[open/closed] January catch-all

[unkindled_madness]

Who: Sephiroth unkindled_madness
What: The aftermath of his visit home.
When: Post age swap event
Where: Sunset Falls, Central City
Content Warnings: References to human experimentation, mild self-endangerment.

((Adding starters in the comments! Will match format.))

Comments

[unkindled_madness]

You've never considered learning anything else? Something you could keep?

[atypical_echo]

Like what?

[No, he hasn't.]

[unkindled_madness]

Some form of martial art. Hand-to-hand combat. Swordplay.

[Anything??]

[atypical_echo]

Yeah, none of that. It wasn't necessary, you know?

[unkindled_madness]

...not really, no.

[Wasn't necessary?]

[atypical_echo]

Until I finished college, I didn't need it. I was safe. It was pretty safe where I lived, where I hung out, who I hung out with. And then it suddenly wasn't. Since I got out I hadn't...

[He had just wanted to be distant.]

I don't really know how to defend myself much.

[unkindled_madness]

[Imagine ever being safe, without having to carve that space out for yourself.]

Well... It might be of some use.

[atypical_echo]

[Oh, he can barely imagine being safe now. He's been mugged SO MANY TIMES.]

I guess you're right. Maybe the guild can set me up with a trainer. But I don't wanna take time away from actual work. I love what I'm doing at the theater.

[unkindled_madness]

Surely Loki isn't running you ragged.

[atypical_echo]

Of course not.

[But his work requires weird hours, and he loves it.]

I'm happy with what I do, and trying to balance that with new hero shit is going to be a mess.

[unkindled_madness]

Hm.

Well, perhaps it can fit into your hours with the guild.

[atypical_echo]

Yeah, I'll have to figure it out amid costuming and finding a team to support or something. But hey, they're going to help on apartment costs, so super score there.

[unkindled_madness]

Costuming...

Is that a requirement?

[atypical_echo]

Apparently, especially if I want to be able to be Mark when I'm not Echo.

[unkindled_madness]

I've never quite understood that aspect of it.

[atypical_echo]

It's about being private. Being able to go home at the end of the day and know that someone you caught isn't going to blow up your apartment.

[unkindled_madness]

I caught them. How would they blow up my apartment?

[atypical_echo]

Villains don't always stay caught?

[unkindled_madness]

I suppose the guild doesn't believe in killing them.

[atypical_echo]

Exactly. And I doubt our fellow Starfallen who are on that side of things would appreciate it either.

[unkindled_madness]

If someone aims to blow up my apartment, I believe they've brought it on themselves.

[atypical_echo]

Yes, but... I'm not talking about yours in particular, I'm talking about mine and me. I can't protect myself alone so well.

[unkindled_madness]

[What? Oh, right.]

...we have gotten off-topic.

[atypical_echo]

When don't we? Sometimes that's the fun thing about hanging out with people. Watching the way your connection makes conversations twist.

[unkindled_madness]

I just didn't intend to.

[He may be a little out of it.]