selfhelp | [Action] Fourth Wall

BILLY KAPLAN will be either a) flying/teleporting around or b) wandering through the chaos just wondering what the hell is going on; he's never seen this in Luceti before, and it's definitely something to look at. He'll be watching for familiar faces, definitely, or just poking at interesting-looking people.

EDWARD ELRIC is, surprise! Back from his kidnapping. Sort of. Temporarily. And he's trying to get himself home, but who knows what he'll run into on the way... eh-heh.

ASCH is in Good Spirits, mostly unruffled because he's been through like five years of this madness and refuses to get his feathers ruffled. But he will anyway, because he's like that. You might catch him outside as well, if he decides he's had enough and tries to drown himself in the lake or something. (This is entirely possible.)

[ooc: please put who you want to ping in the subject line or something, this is a catch-all! And Ed's just back for 4th Wall, his real return will be a few days after this. |Db]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes... Some place quiet would be best.

[And warm, seeing how she's in a plain button-up blouse and a skirt. Rebecca holds her arms and lets out a huff of a sigh, very, very tempted to pinch the bridge of her nose. She only resists because she's cold, and because there are other things on her mind, like this whole wings business.

Lead the way, however you want to lead, Billy.]

[He takes note of her clothes, the way she's hugging herself in the cold, and the windchill he feels on his own exposed skin. Yeah, it's way too cold for this, even if it isn't that much of a walk.

What's the worst she could do, say no?]

...Do you want to- I mean- I could fly us there?

[He's still not sure how really feels about the whole superpowers thing, but... no time like the present?]

Fly? [It sounds like she doesn't quite know what he means, not until a few seconds later, when she remembers that he can fly.

In truth, Rebecca has mixed feelings about her son's powers. On one hand, it's kind of scary. Him being a hero without registering is the reason why he was locked away with no guarantee of a return during that horrible war, why she wonders if she's going to see him again when he's doing his job, and why he'll sometimes be somewhere she never imagined any of them could ever be.

On the other hand, his power is a part of who he is now, and she'd be a terrible mother if she didn't accept some part of him that he can't help. Not only that, but he's using it to be productive, to do some good in the world. That, plus Teddy being around, she's sure, is the reason why he doesn't seem as depressed anymore. And how can she not be happy and proud about something like that?

So, she smiles.]

I would like that. Just don't go too fast. Such erratic movement could lead to an unsettled stomach.

[She's still not really used to the fact that her son can fly, but might as well see how he does it. ~~And see if he does so safely, it'll show her if he truly deserves a car or not later in life~~]

[His eyes widen at first, before he eases into a more astonished smile, pleasantly and somewhat shyly surprised that she'd agreed. Explaining his powers (and the whole Young Avengers thing) had been difficult enough after they'd rescued Teddy from the Super Skrull, nevermind attempting to give the full experience.

Now? Now he gets the chance to fly with her, something he's only really done with Teddy so far. A chance to show off what he can do and- maybe she'll like it. It's not as if she's never praised him - the psychological studies had ever been on his side in that regard, and at the core Rebecca Kaplan really was a fantastic mother whether she was annoying about it or not - but this is his talent. Something naturally his, the way academic success never could be.

And it's exciting to share.]

It'll be the smoothest ride you've ever had, I promise.

[He offers his hand out to her, blue energy flaring between the fingers of the other, making him hover gently above the ground.]

[Rebecca, at first, hesitates and watches the glow between his fingers; she'd heard of his powers and seen pictures and clips from the news, but had never actually seen it herself. And now she gets to experience it firsthand. Traveling by plane has you buckled in on a large, mostly safe enclosure that's guaranteed to be smooth. She isn't sure what it'll be like to fly with just one other person guiding the way.

But she trusts and loves her son unconditionally, so her hesitation, a natural response to someone who isn't used to magic beyond whimsical stories that her sons would read and dream up, is soon brushed aside, and she reaches out to take his hand.]

A promise I'll hold you to, young man.

[She gets something of a cheeky half-smile at that, as he lets the power of his magic spread to surround her as well, effortlessly pulling her up into the air with him. After that it's just a matter of floating gently in the direction of the plaza, pulling her along with him.]

See? It's easy. Just don't let go, okay?

[Not that he'd ever, ever drop her, but he'd rather not risk losing her.]

[She lets out a rather embarrassing squeak once she's lifted in the air with seemingly no effort at all, and her free hand moves up to cover her mouth, the other holding her son's hand tightly. It's not quite that she's afraid of falling, or that she fears heights more than the average civilian, but with no concept of something catching her if she falls over than Billy's hand? It's a bit much to swallow, even with them floating gently like this.

But she does not ask to be let down, or protests in any other way. She does, however, decide to hold his hand with both of her own, and her eyes are trained to the ground rather than what's ahead of them.]

Y-Yes, because I surely would let go if you didn't warn me. [Well. Perhaps that's where Billy got his sharp sarcastic tongue from.]

[He snorts quietly at that, tugging her up a little closer to him, just in case. He's not taking any chances with his mother in the sky with him; it's been a long time since he's had to fly anyone, since Teddy can fly on his own now.]

Careful, Mom. Suicidal inclinations are big warning signs of a less-than-ideal home life.

[See, he even listens to what you say sometimes. Token snark returned, though, he gives her hand a light squeeze.]

Look forward, not down. The sky's nice this time of day.

Well, it's good to know I'm being listened to.

[The sentence is a little more forceful than intended, if only because oh god, still staring at the ground, yep this is still the most unstable and probably dangerous thing she's ever agreed to.

But when he tells her to look forward, it's... admittedly a lot harder than she thought, because there's a comfort in not seeing the ground rushing up at them. She has a strong will, though, so she shuts her eyes, tilts her head up, and then looks.

And... wow. He's right. without all the buildings and trees in the way, it's... rather nice, this view. Certainly not something she'd ever see in New York, not unless she looked up a nature documentary on Youtube.]

Oh, Billy...

[And slowly, very cautiously, she lets one of her hands loosen from its death grip and lets her arm spread to the side. She's still tense, but at least she's not just clinging to her boy anymore.]

Is this what it's always like for you? [It's half out of genuine curiosity, and half to poke at his talent, as a mother/psychologist ought to.]

[He looks back at her as she speaks the second time, pausing and slowing down mid-flight to watch her surprise. There's really nothing quite like a first time in the sky; he remembers his own, and then, later, Teddy's. And he's sure they've all shared this look: wonder, surprise, the beginnings of delight overcoming fear. Humans weren't really meant to fly, so it's that much more magical when they do.

So he grins, because this isn't something he ever thought he'd share with his family.]

Every time.

[Which is a lie, of course- sometimes they're fighting super villains or running for their lives, and there's no time to stare out at the horizon and wonder at how cool or beautiful or amazing it all is. But it's never boring, never mundane. Flight is still his favourite part of having magic.]

[Action] Fourth Wall

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject