selfhelp | [action / voice] backdated to the 16th

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[action / voice] backdated to the 16th

[Billy wakes up for the first time since the portal drama feeling nauseous, exhausted, and heartsick: sort of like waking from a long nightmare, only he can't recall dreaming at all. Instead of being at home in his own world and his own bed, he's still in Luceti, and what's worse is that he's alone. His magic doesn't seem to be working, either. Panic sets in, and... well...

After a bit of trouble-at-home, and a resolution that leaves him feeling even more weary, the reality of his (or rather, their) situation really sinks in: the portal didn't work. And while none of the people involved in the execution of said plan are in any great state of being today, he seems to be the only one who's up and talking and available to explain the situation to the general public (at least, to those who didn't witness what a spectacular disaster it was), and that leaves announcing it up to him.

Unfortunately.

He delays it as much as he feels that he can, perusing the journal in the desperate hope that someone else has done it for him, then wondering if it would be better to wait for someone more in-the-know to do it, until finally he steps up to the plate. Now or never.]

...Hey everyone. I'm sure a lot of you already heard, but for those that haven't, Tony and Jane's big escape portal didn't work. It kind of backfired yesterday, and...

[His voice trails off in the beginnings of a more distraught tone, so he pauses to compose himself.]

Nobody died? I mean, we've got that going for us. For what it's worth. But no one went home, either. The whole thing was a bust. No point in even keeping it a secret anymore.

One last thank you to everybody who gave up their mission points to get parts for it, though. I don't think it was a waste or anything - I mean, trying's better than sitting around and doing nothing, and something definitely happened, so we at least pushed a few of their buttons - but...

[Ugh, why did he think this was a good idea?]

...sorry it wasn't what we thought it would be. That's all.

[After that he really just wants to curl up in bed and pretend to be unconscious for the next several days, but that's not particularly responsible, so he'll have to settle for making it a few hours instead. It's the little things in life.]

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To be honest, I don't know. I only just woke up, so I haven't seen anyone else...

You should check the clinic, see if anyone needs a hand. And the work room will probably need some serious clean-up, but... that's not important right now.

[Billy keeps his head bowed as Teddy approaches, so for a long moment all he sees is the floor, Teddy's feet, and hands reaching out to take his. The moment passes and he finally uncurls his fists to twine his fingers through his boyfriend's, chin lifting to meet Teddy's eyes.

He feels forgiven, and that's step one.]

...Can I do it sitting down? I think I'm about to fall over.

Guess if it didn't, we wouldn't feel half as motivated to try and succeed at anything.

[There is no regret in having dropped a number of his points into this worthy endeavour.]

Of course. That can be dealt with later and when that time comes I'll be happy to help. For now I'll see what I can do at the clinic.

Oh.

[It's a soft sound, almost involuntarily made. Her dad had mentioned the portal project to her earlier, though he hadn't gone into any detail about who'd been involved. Kaede recognizes the voice of one of the people who'd spoken to her when she first arrived, and...her heart goes out to him.

Sure, part of her is disappointed at the opportunity for a speedy exit falling through, but she feels worse for everyone else. People had been here for years, hadn't they? And her dad had talked so eagerly about having pitched in, about how hard everyone had been working to set this project up...

Kaede might be only a child, but she's not so young that she can't see the big picture here.]

I'm glad no one died.

[Because when someone says no one died, it doesn't mean "everyone's okay", so she doesn't say it. Hesitantly:]

Dad told me about the portal project and how hard everyone worked to make it happen. It was worth trying, right? Maybe next time it'll work.

[Well isn't that a shame. Oak was hoping he and the rest of the Pokedex Holders would return to their world and not have to deal with Luceti any longer than they need to. But it seems like they're forced to stay a little while longer. At least they tried and he's thankful for their efforts, if anything else. It's better than anyone doing nothing at all]

While it didn't go as planned, your efforts were not in vain, so I want to thank you and those involved for at least giving me hope.

[He still has that hope, which won't be taken away so easily, since there are still other possibilities and chances where they can find a way back home. Cause like the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try try again. They won't give up because of what happened, right?]

You look like you're about to fall over.

[He leads Billy to one of the chairs at the table - Honestly, he kind of wants to carry him there, spoil him silly. Though Tony and Jane were much worse off, seeing Billy collapse and pass out after such a huge spell was...

Yeah. Teddy knows that both he and Billy are lucky that he wasn't hit as hard as the rest of them.

Once Billy's sitting, Teddy lets go of his hands and straightens up, a hand to his chin as if in thought.]

You can... be a cheerleader from there, or something.

Gee, thanks.

[He lets Teddy guide him to a seat anyway, taking advantage of their closeness to press up against the blond. Physical contact is his best form of comfort, so it's one more way of apologizing for the fight.

Once he's seated and Teddy makes that comment, though, he lifts a brow, feeling a little bit more like himself. Complete with sass.]

Instead of pom-poms, how about handing me a mixing bowl, jerk.

You were trying to get out? [ Twilight's been cooped up in the library almost since she arrived, so she hasn't paid a lot of attention to any high-profile escape attempts. ] What did you do?

[He can't help chuckling at that - that's his boyfriend, sarcastic as always. It's actually really good to hear it. Teddy's always loved his sarcasm, of course, but it's also a sign that he's feeling a bit more like himself.]

Right, right. Mixing bowl. [He reaches out to slide his thumb along Billy's cheek, gently wiping at the now dry tear tracks, before he looks away and gets the bowl, plus new eggs from the fridge.]

By the way, how do you like your omelettes? Did you want anything in them? Meat or whatever?

[There was an escape attempt? This is news to Artemis, but that information didn't seem as important at the moment with how different Billy sounds from the last time she'd seen him. She debates whether to reply or not before finally sitting down with her journal.]

Hey, witch-boy. Sounds like you had a rough day.

[Teddy gets a weak smile for that gesture, lifting a hand to trail his fingers over Teddy's in thanks before he pulls away.]

Do we have bacon? I'm feeling sinfully unkosher this morning. Though I think we've earned it.

[After yesterday...

...ugh, yesterday. He'd probably missed a lot, hadn't he? He wants to ask, but at the same time he wants to hold on to the lightheartedness they'd finally regained after their argument. Still, he's worried enough that this can't wait. Maybe he can at least make it brief.]

...Tony and Jane... are they okay...?

Do you mind? I mean- even just knowing they're recovering, I-

...I just don't want to keep wondering about it.

Mm... Teddy's here, it's okay. I don't really think I should leave the apartment today.

[Still, the offer's nice. He just doesn't want to be a lousy host.]

If you want to drop by, though, I won't stop you.

I dunno. Right now I don't feel very motivated to do anything.

Thanks... I'm sure they'll appreciate the extra help. Every little bit, you know...?

Oh, you're boyfriend, right?

[He's only talked to Teddy a handful of times so he just needs the reminder.]

I mean, if you want more company that is. Wouldn't want to barge in on you two.

[Okay, there might be some mild teasing in there if only to lighten the mood.]

Can't blame you.

[They couldn't give up here; but they'd all need time to bounce back.]

Any wounded?

[Oh geez, Kaede. He feels badly for tossing such depressing news when there's newcomers - even little kids - who aren't used to getting kicked in the teeth by Luceti when you least expect it. It would've been nice to have told her that she was going home soon.]

Yeah. Maybe... if we figure out what went wrong or something, we can fix it.

[He tries not to sound as doubtful about that as he feels.]

Don’t. [There’s a lot conveyed even by that uncommitted noise, and Pepper is quick to warn Billy away from what she suspects he might be thinking.] You brought them back, Billy. You brought Tony back to me, like you promised. Don’t think otherwise.

[She’s glad to hear that Teddy’s taking care of Billy; she’d expect no less, after the support Teddy had shown her too. It helps her relax some, knowing there’s one less person to worry about when she’s already stretched so thin.]

He’s stable. [Which is as positive as the news gets, but unsurprisingly that’s the aspect Pepper tries to focus on.] He could wake up at any time.

Even though that hope got totally dashed by the whole thing going wrong?

[Well, it's nice to be optimistic, anyway. He can appreciate the attitude.]

[Hello, talking pony. It's been a while since he saw one of those, and it's still no less weird.]

Oh god, don't ask me. A whole lot of science talk and technology that I really didn't understand. Portals and trans-dimensional travel and wormholes...

I was just there to give some magic support.

[Surprise, Artemis! Luceti sucks sometimes. But she gets a little smile for the sympathy.]

That's one way to put it, yeah. It happens sometimes.

Two, so far. And one person missing.

I don't know any details, though, sorry.

[He's quiet for a long moment at that feeling an odd mixture of both chastised and praised. Maybe she has a point, though. Maybe he's allowed to feel good about what he did, at least a little bit. They still got hurt, and he still thinks he could have done more, but...

...he did okay. He kept his promises. That's better than nothing.

In the end he doesn't respond to it, not really, but he doesn't argue against it, either.]

Mm. Good. Knowing him, it won't be long.

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