Hale, Finn, and Navy make their way to Keystone Hall first. It's empty everywhere except the training room. Finley is standing a few steps in front of Quin, back to you, arms crossed in front of them. There are a few knives embedded in the center of targets and a training dummy vertically sheared in half across the room. Finley spins around, smug smirk on their face, as usual. "Took you long enough. What, you stop for breakfast?"

I cross my arms as well, a measure of spite, and raise one eyebrow. "Fuck is that." "Oh, stopping is usually when you don't do something, and in this case it refers to moving. You should try it sometime." They wink. "So, you got your fancy new weapons? Ready to test them out?" I’m looking like monkey 1 monkey 2 up in this bitch. I just lean against the wall and watch. I answer by simply whipping out my axe and holding it ready in front of me. "I'll take that as a yes. You want advice, Hale?" They tilt their head at you, glancing at your axe. "I know I don't fucking know what I'm doing. Just tell me how to fix it," I say shortly. I step back from the game of chicken and walk over to Quin. “quin quin quin you gotta check out our gloves” I elbow Navy before expanding my claws Well! Time to bottle whatever the hell just happened up for later. Gotta look alive. “Shit, Finn!” I grin up at him. “That’s so cool! Green, huh?” Navy puts their newly gauntleted hands out in front of them as well, wiggling their fingers. "Damn right it'z cool. Look at uz." “glove gang” I hold my hand up to Navy for a high five. They high-five you, hard. Their gloves are much more solid and sharp than yours. It hurts for many reasons. “OOOOOOWWWwwww yyyyikes that was a good one” I grin a bit but am in so much pain. "I zhink zhat'z more painful zhan zapping you." Navy remarks, raising her eyebrows sharply. "I'll have to tezt zhat zheory later, when your hand feelz better." "Try something different." Finley recommends smartly. "Instead of a wave, try a stab- a bolt of energy like Quin does. And Quin, try a shockwave." They shrug. "Experiment. I don't make anything, I just shove it around. Use both the tools you have and the environment around to your advantage. But between us? The faster you move, the more easily you can win." "Stab? It's an axe." I frown and look at it, but point the tip at a dummy and try to fire off a bolt anyway. "A very pointy axe. Hey, I've stabbed people with a gun before." Finley watches. You successfully fire a bolt, but it zigs and zags around in the air, hitting the ground several feet away from the dummy you aimed at. I scowl. "I don't think it's made for that." I aim again, this time more carefully, and shoot again. My eyes light up. “stab people with a gun you say” I grab my rifle and wield it like a rapier towards Navy. In a mockingly theatrical voice “shall we” Navy snorts. "You really wanna fight? Do you have any idea how badly I'll kick your azz?" They give you finger guns and green electricity begins to spark across their gloves. This time the bolt only zigs and zags a little, clipping the edge of the dummy. Finley gives a hmm and squints between you and your target. Pythia and Cavall enter the room. Anyone else who is done can enter freely. oh sick. holding my new staff, i head over and step inside the room with a few curious glances around and a third, shorter "whoaaa". I raise an eyebrow at the display as we make our way in, "Hey buddy, $$he'$$ not bluffing you know!" I then slow down a bit to fall in step with Pythia and whisper, "*$$he beat ME at card$$, if $$he wanted to $$he could pummel that kid in her $$leep I'm $$ure.*" I clap my hands and grin at her, "But anyway$$, you ready for thi$$ $$hit??" Pythia hums and leans toward you, whispering something back. "It's probably the height." She leans away with a wink and steps forward, drawing her sword. She doesn't use the dragon sword this time, wielding a normal one instead. "I'm always ready." I pull my normal pen out then, turning it into my red sword with ease now that I've gotten the hang of it. "Well then let'$$ go!" She goes for the attack first, quickly swinging at Pythia. Pythia blocks and laughs. "You're quick, aren't you? Well, I've still got a few tips. You're a seer, like me, which means you don't get any superpowers to use in combat besides knowing where and when to hit." She taps her temple with her free hand. "You'e a seer of breath, which means you can see air, movement, and movement in air. Try using that to your advantage. And later, I'd recommend blindfolding yourself and learning to only rely on your inner sight. It can be useful." “i wanna test these bad boys out besides maybe I might win against you for once” "Maybe not on her?" Parker floats into the room with a suggestion, grinning at Finn brightly. "Besides, you have powers to learn about!" I deflate a bit. I was looking forward to sparring. “fiiiiine” I stow my rifle and turn to Parker. “lead the way” Parker floats over the Lygaris and off to the side, gesturing for you to follow. "It's pretty easy! You just have to do what you feel, but you have to be careful not to feel too much." “but ive basically been doing that already” "Well then, I guess you can go ahead and go spar! I'll just be over here in the corner." Parker lands and crosses his arms behind his back, kicking a rock on the floor as he absently smiles down at it. “wait sorry i didnt mean it like that let me apologize” “sorry sorry” I sit down in front of Parker. “what ya got teach” "Don't worry about it, I'm just kidding." Parker laughs a little, uncrossing his arms, holding his hands up instead. "Space and heart are different aspects, but they have a lot of similarities. As an heir, you'll have no trouble using your powers at all. It's important to remember to be careful! Just losing your temper can result in a lot of damage." "Heart, like space, is all around you. People, souls, feelings. Even when you're alone, places carry emotions. Try reaching out and telling me what you can sense." I close my eyes. I don’t extend myself. “im feeing a lot of angst” I open one eye and look at Parker. "Funny!" Parker chuckles under his breath, glancing behind him at Finley and Hale. "I can feel that one too." Finley shoots a quick glare at Parker over their shoulder. He waves cheekily. I copy the motion, unaware that Finley's doing the same. I grin at Hale. I wave as well, completely aware that Parker is doing the same. I turn back to Parker. “ok game time” I extend myself and see what I can feel. On the surface layer, around you, are all of the people in the room. They all feel different, but those who are related do share some similarities. Parker, for example, just feels familiar to you. You're pleasantly surprised to note that you can feel almost exactly where Hale is. Navy and Finley are probably the most difficult people in the room to ignore or look around. What do I feel if I go deeper? Trying to feel the people more fully results in a few varied flashes of pain, and only a glimpse below the surface. Most people in this room automatically defend themselves against emotional vulnerability. "Try the building, or further out into the city." Parker recommends. I stretch myself out and try and find uhhhhh Pythia. Pythia's shell isn't so much a shell, like on the Lygaris, but a shield. A shield that lowers when you ask nicely. Pythia is excited about Cavall and getting to teach her. Her emotions and thoughts are racing with doubt and energy, and she's letting that energy keep her floating above her dread concerning what the future holds. I feel bad witnessing this, and try to give her a bit of hope with all of us here together. Once that is done, I pull away and look up at Parker. “are uh are things really as bad as Pythia thinks” Parker's smile drops in worry, and he glances over at Pythia, who returns the glance. "We... We'll see. Hopefully it'll all be fine." “hm” “hopefully” I lose the somber look on my face and look back to Parker in earnest. “alright what else you got” Cavall listens carefully to Pythia’s advice and thinks for a second before nodding, “Alright, i’ll give it a $$hot!” She squints at Pythia in concentration while readying her sword for another strike. I’m assuming there aren’t because it’s her, but are there any openings I can see? Parker grins. "Sensing is fun and all, but you're no seer. You inherit the feelings around you, but you have the power to change them too." He folds his legs under him and floats down to the floor, matching your position. "Practice on me. Make sure not to influence anyone else in the room. And yes, I know you've already done this, just do it again." Pythia is good. Very good. Nonetheless, she is leaving herself open to her left arm, if you're fast. I scowl a bit. I focus on Parker, and try to instill in Parker the tiniest bit of guilt for trying to play matchmaker earlier with Hale and myself. "You know," Finley begins, and when they begin they sure don't ever end, "I'm no expert on killing people, but I'm pretty sure that dummy is still alive. Unless that's what you're going for, which, good for you." I get impatient somewhere in the middle of their snarky rant, and, maintaining eye contact the entire time, reach out to grab the dummy around the midsection and yank it towards me. I chop it in half, no powers, and the mangled halves go crashing against the far wall. "Seems pretty dead to me." Parker frowns and sticks an arm out, unexpectedly poking you in the chest where your heart is. "Hey, not fair!" You suddenly feel a little guilty for... trying to make him guilty. Hey, wait. He grins at you. "I create emotions, you manipulate them. Also, that isn't fair, try something else." "Very cool Hale, thank you." Finley remarks smartly. "You know, for a class who's supposed to create, you sure are wonderful at destruction." Navy glides towards Finley and points at them accusatorially. "Zhow me how to zteal ztuff." Touché, father. Two can play at this game. I send the feeling of longing towards him and directi his gaze toward Finley. “hows that one” I scowl and put away my axe. Nothing productive is coming of this lesson. They can do their stealing thing. I'll figure it out on my own. I grin and go in for a quick swing at her left side, but Try to focus and keep an eye out for any movement if I need to adjust my attack. Parker's ears lay back against his head as he stares at Finley for a few seconds, blank, mouth the tiniest bit open in distraction. He snaps his head back towards you and gives you a second of the same blank stare, but his ears perk straight up and he grins lazily. Your father turns his head again, speaking across the room. "Hey, Hale! If you're not busy, could you come over here?" I have realized my mistake. I have been made the fool. I whisper underneath my breath, not loud enough for Hale to hear, but directly to Parker. I step back from the game of chicken and walk over to Quin. “no no no no no no no im sorry please dad no” Pythia moves, but not in a way you can comprehend. Her form blurs and your sword swings through open air. Your mother's voice comes from behind you. "Just one more thing. See that weird bullshit move I did? I'm gonna teach you how to do that." Cavall jumps in surprise and quickly turns to guard herself while glancing from where Pythia just was and then back to where she is, “Wait what- what the fuck wa$$ that??” Something feels wrong here, but I can't tell what. I walk over and cross my arms. "What." "You asked for it." Parker whispers to Finn with a covert wink before smiling up at Hale. "I was wondering if you'd like me to try and teach you a few things? At the same time as Finn, of course. Maybe you could learn together. I'm sure there are some good fraymotifs between an heir of heart and a sylph of rage." I look back and forth between them and take a seat, cross legged, arms still crossed as well, as is the Lygari way. "Sure," I say bluntly. "It's called flashstepping. All it is, really, is moving faster than most can comprehend. And when you don't have any flashy powers to speak of, speed is necessary." Pythia demonstrates this again, flashstepping over to a dummy and swinging her sword like a baseball bat through the middle of it, chopping it in half with her momentum. "Not many people know how! I'm one of 'em." She calls over to you from the dilapidated mess of foam stuffing spread all over the ground. Cavall quickly turns to see where she went and raises her eyebrows at the demolished dummy, "Holy $$hit. That is. $$O. FUCKING. COOL!!!" She strains to contain her enthusiasm a bit but fails completely, her eyes brimming with excitement with an enormous grin on her face, and colorful sparks unintentionally flash out from her hands. "You're gonna teach me to do THAT $$hit??" I stow my primal fear of what Parker just did and smile. "sure what were you thinking" "Sure am! I figured you should know." Pythia grins at your visible enthusiasm, leaning on her sword. "But I will warn you, it's not easy. Are you sure you're up for it?" She quirks an eyebrow, half taunting you, half trying to be a good mother. Parker floats a few inches off the ground and turns his head to Hale. "Rage can be closely related to heart. Have you ever used your powers to make someone angry?" I slowly shake my head. "No." "Well! Now is a good time to learn. Try to make me angry." Parker nods at you and waits. He doesn't seem to realize that you literally have no idea what the fuck you are doing. I narrow my eyes at him, but in a confused way. "Uh... fuck you?" Cavall's face suddenly turns stoic and she crosses her arms with a determined stare, with her sword pointed at the ground. "Mom, I am up for ANYTHING." A smug grin creeps onto her face and she mimics Pythia's stance by uncrossing her arms to lean on her own sword, "Try me." Parker blinks, surprised, and gives a tiny huff of laughter, trying to keep a straight face for your sake. "Oh. Right! Uh. With your powers. Not with words or anything." I frown and close my eyes. Yeah, I'm not feeling this. I open my eyes. "I only know what to do with the anger when it is inside of me," I explain slowly. And I am very much Not afraid of attempting this. Parker tilts his head to the side slightly, one ear flopping over. "What do you mean? I can try to help, if you want. I mean, my secondary is maid, which is passive creation, and sylph is active creation, which is... convoluted, but similar?" You aren't really sure what he's talking about. I look at Finn for any help at all, and then back at Parker. "What," I finally say, "are you talking about." I look at Parker. “would i even be of any help” "Yeah. Yeah. Uh. Uh." Parker frowns. "Give me a second. I'm thinking." Hale feels something strange in his head. It doesn't hurt, more of just a quiet poking than anything. "Then let's dance." Pythia beckons you towards her. "Move to me as fast as you can." I try to shove it out on instinct, then force myself to relax. "That's you, right." I say to Parker, more of a question than anything else. "Huh? What?" Parker snaps out of whatever dreamland he was off in to blink at you again. "Who? Where? I don't know what you're talking about, sorry." "In my... m-" I cut off and press my lips together, throwing up every mental wall at my disposal. "Never mind," I say shortly. A moment of respite passes before whoever is mentally assaulting you drills through your meager protections. Your hands twitch involuntarily. I don't like this at all. I look around. If it's not Parker, who the fuck is it? I piece whatever I can back together and summon just about as much Get The Fuck Out Or Else energy as I can muster. You spot the culprit far behind you. Finley is standing, arms crossed, watching you, just behind your sibling. Navy has a hand outstretched to you and both her eyes are pressed closed in concentration. I jump to my feet and spin around to face her. I whip out a single superpowered middle finger that sends a very weak shockwave at her, only strong enough to maybe make her stumble. 'Piss off," I mouth, and narrow my eyes. Navy does, in fact, stumble backwards a little. Finley laughs. Navy's eyes snap open and she scowls, spinning around to Finley and zapping them instead with a fistful of green lightning. They shock her right back with their rage lightning, no longer laughing, then the two just stand there and frown at one another. It's no longer my problem. I turn back around and sit. "Are you done thinking." Maia walks in. Yippee! I step a bit further into the room. I am not quite sure where I should be going in here, or what I should necessarily be doing at the moment, so I elect to just look around the room at everything going down for the time being. Oh look! Candra and Quin walk in. They're holding hands. I am very cautious in saying this as I feel like it’s a trap on Parker’s part. “so uh what exactly is my part in the fraymotif” Sebastian and Ryker enter a good minute or so after Candra and Quin do. "Yes!" Parker's ears snap up. "I think I've got it. Finn, you and Hale should try a natural fraymotif first, to see if that lets Hale more easily pick up on how to create rage." “huh” "What's an unnatural fraymotif." "An unnatural fraymotif is one that's forced, or done specifically." Parker grins, glancing between the two of you. "A true natural fraymotif would be a complete accident, technically. I just specified 'natural' because it has to be as accidental and loose as possible to really work." I frown. "Doesn't what we're doing defeat the point, then." I open my mouth ready with an idea. I then replay what Parker said. “wait yeah we cant do an accidental fraymotif on purpose” "Okay, first of all, I said 'true natural'. Second of all, it's heart, so most things are natural." Parker surveys your blank expressions, disgruntled, and casually rolls his eyes. Faster than you can blink, he squints, pops his rifle out of his sylladex, and fires it straight up into the air with a deafening bang. I jump straight up and fly and hide behind Hale. “HEY WHAT THE HECK” Decidedly fucking rattled by the SUDDEN GUNSHOT right next to my EARS, I jump to my feet, running on only instinct and adrenaline, and shove him away as hard as I can with my powers. Parker goes tumbling backwards, but floats through the air and manages to right himself several feet away, standing as well. His rifle is still in hand. "Sorry about that, but I've made my point. You both reacted instantly and negatively, a combination of fear, anger, and surprise. That's what a rage and heart fraymotif IS." His ears flatten a little as he continues more slowly to make sure you comprehend him. "That was a natural response, by players with emotionally reactive aspects. But- there's no reason it has to be that negative. Just- try to hold onto that feeling you just had, together. Work with it." I’m not a fan of what just happened. I narrow my eyes at Parker before turning back to Hale. “before someone shot a gun off near us I had an idea” “hale lets try this when i give you the signal i need you to focus on the emotion im sending your way and channel it out your shockwave ax thingy” “dad would you mind throwing some space stuff at us” I shake my head to clear the ringing from my ears. "No. There's a lot of people in here now. I could hit someone." My face scrunches up a bit. “yeah that probably would not have worked. I scowl. "Let's just do it. Just... gotta figure out how." I close my eyes and try to focus on that feeling I just had. I sigh, shake out all the fear from the adrenaline and focus on the fact that I jumped to Hale reflexively. I grab his hand and try to extend that feeling to Hale. I turn and grab his other hand so that we're facing each other. Most of that response was fear, panic, anger at Parker for pulling that bullshit. But it was also the instantaneous instinct to do whatever needed to be done to keep Finn safe. I draw that out, isolate it, and focus on it. With minimal effort, a soft glow overtakes your hands, a lovely red-violet. You each can feel exactly what the other feels; panic, adrenaline, but the overwhelming safety of the other. It's strange to be in someone else's mind, but it's even stranger to be in someone else's heart. I’m fully grinning. I meet his eyes, and, for the first time in a really long time, I think, I relax. I look back at Hale, and, likewise, for the first time since the shield on the island dropped, I’m feeling safe and protected. You're too busy feeling emotions and staring into each other's eyes to notice Parker beaming at you, pupils glittering with stars. The feeling only grows stronger. You feel like you can really relax and let your guard down, breathing without worrying about anything else. A few other people see you doing your thing and have various silent reactions, but it isn't really important. I let go of Hale’s hands, and reach up and give him an honest to god hug. I whisper “thanks for everything” I wrap my arms around him in turn and bury my face in his shoulder. "Yeah," I whisper back. "You too." Pirine and Lirium walk in, followed closely by Cashel and Levett. Rigel comes in last, alone. Everyone is here. I pull away, wipe away a small happy tear and wave to the rest of the group that’s joined us.