doc-hudson

[doc-hudson]

'I like to think we're friends'

Oh, shit, they- they were friends, weren't they?

It had never occurred that to Paul, but now that Lightning was saying it...it did make sense; Sure, the beginning of their relationship had been an absolute fucking mess of miscommunication, but nowadays, now that they saw each other every other day to jog and shoot the shit, things seemed more standard -more like a real friendship where they could trust the other to both tell them the truth and to occasionally spare their feelings.

This wasn't anything totally new, just that Lightning was asking a personal question now, instead of the other way around-

-and now Doc had to trust him with that knowledge, with one of the parts of him that still ached, even decades later.

"Yeah, we are" he said after a minute of contemplation, expression softening as he looked at the younger man.

"Relationships are difficult, yeah" Paul added with a sigh "yeah, I get you- you want to better yourself , to change things for th' better. That's what I thought I was doin', back in the day"

A pause.

"But I...basically ran away from her, from everyone, 'cause I was...hurt. And afraid"

@lightning-kachow

Lost Highway | Hudlight

#t: Lost highway #c: Lightning #/me? going feral over this? more likely than you think

[doc-hudson]

'That's strong'

"Yup" Paul admitted with a guilty smile "shouldn't have asked the barista to 'go crazy' with it, it ended up being too strong for my tastes"

But, strong or not, he'd drink the whole thing even if it killed him -he was as determined to do so as Hera was to catch the Reagent possibly related to the whole thing (which, in his mind, was something more akin to 'buyer's remorse' )

Had this been any other time, Paul would have asked how everything was going, told her about the new-old books he had at his disposal after going back to Radiator Springs for a hot second...hell, he might have told her about his last misadventure with Mx. McLean and how the shifter had been acting rather silly about their health as of late.

But instead, he tried hard to maintain his current line of thought related to the beverage and let Hera work her magic on that pesky little thing-

-while still offering her some, in case she felt like overdosing on caffeine.

@thesorceress-hera

May I? || Open

#t: May I? #c: Hera

[doc-hudson]

'It just kind of happened. We were just kids, you know?'

Oh.

Well, that explained a couple of things, Doc guessed; It kind of explained why Lightning had initially seemed so blasé about...well, everything: he simply didn't know what the hell he was doing, was trying to balance two parts of his life that demanded his full attention and had, naturally, failed when one of them had claimed him.

It felt only human in a way, that the part of his life that gave things had won against the part that needed.

"Bessie 's a fighter. I've got nothin' but respect for her" they'd only talked once, but...well, her kid was the determined as-all-hell Cruz, he knew all he needed to know with just that.

"Don't be unnecessarily hard on yourself, hotshot, you were just kids and-"

But he then stopped in his tracks, the other's question taking him aback.

'So… y'all still talk or anything…?'

God almighty, not that.

"Son" Doc said, voice lowered, pace now slowing "I don't- I'm not the best person to talk about relationships, if that's what you want to hear."

A pause.

"We haven't speak in...thirty years? or so"

@lightning-kachow

Lost Highway | Hudlight

#t: Lost Highway #c: Lightning

[doc-hudson]

Huh, so...the flowers were now growing and moving towards Willow, which was either a wonderful signal or a terrible one-

-then Willow chuckled and the flowers stopped for a second, which made Paul think that it all had been, in fact, a good signal.

'I'm warning you now, I'm still very new to my magic. My control is… not great'

Both of Doc's eyebrows shot up in response to hearing what felt like the craziest thing ever; Willow was involuntarily making things grow, react to and reach for her, and that wasn't enough for her?! That wasn't control?!

"If this kinda stuff 's what you achieve without bein' in full control..." Paul said, his expression relaxing as he pointed at the flowers "then people will have no opportunity 'gainst you when focused, kiddo"

Not 'in full control' but 'when focused': For, you see, they were going for realistic goals -one didn't simply achieve perfection, full control of things: there would always be a rogue factor, the possibility of a tiny thing changing everything and throwing one's control for a loop -so 'when focused' was the most realistic way the expression could go, something achievable and relatively easy, something that could be fun.

"Garden talent, Potion maker, broom rider, hard-worker, sorcery-knowing" he echoed, with a smile, as he tilted a little in place, placing part of his weight on the cane "kid, you're multi-talented! Some folks (it's me, I am 'folks') are one or two-trick ponies, but look at you!- 's there somethin' you can't do?!" he joked.

"This 'll be fun" Doc declared after thinking it for a second, then moving past Willow and towards the left side of the garden and to the back "Ok, follow me, kiddo"

@halfawitch-willow

Greater than your most negative voice || Willow & Doc

#t: Greater than your most negative voice #c: Willow

[doc-hudson]

'Oh wow that's very different looking'

Paul paused for a second, stuck in place.

He then laughed, even if he knew full well that laughing at poor Luca's expense was kind of rude -he couldn't help it, though, the way the kid's expression changed from fascination when looking at the screen to outright confusion when looking at the 'box' was hilarious.

"This 's the old version of a nebulizer" he explained as he got closer "that's why 't's called 'ol' reliable', after all"

That was his cue to move closer to the center table and place the nebulizer there, for Luca to see.

He then searched for the place where there was a little hidden button which 'freed' the top and made him able to open the 'box', allowing him to show the other it's contents -a mask, along with what seemed like a tiny cup, a long plastic tube and a couple of empty plastic vials of medicine he'd forgotten where there in the first place.

"Come, take a look at 'em parts" he offered as he separated the parts and laid them on the table for the other to see "It might sound crazy, but this works exactly like the fancy one you just saw, 't's just...well, older and more burdensome -but 't'll do for now"

@lucathedreamer

Catching My Breath || Fast Car

#t: Catching my breath #c: Luca

[doc-hudson]

Well, things might be simpler for Seamus that way, but for Paul they were a headache and a half -he'd much rather know about things and while he'd heard about the town's shenanigans before, thanks to his patients and the occasional Waldo comment...well, he knew pretty well that it just wasn't the same than living through one of those things.

He'd failed Seamus in that regard, he supposed; He should have been there to try and make things more bearable for the other.

'She's gonna try an' kill me, I'm sure, once she gets wind o' me' Seamus said, which would have sounded considerably more serious if only it hadn't been followed by a nonchalant shrug.

But then again, that was Seamus being himself, trying to minimize the things the things that made him feel any other way but comfortable.

"Hey. Hey, look at me, ol' man" he called, hand still on the other's shoulder "Nobody's killin' you while I'm 'round"

A pause. Realization.

"Except me, of course" he quickly added.

He considered things for a second, then smiled at the mental image of the other bickering to his faceless dream-wife, of the possibility of dream Seamus still having his waking oddities and how the average person might be surprised when facing them.

Oh, his poor wife.

"Were you happy in the dream? I mean, beside the whole bein' stuck in a probably loveless marriage" he asked, without really stopping to think about the implications of it all.

@apennywasted

@doc-hudson

Sometimes he forgot that Paul hadn't been here as long as Seamus had, that he hadn't been privy to some of the fucked up things the town had done. Maybe that was a good thing.

Maybe that was why Seamus could snort and turn the corner of his mouth up for him, a half-smile, because it wasn't hard when Paul didn't know all the shite.

"I ain't bein' dramatic. She's gonna try an' kill me, I'm sure, once she gets wind o' me." Seamus shrugs. It doesn't bother him. He highly doubts it'd stick, after all.

He sighs, though, and turns away from the lumber, following after Paul. "Some regency shite. Had money, an' we were in ah, what's the word?, lavender marriage. She likes women," he explains, "an' I assume it was th' same there."

#t: Echoes of the past #c: Seamus

[doc-hudson]

Well, he'd done it this time, he'd looked like an idiot in front of Hera.

In Paul's defense, he'd manage to pretend to be relatively respectable for a good while, it was about time he'd crushed his own image by doing something silly.

He wanted to ask what the Reagent was: what it's colour was, what emotion did it represent and all those cool things only Sorcerers could know- but by then Hera was hard at work and he knew better than to distract her when she was so focused.

So, he waited, took another couple of sips of his frappe and stopped to, as discreetly as possible, watch.

"Oh, come on" he exclaimed, once she had started speaking and he didn't risk distracting her "but, yeah, 's nice to have a sunny day. 's wonderful for the soul -Espresso Frappuccino, want some?"

He then extended his arm, making some pressure on the cup to separate the top from the bottom, so her lips wouldn't have to touch the place where the straw (and his saliva) where.

@thesorceress-hera

May I? || Open

#t: May I? #c: Hera

[doc-hudson]

'What?'

Oh, great, he'd lost him.

But then again, that probably mean he was either thinking or, rather, overthinking what had previously been said -and considering the situation, how he hadn't complained by the most recent part of the conversation, the other part might be what he was thinking of.

"You still thinkin' 'bout the whole thing, huh, hotshot?" Doc asked as he looked at the other man, as if staring at him for a while would make things a little bit clearer.

But, well, this was the other's last official race they were talking about, it was serious business and...

Oh, the things that he would have done differently if he'd known his last race would be that: his last one; At least Lightning had the opportunity to have that, to close that cycle.

However, that didn't seem to be what bothered the man the most, but...

"I...we didn't really consider that, you know? Startin' a family. The Grand Prix was everything for us both and- then things changed too quickly, my priorities changed from winning to just gettin' better" he tried to joke, even if that last part was kind of dark "then was medical school, movin' and...yeah. I simply didn't have time for kids"

A pause.

"But life sent some my way, anyways"

And for that, he was grateful beyond words.

"What 'bout you?"

@lightning-kachow

Lost Highway | Hudlight

#t: Lost Highway #c: Lightning

[doc-hudson]

Paul made himself comfortable in place, eyes wide as he listened to Bullseye's story and about the tiny details there that brought it to life: like his current apartment being considerably bigger than his childhood home, or about the fresh air of the almost-endless exteriors.

The thing that struck Doc as particularly curious was the fact that even if the memories Bullseye shared were objectively happy (not perfect, but happy), he seemed kind of somber about them, even looking down at his hat as he spoke-

'Certainly was th' happiest time I'd ever known in my whole long life.'

-so, why, he wondered, he seemed-

Oh.

Of course, nostalgia. The pang one felt when thinking back and almost being able to feel things again but being unable to completely capture the same happiness, to go back to those days.

Just then did Paul realize that the question might have been a little bit intrusive, that it might be specially difficult for someone like Bullseye not because of lack of memory, but because of...well, outliving everything there in such way and-

'My pa, well, let's just say his past finally caught up t' him, an' I lost both him an' ma when I was still pretty young, an' I had t' strike out on my own when I still knew precious li'l 'bout th' world'

Yeah, those kind of things were...relatively normal, back then, weren't they? Or so he thought as he took a sip of his whiskey and nodded, understanding if those part started being more vague, specially after the moment when Bullseye admitted to having joined a group of less-than-great people -he wouldn't press for more information and only smiled back when the other admitted to prefer hearing about other things.

"They are a good bunch o' kiddos. Specially their coach, Cruz; She's a probably the hardest workin' youngun I've ever met; I tell you, man, she's got spirit that I haven't seen since early my days 'n the Grand Prix. She- they have a bright future ahead o' 'em, mark my words".

Maybe not all of them had a future related to the Magick Grand Prix, odds were kind of special when it came to that, but he was sure that even without the Prix they would do just fine.

'I'd been livin' alone for over a century, tryin' t' hide myself away from th' world.'

"I think you're a better man than a lot o' the ones currently walkin' 'round, pal" he admitted with a soft smile "'t's a shame you felt like that, like...hidin', but I know you're a good one, that there's nothin' anyone should worry 'bout when near you"

'You sayin' you competed in this Magic Grand Prix thing?'

Paul chuckled, then shrugged -now it was his turn to look down with a melancholic smile on his lips.

"I was 1987 to 1990 Champion" he admitted "but then had a pretty bad accident in '91 and...yeah, decided to become a Doctor 'nstead".

That was the abridged version of it, but...

"Back then I held a record, ya know? for most Championships 'n a row, a record Lightnin', incredible as it might sound, more than doubled; I tell, you, idiocy be damned the kid can run" he laughed "He's a little rough 'round the edges an' still gettin' used to normal life, outside the spotlight, but his heart 's the right place more often than not -he even reminds me of m'self a lil' bit, you know? used to be a little piece o' shit back 'n my days, too"

@bullseye-stoddard

Though the passing of time had not dimmed Bullseye's memories of his youth, it had made them seem rather inconsequential. Not that he did not cherish them; it was the only time in his life that he had been truly happy, and he would always savor what little time he had had with his parents. But now that the world had changed so much, he had figured that no one from this modern era would be too interested in hearing about a time when things had been much, much simpler. "I don' mind tellin' at all. Guess I jus' figured it wouldn't be all that interestin' t' anyone today, bein' as things were so different. I mean, I'm livin' in a tiny apartment these days, an' yet it ain't all that smaller than th' house my pa built, th' one all three o' us had t' share. That was prob'ly why I liked t' spend a lotta time outside in th' fields. A lot more space t' breathe out there. But really, it weren't all that bad. I loved livin' out in the open spaces, helpin' out wit' th' animals, learnin' how t' tend th' farm." Glancing down somberly at his hat, he added, "Certainly was th' happiest time I'd ever known in my whole long life." Looking back up at Paul, he said, "Th' thing is, I didn't get t' be a kid for very long. Prob'ly why I look back on that time so fondly. My pa, well, let's just say his past finally caught up t' him, an' I lost both him an' ma when I was still pretty young, an' I had t' strike out on my own when I still knew precious li'l 'bout th' world." Bullseye gave a rueful smile. "That's prob'ly why I got taken in by, well, a different bunch who weren't all th' righ' sort o' people. Think I was jus' too young an' clueless t' know I shoulda done better." He shook his head, not having reminisced like this to anyone other than Jessie. "Sorry, you don' need t' hear all my ol' sob story. I'd much rather talk 'bout th' youngin's doin' th' Grand Prix. They've got way more o' a bright future, an' good for 'em. Glad t' know things have gotten better these days." Of course he knew things were not all better, but many things had improved since his younger days, so Bullseye could only see that as a good thing. "Ah, so he is a friend o' yours. He's, well, he's interestin'." Bullseye might have thought differently about Lightning if he had not dropped in again. Now, he had a somewhat better opinion of the guy. But he himself could not deny it was a little hard to get used to life in town, even though he felt that way for very different reasons. "Well, he's got some questionable ideas, but I can't fault him for adjustin'. It's been kinda hard for me too. But where he's havin' a hard time not having people watchin' him, I'm havin' a hard time with people doin' that very thing." In response to Paul's assumption, Bullseye gave a shrug. "Honestly, I don'. You know way more'n me. I'd been livin' alone for over a century, tryin' t' hide myself away from th' world. I don' know anythin' 'bout what's been goin' on wit' vampire society for th' last century, much less what else's been goin' on in th' rest o' th' Magick world. But, wait. You sayin' you competed in this Magic Grand Prix thing? Well you've got t' tell me all 'bout it, then!" He had gotten the impression Paul knew about it, but he must have missed the part where he had actively been involved. Bullseye definitely wanted to know more about that, completely fascinated to think that someone could actually use their supernatural talents for something like that, instead of trying to hide away like he had. "Oh no, it's ok. I'll admit I was a li'l annoyed th' first time, 'cause I felt like he jus' wanted t' use th' horses as props for his own purposes. But he made a fair bit o' amends by comin' back an' askin' a more worthwhile question. So whatever use he's got for th' haybales, long as he's not doin' it jus' for himself, that's fine by me."

@doc-hudson

#t: Rendezvous #c: Bullseye

[doc-hudson]

Meanwhile, Paul couldn't think of himself taking any other road but the one he'd decided to follow: he'd be forever indebted to the Doctors and nurses that had helped him during the worst days of his life -following on their steps had seemed like the best way to pay back, in a way, to the universe, to help others that may find themselves in similar needs at one point or another of their lives.

Sure, he had a lot of scars, but most of them told a story of resilience, not only his, but from the team of medics that had been there making sure things healed the best they could, holding his hand while he re-took his first steps, celebrating the big and the little victories of recovery.

That's why he'd decided to become one of them, now that his old life was dead and gone -it had been a big decision to take, a little bit risky, but not bone-breaking risky, so it had felt...natural to go there.

So, yeah, he understood if Julieta hadn't felt the same calling, that she had preferred to focus on honing her particular gifts and making sure her family didn't ever need for something, that no harm would come to them.

They were different paths, but caring for people had never been a single-lane, straight kind of road.

"He's a good man" he repeated for what felt the umpteenth time -but, hey, it didn't become any less true "He's workin' at Interpride or somethin', right?"

That was another way to help people, yeah! Not as flashy as being a politician, but, hey!

"They are different kinds of beautiful" he said, about life in Avalor and life in Swynlake "I never visited the place, and 'm a bit of a city dweller more than a countryside kinda fella, but I can only imagine how...what's the word? cozy? it must have been like"

And how heartbreaking it must have been to be uprooted from there -there were days when he still missed the multiple places he'd called home: from Radiator Springs to California and North Carolina, to even goddamed Detroit every now and then, even when he could always return to them any time he wanted; So he could only imagine the pang that the Madrigals must feel knowing the couldn't return to Avalor just yet, that Home-

-that Casita was there, in Swynlake. Maybe for the best.

And maybe someday they would be able to return to a still-beautiful Avalor.

"Swynlake is lovely, yeah, it's people are warm and welcomin', they made me feel right back at home and-" and off a small fuzz was.

Paul laughed heartily at the whole thing, shaking his hand as a signal for Julieta to not worry about it.

"Don't worry 'bout it! I wouldn't mind havin' flowers 'n my hair or flowers for hair" he joked back.

@julicta

Just cheking || Julieta

#t: Just checking #c: Julieta

[doc-hudson]

'Since when do you have a kid?'

Oh, thank god.

"I don't- yeah, he's kind of a protegé more than anything, really" he admitted with a shrug before once again moving deciding that there was no reason to continue keeping Lightning still "I am a grumpy old man who happens to kind of look after a handful o' kids, don't go gettin' any funny ideas"

But he did say that with a smile on his face, no matter how indignant he supposedly felt about not just being 'a grumpy old man'.

And, luckily, the other man still hadn't connected the dots about the whole thing, had not insinuated anything, which was both a relief and something vaguely insulting to Paul (was he not good enough to be considered as a potential coach? How dare the kid, honestly-!).

"Those kiddos are my family, kind of" he said, after thinking about it for a second and making sure Lightning was still there, next to him "never started one, myself, so..."

That was a bullet the other man had dodged, he thought, the one choice that objectively made him better than himself: having a family of his own, even if it was estranged, even if the situation was a little more complicated than he could wish for.

"But that's enough 'bout me, let's get back to your favorite topic, champ" he said "yeah, you should ask your team, think things for a while"

@lightning-kachow

Lost Highway | Hudlight

#t: Lost Highway #c: Lightning

[doc-hudson]

Today, Paul was out around town, but not because of an errand or to work out, no -today was one of the strange days where the sun had not only dignified them all with it's presence, but was strongly making itself seen and felt; It was a good day to go to Hatters, get something cold and go back home, to maybe tend to his flowers.

The first sip of his frappe had made him stop in his tracks for a second, dumbfounded by the strength of it, the way in made him think of the first one he'd tasted, a lifetime ago, back when they weren't even a cool thing to have.

'Excuse me - you have a very interesting reagent there-'

Huh? Reagent? Paul turned, searching for the thing for a second before remembering that he was completely unable to see reagents and instead focusing on the other person.

Hera!

"Hey there, Hera- sure, go ahead" he said with a guilty smile, knowing full well that he must have looked a fool in front of her "how 're you doin'? Nice climate we have, ehm?"

@thesorceress-hera

May I? || Open

#t: May I? #c: Hera #/*Slams fists on table* casual magic doctor squad! casual magic doctor squad!

[doc-hudson]

Willow moved closer to the gardenias, specifically stopping near the one flower that had always struck him as temperamental -but he hoped that whatever magic she had could help the flower, that may make things easier for them, maybe give it a reason to cheer up, to try and bloom like the rest of the garden.

"The Boiling Isles" Paul echoed with a nod, even if he wasn't all that familiar with the place -he knew of places like Ingary, but could not write an essay about the Boiling Isles per-se.

The flower seemed to relax under Willow's touch, as if seeking and finding, comfort.

"Well, people tend to be pretty exigent when it comes t' sports team, kiddo, I m'self never made it in no matter how hard I tried" he chuckled, leaving unsaid the part where the old coaches had been pretty anti-Magicks being mixed into Mundus Sports because...well, that was irrelevant "didn't stop me from trying 'n other places and doin' pretty decently there"

But he didn't mean to brag, nor to talk about that part of his life just yet.

"People tend to get uppity when it comes to school sports" he said, taking a step closer and offering her a smile "They want to project and uphold an image just as much as they want to win"

He then shook his head 'no'.

"But 'n this? We've got no image to uphold, save for our own. Here you can be Willow, who happens to be a Garden Talent and who made it through the Fitness Tests for years just fine without the need for magic, the determined one, the one that can and may win if she puts her mind into it"

@halfawitch-willow

Greater than your most negative voice || Willow & Doc

#t: Greater than your most negative voice #c: Willow #/if Doc were to know what those fitness tests consisted of; he'd scream #/instantly adopt Willow and keep her from the Isles forever

[doc-hudson]

Doc stood near the kid- Willow and nodded as the flowers tilted towards her.

'I'm actually a Garden Talent fairy'

Well, that tracked!

'or, well, half'

Oh? That was something Paul wasn't particularly familiar with, though he could see no difference when it came to her talent -if anything, her talent seemed strong enough to bring even the temperamental gardenia to life in a way previously unseen.

Maybe what Willow had was 'Hybrid Vigor', or maybe this was the way plants reacted to all Garden talents during spring...Paul couldn't really tell for sure, but, hey, he was thrilled by the place's reaction to the kid, so he, in turn, smiled a little easier.

"Thank you, though it 'sn't really mine, the previous owner did all the actual work" he said "I just water them and make sure to add some fresh soil every now and then"

But, enough of the plants-

-well, no, the plant talk would be necessary, everything considered.

"'m a Gifted, m'self" he continued, as he relaxed in place "Strength and Speed. Our talents are kinda different but 'm sure 't'll be fun to coach you, I've seen what garden talents and terramancers can do and...wow"

He wouldn't elaborate just yet, since that meant admitting to some things he'd rather not talk about, so...

"This your first time competin' 'n something like this, Willow?" Paul asked, looking at the plants, then at her "are you familiar with events like these?"

@halfawitch-willow

Greater than your most negative voice || Willow & Doc

#t: Greater than your most negative voice #c: Willow

[doc-hudson]

Were...

Were the flowers tilting ever so slightly towards the girl's direction and opening a little, even the one gardenia that was so temperamental that it usually looked a step away from wilting?

'Well, that's a nice first impression', Paul thought, as he tried to get up and-

Ouch.

Ouch. Ouch. Ok, he had to reach for his cane, hold on one second-

-ok, he reached for his cane and got up, then looked at the girl with a little, albeit kind of guarded, smile.

"That's me, but you can call me Doc" he declared, carefully examining her reaction because...well, now he'd been forced to reveal his handicap and would understand if the kid wasn't completely thrilled to deal with someone that wasn't on their peak of their condition, specially when compared to the other coaches, like Clawthorne herself or Howl "nice to meetcha, kiddo"

So, was this one of his perfect little strangers? She seemed like a good kid, had apparently strong legs and while a little timid, she seemed to have spirit -otherwise she wouldn't have arrived there in the first place.

"You Karen, San or Willow?" he asked, moving closer in order to properly greet the other.

She didn't look like a stereotypical Karen, not really, what with the slightly pointy ears and such. So this might be San or Willow.

"'nyways, welcome, champ, I was just killin' some time tendin' to the garden" he said, using his free hand to signal her to go ahead "Want to join me and maybe tell me a little 'bout yourself?"

@halfawitch-willow

Greater than your most negative voice || Willow & Doc

#t: Greater than your most negative voice #c: Willow #/SOAUGDASOIDHIOAHSDASHDSN #/I'm already so emo about them

[doc-hudson]

The Clawthorne Tournament was here!

Now, Paul had been a little dissapointed by the fact that King had ended up in Cruz's team, since he'd wanted to work with him (with them both, really).... and because his own little team consisted of names he didn't really know-

-but after the surprise had passed, he'd decided to give his everything for his girls (or who they assumed were girls, based on their names), his little team of three strangers.

People generally appeared at his doorstep thanks to the injury-perceiving enchanted glowing gemstones (it made sense in context) and word of mouth, so the chances of one of them stumbling across his place was pretty high -they'd just have to ask for Paul Hudson (or 'Doc Hudson', he guessed) and they'd know where to go.

And that was why he'd decided to spend part of the morning working on the front garden, just in case anyone appeared and asked for him.

He was just finishing watering the flowers when a young woman appeared appeared near his very-punished mailbox, looking around cautiously.

"Hey there, kiddo. Can I help you?" he offered with a smile, wondering if this little stranger was one of his little strangers.

@halfawitch-willow

Greater than your most negative voice || Willow & Doc

#t: Greater than your most negative voice #c: Willow

[doc-hudson]

'What's that? Clawthorne Tournament?'

Well, the issue wasn't necessarily the Tournament per-se, so Paul could easily answer that, after regaining some composture.

"A series of...challenges for both Magicks and non-Magick. 's a new thing, I've just recently learned of it, really" he said, shaking a hand dismissively "the creator was 'nspired by the Magick Grand Prix, but wanted to create something 'more accessible for everyone' "

Those words, of course, were said in a tone that indicated his being less than amused by that idea -because it felt like a way to take away from Magicks the only thing they could participate in freely, defeating the idea of them having a thing they could claim their own in the first place, where they didn't have to pull their punches just so Mundus didn't feel left out or cheated.

But, whatever.

"I..." now, this part? this next part was the difficult one "offered to coach kids participatin' there -my godson of sorts, King, is- and..."

And, well, that meant he could technically coach people, kind of; This was all very experimental and he still couldn't really tell if it would go well, but...yeah, he had offered to coach someone.

Ergo, he could maybe coach Lightning.

Maybe.

"I'm- yeah, I'm goin' in blind on this whole coachin' thing, it's all very new and not so serious and-"

Yeah, maybe this time Lightning would understand what was going through his mind, the many maybes.

@lightning-kachow

Lost Highway | Hudlight

#t: Lost Highway #c: Lightning