The Gardens: Popular Spot for This (Open)

[Regan Rourke]

"Yeah, that's...that's a whole other thing," Regan says, "Let's just say I made a deal with the devil and leave it at that."

[Steve Jones]

"Well he already had your soul so why not?" he said, trying to suppress a nervous laugh and not sound completely freaked out by that.

[Regan Rourke]

"Something like that," Regan says, "Anyway, one of the demons actually helped me out by hiding me for awhile...but she got found out."

"And I used her as a distraction so I could get away."

Regan looked genuinely guilty, "It was probably the worst thing I've ever done."

[Steve Jones]

He felt unexpectedly guilty that he said the demon deserved it.

"That is pretty bad..." he admitted, "But feeling bad about it has to be worth something... right?"

He almost sounded like he needed to hear the answer for the sake of his own regrets.

[Regan Rourke]

"I guess it means I'm not a sociopath," Regan says, "So, there's that? I guess?"

[Steve Jones]

"That worse person I mentioned? Is."

[Regan Rourke]

"Again, who the hell are you hanging out with?" Regan asks, "Are you a gang?"

[Steve Jones]

"Maybe we were..." he said regretfully, "Back in Alabama I was on the JV football team. The oldest of us, Ben Lowry, was the worst teenage bully you can imagine. I... so many times I stood by and did nothing as he tortured some poor kid. I didn't want to be his next victim."

"...then he... found out I was a mutant. That day my powers showed me what he really was. He was so monstrous inside he might as well have been a demon himself."

[Regan Rourke]

"Suck," Regan says.

[Steve Jones]

"Yeah. Though you... yeah you totally win the suck award."

[Regan Rourke]

"Whee," Regan says.

[Steve Jones]

"Well..." he said awkwardly, "I won't tell anyone I found you crying."

[Regan Rourke]

"I won't tell anyone you played football."

[Steve Jones]

"I'd rather you leave out the 'bully adjacent' part."

[Regan Rourke]

"That's not the part I'd be embarrassed about, but suit yourself."

[Steve Jones]

"What's wrong with football?" he heard himself dare ask.

[Regan Rourke]

"The people who play football, for starters," Regan says.

"...I'm not trying to make fun of you, but you aren't making this easy, Steve."

[Steve Jones]

He found himself unable to argue with that particular point.

"Yeah well I'm not like those guys I hung out with," he said defensively.

[Regan Rourke]

"As someone who's been on that end of things, let me tell you something," Regan says, "If you're not like those guys, why were you hanging out with them?"

[Steve Jones]

"At first I really wanted to be part of the team. Eventually it just seemed... safer, I guess... to stay on Ben's good side."

"God... I sound like such a pussy don't I?"

[Regan Rourke]

"Yep."

[Steve Jones]

"And now I'm going to school on a giant bulls-eye. So much for avoiding danger."

[Regan Rourke]

"Because back home was so safe," Regan says, "With the mutant registration and everything."

[Steve Jones]

He wasn't about to admit that he registered like a good little mutie.

"Yeah..." he sighed, "The bigots got a lot bolder after that."

[Regan Rourke]

"If you only believe one thing I ever say, it should be this," Regan says, "You're never safe."

[Steve Jones]

"Gee thanks," he said sarcastically.

[Regan Rourke]

"I'm serious," Regan says, "You can't prepare from disaster, run from it, hide from it. It just happens."

"And then you're dead and you've spent all your time worrying about things that could've happened."

"Anyway," Regan says, "Think about it."

[Steve Jones]

"I will at that," he acknowledged.

[Regan Rourke]

"And if you tell anyone about any of this, you will regret it."

[Steve Jones]

"I'm very good at keeping my mouth shut."

[Regan Rourke]

"Good."