[004]

[luke_triton]

[[Backdated to...last week.]]

[While Luke would never want to admit to being afraid to experiment with his newfound abilities...well, it's true. He just would never admit it. When he got out of bed one morning and hit the ceiling instead of the floor it was the most impossible mix of pleasant and unpleasant surprise ever.

When he ripped part of the handle from the refrigerator? That one was definitely bad. Until he figured out he could still get the door open. Going to look in the mirror at his hands and arms did nothing to settle his thoughts, because they looked the same as they always had. Certainly incapable of tearing apart an appliance.

So he's been lying low for a few days - not visiting the people he usually tries to find, being furtive about getting the things he needs, and most certainly not going anywhere near the Professor's car. What if it broke?

After a few days of this, it's almost like everything he stops himself from doing has built up and can no longer be contained. And whoosh! Luke is zooming through the sky, over the houses on the East side. The flight path traces unsure circles and shows no sign of stopping. Eventually he fumbles his CAT out of his bag and tries to gently press the right button.]

I'm stuck!

[As the wind rushes by.]

Comments

[fireflyheir]

What?

[excuse John for just a moment, he is not handling jealousy too well.]

[luke_triton]

I'm stuck and I can't get down!

[fireflyheir]

Okay. Okay, uh… [He furrows his brows, trying to figure out how he generally does it. But it's never really been something he thought about, so…] Uh… maybe you could try bobbing lower? [He makes a gesture with his hands that indicates more of a bounce.]

[luke_triton]

Bobbing?

[When he doesn't even know how the gas pedal and brakes of flying work, huh? Hum. No, that's not totally true, he knows a puzzle or two that takes into account something...vaguely related. Airplanes. But it might be worth a try, right?

Luke angles himself downward and suddenly the ground is coming up on him way way too fast. Pardon the yelp.]

[fireflyheir]

Shit! [John takes off running, aiming to get between Luke and the ground and at least provide some kind of landing mat or something.]

[luke_triton]

[That's really not a nice word! Certainly not one for a gentleman. He's not sure he's heard Professor Layton utter even a damn.

Somehow, miraculously, he manages not to crash right into the ground, but to sort of roll along it instead. And stay down, for the time being. Phew.]

[fireflyheir]

[sometimes, 'drat' does not cut it, even for the most well-brought up young man.

John breathes out a sigh of relief, and stops beside Luke, offering his hands to help Luke up.]

Sorry… I guess that wasn't as great an idea as I thought it was. Are you okay?

[luke_triton]

[Luke accepts the help. His unchecked new superhuman strength might just pull John down instead, though.]

Yeah. Just...all dirty, I think.

[fireflyheir]

[yeeeeah whoops there he goes, sprawling out on the ground beside Luke.]

Umph! [he's… going to just stay here for a bit, staring up at the sky.] Well… that's not too bad really! [just means they'll both need baths.]

[luke_triton]

S-Sorry! I don't know why that happens either.

[fireflyheir]

Yeah, there isn't really an instruction manual, is there? [He laughs, and settles his hands on his stomach.] It looks way easier in the comics. They just seem to know!

[…that was rather what it felt like. He goes quiet, frowning, trying to tease those vague feelings into something that might help.]

How did you start flying?

[luke_triton]

I just started floating the other day and I've been trying not to let it happen too much. I didn't know what was going on.

[fireflyheir]

Weird! [He frowns, and wriggles his fingers- yeah, nothing doing there.] There was another guy who said he didn't have powers before… Washington? Yeah, that was it. Do you think maybe…?

[luke_triton]

I don't know what to think. What are his powers? If we all have the same ones, then maybe we need something specific from them.

[fireflyheir]

It wasn't the same, though. It looked more like a green ball of something.

And I can't do anything now, anyway, so I don't know how to help. [making a face]

[luke_triton]

Can't do anything? ...Could you do something before?

[John seems kind of ordinary to him, prompting this headtilt and interested expression.]

[fireflyheir]

Yeah. [He raises one hand, wriggling his fingers again.] I can- could, I guess- control the Breeze.

[luke_triton]

You can make the wind blow?

[John is now number-one kite-flying partner if they ever get the chance to fly kites.]

I suppose I can't ask to see it now.

[fireflyheir]

And manipulate it to do a bunch of other stuff, too, yeah!

[yes. Normal kid things would be awesome.]

…yeah. [He pulls a face, sits up and looks at Luke.] Well, I can always show you when they come back! And I don't crash into things- well, not much.