[Action] / Someone's finally back.

[corruptedsouls]

[It seems that time compression sometimes has a very sick sense of humor. While it's certain few people will recognize him, an old Balamb resident is back. Well, in a way -- for those who would remember him, Tobias has taken a very radical step back from the Tobias he was when he was last here, looking more like he did on first arrival, scruffiness, glimmering gold bracelet and all, though he seems to not have lost his age during the odd transition.

At present, he's currently curled up against the wall in one of the hallways, dead asleep and so still it's almost like he's not breathing. It's not exactly clear whether he's intentionally there or just simply passed out -- while Tobias is a strange child, certainly, the position is far from comfortable and definitely hazardous to people idly walking through said hallway.]

Comments

1/2

[fierybluebird]

[Oh okay. That's not like a nightmare of his honorary father's or anything.

Except where it completely is.]

2/2

[fierybluebird]

[So phoenix father goes rushing over and checks for a pulse, quickly wrapping warm blue wings around him.]

Toby, Toby, are you okay?

[corruptedsouls]

[Whoa hey what. Suddenly being swept up by Marco shakes Tobias awake pretty quickly, though his first reaction is panic from being grabbed and disorientated.

Hi, Marco, hope you don't mind your adoptive son struggling instinctively against you now!]

[fierybluebird]

[One hand back to human and rests it gently on Toby's forehead.]

Hey, hey, it's okay. Calm down. It's just me, eh?

[corruptedsouls]

[The hand causes him to freeze, but it's the voice that really stops him. He goes almost abnormally still, breathing heavily as his brain tries to process it. It's familiar. He knows that voice.]

Marco?

[No. That's not right.]

...Dad...?

[fierybluebird]

[O-oh. He's not crying. He's not crying. He's not crying....]

[Okay he's crying.]

[Shut up.]

[Have a huge tight glomp Toby.]

[At least his voices is 100% steady. No one can ever say that deadpan doesn't come in handy.]

Yeah kiddo. You're back in the Garden. How much do you remember?

[Also, not letting go. Deal with it.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias seems a bit taken off guard, but after a moment, his own hands wrap tightly around Marco in a familiar clinging. This... he remembers this, yes. Oh, how does he remember this, and Marco isn't the only one crying now.

Oh. Question. Right.]

...I remember you.

[All too quickly, the pieces are falling back into place, but there are still more gaps than Toby would like in them.]

...I don't remember the Garden much. I don't remember the classes. But I remember you and Mom and --

[Espio. His voice stops short on that. Yes, he remembers Espio... and he remembers Espio's reaction to him.

Hope you don't mind that hug getting tighter, Marco.]

[fierybluebird]

[Just picks him up in the tight hug and swings him around to try to make him smile again.]

At least you're back, eh?! Espio will be really happy. Grell too! [Spins around!! And whoosh goes the part about Espio.]

We still have most your stuff even!

[corruptedsouls]

[Okay, admittedly, getting swung around is fun and Tobias gives a surprised laugh. It fades after Espio's name comes up again, however, and he just tries to bury his face in Marco's shoulder.]

Espio's not happy.

[fierybluebird]

[Sets him down gently though he doesn't let go of the hug. No seriously, he is never letting go again. Just try to make him.]

What do you mean?

[corruptedsouls]

He woke me up earlier, but when he saw me, he just... ran away.

[Oh don't worry Tobias has no intention of letting go on his side either. He's starved for contact again and Marco is someone he, somehow, knows.]

[fierybluebird]

[Hugs more and spins around all over again.]

Aw kid, don't worry about it. He's probably just worried you're an illusion or don't remember him. It's been a really long time, eh? But he'll definitely be happy once he knows you remember him. [And that he has his eye back? Marco's not even sure how to bring that up. Anyways more spins!]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias really can't argue with you, can he, Marco? The spinning pulls him out of his gloomy mood again and he giggles, that same bright smile flashing across his face, if a tad bit more subdued than the last time he was here.

Of course, the poor boy hasn't stopped crying yet -- though it seems to be hardly a bad type of crying. This warmth, this love... it's been so long since anyone's done this and he's never felt it to this extreme, but at the same time, those weird memories have instilled such a huge sense of nostalgia that he doesn't want it to stop.]

...Don't let go. Okay?

[fierybluebird]

[Just swallows down a whole ton of emotions at that.]

I won't. [Spins a little more!] Are you hungry? Should I even ask where you've been living in your world lately?

[corruptedsouls]

I'm starving.

[Of course, it's going to be hard to eat with this arrangement, but hey, he's gone hungry before. Marco's certainly been able to feel that his body's back down to its original form -- so thin he should be falling over in a stiff breeze with his skin tightly stretched against the bones.]

Cerulean Cave. It's a nice hiding place.

[fierybluebird]

[Sets Tobias on his shoulders for a piggy back and heads straight to the kitchen. No starving on his watch ever.]

You've been all right there? Got any pokemon with you?

[corruptedsouls]

I had a Pikachu, but I'm not sure where she went.

[Hey, he can handle this. He just sorta leans down to wrap his arms around Marco's neck, regardless of the uncomfortable position.]

...I think Charizard became a -- [aug, what was it called again. His memory is fuzzy there.] -- Guardian Force?

[fierybluebird]

Okay. Try not to call on him too much all right? Memory loss and all...

[To the kitchen!]

Do you remember going to a fair?

[corruptedsouls]

[Quiet. Think think think...]

Yeah. I don't remember anything about it, but I kind of remember going to one.

[fierybluebird]

All right, don't worry about it, okay?

I'm just glad you're back and safe again.

[Holds up the hand with his wedding ring.] I got married, eh?

[corruptedsouls]

You did?

[Now he looks surprised, peering at the ring.]

Does Mom's look like this?

[No doubt at all.]

[fierybluebird]

Of course! They have to match you know. Oh, but her engagement ring is better. Make sure you ask her about it sometime okay? She'd love to show it off.

[corruptedsouls]

Okay, I will.

[Happy! This is like those old times he remembers and he doesn't ever want it to stop. Hugging Marco slightly tighter now, though not enough to try to strangle him or anything.

After a minute:]

You missed me... right?

[fierybluebird]

[Oh, there is not enough deadpan in the world to stop Marco's voice from choking up.]

So much.

Every day. I still have your plushies. Trust me kid, you never left our thoughts.

You missed your Grandfather, but I was happy to tell him he really was a grandfather. He was very proud, eh?

[corruptedsouls]

[On one hand, that goes straight to Tobias' heart in a good way. They missed him. They still cared about him. They still loved him.

But it's also like twisting a knife there. Because... well...]

...I'm sorry...

[And he's crying again, but this time in not a good way.]

I... I didn't miss any of you. I didn't remember any of you. I'm sorry...