In fact, as Palis perceived the genuinity and curiosity in this boy- this Joffrey Jamie Kendrick- Palis was afraid that he had met an absolute idiot. There were many factors necessary for Palis to consider that someone else may be an idiot, but he was sure that he was close to conviction. It took everything in Palis to keep his hand from clapping his own forehead. This was a hero without eloquence, without rustic street smarts, and Palis was afraid that it would be he who was forced to play his cards here, and not simply the dog-eared card of running away. He stepped up towards the approaching boy- a name he recalled as Francis- and glared at him as intimidatingly as he could manage.
"I was just swinging by to see if doinkus here had beat his personal record of escape, then put him back in for another trial if he was out," Francis explained casually, stalking towards them. Whatever confidence Palis had just had evaporated like water on a hot pan. He didn't back away, however, instead expanding his field to its farthest reaches, in the same way, a cat's hair and back contort to make it seem bigger and more intimidating.
"Palis and I go way back. We've got this symbiotic relationship," Francis continued, grabbing Palis with an arm around his shoulders. Palis' face contorted as he was held close to the other boy. "I put him somewhere safe- his locker- and he provides me entertainment."
"I'll burn you again, Francis! Stay away!" Palis began, his voice weak and frantic. "Did you being burned by me? The useless Pal-ass? Did you like everyone knowing that I had bested you at your own stupid game?" Palis' voice swelled as he continued.
Francis scowled. "You got lucky, Ainu."
"Lucky, that's clocking right. If I do it again, is it lucky?" Palis defended, knowing full well that he was barrelling towards his demise. Barrelling, but he had ways to escape, means to slow down the train.
"Alright, show me then. Show me it's not just luck. I'm not scared of you, Ainu, or your stupid friend."Palis glared at Francis with ice lining his eyes as the latter spoke, then prayed silently to the mona.
In an instant, Palis was sifting through Francis' memories, searching for fire. His own vision darkened at the edges, a dull pounding drumming up in his head in a slow crescendo. He found the crackling of flames, a memory singed at the edges by shame and fear, and placing his Perceptive fish hooks into the memory, Palis reeled it back to the forefront of Francis' mind. His vision returned as he retracted his reach from Francis' memory, the edges of his vision solidifying and the pounding of his temples subsiding into a dull ache. He watched Francis' anger fade into a flash of confused fear for only a moment before returning, but Palis's lip curled into half of a malicious grin either way.