[CLOSED to Tobias]

[espio]

[PM]

Hey Toby, where did you disappear to?

No idea if you'll get this message before I run into you, but JUST IN CASE, I'll be around the library most of the evening, then my room - it's changed to A107, just across the hall from our old one. Drop by if you want, or at LEAST tell me what you're doing tomorrow.

Also a warning: don't touch the BBS. Grell's got some stupid idea in her head that's not worth even looking at, let alone discussing, and she's airing it all over the BBS. It's ridiculous.

ESPIO

Comments

[corruptedsouls]

[And Tobias, at least, can sense that. But he clearly doesn't know what to do. But at the same time, seeing Espio clearly glarey makes him feel immensely uncomfortable, especially when it feels like it's his fault but he doesn't know why it is or how to fix it.

...So he just stands up off the bed abruptly.]

....

[He wants to say something. He really does. But he can't think of anything to say and it hurts just having Espio look at him like that. So he just turns around and starts out of the room.]

[espio]

[Espio is half inclined to just sit here and sulk, but dammit, he missed Toby. Hard. No way is he just gonna let him walk off!

Which is why he reaches out and grabs Toby's sleeve.]

[corruptedsouls]

[He stops at feeling the grip on his sleeve, an eerie feeling of reversed positions now. Isn't that what he's supposed to do?

Either way, he stops.]

...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad.

[espio]

You didn't.

[Lies. Obvious lies. He's outright sulking - practically pouting, even.]

[corruptedsouls]

I did. You're upset. You always got upset at me then said you weren't when I was here before.

[espio]

[Ffff. Okay that's true... but...]

Doesn't mean I want to talk about it.

[corruptedsouls]

...And... it hurts when you look at me like that.

...I'm sorry...

[And now he's trying to pull away, to keep leaving.]

[espio]

[OKAY NO. Espio releases Toby, but throws himself back against the wall with his arms crossed.]

Fine! Fine, go ahead and leave me here on my own, it's not like I spent over a year waiting for you to turn up again, or even missed you at all! It's completely irrational and selfish to want to keep you to myself for even five minutes!

Don't worry. Everyone in Garden is awesome. They'll protect you.

[Loose translation: PAY ATTENTION TO ME, DAMMIT.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias freezes at the yelling, the old flight sense tearing up into his body.

He had no idea what Espio was on about, really, but the yelling -- the anger -- was too much. His back to the chameleon, Espio can't see how hard the tears are falling now, but Tobias just doesn't know what to do here.

So he runs, like he always does, and right out the door without a sound.]

[espio]

[It's irrational. Espio knows this - that was why he was trying not to flip out. He just... well, clearly he did anyway.

It still takes him a moment before he gets a moment of "oh shit" and tries to take after him, rushing straight into the corridor.]

Toby! I'm sorry, okay? Come back!

[...he doesn't think he's even there. Toby's a speedy thing - that moment of sulky delay probably means he lost him.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Not only speedy, but well versed in hiding. Sorry, Espio, but you aren't going to find any trace of Toby anytime soon.]