[Action] / Training time!

[corruptedsouls]

[There's an interesting fixture in the Training Center today -- a scrawny little black-haired boy who's practicing his skills on the monsters around.

The "skills," however, are certainly nothing from Garden: the monsters that come near him end up being deleted -- yes, deleted -- when they come in contact with his left hand. Said hand looks nothing like flesh and blood anymore; it's become a hand-shaped "cloud" of 1s, 0s, glitching... something or other and flickering pieces just as hard to identify, resembling more like what you'd expect from a corrupted computer program.

He doesn't really seem to care much that this is certainly an agonizing way to go about things, if what the monsters are screeching is any indication, but then again, they are just monsters.

He's taking a break at present, sitting down and resting his hand on his knee -- it seems that his own body and everything on it is immune to the... whatever it is.]

Comments

[corruptedsouls]

Because I don't have control of this. Tobias does.

[espio]

Well something seems to be stopping anything I say getting through.

[Like a shield?]

Of everything I can think of, this is one of the most painful things he could do - it's like watching someone die, them turning into something they hate, all because of something stupid I said and didn't even mean.

I know I screwed up, again, but not even being able to say I'm sorry, or that I love him? That's plain cruel.

[He's not handling this very well at all. It's one thing to face someone like Mighty or Sonic when they've gone weird, but Toby was another thing entirely. He can't hit him - that one reactive punch made him feel guilty enough - and words aren't working... hugs didn't work either, when he tried it.

What can he do?

Other than stand here and try not to cry. ...and failing at it.]

[corruptedsouls]

It is, but I'm not the one who forced myself to retreat to this the first place. That was all you, Espio.

It's a simple thing most people do. When the world becomes too much for them to handle, they pull in on themselves, become introverted. And unfortunately, the shock of his mixed memories as well as you "turning" on him was enough for me to stop wanting to deal with it.

It's certainly a cowardly move, but... you know me.

[espio]

I know Toby enough to know he can pull himself back out of it.

[You're not Toby. Don't even pretend. You're the monster that Toby's afraid he is.

Espio stomps over. Still in tears. Grabs Jacred by the collar.]

You know why I snapped? Because for one moment it felt that anyone's company would do as long as they could protect him. For one moment, it made me feel like I was the same as everyone else in the Garden - nothing but shelter.

I know it was stupid and wrong - even at the time I knew. Toby thinks more of me than that. That's why I tried to hide it and not say anything! But I can't hide what I think so easily.

I waited over a year hoping for Toby to come back. Every second I missed him. I have a family here, but nobody means as much to me as he does, even with his memories so mixed up.

Now he's gone again. But I'll bring him back. Even if it takes years.

[corruptedsouls]

[Jacred doesn't seem to even be phased at being dragged down to Espio's level, though the glow is even more intense now that they're close together.

...After a moment, however, Tobias throws his arms around Espio, apparently forgetting the hand still exposed. Thankfully, he's gripping his own arm rather than Espio's body, so there's no real deletion going on.

...There's something wet against Espio's shoulder. Tobias is crying.]

[espio]

[Espio goes stiff - for a moment, he thinks he's being attacked - he's about to shove Toby off before he realises that, well, he isn't being attacked.

Cautiously...]

Um...?

[corruptedsouls]

...What did I say?

[It's Tobias' voice, without a doubt.]

I feel... like I said something bad...

[espio]

[TOBY!!]

Can't remember.

[BLATANT LIES. Especially going by the fact that he's now shaking. It's the combination of relief, stress, distress, rage, tears and the lack of sleep.]

But don't freak out on me like that again... please. Just hit me if I'm being stupid... okay?

[corruptedsouls]

...I don't want to hurt you. I... was just scared... that you really didn't... want to be with me anymore.

[Still crying, yep yep.]

I... I don't know what happened... but did I do something bad?

[espio]

To me? Yes. But it doesn't matter.

...but um...

You might kind of get a bruise. On your face. And your eye's probably gonna swell up. You'll want to put ice on it... wrapped in cloth. For fifteen minutes during each hour for the rest of the day.

[corruptedsouls]

...I'm sorry...

[Legit upset now. He can't remember it, but hey, it hurts still.]

...What happened?

[espio]

You... weren't you.

[CLINGS.]

You said that you didn't care if you hurt me or Marco or Grell, didn't care if you were chased out of Garden, that it didn't matter if you killed someone. I... couldn't stand it. Couldn't let you be something you hate. Maybe there's a part of you that wishes you didn't care, but that's not who you are.

[If you couldn't tell Espio was crying properly before, Toby, you probably can now.]

So. Um. I hit you. I didn't mean to - it was like I lost all sense of myself and did the first thing I could think of.

[corruptedsouls]

[Okay, that gets Tobias crying even more. He lets go of Espio and puts his hands over his eyes. Yeah, that... that might have been something you should've kept under wraps for a while.]

...Why are you crying? You didn't do anything... I did...

[...So much bawling.]

[espio]

Because of me.

Like I said - next time, just hit me. I'll forgive you.

[He makes as if to hug Toby again, try and reassure him that it was okay now... but um. Problem. Several problems. Green ones.]

We should probably get out of the Training Centre.

[corruptedsouls]

...Huh...?

[Oh hey. That... is not good.]

...Uh... I... don't know where my bracelet went...

[espio]

...

[Facepalm.]

Can't have gone far. You had it a moment ago. Sort of...

[Playing with it.]

Anyway, I'll deal with the Grats. You find that bracelet.

[And just to help, Espio casts haste on him.]

[corruptedsouls]

Okay!

[And he's off like a rocket to find it -- thankfully, it just sort of slipped off his finger and isn't hard to find.

Snap! The creepy aura and glowing eyes are gone now.]

I got it, Espio!

[espio]

[Flings one Grat across the Training Centre by the tentacles, before glancing back to Toby. Back to normal... he can't help but smile, if somewhat awkwardly, and reaches out to grab him by the wrist.]

Let's get out of here, then. Back to my room...?

I don't want people seeing me like this.

[corruptedsouls]

Sure, I'll follow you.

[And there's that old smile, the situation already put out of his mind.]

[espio]

[Following isn't going to really work. Espio does not want to be seen in the shaky, tearful state he's in, so the obvious solution is to turn himself invisible.

He keeps Toby close, though - he doesn't let go of his wrist.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Well, that works too.

Time to see if he can remember where to find Espio's room...]