Spot snorts slightly in something approaching amusement, and he actually looks like he's starting to relax - nobody who's going to hang around and make jokes is also going to then turn around and try and get him in trouble for skipping, not when he's doing the same.
Well. He might, but then there'll just be a fight. Right now he's willing to accept that Ezra probably doesn't care enough to be plotting his betrayal.
And then... then it's awkward, because Ezra didn't come out here with a plan beyond 'make sure Spot doesn't actually get into real trouble' and 'be there if he needs you' so then when conversation doesn't flow naturally he isn't sure what to say.
Spot's got his phone out though, and Ezra eventually gets his out, at first useing 'just checking messages' as an excuse.
(Because Sabine's picked up his message and has texted back to say 'wtf?')
Spot glances back down at his phone when Ezra looks at his, unsure what to do about the slightly awkward air that's developed - only, then he realises that he's just making himself feel worse looking at pictures, because what's he going to do? Tell his grandmother thanks but no thanks, let's move back to Brooklyn?
He sighs, shoving his phone back in his pocket and leaning back on his hands, looking up at the sky.
"What're they like here about skipping, anyway?" he asks "They gonna call home?"
Spot nods. So, he's got a bit of time to figure out what he's going to do - it'll be harder for them to notice, he thinks, with him being new, and he can handle a detention or two before his grandmother gets called and he actually has to face the proverbial music.
If he can think up an excuse before it gets to that point, so much the better...
"Good to know." He says after a moment.
Of course, that only helps with the problem of whether or not he's going to get away with avoiding the classes, the real problem is that he actually wants to dance, and he can't get better on his own, he needs a teacher... it's just whether his distaste at the idea of being in a group class, being the only boy in a group class, outweighs his need for teaching...
"He might," Ezra allows. "I dunno how much those two talk. If he does, I'll be grounded or something. Not like I haven't been in trouble before."
He will absolutely say 'I wanted to check in on the new kid,' but he's not going to say that to Spot right now. And Kanan and Hera might understand, but no one else would.
Spot nods - maybe that should be a red flag, some sign that he's getting involved with the 'wrong crowd', but mostly it's just reassurance that he's found somebody who isn't going to judge him for being a little bit rough around the edges. Besides, Ezra's not exactly a crowd.
His grandmother cares more about him having friends at all than about his friends being a 'good influence' anyway.
If he notices the mirroring he doesn't show it, just nods at the words.
"I gotta do chores anyway," he shrugs - they're nothing compared to what his dad expected him to do - living with his grandmother is basically a cakewalk compared to living with his dad.
"Yeah," Ezra agrees, "me too. Hera's just really good at coming up with new, extra bad ones. Like the cat litter box for a week, or deep cleaning the bathroom, or the car."
Hera is really good at creative punishments, he has to admit.
"You think you're in for something like that if they hear about you skipping today, then?" He asks
He wonders what his grandmother will do if she hears about this, about him not even giving the class a chance... probably won't even punish him, she'll probably be disappointed at him.
"Probably not," Ezra says wryly. "I'll probably get sat down for a family discussion where they check I'm okay and ask me to talk about my feelings or whatever."
And tell him that he should have ratted on Spot for skipping, instead of following him out here.
"Yeah, no kidding," he agrees. It won't be too bad, he figures. Hopefully they'll understand, but he will be forced into doing catch up math or whatever. Probably have to skip dance practice, which if he's honest is the worse punishment.
"Can't disagree with that" Spot nods. He does not volunteer which class he is skipping.
"I used to skip a lot at my old school. Nobody really cared." Which was for the best, really, since half the time he was skipping to hide bruises or injuries, and if they cared they would have phoned home and just made it worse.
When he came back, he skipped out of habit, and frustration - everything was so much harder after the months he'd missed.
Then he pauses, wonders how much he should share, and how much would be awkward - then decides that it's probably okay to share. To let Spot know that whatever he's got going on, he's not alone.
"Yea, sounds like the same kind of place as mine," he nods - he wonders if they would have noticed if his grandmother hadn't notified them when he was in the hospital.
"Guess your foster parents don't let you get away with that though?"
"Mmm, that's about on par with a Catholic grandmother, I feel your pain" Spot actually offers something approaching a grin.
He thinks, actually, that Ezra isn't so bad. There's a lot that's shit about this place, and he's not really going to be happy until he can dance, but making a friend is pretty okay.
"If she finds out," he shrugs "if I'm lucky I'll get grounded. If she's really mad she'll volunteer me to help run Sunday School next week." He pulls a face.
For some reason, little kids love him, and contrary to all expectations he's actually really good with them - it's just... really not cool.
"Yea." He nods "Don't even get to skip the sermon since Sunday school is after, it sucks."
It's not just about commiseration, though, he's also extending a cautious 'yes, I do go to church every week' - the last thing he wants is to find out his new friend has a problem with that. It's not exactly by choice, and he isn't really a believer, but his grandmother is and he doesn't particularly want to hear a tirade against catholics that would be insulting to her.
Ezra exhales a sigh in commiseration, but noticably doesn't offer any immediate judgement for Spot going to church.
Mostly he's wondering if he should offer the equivalent information. Then he figures - Spot's got eyes, he'll have noticed, and if he doesn't, it'll come up.
So he eventually offers:
"At least I don't have to do that. Kanan doesn't even try to drag me to mosque."
Not least because the nearest one is a considerable drive from their suburban residency, and neither Kanan nor Ezra are particularly devout.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
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Date: 2022-08-26 10:10 am (UTC)"Damn, I really had my hopes up there," he returns, with what would be equal deadpan, except for that smirk.
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Date: 2022-08-26 10:12 am (UTC)Spot snorts slightly in something approaching amusement, and he actually looks like he's starting to relax - nobody who's going to hang around and make jokes is also going to then turn around and try and get him in trouble for skipping, not when he's doing the same.
Well. He might, but then there'll just be a fight. Right now he's willing to accept that Ezra probably doesn't care enough to be plotting his betrayal.
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Date: 2022-08-26 10:49 am (UTC)Spot's got his phone out though, and Ezra eventually gets his out, at first useing 'just checking messages' as an excuse.
(Because Sabine's picked up his message and has texted back to say 'wtf?')
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Date: 2022-08-26 10:55 am (UTC)Spot glances back down at his phone when Ezra looks at his, unsure what to do about the slightly awkward air that's developed - only, then he realises that he's just making himself feel worse looking at pictures, because what's he going to do? Tell his grandmother thanks but no thanks, let's move back to Brooklyn?
He sighs, shoving his phone back in his pocket and leaning back on his hands, looking up at the sky.
"What're they like here about skipping, anyway?" he asks "They gonna call home?"
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Date: 2022-08-26 12:39 pm (UTC)"Depends if they notice," he says. "But yeah, if they do, they'll probably do a couple detentions and call when they decide you're a problem kid."
Because he definitely was one of them when he arrived.
Another shrug, and he adds: "Got to figure out what's not going to be questioned. I said I had to help my Dad with something."
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Date: 2022-08-26 01:10 pm (UTC)Spot nods. So, he's got a bit of time to figure out what he's going to do - it'll be harder for them to notice, he thinks, with him being new, and he can handle a detention or two before his grandmother gets called and he actually has to face the proverbial music.
If he can think up an excuse before it gets to that point, so much the better...
"Good to know." He says after a moment.
Of course, that only helps with the problem of whether or not he's going to get away with avoiding the classes, the real problem is that he actually wants to dance, and he can't get better on his own, he needs a teacher... it's just whether his distaste at the idea of being in a group class, being the only boy in a group class, outweighs his need for teaching...
"They ain't gonna ask your dad about it?" He asks
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Date: 2022-08-26 01:14 pm (UTC)He will absolutely say 'I wanted to check in on the new kid,' but he's not going to say that to Spot right now. And Kanan and Hera might understand, but no one else would.
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Date: 2022-08-26 01:44 pm (UTC)Spot nods - maybe that should be a red flag, some sign that he's getting involved with the 'wrong crowd', but mostly it's just reassurance that he's found somebody who isn't going to judge him for being a little bit rough around the edges. Besides, Ezra's not exactly a crowd.
His grandmother cares more about him having friends at all than about his friends being a 'good influence' anyway.
"Grounding ain't so bad." he comments.
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Date: 2022-08-26 06:52 pm (UTC)He mirrors the word without even meaning to, unconsciously following Spot's phrasing.
"They'll lock away my phone too," he adds. "And there'll be chores."
Probably involving Chopper's litter box.
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Date: 2022-08-26 07:05 pm (UTC)If he notices the mirroring he doesn't show it, just nods at the words.
"I gotta do chores anyway," he shrugs - they're nothing compared to what his dad expected him to do - living with his grandmother is basically a cakewalk compared to living with his dad.
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Date: 2022-08-26 07:36 pm (UTC)Hera is really good at creative punishments, he has to admit.
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Date: 2022-08-26 07:44 pm (UTC)"You think you're in for something like that if they hear about you skipping today, then?" He asks
He wonders what his grandmother will do if she hears about this, about him not even giving the class a chance... probably won't even punish him, she'll probably be disappointed at him.
Which, of course, is worse.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:01 pm (UTC)And tell him that he should have ratted on Spot for skipping, instead of following him out here.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:14 pm (UTC)Spot snorts.
"That's worse than the chores." He jokes. Mostly jokes. Sometimes he'd prefer to just get punished, honestly.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:20 pm (UTC)"Yeah, no kidding," he agrees. It won't be too bad, he figures. Hopefully they'll understand, but he will be forced into doing catch up math or whatever. Probably have to skip dance practice, which if he's honest is the worse punishment.
"Still better than going to math, I guess."
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:28 pm (UTC)"Can't disagree with that" Spot nods. He does not volunteer which class he is skipping.
"I used to skip a lot at my old school. Nobody really cared." Which was for the best, really, since half the time he was skipping to hide bruises or injuries, and if they cared they would have phoned home and just made it worse.
When he came back, he skipped out of habit, and frustration - everything was so much harder after the months he'd missed.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:32 pm (UTC)Then he pauses, wonders how much he should share, and how much would be awkward - then decides that it's probably okay to share. To let Spot know that whatever he's got going on, he's not alone.
"Didn't even notice when I stopped going."
Which was the problem, really.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:35 pm (UTC)Spot nods.
"Yea, sounds like the same kind of place as mine," he nods - he wonders if they would have noticed if his grandmother hadn't notified them when he was in the hospital.
"Guess your foster parents don't let you get away with that though?"
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:48 pm (UTC)"Hell no," he agrees. "They're ex-military, I can't get away with anything."
Which isn't really true, he gets away with a lot, they're just aware of the important stuff.
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Date: 2022-08-26 08:53 pm (UTC)"Mmm, that's about on par with a Catholic grandmother, I feel your pain" Spot actually offers something approaching a grin.
He thinks, actually, that Ezra isn't so bad. There's a lot that's shit about this place, and he's not really going to be happy until he can dance, but making a friend is pretty okay.
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Date: 2022-08-26 09:02 pm (UTC)(Because he likes making people smile.)
He offers a smile in exchange for it, and shrugs. "You think you'll get in trouble with her?" he asks.
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Date: 2022-08-26 09:19 pm (UTC)"If she finds out," he shrugs "if I'm lucky I'll get grounded. If she's really mad she'll volunteer me to help run Sunday School next week." He pulls a face.
For some reason, little kids love him, and contrary to all expectations he's actually really good with them - it's just... really not cool.
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Date: 2022-08-26 09:27 pm (UTC)"That's worse than anything mine will come up with."
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Date: 2022-08-26 09:32 pm (UTC)"Yea." He nods "Don't even get to skip the sermon since Sunday school is after, it sucks."
It's not just about commiseration, though, he's also extending a cautious 'yes, I do go to church every week' - the last thing he wants is to find out his new friend has a problem with that. It's not exactly by choice, and he isn't really a believer, but his grandmother is and he doesn't particularly want to hear a tirade against catholics that would be insulting to her.
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Date: 2022-08-26 10:17 pm (UTC)Mostly he's wondering if he should offer the equivalent information. Then he figures - Spot's got eyes, he'll have noticed, and if he doesn't, it'll come up.
So he eventually offers:
"At least I don't have to do that. Kanan doesn't even try to drag me to mosque."
Not least because the nearest one is a considerable drive from their suburban residency, and neither Kanan nor Ezra are particularly devout.
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