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[nightmarist]

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[redhott]

[ Okay, well, that makes him laugh. ]

Uhm, yeah, okay. It's hard to say no to a gentlemen, that's true...

[ Now that it's Kyle's turn to shine, his bright white eyes survey the ground for any trace of flammable objects. But it's all razed for his convenience already, how sweet.

He puts out a hand and a thick ball of flame emits from it like a beautiful will-o-wisp. Then it grows, dropping it to the ground until it's a hot blazing fire. Few would know the difference between earthly and underworld flame, but there is. Of course, it took him all his life to find that out. ]

[nightmarist]

[It is beautiful. Ronan keeps back and watches Kyle work, arms folding over his chest like he's an art patron debating a purchase at a gallery. If he could remember Kavinsky's 4th of July party, he would find this less charming. But Ronan was never there, and the sight of the flames makes him excited instead of anxious.]

How long can it burn like that?

[redhott]

If I keep the connection, indefinitely. Otherwise, it'll die down like any bonfire once it's out of fuel.

[ And speaking of, Kyle feeds it higher until it's roaring taller than both of them. But he doesn't move backeven as it grows; there's no need. No fire in hell or on earth can hurt him, and he proves that by casually dipping his hand into the flame. ]

Shoulda brought marshmallows...

[nightmarist]

[Ronan steps closer, but he's not impervious to heat, so he keeps a safe distance from the flames.]

Those are really just an excuse for the fire.

[redhott]

A delicious excuse!

[ And Kyle is still a growing boy, baby fat on his body and everything. Once he pulls out his hand he waves it around to cool it down as quickly as he can before coming toward Ronan. ]

I can't do a whole lot with it. I've been trying to make cool dragons like my friend, but that's... uh... that might be out of my league.

[nightmarist]

You should ask Adam to help you. Energy work and precision is kind of his whole deal.

[And it's something Ronan wants to see. Again, because he can't remember the 4th of July party.]

[redhott]

... What kind of energy? What can he do with it?

[ Honestly, he knows very little about the four of them. Ronan, he knows that most about, but even that acquired knowledge is likely skimming only the surface. ]

[nightmarist]

All energy. He can make it work more efficiently or divert it or... I dunno, maybe anything he feels like doing. He can tell you better than I can, but I'm pretty sure he could even help with your little problem.

[You know, the problem where Kyle shoots fire when he comes or whatever. Ronan sincerely pities him for that.]

[redhott]

So, like, all the kinds of energy on Earth? [ Huh. Kyle knows some OP people, but that sounds hella OP. And real useful. ] Sounds like he's got better things to do than worry about some guy's sex life. Does he do hero work with it?

[nightmarist]

[Oh, buddy. Ronan smirks.]

I think he'd find it an interesting project to work on. He's kind of a benign mad scientist. Solving problems is his favorite hobby. None of us are really into the hero thing, though. If Adam's gonna save the world, he's gonna do it on a wider scale.

[redhott]

My crappy orgasms would be an interesting project...? I—Well, okay. I'll, uhm, text him? Is he better at checking his phone than you?

[ LOL THAT'S RHETORICAL, literally everyone is better at phone etiquette than Ronan. ]

But, like, no kind of hero work? You all have magic, right? Why not use it?

[nightmarist]

Please text him.

[They can save it for posterity. Look, this whole thing is as funny as it is sad. The next question gets a snort out of Ronan, and a rueful little smile.]

No one out there really deserves us. If anyone knew half of what we could do, we'd all be dead.

[redhott]

No, that's totally not true!

[ Kyle, pure and naive, is actually so offended that these boys would think their efforts wouldn't be wanted because of their past. NOO!! HEROES COME FORM ALL WALKS OF LIFE! ]

Help should always be rewarded, no matter who or where it comes from. You really think they'd turn on you guys?

[nightmarist]

[Dispassionately and with much weariness:]

My father was the same thing I am, and he was murdered in our driveway. So I guess we'll just call this experience talking.

[redhott]

[ Ooookay, that shuts him up. That shuts him right the hell up. He stares at the flame because it's too hard to look at Ronan right now. ]

I'm sorry.

[nightmarist]

[Oh, gross. Now Kyle's all sad and shit. Ronan sighs like he's more annoyed than upset.]

Whatever. Point is, it'll be me sooner or later. I'm hoping for later.

[redhott]

[ WELL EXCUSE HIM! But he is a sensitive soul! ]

For what you are, or what you've done?

[nightmarist]

I am what I am because of what I do.

[Ergo, there really isn't a distinction.]

People have been trying to find me for a long time. Some wanna use me and some just wanna cut me into pieces. I'm not super into the idea of being put in a cage or a display box, and I don't owe it to the world to help anyone.

[redhott]

[ Kyle nods, even if it's not the answer he would want from another. ]

... I understand more than you'd think.

[ But that's all he says. He's not willing to bare his mistakes and vulnerabilities at a time like this. But, at the same time, he's the one that always makes their hang outs awkward, so Kyle needs to at least lighten the mood.

With a hand on Ronan's shoulder, he gently urges him back several steps as he turns his fat bonfire into a spiraling tornado that spins high into the heavens. ]

I don't usually play with fire, so uhh... hit the deck if something goes wrong?

[nightmarist]

[Ronan finds nothing particularly awkward about this encounter, as every encounter involving him tends to get super weird. For all Kyle's worry, Ronan mostly looks amused.]

If you kill me, make sure you tell them it was an accident.

[But he steps back as directed, eyes on the tornado of fire. It's an impressive display.]

[redhott]

If I kill you, I'll be too traumatized to tell anyone anything!

[ His spiral of flame starts to bend and move through the sky like a snake. Unlike his friend Spooks he can't contort his powers to create a face, but it's still pretty sweet. ]

[nightmarist]

That's nice of you.

[Most people would celebrate and maybe dance on Ronan's unmarked grave. Now that the snake's in the sky, Ronan steps closer to Kyle again, stopping when they're shoulder-to-shoulder. He keeps his gaze on the flames.]

[redhott]

Yeah, I'm a pretty nice guy.

[ Kyle puts an amiable arm around Ronan's shoulders once he comes close. His warmth quickly soaks past the boy's clothes right into his body as it always does. ]

Let's see if I can give it legs...

[ His face pinches in concentration as Kyle tries something he's never before. In his mind's eye he imagines pulling arms out of the spiral of flames. But, uhhh, all that happens is an explosion of the fire in all directions across the sky. ]

Oh shit—

[nightmarist]

[When Kyle's arm slips around his shoulders, Ronan slowly turns his head to regard him. It's a simple, inoffensive gesture, but Ronan isn't used to being touched so casually by someone outside his inner circle. And despite their first encounter, Ronan wouldn't have named Kyle as a friend, let alone anything closer. He's beginning to feel he may have to reconsider his position. Emotionally, that is.

The explosion draws his attention back to the sky. Ronan doesn't appear remotely alarmed, though some of the flames come dangerously close to the house. There's no need to worry, really. The house itself is Ronan's magic, and protected further by Adam's magic. At this point, he considers it nigh indestructible.]

Cool.

[redhott]

[ Kyle releases the death grip he accidentally put on Ronan's shoulder when his fire exploded in the most novel way. ] Y-Yeah, at least no one got hurt. [ That's the silver lining to carelessly trying to impress a guy with his fire powers: No casualties. ]

[ Glancing over at Ronan, he watches the last of the bright scorches in the night sky reflect off his sharp face. ]