[ video! ; forward dated to morning of the 21st ]

[itemfinder]

Trevor Kirby has opened communication!

[Somebody was tossing his communicator in the air while he tried to think of how to explain himself, but somebody happened to bobble the thing and turn it on (but not drop it!) in the process. So now somebody is giving the camera a somewhat panicked look.]

Shit. I didn't— uh. I mean, hi. I'm... Trevor. But that's not, that doesn't matter. What matters is, has anybody else figured out how we're doing the food thing? Because I don't really have a lot in my place, or any money really. I've been trying to look around, though. Or if anybody needs help doing... whatever it is you've got to do with nobody around, let me know?

Comments

[itemfinder]

[Hold up, hold up, hold up.]

Yeah, that. Food. But you're, what about your power? [You get a very short window to either answer yourself or let him actually come to a conclusion, Sefton. Your choice.]

[biomagnet]

Nothing.

[ There's more to that statement than just a dismissal. ]

[itemfinder]

[There's a long moment of just silence, while Chivy tries that thought out in half a dozen different ways, and lets it connect with his lack of anything until out in the sands (but not yet with the fact that his knack is different now, that can come later).

And then he's moving, communicator hooked onto the handlebars of his bike in a stand he's very glad he was bored enough to put together, and very firmly not asking Sefton most of the questions he's thinking.]

That's good, unless they gave you shoes. They didn't give me gloves, so if you got shoes I want to know where. I mean, I have gloves now, but they're not mine. They're different.

[biomagnet]

[ During the entire silence, Sefton says... nothing. He's waiting, perhaps simply letting himself sit in the knowledge that Chivy is here too and maybe he's not alone, not as scared and terrified into complacency as he had been for three weeks straight. Maybe now he can actually start to move and make sense of what's been happening. ]

S' the same.

[itemfinder]

See, a little positive. Plus it means we're less likely to drown, I'm good with that. And my hands are warm. I don't— [This is the one person here who would actually understand that, and he's not sure he actually wants to try talking about it. Not seriously. He takes a breath before continuing.] I got a bike, though.

[biomagnet]

[ He gets it. He gets it all anyway, because it looks like they're both in the same boat, just set adrift at different points in time. ]

S' it... got a little basket?

[itemfinder]

[Chivy laughs, louder than he meant to and louder than the comment deserves, but it's something.]

Not yet. But I'm working on it. You open the rest of the day or do you have work or something? [Not that that changes anything, just he needs to figure out if he's just finding Sefton, or finding Sefton and distracting him from something he's actually supposed to be doing.]

[biomagnet]

[ Not that Chivy can see it, but he smiles at the laughter even if he doesn't join in. ]

... right. [ That's the sound of Sefton deflating under the weight of reality. ] Work. I've—got work at the library.

[itemfinder]

[Of course. Because nothing else about this has been easy.]

Somebody's always telling me I need to read more. I'll just have to stop by.

[biomagnet]

[ Because he's trying to think of everything except the important things right now, Sefton grasps on to perhaps the most inconsequential detail of that. ]

Your glasses?

[itemfinder]

Pretty much the same. [Even if he had a bike lock, there really isn't much point in using one, so he's just leaving the bike propped up against a building.] I don't think I'm gonna be able to keep talking on the way, I'll meet you in the library?

[biomagnet]

No—! [ Kneejerk reaction. He pauses, just for a moment, then blusters forward before Chivy can get all concerned. ] Just—just do whatever. I'll... I'm not going anywhere.

[itemfinder]

[He hears you but he is not doing the back and forth over this right now, he will be patient, even if it means worrying the whole ride.]

Don't make me track you down, man. I will do it.

[biomagnet]

You always do... [ Why would he start doubting that now? ]

[itemfinder]

Yeah. ... Yeah. [The repetition helps, sometimes.] Boarding, though, disconnecting. See you in a few hours.

[biomagnet]

Okay.

[ There's some hesitation... then, because he's Sefton, he cuts the link for both of them. ]

[ and here we swap to action, those few hours later ]

[itemfinder]

[Chivy didn't run all the way to the library. He didn't. He may have rushed, a bit, but really, there is no reason for anyone to say anything. At all.]

Prickly? You here somewhere?

[biomagnet]

[ The library is large enough that one would have to raise their voice to be heard far enough into the building to be effective, which gets Chivy some exasperated, aggravated and outright annoyed looks.

Sefton reacts by tightening his grip around the console he had been fiddling with and doing his very best not to let his stomach drop to his shoes. This is real, this is very real and suddenly he's not sure what he wants to do. His fight or flight reflex is screaming to run, except Chivy just did all that running for him, to get to him. He glances to his right from where he's nestled (hidden) himself at the end of the aisle, out toward the small central lobby. ]

Here. 'm here.

[itemfinder]

[Chivy does not care. At all. Not even a little. Sefton located, he (does not run) makes his way over and stops abruptly at the edge of his usual prickly-bubble limit.

He takes a few seconds to just look at Sefton, let it sink in that he's actually here, that the 'dream' was more than a dream, no matter what they've been telling him. And, more than that, things are different here than they were before.]

Hey.

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton doesn't quite turn to face him, apparently drawing some strength from the fact that all he's giving is a turn of his head to stare at Chivy. He has a scarf, even without knowing anyone in the world and living in a land of dreams and lies and confusion, he found time for a scarf. (His hands clench in effort to not play with the ends and fidget.) There's nothing he can actually say in response to Chivy's greeting as he's currently fighting a lump in his throat and a shuddering to his frame.

He nods, instead. ]

[itemfinder]

[Chivy nods as well, but more to himself than in response to Sefton.]

So. Nothing. Powers. When you say nothing, you really mean...?

[biomagnet]

[ He glances away this time, focuses on the panel in front of him. Nods again. Yes, he really means it and those words refuse to actually form. ]

[itemfinder]

[He doesn't nod again, but only because he stops himself.]

So on a scale of one to ten, if right now's a five, how much will you freak out when I hug you?

[biomagnet]

[ That prompts a hoarse huff of laughter, his brows furrowing in thoughtful concern. Disbelief. ]

Nine, prob'ly.

[itemfinder]

[There's that tabled, but don't think it's not going to come back. Although, honestly, just asking is reassuring, somehow.]

Oh, good, not an eleven. Progress.