brian levine ; self-replication ; pi (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} dittos) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} playout,@ 2020-04-01 23:01:00 |
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| Entry tags: | ! log/narrative, ditto, hebe |
CHARACTERS: Brian Levine & Jenny Chu.
DATE & TIME: Sometime in the fall of 1989.
LOCATION: The Academy cafeteria.
RATING: G.
SUMMARY: In the beginning...
The Los Angeles Academy was—well, it was something. Unlike her well-heeled, quasi-Ivy League classmates at Carnegie Melon, the 1989 intake included all kids: kids from single parent homes and trailer parks, kids who had juvenile records, and likely several who had never once flossed in their lives.
Jenny knew that she shouldn’t be judgmental. People were people, after all, and she was coming to the uncomfortable realisation of just how much her own background had given her a boost in life. She had worked hard, sure, but would she be in this position without it—private school educated and with a Bachelor of Science degree from one of the country’s best universities under her belt? It was a thought that made her feel a little undeserving as she sat in the near empty cafeteria, a book open in front of her and pretending like she was quite happy to sit here all alone.
Just like Jenny, Brian fully realized that his position in life had given him more than a little boost in life, but unlike her he didn’t feel uncomfortable about it. Not like having a famous and rich parent was anything he could change. Still, he supposed he should actually do something with his connections and becoming a Hero seemed like the best, perhaps even easiest, option.
Perhaps. But until then...
“Hey, Jenny Jenny!” Brian yelled from the other side of the cafeteria the moment he stepped through the doors.
Ugh. And here she was thinking she’d hit the cafeteria at just the right moment to avoid all the popular kids.
And he was so good-looking.
Cheeks heating up, Jenny gave him her best attempt at a wave (more of a limp hand flap) and tried to sink further behind her book without being obvious about it.
Her actions were more than obvious, but unfortunately for her the man striding across the cafeteria toward her table was an idiot. “What are you reading?” Brian asked once he was within a few feet of Jenny.
“John… John Grisham,” Jenny managed, then remembered that the book in front of her was very much not John Grisham. Her cheeks darkened one shade deeper. “Well, I was but then Karen saw the cover and was like ‘oh, is that the book where such and such happens?’ when I was only 60 pages from the end. So now I’m trying this Terry Pratchett.”
Another blush. Science Fiction was, well, not cool. Jenny reminded herself that she didn’t care. Or at least, was trying not to care. She was sure that Brian would go back to his almost as cool and good looking friends and snigger about it with them afterwards.
“Terry Pratchett?” Brian asked as he slid into the seat directly opposite of Jenny. Lowering his head, he gave the cover of the book a careful look. “Never heard of him. What kind of stuff does he write about?”
“He writes… science fiction and fantasy mostly.” Jenny attempted to bolster herself. “But it’s very clever! There’s a lot of political parody in it and sending up fantasy tropes.” She passed the book over the table so he could better inspect it.
And oh, their hands had just touched—
As their fingers brushed, Brian smiled as he pulled the book toward him. “I’ve never really read much fantasy books. I like fantasy movies though. Still love the Neverending Story to this day.”
“The Neverending Story?” Jenny perked up, her self-consciousness (and the knot that had formed in her stomach at Brian’s smile) temporarily forgotten. “That made me cry, the part where Artax dies. Have you read the original book? The movie only shows the first half of it—the second takes a darker turn and subverts the idea of the ‘chosen one’.”
“I haven’t read it.” Actually, he hadn’t read much of anything, but Brian felt saying as much wouldn’t exactly endear him to Jenny. “It sounds interesting? Though part of me kind of likes the idea of everything just being happily ever after sometimes.”
“It all works out in the end. But I understand.” And she did. “Have you watched Labyrinth? Or The Dark Crystal? They’re both so good.”
Brian let out a little snort. “Have I ever watched them? What kind of person do you take me for?”
“Someone who is way cooler than me?” She was teasing, a grin lighting up her face to match his mirth. “But I think it’s really neat, how you’re a ‘cool dude’ but you’re fine with admitting you’re into this stuff.” A scoff. “Labels are stupid anyway.”
She tucked a strand of black hair behind one ear, self conscious for a moment as she gathered up her courage. “I have, like all of those, and a VCR player. If you want to come up and watch them sometime?”
“The story of Atrayu’s hero’s journey transcends time and space and social groups,” Brian answered as he handed the book back and started to stand. “Okay. I’ll grab a pizza or Taco Bell or something.”
“Thanks. I can get some cans of soda from the vending machine. It’s a plan!” Plan, not date, she reminded herself. Still, it definitely required a Roommate Meeting between her and Aja.
Nodding, Brian took a step back from the table. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow so we can pick a time sometime soon.”
“Great!” Don’t let that stupid grin spread to your face, Jenny. “Just please don’t tell me you prefer Pepsi. Kidding! It’s cool if you do.”
“I actually like Dr. Pepper, Jenny Jenny,” Brian said before giving her a wave and continuing his way through the cafeteria.
Jenny knew that she shouldn’t be judgmental. People were people, after all, and she was coming to the uncomfortable realisation of just how much her own background had given her a boost in life. She had worked hard, sure, but would she be in this position without it—private school educated and with a Bachelor of Science degree from one of the country’s best universities under her belt? It was a thought that made her feel a little undeserving as she sat in the near empty cafeteria, a book open in front of her and pretending like she was quite happy to sit here all alone.
Just like Jenny, Brian fully realized that his position in life had given him more than a little boost in life, but unlike her he didn’t feel uncomfortable about it. Not like having a famous and rich parent was anything he could change. Still, he supposed he should actually do something with his connections and becoming a Hero seemed like the best, perhaps even easiest, option.
Perhaps. But until then...
“Hey, Jenny Jenny!” Brian yelled from the other side of the cafeteria the moment he stepped through the doors.
Ugh. And here she was thinking she’d hit the cafeteria at just the right moment to avoid all the popular kids.
And he was so good-looking.
Cheeks heating up, Jenny gave him her best attempt at a wave (more of a limp hand flap) and tried to sink further behind her book without being obvious about it.
Her actions were more than obvious, but unfortunately for her the man striding across the cafeteria toward her table was an idiot. “What are you reading?” Brian asked once he was within a few feet of Jenny.
“John… John Grisham,” Jenny managed, then remembered that the book in front of her was very much not John Grisham. Her cheeks darkened one shade deeper. “Well, I was but then Karen saw the cover and was like ‘oh, is that the book where such and such happens?’ when I was only 60 pages from the end. So now I’m trying this Terry Pratchett.”
Another blush. Science Fiction was, well, not cool. Jenny reminded herself that she didn’t care. Or at least, was trying not to care. She was sure that Brian would go back to his almost as cool and good looking friends and snigger about it with them afterwards.
“Terry Pratchett?” Brian asked as he slid into the seat directly opposite of Jenny. Lowering his head, he gave the cover of the book a careful look. “Never heard of him. What kind of stuff does he write about?”
“He writes… science fiction and fantasy mostly.” Jenny attempted to bolster herself. “But it’s very clever! There’s a lot of political parody in it and sending up fantasy tropes.” She passed the book over the table so he could better inspect it.
And oh, their hands had just touched—
As their fingers brushed, Brian smiled as he pulled the book toward him. “I’ve never really read much fantasy books. I like fantasy movies though. Still love the Neverending Story to this day.”
“The Neverending Story?” Jenny perked up, her self-consciousness (and the knot that had formed in her stomach at Brian’s smile) temporarily forgotten. “That made me cry, the part where Artax dies. Have you read the original book? The movie only shows the first half of it—the second takes a darker turn and subverts the idea of the ‘chosen one’.”
“I haven’t read it.” Actually, he hadn’t read much of anything, but Brian felt saying as much wouldn’t exactly endear him to Jenny. “It sounds interesting? Though part of me kind of likes the idea of everything just being happily ever after sometimes.”
“It all works out in the end. But I understand.” And she did. “Have you watched Labyrinth? Or The Dark Crystal? They’re both so good.”
Brian let out a little snort. “Have I ever watched them? What kind of person do you take me for?”
“Someone who is way cooler than me?” She was teasing, a grin lighting up her face to match his mirth. “But I think it’s really neat, how you’re a ‘cool dude’ but you’re fine with admitting you’re into this stuff.” A scoff. “Labels are stupid anyway.”
She tucked a strand of black hair behind one ear, self conscious for a moment as she gathered up her courage. “I have, like all of those, and a VCR player. If you want to come up and watch them sometime?”
“The story of Atrayu’s hero’s journey transcends time and space and social groups,” Brian answered as he handed the book back and started to stand. “Okay. I’ll grab a pizza or Taco Bell or something.”
“Thanks. I can get some cans of soda from the vending machine. It’s a plan!” Plan, not date, she reminded herself. Still, it definitely required a Roommate Meeting between her and Aja.
Nodding, Brian took a step back from the table. “I’ll catch up with you tomorrow so we can pick a time sometime soon.”
“Great!” Don’t let that stupid grin spread to your face, Jenny. “Just please don’t tell me you prefer Pepsi. Kidding! It’s cool if you do.”
“I actually like Dr. Pepper, Jenny Jenny,” Brian said before giving her a wave and continuing his way through the cafeteria.