I Maked You This and Didn't Eatted It. [Jesse]

[Clement Evans]

Considering the state of his schoolwork, Clement had been surprised to be allowed on the camping trip, and had surprised himself further by going. He'd kept mostly to himself since he was younger than most of the other kids going, but he'd hung out with Mia a few times and spent some time with Lyra and had had a pretty good time. Of course there were hitches, there always were, like having to share a room with eleven other boys. Of habit, Clement was an early riser (though not as early as he had been in California) which meant he also turned in a lot earlier than the 11 p.m. curfew. And trying to sleep through the elephant mating ritual of the other boys getting ready for bed and "sleeping" meant that he napped during the day.

But he arrived back at the school tanned (which meant a sort of pink-cream color instead of the printer paper shade he normally was), with a bigger spray of freckles across his nose (except right in the middle of his face where he'd been burned), and knowing he liked being on the water, but if he was going to continue being in it, he ought to learn to swim.

Jesse had not gone, and Clement hadn't learned till later that the option had not been open to him in the first place. Since the other person who couldn't go was Xavier, it said certain things, but Clement wasn't going to pry. It had been during arts and crafts that he thought he ought to bring something back for him. Nothing like the stupid leaf book he made, something Jesse would like. So on the second to last night, he made up two s'mores. When the kitchen staff learned what he was doing when he asked for a baggie, they helped him wrap each sticky sandwich in waxed paper and plastic wrap.

After tossing his bag into his room, he knocked on Jesse's door, souvenir in hand.

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse honestly hadn't given a rat's ass over not being allowed on the stupid camping trip. So what that he missed frolicking in the woods like an idiot? Or hadn't gotten to make a beaded necklace or something equally lame in arts and crafts? He could think of a hundred reasons why going on the trip wouldn't have been any fun.

Yeah. He was a tad bit miffed, but he wasn't going to show it. There were reasons he was being punished, and he knew that.

He also knew that the school had been eerily quiet during the trip. That, and the only other student staying behind was a prime suspect for who had been responsible for Clement's injuries. Hell, it was the only thing he could think of to forbid someone from going. He still didn't quite get why it made him so angry, but it really did.

Everyone was supposed to be coming back soon, he knew that. The days had sort of blurred together, and he wasn't exactly looking forward to his roomates' return. Well. Mostly. More than once he'd ended up visiting with Clement, bringing Ty with him. The kid seemed calm around the rabbit, and when the kid was calm, somehow Jesse was calm too.

It was still weirding him out.

He was laying on his bed reading a German textbook, refreshing himself on the language, when he heard the knock. Hoping it wssn't Zeb checking in on him, he rolled off the bed and opened the door. Who it was surprised him.

"Oh. Hey, Clement." One hand found its' way into his hair, fisting a handful of blond strands. "How was it? Anyone get eaten by a bear?" He was determined to put a brave face on, and Clement wasn't going to know he cared at all.

Because, you know. He didn't.

[Clement Evans]

While Mia was perplexingly nice and Lyra was just enough like him that they got along, it was with Jesse that Clement was the most comfortable because it was a relationship dynamic he was not only familiar with, but had embraced: hyung to dongsaeng (or older male to younger). Of course, Jesse wasn't Korean and they weren't close enough for Clement to consider him a hyung, but the base of what they had was similar enough that Clement felt more at ease with the blond than he did with anyone else. And Ty helped. Clement had never had a pet or felt any special affection for the animals owned by the Lee's neighbors, so why he was so magnetized by Jesse's rabbit was a mystery to him. The single visible object in his dorm room that was not either homework related or original furnishing was a small cardboard box with Ty-sized holes filled with shredded paper for the bunny to dig and play in when he visited. Ty could get paper all over his floor and Clement didn't care. He swept it all up and put fresh shreds in the box. They were his graded assignments (most of which had Cs, a fact that would shock all of his old teachers), and Clement enjoyed watching Ty mess them up.

When Jesse answered his door, Clement was so pleased to see him after five days of moronic cabinmates that a ghost of a smile flashed over his face, blink fast. "Oh. Hey, Clement. How was it? Anyone get eaten by a bear?"

"Hey." On the bear food question, he frowned and sighed, disappointed that his answer was, "No."

Since he was fresh off the bus, Clement still smelled a little like lake water, dirt, and plant life. There was a bit of darkness under his eyes from the odd sleep pattern he'd had to adopt, but otherwise the week away had done him good. Figuring to get it over with (besides, they were already two days old, though the kitchen people had said they'd keep), he held out the two plastic-wrapped squares.

"They're s'mores. The camp kitchen people helped me. They should be fine. Just. Cold."

The waxed paper under the plastic should've kept everything contained and wouldn't stick to the melted marshmallow, but he wouldn't know till Jesse opened them. Clement's face was apologetic but held a measure of hope that maybe it would be okay.

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse couldn’t claim to have many friends, especially at Hammel. Clement was grudgingly counted simply so he could say that yes, he had made a friend. Fifi still checked in on him from time to time, making sure that both he and Tyrone were still alive, and had been thrilled when he’d grudgingly admitted that yes, Clement was kind of sort of a friend. Admitting it had been sort of like pulling teeth, and once he’d done it he’d felt... odd. It had been a long time since he’d considered someone a friend, rather than an ally or simply another operative. It had freaked him out a little. Since then, he’d gotten a little more used to it, but he wasn’t going to go around throwing the term like confetti.

Apparently with friendship came an odd sense of protectiveness. It was still irking him that Clement wouldn’t tell him who was responsible for his burns, because dammit, whoever had done it was still wandering around without a punch in the face. To that end, he wasn’t really thinking about having just come off probation, or what kind of trouble he’d end up in. It wasn’t even for him, it was for Clement.

... Again. Odd. He wasn’t supposed to feel that way.

“Too bad. I hear bears like metas.” He wouldn’t have cried to lose a few students here and there. Like the rest of his roommates. Or a staff member or two. Like Kilbourne. He definitely wouldn’t have cried if Kilbourne had been eaten by a bear. Or a rabid trout. Something like that. No, it wasn’t charitable, but it was hard to let go of what he had done.

What he really hadn’t expected was for Clement to bring him anything. Hell, he’d expected him to go and have a decent time with the other kids, and then come back. So the little bundle made him arch an eyebrow.

... Yeah, he really hadn’t expected that.

“S’mores. Really, Clement?” He had to work hard to hide his smile. It was the nicest thing anyone had done for him since... no, not since Gabe. He wasn’t going to think about that. Since... Fifi had rescued him from Vincent’s beating. There, that was better. “What’d you do that for, kid? You’re supposed to inhale these at camp, not bring them home.” Still, the gesture was sort of sweet.

“... Look, just bring them in and we’ll split ‘em. Ty missed you, anyway.” At the sound of his name the little bunny perked up his head from his nap and came to the door expectantly. Jesse stooped down to open up the door to let him out, and watched the bunny hop out to explore Clement.

[Clement Evans]

It wasn't that Clement was keeping who he'd fought with a secret, but Jesse had never asked and Clement figured most people interested in that sort of thing knew the details by now. Now that his injuries were healed, for the most part, his punishment was over, and life had resumed, the only real residual left was how Clement tended to notice when he was in the presence of tall blond males. Or well, tall to him, which was anything over 5'4". If Jesse had asked, Clement would've told him, but only if he didn't also know why he wanted to know. It wasn't that he wanted to save the blond the trouble or was worried about what would happen, but because Clement still didn't understand that what Xavier had done to him was wrong. They'd gotten in trouble because fighting was against school rules (and they'd been caught). But Clement had stolen something of another kid's, and he'd gotten what he deserved. There was no reason to be upset about it, and no reason in Clement's mind for Jesse to feel the need for any avenging.

Black bears were native to both New Hampshire and Vermont, but Clement hadn't seen any, not that he'd been looking. Still... "Maybe next year."

“S’mores. Really, Clement?”

Did Jesse not like them? His face reflected his uncertainty. "...Yes?"

“What’d you do that for, kid? You’re supposed to inhale these at camp, not bring them home.”

"I had enough of them. They're... really sweet." For a kid with as narrow a food repertoire as Clement, who was also largely indifferent to candy, s'mores had held a limited appeal. Some of the other kids could eat three or four a night, but after having two his first night, Clement hadn't cared for too many more. But since the other kids had liked them so much, he thought maybe it would be something he could bring back. He still wasn't sure he'd done the right thing, but Jesse wasn't objecting.

“...Look, just bring them in and we’ll split ‘em. Ty missed you, anyway.”

"I don't want any more. They're for you, 'less you don't want 'em." Clement shrugged and entered the room, handing over the two wrapped bundles to the older boy. He knelt when Ty hopped over, holding out his fingers for the bunny to sniff. Clement's face relaxed, though he didn't quite smile when Tyrone stood up on his back legs to nose into his shirt and smell his jeans.

"I missed Ty too," he said. "They said there were rabbits out in the woods, but I didn't see any."

Which had more to do with his terrible eyesight than a lack of rabbits at camp. As he petted Ty, he asked, "So what'd you do all week?"

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse hadn’t asked mostly because he was aware of the trouble he’d get into if he actually acted on his desire to seek out Clement’s attacker and deal with him himself. If he’d known that Xavier was a pyrokinetic, he would have had his answer this past week. All he knew was that the other kid was being punished for god knows what, but it had to be bad if he wasn’t allowed on the stupid trip either. The incessant need to be protective of Clement was still alien to him, and irritatingly draining. It had been a long time since he’d cared about anyone at all in a capacity like this, and it was confusing and annoying all in one hit.

In a way, having the kid away at camp for the week had been a relief to his system. Or so he’d thought. Instead of worrying about the kid in the halls of Hammel, he’d switched to worrying about him in the wild. Was he safe? Was his attacker there with him? It had put him in a particularly sour mood for the first few days. At least at the school he could check in with him at night, if nothing else. With Clement at camp, he’d had no idea how the kid was faring.

It had honestly ticked him off.

“Yeah, they’re sweet. They’re supposed to rot your teeth, or something.” While he was still playing at being gruff, Jesse really was somewhat touched by the gesture. “Still, you were supposed to be having fun, not thinking about me.” With how he had grown up, Jesse had been exposed to a wide variety of food, though his father had restricted a lot of it during his competitive running days. It had made things like sugar extra special when the season was over, not to mention the times he snuck it behind his father’s back. He’d always had a sweet tooth, and Clement had catered right to it.

“... Fine. Thanks, kid.” With that he flopped backwards so he was sitting on his bed and began unwrapping one of the meticulously preserved treats to test it out. It was... actually pretty good. Especially for being a few days old. It didn’t take much to make the first one disappear as Clement visited with Ty.

“Got bored out of my skull,” he said with a shake of his head. “There was nothing to do. ... At least I didn’t have to go to any therapy sessions.” That had been a welcome reprieve, with Dr. Neville being on the trip. Too bad he’d have to start up again soon. “I did drive out to see my dog for a bit.” While seeing Jake hadn’t been a high point of the week, playing with Gambit had been exactly what he’d needed. “Did you at least have fun?”

[Clement Evans]

If Clement had thought about it, which he hadn't, he would have realized a long time ago why he'd made such quick friends with Minho, and why their friendship had become close so easily and so fast when he'd failed to create any sort of bond outside of the nebulous one he shared with his father. Minho offered the sort of relationship Clement had been craving his entire life, a familial link to an older male, and by virtue of his race, language, and culture was nothing like the other men in Clement's life who had been so detrimental. It was a measure of how out of his depth Clement felt in Vermont that he had so readily accustomed himself to being around and talking with Jesse, who was otherwise exactly the sort of person he avoided, especially when he was so (generally) physically similar to Xavier. Which was to say, if Jesse was confused by his growing attachment to Clement, the feeling was mutual, if not dwelt upon as often. Had he known the older boy had been worried about him, he would've been puzzled. He wasn't a baby or anything, and occasional poor decision-making aside he could take care of himself.

Shrugging at the mention of teeth rotting, he just said, "Too much for me."

He'd had a total of four, and even now he thought it was too soon for more chocolate. Clement's tastes ran more to salty/spicy and he didn't have much of an appetite either way. Ninety percent of the time there was food left on his tray at meals, and he still wasn't used to getting three a day.

“Still, you were supposed to be having fun, not thinking about me.”

That got a raised eyebrow as Clement sat down to let Ty hop into his lap. "You think I spent the whole time just thinking of you? Hoel*. I made Ajima and Minho these things out of leaves, so if I was sending them something I thought I might as well bring you back something too."

He'd made both of them bookmarks with patterns of tiny leaves and flowers he'd found in the woods and had sent them with his weekly letter, but that sort of thing didn't seem right for Jesse. He didn't know the older boy well enough to know what sort of thing he'd like, so he wanted something he could easily get rid of if he didn't like it. Sure, he could toss a bookmark into a drawer or throw it away, but he might feel bad for not using it even if he didn't have a use for it. A s'more was, though Clement didn't know the word, ephemeral. Meant to be temporary. And if Jesse didn't like them, there was no harm done and they could be thrown away without guilt.

But he seemed to like them, so that was good. "'Least you had the place to yourself, mostly." Clement didn't know if that would be cool or creepy. "How's your dog?"

“Did you at least have fun?”

"I... guess? It wasn't school." He was still convinced that fun was back in California with Minho, but he was also coming to terms with the fact he was going to be stuck in Vermont till he graduated high school, which, at this rate, was six years down the line. Clement didn't think Hammel would let him go early if he gained control of his power faster than that, but... he also belonged to the State of Vermont now, and had no way to get back to Los Angeles. And the Lees could never take him in, they couldn't afford it, and he wouldn't even ask it of them. Clement sighed a little and rubbed Tyrone's cheeks the way he liked.

"I went in the lake. It was cold. And I went in a canoe. And I did some hikes." Clement didn't own swim trunks, so he'd gone into the lake in jeans and a shirt. He didn't think anyone wanted to see how skinny and pale he was, or how his ribs still stuck out. Someone got after him for going in in his clothes, but when he'd said why he'd done it they'd left him alone and told him to change before he went inside anywhere.

"And now I'm really glad everyone has their own room. I barely slept. Fuckers."

*hoel - an expression of mild surprise/shock, translates loosely to 'what the...', but used mostly in situations American kids would say 'oh my god'

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse had never particularly wanted a real link to an older male. With his father, he’d just wanted to be away from him. It had been clear from an early age that the affection his father showed him in public wasn’t what happened behind closed doors. He’d always felt that distance between the two of them, and liked it better that way. As for his older brother, well, they had been close. Before Keith had turned away from being their father’s shining star and gotten into drugs and the like. It was hard to spend time with someone when they weren’t even sober. As for Gabriel, well, Jesse still couldn’t put those feelings to words, and he’d given up trying a long time ago. It didn’t even matter anymore, he kept telling himself. And Clement? Clement confused him the most out of anyone.

“Huh. Never thought I’d hear that out of a kid.” Still, he was happy for the sugar rush. It took the edge off of his nicotine cravings, at least for a few minutes.

The blond watched his rabbit hop into Clement’s lap, ignoring the fact that the animal didn’t do it very often with him. That behaviour was usually reserved for early mornings, after he’d woken from a nightmare and couldn’t fall back asleep again. “... No,” was his more or less sullen reply. The fact Clement had thought about him at all was weird. “Thanks, though.” This was much quieter, mostly because he wasn’t used to having to say it.

“Yeah, I did. It was quiet.” It had been nice, really. No noisy roommates, no fighting over the television. Peaceful, even. “Gambit’s fine. Loves being with his buddies again.” All he’d really explained was that Gambit was with a friend, who owned a few of Gambit’s former canine friends. “Think he was happy to see me.” It had been nice just to sit with the giant dog for an hour or so, not even caring about the drool.

Jess wasn’t too sure what was supposed to be ‘fun’ about frolicking in the woods with a bunch of other students, but he’d quietly wanted Clement to have it, regardless. “Anything outside of school is fun.” He knew he’d had a choice about coming back to Hammel, but so far he hadn’t really regretted it. Sulked about it, yes, but hadn’t really regretted it.

“The water’s always fun,” he pointed out. Then again, he’d just about been raised on the water. There had been nothing better on a weekend than driving down to the beach with his friends and swimming, sunbathing, and chasing girls. That was back when everything was still normal. Before any of this had happened. Powers, M.S.A.D., none of it. “Guys are pigs at the best of times. I don’t want to think about what they were like in their natural habitat.” Another plus as far as staying behind was concerned. “But... you were okay, right? No one hurt you?”

Ugh, he wanted to kick himself for that one. He didn’t care, he didn’t care, he didn’t care.

[Clement Evans]

Clement's relationship with his father was complex, for all it barely existed. Clement knew the man had not been aware of even a fifth of what had gone on in the trailer in his absence. It was hard to blame him for not stopping things he hadn't known about, but on a deeper level that Clement didn't often acknowledge, he knew if his Dad had... he didn't know, involved himself, looked harder, he could've stopped a lot of it. Cared more? Just thinking that Made Clement shiver and push it away. And there was the idea that Justin Evans had known what was going on and just... let it. This didn't get a lot of consideration, since the few times early on when Clement's dad had found out about things like Dave marking up his legs, he'd gone into the confrontation swinging. Clement hadn't spent much time with his dad, but he'd known for the bits he did he didn't want the man resenting or hating him. Frustration stemming from this relationship more than any other colored Clement's relations with other adults, and would well into the future.

Not knowing what to say to Jesse's comment, Clement just shrugged and kept petting Ty. Most kids were big on candy and soda and all that. He wasn't. He didn't know why. So far his favorite sweet thing was Ajima's songpyeon, the ones filled with a mix of brown sugar and ground up sesame seeds. Even then he could only eat two or three though. This would be the first Chuseok since he was six that he wouldn't have any. It was a weird thought to have. Clement found himself missing the Lees at very odd times. he shook his head and ran his hand over Ty's back.

To the thanks, he shrugged again and said, "'S okay. It was something to do, looking for something to bring you back. There's... not a lot to do out in the woods."

Ty explored Clement's lap, and Clement brought one of his toys over for him to play with. His jeans were dirty, nothing overt, but they carried a lot of new smells for the little bunny to rub his nose in.

Listening to Jesse's week, he said, "I think I'll stay back next year. That sounds... pretty good." And then, "'Course he was happy to see you. Dogs're smart like that." Clement didn't know how Tyrone would react, but he didn't seem overly affectionate now seeing Clement for the first time in almost a week, not that Clement cared. He just liked seeing Ty. And Jesse.

The remark about water surprised him. Jesse didn't look like a swimming or boating type of guy... though Clement didn't know what those things would look like. "I only went to the beach once in Cali. For school." And he had a bit of sand and a few shells in a tiny jar in his room from that time. At the time he'd thought it was stupid, but now he was glad he had it. Minho had made him, saying if they took part of the beach with them they wouldn't have to feel bad about not going. The jars had each been filled with some seawater, and now when Clement opened it he could smell California.

"They were dirty and smelly and made dumb jokes and said rude things and were loud. And they never fucking slept." That last had been the worst part. Once lights out was called, it was like at least two of them were awake at any given time and had to make as much noise as humanly possible.

“But... you were okay, right? No one hurt you?”

That got a surprised look. Clement had picked up Ty very gently to see the bunny's face better, but the question made him put him back down. "Hurt me? No." An eyebrow raised. "Why, did you hear someone wanted to?"

[Jesse Adams]

Jesse’s relationship with his father was complex, simply because it was almost two-faced. There was the public image his father had displayed, and expected his children to display. The faux-love that probably made people drop into diabetic shock, playing happy family. Then the reality. He didn’t like thinking about it, because it only made him angry. And really... he didn’t want to be angry around Clement. The kid seemed skittish enough at times, and he didn’t want to add to that. ... A little like Gabriel always had with him and Jesus Christ he needed to not think about that.

The teenager was already making mental notes to drag Clement off to whole new worlds when it came to food. Growing up he’d been exposed to a wide variety of things, and while he had his favorites, he was also up to trying new things too. Even as kids, he and his brother had routinely dared one another into eating strange things off of exotic menus when family dinner night was a public ordeal. Back when life was as normal as it ever got, and Keith was still... Keith. And not some weird, drugged up creature that he rarely saw out of that state.

“There’s lots to do in the woods if you know what to look for.” Jesse had done many small camping trips with his friends growing up, and Keith had taught him what to do to make it interesting. A few sheets, some unsuspecting victims, and you could host your own haunting, for a start.

He watched Clement play with Ty, leaning back on the bed slightly. Having Clement back... it seemed to oddly ease the tension out of his shoulders. “It was boring,” he offered with a slight wave of his hand. As for Gambit, he just rolled his eyes. “Gambit’s not smart, Clement. A sack of hammers is smarter than him.” Despite the ragging, he was smiling. He did love his dog, even if he was a big lug with no brains.

“Only once? California’s built for going to the beach.” Then again, they’d have very different upbringings. Of course, if his father had had his way, he wouldn’t have spent half the time he had at the beach. The time ‘wasted’ there could have been better spent studying or training for track. “Maybe we’ll hit the pool or something here. Or the lake.” It would give him an excuse to take his Mustang GT out for a spin.

Clement’s description of the boys was... pretty accurate, really. Jesse rolled his eyes and snorted as he sat back up again. “Guys are pigs, I told you. I’m glad I stayed back.” Or else someone might have gotten temporarily smothered with a pillow. Or punched.

The surprised look made Jesse wary very quickly, and almost made him fully regret saying it the first place. Instead, he simply swallowed and shook his head. “No. You were just such a mess when I met you...” He trailed off, unsure of how to cover his tracks this time. “Nevermind. Forget it.”

[Clement Evans]

Clement's relationship with his father also had a two-faced aspect, but it was one that Clement was not aware of. Justin Evans had had at least three part-time jobs at any given time, but none of his employers in the last eight years had known he had a son. There was no photo of Clement in his wallet, no mention of him during conversation. The reason was not due to shame, though in later years he'd felt plenty bad about it, though not enough to change his habit. Almost all of his employers tried to give priority for time off during the holidays to those with children, and in the first years of their life together, Justin had found himself unscheduled on days he'd asked to work to receive time-and-a-half. Spending Christmas Day or Thanksgiving with his son had not been unpleasant, but as a man who had long cut his ties with his family, holidays held very little meaning and the resentment over how much he could've been earning colored their time together. The solution was brutal, simple, and pragmatic.

"Maybe." There had been much more to do than Clement had participated in, but his lack of interest had to do with how little he could see. Just being in a new environment had been something though, and other than having to be in the cabin "sleeping" he'd had a decent time. Not... fun, exactly, but something very different. "To do like what?"

Jesse's smile said that however smart or not smart Gambit was, it had been a good time. Clement just raised an eyebrow back at him but didn't say anything. Jesse didn't seem the type to suffer a truly idiotic dog (or a truly idiotic anything), but if he wanted Clement to think Gambit was an anvil with fur, that was his business.

"Just once," he affirmed. "Ajima didn't like going." Minho had gone later a few times with some of his Korean friends, but Clement had not been invited and had not begrudged his brother his fun. Back then he hadn't owned any swim trunks either, or anything that would've been useful for playing in the sand. He didn't see the appeal of it, really.

"I've never been in a pool. Can you go in it in jeans?" Pools had stuff in them that made them smell, Clement didn't know if it would do anything to his pants. He rolled Ty's toys around, watching the bunny hop after it. Ty couldn't fetch, but he chased after things that moved. But Clement was still more interesting than his toys, and Ty came back over to wiggle under Clement's hand for more petting. Clement obliged.

Clement almost said something about how he'd known Jesse couldn't go, and then ask why that was, but... no. He wasn't going there.

The idea that someone had it in for him was not a new one, but at Hammel Clement couldn't guess as easily who that might be. Some of Xavier's friends had given him the evil eye in the weeks following the fight, and he'd had a few run ins with some of the older boys, but nothing serious. But his face cleared of suspicion when Jesse clarified.

Clement snorted. "That wasn't a mess. I wasn't even in the hospital anymore." Then he reconsidered and said, "Okay, it was kind of a mess. But it won't happen again. That way, anyway. We're not supposed to be around each other."

Just because Xavier was off-limits didn't mean Clement couldn't run afoul of Hammel's other pie-row-kin-etics. Not that he was trying, but still.

[Jesse Adams]

At least Clement’s father had cared about his son in the conventional way. Michael Adams had held his children more as possessions, as things to raise his status in society as a family man. When Jesse hadn’t been being ignored in favor of things like work and social engagements, he had been being pushed to succeed in whatever he was doing, be it school work, track, or his appearance. He honestly couldn’t recall a time where his father had actually said something encouraging, or had embraced him and actually meant it.

Jesse had only actually gone on the retreat once, during his very first year at Hammel. After that, he had been with Gabriel, and now he was banned, still grounded as part of his slowly lifting probation. Not that he had any particular desire to go. “Lots of stuff. Panty raids from the girls cabins. Sneaking drinks behind the adults’ backs. Freaking people out at night with sheets and a few scary noises.” Why yes, he’d been to summer camp as a child, why do you ask? Not that he’d involved himself in stupidity like panty raids, but hey, that didn’t mean other people didn’t.

As much as he might have ragged on Gambit since he’d been gifted the dog, Jesse wouldn’t trade him for anything. He was all he had left of Gabriel, sans his memories, and that made him important to the memory manipulator. He didn’t know what he’d do without the big lug, because once that link was gone... he didn’t want to think about it.

The idea that someone who lived in Los-Freaking-Angeles would only go to the beach once in their time there was crazy. He just shook his head, then looked up with his eyebrow arched at the question. “No, you can’t go in jeans. Don’t you have swim shorts?” Apparently not. “... You can borrow mine, or something.” They might be long on Clement, but they were both slender. If he tied the strings together, maybe they’d work okay.

Jesse almost snorted right back when Clement actually dared to say that he hadn’t been a mess. “Kind of a mess is putting it mildly. You were a big mess.” A big mess that had more or less forced him into caring for the brat in some small way. “You’re damn right it won’t happen again, though.” Seriously. If Clement wanted beer that bad, Jess would find a way to get it for him. Otherwise... he was just going to look out for him.

[Clement Evans]

Exactly how Clement's father had cared about him was up for debate, considering the end results, but Clement believed he loved his dad and that his dad had loved him in return and was not wholly incorrect in either assumption.

Frowning as Jesse listed off 'fun' stuff to do out in the woods, he said, "...Panty raid? What is... you mean you... like... touch girls' underwear?" Clement's revolted expression said what he thought of that. "That isn't fun, that's... that's disgusting."

Running his fingers down Ty's fluffy back, he added, "And why would I want to drink?"

That first day had been an anomaly, Clement still didn't really understand why he'd drunk then and didn't care to. But he did understand it wasn't going to happen again. Drinking held no appeal, no allure, not even as something to do that was forbidden. It gave him the same feeling as the idea of touching some strange girl's underpants.

He frowned again when Jesse said he couldn't use the pool in his jeans. "No. I went in the lake in my clothes." Looking over at Jesse, he squinted at the older boy and didn't think they'd fit into the same size bottoms, no matter how much the waist could be taken in. He didn't say that though. He just petted Ty around the ears and said, "Pools stink anyway."

Clement gave Jesse his version of amused, which was a neutral expression with raised eyebrows. Thus far the blond had not seen Clement in a state he would consider a 'big mess', though Clement though it was just a matter of time. Not that he was planning on a mess happening, but given his personality, his location, his history, and life, it was inevitable.

"So will you not be bored now that everyone's back?"

[Jesse Adams]

Clement’s reaction to the idea of a good old fashioned panty raid was actually... pretty comical. Jesse actually cracked a smirk as he leaned over to rub Ty’s ears. “I never did it,” he admitted. “Some of the older guys at summer camp did. They were pretty fucking proud of themselves.” He hadn’t seen the appeal either, even now when he was older than that particular group. Maybe he was just weird. “Supposed to be some kind of rite of passage. I don’t know.” It was dumb to him, but hey, it was something to do at camp. Apparently.

“You don’t. This is all shit I saw kids do when I went.” He’d also been a lot younger then, and hadn’t touched alcohol at that point. It was hard to see the appeal of it when he’d had access to alcohol for a few years. Not legally, of course. “You asked for ideas,” he pointed out, moving back on the bed again.

He actually missed drinking. After Gabriel’s death, he’d attacked the liquor cabinet with a fury. Reese and Lala had taken it away, but not until he’d gotten a few good swigs in. Sometimes you just needed to drink, and that had been one of those times. He hadn’t had access for a while, which was probably a good thing.

“... The fuck did you do that for?” Unless it was something like having your friends shove you in unexpectedly, or falling out of a boat, there was no reason for anyone to do that. “No one shoved you in, right?” Because if they did... he couldn’t do a thing about it now, but it would be good to know. For... reasons.

His question made the corner of Jesse’s mouth twist up in a slight smirk. “No. Just annoyed that the other two dipshits are back.” Okay, in fairness, he had very little to do with them. But just having to share space irritated him. “It’ll be loud again.” With that, he rubbed his neck and studied Clement. “Hey. Do you want Ty in your room tonight?” He wasn’t sure why he offered, but Clement seemed so wrapped up in the animal, he could handle giving him up for a night.

[Clement Evans]

Jesse didn't really elaborate on what exactly a panty raid was, but Clement gathered that yes, touching girls' underpants figured into it rather prominently. He shuddered. With the group of brainless hormones along for this year's trip, he didn't know why no one had attempted it, though he supposed having a telepath around curbed things a little.

"Yeah, ideas, not 'stuff that'll get you the early ride home'," he shot back. He blinked, suddenly thinking of it. "And that's all stuff you could do here."

Not that he would, even though he knew there was drinking and other stuff like that that went on in the dorms, especially the co-eds. Why Hammel would bother with co-ed dorms when so many of the kids were such idiots Clement didn't understand. He sighed a little and petted Ty, who flopped over agreeably.

“...The fuck did you do that for?”

For a moment Clement's expression was indignant as he looked up at the blond, then angry, and then it settled as he shook his head and went back to gently rubbing Ty under the chin and then down his tummy. "I don't have a swimsuit," he said. "You just wash your jeans and shirt out in the bathroom after."

The second comment got the raised eyebrow. "Are you sure someone's not after me?"

It was only half sarcastic. Clement didn't pay much attention to gossip, but he knew who Xavier's friends were and he avoided them, for the most part. They were also older, though not as old as Jesse, so it was marginally easier to keep out of their way.

"Two dipshits are better than eleven," he pointed out, "and we're not in the same bedroom as they are." On loud, he shrugged. "You can close your door. This is way quieter than eleven assholes in a cabin in the woods." Clement didn't include himself because he'd been quiet, unlike his cabinmates. That, and he'd always fallen asleep in the trailer to the sound of the TV on some stupid show, usually either one with an annoying laugh track or one with a lot of gunfire and screaming.

"Ty in my room?" Looking back up at Jesse, Clement's face was thoughtful for a moment before he dismissed the idea. "No, here's where all his stuff is. And you're... you're like his dad, kind of. So he should stay with you. I can visit."

With careful hands he picked up Ty, till the little black bunny was practically nose to nose with him. "You wanna stay here, don't you Ty?"

Ty answered by stretching his head out and licking Clement's face. Clement's eyes shut even though the little touch wasn't even close to them and the tiniest of smiles appeared on his pressed lips. "Uch, Ty."

A snort that was almost a laugh left him, and he set the bunny down. "You're not a dog, man." He touched his cheek where he'd been licked. "I didn't know rabbits did that."

Standing, he fetched a few of the scattered toys, and saw the book on Jesse's bed. "Do you know..." he turned his head to see the title better "...German?"