"I think that a lot more people like you than you are aware of, Henry." says Avalon. "You should really give more kids credit, they're pretty genuine about how much they like you." He grins some, "They like me well enough because I'm your 'cousin', but I think that you really do have a lot of genuine friends. You're not weird or awkward or anything like that.. at least at school."

Avalon smirks some and then pokes at Henry's side in a playful way as he says "You wear so many masks, even at school. I still feel like I'm getting to know you."

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"Especially at school," Henry corrects. "But I'm not complicated, really." He takes a gulp of his milkshake, then winces from the brainfreeze. "Agh. Well, I won't argue with the empath... but you can't tell me that Shultz actually likes me. The dude is so two-faced, you'd think he was a Kluuvarian." He considers a moment. "Wants to be me... definitely. Likes me? Not so much."

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"Maybe so.. I've not really paid much attention to him because I was paying attention to other things, like not sounding like a dork when people talk about things I don't understand. Like gobstoppers." says Avalon. "I don't wear a lot of masks unless you count the one I put on when I'm working."

Avalon brightens some, and then says "I have been thinking.. and I'm really starting to believe that it is a mask.. just a mask that I've worn for so long I thought it was my own face."

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Henry smiles. "It's one you had to wear to survive, Blue," he says gently, putting a hand on his partner's shoulder. "You get to take it off now and be comfortable without it. But that takes time."

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"Yea.. It's kinda scary though, taking it off. I feel really raw and exposed.. Like all my nerve endings are tingling.." Avalon confesses. He takes a step in, bonking his head against Henry's shoulder then before ducking away with a bit of a smile.

He pauses then, and says softly "Thanks for.. helping me."

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Henry wraps his arms around Avalon tightly, giving him a warm, secure hug.

"You help me, too, Blue. Every day. But you'll always be safe when I'm around. I promise."

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Avalon just nestles into the hug, returning it with tight arms. He can't deny Henry when he's being so genuine, and he has to bite his tongue to not say more.

"Thanks.." he then murmurs softly. "I'm glad that I do help. I bet its been hard to have three people fall out of the sky all at once on top of your head."

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"And I can't imagine what it would be like without any of you," he replies. "You're all... important to me."

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"You're important to me too - words don't really express it." Says Avalon in a rush, his face stained faintly pink. "I've lost so many friends, I don't want to loose you guys. I don't think I could take it."

He gives a nervous laugh, then says "Its why I'm so protective. I know that all of you are competant and can hadle yourselves on missions.. but.." he sighs, "I can't loose you guys too."

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Henry smiles. "You won't." He gives another squeeze, then starts to release the hug. "We'll be okay."

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"All will be well." Agrees the winged teen as he pulls back from Henry and grabs his milkshake. "Josh reminded me of that the other night. You remind me of it now." He then says, "I am blessed to be near so many whom are already so attuned to Hope."

Ava gives a happy sigh then, and says "Its so nice to live in the same world everyone else does. Naltor is so different. The people there don't live in their waking lives; and I can't access the Dreamtime where they really exist... its nice to.. to know that this is really real and not just another dream."

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"Dreamtime?" Henry shakes his head, not getting the reference.

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Avavalon blinks once, then ooohs as he realizes that Henry's probably never heard of it.

"When we dream at night, we actually go somewhere. Its called the Dreamtime." He explains. "Most Naltorians can access the Dreamtime and enter it like a realm.. I can access it too, but not quite the same. I can Dreamwalk and visit others in the Dreamtime."

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"So... you can enter my dreams?"

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Avalon grins then, and reaches out to poke at Henry's side playfully. "I can, but it's a lot more fun to just go climb into your bed." He teases gently.

"That and.. its kind of dangerous for me; I have no power over what happens, so if someone is having a bad dream.. I could get hurt." He explains. "On top of that, it's kind of an invasion unless there is a need, y'know?"

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Henry seems slightly relieved. "So you haven't, like, come into my dreams or anything."

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Avalon takes a moment to square off in front of Henry, and looks him in the eyes as he wears a serious expression. "It's an invasion of privacy that I don't care to visit upon you, Henry." he then says softly. "I've not Dreamwalked in a long time - it's just not something that I do often unless I need to."

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He considers. "No, it's okay," he finally says after a long moment of thought. "You can come in. Just... don't get mad at me if my dreams bring up stuff... you know."

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Avalon just gives Henry an odd look, and then he shrugs a bit as he says lightly "If you mean naughty dreams, then I'd be disappointed in you if you didn't have them."

Avalon can't keep a straight face for long, he snorts then and goes to voer his mouth with a hand as he laughs softly, his tone still amused as he says "Henry.. really.. you don't have to be so worried about that stuff. I accepted you for how you are long ago."

He then winks, his smile wide as he says "Anyway, why would I think that was a bad thing?"

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He shrugs. "Dunno. Just... you know. If you saw anything..." He shakes his head. "I have strange dreams sometimes."

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Chuckling some now, Avalon takes a long drink from his milkshake and then says softly "Dreams are not so much something that defines us, so much as it's our mind and soul's way of.. unwinding. Everyone has strange dreams, Henry. But, I do promise that I will not visit unless I need to."

"Really, there is little in the Dreamtime for me." he then confesses, "I'm too grounded in reality to want to spend much time there. Plus.. I had enough of it growing up. I am content to be here - really here - with you. It makes little sense for me to come to your dreams when I can simply walk across the hall and be with you."

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He smiles. "Well... yeah," he agrees. "But sharing dreams... that's kinda cool, isn't it?"

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That makes Avalon consider things for a moment, then he nods his head as he says "Yea.. it is pretty cool. Maybe sometime we can plan for it so that you can see what it's like. I've been told that the dreams are especially vivid and real before in the past.. They're no different for me though; I always dream like that."

His milkshake is finished by now, and he goes to get a spoon so he can fish the rest out of the glass like a glutton. "So what's this about playing Rock Band? How did that all come up?" he then asks, smirking.

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Henry finishes his shake as well. "We were at breakfast, and Josh admitted that he'd always wanted to sing in front of people. But he's always chickened out. So... I figured Rock Band would help him warm into it."

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"Oh brilliant!" replies Avalon as he comes to perch next to Henry, his expression bright and smiling. "I'm totally down - that sounds like fun."

He pauses, then takes on a sheepish expression as he says "I.. ah.. have a dance recital coming up in a few weeks. I was wondering if you guys might like to come, but I wasn't sure if that was your sort of thing.."

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