♚ 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

[oliverplus]

[stops, understanding starting to dawn on him. but he still has to ask] Things like what?

[polarization]

[ Stops as well, clutching at Pichu lightly, but almost desperately. ]

Things like... i-important things. People. Ideas. Even... how they thought.

[oliverplus]

[blinks] You were psychic?

[lowers his gaze] You know...I read a lot of comics when I was a kid. Used to dream about having powers of my own. [smiles wryly, but when he looks back up, there's fear in his eyes] It's not all it's cracked up to be.

[polarization]

[ There's a haunted look to Sefton. He's known that for years, even before the stupid tarot mess. ]

... no. S' really not.

[oliverplus]

Were... [hesitates, swallowing hard] Were people scared to be around you?

[polarization]

... no? [ He frowns, drawing himself back into the moment. Oliver is talking about the tarot card, right? ] They didn't know. ... most of 'em.

[oliverplus]

[nods, relieved] Good. [half to himself] I've gotta get better at that.

[polarization]

... Better at what?

[oliverplus]

At not...you know, making it obvious. [shrugs uncomfortably] I've only told you and the Doctor, but...people can tell something's weird. [smiles wryly, trying for a joking tone. it doesn't quite work] Everybody on Gondovan already thinks I'm mental, but I don't want to make everybody on the Plane believe it, too!

[polarization]

Can you... turn it off or something?

[ He stops, freezing at Pichu mumbling and shifting restlessly in his grasp. Cue deer-in-the-headlights look. ... yeah, he's still not sure he wants to keep this thing, especially in his current situation. ]

[oliverplus]

[shakes his head] I don't know how.

[looks up at Sefton at that, and he almost laughs at the sight but manages to stop himself. still, it's good to have something cheerful to think about] Guess we'd better get to the kitchen! C'mon.

[polarization]

Practice. [ Duh.

Sefton gives him a sulky pout, then motions for Oliver to go ahead of him. He's operating on the idea that Oliver's ability might be proximity-based, you see. ]

[oliverplus]

[makes a face] Yeah, but how do I make it stop to begin with?

[frowns, glancing at him curiously, but keeps heading toward the kitchen]

[polarization]

Could try 'n find whatever... reacts, when you're doing it. Then feel 'round.

[ Sefton follows once Oliver's started to move again. Pichu rubs its face tiredly and looks around with groggy eyes. ] Piiichuuu...?

[oliverplus]

What do you mean?

Oh, we'd better hurry! [speeds up. they're almost there!]

[polarization]

Like... in your head. When you—feel things. If you can find where it's happening... [ It's how he controls what parts of his own power he knows how to, at any rate. He shrugs, and speeds up to almost-matching Oliver's speed. Pichu yawns. ]

[oliverplus]

Oh. Uh...I'll give that a go. [though he isn't sure he has any idea to feel where he's...feeling. but still, any suggestion helps]

And here we are! [the kitchen at last! eagerly enters]

[polarization]

[ Sefton follows, and heads straight for the fridge while still giving Oliver some room. ] Milk, milk... where's—?

Chiiiaaaaa... Pi?

[oliverplus]

[goes for the larder, wondering what other options they might be able to use] Here's some applesauce. If it doesn't like milk, maybe it'll like that. I don't think new babies can eat anything hard... [pokes around some more]

[polarization]

Yeah, prob'ly not...

[ While Sefton roots around in the fridge, Pichu has begun sniffing at the air, rapidly waking up. It twists around in his grasp and tries leaning closer to the fridge to smell it better. ]

H-hey—stop that.

[oliverplus]

[glances at him] What's it up to?

[polarization]

It wants—ah! [ He jerks a little as the Pichu squirms and squeezes out of Sefton's grasp, jumping onto one of the shelves in the fridge before scurrying inside. ]

[oliverplus]

Whoa! Hey! [hurries over to join Sefton at the fridge, hoping the little thing is okay in there]

[polarization]

[ Sefton jerks a few steps away when Oliver rushes over. He makes sure he can still see inside, but...

Pichu seems perfectly fine, climbing from shelf to drawer and trying to pry it open. After a moment, it achieves enough wiggle room to slide inside and begins struggling with... a box of strawberries? ]

... Guess it knows what it likes. [ Sefton reaches inside to pull the drawer open further and retrieve the box. Pichu climbs on top of it and comes for the ride until he sets it out on the counter. ]

[oliverplus]

[makes a face when Sefton jerks away. he wouldn't say it, but it hurts. it confirms everything he's been most afraid of since he first found out what he can do]

[but he gives a cheerful smile like it doesn't matter at all] That's convenient. See, it won't be so bad after all! [follows him to the counter, but he keeps his distance this time. it's obvious Sefton doesn't want him near]