((Ooc: This thread is for one-offs. Short conversations that don't really fit into longer threads, with the Shinbos))

"Its just frustrating, you know?" Shin wasn't really asking so much as complaining. He was good at that lately. It was a tired subject. She could only roll her eyes so much. But in the overwhelming evidence of anemic strength and self doubt caused by his inability to get over what ever mental block had him by the withers, he really only had the one refrain. He was mad he couldn't get his shards up again. His psychic impotence was a bit much to handle.

"I fought against an electric man with nothing but water and my wedding band and hopes. Actually had to enlist the help of a student. And there were other times before that." He paused, laughed to himself. Shook his head at the ridiculousness of the situation. "There was a man on Fire. A mutant. He ignored me. I used a fire extinguisher when it used to be, I'd smother him or fly him so high his flames ran out of fuel and he sputtered out. All these common sense solutions are making me feel kind of weak."

"Do you think they sell psychic Viagra?" Shin joked. At least, he thought he was joking. Kealey would probably get mad, he knew. They'd had permutations of this conversation before. It was an equation for disaster. He was sour, and he didn't care. He needed to get it out there, and if you can't vent to your wife, who can you vent to? Even if he knew with near certainty that she would reprimand him for being childish and silly and bitter, dwelling on the past (true, all of it). One can count on a loved one for much. Even putting ones weaknesses on display and calling them on it. You often hurt the ones you love. If you didn't care enough to do it when they needed it, how could you say you really loved them?

The worst part of what he was feeling was that as soon as he felt it, Kealey knew. He couldn't hide it, and trying was worse. He wasn't about to lie to her about his feelings. He had them. He needed to deal with them. Emotional repression is not something a wife with the ability to get a read on emotions needs in her life. So even if he was spinning his wheels, rehashing old topics, it was healthier than the alternative. At least, in his mind. She might get mad in the short term, but in the long term, communication between couples is paramount. It's far superior to turning your friendly neighborhood bartender into your monosyllabic psychiatrist. Less costly, too. On a purely emotional level.

Frustrating. Kealey knew. Kealey knew very well. This was a topic that she and Shin had covered, at length, so many times over the last few years that Kealey had lost count. It wasn't that it was a burden, this was definitely one of those 'for better or for worse' situations that they covered in the vows. Kealey took those vows seriously too.

It was just that sometimes...it was a lot.

This mental block had snapped itself in place all at once and had stayed in place for longer than either of them had thought was possible. It was a frustrating situation and Kealey couldn't help but feel bad for her husband...the problem was, he didn't really want pity. Over time, the frustration had bled over into bitterness and sometimes even hopelessness.

It was hard being an empath in that situation.

Psychic viagra?

Kealey couldn't help it, she burst out laughing. The frustration, Shin's frustration, was still there. It wasn't going anywhere, but the blonde was so used to it at this point that she was able to relegate it to the background and laugh.

"I don't think that they do." she said, "And you know my thoughts on the situation. I don't think there's a thing wrong with your brain."

Well at least if this being an Xman thing didn't work out for him, he had a nice career waiting in stand up comedy. It was hard to stay serious when he was venting, especially with her laughing like that at his supposed joke. But he could go on.

"I know nothing is wrong with my brain." Shin said. His voice was soft, calm, trying to sort through his feelings. "I just miss it. And get frustrated when I can't do things I used to be able to do."

"It's silly, really." He mused. "Because if someone else complained about having to use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire instead of having magical mutant powers, I'd probably look at them like they're crazy. Yet that's where my mind goes."

"I've tried so many solutions. We've tried so much stuff. I'm worried that it just isn't coming back. I figured it'd pop in during the next dangerous situation to have my back. Not that I'm seeking those out..." Much. It wasn't his fault things just kept happening around him.