steepwithdead | Folkmore

It's impossible to hide everything from children. Truth is inevitable. Protect them from the worst, and trust them with everything else.

It sounds as if your patience and willingness to try could be rewarded, then. How do you feel now? Emotionally, not heartburn-wise. Do you want to keep trying?

Sometimes, I wish the truth wasn't so harsh. Not that I can change any of it now.

A little all over the place, I think. It is barely a connection at best, but... I feel pretty excited? Nervous?

I think so. I'd like to be connected to Donnie and Casey. Even if I can't do any of the more complex portal magic I could before.

You can't change it, but you can adapt. You'll be alright.

Excited and nervous is normal, and good. Are you open to a little advice? From someone who coaxed another's connection to a new power, you might find it relevant.

[Since Leonardo had reached out for a listening ear, not counselling, he feels it best to check. It's still advice he'd offer to a friend, not a... patient? customer? it's not transactional, and nothing he does is formal, but some prefer the professional distance.]

I've been adapting since I was a kid. I guess I gotta keep doing that. So much for getting set in my ways.

Yeah, I'm not against advice. I'm kind of going in blind now. You've got more experience with this anyway.

The way you have to set yourself in is one of change.

[How you do that... good question! (The answer is practice.)]

This sort of connection can take plenty of time, effort, and devotion. I'm sure you know that already. What you cannot forget is faith. Faith in your capacity to grow, faith in your family to help you on your way. Faith that your efforts will bear fruit one day. It may not be what you hope for, in the end. It may be less, or more, of what you expect. But you have to believe that change will come, no matter how small, or how long it takes. The moment you stop is the moment you lose.

This isn't a war, the stakes are low. You're allowed to hope for change slowly, now, but keep faith. You felt something. In the simplest of terms, that means there is something to BE felt.

[How dare you be reasonable like this.]

Always gotta be the wise sage with just the right things to say, huh?

[he can make a joke as a treat.]

I'll try to keep all of that in mind. I just need to keep practicing, using that connection until its a lot sturdier. It's hard not to be daunted by suddenly just having even the faintest hint of that connection back. I can reach out and feel it. How its connected to Donnie and Casey.

I'm also afraid I'll break that ninpo connection, and that will break their hearts more than mine.

Edited 2025-09-03 14:39 (UTC)

[you come into his inbox, you get cared for, he doesn't make the rules.]

Sorry. Can't really turn it off.

[Even through text it's easy to tell he isn't sorry at all.]

The nice thing about it starting off small is you're less likely to be overwhelmed by it. You can take it slow, one step at a time.

I think it would break their hearts more to see you despair over it. Believe in them, their connections with you go beyond any power that any of you might have. No matter what happens, you'll still have one another, and those bonds can't be broken by any means other than your own. Don't let them or you overvalue the importance of magic powers. It would be nice to have, I don't disagree. But it isn't the most critical thing to pursue. They will love you, and hearts will mend.

[One day, he will understand.]

Yeah, I figured. You're also not even really sorry, which also doesn't surprise me. You have your magic way with words, and you aren't afraid to let them loose.

Fair. There's a lot less pressure to live up to what I used to do when I just... can't reach that level right now. No rush to be that either, since I'm not exactly picking many fights these days. I miss the freedom of portals, but I don't need to get there.

They've dealt with enough heartbreak as it is. Kind of the family motto for a long while. It'll be nice to, I guess, work on this and make it something positive? I just need to stop worrying about not living up to what they remember my ninpo being like.

Ah, you caught me. I feel very seen.

[ripperonis to this guy. (which guy? yes.)]

If I were make a bet, it would be that most of the pressure is coming from you, both imagining their disappointment and managing your own expectations. Let's say it didn't work at all, or never reached a stage beyond this "heartburn" you felt. What do you think they would say to you?

Someone's gotta see you around here.

Well... they'd probably be disappointed but, assure me, we at least tried our best. Casey especially. Donnie would be Donnie about it. Probably try to break the system to make things work.