hurt them all. Maybe target an event. Prom would be awfully amusing.
Jonathan put a cigarette in his mouth and lit up, raising an eyebrow at Edward. God, he had to stop calling him son, he was having far too much fun with it.
"That direction? Same as me? Well, shit. Ain't you an unlucky one. I'd stay at school, if I was you." Better anywhere but the Narrows, honestly.
"Don't knock the Narrows before you know how to play there. Ain't so bad." Anywhere but home, at least. "Never boring." There was that too. Dangerous, likely toxic, all sort of dangers, but still. "We've got a good KFC place too."
Many would probably be more likely to consider that the only positive about the Narrows, but Edward genuinely thought there was more to it. Always something to explore, people to watch, information to gain and perhaps use. Just had to steer clear of some spots and stay out of the way of any stray bullets. "What games do you play, Jon? Colour me intrigued."
"I don't play together, I'm selfish like that. I like single player experiences." Jonathan remarked as they walked along the car park. The streets were quiet this time of day and Jonathan blew smoke away from Edward, trying to be as considerate as he could be but he wasn't stopping. He'd been craving since school started and there was no good place to sneak one in. Nowhere that hadn't been conquered by the sort of guy who'd tape him to a bathroom stall.
On the street, near a trash can, was a set of crows and Jonathan watched them curiously. He slowed his steps and frowned, cigarette hanging loosely in his mouth. Huh. "You get many crows in Gotham?"
"Corvus brachyrhynchos, Corvus ossifragus, Corvuc corax, as far as corvids are concerned." Edward had so many specialised interests, he didn't wonder too much at the question. Country boy like that, probably just missed the more direct touch of nature. He turned his head to the side as the wind blew a cloud of smoke his way, holding his breath for a few. Ugh, he would never be a fan of that smell. "It's like ninety percent pigeons, but the remaining 10 percent is actually pretty diverse. You get quite a few corvids, anyhow."
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icebergloungers2022-10-21 07:57 pm
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Granted, Jonathan probably had not chosen to be taped to a toilet stall door in the girls' bathroom, but she was not happy about it anyway. "This is the girls' bathroom, you shouldn't even be here. Oh, hi, Ed."
She changed her tone from one moment to the other, smiling at Ed and giving a short wave as he walked in with Deirdre, better known as Echo, evidently not taking any issue with that boy being here.
"Hey." Ed waved back, then looked at Jonathan, looking him over. "Wow. Someone had a lot of tape."
Quite the observation.
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"Yes." Jonathan answered for them but he wasn't expecting that to change anything, he just felt they should know that yes, it was rude to talk about someone like they were there.
Ah well, he didn't need their help, he had time and patience. And this was still nothing compared to the shit he got back in Georgia.
"I like the accent." Echo mused as she finished checking herself over, turning to Edward with a smile. "You?"
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Still, only made him care less about sports. He looked at Echo when she smiled at him, musing over the question. "I don't know, I'd have to hear more of it."
"What's that shade called, Echo, girl?" Barbara moved closer to her. "It looks great on you."
Letting the girls discuss make-up, Edward - having checked his eyeliner and concluded that it still looked fine - finally moved over to properly address Jonathan. "I've got a knife. I'll help you out if you hold still."
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Then Edward came over and he felt the urge to use what little wiggle room he had to kick the guy. There was something about his casualness that just inspire a deep hate in him. He loathed this place and he thought the people were absolutely garbage - and they were proving him right daily.
"Then do it, son. I ain't gonna beg you."
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"Use alcohol to get rid of the residue." There, that was just a friendly tip. "The tape residue, not any trauma you may have sustained. Although..." Might also help.
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The two of them, they made quite the pair.
Jonathan looked Edward up and down for a moment and then he nodded in appreciation. "Thanks." Well, he had manners. "See you around." Hopefully not.
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Another piece of well-meaning advice. Although he would probably start with the dress sense, because he felt there should be an immediate cease and desist on all that plaid.
"Tell him to not be creepy," Barbara suggested, as she finished applying her lipstick.
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"I know he's being a dick but I think the accent is like... I don't know, I feel charmed." Echo teased, laughing as she turned to Barbara with a smile. "He's got a bite, maybe he won't get eaten alive here."
Jonathan rolled his eyes and yeah, he wasn't to leave this place but first... where the fuck was his bag. He pushed open the stall and tried to see if it was in here.
And yep, there it was. In the toilet. A very blocked toilet. Wonderful. "Fucking Christ. Give me strength."
"Aww, no, was it in the toilet? That's so mean." Echo was smiling though - it was funny!
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Looking back over at Jonathan he hissed in sympathy. "What's the difference between a car and toilet paper?"
Probably not a riddle that would be appreciated right now. They rarely were. "I stopped for a while. Bringing a bag, that is."
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Jonathan sighed and walked one of the stall, tossing his bag into the trash because what was even the point. Nothing in there but school books so whatever, he'd just have to get more from the library. He gave Edward a weird look, unsure what he felt about -- well, anything he'd said. The eyeliner, the weird riddle, the fucking daddy bullshit. Even the people who weren't complete jerks were the worst here.
"Whatever. I'm out of here."
"Good luck but they plan to catch you after school so I'd really fucking haul ass home today." Echo teased as she came over to Edward and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Do you think he's a fast runner, Eddie?"
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"Such a bleeding heart," Barbara commented, before patting Edward's face on her way out, which he decided to just let happen. Whatever.
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"A pick up. I love that." Echo kissed Ed on the cheek and then moved away from him. "This seems like a boy-bonding sesh. I gotta go find Query but Eddie, sweetie, text me."
Jonathan shoved his hands in his pocket and watched Echo walk away. Those two made quite the weird couple. Young love - he fucking despised it.
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Because they sure were rising to the surface right here. He moved over to hold the bathroom door open for Jonathan, checking his watch idly. He always liked to know what time it was, simple habit. "I'm Edward, by the way. Edward Nygma." There, he had manners. "Welcome to Gotham. Worst place to have the best life."
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He really did not. He shoved his hands into his pant pockets. His clothes had seen better days, his pants were faded and ripped at the knee, his hoodie was faded too and the print was flaking off. Overall, he wasn't exactly dressed to impress. And yeah, he kind of smelled like weed. Big shocker there. "There ain't no sun here, I know that much. Gotham rains all the fucking time."
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The smell was kind of obvious. "Home-growing here is impossible unless you've got a whole set-up."
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His father found it was better for experiments and Jonathan agreed. It was cheap because of the lack of light too so it was a fucking steal for them. "Cities are always so boring. The drugs are just -- dull." Less wiggle room for experimental. "I heard Gotham had a wild scene but half that shit is cut with SSRIs. And yet, everyone here is an anxious, nervous mess. Ironic."
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"So you can get out of here without triggering the fire alarm?" Wasn't it a fire door? Woah. Unsettling and unsurprising. "Well. Thanks for the heads up." Jonathan pushed the door open, not really waiting around. "I reckon I will walk home now, I think today is just a hurt train and I don't want to be on it." He'd just have to hop back on tomorrow.
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He was intrigued, because this was all very new. He knew the people here, even the ones he never talked to, they were usually not that difficult to figure out. Turned out that Jonathan had quite a few question marks surrounding him and, naturally, that was like catnip to him. "You'll just have to hop down the last bit. Fire escape is broken."
Edward was still following Jonathan, so clearly he planned on taking the same way. "I used to leave like this almost every day, a year or two ago."
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"You play the game and you can probably live a good life, that's what you wanna do. Play to the crowd, make lots of friends, get out of high school alive."
Jonathan pulled out his cigarettes and then raised an eyebrow when Edward followed him down. "You loving my company that much, son?"
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Sometimes even more volatile. Especially around these parts. He glanced at Jonathan, amused by the 'son'. "Yeah, daddy, I just crave your attention." This accent was entertaining. "I'm headed vaguely homewards now too, I wasn't gonna walk all the way back down. Besides, I live in this direction anyway."
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Jonathan put a cigarette in his mouth and lit up, raising an eyebrow at Edward. God, he had to stop calling him son, he was having far too much fun with it.
"That direction? Same as me? Well, shit. Ain't you an unlucky one. I'd stay at school, if I was you." Better anywhere but the Narrows, honestly.
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Many would probably be more likely to consider that the only positive about the Narrows, but Edward genuinely thought there was more to it. Always something to explore, people to watch, information to gain and perhaps use. Just had to steer clear of some spots and stay out of the way of any stray bullets. "What games do you play, Jon? Colour me intrigued."
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On the street, near a trash can, was a set of crows and Jonathan watched them curiously. He slowed his steps and frowned, cigarette hanging loosely in his mouth. Huh. "You get many crows in Gotham?"
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