♚ 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

[lostandfinder]

Tied— [Sefton. Unless there's someone else, but...] Oh, no. No, that... that isn't your fault.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head again.]

It... feels like it. He was so angry. I only wanted to help.

[lostandfinder]

He's just— [prickly, but that explanation doesn't seem to fit the moment] He doesn't like getting helped. It's... a Sefton thing. It really isn't your fault at all.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She considers that, and eventually nods twice. She doesn't understand, but it's probably explanation enough.]

Sefton? Is that his name? [She glances back at him once more, biting her lip. When she turns her attention back to Chivy, it seems like her sadness from the situation as a whole has been replaced with just plain concern.] Will he be alright? Should I... should I leave him alone from now on?

[lostandfinder]

No, just, for now? He'll be better. [Chivy hopes. He doesn't want to think about things getting worse than they are now.] And if you don't try to touch him it's better. [He doesn't really want to encourage the prickles, but he really doesn't want her crying again to be a possibility.]

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

I didn't... touch him. Just the ties. I wasn't going to. But... I guess it doesn't matter. I'll apologize to him when I see him again.

[She dries her eyes one final time, then gives Chivy a small little smile... but even as small as it is, it's brimming over with gratitude.]

Thank you, Chivy. I'm sorry you had to see me cry.

[lostandfinder]

Sorry you were crying. [Any other time and he'd be giving Sefton a lecture about being nice to people who are trying to be nice to you, but... this one time can slide, but that's only because of the extreme circumstances.]