aread | IC INBOX

Uhm... hi. It's Frank, the roman kid that used to speak with a machine.

You said to... contact you? When I had the time? Unless you have changed your mind.

Aye, lad. I did at that. How may I be of service?

I...I want to learn how to be- confident, I guess, when I talk to people and not just when I have a bow in my hands. I want to learn how to lead and not just how to follow.

Can you help me with that?

[There's a speculative pause, and then a noise like a blown out breath.]

I can teach you a thing or two, fair enough. But the best teacher is practice, and that won't come from any other but yourself.

That's the problem. It should come naturally but- [A sigh.]

I'm good at envisioning a battle field, seeing it play out in my head and seeing what leads to the best possible outcome. I'm good at strategy, and I've yet to grab a weapon I can't learn to use.

But none of that matters if people won't listen, if people won't follow me into battle.

You'd be surprised, lad. People learn to look for those things. They may not watch for you now, but if you prove yourself to them, again and again, as many times as it takes, you'll find they'll follow you natural-like.

[Kidd lifts a hand, and idly waves it, elbow held in close against his body.]

But I'm guessing, your problem is that you don't have that sort of time, to gamble with lives.

Right. [A sigh] I mean, this is the kind of thing we take classes on, back at camp. And I think, with enough time I'd get the hang of it?

[Maybe.]

Or eventually find it in me like Percy and Jason did. Maybe it's hidden away somewhere. ...Very, very hidden? But I can't just sit around and wait for everyone to trust me when defeating a world-eating monster or something depends on it.

All right. Suppose I'd said no. How'd you convince me otherwise?

[He wouldn't, he would just accept it. But he can distinguish a test when he's being subjected to one.]

I'd prove to you I could learn. I would insist, I guess- I would ask you why you wouldn't?

And suppose I told you I didn't think you were suited to the task. Perhaps called you a few names in the meanwhile. You could be a coward, mate.

[Kidd doesn't think that's true, strictly speaking. Frank has probably thought of himself as being so in the past, but the reality of the thing is that Kidd damned well knows he'd act if he had to. When necessary. Honestly, it's the mark of a good Assassin.]

I am not a coward.

I'm many things but not that, I will never be called that. I live risking my life, every hour of every day. I breathe risk. I fight monsters for a living. I let the stick of wood linked to my life burn away in front of my eyes to free death itself.

I am the son of the mother and the son of my father both and neither of them had a coward for a son. You can decide not to train me for a lot of reasons but not that one.

[That merits a smile.]

I said you could be. For all I know. Not that you are. But that's a start, true enough. You find that fire for the rest of all your lessons, and perhaps we'll make something out of you yet, you and I.

[Sadly the fire soon goes away, and what's left is Frank giving him a sheepish smile. He's so used to holding back it's kind of an habit by now.]

I'll do my best, I really will.

Then I'll see you in a few days' time. You may not see me, but I'll be there.

I- thank you. Really. I appreciate it.

See you, then. [A pause.] ...Or not.

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