Ryan Conklin enjoyed putting together homegrown pranks of his own creation, but he didn't mind occasionally resorting to off-the-rack pranks as well. One time during The Real World Brooklyn, Ryan went out and purchased an "exploding pen" novelty item. The gimmick of the pen is that it is loaded by the prankster with a strip cap and when it is given to someone to use, the cap explodes as the pen is opened. It was only a $3 toy, but Ryan was very excited about getting it and couldn't wait to show his roommate, Chet Cannon, how it worked.Ryan revealed his purchase to Chet, who quickly ridiculed it. Chet pointedly commented that it was funny that Ryan thought that shaving cream was childish but was okay with an exploding pen. Ryan was undeterred by the comparison and said that his new pen was "awesome".
Chet criticized the pen as something from 1915, but Ryan replied that it was worthwhile because it had not been used since 1915. It was so old it was new again.
As Ryan loaded the pen to show Chet what it would do, he happily noted that he had already pranked Baya Voce with it and his plan was to "keep getting people." Using his hands with fingernails that are too short and too dirty, Ryan put the cap in place and closed the pen. He showed the pen to Chet and with enthusiasm pulled it apart. Nothing happened. Chet laughed and said, "That thing sucks." Then to further rub it in, Chet added, "That is the lamest thing since [...] FDR's legs."
Ryan wasn't ready to give up on his precious, so he reloaded it and tried again. That time the cap exploded, making a nice spark. However, it also exploded enough to zap Ryan on his face. Ryan was shocked by the sensation, but still burst out laughing from the unexpected result. Since it backfired on Ryan, literally, Chet also now found the pen to be very funny.
At that time Ryan felt he had definitely got his $3 worth of amusement from his purchase. Even though he was the unintended recipient of the prank, he laughed at the outcome. He mocked himself with the tease, "It burns! It burns!", and he laughed and laughed.
Ryan is very easy to buy for, and you don't have to spend a lot to get him something he will really enjoy.
