[ Warren’s not going to kick up a fuss over a little splashing, and it sure doesn’t escape his notice that the dogs take special care not to get in his way. It’s a little eerie how well-behaved they are, though he supposes he’ll get used to it. Just as he’ll get used to everything else.
[ He does have fun on occasion. Most people wouldn’t like his idea of fun, but that’s neither here nor there. She’ll get to see him loosen up eventually probably. ]
And just how are you expecting me to act, instead?
Oh, if that’s what you’re looking for, it’s under the water.
[ Scandalous? No, not really.
He eases himself through the water until he can stand, stepping into the shallow end of the pool enough so she can see it, the dark silhouette of that chess piece emblazoned on his skin. The powers that be probably think they’re funny, or something, for picking that out. ]
The rest is magic. Shortcuts, so to speak, so I don’t have to physically cast.
Except not really. The chess piece is just as compelling, if not more so, than whatever might be below the waistline. (no it's not, don't lie to yourself girl--) Makima eases forward just enough to find herself at the shallow section of the pool, too, following so she can get a better look. And again, the pad of her pointer finger traces down to that new marking.]
The powers that be must have a sense of humor. A chess piece... I like it.
[A horse's head. The knight. But also, what better symbol for control, other than a piece to be moved around on the board?]
Magic tattoos, though. That's clever. Do all wizards have something similar?
[ Scandal will just have to wait for now. Warren stays where he is, arm half-raised as she draws her finger over his skin. He’s not blind, and not so inhuman that he doesn’t realize how insanely hot Makima is, but he’s also a cautious sort. New as this arrangement is, better not to bring anything complicated into the mix just yet.
So, he lets her do as she pleases with a clinical sort of distance, before he finally brings his arm back down. Oh yes, he thought she might like it. ]
Usually only wizards who might find themselves in a fight.
[ Though he makes no remark about her staying close, he's watching her, but then he's always watching her. This new unknown in his life for the foreseeable future. He'd be a fool not to observe. ]
You've already seen most of them. Care to take a guess?
[ He lifts a shoulder as if to say "it happens". There's still something kind of funny about whipping out a gun in the middle of a magical battle. Most people aren't prepared for that at all. ]
Yes. The shield is a staple. That you managed to break it at all is rather impressive, by the way.
[She pretends to preen at the compliment, though maybe it's only half-pretending. There is some satisfaction in knowing that, not even at full power, she did manage to poke a hole through his defenses.]
Not without some effort. But it's nice to know exactly where my limitations are now, so I should thank you anyway. I guess I won't be blasting my opponents into space anymore... not for a while, anyway.
[ It's impossible to tell whether or not she's exaggerating. Given what she's told him her powers are supposed to do, he wouldn't doubt if she had sent people through the stratosphere. ]
[ Warren doesn’t very often tip his hand, but in this case he figures she would expect some measure of curiosity from him, so he doesn’t mind showing it. ]
If you were as powerful as you say, I don’t doubt that you did.
[ The flamingo really sits at odds with everything around it. Even Warren’s pool is dark in color. (Hey, at least he’s consistent.) Perhaps much like Makima herself. Even if there is a mean edge to her brightness more often than not, it’s still bright. A flash of color in the middle of all this black. ]
[Makima might be a lot of doom, but she’s not a lot of gloom. Not in demeanor, anyway — (almost) always smiling, always pleasant and polite. She has no shame using this bright pink flamingo donut.]
Three?
[THREE. Gosh.]
Let’s see… now you’re making this a little more difficult. You were pretty fast. Does that have anything to do with your tattoos too?
[ The last two... would have been harder to spot, if not impossible given how their fight went. Speed is easily displayed. Strength and durability? They have very little bearing when someone swoops in and just makes him relive old memories. ]
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