Blake gets it because Jayden gets it. They get each other, and weirdly enough, Blake's not sure how or why it's happened. By all rights, they're similar in so many ways, but it's really the differences that keep them glued together. Like they fill in spaces the other person couldn't quite occupy. Not for the first time, Blake wishes he could experience having a partner back home like Jayden: someone to watch his back, someone to bring the ideas that Blake hasn't considered himself.
"We sound like a coupla old grouches," he muses after a too-long moment, smiling slightly at his friend. He doesn't want to cut this conversation off at the legs, though, so he tries a bit more for the sake of their friendship. "But you're right: it's better I know how if it's somethin' I've got access to." God forbid he discover magic in the midst of something catastrophic or important. With his luck, he'll sit down for the first proper date in who knows how long and laser his companion until they're well-done.
He rubs his eyes, tired and in the midst of thought. "Maybe you can show me, I dunno. Just don't tell no one if I grow horns an' a tail or somethin'."
Jayden is typically not the type to work with a partner back at home, and it's for many reasons, ranging from Jayden's independence to his status as an ARI agent to him just generally being difficult to work with. All of that suits him fine, as he rarely feels the actual need or desire to have a partner, perfectly content to be left to work alone despite the increased risks that come along with doing so. But if he'd ever had a partner like Blake at home, maybe he would've felt differently.
In this situation, though, there's no doubt. He's really glad to have Blake here.
And he appreciates the extension of trust it likely takes for Blake to be willing to reconsider the magic issue. It of course makes Jayden suddenly very nervous, afraid that he won't be helpful or, worse, will turn out to be wrong and make things worse, but he knows logically that's unlikely. If only anxiety would listen to logic.
But for now he shoves those thoughts aside, nodding. "I promise, I won't be tellin' anyone about any new appendages you might end up with. I think you would've noticed 'em by now, though." At least from his understanding of how it works when people find themselves with those sorts of changes. And that said--
"I found out about my first power kind of by accident, but then when I knew what it was like to use it, it helped in figurin' out what the others were." Which might be a bit of an issue with Blake not knowing any of them yet, and not having learned any Abraxan magic either. "But from what I've heard, emotion's the most common way to discover the first one."
The laugh that escapes is almost robotic. Blake shakes his head, amused, saying, "Well, maybe that's my problem. Emotions? What're those?" Still, they know the lie it presents for both of them. How could they ignore it? Between them they'd run a hell of a gamut and a resolution to any of the offcentered nature of their lives has been stretched like taffy.
He stands, shifting as he's known to do when readying himself to relinquish Jayden's space. Their comfort comes so much from being able to read each other and Blake knows he doesn't need to signal his intentions. Still, he converses like this is just a continuation of a past conversation and a precursor to a future one.
"Next time over, I'm bringin' my 'A' game: acceptance, anger, admiration, affection, anxiety..." He can probably keep going with this joke if Jayden doesn't take the wheel.
It's such an obvious lie that Jayden doesn't even bother to side-eye it, just offering a tiny grin somewhere between knowing and self-deprecating. Yeah, they both might wish emotions weren't an issue, but that's because emotions cause most of their issues.
"You took all the good ones for A. I'm gonna have to bring..." Give him a moment to think. "Probably my D game. Despondence. Depression. Disapproval." A pause as he tries to think of more. "Doubt." Press X to Doubt? Wait wrong game.
And another brief pause as he realizes he should clarify. "Not directed at you, though. Any of that. I'm pretty sure you'll get the magic thing quick." And that said, and with Blake getting ready to leave--
"Thanks again, by the way." He really does appreciate the gloves, and not just because they're a thoughtful gift, but the gloves themselves are nice and he likes them a lot.
"Dick," Blake adds helpfully in order to properly round out Jayden's lineup, as well as give him the appropriate ribbing necessary after such a bizarre display; if Jayden is going to spare Blake from all those Ds, there's only one other logical target. And since they'd both somehow silently agreed to go easier on themselves, it feels appropriate to toss in that tiny reminder.
Full of calm amusement now, he pulls the other man into a proper hug, patting his back and slipping in a requisite hair ruffle as he lets go. "Don't mention it," Blake says, smile brightening all the more. He offers his friend a loose salute and off he goes.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-01-04 02:32 am (UTC)"We sound like a coupla old grouches," he muses after a too-long moment, smiling slightly at his friend. He doesn't want to cut this conversation off at the legs, though, so he tries a bit more for the sake of their friendship. "But you're right: it's better I know how if it's somethin' I've got access to." God forbid he discover magic in the midst of something catastrophic or important. With his luck, he'll sit down for the first proper date in who knows how long and laser his companion until they're well-done.
He rubs his eyes, tired and in the midst of thought. "Maybe you can show me, I dunno. Just don't tell no one if I grow horns an' a tail or somethin'."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-08 12:35 am (UTC)In this situation, though, there's no doubt. He's really glad to have Blake here.
And he appreciates the extension of trust it likely takes for Blake to be willing to reconsider the magic issue. It of course makes Jayden suddenly very nervous, afraid that he won't be helpful or, worse, will turn out to be wrong and make things worse, but he knows logically that's unlikely. If only anxiety would listen to logic.
But for now he shoves those thoughts aside, nodding. "I promise, I won't be tellin' anyone about any new appendages you might end up with. I think you would've noticed 'em by now, though." At least from his understanding of how it works when people find themselves with those sorts of changes. And that said--
"I found out about my first power kind of by accident, but then when I knew what it was like to use it, it helped in figurin' out what the others were." Which might be a bit of an issue with Blake not knowing any of them yet, and not having learned any Abraxan magic either. "But from what I've heard, emotion's the most common way to discover the first one."
no subject
Date: 2024-01-08 02:53 am (UTC)He stands, shifting as he's known to do when readying himself to relinquish Jayden's space. Their comfort comes so much from being able to read each other and Blake knows he doesn't need to signal his intentions. Still, he converses like this is just a continuation of a past conversation and a precursor to a future one.
"Next time over, I'm bringin' my 'A' game: acceptance, anger, admiration, affection, anxiety..." He can probably keep going with this joke if Jayden doesn't take the wheel.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-12 12:27 am (UTC)"You took all the good ones for A. I'm gonna have to bring..." Give him a moment to think. "Probably my D game. Despondence. Depression. Disapproval." A pause as he tries to think of more. "Doubt."
Press X to Doubt? Wait wrong game.And another brief pause as he realizes he should clarify. "Not directed at you, though. Any of that. I'm pretty sure you'll get the magic thing quick." And that said, and with Blake getting ready to leave--
"Thanks again, by the way." He really does appreciate the gloves, and not just because they're a thoughtful gift, but the gloves themselves are nice and he likes them a lot.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-15 03:31 am (UTC)Full of calm amusement now, he pulls the other man into a proper hug, patting his back and slipping in a requisite hair ruffle as he lets go. "Don't mention it," Blake says, smile brightening all the more. He offers his friend a loose salute and off he goes.