[ Qrow keeps staring, shocked or distressed — Gerry isn’t sure which. Maybe both. It’s as if he’s expecting Gerry to be scared or angry, although Gerry doesn’t really see any reason to be. Gerry would like to put Qrow at ease, if he can.
He starts by keeping the conversation moving. ]
Nah, the Fairchilds are a group of avatars of the Vast. They’re the ones who get a kick out of throwing people off of buildings. And yeah, I’m an art teacher over at the high school. I’ve got some people from your world in my classes.
[ Gerry takes another bite of pancake, then circles back to addressing Qrow’s expression, his worry. Gerry thinks he understands it, at least a little. Gerry thinks he might be able to help. ]
Look, I’m not gonna bite you or get weirded out. Marking myself for the Eye — it cursed me, too. I’d be more of a monster if I wasn’t dead. But I picked the Eye because I think it’s least evil out of all those powers out there. It’s about seeing people, you know? That can be good, if it’s done right. Or if you don’t get seen enough, I guess.
[ Gerry takes another bite, chews, and swallows. ]
Sorry, I got real sentimental there. Point is, I see you, and I really don’t mind any of it.
Yikes. In our defense, we don't just go launching people who haven't gone to the prep schools already. Can't really practice a landing strategy without a defensive Aura built up first. What's the Vast?
[He was going to ask who Gerry has had in his class, but then the younger man continues talking, and Qrow straight-up chokes on his pancake at that last part. Give him a minute.
....Once he has his lungs in order again, he--well, he still doesn't know how to react. A familiar defensive instinct says he ought to pull back and retreat behind a wall, to throw out a you don't even know me to protect himself from this unexpected acceptance. But for all Qrow acts tough, projecting an irreverent, devil-may-care attitude....he's still as vulnerable to kindness as he was when he was seventeen. Perhaps more, in some ways.
After some moments of quiet:]
You know, I'd say "give it time", but a--[his voice catches there, unsure how to describe the nature of his relationship with Clover; after all, he'd been the one to resist it when it had come up, that day in the group chat] a friend said I shouldn't do that anymore.
[Does it count as a deflection if he's calling himself out for deflecting? Well, probably. But he doesn't know how to actually accept what Gerry says. To express any gratitude or appreciation for the thought, because it'd mean acknowledging the implication that this guy has some supernatural gift of knowing and sees Qrow as a worthwhile person anyway.]
I, uh. I don't know how it works with your entities and all, but if you ever wanted to....un-mark yourself, or something, maybe I could help you protect yourself without it. I--used to be a combat teacher too, at one point.
[ Gerry watches Qrow choke on his pancake, a little nervous. Is this more bad luck, or is Qrow just really upset? Is it both? Is Gerry going to have to do one of those anti-choking maneuvers? He honestly has no idea how to perform any of those. This is not ideal.
Thankfully, the pancake seems to go down eventually. Qrow can breathe again, and Gerry relaxes a little. He registers that little pause before Qrow says friend, although he doesn’t think much of it. Qrow is sick and experiencing some feelings. Gerry honestly is proud that the other man is speaking at all. ]
I mean, I can, but I doubt I’ll change my mind. [ Gerry taps his skull with his index finger. ] Spooky all-knowing powers, remember? My snap judgments are usually pretty good.
[ This is not entirely true. He’s good at recognizing when someone is supernaturally bad news, but otherwise? No such luck. Just ask Gertrude Robinson.
Then Qrow suggests that Gerry might be able to un-mark himself, and Gerry smiles sadly at that. It’s a nice thought. It’s also a deeply unrealistic one. ]
Couldn’t un-mark myself, even if I wanted to. I’m just glad the Entities aren’t as active here. [ Gerry knows it’s sad that is only chance at a normal life is in a hellish dreamscape, but he’ll take what he can get. ] I’d like to learn, though. You saw me back there — I’m not so good with regular monsters.
[He feels that pang under his ribs again, when Gerry mentions the all-knowing powers. It's -- not a bad feeling, but there's something terrifying about someone who doesn't even know him throwing the weight of some supernatural evidence to his belief. It reminds him of the time he'd met Ozpin, the way he'd been caught up in the tidal wave of affirmation and kindness, the way he'd been driven to live up to the faith placed in him.]
I guess we'll see how it goes. Or you will. Heh.
[What was that about not deflecting ..... sounds fake tbh. He goes back to his pancake, ignoring the embarrassed heat at the back of his neck.]
Anyway...teaching you to defend yourself wouldn't be too hard. I'll drop you a line when I've got the energy for spars again.
[ Gerry grins wide and laughs a little. Regardless of whether or not this is the case, he thinks Qrow has made a terrific Eye-related pun by using the word see. ]
Good one! Guess I will.
[ Gerry’s laughter mercifully stops once he takes a bite of his own pancake. After he finishes the bite: ]
Yeah, just let me know. I’m free anytime except school days. Honestly, you could come during school and I don’t think the kids would mind. I’ve got this one student who sticks to pretty much weapons schematics the entire time, I’m sure she’d be real excited about a break for weapons.
[It was, in fact, intentional. He has lived too long among the Xiao-Longs to not have been infected to some degree by the inclination for punnery.
He's going to remark that if Gerry isn't a hardass about the kids being on task the entire class period, he certainly has no objections, but then the younger man describes his one student, and Qrow's expression tips into a soft grin. For perhaps the first time in this whole conversation, there isn't a trace of discomfort in his expression.]
[ Gerry has not met any of the Xiao Longs, but if he did, he’d love their sense of humor.
Qrow knows his student! Nice! ]
Yeah, you know her? Kid’s got great enthusiasm.
[ It’s nice, to see that soft smile on Qrow’s face. Gerry doesn’t know if he gets to smile like that often. Hopefully, he does. Gerry’s just glad he was able to bring it out — this whole thing was meant to thank Qrow, after all, not make him uncomfortable. ]
[He could point out that they're technically not related by blood and any resemblance is largely because she modeled her style after him, but...it's not really necessary. She is his niece, just like Summer is Yang's mom too. Perhaps he'll tell this guy the story sometime.]
Butt of course.
[With the smuggest shit-eatingest grin possible. This is, of course, total bull. Qrow Branwen can't draw.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He starts by keeping the conversation moving. ]
Nah, the Fairchilds are a group of avatars of the Vast. They’re the ones who get a kick out of throwing people off of buildings. And yeah, I’m an art teacher over at the high school. I’ve got some people from your world in my classes.
[ Gerry takes another bite of pancake, then circles back to addressing Qrow’s expression, his worry. Gerry thinks he understands it, at least a little. Gerry thinks he might be able to help. ]
Look, I’m not gonna bite you or get weirded out. Marking myself for the Eye — it cursed me, too. I’d be more of a monster if I wasn’t dead. But I picked the Eye because I think it’s least evil out of all those powers out there. It’s about seeing people, you know? That can be good, if it’s done right. Or if you don’t get seen enough, I guess.
[ Gerry takes another bite, chews, and swallows. ]
Sorry, I got real sentimental there. Point is, I see you, and I really don’t mind any of it.
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[He was going to ask who Gerry has had in his class, but then the younger man continues talking, and Qrow straight-up chokes on his pancake at that last part. Give him a minute.
....Once he has his lungs in order again, he--well, he still doesn't know how to react. A familiar defensive instinct says he ought to pull back and retreat behind a wall, to throw out a you don't even know me to protect himself from this unexpected acceptance. But for all Qrow acts tough, projecting an irreverent, devil-may-care attitude....he's still as vulnerable to kindness as he was when he was seventeen. Perhaps more, in some ways.
After some moments of quiet:]
You know, I'd say "give it time", but a--[his voice catches there, unsure how to describe the nature of his relationship with Clover; after all, he'd been the one to resist it when it had come up, that day in the group chat] a friend said I shouldn't do that anymore.
[Does it count as a deflection if he's calling himself out for deflecting? Well, probably. But he doesn't know how to actually accept what Gerry says. To express any gratitude or appreciation for the thought, because it'd mean acknowledging the implication that this guy has some supernatural gift of knowing and sees Qrow as a worthwhile person anyway.]
I, uh. I don't know how it works with your entities and all, but if you ever wanted to....un-mark yourself, or something, maybe I could help you protect yourself without it. I--used to be a combat teacher too, at one point.
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Thankfully, the pancake seems to go down eventually. Qrow can breathe again, and Gerry relaxes a little. He registers that little pause before Qrow says friend, although he doesn’t think much of it. Qrow is sick and experiencing some feelings. Gerry honestly is proud that the other man is speaking at all. ]
I mean, I can, but I doubt I’ll change my mind. [ Gerry taps his skull with his index finger. ] Spooky all-knowing powers, remember? My snap judgments are usually pretty good.
[ This is not entirely true. He’s good at recognizing when someone is supernaturally bad news, but otherwise? No such luck. Just ask Gertrude Robinson.
Then Qrow suggests that Gerry might be able to un-mark himself, and Gerry smiles sadly at that. It’s a nice thought. It’s also a deeply unrealistic one. ]
Couldn’t un-mark myself, even if I wanted to. I’m just glad the Entities aren’t as active here. [ Gerry knows it’s sad that is only chance at a normal life is in a hellish dreamscape, but he’ll take what he can get. ] I’d like to learn, though. You saw me back there — I’m not so good with regular monsters.
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I guess we'll see how it goes. Or you will. Heh.
[What was that about not deflecting ..... sounds fake tbh. He goes back to his pancake, ignoring the embarrassed heat at the back of his neck.]
Anyway...teaching you to defend yourself wouldn't be too hard. I'll drop you a line when I've got the energy for spars again.
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Good one! Guess I will.
[ Gerry’s laughter mercifully stops once he takes a bite of his own pancake. After he finishes the bite: ]
Yeah, just let me know. I’m free anytime except school days. Honestly, you could come during school and I don’t think the kids would mind. I’ve got this one student who sticks to pretty much weapons schematics the entire time, I’m sure she’d be real excited about a break for weapons.
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He's going to remark that if Gerry isn't a hardass about the kids being on task the entire class period, he certainly has no objections, but then the younger man describes his one student, and Qrow's expression tips into a soft grin. For perhaps the first time in this whole conversation, there isn't a trace of discomfort in his expression.]
Let me guess, Ruby Rose?
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Qrow knows his student! Nice! ]
Yeah, you know her? Kid’s got great enthusiasm.
[ It’s nice, to see that soft smile on Qrow’s face. Gerry doesn’t know if he gets to smile like that often. Hopefully, he does. Gerry’s just glad he was able to bring it out — this whole thing was meant to thank Qrow, after all, not make him uncomfortable. ]
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[He holds a straight face for about three seconds, and then smirks cheekily.]
She is my niece, after all.
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[ Gerry nods slowly, still smiling. That....actually makes a ton of sense. ]
I can see the resemblance. Were you the one who taught her how to draw cartoon chicken butts in fine detail? She’s been working on that a lot, lately.
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Butt of course.
[With the smuggest shit-eatingest grin possible. This is, of course, total bull. Qrow Branwen can't draw.]