wing_attack | IC; Pokegear Contact Post

"Uh. It's Tobias. Leave a message."

Tortellini I think. I don't... know Italian. I think it's Italian. B... but I don't want to be a bother...

Hey, it's okay. I don't know Italian either.

[Deliberate misinterpretation, the finest bastion for the horrified-but-friendly. Leapin' lizards, what happened to this kid?

There's the sound of a freezer opening, and--]

Aha! Okay, awesome, Carolina musta bought the frozen kind for us. Uh, is it okay if some of them are green? You know, the type where the pasta part's all spinach-y. I remember what my kid brother was like about veggies.

[Actually, Benjy was perfectly fine with veggies, but he wants poor Tobias to have as many choices as possible. As much control over his situation as York can provide him.]

Th... that's fine. Like I said, I'll eat whatever. Like the school lunches... they're really bad sometimes, but they're... free.

[Thank you low income school lunch program.]

Well, I'm pretty sure our tortellini's a little better than cafeteria fare.

[He rummages around a little more, and--]

You got a kitchen, where you are right now?

Y... yeah. I saw it... before. I'm in the... the den I guess?

Great. I'll bring some other things, too, then. Fruit and bread and ice cream. ...You allergic to peanut butter?

[There's a rustle as he grabs a plastic shopping bag and starts throwing stuff in.]

Y-you don't have to do all that! B... but I'm not allergic to anything... I think...

Well, you're worried about it being a stranger's house, right? I wanna make sure you have food you don't have to be nervous about eating.

On that note, you mind if I cook the tortellini at your place? That way you know it just came right out of the package, no funny business.

... Yeah. Yeah, okay. That's... that's okay.

All right. I'll be over in five. And remember, you can sic Rachel on me at any time.

Okay. I'll... I'll be here.

[Just. Being nervous around all of these giant animals.]

[It takes less than five, actually, before York's knocking at the door, half the Freelancers' groceries in tow.]

Hey, kid, it's York.

[There's a moment of fumbling, and then Tobias opens the door part of the way... okay. That looks like the guy on the communicator thingy. He opens the door the rest of the way, Rachel a few feet behind him. He doesn't say anything, just looks at the groceries, his eyes a little misty. It takes him a few moments, before he finally glances up at York's face, though not his eyes.]

[The blanket's still wrapped around him like a cape, dragging on the floor a little bit. He pulls it a little tighter, protectively, as he tries to figure out what to say. Finally, he manages something, albeit in a very small voice.]

... Why?

[Ohhh, no. Oh, no no no. No, this is not okay, who did this to him.

York stands there for a second, then crouches low, so he isn't towering over the kid anymore. So he has to look up rather than stare down.]

Because, Tobias.

[His voice is as gentle and firm as he can make it.]

Every kid deserves to feel safe.

[He's silent a few more seconds, before the hiccuping starts. He's not a baby, he shouldn't be crying, but he can't help it. He can't help that everything, all of the stress and sadness, is coming rushing in on him, and he pulls part of the blanket up to wipe his nose.]

N... no... I... I mean... my dad didn't want me which is why he... he walked out. Th... then Mom went and died on... on them s... so I got left with... with m... my aunt and uncle. I... I'm just t... trouble. Trouble they have t... to l... l... legally al... allow in their h... houses. A... and neither of them w... want me e... either and they've to... told me that and s... so that's why they m... move me around between the c... c... coasts. Th... they don't want me. I'm just trouble. I don't d... deserve it. I d... don't. I... I'm a drain on r... r... resources and t... time and th... they don't w... want me. N... no one w... wants me. Y... you don't have to l... lie to me.

[Awwwwwwww, shit.]

Hey--hey, Tobias...hey...

[York isn't brought up short by much, but they don't cover crying children even at the highest levels of Freelancer training. Still, he hesitates for only a moment before he puts his groceries down, shifts onto his knees in case he has to stay down here a while.]

Tobias, dude. I know you just met me, but believe me, I'm the worst liar you ever met. It's the one reason I couldn't grow up to be James Bond, I'd never cut it. You're a good kid, all right? You're one of the good guys.

[Should he...? No, the kid doesn't know him, he's too scared. Instead of a hug, York pats the blond hair gently, just long enough for Tobias to know he's not gonna hurt him before he lets his hand fall away.]

Maybe you'll see it, a few years down the road.

[Rachel grumbles and shifts her weight forward a bit. She knows you mean well, York, but small crying Trainer is still small crying Trainer.]

[Tobias, for his part, flinches back a little at the touch, eyes a little wide. He shakes his head and rubs his face with the blanket again, sniffling.]

M'not. Spider-Man and Superman and Legolas and Aragorn, they're good guys. I'm not. I... I'm just trouble. S... sorry for making you b... bother...

[And that's when Rachel just picks him up in a giant bear hug. Carefully, but enough to pull him off his feet. Tobias freezes, and she tilts her head at York. Come in so they can deal with this because she's not sure she can take small crying Trainer much longer. She trusts you can shut the door behind you, York. She's just going to deposit him on the couch.]

[It may not be the best thing to do, but she doesn't know what else to do.]

[Geez Louise. Thanks, Rachel, what would we do without you.

York does indeed take his groceries in and closes the door behind him, quiet and easy, no sudden movements or loud noises. He doesn't try to touch Tobias again, just puts a bag of Cracker Jacks in Tobias's reach and smiles as softly as he can.]

You're no trouble, man. Let me get started on dinner.

[And he goes to stock Tobias's fridge and freezer and get started on the tortellini, keeping an ear out for the kid but not wanting to push his presence on him.]

[He's quiet for a tiny bit, before the sound of him going for the Cracker Jacks comes from the living room. He's trying to keep it quiet, but it's hard when you have short fingers with no real nails. Rachel grunts and pokes it open for him, and he mumbles a thank you before starting to munch and turn the pages in his book. So many bird things... they don't look like any birds he knows, though.]

[The kitchen, at least, is fairly neat. Tobias - at least the older version of him - has tried to keep it tidy. There's not an overabundance of food and cooking supplies, but there's enough. After a few minutes, Tobias wanders into the kitchen, having left the book and blanket on the couch but bringing the snack with him.]

There's some pots in the cabinet up there. I saw them but I couldn't get a chair the right height.

Oh, great! Thanks, dude.

[York's tall enough to grab a saucepan of the right size and put some water on to boil. He looks for the salt for a minute, adds a little to the water, and then puts that away. The whole time, he's careful not to look too much at Tobias, and when he does meet his eyes, it's with an easy smile. Doesn't want the kid to feel like he's a threat in here, he's just trying to keep things natural.

He checks the expiration date on the tortellini package, nods to himself, and sets it back down.]

So, hey, do you like tomato sauce or just butter?

[Did he bring tomato sauce? He thinks so...]

[He looks away when York tries to meet his eyes, but he doesn't leave. He puts the Cracker Jacks back on the counter, careful not to tip them over. A Cubchoo wanders into the kitchen, tilting his head at the whole scene.]

Choo?

[Tobias turns and looks at him, freezing for a moment before crouching.]

H... hey there. Are... are you one of Rachel's friends?

[The Cubchoo stares for a moment, before nodding. He toddles up to York, looking up with wide eyes and a snotty nose.]

Choo!

Awww, hey!

[York doesn't get down, leaving the kid his space, but he does smile and wave at the Cubchoo.]

You know, I got one of those for my friend? They remind me of him. His is grown up now, though. You done with these, T-bird?

[He picks up the Cracker Jacks to make sure they're sealed up and put away properly, if Tobias is.]

[The Cubchoo waves back, and toddles over to Rachel, who leads him out of the kitchen. Apparently he was just being friendly. Tobias stands up and looks at North. The nickname confuses him, but he nods.]

I... I should save some for later. You can't have too much. ... I can help if you need. I know how to make pasta. M... my aunt showed me how. A-and most of the time my uncle has me m-make my own dinner.

[Man. Would it be bad karma to find a way to zip back in time to another dimension and set someone's house on fire? York's got no interest in living life on the run from the law again, but...]

It's all right, slugger. Even an old vet like me can boil water for pasta. You wanna watch TV while we wait? [Hang on.] Or do some drawings? No one'll mind if you take a little paper, I'm sure.

[... He looks down and hunches up his shoulders again.]

But... I get yelled at when I draw. M'supposed to pay attention to things... and not... just draw. I... I'll just go read again... and then I won't be moving anyone's stuff. E-except the book, but I'll put it back...

[He wanders back into the living room and curls up in the blanket again, flipping through the book idly.]