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 Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:09 pm
 kauffpost oneKauff had an appointment with his son.
On any other day, he would have just walked up to his kid and started a conversation, but Layn had insisted that they meet at a specific time in a specific place. It was weird. Kauff gladly agreed to it anyway.
He was early, but only by a minute or two. The meeting was just outside. It wasn't like he'd had far to go.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 5:20 pm
 laynpost oneLayn burst from the house right on time, pushing a small wheelbarrow filled with carefully labeled bottles and vials. He had spent all morning preparing in his room, and though he was a little nervous about this planned presentation, his excitement outweighed all else.
"Hi, Papa! I'm glad you came!"
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Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:04 pm
kauffpost two"Of course I did!"
He might have clapped Layn on the back or lifted him into the air had there not been so many delicate-looking things around. As it was, he leaned over the cart and peered at all of the little containers.
"So, what's all this about?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:09 pm
laynpost two"I'm making things with the stuff you got me! It's why I wanted to talk to you today."
He tried to keep things serious, but Layn couldn't help his grin.
"I want you to try some!"
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:14 pm
kauffpost threeHe'd been pleased that the gifts they had gotten for the kids had been so well received. As long as Layn didn't go mixing together anything weird, he supposed he could give these mysterious creations a try.
"Yeah, sure." Kauff tried to look as supportive and unconcerned as he could. "I'd be happy to help."
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:22 pm
laynpost threePapa was great at playing dumb and even a decent actor around people who didn't know him, but Layn could tell he was a little nervous about all this.
"Don't worry! There's no blood or poop in any of 'em, just like you said!" He'd only used safe medicines and powders from the healer.
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:10 pm
kauffpost fourKauff laughed. "Well, that's good. Thanks." He wondered what might be in them instead, but with the size of these vials, he was mostly confident that it would be okay. He couldn't be poisoned by such a tiny amount, right?
"So, yeah. What's first?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2024 8:14 pm
laynpost fourLayn's eyes widened. His first earthling test subject! While he was confident that the ingredients in his bottles weren't dangerous by themselves, he had been a little afraid to try them himself. But papa was strong! Everything would be fine.
With a nod, he rummaged around in the wheelbarrow, trying to decide which mixture to offer up first.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:18 pm
kauffpost fiveThe sparkle in his son's eyes left Kauff squinting his own, but more in amusement than suspicion. He tried not to crowd Layn as the boy dug through his things, reading labels and muttering to himself. Kauff was honestly in awe of the hobbies his kids had picked up—both so different from what he had been interested in at their age.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:38 pm
laynpost fiveFor at least half a minute, Layn held a small bottle full of orange liquid loosely in his fingers. It was one of his newer mixes, an experiment, and even though he knew Papa could take anything, he didn't want to start on a low note.
"So... I'm not gonna give you this one. It's probably not done!" He put it back in its spot, taking out a little blue vial instead. He held it out, leaning over and pressing it into his father's hand.
"This one's good though!"
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:44 pm
kauffpost sixThe vial was so small that Kauff wondered if anything would drip out of it, but once he tipped it back and forth, he saw that the stuff inside did move after all.
"Okay. Here goes!"
Kauff pulled off the tiny cork and downed the tincture as quickly as he could. The small amount that hit his tongue was bitter, but more like a spice for food than a poison.
He waited. Nothing happened.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:15 pm
laynpost sixLayn watched Papa's face with all of his concentration, looking for any reaction that might suggest something was happening. His frown grew as the minutes passed, and he eventually decided to busy himself by rummaging through his bottles, rather than waiting for a result that wasn't going to come.
Meh.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:54 pm
kauffpost sevenHe tried to feel something. Kauff closed his eyes and held his breath and wiggled his fingers and toes, anything to force a change, but nothing did. He watched Layn's expression go from excited to disappointed, and as the boy began looking through his vials, Kauff briefly considered lying. But then...
"Wait."
It was a little bit like what happened when he was in a fight, the way he felt a little invincible when he started hitting things.
"I feel sturdier. Like it'd hurt less if I got punched."
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:08 pm
laynpost sevenLayn hopped giddily from one foot to the other.
"That's what I was going for! It's supposed to make you tougher! So all I have to do is get it to work quicker?" He pat at Papa's arm. "How do I test the hurting less part?" He didn't want to punch his father, nor was he under the impression that it would hurt even if he did.
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:19 pm
kauffpost eight"Here. Let me try this." Kauff bent low, kneeling until he was eye to eye with his son, then pinched his own forearm as hard as he could. He could certainly feel it, but the pain was far less than what he would have expected.
"It definitely doesn't hurt as much. Good job!"
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