[ 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

[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.

[biomagnet]

Eleven'd probably get us into too much trouble.

[ It's a quiet acknowledgment of where they are, what circumstances they're operating under. It also has the benefit of reassuring Chivy that he won't be kicking anyone in the face anytime soon for initiating unexpected physical contact. ]

[itemfinder]

Out in the library? Yeah.

But, uh... [Okay, how exactly is he going to talk about this?] How much did you hear about the pilgrimage?

[biomagnet]

Bits. Pieces. [ His fingers trace the position of a word on the console while he forces himself to keep speaking, ignoring the waver in his voice. ] Jungle cats.

[itemfinder]

[Chivy pulls a face — yeah, okay, that's important, too, but.]

Yeah, well, somewhere out there my headaches started up. I mean... my knack. Not like... it's different, but it isn't... gone. Anymore.

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton stops, tilts his head toward Chivy, expression guarded but... hopeful? Dreading? It's hard to say; there's a lot of things he's feeling right now, and he's sure more of it is showing on his face than he'd like. ]

What d'you mean?

[itemfinder]

It's not— [Deep breath, he needs to actually sound a little like he knows what he's talking about (even if he doesn't). He unfocuses, staring at nothing in particular, and tries again, slower.]

It's not there all the time, I have to... think about it? More. And it's harder, if I try to think about it a lot. Than it was before, I mean.

[biomagnet]

Like... a switch?

[ It's a tentative venture, trying to imagine having some sort of middle-ground for his own power. He closes his eyes and reminds himself not to think about it, because he feels sick to be without it for so long. What grief it caused him all his life doesn't matter. It was a part of him. ]

[itemfinder]

Yeah. [He thinks about that for a second, nodding and looking at Sefton again, less distant.] Yeah, kinda, but more like... a button you've got to hold down? Because it's, it used to just be there.

[biomagnet]

Is it... You're okay?

[ Not that they can do anything about it, but he's wracking his brain for some sort of understanding. Chivy's knack came back, different but the same, and the idea that it could happen to Sefton too leaves him shaking again. Too much emotion, not enough outlet. There's no real safe place here for it. ]

[itemfinder]

I... yeah? [Because what other option is there?] I mean... jungle cats. And food. And... [He waves a hand. The dream thing, the this-isn't-home thing, the stuck-completely-alone thing (which isn't so much a thing anymore). He's had plenty to focus on to avoid dealing with what that part means.]

[biomagnet]

[ That's good. At least one of them is. ]

... 'n everything. I—I'm glad you're here, y'know.

[ Because Sefton hasn't said that yet, and suddenly it seems important. He isn't happy that they seem to be trapped here, put in circumstances so far beyond their control, but for the current moment... it's more than he could have possibly asked for. ]

[itemfinder]

Yeah. Me, too. [He smiles, reaching out to tug on the scarf, more as a "look, we're here" than anything else.] I was... I'm glad you're here.

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton flinches back half a step, not because he wasn't expecting it but because... everything is becoming so very real. He brings a hand up to cover his mouth, else that sob would be quite loud. ]

Yeah.

[ He wants to say more to try and stave this off, but... if he has to break down in front of anyone, Chivy is one of two he'd trust for it. ]

[itemfinder]

[Chivy takes his own step forward, rather than letting go. The smile drops, replaced by the concern he's beem trying to keep in the background.]

I'm... about ready to risk that nine.

[biomagnet]

[ His other hand comes up, an aborted motion, and he grips at the edge of his scarf tail instead. He trusts Chivy, he's earned it after putting up with Sefton for eleven years and counting, and while he knows the automatic reaction will be particularly awful in this new circumstance... he's run out of options. Vocalizing it seems dangerous, so he nods his acknowledgment. ]