Tishk

Eh. The downtime doesn't bother me all that much, more the circumstances around it, the... 'rebuilding' process, you could say.

Not sure what that says about me. But I just meant, it doesn't [feel] like the 70s were 50 years ago.

That's the one. I've been trying to catch up on literature of the last...

fiiiifty years? That doesn't feel right...

Have you ever seen a Benjamin Button cowboy? Hi, meet Arlo.

Thank you, I'll be here for all eternity.

Everyone looks younger than Arlo.

I look 36?

I think I'm gonna have a situationfather-in-law

Hey Schmoogle? What's a situationship.

The... IMPLYING sort. You know what I mean.

You-
I-

I think that has implications.

...In his defense he thought the door was closed.

He takes it and gets to work, though, careful to avoid the oven mitt, maintaining the same temperature as he works.

This is the strangest training montage...

until he's doesn't have a good idea of how hot he's burning.

He opens his eyes and scrapes at a burnt-on patch of batter with his fingernail. He's rewarded with a thumb covered in ash. His eyes turn to her, full of light, and he gives her a thumbs-up with a grin.)

No, no, I've got this. No fire.

(Instead, he gathers light, and remembering how he controlled the column of flames months ago, he channels the focus and delicate hand that required.

Bit by bit, he begins to exude heat. Brighter and brighter he begins to glow with the energy he releases,

Well, I didn't exactly bring a phone in here. I figured you had a manual.

(Okay. That seems pretty simple, and he can start small, with little fires and-

wait.)

...How hot is fire? I'm so sorry.

After, definitely. I think I burn a lot up while I use my powers. No pun intended.

(He clambers in, but it's a tighter fit than she managed.)

So... what's this thing's heat tolerance? (It has occurred to him he doesn't know how hot he actually runs, or if he can manage that sort of control...)

I know my worth.

Three cookies. One has to be that cinnamon one that looks like a sugar cookie.

I could just climb in and blast the muck off of it.

"Never mind, might be colloquial."

Everyone in this town is attractive but no one can hear me think that.

"Snake oil salesmen?"

||arlo: you look thousands of years old!
tishk: what
arlo: what's for dinner anyway

"That's a shirt size, not a story."

"Well now I am going to ask."

|| DSLKFJD i thought you were doing a bit. GO TO SLEEP

"How are you hearing the narrator?"

"This is Cienn, the owner, builder, and baker." Now he's also staring at Mattias. This is a high-demand elf.

He leans towards her, muttering, "Friend, enemy, or weirdo?"

"I can relate. I'm still trying to figure out what this world has in store for me."

It's only been [redacted] years...

"I'll be [five minutes.] You're looking at a tree!"

It's been a while since I've shaved without a razor, I think I'm just out of practice...

Well met, though, Arlo. Staying a while, or passing through?

"Uhhhh...." He glanced back at Hallie, yelling, "I'll be right back, don't move!"

If she doesn't move, he'll eat his robe. And he follows her in, though he stays near the door.

"Cienn! I found a... customer!" @hidewithin.bsky.social