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If La Brea learned anything... He learned that what he needed was to get more skilled in close quarters fighting, after what happened on Limosa. He wanted to protect Sailor Clara if they ever ran into trouble and he was close. And his daughter's cat... Friend! And not to mention... His own kids. Even if he wasn'yt sure how to accept that... He felt a paternal drive to protect a lieutenant. It ewasn't... wrong he supposed.

It was... Him, maybe. He wasn't alwatys the best showing emotions reliably, but... He wanted to see if maybe... Things were less clear cut, because he still remembers sitting up late with one of his boys buiklding a moon base for class and discussing the intricacies of space travel and the physics at his level. He was lost in the notion his son shared his interest in space, albeit, Eos was a little too into aliens for his lioking.

God, if Eos knew about aliens being real he'd be chasing every Deep Space Senshi out there and he saw at least one, maybe two on Limosa. Eos might be his least social son - insecure, sure, but also sensitive to poor sopcial reception and absoluitely curious - LKa Brea worried his boy might ask too much he wasn't ready for. Thankfully, none of his boys were senshi, or he swore, he and Limosa might both have cardiac events. Cyrus too, Or Eric. It was bad enough Limosa mentioned Reynard was a knight!

La Brea shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the night, hoping he ran into someone to spar. Or fight, but he didn't want to fight... Maliciously. Not until he understood better, although...

He strongly suspected... That his wife just might well have been someone she pretended not to be. And it hurt. But he wouldn't give up his children. Never, not even his eldest.

The page tucked his rose in a pocket. It wasn't much of a weapon, but he could... Throw it he guessed. But it was no replacement for close quarters combat with his hands, and La Brea sighed, pausing as he felt an aura approaching -- stronger than his own.

"Oh, and who might be approaching?" He murmuired to himself, turning to face it calmly. Trying to be kless tense.

La Brea blinked, still willing himself to ease his tensiuon. He never knew what to anticipate anymore. Realluy, he was still processing the complexity of both sides of this conflict, and was learning that caution unless he recognized someone when they drew close was prudent - if only because his nature alone might make interactions unpredictable, so a friendly greeting he took as a positive, waving as he nodded.

"Hello there. Keeping safe tonight I trust?" La Brea greeted calmly. Calm was a good mode to operate, for him, really. That much he was picking up. Tryiong to be kind was also p[robably good. Probably.

"Truthfully, you're the first I've met tonight. Although I confess, it's a rather nice break with how active space has been of late." La Brea smiled, chuckled good-naturedly. He actually dsidn't mind seeing sopace. As mucch as he'd love to study Homeworlds and Wonders, he didn't. He wasn't sure it would be handled well. And besiudes, he needed to study his own Wonder.

"Although I do admit spoace is quite fascinating, still a quiet, relaxed night is a lovely break. Are you wrapping up a patrol, or...?"

He never knew, he only knew Limosa patrolled, and the Negaverse patrolled, and he patrolled.

"Quiet isgood."LaBrea nodded. He had people he worried about, of course. It felt strange to worry for at least one - and complicated - but he handled teaching colklege students physics too. Slowly, La Brea released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"I'm glad you're safe, at least. I've had a quiet evening myself. It's been rather nice." La Brea smiled a bit. Admittedly he was beginning to dislike being alone with his thoughts but that was a whoile other problem. Right now there was another m,,ember of Order in front of him to focus on and La Brea wanted to give them his full attention - he wanted to try treating other people in Order like they were on the same team, instead of a band of disorganized people with individual agendas. He knew it might be possible... He saw the people help Limosa.
Then it dawned on him he wasprobably making a social faux paux he was trying to break one cof his boys of and La Brea uttered a deep sogh, rubbing his face as he looked a biut... Embarressedd.

"Ah, forgive me. Have I introduced myself? I'm La Brea. I'm a page of Saturn. It's very nice to meet yopu. I do apologize for coming off awkwardly -- work has been... Acomplete trainwreck."

If one more student used ChatGBT to write their essay, La Brea would scream. He swore once school was out of session before he picked up at the research facility, he was finding Tress and asking if she wanted to get coffee just so they could both unwind and forget school was a thing. Adultsdid that right? Was that friendly without seeming romantic? He wasn't trying to flirt, he just enjoyed having someone to talk to.

?"Mice! What a lovrely sphere!" La Brea smiled kindly at that. He meant it, too. Mice in general were cute -- even the ones in the lab he worked summers. He could already see his sons cooing at any magic she had and was once again glad none of them awakened. "Abd ah, I'm gflad. Iunderstand busy myself." La Breasmiled, then rubbed his temples.

"I teachphysics to college students." And they liked using AI to try cheating the system. This was why he insisted on detailled bibliographies, peer reviewed content,. and still used AI checking software. And then curiousity took over again and La Brea beamed, lighting uop.

"But do tell mne, what does your magic do? I fear the time I've spent hasn't afforded many opportunities for me to meet enough senshi." Or knights. He knew... Two senshi? That tracjked. And one was his daughter.

[quote="LP"[/quote]]

"I understand that. Physics isn't easy at all, and teaching..." Hesmiled warmly. "While I have a cirriculum, sometimes it's how it's taught. Not everyone will liuke or ubderstand it no matter what -- but that's opkay. Some do with the right presentation. So don't feel bad if it isn't your interest. If we were all alike, we'd be helium particles in avboid." He winked. It was a terrible Dad joke but the man did noyt resaist. At all.

And then he lit up.

"Healing ius a wonderful skill. I'd very much like to spar as well. I can alwaysimporod some practice." He chuckled, smiling. La Brea motioned to his rose,sighing. "If it helps, my weapon isn't much to look at or work eith either, so it would be hand to hand."[

La Brea grinned. Oh, oh he'd made a terrible Dad joke, mixed with physics, but in this instance it made someone else smile. That made it worth it as he grinned a moment -- amused, warm. Besides his youngest boys were 8 year old twins and a ten year old. He was allowed the opdd Dad hjoke, he hoped.

"I can hope." La Brea admitted. "I'm not stressed if not. Weapons have uses, including mine, surely. And at woprst, I'm... Fine using my own fists." It was surreal to admit. He was fine. It ewas fine. Aproper weapon would help though.

Then Tea mentioned being a former chibi and he had to suppress a wave of worry. He wanted to fuss, but... He refrained. Paetly respect, acknowledging she wseemed fine. ParetlyHedidn't want her to feel uncomfortable. She seemed fine with it. He just felt paternal concern for her, and for chibis,, and terror his own sons might be dragged into thisw.

"What was that like?" He asked instead, shifting slightly to prepare. Not ambush -- but asubtle showhe was willing, and planned not to be unfair.

"Clever!" La Breqapraised."And I would be delighted to sahow you if I manage to growstronger. I.. Do want to try mKing connections. We're all the sameside. We should work together." He wassureof it. He crackjed his knuckles, stretching for the fight. He'd let her strikemosmt, play defensive. He wanted to see her magic, to encourage, like hiswstudents. Then... He exhaled.

"Iapologizeif it was astrange question. My daughter awakened at eighteen but I have..I have a ten year old. Two eight year olds. they were almostcorrupted by their mother. She's.. Goine bu8t I'm terrified of if one awakens. I just want my boys safe."

Hecan't shelter Limosa but... His boys.