[The force of that steady, keen stare was more than a little unnerving to a boy who wasn't to very much attention at all; he averted his eyes quickly, twin streaks of high colour painting his cheekbones and even the tops of his ears, then managed to look back a bit more politely.]
Hi. I'm - [Introductions weren't really necessary, were they? He pursed his lips thoughtfully, then concentrated on clearing his expression enough to look, at least, unbothered by the slip.] - well, guess you heard, I'm Eugene Roe. Y'can call me Gene, though, if you prefer.
[His voice gives him away as not being a local, or at least not always having been a local, almost as soon as he opens his mouth; it's got a soft, lilting drawl that speaks to somewhere in the South, not as strong as when Eugene first arrived but still very pronounced. In fact, he's been in the school since the 9th grade, which led many people to assume he had simply come from a different junior high than they did when he had the brief visibility of a new kid.]
[Kenny didn't laugh but it was amusing, was the guy blushing? Had he done something to unsettle him? Well no matter.] Gene, Okay. That's cool. Classic name.
[The other's accent wasn't something he'd heard here before. He could start getting ready for the lab but instead he kept his attention on Eugene instead, curious and well he didn't seem annoyed that Kenny was talking to him. Which, a lot of people got annoyed if Kenny tried to talk to them.]
You don't talk like you're from here? Where are you from? How long have you been here? Why are you here? [It's probably too many questions at once.]
[Like Gene Kelly, he thought, then decided that probably wouldn't be any sort of reference Kenny knew. Which he was probably very wrong about, but Kenny really was one of a kind and took some time to figure out.
They had their notes to read over, make sure everything was done properly, but the truth was that Eugene had done a similar dissection already as one of his advanced placement tests. As the frogs and tools were being handed around the class, Eugene started to flip to the list of internal organs they'd need to identify, but looked up quite quickly at Kenny's flurry of questions.]
I - no, I'm from Louisiana. Been here 'bout three years now. Better chances for my popa to find work. [That was everything, right? He hadn't exactly answered in a chatty way, one which suggested they were having a friendly conversation, but he had answered it all. Right as he was trying to think of things to ask back, the dissecting pan, pins, scissors, gloves, and everything else they'd need were left at their table for them.]
Thank you, Ma'am. [Giving the teacher a polite nod, he turned back to Kenny.] Diagrams and lab questions are fourth page in the handout.
[Eventually Eugene would probably figure out that that was definitely a reference that Kenny would've known, even the one he was thinking about. He lifted a shoulder though because he saw the trays starting to get passed around.]
That's cool. I've never really left New York. [He offered, flipping to the fourth page and pressing his lips together a little. He really was not looking forward to this assignment the more real that it became.]
You ever done something like this before?
[Kenny stared at all the tools that would be used for the lab and tried not to think about it immediately after, looking elsewhere in the classroom -- a cat poster on the wall, perfect distraction.]
I ain't never left Louisiana 'til I came here. [He gave a little shrug in return, like that wasn't such a big deal. How much could people really travel in high school, anyway, unless their families were loaded and could bring them on vacations? That most certainly wasn't the case with his.
Kenny's reactions didn't escape his notice, and the slightly uneasy tone as he asked about it pretty much solidified his impression of how Kenny felt about dissecting animals. It wasn't everyone's thing.]
Yeah, I done the frog last year, actually. Want me to make the cuts and do the pinnin'? [He was smiling a little again, but it wasn't at all to tease Kenny; rather, he hoped to let him know that he didn't find anything "lame" about the discomfort, or think he was "chickening out," or any of the other dumb things guys their age often said.]
[Kenny had been around kids that went on all sorts of vacations and his own family had never quite been for it. Even Larry would talk about the crazy beach houses that his grandparents were in and the like.]
Really? [He perked up a little at the offer, feeling a little better at the idea of not having to mutilate a frog and then pin it open like some macabre show.]
... makes me sound weird if I say yes, don't it. [He pulled on his gloves and picked up the scissors, carefully eyeballing where he should make the first incision as he continued to speak.] I like knowin' how things work, 'specially livin' ones. No better way than seein' it firsthand.
[Once he had a line down the center of the frog's belly pictured in his head, he started his first incision with clinically detached efficiency, hands perfectly steady.]
They're not living anymore though.. [Kenny mumbled and when the other started cutting he looked away, feeling queasy at the sight. Not too mention the smell was getting worse too.]
[Eugene had some response about vivisection forming on the tip of his tongue, how parents would probably riot outside the schools, but then he glanced over at Kenny and realized that his objections didn't seem to be entirely whining.
(And Eugene hated the smell of formaldehyde as much as anyone else, so he could agree on that. It was not something to be enjoyed, ever.)]
[Kenny flushed at the question because it just made clear that he was totally not handling the whole dissection thing well even if Eugene was technically doing the work.]
Yeah. Totally fine. Just feel like breakfast might want to say hello. [He joked, but there was no way he was going to let himself throw up. He was already a laughing stock even if he ran out of the room to do it he'd never live it down.]
[For a joke, the words sounded pretty damn sincere. Eugene continued to watch him for a moment longer, the concerned furrow between his brows deepening, before he decided he was best off just continuing his work. He didn't want to make anyone sick, but if his new partner wouldn't pull himself off the dissection, what could Eugene do?]
If you say so. [The middle incision was complete, so now it was time to cut across the top of the frog's belly, pulling back the two inside corners and pinning them down to create a window through which they could see the frog's organs. One more cut across the bottom, with those two inside corners pinned, and they'd be ready to label.]
[Kenny bit down on his lip as he peeked again at what Eugene was doing it. The worst part he decided was the way the frog was pinned open and he felt sorry for the frog even though it was already dead, obviously.]
Do they kill them or wait for them to die naturally? [Not the best subject to distract himself from nausea.]
... sure you wanna be thinkin' about that right now?
[It definitely wasn't the best subject, and Eugene wasn't going to be the one responsible for making Kenny emotional as well as ill. He seemed like a very good person, open and friendly in a way Eugene didn't experience very often, but he was also all the wrong kinds of sensitive for this work.
Chewing on his lip with concentration, he carefully made the final cut, which was the most difficult to keep straight since the skin wasn't pulled as taut. Yet again, though, it came out almost immaculate, and he grinned to himself as he pinned the last two corners.]
I know you probably don't wanna look, but we could get a diagram of this on the exam. [To his credit, Eugene really did sound apologetic.]
[Kenny exhaled at that response which made him worry that they did indeed kill the frogs. Poor frogs... Everything about this was really sucking and he couldn't even appreciate the fact that he had a very cute, very smart lap partner with an interesting accent that on any other day would have made him sigh dreamily.]
Ugh... [Kenny groaned and tilted his head to peer at the, in his mind, murdered and now poor mutilated frog]
I can't. [He swallowed hard because the sight definitely made the nausea much worse.]
[That groan, which sounded like it had come right from the base of Kenny's throat, made Eugene look up from his handiwork nervously. Sure enough, Kenny now appeared to be doing worse, so much that Eugene was no longer sure if just taking him off the dissection would be enough.]
You need to see the nurse, Kenny? [This time, Eugene's voice was quiet enough to keep it just between them, his expression kindly concerned.] Ain't as bad as bein' sick in class, right?
[Kenny was staring down at the table and he flushed a bit at the question because no matter how you slice it everyone was going to know what was going on if he left. But was that worse than if he threw up in the middle of the classroom.]
Everyone will know. [He exhaled, trying to will the nausea away. It's not like he was cool to begin with but there was going to be a whole new thing to be teased about.]
There ain't no shame in this. It's just 'cause you're kind-hearted.
[That... was viewed as a point of shame with teenage boys, though, Eugene couldn't deny it. Still, he couldn't see that it would be at all wise to keep Kenny in a room where he'd be huffing formaldehyde and seeing carved up frogs everywhere he turned until the hour ended.]
If you're worried 'bout people talkin'... you can say it were somethin' else and I'll back you up. You don't look good, you gotta get outta these fumes and clear your head.
[Kenny couldn't rightly think of a good argument against what Eugene was saying because clearly he wasn't going to be able to stomach this. He bit down on his lip as he glanced at the teacher and then the door.]
My life is seriously the worst. [He exhaled, not even minding that it was far over dramatic.] I'll go to the nurse.
You'll survive, Kenny. [Eugene grinned and gave Kenny's shoulder a single, comforting pat before leading the way up to the teacher's desk. After a quick whispered conversation between them - because he least Eugene could do was ask her privately rather than shouting across the entire classroom - he nodded to Kenny to follow him from the classroom as well.]
[Kenny sighed because he wasn't quite as sure of his survival as Roe seemed to be. But he followed him all the same, trying to look nonchalant but as soon as the left the classroom he took a deep breath.]
I think the doctor thing my dad wants me to do is definitely not going to work.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 05:22 am (UTC)Hi. I'm - [Introductions weren't really necessary, were they? He pursed his lips thoughtfully, then concentrated on clearing his expression enough to look, at least, unbothered by the slip.] - well, guess you heard, I'm Eugene Roe. Y'can call me Gene, though, if you prefer.
[His voice gives him away as not being a local, or at least not always having been a local, almost as soon as he opens his mouth; it's got a soft, lilting drawl that speaks to somewhere in the South, not as strong as when Eugene first arrived but still very pronounced. In fact, he's been in the school since the 9th grade, which led many people to assume he had simply come from a different junior high than they did when he had the brief visibility of a new kid.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 06:36 am (UTC)[The other's accent wasn't something he'd heard here before. He could start getting ready for the lab but instead he kept his attention on Eugene instead, curious and well he didn't seem annoyed that Kenny was talking to him. Which, a lot of people got annoyed if Kenny tried to talk to them.]
You don't talk like you're from here? Where are you from? How long have you been here? Why are you here? [It's probably too many questions at once.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 06:52 am (UTC)They had their notes to read over, make sure everything was done properly, but the truth was that Eugene had done a similar dissection already as one of his advanced placement tests. As the frogs and tools were being handed around the class, Eugene started to flip to the list of internal organs they'd need to identify, but looked up quite quickly at Kenny's flurry of questions.]
I - no, I'm from Louisiana. Been here 'bout three years now. Better chances for my popa to find work. [That was everything, right? He hadn't exactly answered in a chatty way, one which suggested they were having a friendly conversation, but he had answered it all. Right as he was trying to think of things to ask back, the dissecting pan, pins, scissors, gloves, and everything else they'd need were left at their table for them.]
Thank you, Ma'am. [Giving the teacher a polite nod, he turned back to Kenny.] Diagrams and lab questions are fourth page in the handout.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 07:24 am (UTC)That's cool. I've never really left New York. [He offered, flipping to the fourth page and pressing his lips together a little. He really was not looking forward to this assignment the more real that it became.]
You ever done something like this before?
[Kenny stared at all the tools that would be used for the lab and tried not to think about it immediately after, looking elsewhere in the classroom -- a cat poster on the wall, perfect distraction.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 07:39 am (UTC)Kenny's reactions didn't escape his notice, and the slightly uneasy tone as he asked about it pretty much solidified his impression of how Kenny felt about dissecting animals. It wasn't everyone's thing.]
Yeah, I done the frog last year, actually. Want me to make the cuts and do the pinnin'? [He was smiling a little again, but it wasn't at all to tease Kenny; rather, he hoped to let him know that he didn't find anything "lame" about the discomfort, or think he was "chickening out," or any of the other dumb things guys their age often said.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 07:44 am (UTC)Really? [He perked up a little at the offer, feeling a little better at the idea of not having to mutilate a frog and then pin it open like some macabre show.]
You like this stuff?
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 08:17 pm (UTC)[Once he had a line down the center of the frog's belly pictured in his head, he started his first incision with clinically detached efficiency, hands perfectly steady.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-09 11:37 pm (UTC)Why does this have to be right before lunch too
no subject
Date: 2016-10-10 02:45 pm (UTC)(And Eugene hated the smell of formaldehyde as much as anyone else, so he could agree on that. It was not something to be enjoyed, ever.)]
Kenny, you gonna be alright? You don't look well.
lol vivisections, kenny would die
Date: 2016-10-10 02:51 pm (UTC)Yeah. Totally fine. Just feel like breakfast might want to say hello. [He joked, but there was no way he was going to let himself throw up. He was already a laughing stock even if he ran out of the room to do it he'd never live it down.]
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Date: 2016-10-10 03:13 pm (UTC)If you say so. [The middle incision was complete, so now it was time to cut across the top of the frog's belly, pulling back the two inside corners and pinning them down to create a window through which they could see the frog's organs. One more cut across the bottom, with those two inside corners pinned, and they'd be ready to label.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-11 01:16 am (UTC)Do they kill them or wait for them to die naturally? [Not the best subject to distract himself from nausea.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-11 06:44 pm (UTC)[It definitely wasn't the best subject, and Eugene wasn't going to be the one responsible for making Kenny emotional as well as ill. He seemed like a very good person, open and friendly in a way Eugene didn't experience very often, but he was also all the wrong kinds of sensitive for this work.
Chewing on his lip with concentration, he carefully made the final cut, which was the most difficult to keep straight since the skin wasn't pulled as taut. Yet again, though, it came out almost immaculate, and he grinned to himself as he pinned the last two corners.]
I know you probably don't wanna look, but we could get a diagram of this on the exam. [To his credit, Eugene really did sound apologetic.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-12 03:35 am (UTC)Ugh... [Kenny groaned and tilted his head to peer at the, in his mind, murdered and now poor mutilated frog]
I can't. [He swallowed hard because the sight definitely made the nausea much worse.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-12 03:43 am (UTC)You need to see the nurse, Kenny? [This time, Eugene's voice was quiet enough to keep it just between them, his expression kindly concerned.] Ain't as bad as bein' sick in class, right?
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Date: 2016-10-12 03:52 am (UTC)Everyone will know. [He exhaled, trying to will the nausea away. It's not like he was cool to begin with but there was going to be a whole new thing to be teased about.]
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Date: 2016-10-12 04:06 am (UTC)[That... was viewed as a point of shame with teenage boys, though, Eugene couldn't deny it. Still, he couldn't see that it would be at all wise to keep Kenny in a room where he'd be huffing formaldehyde and seeing carved up frogs everywhere he turned until the hour ended.]
If you're worried 'bout people talkin'... you can say it were somethin' else and I'll back you up. You don't look good, you gotta get outta these fumes and clear your head.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-12 04:10 am (UTC)My life is seriously the worst. [He exhaled, not even minding that it was far over dramatic.] I'll go to the nurse.
[And the shame would never end.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-16 11:47 pm (UTC)Probably just need some fresh air, s'all.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-17 03:28 am (UTC)I think the doctor thing my dad wants me to do is definitely not going to work.