♚ tenth step ♚

[polarization]

[ Oh boy, it's been a while Plane! There is a good reason for this, and this reason is a doozy. This is quickly seen when Sefton appears; not only are his wrists strapped to the gurney that he's brought with him, but he's also dressed in a pair of scrubs, barefoot, and trying to wrest his hands free from the bindings in quiet panic. ]

Come on, come on, come on, come on...!

Agh! [ He flops back against the pillow, momentarily defeated and breathing heavily. Looking for all the world like the scared, helpless fifteen year old that he is. ] Dad... Dad... why would you do this...?

[ Standard Sefton disclaimer applies, yes. ]

Comments

[polarization]

[ Oh yes, Sefton gets cut, seeing as he's started to really try and scrabble away when some guy he's never met before approaches with a knife. It isn't until he feels the sting of the slice that he realizes what Isaac is trying to do. ]

Wh... what?

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

Ah! Sorry!

[Isaac stops cutting to cast cure and close the cut, then goes back to it]

Stay still for a second; I'll get you out.

[polarization]

S—wait!

[ He's still trying to move, his breathing uneven. The knife has easily bumped his panic meter up several notches, even if he knows it's intended to help. ]

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[As soon as the one restraint is cut, Isaac slides the knife back into his belt and puts a hand on Sefton's arm.]

Hey! Just breathe for a bit, alright? You need to calm down so I can do this without hurting you.

[polarization]

[ With one hand free, Sefton tries (and mostly fails) to shift into a proper sitting position, jerking his arm away from Isaac on contact. ]

Don't! I've got it, okay?!

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should lie down until you're calmer. I'll get your feet untied....

[polarization]

I've got it. [ He can't say he isn't tempted to lay back down, but—no. That's a bad idea. Bad, bad idea. Not with someone else around. ]

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[Isaac's halfway done by now anyways]

Just...don't try and run off, okay?

[polarization]

Why?

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

Because you're panicking? I just don't want you to hurt yourself.

[polarization]

[ Shakes his head. ] Wouldn't...

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

You sure? [He's done now, BTW. He puts the knife away again]

[polarization]

[ Sefton moves. He slides off the side of the gurney, but doesn't anticipate his legs lack of cooperation and quickly goes down, falling to his hands and knees. Instead of trying to stand up right away, he lowers his head, seeming to curl up in himself halfway with the motion. The quick, heavy breathing begins to hitch. ]

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[Isaac flails and runs over, kneeling next to Sefton, holding him around the shoulders]

Ah! Are you okay?

[polarization]

[ He flinches forward, trying to move away from Isaac's hold. ]

I—I'm—

[ He shakes his head, as if trying to shake the other off. Words don't seem to be coming at the moment. ]

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[Isaac lets go a bit, but leaves one hand on his back]

Take your time...

[polarization]

[ He tries to curl up more, further away from Isaac, but there's nowhere to escape to. Not in his world, not on the Plane. He's utterly trapped.

His breathing hitches, but he doesn't sob. He's not crying - but the increasingly stuffed-up sound of his choppy breathing seems to indicate that he might start up soon. ]

[grand-gaia.livejournal.com]

[Oh cue the panic in Isaac. He pops off the plane, returning with a spare wool cloak.]

Do...you want something? Water? Food?

[polarization]

[ A quick, sharp shake of his head. It looks like he's doing everything he can to keep from actually taking that last step and start crying. ]

G—

Go away. [ His voice cracks, at that last part, mangling itself with emotion. ]