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

[notasidedick]

[It's a wonder that Dick was even out of his room. He had barely left it since he's come back from the dead. But it was more of a nuisance to get around when there was no gravity. It was easier to slip in and out of places now that the gravity was back.

It was silly of him. To go by the rooms. He went by Bruce's room. Tim's room. He peeked into Damian's room. The bunk bed was gone. Damian's stuff was still there. Just no Damian. He was so numb right now. He was mostly working on autopilot as he walked around. Deciding that staying around would just make his mood worst and make him more paranoid of Damian being gone, he decided to head back to his room. Well...

Dick decided to stop by the Rec room. He needed more books to read if he was going to be a bit of a shut in. He could only stay so occupied in his room for so long. That's when he spots Colin though. He makes his way over to the other, crouching down. He had a look of concern on his face.] Hey. You okay? I can get you some water. It looks like you might need it.

[crossespurpose]

[The other is suddenly there and he finds himself pushing back. Colin didn't even hear him come in he was so lost within his own mind and with his hands and feet he manages to scoot a good distance away from the other, at least out of his grasp. He looks to his face and while he looks kind enough, while he looks like he is concerned his mind does not allow him to register this heavily, brows knitted together. His breathing increases as his heart rate does from the appearance of the stranger, another person connected to Damian but forget it if he would know that--he was told not to trust a soul and Dick was an adult on top of that, an adult that Colin had issues trusting since his earlier youth.] N-no!

[He replies in a quieter tone, watching him with caution.] I'm fine.

[notasidedick]

Hey, calm down. You're. You're Damian's friend right? Steph has been taking care of you from what I heard.

[Oh dear. He didn't mean to scare the other so much. He raises his hands up in surrender though. Best to make sure that he knew that he wasn't going to try and hurt the other or anything of that sort. He was pretty sure with his worn down appearance, he wasn't the most easy to trust thing to look at. God damn it facility.] Hey. I'm not going to hurt you or anything. I'm just concerned. You seem to be a good friend of Damian.

[crossespurpose]

[The situation changes with the other mentions the two names. While he is still not sure of the man, he pauses and stops his retreat, simply keeping still and listening to the other talk, looking up at Dick's hands and then back to his face. Sure, he looks a wreck right now but he knows the other even though he is not aware of it at the moment. Still--he keeps his distance, only allowing a few breaths to settle heavily into the space between before drawing his legs near his own body.] You know Damian?

[He pauses cautiously.] And Steph?

[notasidedick]

[Oh good. It seems the other is a little less scared of him now. Okay, progressing. Take this one step at a time. Like a tightrope. If he thought of it like walking a tightrope, it was easier.] Yeah. We're siblings you can say. I know him quite a bit. [He didn't want to say a lot.]

Steph. Yeah. I'm Dick. You can ask either of them about me if you still got your doubts. I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You weren't looking too well when I walked in. [Not that he looks any better. What a dork.]

[crossespurpose]

[He's still watching carefully despite what the other may say. Damian has told him not to trust a soul and so he is wary like the other implies towards the end. He can ask them later--when he finds Damian because at the moment he is worried, and not quite sure where he has gone off to. Steph was accessible though, he could ask her--later.] You don't look good either.

I was just--I just didn't remember falling asleep here, 's all. [And his head still hurt from the fall, a nicely sized bruise on his brow visible where his hair parted.]

[notasidedick]

[Dick was worried sick. He hadn't heard from the other in awhile. It was making him anxious. He didn't need to lose Damian too. He lost most of his family here as is.] I don't feel all that great. It's been a bad few weeks. It could definitely be worst though. I'm just banking that it won't be.

Well, the gravity coming back probably threw everyone for a bit of a shock. [He points at Colin's brow.] Think you might have hit it pretty bad when it happened. We can get that checked if...it might help any. Unless you're fine as is.

[crossespurpose]

[He wasn't going to pretend that he understood everything, he wasn't going to pretend he knew what the other was going through because he had no idea who he was and if he was actually telling the truth which at the moment he was hesitant to believe. Colin flat out didn't trust adults and the return of his various psychosis's was not helping Dick's situation. Still, he watched him carefully.] You should rest then.

[Came his utterance before he covered his brow with his palm, insistent on not running into anyone else--even though it hurt he was used to his wounds healing at a quick rate so he was hoping that it would go away sooner than later.] I'm fine.

[notasidedick]

It was a little hard floating. Although I guess floating made my body ache a little less. I came here to get some books after I passed by some rooms. [Of course his visits disappointed him more then anything. But he set himself up for that.]

If you're sure. If you start feeling unwell, contact a medic. They might be a little tired, but I know they rather help then let someone get worst. Have you been doing alright since you've arrived? There's a lot of people here that aren't necessarily the most trustworthy. But there's also a lot of people who might be good to speak to.

[crossespurpose]

[He's backed up against the shelf nearest to the cushions upon the floor. When the other speaks of books a hand reaches out behind him and grasps one of the bindings where he is. Not knowing what he is reaching for, he pulls forth one book: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Looking down at the cover he looks back up at Dick, listening to his voice.]

No--I'm okay. [Colin repeats himself, seeming insistent on not wanting to contact anyone, frowning and taking in a shaky breath, eyes diverted. Damian said not to trust anyone and while Dick was not giving him a reason to not trust him--he was wary, though seeming to relax just slightly.]

Here. [He holds out the book for the other.] This is a good book.

[notasidedick]

It's just a precaution. [An awkward pause.] I...uhm. I'm sorry. I think I'm just making you feel more anxious. I should leave you perhaps? [He rubs one of his arms awkwardly, but immediately stops. The uneven and roughness of his skin was distracting. It just made him all the more conscious of what's happened to him last week.

He takes the book from Colin though. He doesn't make any sudden movements though.] I'll read it then.

[crossespurpose]

[The other was the first one, asides Damian, to actually mention his anxiety. It was--suddenly brought up so it took him a moment to reply because normally when one was in a state like this, it was hard to reply to something that was blindingly obvious but not what he wanted to admit. Colin knew there was something wrong with his head, but he didn't like to say there was.] I--

[The conflict was that he didn't want to be alone, because without Steph and Damian around at the moment he was lost in his own mind. So he deflects the conversation.] You should, you should read it.

It was at the library once--back home.

[notasidedick]

I will. I think I've read it before and enjoyed it.

[A short pause. It seems the other seemed to be avoiding the fact he mentioned anxiety. He tilts his head lightly, in a curious manner.] I can read it out loud right here. I mean, if you'd like to hear it again. I don't really have to do much right now. If you don't mind company that is.

[crossespurpose]

[He didn't mind company, that was the issue, he was just having the internal debate of strife within his mind, it was perpetual and while he would rather want to sit with the other and read it, could he get over his own psychosis-ridden thoughts to sit down long enough. A breath in and a breath out and he gave the other a nod.]

I could just--sit here. [He stumbled over his words but managed to meet the others gaze.]

And listen for awhile.

[notasidedick]

[He takes a seat across from Colin, but giving the other enough space so he doesn't feel like that Dick might be invading his personal space.] We can do that. Reading with company is always nicer right?

I'd...I guess I'd like company.

[crossespurpose]

[His posture loosens slightly as he settles against the bookshelf, watching the older figure carefully as he sits down himself. Waiting for the other to settle, he draws his knees up to his own chest and looks to the book and then up to the others face. Alright--he could do this, he was just reading a book--there was nothing threatening about it and later he could ask Steph.

Or Damian when he found him.] Yeah.

I like hearing people read.