we built this city on broken glass

He could hardly say he took any true joy from those thoughts and memories that stirred within the mind of the other man. Tetradore's mind hardly a pleasant place in any real sense. In fact, it reminded him so much off his own thoughts that the stallion hardly needed to peer into those depths with any real proficiency to guess at the inner workings of the panther. He had seen it before. He had lived it before. The propagator of Tetradore's torment merely had a different name to set her apart from those whom still haunted his own nightmares when he was careless enough to allow them. Still, he had hardly anticipated that near sudden thought. One that crossed the panthers mind with such assurance and clarity that it was near impossible to miss- fleeting though it was. Tetradore firmly having settled upon that realisation that he had never been going to win that battle, that he could not and would not win, no matter how many times the pair might have clashed again. That very idea settling firmly within the other man then. Frost unable to prevent that near derisive snort that came with the idea that he was somehow undefeatable at Tetradore's hands. Any man who believed his own infallibility was a damn fool. The equine almost assured that Tetradore was much the same to accept that idea as if it was some sort of given fact. Maybe this was why he had never been truly successful in breaking away from that vampire woman whom tormented him. How vile infectious self-doubt could be when allowed to fester. Frost near snapping those words in an overly belligerent tone- as if some part of him cared enough to take offense at that defeatist attitude the other man had taken.

His gaze merely lingered on the panther as his arms folded behind his head, Tetradore shrugging with that singular statement he was hardly fool- but rather a realist. Perhaps he was. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps no amount of blows shared between them would ever see the panther emerge victorious when Frost so possessed the ability to know each move before he made it. Yet- perhaps he was wrong too. The stallion having spent the entirety of his life basing the vast majority off his decisions upon those singular and unlikely chances that nothing was assured in any sense. Still, if the other man was content in his belief then let him have it. Little harm could truly come from Tetradore's belief he was the inferior fighter- or in the least- that he held inferior affinities. Should they ever disagree again it might well keep the other man from attempting to fight him a second time. Frost allowing his own shoulders to lift then in that easy indifference. His words cool and near free of emotion once more.

"Whatever."

There were far more important words to be had then any discussion of Tetradore's beliefs. That conversation shifted toward exactly what the Panther would have him stand against if he chose to take up that offer and all it entailed. How Tetradore had such little information on a being he had spent the better part off his life with Frost hardly knew. What little the man could offer him entirely debatable in its use and yet- he had worked with less before. He could work with less again. Frost hardly inclined to admit that it was not entirely for the temptation of what Tetradore might leave behind that might incline him to take up that mantle. Rather, a part of that stallion possessed a rather defined....loathing for those whom would imprison his own kind. To treat them as pets or slaves or beasts of burden. How deeply that loathing ran. That reason alone enough for him to take up tetradore's plight and yet he had hardly survived so long be being foolish. If more could be gained from this arrangement then more he would take. It was ruthless, perhaps and yet the world owed him nothing. Frost having learned so early on that he would simply take what he needed, else watch someone take it before him.

That sudden shift toward his own vector was unanticipated and yet, Frost hardly found himself opposed to the idea of Calliel finding safety within Tetradore's ranks. If the Panther was inclined to take her then so be it. She was safer amongst a pack then without one. Tetradore more than capable of watching over her. Frost content enough to afford the other man that permission to retain that offer if he saw fit, the stallion finding a certain measure of respect in his companions offer to rescind it should it have caused him any true displeasure. That alliance between them, after all, was far more valuable than any single packmate. It was that simple respect, perhaps, that so afforded the stallion that show of good faith in turn. Frost offering Tetradore that information on the girls wayward Father. The man near having murdered himself and Raven both in some made rampage months prior. That Tetradore might well be welcoming that same danger into his own pack with that offer to shield the young woman made clear. That silence existing between them then.

He hardly anticipated his own words in that moment. Few though they were and even if not direct, they surely betrayed the very life he had once lived. One so strikingly similar to Tetradore's own. That near potent understanding passing so silently between them both in that moment. After all, how often were either of them given that chance to be in the company of another whom truly understood what so few ever did? That warning on Nadya was taken with a dip off his own head, Frost inclined to remember those words all the same and yet it was that almost brotherly reassurance that followed that seemed to strike the man the most. Those violet eyes glanced towards his unlikely companion then in that near playful and yet no less sincere offer from the panther that, in this, neither of them truly need stand alone any longer. Tetradore suggesting a panther could surely chase those fears from him. That stoic man, despite himself, unable to prevent that quirk off his lips. Was it truly a terrible thing to find some measure of camaraderie with the man?

"I'll remember that."

He offered simple. Neither man, perhaps, truly inclined to those more emotional subjects. That conversation shifted instead to alcohol. Frost inclined to threaten the theft of that car if Tetradore left him here. The equine leaning against that hood as his companion disappeared in that wealth of mist and shadow only to return a few minutes later with far more alcohol than that initial six pack they had all but burned through in a matter of minutes. Frosts approval falling eagerly from his lips as he was handed that first bottle. Stepping away from the car then only to take up that promised lesson of sorts on the matter of illusions. For all he was- the stallion was hardly a poor teacher. The man making that effort to explain the nature of just how an illusionary power worked and how easily it might been seen through if those faults could be found. Frost inclined to test his companion then as that single bottle of whisky became multiple bottles. That task to pick out the real one set before him.

He was hardly done with that magic quite yet, however, Frost allowing his ability to embrace his own form them until Tetradore was left facing a near mirror image of himself. One the stallion declared to be 'self-motivation' in that rare display off humor. The other mans assurance it was creepy met with a shrug off the stallions shoulders. The two Tetradore's left facing one another for a moment before the real man inevitably gestured toward the wrong bottle. Frost scowling than before prompting the fellow to try again as he shifted back towards that car to lean against it. Frost eyeing those other bottles test had brought. Hmm, maybe beer again. Since that whisky was currently in use. He had no sooner picked up that beer then tetradore turned back towards him with the assurance that if he only got to drink when he found that bottle, that surely Frost himself deserved one each time the panther was wrong. Those equally green eyes narrowed a moment before the equine lifted that beer to his lips to take that first sip.

"Sounds fair. Try again."

Tetradore so inevitably choosing wrong the next three times. Frost taking that drink each time. Was the damn fool even trying or was he just....pointing to bottles in some vague hope he was going to be right? Then again, maybe it didn't matter to much as long as he was actually making some sort of effort.

"Your just walking along the line pointing. Fucking hell, you can do better than that. Do these shoes even fit you? They look way to big for our feet."

Frost's own emerald gaze shifted to eye his shoes, or rather, Tetradores shoes so illusioned upon his own feet. The stallion eyeing them almost critically before declaring them too big. Though whether or not that was merely that drink beginning to talk remained to be seen. The panther guessing wrong twice more before the very first cracks in those illusions begun to show. Several of those bottles having shifted to look....like beer bottles instead of whisky. Frost evidently focusing more on what he was drinking rather than looking at. Another drink taken before two more bottles seemed to fade in and out of focus altogether leaving only a small handful of them left. Tetradore, at last, pointing to that correct one and the only bottle that had ceased to change colour or disappear entirely from that lineup.

"Took you long enough but you still did it, I suppose. It's not that hard to spot what's real and what isn't once you know how. Have some faith in yourself or in alcohol."
His lip quirked slightly once more, Frost easing himself down now to sit at the front of that car and lean against it, one knee raised slightly to balance that beer atop it, Frost shifting to make space for the panther beside him. That alcohol at last beginning to tug at him more potently. Thank god.

"Do you know how someone who knows you would tell the difference between me and you right now? Your right handed. I'm not. Did you even notice that?"

That bottle was lifted then, as if to make a point. Frost allowing that illusion to drop from him. That white-haired man returned in his entirety as he took yet another sip of that dwindling beer. His ability to drink decidedly decent when he put his mind to it. That violet gaze turned back to Tet then.

"I was...designed to be the way I am and have the powers I do. I was bred for it. Literally. The mind reading thing is designed to let me talk to my rider if I need, the temperature thing stops me and my rider freezing to death or passing out from heat stroke. I can do a few others things though too but what about you? What else can you do? I know about the teleporting and that.....thing you did the day we fought when your fur turned into rocks or whatever the fuck that was- but what else can you do? I'll tell you about mine too, don't worry. Those can't be your only powers though."

He paused then, affording Tet that moment to speak if he chose too. Hell, perhaps he wouldn't and yet what the hell did it matter if they knew what the other did?

FrosT