private . 19th metal

[godsays]

[ private to anya ]

I think I need help.

[ private to kelsier ]

I want to ask you to keep Vin away from me, but I don't trust you to put my safety over her comfort.

[ Bald and honest. He cares about Kelsier, and Marsh, and it is unbelievably painful to understand that he would be betrayed. ]

[ private to iris ]

You've been killed before. By people here.

[ private to morgana ]

How did you die?

[ a couple days later, private to Cassel ]

I'm sorry I've been so afraid.

Comments

private

[godsays]

[ He can't teach Cassel. He was taught to kill, as quickly as possible, as smooth and swift and deadly as the perfect predator. He doesn't want to pass that to anyone else. So his breath catches, and he hesitates, and he doesn't know how to say he won't do that without sounding like he won't protect Cassel. ]

private

[patheticvillain]

[Cassel hears. It reassures him to know that he is, at least for the moment, able to read nuance in Zane's breath again. He goes on without a pause, as if nothing's happened.]

Or we could both learn a different way to fight, together if you want.

private

[godsays]

I don't want to learn any more of that.

private

[patheticvillain]

Okay. Cass is teaching me that anyway, and James. You'd like Cass.

We could learn something else together. [Not that Cassel hasn't seen the withdrawal, because he has.] Ivy showed me a book about the environment.

private

[godsays]

Cassel...

[ He feels certain he knows what Cassel is trying to suggest. ]

private

[patheticvillain]

Yeah?

private

[godsays]

You saw.

private

[patheticvillain]

'Course I saw. I look out for you.

private

[godsays]

I'm not changing my mind.

private

[patheticvillain]

Did I say I was asking you to?

private

[godsays]

You push. It's what we do to each other.

private

[patheticvillain]

I know. And I will. But right now I'm just happy not to be scared you'll never talk to me again.

Give me two days. Then I'll start hassling you. All right?

private

[godsays]

I'm not going to learn physics from Megamind.

I'm not going to be near Touko.

I'm not going.

private

[patheticvillain]

Okay. I am, though. I don't know if I'll be able to deal with Megamind for too long, but I bet Barbara knows physics.

If you think I'm not shoving my books in your face, though, you don't know me at all.

private

[godsays]

Spock got me far enough. I can learn it myself.

private

[patheticvillain]

Man, you are always gonna be smarter than me no matter what. Teach me some physics stuff so I can show off.

private

[godsays]

It's easy because I already know it. Allomancy and physics are the same.

...I can show you flying.

private

[patheticvillain]

Seriously?

private

[godsays]

If I can get steel and iron.

[ He's a little sour. ]

private

[patheticvillain]

I want to see. I don't know anybody else who can do that.

[He wants to see Zane be as close to free as you can get here.]

private

[godsays]

You haven't watched me and Kelsier spar.

private

[patheticvillain]

No. I only saw that one time. When you were showing me all of the metals.

private

[godsays]

I don't know if he'll want to spar anymore.

private

[patheticvillain]

Did you ask him?

private

[godsays]

I don't know if I want to. He loves Vin.