( CLOSED ) Some boys are trying too hard.

[oorah]

WHO: Franky C
WHERE: House 6
WHEN: November 29, evening.
OPEN TO: Kamala Khan, Billy Kaplan
WARNINGS: Could be mentions of past horror/trauma, otherwise super G.

---

After the mention of Hannukah it doesn't take long at all for Frank to start getting to work. As far as he knows, Billy is the only one here practicing their Jewish faith, but it's still important to him. From an outside perspective, it might not make much sense why as Frank himself hasn't been religious in practically forever, but this is his wheelhouse. Making an unfavorable place seem warm and welcoming even at the worst of times. It's easy to slip back into his role as mayor when asked to help with such simple tasks, though he doesn't necessarily notice the shift himself, Kamala is sure to see the change in him.

When Billy gets there, he'll be in the front yard, all three dogs roaming around and the door to the house cracked open. He has a small block already cut out in a vague shape that they can further refine into a menorah laying out on a stump alongside a strip of bark to use as sandpaper, hammer and chisel propped up against it. Kamala has the candle operation going inside, rolling them and placing their wicks before bringing the wax outside to cool into a shape. He figures they can brainstorm food while they work on this, it always helps Frank to show someone a new skill in a place like this so he seems in good spirits as the boy approaches.

Sure enough, there's a big wooden "6" hanging up on the side of the house, while none of the others are numbered. There's a zalpaca and a groffle in a pen out back that can be seen from the road, and before Billy can get too close he'll be greeted by an overeager croc-dog, a shy pitbull and a curious bloodhound.

"You made it," he calls, though as he'd said they are virtually impossible to miss.

Comments

[morphogenia]

It really is like old times minus the constant threat of death. Someone came to the mayor with a problem or need, he is using this as a teaching moment for the children constantly flocking over to see him. It's just her now, but that doesn't spoil the illusion in the slightest. She works just as hard at picking up the skill here as she did there. She's bringing the latest part of her project out to cool just in time for Billy to pop in. She'd wave if she wasn't carrying stuff that needs to be carefully put down in order to get to its proper shape.

"Hey! Glad you made to our latest project." She does have the audacity wink while she's hard at work.

[demiurgency]

It's a weird feeling, coming up to the house, which is just as easy to spot as Frank said it would be. Like, not a bad weird. A normal weird, which is weirder than weird-weird, because you don't expect to feel normal in a place like this, and it's been a long time since he felt any kind of normal at all. Even the smile on his face feels a little weird, but it's definitely there, and Billy takes a hand out of his coat pocket to wave at Frank and Kamala as he approaches from the road, a hand which is quickly lowered and joined by the other to deal with the incoming horde of dogs. The very excited croc-dog is a little strange-looking, but Billy's always had a soft spot for the weird, and he isn't shy about offering pets for any of them as he stops in the yard.

"Hey, yeah--like you said, it was really easy to find," he calls out, dogs milling around his feet as he continues along, grinning at Kamala as she brings out what look like candles. "You guys have a really good set-up here. Tommy's been doing okay on the house, but we could probably use some tips. Winter is coming, right?" Once a nerd, always a nerd, and it's true, even.

[oorah]

Frank nods, holding up an OK symbol between his fingers to denote approval. Not enough people knew what to do for Winter, but that's what Kam and Frank were for.

"How are you at chopping wood?" Sorry he doesn't pick up on the nerd part, it seems he's ready to get right down to brass tacks here.

[morphogenia]

The reference isn't lost on Kamala even if the only time she can consume that particular series is via e-book so she doesn't know half the spoilers. Her Ammi is not about all the nudity and rape scenes from a certain adaption. She giggles at it and heads down to join them. This is the last of her batch so she may as well greet the newbie. "You came to the right place, young wolf." She rests her hands on her hips once she gets close enough. "Chopping wood is an important step one."

[demiurgency]

Billy grins at Kamala's little nod to his reference, relieved. At least there's someone here to get his pop culture jokes and references who won't look at him like he's an alien or just call him a dweeb. The grin turns a little sheepish at their question, though, and Billy holds out his arms, gesturing faintly to himself. Even the bulky sweater and wool coat can't hide what he is, which is a 5'8" teenage boy with a body more suited for jazz choreography than chopping wood.

"It's not exactly a skill you need in New York, or at least not on the Upper West Side," he admits, but hastens to add, "but I'm willing to learn. When in Rome, right? Or when in alien farmville, I guess."

[oorah]

Try some 90s references, he's much quicker on the uptake with those. Except that's before Billy was born, isn't it? Frank hates his life more and more with each passing day.

"Okay, how about Kam shows you how to do that while I shape up this menorah?" Don't worry, he'll let Billy paint and decorate it however he likes, it's apparently craft-time at the Silent House.

[morphogenia]

There's no judgment from Kamala. She is the tiniest thing, but all this muscle she gained is very new. Frank is the one who toughened her up. She's excited to pay it forward. "No worries! I gained all my skills during my various kidnappings. I will teach you how to level up with zero judgment." It is how Frank did it with her. She'd be a total jerk to start getting smug about it now. She gestures for Billy to follow her as she makes a beeline for the axe and pile of wood that definitely needs to be in smaller pieces.

[demiurgency]

It depends on how you look at timelines. Technically, it's 2014 when Billy's from, so he was at least born in the nineties? It's something right? Yeah, no, didn't think so.

Frank's suggestion is met with a nod, and Billy turns to Kamala, a smile starting on his face. "Yeah, if you're sure. That sounds--wait, what, did you say kidnappings?" As in plural? Maybe he misheard, she sounds way too chipper about the whole thing. He looks back and forth between the two of them as Kamala zips away, trying to figure out if she's joking or not.

[oorah]

"Kam didn't tell you? This isn't our first lap around the multiverse."

That's what it's called, right? Whatever. He's working with his chisel to get a better shape going for the candleholder pieces.

[morphogenia]

"Oh wow. Usually people just let me get away with that!" She still sounds chipper about it as she stops in front of the pile. There's no hate there. Kamala figures people are afraid to ask. She can't fault them for it. "We actually met on another world filled with monsters that would kill you if you made any noise. Frank was elected to be our leader there not too long after we met. I worked with patrol with him and a bunch of other people."

She explains like this is perfectly normal as she goes for her glasses and gloves. Safety first, right? It's not like they have a proper eye doctor here.

[demiurgency]

"Uh, no, she didn't mention that part," Billy says, looking back at Kamala as she explains the whole thing. Monsters who're attracted to noise reminds him a little of the one dimension they'd hopped through early on, one of the mayfly worlds as Kate called them, with horrifying giant bug-people attracted to vibrations. They hadn't stayed there very long. But it explains a lot about Frank, honestly, and his crazy good survival skill tree.

"I've been to a lot of different dimensions," he says finally, heading over towards Kamala, standing a safe distance back as he watches her technique. "But I didn't realize people came to these kinds of places accidentally, or like--lived there. Like, Tommy got kidnapped by something that could jump dimensions, and I managed to reach through into another timeline once, but I wouldn't have been able to go after Tommy if it wasn't for America." These words probably make no sense to Frank, but Kamala should get it, at least.

[oorah]

Billy, too? He lifts an eyebrow, looking up from his task to give the boy his attention. Or at least split it.

"You're a..." God, what did they call it in Reims? "A world-hopper? Right?"

The rest is pretty much gibberish yeah, but he can always get the synopsis from Kam later.

[morphogenia]

Unsurprisingly that all makes perfect sense to Kamala. She listens and files it all away for later. Kamala is exaggerating basically everything Frank taught her from picking up the axe to taking the proper stance. She trusts Billy to follow it. "Yeah, I heard this could happen. I figured the Avengers or something would rescue all of us by now." She hesitates only a second to make sure she feels eyes on her before following through. The piece cuts perfectly in half thanks to a ton of practice and new muscle.

"Okay, do you need another demonstration or are you ready to try it?"

[demiurgency]

"Sort of," he tells Frank. "My friend America, she's got this...ability? She can literally kick through dimensions. We were trying to find my brother Tommy, after he got kidnapped by this shadow-thing that was masquerading as one of our old teammates. It hopped dimensions, so we followed it. I've been to like forty different versions of New York at this point, and let me tell you, like two of them have been cool. Max."

But Kamala's doing her thing, and Billy doesn't want to miss a proper lesson, so he watches as she splits the log perfectly, only barely resisting the urge to applaud. "I think it's because all the Avengers are stuck here, or at least all of someone's Avengers are. Maybe they can't because there's another version already here. Show me one more time? I've never done this before, and you make it look way easier than I think it actually is."

[oorah]

Oh, America is a person. That makes a lot more sense now. He has to spare some attention for Kamala as well, smiling at how perfectly she does that.

"So what you're sayin' is you're way more seasoned than us in this whole alternate reality thing."

[morphogenia]

She glances over at Billy, altering her grip a little to support holding it even briefly, and grins. Kamala knows exactly who he is talking about now. There are a lot of supers using America in their names, but only one with that ability that she knows of. "America... oh! Miss America! The lady with the amazing set of curls and cute shorts? I always wanted to meet her. I really love the way she punches stuff."

Kamala shifts her grip once again to set the axe down while she sets up for another demonstration. It's a quick job so she's quickly getting back into position. "Sounds like it to me, Frank." She smiles because that's actually something they need. There are a serious lack of world hoppers around here. Kamala also knows she needs to add something onto this demonstration so this time she tries to talk him through what she's doing.

"Okay, Billy. Just really pay attention to two things: the way I hold the axe and where I planted my legs. It'll make sure you don't hurt yourself on the swing in a bunch of ways that will freak you out to hear." She gives him about twenty seconds to really look at how she's positioned her limbs to both hold the weight and commit some serious damage to this hunk of wood. "The rest is all about commitment. You can't do this halfway or else you'll definitely hurt yourself. Really watch this part." That's all the preamble she's going to give this time.

Kamala brings up her axe and swings a little harder than she needs to. It splits a little more violently as a result. She figures it will help him remember the part where he shouldn't hold back. "There. Better?"

[demiurgency]

"I don't know about more seasoned, I mean we were only ever in each one for, I dunno, maybe a day? Two, max? It was more like a running tour," he answers, a little self-conscious about it. "But yeah, that America," he continues. "She's kind of amazing. And terrifying. But amazing." He also sounds impressed by her, honestly, Kamala is not wrong in her admiration. "Thanks to her, I finally managed to find Tommy, I guess, so I owe her a lot."

He watches carefully this time, listening to Kamala all the way through, before finally nodding slowly. "Okay. Okay, I think I got it. Plant your feet, get a good grip, don't hold back. You know, all of this would be so much easier with magic," he jokes, but he still steps up, willing to take the axe and everything from Kamala and give it a shot himself. His first try (after a deep, centering breath and maybe a little prayer to whatever god's willing to listen that he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else) actually isn't terrible. It's a little off-center, but he does manage to split the log. Hey, look at that. Maybe he'll be a decent lumberjack after all.

[oorah]

The grin at seeing Kamala so capable and confident of her new skills is threatening to split his entire face, and suddenly Frank is very grateful for the relative cover his beard affords. He still looks goofy as hell as he watches the pair even as he does his own work.

"It's eight candles, right?" he's asking idly though he remembers the story from bible study. Just confirming if only because he doesn't have much to contribute for their current conversation. He should probably just stay quiet and let them be teens, huh? Except it's a good thing he's asking - goyem don't know about the shammash, Billy. Frank looks up just in time to see Bill's attempt and he lets out a little laugh, nearly involuntary. "That's good, man. Good job."

[demiurgency]

"Yeah--" The words come right before his stroke, a little absent, and afterwards when Frank laughs Billy glances over towards him, unable to scrub the slightly self-conscious smile off his face. It's nice, being able to do something even this small. "Uh--wait, actually nine, there's eight nights but then you need the ninth candle to light the others. And thanks. I mean, Kamala's a pretty good teacher. Maybe a thousand more of these, and I'll be about as buff as your average twelve-year-old." It's mostly a joke. Mostly.

[morphogenia]

Kamala actually claps when he pulls it off. "Yay! I knew you had this!" She glances over at Frank to see if he approves. She practically melts at that smile. It always means a lot when he approves. She looks back at Billy and nods, fighting off a blush at that praise. "Okay, we'll get right now on that. And don't sell yourself short! If I can get buff, literally anyone can." She's tiny. Her body has actively rebelled against all this muscle she gained.