Welcome to Gaia! ::

"There is a saying, about accepting shirts from naked men. You reiterate again something that I just explained the reason of, as if the reason didn't matter to you. You accept no help, insist you are strong, yet begin this in admitting I was right to say that we should seek what help we could. And accuse me of the same. It is a strange loop. You don't listen. It makes it hard to talk to you, knowing nothing I do say matters for it's own sake. I don't know what to expect out of you, Eurydike. Or what you want from me. " Thraen's eyes half closed. He turned, facing aside from Eurydike's flush, since it plainly seemed to bother the man to have any need or another, to make any mistake, or such 'weaknesses'.

"What you will is what you will. I hope your heart weathers all of it, and does not darken in the worst hours that will come in the proverbial dark of men's souls. Firebrands burn brightly, or they break by their own forge. My offers do not end, if you ever do see fit to note it not a weakness or failing, and instead a strength to have an ally. It does not encourage calling on you, knowing how you look on it of yourself. But if I am able, and in need, I will remember your reassurance that you are not adverse to the harsh choice. "

"Was there anything else? I do not relish being right where it scars and wounds others. I would rather it had prevented. I appreciate the sentiment of telling me face to face, and checking in...but I dislike the plain notes of putting you out, insulting you with kindness or mentorship. "

‘I lost my goddamn job’
‘my ********' fiance’
‘I'm too ********' slow to read the goddamn primer’
‘Yes, I need help.’
Yet Money is the easiest thing to alleviate at least the problem of a job. And you seem just as angry at offers of groceries, job searching. Essentially everything. You make it impossible to help you. You’re a mess.

Arms crossed, eyes down- it was a close down. It was also like watching someone fall to pieces in seconds, as much as watching Colin, or having seen Zicornia in the same straights. Awkward, emotional moments where, in most cases, it would have been better that they had been near literally any other human being on the planet than Quenton Marinus. Like Colin, then, try to start with actions and physical communication in place of verbal. It might speak more and closer to him.

Thraen put out a long hand, took the crimson-draped shoulder firmly, holding him in place, then stepped forward and wrapped the other arm around Eurydike to flat palm between his shoulders. Craned down a little in the hug. He gave it a moment to settle in, focussing the sensation of his throat and tone to try to be as even, quiet and clear as possible. “ I will help you, Eurydike. “

“Tell me, rather than ‘shoulds’ or ‘oughts’ told at you. How can I best help you.” This is so...backwards. Trusting him to have any clue when he’s already flailing, but trying to do so from the outside is just making him flail more. This is not what I am accustomed to. It’s like something those useless counselors from the hospital would say. But... try. It one way doesn’t work, than try another. And another. Shaking him like a snow globe or slapping him isn’t going to work more than what has been done- you can’t get more obvious than pointing out what is ridiculous and them agree with you and then they still say ‘no’. But he needs help and is saying that much, and I’ve promised I was going to try. I tried with the Black Watch. Try here. Try harder. Help him.

“Will you trust me? Come with me. To my apartment. We power down before we get there- stay awhile over a cup of tea, or coffee, or cocoa, or cider. Whatever you want. Studying is easier with something to occupy your hands, as well as the little boost of caffeine or blood sugar. We’ll cover some of the basics - auditory, visually, kinesthetically. “ Thraen waited until the other was finished talking to reply and back a little in the hug to a looser, friendly distance. Still arm’s reach in, and possibly for Eurydike to keep a hand on if it was steadying to have contact. He didn’t approach the protests of ‘dumbness.’

Too like Alois in that manner, depreciating himself and daring others to disagree with it. Only to turn around and use that, likely, as all the more venom that everyone is calling him wrong. Blame in his heart that he is not being actualized. Vitriol poured over and over, whether the speaker intended or not. Every verbal step becomes a game of landmines. For now it will have to be demonstration, rather than words. With application of more than one teaching method, he can learn and have it demonstrated to him how there is more than one intelligence. More than just lectures. The value of dedication and work.

“However much you feel up to tonight. We can meet as many times as it takes, and cover it end to end- each of the factions, ranks, powers, the phone systems, mauvians, the silver millennium, reincarnation, homeworlds, all of it. And we can meet for sessions where you can test out your magic on me and we’ll work on tactics of it so that you know exactly how long it lasts, how far it casts, how many targets, how many times you can cast. ”

"Will you come? If the revelation of civilian identity bothers you, then the only other option for now, with safety, is that I can take you to Thraen, and we can talk there at length without fear of attack. I've built up a campsite there, so there's supply, chairs, lanterns and plenty of art supplies for notes and making diagrams. "

He seems so young. He doesn't look like he could be much younger or older than I am.

"Coffee then. " Thraen nodded, and resisted the social impulse to offer any sort 'reassuring' smile. Wednesday Addams was not reassuring, and his own tended in the same vein. It was either look like a sociopath, or look like a megalomaniac villain, neither of which were on his A-list. He took a moment, examining the angles of trees, streetlights, buildings and any other structure in their area hard. "In more and more cities since the early 2000s, a surveillance policy has been placed of ' A Camera On Every Corner, Park And Sidewalk'. It's expensive, both for the cameras and the software, but $10,000 of public monies here and there every half year to secure hotspot intersections and grow out from there means quite a few areas of every city are on 24 hour feed. "

He didn't note any cameras that had their area on watch, and his uniform faded away. "The magic might protect us from direct association and identification in face to face interactions, but it doesn't seem a leap of logic for a policeman watching a video from one camera to see a terrorist drop their uniform, note the time and date, and have another officer check all other cameras in that area for who was there and then they might have a pool of 1-5 likely persons. The college campus is a hot district for it. "

His own dress was underwhelming as usual. A dark grey Henley pocked with holes at the seams and worn to translucence over faded, equally frayed jeans. A pair of cap toe boots kept his feet from pavement. On his right hand was jewelry out of some material, like the complete bones of another hand had been connected with clasps or pieces of chain, clasped over-top his own. "We're not far at all. A few blocks. "

Quenton opened his stance, inviting the other man to walk beside, as started for the direction he knew led home. "Being willing to keep trying to communicate, in spite of frustrations and differences, is thanks and apology enough. But thank you- it takes a lot to say the words, and sometimes we need it more for ourselves than others. My name is Quenton. "