#earthrunes

"Hope so." a frown "It's not cool if people are making her feel like.... less."

"I think that's her, Adam. You know how it is, a lot of Kinian are greatful for even bread crumbs. And they cant' do whatt we can do .. that's not a less thing, that's just a fact. Thee are some advantages Kinian have in tthe mortal world, but in holds and dreaming? Kithian have an edge. As you know"

"Now, Can I get you a drink?"

"Coffee?"

"You got it... usual cream and sugar mix?"

"Not this time. Can I try it black?"

"You got it" He pours it hard and strong

Adam tries it. "That's.... different."

"The original kick in the pants" he agrees

Adam doesn't give up, though; he sips again. "No keys?"

"Oh, sorry.. yeah! These yours? I got two sets. " He holds up two sets of keys.

One of them IS the one adam was looking for

"That one, thanks! I don't need 'em for school obviously, but I'd rather know where they are."

"I hear you. Man I feel sorry for anyone who has a WHITE car"

Adam chuckles. "They'll lose it in the snow?"

"Hey, make sure you're winterized if you go driving around. I'm a grump, that means I get to fuss with worry and stuff for you wilder kids"

"Not doing too much of that right now, Mr. Jack, but thanks. Dad's a troll, I get it from him too."

"Hopefully once school is over I'll get a job. And by summer the snow should be gone."

"HA.. let's damn well hope"

He drinks some more coffee thoughtfully.

"Mr. Jack, how much would a gun cost? Like, a good pistol."

"You and guns again. " He says "You mean a mortal one or chimerical?"

"Mortal. I was only thinking about it because I got to thinking about getting a job this summer and.... let's face it. I'm going to make the low end of the scale."

"And I have some stuff I want to get."

"Well normally" He names the price "But Adam I.. I don't think it's wise to pack all the time. You can't yank a bullet back, and mortal bullets bring all sorts of real ife investigations on top of it"

"Get training first okay? Safety lessons especially" Jack says "I feel like I got you into this mindset now suddenly you're acting like it's not if but WHEN you shoot some son of adam?"

"Well, yeah. I didn't pick up a sword and start whaling away first time, I'm not going to start shooting things without training, Mr Jack. I shoot something, I want to -hit- it."

"And I want you to be sure it deserves hitting, but point made. you've never been sloppy with weapon care that I know of. Sorry kid"

"No problem, Mr. Jack. Not like you watch me in the ring or anything. It's cool."

"You got a point. I should check you out next tourney"

A drink of coffee. "Yeah. I mean... I hadn't thought about tourneies and stuff this year."

"You got a break. Next thing is your saining then Carnivale"

"But Carnivale isn't much on tournies, right?"

"Nope. Not really. This spring maybe. Assuming we GET Spring" Wry

"Yeah, good point." Drink, shrug "Not sure I'm into tourneies anymore. Guess we'll see."

"Hey, the wake was just a few days ago. I know it helped say good bye, but thaat's not the same as 'boom pain gone'" He understannds

Another flicker of pain and regret, but he nods. "Yeah. I mean, that's not why but...."

"Oh.. my misread then" he says "You seem the warrior type to me with a love of the games"

"Yeah, I like it. Just.... I might have other stuff going on. Not sure yet."

"Okay. Well, you know you're always welcome to pull up a stool here if you need a place to do your homework while having a drink"

Adam grins. "That might make the poetry stuff easier. Thanks!"

He finishes his coffee and sighs. "Guess I should go meet up for the trip to school." glum.

"Is this farm place that bad?" Jack says curious "I've never been"

"I hate it, but...."he shrugs.

"But they're the only place changeling and kinian kids can be themselves and still learn? Huh. Sorry." He looks back at his supplies "mmm. Here .." he pulls out a bottle of blush wine "Offer this to the ladies of the farm"

"On your behalf, Mr. Jack. Not mine." firmly, but he takes the bottle.

"If you insist, but trust me, this is going to work in your favor AND mine. They mgiht talk about how they prefer whiskey or whatever else they can make.. but I've never known a community yet with tthat many women that didn't enjoy an excuse for a wine partywhere they get to act juuust a bit fancy. "

"Oh, I bet." he agrees easily.

"You get to be the messanger, so a bit of fondness going your way, but I'll be the real winner. They might decide it's time to give me two whiskey bottles for every wine bottle I get them. Barter battle " A wink

"Glad to help you out." he puts the bottle in the backpack. "I can give it to Sally Mae, ask her to hand it off to.... I guess their Hearth or whoever."