selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

Like a kitten falling down the stairs.

[Loki takes one of Billy's pieces.]

But it is true. I have called you brother. That doesn't change even if you wish to hang about the oaf.

Hmm.

[Yeah, he should've seen that coming. He'll give himself a moment to ponder before making another move; this is Loki, he needs to be more careful about his strategy. He can't go easy the way he does with Teddy.]

Shockingly, I can do both.

[Dryly:] A rare skill indeed.

Hm. Do you know how to use any weapons?

[That's not a question he'd expected.]

Uh... I used to carry around a staff to help me cast spells, but I don't know if I'd consider it a weapon. I guess I can swing one around well enough?

[He'd fought off a bunch of zombies, once...! And Viral had tried to give him weapons training for a while. He was decidedly terrible with a bow and arrow.]

Not the first weapon I would have chosen for you.

[He nudges a piece forward with one finger.]

I shall teach you daggers.

[Oh god. Oh god, that's what he meant.]

...I'm not sure if handing me sharp objects to do anything with except, like, cut bread is a smart idea.

Well, it certainly wouldn't be if no one's bothered to train you.

You ought to be able to defend yourself properly.

And here I was thinking more along the lines of tazers and pepper spray.

[As cool and ninja-esque as daggers for chosen weaponry might sound, he has doubts about his potential in that field.]

Those are amusing toys, but not proper weapons.

I think you'll do well with daggers.

You'd be the only one to think that, then.

[Loki's right, though- he does need a way to defend himself without magic. He refuses to be someone's helpless damsel, and he's still not Teddy's princess. If Kate can be a freaking superhero without powers, maybe he can at least manage this much.]

Why do you believe it, though? I mean, why daggers?

You're built rather like I was, at your age. So long as you've the speed to go with it, daggers would do well enough for you, I think. 'Tis a weapon suited to fight close.

I'm not used to fighting up close. I was the spellcaster, the one in the background casting support enchants and stat boosts and forcefields and-

[He offers a bit of a helpless wave.]

I am so not suited for physical combat. And Tommy's the speedster, not me.

Rapier or short sword, I could teach as well, but am not nearly such an expert.

[He shrugs.]

If you wish to stick with a staff or spear, I'm decent enough with those.

But you must learn something.

[Billy frowns, fidgets, and prods a pawn into position. His moves are getting clumsy because he's nervous and distracted, now.]

...I guess... I'm just worried about screwing up again. Weapons might not be as powerful as spells, but they can hurt people, too. And what if being in a fight makes me lose control?

[Loki raises an eyebrow. Come on, Billy.]

If you are worried about your control, then you ought to continue practicing upon it.

Or else never leave your house. Only here, that doesn't work all that well considering they might send droids to fetch you, yes? The very act of living is a test of control if you aren't a mindless automaton.

[.....

Don't pretend that it isn't likely he's thought of that already, because he totally has. But Loki does have a point. Several of them, even.

Billy sighs, burying his face against his hands. God, can nothing in life be simple again?]

...I'll... try the daggers. At least with them I'm less likely to accidentally cut my own head off...

[Loki looks amused.]

You don't get sharp ones until you've proven you aren't going to hurt yourself.

...There's such a thing as training daggers?

[It's like a whole new world has opened up before him.]

If there weren't training weapons, there would be far fewer idiotic warriors in the world.

Well. I mean, I can see the logic in it, I just didn't... yeah.

[He makes sort of a boxing motion with his hands, implying the size of something- in other words, "BUT DAGGERS ARE SO SMALL".]

So when should we start?

[Loki rolls his eyes. Really, Billy, is this going to be a size thing?]

We could start now if you wanted. Though I'll want to see you more than once a week.

[Hah... he's probably better off playing chess.]

...I can do that. It's not I'll be training with the X-Men anymore.

[Not just because of his powers, either.]

Oh? Why not?

Let us keep this evening as a time to relax, then. I think two or three times a week at the battle dome should be sufficient to begin with.

[Billy just nods; he's okay with putting things off for a while.]

I wouldn't be much good in the Danger Room without powers. They'd spend the entire time protecting me. Not to mention... I don't know how comfortable they'd be around me.

[He still hasn't sorted things out with Rogue yet. He honestly doesn't know how.]

I wouldn't know, since nearly none of then are at all comfortable around me. What does my lady think?

[Of course, he also likes making people uncomfortable...]

We shall start tomorrow then. You choose the time.

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