MoM IC Contact

[khajidont]

Jaime's cell phone is more or less plugged riiiight into his brain, so he tends to pick up like 99% of the time! If not, however...

"Hey, Jaime here! Leave a message, and I'll get back to you ASAP."

Comments

[khajidont]

That doesn't mean that the fact he lost it in the first place is okay!

[That explanation makes no sense. He's not even going to touch it for now. Later, he'll have Khaji play him back the conversation and he'll just about manage to muddle out the fact that Hunters - lunatics, the lot of them - went to some exclusive island where they could use weird magic and where... oh, who knows? Where they could be crazy in peace?

It's not really the point. He squeezes the bridge of his nose.]

And before you get on me, it's not just because you're kids. Something like that is traumatic for anybody.

[Or, at least, it should be.]

[gonstop]

Of course it's not okay!

[Killua doesn't actually grasp how it hadn't seemed like he'd thought that, too. Between the casual mentioning and attempts to cover it up so Jaime wouldn't go on a rant about anything, he doesn't seem to notice any signs of this being ingrained in him or all of them from that world of theirs.

He frowns a little more, raising one of his hands in a weighing motion.]

I had a few weeks to work on a plan, and I came up with a trap that worked in the end! But Gon got caught up in the fight and wanted to test himself. [He drops that hand again.] I was really mad! But at the same time, with Gon, you learn to expect things like that. I'd kind of already figured it into my planning, too.

[He pauses, thinking. Gon treated it really like it was nothing. No big deal, they fixed it and it was done.] He's seriously weird. I don't think it bugged him at all, because in the end, he got his way.

[khajidont]

He could really get into trouble going around like that. Especially here.

[People from their homes are doubtlessly strong, but people from Jaime's world are stronger. He considers Darkseid and Lobo. He considers himself. If you tangle with people like that, you're dead. Those consequences go beyond being hurt.

Though if Gon isn't troubled by missing limbs, what would he be troubled by?]

Have you... talked to him about that?

[gonstop]

[Talked to him... About his lack of care?]

Kind of, a few times. He doesn't really listen. [Not that he has room to talk. He stares down at his own hands now, brushing past one person on accident as he clenches and relaxes his fingers.] And I think I get it.

[Dropping his hands, he looks back to Jaime.] We're best friends. He's really strong, and he's probably going to make a lot of mistakes, but I'll be there to help him out. I can protect him.

He's beat some reaaaally big name guys, you know. You should worry more for whoever tries to mess with him or his friends.

[khajidont]

Not my point. I already know you guys are strong, but there's always going to be someone out there that's stronger.

[Maybe he should be a little more worried when Killua says that it's other people that ought to be worried, but he already knows Killua was an assassin. He already knows that they've faced down threats that they shouldn't have had to.

He just has to trust in their sense of discretion which, if Killua's tales are to be believed, may not be the best game plan around.]

I promise that there's people from my world who are stronger than the two of you put together.

IF THIS ISN'T OK LET ME KNOW cries at dumb canon elements

[gonstop]

I know.

[Aren't you glad you decided to walk him home, Jaime? He answers concern and worry of him not understanding the point with an all too casual statement like 'I know'. It's worrying for anyone trying to stress something-- but he'll lift his fingers to emphasize, clarifying.]

The guy that blew off Gon's hand was way stronger than him, which is why I told him to lead him to a trap instead of fight him. He's not the only one. Gon's determination has beaten plenty of people he shouldn't have been able to even touch.

[He shrugs.] And don't start scolding me yet! I know, it's not a guarantee for anyone in the future, but I've been trained my whole life to measure a difference in power between myself and anyone I talk to and handle it from there.

[He pauses, this silence stretching a little longer than the usual as he faces forward. Stepping carefully here, and still into territory he doesn't understand, but--] That's why I was saying it's strange if you just sit at home and play video games, Jaime.

JOKE TAGS ASIDE it's cool canon skills are canon skills

[khajidont]

[Jaime looks over at Killua, not entirely certain as to what to make of such a sudden topic change. His mind is still back with Gon's hand being blown off, at the idea that you can beat people more powerful than yourself if you're just determined enough.

It's not true. There's a basement full of statues of dead kids who just wanted to make a difference that stands as proof that it's not. Jaime faces down threats worse than himself to make a difference, but he knows that he could die, is likely to die one day in the field of duty.

It happens.]

What? Why?

LMFAO JAIME...

[gonstop]

[Still replying like that, huh? He trusts Jaime. He does, but he doesn't understand how his feelings could be off here. Always slightly, never by this much. Initially, it hadn't made any sense why someone would hide something like strength, but after a certain discussion with Robbie on the network, he's learned that secret identities are a thing.

Now, it's all speculation based on the sense of power he's getting here, but still.]

Do you want me to list every reason? [Because he's got a few pointing to you're stronger than you're saying, mister.]

SWEATS NERVOUSLY

[khajidont]

[Is Killua guessing at what Jaime thinks he's guessing at? How the heck could he know? He's never said anything out of the ordinary to Killua. He's an awful liar, which means that his only strength here has been his ability to hide in plain sight, and, well, that's always been easy.

He's good old Jaime, easygoing and inoffensively normal. He's not a genius, but he gets decent grades. He's not quiet enough to be weird, but he never really stands out either. He plays video games, and he likes soccer. He loves his sweet, normal family, and teases his sweet, normal sister, and most of the time, his friends are a whole lot more noteworthy than he is. Everyone likes him okay, but more importantly, nobody really notices him. He was okay with that before superpowers, and he's certainly okay with it now.

How would Killua know?]

Is it because my high scores all suck?

[Deny, deny, deny.]

STARES SUSPICIOUSLY

[gonstop]

[Whoa, his defense is getting weaker by the second! What kind of a question is that? Is that supposed to sound innocent?? Jaime??? Killia puffs out his cheeks ever so slightly, counting off his observations on his fingers.]

When I first met you in person, you seemed pretty strong. My instincts are spot on 97% of the time. [Next finger--] Hisoka is interested in you. He told me some things himself. You'd be dead if he was bored by you, I guarantee it.

You give me some good lessons about dealing with fighting. Even when you're shocked, you understand what I'm saying. And I know it was just a dream, but you ran after my big brother with that stick, right?

[Finally, he looks back at Jaime.] That's just off the top of my head.

SWEATS EVEN MORE NERVOUSLY SHUT UP KILLUA U KNOW NOTHING

[khajidont]

[Crap... maybe he hasn't been as sneaky as he thought he was being. There's nothing he can do about Hisoka or Killua's evidently spectacularly instincts, but he could have toned down some of his tips, or acted more surprised than he is at some of the stuff he's been told.

But that would mean being dishonest in trying to help, and that's not right either. Sometimes this secret identity thing is much more trouble than it's worth.

He raises his eyebrows at Killua.]

That's a pretty exact number you got going on there.

[If Jaime's trying to strengthen his defense, it's going pretty poorly. All he's really succeeded in is looking exceedingly guilty - if Killua's looking to strike the killing blow to his secret, it really won't take much more than this.]

[gonstop]

[Oh? Oh? Killua actually laughs a little at that, turning to walk backwards so he can point accusingly at Jaime. There's something smug in his expression now. It's the realization that not a single point was countered, just then. All he had was an attempt to focus on his numbers?]

That's because I keep track of it. I'm right, aren't I? You're as strong as I think you are, aren't you?

[He waits until they're further down the street to turn and walk forwards, arms resting back behind his head again. Recalling talks with Kurapika and other similar situations...]

...But people keep secrets for a reason. I'm not going to force you to say anything. But if I'm right, you should probably get better at lying.

[khajidont]

[Believe it or not, Jaime has actually gotten better at lying over the years. He's just better at dealing with suspicions than outright accusations.

He just ends up shoving his hands in his pockets, thinking about what to say and how to say it. It would be so much easier to outright deny it if he were talking to a stranger instead of someone who had been honest enough to share his own sordid past.

His next question has more to do with how to hide it than to actually discuss his strength - something that is not, in fact, his own.]

Every guy likes people to think they're strong.

[Well, not Jaime. But that's different.]

But what makes you think I'm that strong when I could hardly lift one of your yo-yo things?

[gonstop]

Strength can come from a lot of places.

[If Killua is bothered by Jaime taking this route with the conversation, it doesn't show one bit. In fact, compared to the smiles he'd been giving at the start of the night, he seemed a lot more relaxed now. At ease, compared to before, because even with everything on his plate, he could remember his motivations and his hope.]

Your eyes give you away, sometimes, but I don't think most people would be able to look and notice it. Hisoka would. [Again, his posture shifts a bit, and soon enough he's tapping at his chin.] Like there's something 'more'...

I don't know how it works with the ability you showed me tonight or anything like that. I just wouldn't look at you and call you outright weak.

[khajidont]

My eyes?

[Jaime lightly touches his fingertips to the corner of his eyes, as if trying to feel something else there, but of course, he feels nothing. It's not as if he looks much different than he used to.]

Hm.

[He's not sure if he buys that one. It sounds like something out of a book, though he has to admit that the rest of his life sounds like something out of a book as well. Eventually, he just huffs a sigh, regarding the air in front of him with a hangdog expression on his face.]

...Well, I guess there's really no denying it now, is there. But I need you to keep this quiet for me. From everyone.

[He's not entirely comfortable with the fact that Killua's aware of just the tip of the iceberg, but what other choice has he got?]

[gonstop]

[Slowly, Killua's steps work to a stop. They're in the middle of the street, and even if he doesn't sense anyone nearby, the paranoid side of him has him worried. It was easier to monitor while still-- and maybe they'd move somewhere else first? One hand runs fingers over his opposite's thumb, but he has a feeling biting it for blood here won't have the right effect in his promise with Jaime.

He can't really pull off Gon's pinky promise, either.]

I promise. [A direct glance and solid words will have to work.]

[khajidont]

[Luckily for everyone involved, a direct glance and solid words are the best that Jaime can ask for, from anyone. They've always meant the most to him, and they always will. He meets Killua's gaze and nods, slowly.]

Okay.

[Well, if any preteen can keep a secret, it'll be Killua.]

I'll be holding you to that. I appreciate it.

[gonstop]

I made a vow a while back. I'll never betray my friends.

[Blood won't work, and there's a pain and worry in his chest at those words from the incident with Pitou, but he shoves it down for now. Instead, he offers a simple thumbs up to Jaime, keeping that significance to himself as he takes a careful step or two forward again, seeing if he's coming along still.

Once he's sure of that, that expression turns a little more smug and he shrugs his arms.]

Well, but maybe I should give you some tips on how to be less obvious. [He's largely joking here, trying to rile Jaime up in whatever way he can get. Really, his perception on things is not that of an ordinary person, so... Jaime should be fine, he thinks. Unless he messes with someone like Chrollo, but he'd just warned him about that!]

[khajidont]

[Jaime follows afterwards, shoulders relaxing a bit again. Killua's certainly given him a lot of food for thought this little visit, which he hadn't expected when he had flown over here. Busted cover or not, he's glad he cut his patrol short to meet with Killua - even this much gives him a little insight into him and his world, no matter how distressing those insights may be.

(Gon's severed hand. My god, he thinks to himself.)

That doesn't mean that Killua's not being a brat, however, and that earns him a quick flick to the side of his head.] Don't be a brat. You're the first person who's been able to guess it just by meeting me, you know.

[gonstop]

[If Killua is having any darker thoughts, he must be good at hiding them. That flick just earns an exaggerated reaction and a laugh as he ducks and runs around from behind Jaime to give a playful shove.]

Oh, really? Maybe I am just that good!

[khajidont]

Or I'm just that good.

[He's not. He's so, so not, but it's not like he can let Killua get away with bragging without making fun of him a little, especially now that he seems to be feeling a little better.]

[gonstop]

[He snorts out a laugh at that, falling into step alongside him once more. They were almost back at his place by now. He's almost a little sad that they'll have to part ways! But no way is he going to ruin his cool reputation by saying anything like that, alright.]

Yeah, right. [He lifts his own chin higher, refusing to allow his ego to be struck down.] But don't feel too bad! I've been trained to pick up on things like this since before I could speak.

[What a little shit.]

[khajidont]

And I've been trained in looking normal since before I can speak, [Jaime teases right back, which is... almost accurate, if by 'train', someone could plausibly mean, 'has been normal since the day he was born'.

Killua has been trained how to kill. When Jaime was five, he almost glued his mouth shut because Paco dared him to eat paste.

They may have had slightly different life experiences.]

This is your place, right?

[gonstop]

[There's a long hum that sounds like he doesn't quite believe that, but it's cut off at the end with a laugh. A few jogs end in slower steps, and he spins around to face Jaime.]

Yeah, this is it. [He actually looks away a little sheepishly. He wants to thank him again, but that's so excessive... Friends don't need to do that anyway, right?]

I'll be careful, so you do the same. [He raises one arm in a still sign of goodbye.]

[khajidont]

Yeah, will do. Good luck with everything.

[Jaime waves back, and heads on back home...

Which is to say, he waits til he's out of sight, then suits up to fly off, because screw walking.]