tramitem_comm | [text message to Elliott]

[Clarence nearly jumps at Elliott's mad tear to his closet and finds himself chuckling easily.]

I mean, if you don't feel up to it sure, we can just go to a diner and get pancakes. But if your only issue is that suit, then I'm sure we could get it pressed in time. Don't sweat it.

[His expression softens.]

Seriously, we have other things to worry about. Don't let it upset you or anything.

I still want to go, but it's white. It's the opposite of matching. Is that really okay?

[Clarence blinked, then started laughing.]

Is that what you're worried about? Elliott! White suits you and black suits me, I don't think that makes it a problem!

Hey, think of it this way, I get you a black flower and you get me a white one and we'll totally be like ying-yang or something.

[Elliott holds the suit at length, frowning over it. But it lessens as he gives the idea more thought, looks over Clarence at his dark eyes, dark hair and black suit and black nails.

It might work.]

Yeah. Yeah, okay. [He smiles, relieved] That's great; we'll do that. Then we can say we planned it that way all along if anyone asks.

Sure. Works for me.

[It's kind of strange, being the one to try and use support and reason. Usually Elliott was the one pulling Clarence back from the brink. Though, thinking of that did somber him quite a bit.]

... We should probably address the whole magic thing though, before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

[Elliott blinked, then burned red again and hurriedly tucked the suit back in the closet]

Right, yeah. You came here for an actual reason, sorry.

[Clarence waved a hand lazily.] Hey, the distraction was nice.

Anyway... yeah.

[Better to show rather than tell. He holds out a hand and concentrates... then an eerie red light starts to consume it, running up along his arm like flames. But nothing burns, just... glows.]

[Elliott stares, then creeps closer. It looks a lot more.. involved than his own brands of magic so far.

He's also morbidly curious about what it feels like- if it would really hurt him]

So are you just.. willing it to happen, or..?

[Clarence's own eyes can't seem to leave the glowing aura.]

I guess? It's like, I have to think of it to make this kind of stuff happen, but before I was just barely catching a glimpse. I thought I was losing my mind.

[He shakes his hand and the redness dissipates until it's completely gone.]

I'm not sure if I want to see what else it can do. Though I do... kinda know what I'm supposed to do. Or more like, I know how to feel it out. Does that make sense?

[Elliott shrugs]

Sort of. But that's good news at least, isn't it? That it won't accidentally harm anyone. Mine are.. I have to know what I want to do with it.

..Do it again?

[Clarence shrugs back, then does a double-take.]

You want me to do it again? Are you sure?

[He smiles- as reassuringly as possible]

Yeah.

O-okay.

[This time, Clarence holds both hands out like a bowl and allows that feeling to surge through him again, pooling inside like a warm flame. However, it still doesn't seem to have the powers of fire, it just... exists. A warm red aura rippling across his skin.]

[Elliott watches it for a moment. It looks a lot more intimidating this time with both hands. Nerves zip through his stomach and he has a moment to think about just how monumentally stupid this is-

Before lurching forward and clasping his hands through Clarence's red aura, knees buckling preemptively in anticipation of pain]

[Clarence gasps, startled when Elliott's hands grasp his and he has a moment of absolute terror shock coldly through him... only for nothing to happen. Elliott remains unchanged. The flames just wash over his own hands, enveloping them in red energy but otherwise leaving him unharmed.]

[Clarence gasps a shaky breath then the magic drops as he shoves Elliott's hands away, huffing.]

Jeez! You scared me half to death, El!

[He doesn't expect to die, but he does half-expect it to hurt.

And then a moment passes and nothing changes, and he drops back onto his hands as Clarence pushes him back.

Elliott throws his head back and laughs, something giddy and slightly hysterical that goes on just a little too long. He breathes and shakes his head, flashing his friend a tired grin. That was probably the stupidest thing he's ever done, but it worked]

There, see? I'm okay. You won't hurt anyone you don't want to.

Edited 2020-05-14 03:18 (UTC)

[He watched Elliott laugh without a trace of humor, and when the laughing went on a little longer than it probably should have Clarence started to feel concern. But then Elliott's idiot plan came out and... well, Clarence would have to admit, he did feel more reassured.]

[Still, he sighed and sunk down from Elliott's bed to the floor next to his friend.]

That was so stupid.... What an idiot.

[But he pressed his forehead against Elliott's shoulder, unsure how else to show he was happy in a weird way. It didn't seem right to say "thanks" when the guy put his own health at risk...]

[Elliott reaches over to pat his arm and breathes again, incredibly grateful that the tiny hunch he'd had pulled through]

Yeah, it was pretty stupid. But it worked out, and now you don't have to be afraid of yourself or your power. It was worth it.

[Clarence let his face remain hidden a minute more, then looked up, mouth pulled tight in an unamused frown.]

See, this is why I keep saying you're going to get yourself hurt one day. You're too good for this world, you big dummy.

[He sighs, then moved to stand and reaches to help Elliott up.]

Guess I'm a dummy for taking a dummy to a dumb dance now, too.

[He accepts the hand up, but doesn't let himself rely too much on Clarence's strength to haul him up.]

We're gonna have fun. Couldn't just let you sit out junior prom.

[Yeah, that's probably for the best.]

Hmm, yeah, I guess. And if it doesn't end up all that great, we could always ditch early and go get pancakes anyway.

[He smiles]

Sure, if that's what you want.

[He runs a hand through his hair]

So I guess you'll just be borrowing my closet for a few days, then.

Hey, pancakes make any situation better.

[Clarence scratches at his nape again, shaking his head.]

I mean, I don't know how to explain to Kris and Phil how I even got that suit...

[He shrugs, then grins]

Just tell 'em it's mine from when I was like.. 12.

Hey! I'm short but that doesn't make me a little kid!

[Still, he can't argue with that kind of alibi. He sighs.]

I'll just say that Yotsuyu tailored it for me as a surprise or something.

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