we built this city on broken glass

In all those thoughts he had glimpsed within the mind of the WereKing before him, in all that horror and pain and otherwise near prolonged suffering of an existence he had witnessed near unintentionally in those moments Tetradore's thoughts had drawn him inward, he was nearly surprised by that taint of....something else that seemed to linger within them now. Tetradore's mind was unfamiliar to him, like a channel he was un-used to finding, as if the signal was somehow difficult to read. Frost having learned over time that it took practice to become familiar with a certain mind the way he was with Nadya or Alexander or those members of his pack. Their thoughts strikingly clear to him to the point even their mere intentions could sometimes be deduced before those words themselves were considered mentally. Yet, even despite that metaphorical blur that obstructed the clarity of those inner considerations of Tetradore's mind that single thought was heard with a decided clarity. That singular wondering at that unintentional admittance on his part so seeing the stallion near internally berate himself for that slip and yet too- did it truly matter if Tetradore new of that power he possessed. It was hardly a secret in any sense. Even if he rarely advertised that affinity. Frost allowing his shoulders to shrug in response to that unspoken question before abruptly answering it. If only to alleviate that questioning from his newfound companions mind.

"Yes. I can read minds. Though it is not always the gift it appears I assure you."

That sentence alone so surely displayed simple proof of that gift alone. Frost hardly choosing to elaborate on just what about that gift could prove problematic and yet he had spent months, years, struggling with keeping the thought of others out. On learning to focus only on his own or those of the specific being he desired. Crowded spaces could be overwhelming. Multiple enemies on that battlefield could be near overloading and the cause of more errors then victories when their thoughts screamed at him. That very gift itself, he was assured, the product of what he was. Generations of his kind bred to have that singular ability so as to allow that communication between horse and rider. Frost still unsure of his own feelings on the very notion of his birth even if he was willing to admit that connection he held with Alexander was one he had come to value. Alexander's mind was eternally- calm. Frost relishing in the peace of it. Tobias distinctly the opposite and near impossible to read. Tetradore's filled with so many horrors akin to his own it only stirred that feeling of discord within him.

Yet in all within the other man's thoughts that bothered him it was that sudden, profound realization that he had never been able to beat Frost himself that seemed to strike the stallion. That...defeatist thought far different from anything he had witnessed within the man's mind before. Frost finding himself near agitated with it. Perhaps that affinity for minds gave him a certain edge and in that battle that might yet come with that vampire woman it would surely make her life decidedly more difficult with Frost so knowing her every move. Yet even he was hardly fool enough to believe himself unbeatable. To believe Tetradore could not beat him was ridiculous. That, Frost was certain, the very sort of attitude that was going to get the damn fool killed to begin with. The stallion hardly sure what prompted those words in that moment, his voice near agitated then as he offered those cold, sharp words.

"Don't be a fool."

Why it irritated him so very much to hear that defeat of sorts in the other man's thoughts he hardly knew. Perhaps it was simply that shared past, in a fashion, else some faint thread of comradery that had been unwittingly woven between the two. A part of the stallion unwilling to have Tetradore disappear down some pool of self-deprecation he had no care to hear about. Frost hardly daring to consider he might care about the other man. The war horse leaning back against that car then, choosing instead to inquiry after what else Tet knew of this enemy they had found themselves facing. Surprisingly little, or so it would seem. For a man whom had spent half hi life with her. Frost snorting in derision- that sound alone surely summing up what he thought of that scrap of information and yet, he supposed it was better then nothing. Talk shifting then to his own vector, Frost hardly surprised to find Tetradore had offered her a place within his pack. Why shouldn't he? Frost content enough in that arrangement. Who better to watch over the girl then Tetradore? That warning falling from his lips all the same, the stallion content to assure Tetradore knew what he was facing if he chose to continue to offer Calliel place in his pack. For all he was- the stallion still had some sense of....decency about him. His head nodded simply in response to that thanks. A silence settling over them then, though it was hardly unpleasant.

Why he truly offered that...version of his own story he didn't know. Not really. Maybe, after all that time, that fact he had finally found someone else to understand his own life so prompted the man to share it. Frost knowing, somehow, that Tetradore would understand it. Just as he had understood Tetradore's own. His words surely displaying that very thing. God there was not enough drink for this. Those words of caution upon Nadya's reaction perhaps only further displayed the deterioration of that relationship between Brother and Sister Frost had already heard off and yet he afforded it no more than a nod. Frost seeing little need to discuss Nadya with her brother when his own relationship with the woman was vastly different. That sudden show of...care in some sense, from the other man, near catching the equine off guard. Tetradore assuring him he had his back now all the same. The man bringing that affinity for fear to that metaphorical table. That smile that found his lips entirely genuine- he found. That thanks he afforded the man equally so. Hmm. In all these years no one had ever 'had his back'. Not outside of Alexander- the Hunter quite literally upon it most of them time. How....odd that felt. He didn't find he disliked this...friends business at all. Frost allowing Tetradore to see that smile all the same.

At least before that need for more alcohol drew both their attention. That offer on the part of the panther to get more prompting that curious look to his own features of just how the man intended to do that. Frost shifting from his place on that car all the same only to provide something of a summary of the deal he had been presented with at the beginning of this proposition to be named Tetradore's heir. His hand suddenly held out. Frost evidently having decided just where he stood on that matter. There would be some, he knew, utterly unwilling to accept that deal made on their behalf and by their respective Alpha's and yet, unless asked, Frost saw little need to tell them off it either. Who Tetradore might choose to tell was his business alone. That peace achieved in those few seconds in which that panther took his hand and offered t that firm shake. Frost assured no words were needed. All their fates veritably sealed that moment the stallion chose to take up that mantle of Tetradore's in turn. It was only after that hand had been released that the offer to assist in those illusions was presented. Tetradore seeming almost surprised before agreeing to it with that assurance he needed a few moments to see to that alcohol first.

"Fine- if you leave me here though I'm stealing this car."

His lip quirked slightly once more, waving the feline away as he lent back on the car himself, Frost folding his arms behind his head to stare upward at that sky. The stallion almost enjoying those few moments of peace if only to piece together his own thoughts. That car engine beneath still warm and almost pleasant. Frost glancing upward a few moments later when Tetradore suddenly materialised again. Another case of beer placed beside the first at his feet as he sat up. That Whiskey and Rum following suit.

"Now you're talking."

He slid from the car then, reaching for that bottle of Whiskey and unscrewing that cap. Frost taking a swig of it then before wiping his lips and offering that bottle to Tet in turn. Frost waiting for the man to take hold of it before pushing of that car to walk several paces out onto that parched earth. Turning to face him once more.

"Here's the thing with illusions. They are never perfect. No matter how powerful the user or how long they've been practicing. Illusions come, largely, from the mind of the person creating them. They come from memory and memory isn't perfect. Every illusion will have a fault. Something that gives it away. It can be as tiny as a discolouration or as significant as a fucking eight legged dog running at you. The power of an illusion is based on the other person believing it."

Maybe it was foolish and yet Tetradore believing he had even some chance of besting that power would put the man in a better place than he had ever been before to face it.

"The more power an illusionist is using the weaker those illusions become, in other words, the more likely mistakes are to appear. One tactic is to try and make the user use other powers at the same time- it makes it harder for them to keep the illusion up. Another is to try and make the illusionist doubt themselves, call them on it if you can. Here, give it a shot and yes before you ask. I'm an illusionist too."

He reached forward to pluck that whisky from Tet then, placing it on the ground before him only to pluck another and another and another of the bottles from it until no less than twenty whisky bottles stood in a line before the man then. Each of them appearing, at first glance, to be identical. Frost waving his hand at them then.

"If you can find it, you can drink it. Remember what I said. Look for a fault, something not right. Believe in yourself- or some shit like that. This might help."

His own hand reached upward once more, running through his blonde hair then, that white hair becoming near inky dark as his hand moved through it. Those violet eyes giving way to green. Every part of the stallion suddenly seeming to shift and change. Even those clothes melting away until the equine had illusion himself into a near perfect replica of Tetradore himself. The green-eyed man staring momentarily at the other before plucking one of those bottles from the ground and bringing it to his lips. Whether it was real or not remaining to be seen. 'Frost' strolling back across that ground in a walk near identical to Tetradore's own to slump back onto the car.

"I'm your self-motivation."

That it was the one and only pun Frost had ever made in his life could surely be attributed to that alcohol. The stallion hardly seeming to care as he lifted that bottle to his lips then. Leaving the real Tetradore to make a selection from those bottles. The man pointing to one on the end. Frost scowling at him as, well, him.

"Wrong. Look how disappointed you're making yourself. God I do you well. Try again. Look for a mistake."

FrosT