snowblindrpg | [log] The Pit [open]

No, I did not know that. [Please don't ruin this totally cool moment for two overgrown eight-year-olds bro.] But you're welcome. Didn't think I'd get a chance to give it to you in awhile, and since you're not part of SnowClan, I thought that maybe it was a good idea to--

[He trails off, looking away.]

Anyway, best not to mention this to Blue. She's around here, somewhere.

This is really cool, I appreciate it.

[BUT SPEAKING OF RUINING MOMENTS. Flynn's face visibly falls at that last part. You're not actually serious right now.]

Why not? Is there a problem with me being your friend?

No! No, it's not like that!

[He waves his hands, his eyes wide.]

I mean, there's probably some weird cat clan rule about it. There's a lot of those!

[... Peter, you're not improving things.]

So what if there was?

That's why I said don't tell her! [Help.]

[He holds up the wrist with the bracelet.]

So I'm supposed to hide this.

No! God, no, it's not--don't hide it! I won't hide mine!

[This is a disaster help--]

Then what's this about?

[He drops the hand back down, looking a little sullen.]

So what if there was a weird cat clan rule about any of this? That wouldn't change anything. ... Would it?

No! No, it wouldn't!

Look, if it came down to it, I just wouldn't tell Blue.

[Why do you look sullen, Flynn, please don't look sullen--]

[Flynn perks up at "if it came down to it"... but then Peter doesn't end the sentence with "of course I wouldn't care about any of that because you're my friend".]

Right. What if Blue found out?

[He is not letting you off the hook here.]

Because I don't wanna wake up to a message in my inbox that you're not supposed to talk to me anymore. I would take that very personally.

Okay, then she finds out! No, I wouldn't--I wouldn't do that! I would never do that, I mean, if she ever said that I'd just lie about it and talk to you anyway--

... Okay.

[Is it? What does he even want here, what does he want to hear? That Peter would tell her to go chase some yarn or whatever the cat speak equivalent for that particular expression is? Is that fair? Is he being unreasonable? That a cat just not have such a fundamental influence on how Peter lives his life, that it bothers Flynn how he's already talking about having to do things behind her back?

That Flynn had made peace with being alone before getting here and now Peter is here and Nicole is here and everything is complicated again and it's scary?

That Flynn is-- okay, no, he's not jealous, that is ridiculous, that is absolutely not it?]

Just, don't leave, okay? [He tugs at the end of the bracelet again. It's very good for tugging and doing something with your hands when things get awkward. Such a versatile present!]

Because people tend to do that and when you give me this you better not do that because I don't want you to do that?

[He suddenly gets it, and his brows furrow, a pang in his heart.

Aw man.

Just, don't leave, okay?

Because people tend to do that and when you give me this you better not do that because I don't want you to do that?

Peter reaches out to try and clasp Flynn on the shoulder, staring at him intently.]

Dude. I will never do that to you, ever.

[...of course, it won't be all that long after this that he's going to jump in the pit, but that's a measure of trying to be a hero, finding answers, and being suggestible.]

I promise, okay?

We're bros for life.

[Dammit, Peter.

Flynn startles at the sudden grip on his shoulder, then looks away awkwardly... and looks back up again because this is not a moment you can look away from even if you really, really want to. The earnest statement makes him sheepish all of a sudden, like he's overreacting, like he's stupid. Of course Peter would never do that. They've been through so much already, why would Flynn even think that?

We're bros for life.

It's so... different from Flynn in every way and so very Peter in every sense that he can't help but laugh; but it's a light sound, affectionate amusement, not derision.]

I never had a... bro [it comes out all weird, because he actually is using the word for the very first time in his life] before, let alone one for life.

But I think I like it.

Well, you have one now, bro.

You better like it, cause you're not getting rid of me.

[Here's a big smile. He finally lets go of Flynn's shoulder, and considers doing a friendly punch, but then again, he was kinda afraid Flynn would take it wrong. Or fall over.]

Yeah, I know.

[Okay, but, Peter. You kind of made him emotional here, which in Flynn's case means random impulsive actions. Which means you might have decided not to punch him but you're getting another hug in return.

Flynn doesn't know if they're going to survive this day or when they're going to actually see each other again the next time. His work has made him used to interact via screens and distance while being on the road. It makes physical contact all the more precious, here especially.

Which. Might make this hug draw out a little longer than necessary.]

Don't think that means you can skip out on our lessons. [And because everything he wants to say are all the things that you can't say,] I'll quiz you.

[More hugs are the best! Peter doesn't mind, even if it gets drawn out. He's so used to calling Flynn, having him actually here is kind of weird, but it's a good weird. And the fact that they really all might be about to endure something probably terrible is just making this mean just that much more.]

Wouldn't dream of it. But I'm not a very good student. I might have to ground myself if I get D's or F's.

[It's much easier talking about this than, y'know, the Pit looming in front of them.]

[Much easier indeed. Flynn finally lets go and when he draws back there is a smile on his face.]

That's okay. I can tutor you, too.

So I can't lose!

[That's the important thing here, isn't it? Also it's not a game of winning and losing?]

But it would help if the lessons are more exciting, like about airplanes in the Civil War...

There... um, the Civil War didn't really have airplanes, Peter.

... There was a balloon air force, though? Actually, it was very fascinating, their purpose was to observe enemy positions and numbers. But due to unpredictable winds, Civil War balloon flights were almost entirely tethered rather than free flight to prevent the balloons from drifting into enemy territory...

[Flynn is this the time.]

The balloons also forced the development of the first campfire "blackouts" and other means of disguising troop numbers and movements from aerial observation, tactics that were still being used during the World Wars.

Huh.

[It's the kind of huh that means he needs to re-evaluate a few assumptions he's had about the technology levels of the Civil War, apparently.]

A balloon air force? No way! [Okay, new assumptions about the technology levels of the 1800s. He listens intently, for once.]

Hey! Did you know that I've always wanted to ride in a balloon? My gramps was supposed to take me one year, for my birthday, but the weather was bad. [And then the next year his mom got sick so...yeah.]

Edited (I literally cannot type today help) 2018-02-20 09:36 (UTC)

Oh yeah. They even had carriers?

[He smiles.]

You know, that's still on my bucket list, too. Somehow it hasn't... happened yet. Didn't have the opportunity.

What? Really? That's...wow.

Okay, we are going to go on a hot air balloon. You and me, bro. We're doing this, somehow, someday.

I wish we could build one now and get out of this place.

Oh, that would be amazing. Like in the Lost World.

Yeah! We're so--What's the Lost World?

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