Victor had a good laugh. Like listening to a big cask of aged scotch rumbling, or something. Deep and rich. Kind of at odds with what he was saying, but kind of not--like it was in the past, and part of him, now. Or something. He was taking that metaphor way too far.

He snorted a laugh at the guy's counter-suggestion. "Or they're just that dumb," Jiri agreed.

>> "But, I get the feeling your about to spout another idea. Go on, let's hear it."

The teen realized his grin had been inching wider and wider with every word out of the big guy's mouth. Just a regular guy, yes, do go on. Hold down a job just like everyone else, my, how fascinating. Family and friends, not just your mutation, you don't say.

"So," Jiri said, drawing out the syllable: sooooo. "I'm doing sort of a project for class. I go to that mutant school, Xavier's. And they're all about getting humans and mutants to understand each other, right? Except they've been trying to do it by throwing vigilantes at crime and cleaning up parks. It's not, like, real stuff." Because who did that stuff for real?

"So I've kind of started going around and getting people on tape, answering questions from humans. It's a livechat thing, like reddit with a camera but more polite, if that makes any sense. So that humans can ask questions they'd chicken out about if they were really talking with us and they can see mutants answering like totally normal people. So. Umm. Would you be interested?"

"So, I'm doing sort of a project for class. I go to that mutant school, Xavier's. And they're all about getting humans and mutants to understand each other, right? Except they've been trying to do it by throwing vigilantes at crime and cleaning up parks. It's not, like, real stuff."

Xavier's, yeah he heard about it. Probably would have gone if they hadn't let him continue at his normal school. Though part of him regrets not going. Perhaps passing classes and living normally would have been easier if he had gone to Xavier's. Then again, he'd miss his family and friends. E-mail, text chats, and videos weren't the same as a real leaving person.

Speaking of internet chats...

"So I've kind of started going around and getting people on tape, answering questions from humans. It's a livechat thing, like reddit with a camera but more polite, if that makes any sense. So that humans can ask questions they'd chicken out about if they were really talking with us and they can see mutants answering like totally normal people. So. Umm. Would you be interested?"

Ooo boy... So that's what this was all about. Perhaps not straight from the beginning but the boy had spotted an opportunity. Still, it wasn't like he had anything better to do. He rubbed the back of his neck as he thought about it. He really didn't want to get further involved with this kid. But...He glanced down at the kids and he felt a twinge of worry. They hadn't reached the age passed the mutation point. If he had it then it was likely anybody in his family could have it. The world was a scary and harsh place. If simply talking to people could make it better then...

"Alright, say that I am. What happens then?"

That was not a no, which meant that it was a yes. So said every teenager ever. 

Jiri's grin broadened. "Awesome. Then all we have to do is pick a date, so I can let people online know when to expect you. We can do it at Xavier's, your place, or pretty much wherever. It just needs to be somewhere quiet, with an internet connect. I'll bring the computer and webcam. You just need to bring yourself." 

So maybe not Victor's place, if he lived with the three kids. As awesome as kids were, putting them in a room with a camera and an audience was like giving them permission to be as goofy as they could manage. Well, maybe not Sophia--she was definitely at that age where she was trying to be the most mature kid to ever mature--but the other two. And Victor might not want his family in the other room while he was answering questions, either. For some reason, talking to strangers on the internet was a lot easier than talking to people who actually cared about you, sometimes.

It didn't seem like Jiri even considered that he was just testing the waters and instead just dragged him in. And looking at the excitement on the kid's face, how could he say no? No matter how bit they got, he'd always have a soft spot for kids. Damn this paternal instinct.

"Awesome. Then all we have to do is pick a date, so I can let people online know when to expect you. We can do it at Xavier's, your place, or pretty much wherever. It just needs to be somewhere quiet, with an internet connect. I'll bring the computer and webcam. You just need to bring yourself."

He sighed, so god help him this was going to be a task. He resisted the urge to do the catholic cross over his chest and instead just crossed his arms. "I'm free next Saturday and I'd prefer Xavier's. My house isn't exactly my house and I don't want cameras intruding on my family." He wasn't about to let the whole internet judge his family. They didn't need that. His uncle got hassled enough at work. Plus, might as well go where he'd never gone before too. He heard Xavier's was a pretty fancy place.

Victor sighed the sigh of Jiri's victory.

"Yes." A little first-air-pump was in order. He'd totally made his first non-Mansion recruit for this project. Miss Taylor was going to groan so loud when she heard and it was going to be awesome because this was a good idea.

Victor could cross his arms all he wanted, he'd agreed. And responsible adults did not go back on their word to kids.

"I'll see you Saturday, then. Noon-ish? I'll totally meet you in the foyer. Just, ah, come on up, ring the intercom. I'll let the staff know you're coming."

This was his cue to run off before the guy changed his mind. Because responsible adults were prone to doing that, if you gave them a chance.

He had a feeling he was forgetting something, as he waved. 

It didn't occur to him until a half block away. That whole pick pocketed thing. The don't have money for the bus thing. That. He almost turned back, but there was no way he was trying to bum another two bucks off this guy. He really would get punched.

...He sipped his lemonade, and walked home. The walk of victory.