♚ eleventh step ♚

[polarization]

[ In the library, there is a sleeping boy. This boy has an egg! It is an odd, yellow egg with one pink dot on each side of it and black lightning bolt patterns along the crown. How curious.

Unbeknownst to Sefton, the egg begins to stir, rocking back and forth from its cradle of his curled up legs and arms. It's making sounds! It's about to hatch!

Crack...

Crack... crackcrack—

Congratulations! Your egg has hatched into a Pichu! And boy, is the little tyke just SO HAPPY to be alive. In fact, it's so excited, it discharges some electricity on accident. Zzzap. ]

O—ow! What—... uh. Hi.

Pi pichu!

[ WELL YOU GUYS SAID IT COULD BE A POKéMON I mean, standard Sefton disclaimer, yadda yadda. ]

Comments

[polarization]

[ The guilt is endless in this kid. Also revulsion and... he feels a little sick. Incredibly pissed at himself. He should have known about this. He'd cut himself off from people so completely in the last few weeks, that he hadn't even heard a whisper.

Except, maybe, with the Twins... ]

N-no... You were—there was—?

[oliverplus]

[Oliver feels it, too, and his expression twists. he's quick to attempt reassurance] There was, but they're over now. We stopped them.

[he has an idea that's not exactly what Sefton was asking, but Oliver would rather not answer that other question]

[polarization]

[ The guilt abates, a bit, yet he's still just... overwhelmed by this news. ] But, you... You died?

[oliverplus]

I... [his voice hitches. he really, really doesn't want to answer that question, but he can't exactly avoid it] ...yeah.

But I'm fine now! I came back. [tries for a weak smile]

[polarization]

But... [ He looks pretty shaken. ] How did I...

[ Guilt. ): ]

[oliverplus]

Whoa, hey. It's all right. It's not your fault. [reaches out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder]

[polarization]

[ Sefton jerks back, quick and scared and—well, mostly scared. For himself and Oliver.

Pichu stirs, unhappy with the sudden movement, but simply clings harder to Sefton. ]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver stares at him at that, open-mouthed, because he felt the intensity of that fear, and it makes no sense at all. pulls his hands back, putting them up in a placating gesture] All right, all right. [gently] I'm not gonna touch you, then. Sorry. Just...calm down. It's really not your fault. You've been kidnapped, for crying out loud!

[polarization]

S-so? [ He looks down, frustrated. ] Just means I've been here this whole time. And, then...

[oliverplus]

And what? How could it be your fault?

[polarization]

I should've known. And—what d'you mean, I've been kidnapped? You died.

[ ... sorry, Ollie, he's not usually this emotional. ]

[oliverplus]

You missed the announcement. How could you 've known?

[cringes, his optimism kicking in] But I came back! [because that makes everything better, clearly]

[polarization]

[ He takes a deep breath. Long, deep, and by the time he's finished, he's shoved most of the emotions under the rug. It's a precarious fit, much harder than it used to be, and ready to burst at any moment. That he does it or knows how to do it so well is probably a bit worrying. But he's trying. ]

Wh-what else? You were... saying. Something else.

[oliverplus]

[looks away again, stiffening with nerves] Just...I guess things can change when you...when you come back.

[polarization]

Change how?

[oliverplus]

[shrugs uncomfortably] I've got sort of...an ability now. Like you read about in comics. Except not really...

[polarization]

... an ability?

[oliverplus]

[nods] It's like... [hesitates, really not wanting to have to say it again. when he does, he speaks quickly, running the words together] It's like I can feel what other people are feeling.

[polarization]

[ ... oh. Sefton frowns to himself, apprehensive, but... understanding. (And hey, guess what, more guilt! fhalknfas) ] That's how... you knew.

[oliverplus]

[glances at him worriedly. unfortunately, he thinks that guilt is his own this time] Yeah. Sorry. I...don't know how to make it not happen.

[polarization]

[ He shakes his head. ]

No, it's... s' not your fault.

[oliverplus]

[smiles weakly. and when in doubt, make a joke] Well, you haven't run away yet. That's a good sign.

[polarization]

[ Slight, cynical laugh. Oh, would but he could. ]

Where would I go? ... 'side, I've gotta find this thing some food, 'member?

[oliverplus]

[softly] Away from me.

Ah, yeah. We've gotta get to the kitchen! [turns and starts forward again]

[polarization]

[ He really should leave. After he gets food for the thing, he probably will. But... he can't help but feel sorry for Oliver, too. He knows how much it sucks to have other peoples' feelings in your head.

Licking his lips and taking another breath, he follows at the same distance as before. ... maybe a little larger of one, actually. ]