inbox.

[nightmarist]

Comments

[nightmarist]

no

[Ronan is avoiding the house and most of its residents, as he's been since Blue's arrival. He emerges from the fields about a minute after his text, sweaty from farmwork and using his muscle tee as a face towel. This inadvertently gives Kyle a pleasant or frustrating view of his abs as he approaches.]

Want a drink or anything?

[redhott]

[ It's pleasantly frustrating, yes. Sometimes it's nice not having pupils, because then no one knows you're being an ogling creeper. Sorry, Ronan, but you are a good hunk to watch. ]

No, I'm fine. Looks like you could use one, though...

[nightmarist]

Just finished my third. If I don't slow down, I'll be pissing like a fucking racehorse.

[Hi, Kyle. Ronan slaps a hand down on his shoulder in greeting.]

What're we burning tonight?

[redhott]

Yeah? Too shy to do it in public?

[ A joke, obviously, since Ronan doesn't seem too shy for anything. ]

Uhh, com...post? I dunno, I'm usually putting out fires, not starting 'em. But I can make a huge bonfire for everyone without kindling.

[nightmarist]

I'm just trying to be fucking classy.

[Ronan's already gone on a tear through the Meadows, destroying everything he could possibly destroy, so he's fresh out of ideas. A senseless ball of fire sounds cool to him, though, so he becomes for Kyle to follow him around to the charred circle of gravel that serves as their fire pit.]

Okay, let's see it.

[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.]