Chiron & Fiore; catch-all

[cheir]

Comments

[cheir]

[ She laughs at that, patting his side. ]

I'm weighing the pros and cons of telling you and having Caules frown at me later, or not.

[horsepowered]

How will Caules know you told me if neither one of us informs him of that fact?

[cheir]

Chiron--! [ with gentle, mock-indignation. ]

Would you truly expect me to keep secrets from my own brother??

[horsepowered]

[Chiron absolutely shouldn't laugh, but he does. Soft, delighted, far too entertained.]

Truly, you tell each other everything?

[cheir]

If we don't, we end up knowing anyway.

[ Siblings... ]

[horsepowered]

Hmmmm. Well, I could always approach and ask him.

[CHIRON NO.]

That means the burden is off of you and we still learn things.

[cheir]

... You do know that my brother isn't half as cooperative as I am, correct?

[horsepowered]

I do know that, but teacherly authority can be quite compelling.

[cheir]

... I'm starting to wonder if you were going easy on me all along.

[horsepowered]

I was only as hard on you as it was demanded. That I wasn't as harsh as I might be, then that speaks incredibly well of you.

[cheir]

You're certain you weren't thinking favorably of me?

[horsepowered]

I assure you, that was not the case. [Chiron pauses, then decides there's only one way to illustrate this:]

Achilles was a good student, but his attitude often demanded I be harder on him than I might otherwise be in order to ensure that his pride didn't get in the way of his skill. That...was decidedly mixed in terms of results.

[cheir]

Ah...

He did go on to do a great many deeds, so he might have felt that pride was warranted.

[horsepowered]

It was not. [He's just saying. And that was a little harsh.] I was harsh with him because I knew that exact thing might happen.

[cheir]

[ ... Okay, yeah. Chiron doesn't actually go easy on his students, and Fiore sighs a little as she sits up straighter. ]

Well, it does make me want to do my best not to disappoint you.

[horsepowered]

[He sure don't.]

Think of it like this: as a mage, certain things that I would have instructed in like self discipline were skills you already had. Thus you are both well ahead of the curve and I don't need to spend as much time laying that groundwork.

[Unlike tiny heroes, who often arrived as small children.]

You haven't done so yet.

[cheir]

[ Honestly, tiny Fiore could have done with a better teacher, but she definitely can't change the past. ]

Then I'm glad. You did still end up teaching me a great many things, even if it wasn't quite like your time with your other students.

[horsepowered]

Everyone comes to me in a different place. That's all it ever is.

[Chiron would have been too delighted with Tiny Fiore, let's not kid ourselves.]

[cheir]

[ And Tiny Fiore would have wanted to brush him with her own brush and-- yeah. Some things are probably for the best. ]

Spoken like a teacher. [ With a bit of a laugh in her voice. ] When would you consider me as a graduate, Chiron?

[horsepowered]

[No. No this would have been amazing.]

When we first parted ways, I believe that would qualify as graduation. Being here now, you're a peer, not a student.

[cheir]

Then, as your peer...

[ Fiore laughs, the note a little tremulous. It still might take some time to sink in, and she doesn't know how much time they have, in the scheme of things, but-- ]

All of this has made me realize just how much I missed you. That's probably not acceptable for a former Master, but we did already figure out I was ill-suited for it.

[horsepowered]

[How much time there is or isn't makes the point all the more important to get to, in Chiron's estimation.

At Fiore's words, he pauses so that he can reach a hand around back, offering it to Fiore freely. It's...a very awkward angle, oh yes, but who cares about comfort?]

Would you be willing to use the word friend instead?

[cheir]

[ She does?? She cares about his comfort???

Which is why she hesitates, wondering how much of a strain on his back this might be-- before she clasps his hand and gives it a firm squeeze. ]

I'd be honored to use the word friend.

[horsepowered]

[LOOK BEING A HORSE PERSON IS SUPER WEIRD DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!

Chiron beams, really beams at that.]

Few words could make me happier.

[cheir]

[ IT'S FINE, SHE STILL LOVES HIM.

But seeing him so happy has her beaming quietly in response, gazing down at their clasped hands. ]

I don't think I've ever seen you smile like that.