power's rising
What should have been a herculean task was for Aegaeon the twitch of a Riik's tail. The double-walled green barrels, stiff with paint, practically fell apart under his touch. He wasn't brusque, brash, crass or crude. He even did it gracefully.
"Won't say I don't envy that," Minoth remarked, soft but wry.
Literal superstrength. The opposite of weakness, in a sense. He couldn't remember when he'd last felt that way - like the world was bristling beneath his fingertips.
"And what would you use it for, Master Minoth?"
Thinking of Addam and Flora, Minoth replied hastily, "Well, it would help with digging, wouldn't it? Couldn't hurt to have some fortitude to spare, either."
Jin could be heard making a scoffing sound, to their rear. Aegaeon voiced what might otherwise have been the Paragon's contribution to the conversation: "Not unless you plan to dig through stone."
"You never know. Might be some sheet rock we need to chip away at, sometime."
Jin's judgement, again. Minoth reconsidered that the Tornan Titan might have some objection to this line of thought.
"Not digging, then. Just for the thrill of it all. Some extra oomph, as Lora would say."
Aegaeon peered at him, and Minoth could feel himself, in every braggadocious overture and gesture, being read through by translucent eyes.
"This skill bears no increase upon my output in battle. It is nothing you lack."
What, now, Aegaeon trying to tell him he's useful because he's special, and we all make a difference in our own unique way? By appealing to Minoth's ideas of the art of war, that is.
"Alright, fine." Speaking of usefulness, and brokering oneself out of battle. "I'd like to be able to open jars more easily. Wouldn't we all?"
"It's a matter of precision," Jin finally broke in. "Jars shouldn't need brute-forcing."
Coulda, shoulda, woulda. Since when had Jin had a proper jar and counter to tap it against?
"Well, you would know, wouldn't you, Jin? You've got an eye for those sorts of things." It was a shared trait with Haze - and by that stem, Lora must have been no slouch, either. How many times had they all awefully watched him surgically dissect a wayward tree branch, or seventeen, lingering in their path? And of course, those critical hits...
"Jealousy doesn't become you, Minoth," replied Jin.
Minoth waited.
"What, no consequent? Just gonna admonish me and let it hang?"
The other two shared a doleful glance.
"We might consider," Aegaeon began, turning to Jin, "that Brighid also possesses only two field skills."
"Mythra," Jin agreed, presenting a matching angle, "could be considered the same."
Great. Because that was the camp Minoth wanted to be in, for sure. "And power is as power does, and my inferiority complex is showing, yeah, I get it."
The owlish duo returned.
"We can no more donate to you our skills than Addam can restore you to an untainted Blade," said Jin. "Not simply by wishing it so."
And on cue, the prince appeared. "But I don't wish it so! I am grateful for Minoth just as he is."
Aegaeon peered again. "I hope, Master Minoth, you are satisfied?"