tell the rambler, the gambler, the back-biter [introduction]

[gritted]

Mattie sleeps well, considering the long day she's had. Little Blackie is nearby her, which comforts her and makes her feel safe. She's still afraid of the snakes that come out at night even though Rooster told her that they don't attack young girls, but for now, she tries to forget that

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[zhany_silver]

We have no idea what Zhane might look like to Mattie, but there he is! The Silver Space Ranger is currently dressed in civilian gear, with black Jeans and a gray hoodie, and sitting with his legs crossed in an armchair.

In fact, he's practicing his telekinesis in the library, playing with some paper weights.The smaller ones are easy to work on, but the heavier ones require a lot of focus.

Then again, maybe Mattie will wander in while the older teen is managing to keep an eagle-shaped paper weight in aerial suspension.

[gritted]

Mattie doesn't care much for books, but she does enjoy exploring the Mansion. She stumbles upon Zhane, er, levitating things, and almost screams. She shuts her mouth in time, still stunned. Zhane might hear her gasp, though.

[zhany_silver]

The gasp is enough to disturb his focus, though, and the paper weight falls onto the table with a clang. "-- darn it," Zhane says, and turns around, "you shouldn't sn---"

Pause. Not Warren's girlfriend. Huh.

"-- Hi?"

[gritted]

"--What are you doing?" There's fear in her voice, although she's trying very hard to control it. She thinks he might be possessed. We're sorry, Zhane.

[zhany_silver]

"Practicing," Zhane replies. He stands, goes to pick up the paper weight and gently puts it back on the desk. "Sorry - I guess you've never seen that sort of thing, huh?"

Earthlings, you gotta tell them everything.

[gritted]

"It seems devilish," she admits.

[zhany_silver]

... "Oh cripes." Zhane sighs. "Look, no. I'm not a devil, or possessed, or enchanted, or any sort of crap like that," he informs the girl. "I'm telekinetic. It's science. Just an ability of the mind."

[gritted]

"I don't know what that means."

[zhany_silver]

"Alright, let me try to explain." Zhane points to the paper weight closest to Mattie. "Can you give me that, please?"

[gritted]

She takes it and hands it to him carefully, still a little frightened.

[zhany_silver]

Zhane takes the paper weight, he's still smiling. "Alright. What did you do to give me the paper weight?"

We swear, there's a pedagogical goal behind this, really really.

[gritted]

"I lifted it up and handed it to you."

[zhany_silver]

"Well," Zhane explains, "when I lift it up and hand it to you," he does it again, with telekinesis, but with a movement of his hand, "I'm doing exactly the same thing, just with another group of muscles."

[gritted]

She gulps. "But it's--it's dangerous, yes?"

[zhany_silver]

"Nah, not really. Not to me, if that's what you're asking. It's just because I was born on a planet with a different gravitational pull..."

Or something like that - the typist fails astrophysics less than Zhane does, we assure you.

[gritted]

She blinks.

"What?"