♚ 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

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Sirkka nods and scoots over to the kitchen. She's back in a minute or two - not too long really - with some ice water and a little stool, and a genuine expression of concern on her face. She sets the glass of water on the stool so that he can grab it himself.]

Feel any better?

[She already knows that the dizziness should be wearing off, that the memories of desperation will be coming back, but she's prepared.]

[polarization]

[ When she returns, he's got his head in his hands, sitting on the floor. His whole body is tense, and his breathing beginning to speed up a little. He twitches when he hears her, but seems more preoccupied with something else. ]

I...

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Poor baby. Sirkka approaches on quiet feet and stops a little more than an arm's length away, kneeling down.]

You're safe here. All right? I promise. I won't let anything happen to you while you're here.

[polarization]

[ He shakes his head, beginning to shake a little. ] It doesn't matter what happens here!

[ He takes a breath or two, then pulls his hands away. He's giving her an accusatory look. His voice is quiet, but pained, angry. He's scared — but most of it isn't her fault. She's a convenient outlet to take it all out on. ] What did you do?

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Gentle, but firm:] It does matter, because the way to help things at home might be found here. Don't rule out one world when you live in both, yeah?

[She frowns slightly at the accusatory tone.] I untied you. Carefully.

[polarization]

I can't do anything! I just—I'm— [ trapped.

His brows furrow, confusion leaking into his expression. ] Untied?

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

I know. [Vague answer is vague.] That's why, sometimes, you have to let someone else step in to help.

[She nods.] You were strapped down.

[polarization]

Nobody here can help. You don't get it!

[ He shakes his head, almost hesitantly. ] But—but I...

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

It's rude to tell people what they can and can't do.

You're fine, and I didn't touch you - there's something about being touched that you don't like, right?

[polarization]

Don't care. S' true.

... what? [ He stares at her, suddenly crossing his arms around himself. They took the worry stone along with the rest of his clothes, and now he's really wishing there was something he could just... touch. Ground himself on. ] Wh-why do you—?

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna keep helping you then, if you don't mind. [And she softens this statement with an equally soft smile.]

Ah. You shied away when you first came to. The important thing now is to-- get you some clothes, maybe. Clothes, and something warm, like hot cocoa. Would you like that?

[polarization]

[ He curls his legs up to his chest. ]

No.

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

You're half-naked and curled up in a ball on the floor. I'm sorry, but I don't think you're in a position to refuse help from anyone.

[polarization]

I'm not—! Just... no. Go away.

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Sirkka sits there looking unimpressed.

After a minute, though, she rises and simply walks away, humming to herself as she considers where to find clothes on the Plane. She might have to go home for that.]

[polarization]

[ Haha, well, Sefton will be here when she comes back. Looking pathetic, head in his knees and such. Maybe dangerously close to crying, but does it matter if there's nobody around to see it? ]

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[She returns and thankfully finds him in the same position, though she makes a small noise of disappointment; she expected him to, at least, take a drink of the ice water.

Ah, well.

She sets a neatly-folded pile of dark clothes at his feet: a long jacket, an old AC/DC t-shirt, and some ripped up but otherwise serviceable jeans. It's hard to find good clothes after the apocalypse, you know? But they're clean, and that's something.]

Connor was nice enough to lend me some of his clothes for this.

[She sets a clunky pair of combat boots down.]

And that's my contribution. Now be a dear and try them on, will you? I promise I won't look. The boots might be a little big, but it's the best I can do on such short notice.

[polarization]

[ Sefton flinches, then mumbles to himself and simply curls up tighter. What part of "go away" didn't she get? Maybe he needs to add "and don't come back" this time... ]

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Sirkka places her hands on her hips.]

How old are you? Sixteen? Why don't you start acting like it? I am not afraid to dress you myself, young man, and I will not make it enjoyable.

[polarization]

[ He's lifted his head enough to glare at her over his knees, anyway. But, uh, Mommy Mode has him seriously taken aback. It takes him a moment to properly respond other than "wow, I forgot about this part of moms" (then promptly shut that part away). ] Don't.

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

I see you've made up your mind.

[She reaches for his wrist, seeing as it's the closest thing besides ankles - she's prepared to grab that, too, if a foot goes flying at her, though she doesn't want to traumatize the poor kid further.

SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.]

[polarization]

[ Did somebody mention feet going flying? Sefton stiffens as soon as her hand is around his wrist and he uses one foot to propel himself backward—the other lashes out to try and strike Sirkka, eyes wide and fearful. ]

Let go!!

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Sirkka catches that foot! Now she has his foot and his wrist, and she looks very determined.

... tickletickle. TRY TO RUN AWAY WHILE BEING TICKLED, you little brat.]

[polarization]

[ There's a slight, choked laugh, but he's still struggling to pull away. ]

L-let... go!

[newworldlover.livejournal.com]

[Of course he is - but her grip on his wrist doesn't need to be that hard as long as she's distracting him enough. She lunges over to his side so that she can avoid the flying feet, and within a second she's trying to yank off the scrubs and shove the new shirt onto his head.]

You're only making this more difficult for yourself!