Jean-Paul. (du_nord) wrote in academy_x, @ 2010-05-17 16:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | colossus, northstar |
Who: Jean-Paul, Raymonde on the phone, Piotr.
When: Backdated to Sunday night around 9.
Where: JP and Tyrone's dorm, B008.
What: JP is dishing on the phone to his mentor about the new Russian dreamboat. Also, Bobby. Also, skiing. (Can't get away from the skiing.) His door is open to any and all passersby.
The Sunday-night phone calls to Raymonde were one of the highlights of Jean-Paul's week here. They talked most nights for a few minutes, just to check in, but it was growing to be a habit that Sunday nights were for long calls and real conversations. It was good to hear his mentor's voice, and really good to be able to speak French and hear that comfortingly-familiar Québécois accent on the other end of the line. JP missed his home more than he would admit, and these Sunday-night calls went a long way toward easing his homesickness.
Tonight he was lying flat on his back on his bed with his long legs up against the wall, phone to his ear, chatting away to his foster father in French. They'd discussed business first, agreeing upon a strategy to handle the increased requests Raymonde was getting for interviews with Jean-Paul; some scandalmonger had spread the rumor around the internet that JP had disappeared from media view because he was taking a stint at rehab, which had just made him laugh. Raymonde wasn't so amused, though, and they agreed to allow a photo or two of JP's upcoming snowboarding adventure with Bobby to be leaked, both to dispel rumors that he was ill or incapacitated and to plant the idea that he was still involved in winter sports and drum up interest in his eventual return to skiing. The big plans were all Raymonde's, and JP mostly listened, interjecting here and there, but trusting his mentor to make good decisions for him. He felt somewhat bad about involving Bobby in this, but not bad enough not to carry out the plan. Anyway, the boy wanted to be an athlete; let him see the behind-the-scenes maneuvering it took to keep the positive media attention.
Their talk eventually turned to Jean-Paul's life at the Academy, and he was in the middle of describing his encounter with the Russian giant last weekend. "He's huge," Jean-Paul expressed, gesturing with his hands even though Raymonde couldn't see him. "Two meters tall, and his bicep is probably thicker than my head. And he has this gorgeous smile." He actually sighed without meaning to, and Raymonde chuckled over the line.
"You have a crush," he informed Jean-Paul. "Have you given up on Bobby?"
Jean-Paul shook his head. "No, no," he answered. "He's still..." He waved a hand in the air. "In my head," he finished. "Not in my heart, I think, but Bobby is far too adorable to forget him like this. He talks and acts very straight, though." He made a tsk of disappointment, half mocking himself and his fascination with the ice-power boy. "I'm not sure what I hope from him. But I still have eyes, and this Russian giant is well worth watching."
Raymonde was smiling -- Jean-Paul could hear it in his voice. "And he's straight as well, I take it. Do you have any hope there, Paulin?" His pet name for JP, born out of an old joke between them.
"Not much," JP answered honestly. "Though he did ask if I would model for him. He's an artist, or so he says."
"Oh, my dear, then he's definitely queer," Raymonde answered, and laughed. "Did I never teach you about pick-up lines? Your social education has been lacking, I know. Mea culpa. So are you going to, ehm, 'model' for him?" His inflection of the word made it clear what he was implying.
Jean-Paul made a derisive noise into the phone. "He's too innocent to mean anything like that," he disagreed. "You should have seen him. 'Hello! Comrade!'" He shook his head, amused all over again just thinking about the boy. "He doesn't seem overly intelligent. Anyway, he's from Russia. Even their figure skaters are straight."
"I wouldn't be too sure if I were you," was Raymonde's only answer, sounding rather smug, actually. Their conversation devolved from there into innuendo about various athletes they'd met over the past few years, and even then, JP felt disinclined to hang up. Raymonde was possibly the only person he could talk to like this, saying what he honestly thought and felt without having to watch what he said. Jean-Paul had left the door to the dorm open to keep an eye on those who passed by; he wasn't worried about anyone overhearing, because as far as he knew, no one but Remy understood French, and the Cajun wasn't likely to drop by for a social visit, not after the incident at prom.