[ 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]

[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. ]

[itemfinder]

[He's slow, how could he not be, but he moves forward. Bunching up the scarf in the process, to try and keep Sefton from bolting (whether he would or not wasn't the point, the point was prevention), and putting his other arm around Sefton, bracing as well as he can for whatever comes next. Slow didn't mean he was hesitating, though, or that he was going to do anything less than firm.]

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton stands as still as he possibly can. Once Chivy gets his arm around Sefton's back, the flinch is immediate; it's like a shock to the system, being lit on fire after a month spent in the cold. It's the first human contact he's had since waking up in the pod, since his power's disappearance, since he shored up his walls tighter than he had in years.

It sets him off, torn breath choking hot in his throat, and he crumples in Chivy's embrace once the contact is made with shuddering shoulders while he fights the instinct to hug his friend back because he knows he can't be gentle enough right now (even when he knows gentleness doesn't matter anymore). He doesn't let all of his weight go, simply leans on Chivy and bows his head far enough that he could probably rest it if he crouched just a little more but, again, the touching and the contact and this should be enough for now. It is. ]

[itemfinder]

[Chivy only realizes he'd been holding his breath when he starts again — after the flinch, knowing that the initial reaction is what matters here, the last obstacle for the moment. His grip on the scarf is white-knuckled, but his hand is flat on Sefton's back, and while he may be squeezing a bit hard, it's hardly crushing. He closes his eyes, focused on breathing and the moment and not breaking down himself. Not that he can't, but this is a moment for support and that's just as much emotion to handle as the alternative and he's not sure he can manage both at once.]

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton shudders, holds still... then sobs. This safe is space for as long as he and Chivy hold it and he'll be damned if he squanders it. Part of him is practically crawling out of his skin to get away from the touch, while another marvels at the feel. His lack of power has put his touch out of whack and this is definitely the strangest sensation yet. The hand twisted up in the edge of his scarf moves up to wrap around Chivy's shoulder and grip at his side once he has enough control, holding him there as if there was even a thought of parting. While they don't often cling to each other like this, there's far too much practice in moving together for him to be overly concerned once he has his shakes under control. His hand spasms, again from the strange feeling, but tries to hold still after that.

The crying certainly doesn't stop for a while, and he refuses to move his hand away from his mouth as if worried for making too much sound in a library, but that's okay. He's been building it up for some time. ]

[itemfinder]

[Chivy is staying still for as long as he's able. No matter what happens from here, no matter what this place throws at him, this will be weighed on the positive side. Not that he's enjoying the break down, not at all, but that he is able to offer and receive this kind of comfort with lessened consequences is important. It's not a full repayment, not even for what's gone on so far, but it's something.]

[biomagnet]

[ Eventually, finally, Sefton splits his fingers and takes in a large breath to steady himself. Everything has lessened now, enough for him to try and pull away... at least so he can press his side to the bookshelf and sink to the ground, should Chivy be ready to let him go. Standing doesn't seem like the best idea anymore. ]

Everything... feels wrong.

[itemfinder]

[Chivy drops his arm, but it takes a second for him to remember to loosen his grip on the scarf — in the meantime, he follows Sefton's example and sits, still holding on, just at a little more distance.]

Yeah? Must be weird.

[biomagnet]

[ Sefton shifts to allow Chivy to keep his grip, then pulls his legs up closer to his chest. ]

S' like my whole body's numb, but... not, at the same time. [ He pauses, then shakes his head, taking a moment to wipe at his face with the back of his sleeve. ] I dunno how to describe it.

[itemfinder]

Means you're different normally, too. [Not that that's news, not really.] It doesn't... hurt or anything, though, yeah?