tushanshu_logs | ( closed )

Say that again?

[Some English might have gotten lost in there somewhere]

[He chuckles.] All the complaining. It's annoying.

Oh. That.

[Something she was also guilty of. Whoops?]

...in my defense, I did fall out of a tree.

Try not to have any other arguments with it. These are going to be tough times and we've got to pull together. [He's quiet, and rubs his neck for a moment.] Honestly. One of the few things I never imagined I'd have to say out loud again.

[She...isn't quite sure where he's going with this conversation, but the mood has suddenly turned solemn again. Which is never good.]

Which one? The tough times, or the part where we all pull together?

Because, last I checked, some of us were doing pretty good on the latter.

Pulling together. [The smile is back on his face, shh it never left.]

You couldn't tear us apart if you tried.

[You're stuck with her, big bro, for better or worse. Along with whatever baggage she drags with her.]

[His hand squeezes her shoulder gently.] Wouldn't dream of it. Who'd do my laundry?

[Okay, that's enough sentimental for her. Which is why, when he squeezes her shoulder, she lightly nudges him back with it.]

I see how it is.

You guys all secretly just want me for my ability to do laundry and hurl large objects in your general direction. And here I was hoping you'd like me for me.

I'm juvenile. Can you ever forgive me?

I'll think about it.

How's your ring holding up?

[She only barely knew how they worked, but since it was Kyle's main source of power, it couldn't hurt to ask.]

It's a little grouchy, but it'll be fine. That was a good workout.

[Another of his half-serious statements.]

I think we both needed it, honestly.

[Mental note: fling rocks around Shell's edge more often. She might not have been as frustrated at the world as he was, but there had been too much going on recently. And not enough motorcycles to hijack in retaliation.]

If only we could train regularly without being watched. I could easily create a dome that's a one-way mirror, but I'm not sure that's a long term solution.

[He's been reconsidering the warehouse idea. Sure, it might serve as a good space but ultimately the city had too many eyes and ears. He was willing to tell people about the ring so they wouldn't fear his power, but he was opposed to the idea of letting anyone watch him fight or train using any of the Corps' exercises, which hitherto were still secret. He hadn't even described Willworld in detail - only that it existed.

He knew he had his unpredictability on his side, but still. The enemy must not and should not know too much.]

[She knows the others would like that idea, too, and that alone makes it worth considering.]

Short-term is better than nothing.

I wonder if they have any protection spells I could use on the dome to keep out most spies.

How's Er'uoy daed taem for starters?[Roguish wink.]

[She knew the other her had taught him a few words...but hearing it from his lips in-person? Just jarring enough to send him a very curious look. Don't you wink at her, mister, while you're speaking her native tongue.]

I'm not sure how to feel about that, honestly.

Hey, it worked. At least I think it did, there was too much smoke to tell for sure and she'd already bound the creepy dude by then.

Not what I meant.

[Oh, she had every confidence it worked. Why teach Kyle a useless spell?]

Though you might want to go with something a little less...you know...deadly.

[The joking tone is still there, but her eyes flicker away for the briefest of moments. She'd had enough of death to last her quite a while, thank you.]

[This is the second time someone had told him to show restraint, and since it was her, well. He takes it to heart.] Maybe one that turns them into a toad. Respect the classics.

[Again, he's reminded that his default instinct towards anything trying to hurt him these days was... lethal force. Close enough, usually. Guilt churns in him, getting a foothold and he purses his lips slightly and looks upwards at the sky.]

[The last time she felt a chill that deep, Jack was overly emoting metaphorical snow clouds in her general direction. He was still trying to keep the air light, but that look gave her pause.]

I was just kidding, you know.

I don't mind that you can do some of my spells. It's actually kind of flattering.

[She knew that wasn't what was really bothering him, but with little else to go on, it was the first thing she could think of.]

[He smiles at her, glad it's been misinterpreted.] I had a good teacher, but no way I'm cut out for magic long-term.

[She'll continue along with the charade until he's willing to talk.]

It's harder than a lot of people give us credit for.

You should've heard me trying to explain it to the Team. They wanted to know what I was capable of, and I had to try and explain that doing the impossible has its limits.

Oh you don't say. It took me forever [thirty seconds, which is very long, to him] to get my first spell right, and we were being attacked, too. Helped that she said it comes from within, but [Doing the impossible, like bringing back the dead-] it does have its limits. That much, we have in common.

[Showoff]

She was right. Dad once told me that anyone can have the potential to do magic, if they can figure out how to access that power. Some of us are just better at it than others, with bigger withins to tap into.

I'd like to think we have a bit more than that in common, Kyle.

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