Stellar Explosion

[realstarpower]

Anyone who walked past the laboratory at Pier 4 would notice the tell-tale signs of Ryan doing something that he wasn't supposed to be doing behind closed doors. The first tell was the blaring sound of a classic Alison Blaire CD blasting out into the hallway. The second tell was the accompaniment of sparkling purple light casting its light onto the floor outside of the lab. The third tell was the sound of Ryan loudly singing along to Alison Blaire's voice. The fourth tell was the sound of a tiny explosion, followed by a shriek of terror.

That was Ryan causing something to explode in the name of science.

Oops.

Comments

[realstarpower]

"Dude, wait," Ryan reached out and placed a hand on his brother's shoulders. "First of all, if anything goes wrong, the blame usually does go to me. I'm the crazy reckless one," he said lightly. "Secondly. I don't...I don't even know what to say. I mean..." he frowned. "How can I help?"

[clobberin_kid]

Jacob shrugged. "Nothing you can do. You didn't make me like this and it's not something I hate all the time, either. It's just... sometimes."

He gave his brother a light pat on the shoulder, always careful not to put too much force behind it. "I shouldn't have snapped at you. Sorry."

[realstarpower]

"You've always handled it well," Ryan replied. "The hand that genetics dealt you. I wouldn't have been able to. I'm...really vain," Ryan admitted after a long moment. "And, okay, shallow. I know I am. I try not to be, but..." Ryan shrugged. "I just get pulled back into it. Mom says it's just me being creative, but we all know the truth."

"And it's okay. I get it. I mean. I'd probably have done worse?"

[clobberin_kid]

"No way of knowing. You might have done fine and I'd have been the vain one." He shrugged. It was a pointless exercise. Things were what they were. No changing it. "I guess twins just aren't always on the same page."

[realstarpower]

"I'm vain?" Yes, that's what Ryan got out of the conversation at hand.

He blinked.

"Yeah, but...I mean, you know. Dad was the popular one who was like loved by everyone. He wasn't nerdy like Dr. Richards or crazy like Johnny Storm was. He was just...the cool one who everyone dug because he was an ever-loving bad-ass. Being pretty isn't everything. Ask Emma Frost. Almost nobody likes her."

[clobberin_kid]

"Well, that's what you said earlier."

Memory like a goldfish, his brother.

He snorted at the Emma Frost line. Pretty sure some people liked her, if for no other reason than just to look at her. He appreciated the effort, though. "I know. I like who I am, for the most part. I do. It just hits me sometimes that nobody's ever gonna look at me like they do you or Remi or Griffin, even."

[realstarpower]

"..." He smiled, embarrassed. "Right. But, I mean, look. Everyone's got their types. There's a few people out there who totally dig you. You just, you know, haven't met them yet, Jacob."

[clobberin_kid]

People who dig road rash, maybe. Jacob shook his head and smirked a little. Ah well. "You know you'd better have all this cleaned up before Remi or one of the egg-heads sees it, right?"

[realstarpower]

"This is why we need a HERBIE," Ryan said. "Unless we actually have an HERBIE and no one's told me?"

[clobberin_kid]

"Nope, sorry dude. You're on your own here." Jacob chuckled and shook his head. "If you're really nice, and I mean really nice to me, I might help you."