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[filial_guardian]

[After two light days of snow, the weather's cleared up a little, but it's still freezingly cold. Walter is out in front of his house now, contemplatively looking at the front walk. The walked-upon snow is freezing now, and it would be best to get rid of it before the Merines someone falls and gets hurt.]

...Let's get this over with. Kipinn,

Comments

[prayingone]

[... oh, the things she comes home to after school. Although, given Shirley's choice of footwear, slipping and falling on ice is almost a given.]

... um.

[filial_guardian]

[...Well, crap. He was hoping to have this done with before Shirley got back.]

Merines.

[prayingone]

[Does she ask him why he's blowtorching the front walk? Thank him for doing a good job? Make small talk and pretend he isn't doing anything until he's finished?]

... hello, Walter. [For now, she'll settle for an awkward greeting.]

[filial_guardian]

[Walter is having similar thoughts, and he slowly dismisses the Filial spirits so he doesn't just drain himself unnecessarily.]

...How was school? [Never mind the fact that he probably should be attending himself. He stopped going ages ago.]

[unseenspy]

[Jay is taking a stroll through the village when he sees Walter wielding the fire. Seeing Walter alive is strange enough, but seeing him using fire? Beyond strange.]

...Walter?

[filial_guardian]

[Considering he's actually got fire in his eres repetoire, it's doable. Walter frowns when he sees the boy, then pauses when he hears his name.

There aren't many reasons why anyone would know his name around here.] Orerines.

[unseenspy]

Nice to see you, too. [Of course Jay is being sarcastic, somewhat irritated that Walter would refer to him by his species rather than his name.]

I see you still haven't learned to set aside trivial things like that.

[filial_guardian]

[Like Walter ever cared enough about Senel's friends to get their names while they were around.] And I don't care what you "see." Get lost.

[filial_guardian]

[No kidding, long time. Walter doesn't quite stop in his work at the comment, frowning at the passerby.] I didn't want to look for a shovel.

[filial_guardian]

Hmph. I intend to. It shouldn't be too hard. [He pauses, as if trying to figure out why this guy is here.] And who are you again?

[filial_guardian]

[Walter doesn't notice the newcomer right away, concentrating on the ice. When he does, he frowns (as he tends to do).] ...What? [It seems like a weird thing to just stop and stare at without commentary.]

[filial_guardian]

Yardwork. ...Cleaning up from all the snow. [He waves vaguely, frowning as he looks closer at the girl. She looks aquatic; he's actually reminded of Ruto from her fins.] A person of the water?

[filial_guardian]

[And here's another familiar person staring at him. Walter finishes a portion of the walk before taking notice of Minato.]

[filial_guardian]

Nothing better to do than stare? [He's decidedly not hostile towards the other boy, though. Just watching. Suspiciously. Warily.]