IC Inbox for SPHERE

[doubled_speed]

ACTION | AUDIO | VIDEO | TEXT

Comments

[doubled_speed]

Then you go and do that, okay? Go and dig yourself a hole and get buried underground.

[Claustrophobia is a bitch.]

[brightboy]

You're fine to just stay here?

[doubled_speed]

[Well, people back home had mostly abandoned him. Again. And Wanda wanted him here. Wanted to be his mother. And then there was the important part.]

Better than dying by drowning. Or pressure. Or starvation. Do I like it here? No. But it’s a damn bit better than being dead. Because we can’t leave here easily. If we could? Billy would have come for me already. When your twin the god can’t come get you even all full of magic and powerful can’t get to you, you know your own powers aren’t getting you out.

[brightboy]

[Okay, there's a lot in what Tommy just said that didn't make any sense, which means he'll think about it later.]

Then we work together.

[doubled_speed]

You go ahead and find people to work with. But me? I go fast and I explode things. Neither of which helps here. So find other help.

[This place scares him enough would doing something stupid like trying to tunnel out.]

[brightboy]

[Marcos frowned at that.]

So, your powers are all that you are? You never use that? [He taps his temple to indicate his brain.]

[doubled_speed]

[Everyone always said he was just practical. HE didn't really put together being able to think super fast with smart.]

I run fast, I punch things, I blow shit up. I follow instructions.

[brightboy]

What, and your 'instructions' are to sit here and not do anything about getting out of this place?

[doubled_speed]

[Okay, dude, all that's happening is that Tommy's getting mad. Don't piss off family, idiot.]

I'm saying I'm not the fucking planner, Marcos. And we already nearly fucking drowned here once, so I'm doing a hard pass on that

[brightboy]

They got us in here, there has to be a way out.

[He takes a deep breath. Fine. Marcos wasn't the hard-core planner, either, but he could. In a pinch. As long as Lorna was fine.]

[doubled_speed]

Then talk to them.

[Don't talk to Tommy. He doesn't have an answer.]

I'm stuck here, I'm making the best of it.

[brightboy]

You're stuck here and you're making the most of it.

[He takes a steadying breath. He's only just met this kid and it's not his fault.]

That's fair. It's just...sorry. it's a lot to tame in.

[doubled_speed]

What else am I supposed to do?

[Tommy sighs and strokes Speedy's soft fur. The animal is a super comfort right now.]

I got... I got to spend a few hours at home. I got kidnapped months ago back there, I spent a few hours with my friends, and then I got kidnapped here. I'm apparently becoming a professional damsel.

[brightboy]

[He ran a hand back over his hair, nodding.] No, you're right, I just...

[Have never been able to just sit idly by.]

Heh, well, it doesn't look too bad on you. And...you got a pet out of it.

[doubled_speed]

[Being a damsel is not his style and he doesn't like it 'looking good' on him. But he does like Speedy.]

Did I get a pet, or did Speedy?

[brightboy]

You got a pet. [He chuckles.] Speedy got a tree.

[doubled_speed]

You suggesting I'm a tree?

[Because he doesn't mind that.]

[brightboy]

[He motions toward the clinging sloth.]

Yeah, apparently.

[doubled_speed]

[Tommy laughs and strokes Speedy's back.]

I don't know. The book I got about him says they do the same to their moms. I think I'm just mom.

[brightboy]

[Marcos couldn't help but smile at that, a little sadly.]

Well, I hope you're good at it.

[doubled_speed]

Better than mine.

[Whispered a little sadly, but then he just smiles again because he doesn't want to talk about it.]

I'm a really good mom.

[brightboy]

If your track record's anything like mine, it's not hard to be a better parent.

[And yet, it's his worst fear.]

[doubled_speed]

My track record is pretty... terrible.

[And he isn't talking much more about it.]

I'll leave the book out for you. So you know how to help Speedy if he needs it. Seeing as you live here now.

[brightboy]

Yeah, you and me both.

[He could only hope it goes better for him.]

Thanks. I know a little about sloths. We're from the same place.

[doubled_speed]

[From the same place? Tommy frowns as he considers. He read something in his instructions for sloth parenting book about how to, you know, help them. Did it mention where they were from?]

What do you know?