This Thing Don't Look So Tough

[Strazio Rockwell]

“I appreciate the warning Miss Godwin,” Strazio said and waved away the idea, “but it ain’t any more dangerous than magick, and I’ve been dealing with that for most of my life just fine.”

To illustrate the point he held up a finger and a small spark of electricity snapped into the air. A thin trail of steam drifted from the tip of his finger and filled their nostrils with a subtle burning scent.

Mama Godwin wagged her finger at him, “that may be, but you understand that kinna juju, you grew up wit’ it, but dis? Dis be somet’in else entirely.”

“I understand it just fine,” Strazio lied.

“Mhhmm” Godwin responded.

Rockwell averted his eyes and pretended to take interest to a shelf full of various baubles. Even after Tearen’s tutelage she could see through him like glass. Sparks flashed through his hair. He wasn’t sure what was worse -- that Mama Godwin knew he had no idea what he was tampering with or that he had only understood a fraction of Wover’s teachings. The ball of frustration that was slowly growing in his gut shot into his legs and screamed at him to stand up and storm out. He took a deep breath. She meant well and she wasn’t wrong. Besides Gamzee had taken a liking to her in his whimsical fashion and he’d feel like even more of a dick if he caused a scene. So he ignored her accusatory “mhhmm”.

“At any rate, we can’t stay for long,” Strazio said and turned to Gamzee, “we still have to meet with Rumford yet.”

“Awwwh Strawso, can’t we stay with Mizz Godwin for a bit longer?” the troll pleaded.

Before Strazio could respond Mama Godwin interjected, “oh chilren! Y’all know the good sergeant?”

“Uh yeah,” Strazio said, and held up his crest, “he’s kinda the one that got me into the Defenders.”

“Bless his heart, he’s been so kind to mah dear Peter,” the potion maker coos, “here since’n y’all gon be seeing him, kin y’all take him a lil care package from Mama Godwin?”

Gamzee and Strazio both shared looks as she shoved a neatly wrapped parcel towards them. Rockwell took the package and gave it a little shake. The chattering of bells and baubles and trinkets filled the air. Gamzee’s eyes went wide and he snatched the package from his mentor. Strazio exclaimed and tried to wrestle it back. Their impromptu brawl was harshly ended by the crack of Godwin’s wooden spoon against the table.

“Now y’all be real careful with that, t’wasn’t an easy feat puttin’ that together,” she said, pointing the implement at them.

Gamzee sat up straight, cradling the parcel with one arm and giving her a faux salute with the other, “don’t worry ‘bout a thing Mizz Godwin, Strawso and I got this.”

“Yeah, fine, whatever,” Strazio huffed, and stood up, “c’mon let’s go, Gamz.”

Gamzee stood and clutched the parcel across his chest, squeezing it perhaps just a bit too tight. Mama Godwin smiled and said her goodbyes. Just as the boys stepped across the threshold of the potion maker’s hut Strazio stopped in his tracks. Gamzee watched in awe as an almost literal lightbulb dinged above his companion’s head.

Strazio turned around and asked, “uh, I actually forgot to ask, you wouldn’t happen to have anymore of those potions you made for us when we save Peter would you?”

She scoffed, “ ‘course I do chil’ what kinna potion brewer would ah be if ah didn’t have no potents, ‘course they won’t come free, but since y’all did save my boy y’all can have the family discount.”