exsilium | thirteen (text) ♞ ❝two turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree.❞

If you hadn't blacked out when you did, after the yetis, you would've figured me out.

Curses, foiled by my own inability to overcome a concussion. And defy gravity.

Excuses, excuses.

Well your secret's out now so it doesn't matter anyway. Obviously I need to restock the garlic in the kitchen.

You do that. I'll find a way around them somehow.

Really. So that's your resolution, then? Defeat the forces of garlic?

What?
Of course not.

'Banish' sounds better.

Banish garlic? Spaghetti night just won't be the same, though.

We can substitute it with something.

Okay seriously, besides reinventing Italian food... what ARE those resolutions you were talking about?

I'm... going to try and be someone worthy of the title of 'Master'.
You'd probably say something like 'You're an idiot', or 'you're already there', but... I don't think so.
I've still got a ways to go, and I've been procrastinating, dwelling on the past. It's time I start moving forward.

[Oh. He wasn't expecting him to answer so readily; he thought there would be deflection or at least a little bluster. He wasn't expecting this honest candor, and he stares at the tablet a moment, then gets up from where he had been sprawled half-napping on the bed. Heading for the stairs, he finds Riku in the living room... and just sort of stares at him a moment.]

Okay, two things: one, what are you doing on the floor? And two, yeah, I like to say you're an idiot, but this time I don't think that applies, so don't put words in my mouth sheesh. [He moves to the couch and sits down on the arm to peer down at Riku where he's laying on his back on the floor, feet on the coffee table.] Is this some sort of lumbar stretch?

[ riku peers up at the stairs as lea comes down, raising both of his brows and shifting awkwardly on the floor. his legs're thrown across the coffee table, socks still on, a puppy curled in his lap, and another snuffling into the loose folds of his oversized sweater. his tablet's in his free hand, now laying against his chest. ]

Felt like it. [ is his answer to the question, shrugging. ]

So you're not mad. That's a relief.

... what's a lumbar stretch?

Mad? [He scratches his head, then reaches out to tweak the ears of one of the puppies before tucking his legs up and planting his hands on his ankles.] The hell would I be mad for? [He arches one eyebrow.] Did you do something idiotic I should know about? Maybe I'll reserve that idiot comment until I've been properly briefed.

Oh, ah... lumbar's like the bones in your spine, in your lower back. I think. [He leans forward to press one palm against the small of his own back.] Like there. Ish. I dunno, you carry all your stress in your back so I just thought... [He shrugs.]

[ he frowns at him, and shakes his head. ] What are you talking about? You were pretty mad when I ran out into the snow and you hauled me back. I didn't know if it'd set you off again. I didn't do anything stupid.

[ rude. but he guesses that means you care. he stiffens a little at mention of stress in his back, and he shifts himself a little more into the fur rug. ]

It's nothing like that. I was thinking.

[He rolls his eyes.]

That isn't what I was mad about, for starters. [He hefts a sigh and gets to his feet, stepping over Riku and sitting down on the floor near his shoulder. Leaning back on his hands, he shakes his head.] But no, I was upstairs 'cuz my head hurt, so I was just lounging with Dusk. Not mad. [He gives him a helpless look.] I didn't realize you thought I had such a short temper.

Munny for your thoughts.

[ he blinks at lea, almost owlishly. ] Wouldn't that fit with your element?

[ munny for your thoughts, huh. he closes his eyes, turning more solemn, hands laced over his stomach. he's been squirming and fretting so much, his sweater's starting to ride up, showing a peek of belly button and muscle. ]

What if... I could use the darkness for something good?

[Lea presses his lips together, frowning.]

I guess? I mean I know fire and anger kinda go together--that's why they call it a fiery temper or hot-blooded or whatever, but... [A shrug.] Bein' angry's hard work. So I try not to be.

[The frown shifts at Riku's postulation, though, and he bounces one knee a little.]

Mm, I dunno, what if? [He shrugs one shoulder.] I don't think darkness is all bad. I mean, I spent a long time figuring out how to use it--it's got it share of practicality.

[ SNORTS. ] You're not angry because it's too much work.

[ okay, lea. okay. he rolls his eyes. ]

Guess that's as good an excuse as anything else.

[ ... hm. ] That's not what I mean. You used your powers to take away some of my fever. Could I do something like that...?

[Harrumph.] I don't think I should need an excuse to prefer to not be pissed off all the time, thanks very much. Who wants to be pissed off all the time, anyway? [He pokes Riku in the ribs with one socked foot.] Unless you'd prefer I be mad at you more often. I guess I could try.

[A light flicks on when Riku clarifies, and he rubs his chin in thought.]

I don't see why not. Your power over darkness is way different than mine ever was, so I'm not sure what other applications you might find for it, but I think any sort of ability can be used more creatively if you think about it. [He grins then.] So... I mean I say go for it. You might be surprised.

[He hadn't really expected his fever-reducing endeavors to be successful, after all. If Riku can find some way to be proud of his power instead of ashamed and fearful of hurting people with it, all the better.]

Who said I want you to be angry? You're scary when you're angry. [ he smacks the foot away with his elbow.

what could he use his darkness for, though? he had to think more about this. ]

I'll be surprised if it works.

Okay, just so we're clear? That thing that I do where I give you a hard time? That's what I'm doing right now. [He folds his legs up again, draping an elbow over his knee.]For the record though, if I'm pissed off at you I'll tell you about it, deal?

[Logically he knows that he's scary when he's mad, but in the end, frightening Riku is certainly not his goal.

[Lea shrugs one shoulder.] I was pretty surprised myself, honestly. Like I had sort of logic'd it in my head before I tried, cuz the last thing I wanted to do was exacerbate things. I didn't expect it to work so well as it did, though. [A faint smile.] Surprise isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? [In all honesty, Lea's been surprised a lot in the past several weeks... but he wouldn't really want it any different.]

[ riku makes a face. ] I know. You've told me before.

Depends on the kind of surprise, huh. I think we've been having good surprises for a little while. [ yeaaah he can tell what you're thinking. he ruffles a hand through his hair, and then pauses, and gives him a look. ]

How's your ankle?

[ he definitely wants to make sure progress is good. tomorrow's christmas... ]

Just covering my ass, okay? [He chuckles, shaking his head, then has to nod agreement.] Yeah, most of the surprises recently have been the fortuitous kind. Maybe we're getting payoff for how much things have sucked back home.

[He leans back on his hands then and unfolds one leg, rolling the ankle in question as if to show it off.] Mostly fine, actually. Not gonna be competing in any hopscotch tournaments for a bit, I think, but it doesn't hurt anymore unless I trip over my own feet like a moron.

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> action ohohoho

action;

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phone tagging cuz I need this right now

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