unpocoloco | Daybreak IC Inbox

[He does look at the boy then, expression still soft, even as he faces the steel wall that Tobias shows.]

You worry a lot about making people worry, don't you? [He can relate. He's always been that way.] I worry about everyone, Chamaco. Your age would not make you an exception.

[He takes a seat at Toby's side.]

But... no matter how I worry, I trust the kids here a lot more than you'd think. You're all really good kids. Good people, I can tell. You're willing to take on so much for the world. You scare me, but Dios, do you amaze me. You're going to be heroes. And I think, in many ways, you already are. If I were living, I'd trust my life unquestionably. And you've already had my back this whole time.

[He reaches up and places a hand on Tobias's shoulder.]

Being a bird doesn't change that. I don't see why it would. The different distrusted groups, daemons, mages, even plain old humans... All the different kinds of beings here with so many more bad histories and so many people tangled up in between and in groups overlapping... none of it changes who you are, at the core. You're Tobias. And what I just said about kids I have faith in applies no matter what.

Chamaco?

[He knows he's not saying that right. Blame it on speech out loud being tricky. And there's no need to change the subject. He doesn't have to lie about everything. Not who he is, only what he is.]

The world's not giving us a choice. Besides, it's... it's the best I've ever felt. Having a purpose is good for me. [One of the few things he's not confused about. He's here. He's so alive. He's... turning his head to look at the hand on his shoulder.

Héctor is far too good to be real.]

...you meant that about me?

Like muchacho. Or niño. Not quite so stiff. Kind of a nickname. Unless someone's shouting it, then they might not mean it like that, but you're here so that's not going to happen.

[Tobias is definitely not a brat. But he's a kid and so chamaco it is.

The world is giving a choice. It always is. It's just not giving an easy one, even where the choice comes easy for those involved. Like Tobias apparently.

Kid's just tugging at his heart.]

Of course I mean it. I wouldn't say it if I didn't.

This would be about the time I offer a hug but I don't know how weird that would be for you.

[What other choice did he have? Living in the woods forever. Or going back to a miserable childhood and looking forward to a boring adulthood. At best. Why do that when he can fly and the world needs him...?]

Me neither, I don't know about hugs. This isn't the real me, anyway. [Not anymore. Not what he wants to be. Easier to be a bird-turned-human.]

...Thanks. For saying it. No one's said anything like that to me before.

Maybe, but it's hard to hug a bird.

[Tobias is still Tobias. And that otherwise sounds like permission.

He leans in and wraps his arms around the kid, giving a squeeze. He's a boney guy (ha) but he can hug with the best of them. After a moment, he eases back.]

They should say it. And you'll find it a lot easier for people to do that here.

[Somehow he managed to be caught off guard, arms still stiff at his side. It's over before he can think to do anything. Good work, Tobias, real smooth. Well, the great sap over there won't mind!]

Can't blame people for not saying, I didn't know anyone. [Hug. Hmm. He has been hugged and that's going to stick with him. It also makes him think of something else...]

Can I ask a question?

[No, they can't really blame anyone. But maybe now they can get him up to speed.]

Sure. What's on your mind?

[He's as expressionless as he was five minutes ago, but there's a little hesitation now.]

Is someone helping you with your, uh... being dead problem? So that you can go home one of these days?

It's something Imelda and I are working on. It's going to be a slow process. There's a lot to try and workaround, and it's going to take a while if even we do find something that works, but we're on it.

[And if nothing works he'll go back to his old plans.]

Alright. That's good to hear. That something's being done.

[It's never stopped being difficult to tell himself the dude's not just going to keel over one night.]

[It can be hard to tell what Tobias is thinking much of the time but this one isn't difficult to guess.]

I'm not going to disappear. There's still time left for me. Promise.

[He tries to keep himself from blurting it out... and he fails. Shamefully.]

How much time?

[He doesn't like telling people this. In fact, he's only told Imelda.]

I don't know the exact time. There can be a lot of factors involved that could change things. I just have an idea of where I am at and I'll start to know when the end's coming. But, if I'm guessing, anywhere from a decade to a year and a half. Whichever the case, I'll be going home before I'm done.

A year and a half?

[Something does change on his face, finally. And here he'd been hoping for a decade, at least. He's an animal and he has more time than that.]

...I'm sorry. That's not fair.

[That sticks in deep. It twists and for as much as he holds back he can't hide all of it. He moves a bit closer and brings an arm around again, just a slight squeeze.]

It's not really about fairness, Tobias. You have to remember, this is my second chance, not my first. Everything I get now, the people I get to meet, the memories I make, it's all extra. Most people don't get that. Especially not without a catch. I'm very lucky man. And I'm grateful.

As for you, just because I won't always be around doesn't mean it changes anything now. Not unless you want it to. But in the mean time, I'll still be your friend and I'll still be here to help.

[Well. Ow.

He won't say it again, but. Not fair. Not fair at all. The best, most loving family he's seen, and it could all end. And there's nothing he can do about it. It... hurts.

He... exhales, out his nose. It's not really a sigh. Breathing at all through his mouth seems odd.]

You keep saying that, but... I've got it good for whatever I am. I don't think I need help. Not more than you've already done.

Tobias.

[His tone is stern but there's a smile on his face now.]

You're allowed to have more. I have no less to give, for whatever you are or however much time I have. If it soothes your conscience or pride, it does me good being able to offer something in this world. But regardless of any of that, every person, no matter how well off, can use a bit of help. Welcome to humanity, Tobias, this is how my crazy species functions best when we function at all.

[He gives Tobias a pat on his shoulder and gets up.]

Let's make some good memories! Turn the good to great! I'm texting Imelda. I'm sure we've got the ingredients for something good here.

Edited 2019-09-04 03:12 (UTC)

[Every damn word the man says only makes him want it not to end even more--but. What can he do?

What can he do?

Maybe in five years he'd know enough healing magic... and he may not have five years. The whole world might not. He stays seated on the bed and watches.]

Is she going to be awake this late...? It doesn't have to be anything special. I've never had soda.

Go to bed without our nightly time? And deal with my heartbroken whining and wailing? She might have married me but she's not that masochistic.

[He grins wide.]

We'll see what we have. She's going to make what she wants though, just watch.

[No comment. What the heck does he know about love and marriage. He's a damn bird.]

Fine with me. I don't know much about food.

[He spends a brief time texting Imelda, back and forth, a dopey grin upon his face growing only wider as he reads her messages and sends back his own. Every now and again a soft, faint laugh slips free. Drawn up on his own bed, he's clearly in his own world in that moment, heedless of any second-hand embarrassment. And just like that, it's over. He stands back up.]

She's decided to join us! She'll be here soon!

[Sometime during all that, he realizes... Hands. Phone. It's right there, what's stopping him? And he almost seems to be a normal teenager, hooked on texting like every other kid his ages is. It's much easier to use with fingers and not his beak or tongue.]

Okay. Cool. Should I do anything?

Nothing you have to, but if you'd like, we could wander out there a bit, get a feel for the two legs thing.

Yeah, I can do that.

[He places his phone back on the branch, pausing to run his fingers over it. It looks so small now...]

Just up and down the hall?

[He nods.]

That should work. We don't need to do any Olympic miles or anything like that.

[He notices the way Tobias pauses. Yeah, things can look different when you're different. He remembers that.

He gets up and leads the way out into the hall.]

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