[FweepFwopFwoop]

Delas opened up a window, and from there climbed onto the carriage roof, where he sat. Astien sighed and turned to Marius. "Very nice, Marius. The boy already has enough of a poor self esteem, why insult him further?"

[Eskal]

"I'm just calling it as I see it, Astien," Marius huffed. "He can't keep playing the role as 'victim', he needs to pull himself together and move beyond the fact he's raceless. I get that it's hard, but acting out isn't going to help him."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"He's 15! What are you expecting him to do, exactly? Are you seriously going to hold him to the emotional and psychological standards that could be expected from an adult?"

[Eskal]

"I don't know! Something beside bitching about the fact that he's raceless and babbling on about inaccurate physics."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"He's a child! Children want attention! Not to mention he's been homeless and hungry for so long, as well as thrown out of establishments for what he is, he wants attention to make up for that! We're the closest he has to family, he wants it from us! He wants validation that he's a somebody, not a nothing!"

[Eskal]

Marius huffed. "Fine."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien sighed and pinche the bridge of his nose. "Honestly Marius. Children act out over less. If this is how you're going to be when Aiden's a teen..."

[Eskal]

"I'm sorry, it's been years since I last dealt with children. My siblings never acted like Delas does."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Children are unpredictable like that. You never know which ones will behave like adults, and which ones are attention starved. Now let's get Delas back in here so you can both apologize." Astien stuck his head out the window. "Delas, come back in here. Marius wants to apologize."

[Eskal]

Marius huffed and pinched his nose.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Marius, DON'T." Astien warned.

Delas climbed back in, tears streaming from his eyes. "I'm sorry Marius." He cried. "I didn't mean it. I'm just sick of people treating me like a freak, or I'm weird."

[Eskal]

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," Marius said. "You're a little weird, but sometimes weird is good."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Delas looked at the floor sadly. "I'm not weird. I don't try to be, anyway. I just… I try to be someone who isn't me. I hate who I am."

[Eskal]

"You shouldn't hate who you are. Sure you were dealt a bad deck, but you shouldn't let that define you."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Delas was quiet a moment. "Yeah. Yeah you're right. You're really right." He wiped away his tears. "When we get there, I'm gonna learn a weapon too."

[Eskal]

"I'll help you where I can," Marius said. "IF you want my help that is."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Okay." Delas walked to Marius and gave him a hug. "I'm sorry again."

[Eskal]

Marius hugged Delas. "I'm sorry too."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Astien smiled. "Good to know I haven't lost my touch dealing with unruly students."

[Eskal]

"So what kind of weapon are you thinking about?"