our parents rue the day | OPEN

[crossespurpose]

WHO: Colin Wilkes (crossespurpose) & O P E N.
WHEN: FORWARD DATED: September 25th | early morning.
WHERE: Recreational Room.
SUMMARY: After a rough introduction to the facility having come in right before the recent F3 and having difficulties floating about in the week prior, Colin finds himself in the recreational room having passed out from lack of sleep on

Comments

[notaspeedyhobo]

[Tommy has spent most of the zero g week with his brother in Billy's room, both of them tending to their wounds and providing the mutual comfort and support that only brothers could. He was back in his own room before reset, though, and despite feeling a little better than he had at the beginning of the week, sleep is still difficult to come by. It's early in the morning and he's been up two or three times all night when he finally just decides to go for a walk, since the gravity is back and his legs are aching.

There's a decent amount of open space in the rec room. He's thinking about going for a walk when he hears a noise, spots the boy. Tommy frowns for a moment before- Oh. It's that kid Damian said he was taking care of, isn't it?]

Hey, you alright?

[crossespurpose]

[The voice sounds and he tenses, immediately looking to the incoming figure who was not someone he had seen before. Damian had taken the device from him before he was able to respond to much of anyone and Colin was unknowing to the others concern the day he arrived. His chest rose and fell with his breaths as he quickly stood to his feet, stumbling slightly from the lack of using his legs for the past week. He looked nervous, that much was clear but it was obvious he could not run.

Watching the other carefully, cautiously he replied in a quiet tone.] I'm--

I'm okay.

[notaspeedyhobo]

[He certainly doesn't sound okay. Tommy knows a thing or two about night terrors, especially ones brought on by stress. He has nightmares himself at least a few times a week, sometimes more often.

This kid, it's obvious he's nervous, and that brings something out in Tommy, the side of him that is decent with children. Molly was always considerably easier than the kids around this place, though. Still, when he approaches, he does it slowly, making sure his hands are visible and empty and relaxed.] You sure? You don't look so good. Somethin' wrong?

[crossespurpose]

[He's been having them for awhile, most of his sleep is interrupted when he is able to gain it which is rare. He is a child and he is sleep deprived and despite the way that the venom affects his system it does not work to the extremes and here, it's cut by half unknowingly to him. The bruise beneath his scattered red hair is apparent from the fall last night and as he fumbles his hands with the edge of his jacket, he looks down when the other continues to look at him.

When Tommy steps near, he looks up though and watches him with extreme caution. Damian said he could trust no one--but the other, he seemed nice despite Colin's mental state and inclination to not trust those older than him.] I--

I don't remember falling asleep here.

[notaspeedyhobo]

[He doesn't get too close. Tommy keeps a respectful distance for now, and somehow manages a smile to make himself less threatening. The last thing he wants to do is scare off an obviously skittish kid, so he just kind of crouches down to Colin's level and smiles a little.] Maybe you were just tired. Where's Damian? He was looking out for you, wasn't he?

[crossespurpose]

[The smile does little, but little is better than nothing and it stops him from taking another step back at the others stop in his approach. It's a good enough distance for him, and while his mind is racing he looks away at the mention of being tired, before snapping his gaze forward once more at the name that is dropped.]

You know Damian? [Came the quite, hesitant reply.]

[notaspeedyhobo]

Sure I do. [Granted, not very well, but he doesn't need to tell the kid that. Or that most of his conversations with Damian end in them arguing about something or other. Or in Tommy trolling Damian.] He's kinda grouchy, but we're sorta in the same business, so.

I'm Tommy.

[crossespurpose]

[He pauses and looks up at the other, shifting his feet nervously. His relationship with Damian is completely different, he does not view it as grouchy per-say but pretty much more serious. Though, Colin is the kind of kid who lets everything roll off his back when he's not in a state like this, a state too close to the one he was in that year ago.]

He's serious. [Quick to the defense he watches the others face and when he gives him a name to go with it he is hesitant to say his own but a kid is a kid and he replies.]

Hi. I'm--Colin.

[notaspeedyhobo]

[Serious? Hah, that's sort of an understatement. Colin is fast to defend the other boy, though, so Tommy figures they must be friends of some sort. Which, hey, grouchy kid could use some friends, he thinks. So he just chuckles a little.] Yeah, okay, he is that.

It's nice to meet you, Colin. You wanna go get some water or somethin'? Seemed like you were having a bad dream.

[crossespurpose]

[The others laugh after his defense to Damian has him a little perturbed and his brows knit together just slightly as he watches him. Shifting his position that he stands in, weight from one foot to another, he listened to the taller figures voice and contemplated his choices. He could go with him but it would be a risk, he didn't know Tommy and if he could not trust him, he was not sure if he wanted to go with him to get water despite how dry his mouth was from the intensity of his breaths and how anxiety often caused dry-mouth.

He waits before replying.] I'm not thirsty.

I just--didn't remember where I was. [Which was partially true, he was just not admitting to the nightmares.]

[notaspeedyhobo]

[Tommy watches him for a moment. Yeah, he isn't buying it. The kid just doesn't trust him, he figures, which... Well, he can't completely blame him. Though he seems more skittish than other people. What the heck has Damian been telling him?] You sure? Cafeteria's not too far.

You sure it wasn't a bad dream? [He smiles a little at Colin and pulls up a cushion to sit down, idly digging in the front pocket of his jeans.] I had one just now. S'why I'm up. But you know what helps me when I've had a nightmare? [Finally, he fishes out a couple of wrapped hard candies from Wonderland. They're a bit old, but not bad.] Little bit of sugar. Want one?

[crossespurpose]

[He's skittish, but it's all due to things--things that piled up and made sense in the medical world but to Colin it was just the jumble that was his mind. Sure, Tommy seemed like a nice guy and as he watched him pull up a cushion he tensed a little. Still standing as the other sat, he kept his eyes on his face but it was nice to be at eye-level at least. When the other mentioned the cafeteria, he only gave a nod but his gaze leveled when he said nightmare. Pausing, he looked to the ground.]

You have nightmares? [He questioned, slowly bringing his eyes back to meet the others warily.]

What was it about? [Looking to the candy in the others hand he paused--there was saying about taking candy from strangers but he was so sick of not eating at all, or having to eat those bars that it was tempting enough to draw him forward.]

Ah--okay. [A beat.] Thank you.

[notaspeedyhobo]

[True, there is a saying about candy from strangers, but. Well. He doesn't have anything else on him to offer, besides things that are back in his and Kate's room. And it's true, sucking on a hard candy after a nightmare helps him even out his mood again, which is why he generally has a couple on him, so maybe it'll help Colin. He drops one into the kid's hand, cherry probably from the color of the wrapper, and unwraps the other candy for himself.]

Yeah, I have 'em a lot. [It's not something he likes talking about, his nightmares, but... Colin's just a kid. He pops the little piece of sugar into his mouth, sucks on it thoughtfully.] Tonight it was about... my brother. He got hurt pretty bad. He's better now, but, you know.

What about yours?

[crossespurpose]

[Watching the other carefully unwrap the candy and place it in his mouth he shifted his body and slowly, cautiously lowered himself to sit on the cushions across the way from Tommy, a decent distance against the book shelves. An even stare and he listened to the other carefully before furrowing his brow at the thought of a nightmare like that, a reality like that. So people did get hurt in his place? He had no doubt after all the screaming the week before last. Slowly twisting the wrapping off, he replied.

He had a great deal of nightmares as well--but there was no way he would admit to that aloud.] Is he here--with you?

[And at the question he seemed to hesitate before lowering his voice in a continued hesitation.]

I was running away from this place--I couldn't get there though.

[notaspeedyhobo]

My brother? Yeah, he's here. I wish he wasn't, but it's kind of nice having my twin around at the same time. [It's complicated. He wishes Billy had never had to be subjected to any of this, but... At least if he's here, Tommy can try to protect him. At least they have each other. In a place like this, that's a big deal.] Three of my teammates are here, actually. Do you have anyone here besides Damian?

[He pauses at that answer, though. Running away, huh?] Take it from a speedster, kid. Running away from things... It doesn't always work.

[crossespurpose]

If I had a brother, I don't think I would want him here. I would be scared for him. [He comments because well--Colin does not know what it's like to have a family, he can only really assume things and that's as far as it goes. He knows he would like to have a family but here? No he would not.] And um, no. Damian is all I have and I--I can't find him.

[Which was scary in itself since Damian was the sole figure he was depended on for support.]

I didn't think it would, but it was just a dream.