[text message to Elliott]

[hardtoignore]

Elliott. I need help with something.

Comments

[hardtoignore]

[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?

[bearshermark]

[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?

[hardtoignore]

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

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

[bearshermark]

[He smiles- as reassuringly as possible]

Yeah.

[hardtoignore]

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.]

[bearshermark]

[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]

[hardtoignore]

[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!

[bearshermark]

[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.

[hardtoignore]

[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...]

[bearshermark]

[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.

[hardtoignore]

[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.

[bearshermark]

[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.

[hardtoignore]

[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.

[bearshermark]

[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.

[hardtoignore]

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...

[bearshermark]

[He shrugs, then grins]

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

[hardtoignore]

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.

[bearshermark]

[He chuckles, looking only slightly apologetic]

Yeah, that's good. I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind if we just told her that if your guardians ever asked about it.

[hardtoignore]

Yeah...

Um, speaking of that... I ran into Mister Martin the other day.

[bearshermark]

[While his brain spends a brief moment struggling with 'speaking of', he's definitely more concerned by the rest, stomach sinking fast]

..Yeah? What did he want?

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence's face twisted into something sour.]

He accused me of causing trouble and said I should trust everything he said was true. You know, that kinda bullspit.

It's like he was accusing me of doing things to upset the Bureau on purpose or something.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott frowns]

But.. you haven't, right?

[hardtoignore]

Of course not! Despite all appearances, I'm generally well-behaved.

[But it's definitely a bummer that people can't take the hint that "Leave me alone" face and posture often translate into "I'm a terrible person who does terrible things and you just haven't caught me yet" in most adults' eyes.]

[bearshermark]

[Elliott's arms fold]

He came to me, too.. asking about what I knew about an anti-Bureau sentiment. I guess they're worried we are going to cause trouble for them.

[hardtoignore]

Oh, like the stuff Anakin goes on about? Thinking they're up to something...

[Clarence shrugs.]

I mean, even if we discover the truth behind the Bureau, what can we do about it? There's only like... what? Maybe fifty Different at most? A hundred? That's hardly an army.