♚ 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]

[ He scoffs. ] I know.

[oliverplus]

[uncomfortably, still not looking back up at him] Look...maybe I should go.

[polarization]

[ Purses his lips. Some part of him is satisfied by this, but also... lonely. So, so lonely. His voice, however, is carefully neutral. ]

... yeah, maybe.

[oliverplus]

[he's not looking this time, so he doesn't pick up on that. takes a deep breath, feeling rather crushed. his voice, too, is neutral] Yeah, all right. Let me know if you need any help with anything. Or, you know, with the little guy. [keeps his gaze focused on the Pichu as he steps over to pat it on the head] Guess I'll see you later.

[polarization]

Thought I did already. [ Attempt at humor: failure. Of course, it's fairly fatalistic humor, bringing up the kidnapping, but... hey.

Pichu seems pleased with the head-patting, then looks up at Oliver. ] Chuuu?

[oliverplus]

[winces. Sefton had, but Oliver had been utterly useless in terms of helping]

[smiles at Pichu] See you later, little guy.

Sefton... [glances at him, an idea coming to mind] You think it would help if I could get you some cutting tools? Something you could bring back with you?

[polarization]

[ He considers that - honestly considers, doesn't just dismiss it out of hand. It just... doesn't take very long. ]

Dunno. Prob'ly not. They'd... prob'ly catch me before I could do anything with 'em.

[oliverplus]

[sighs] I'll come up with something.

And Sefton... [hesitates, not sure how to say this] You're gonna do a great job with the little guy. All right? So don't be...don't worry so much.

[starts to head out of the kitchen]

[polarization]

[ Sefton gives a false start, then decides against properly responding. There's nothing he can really say to that, anyway.

He watches Oliver go, while Pichu crawls up his arm and sits on his shoulder to do the same. ] Pi...