Stop and think about that logically, okay? You are not responsible for the actions of the anomalies here. You can't be. And Professor Stein was your guardian, not the other way 'round.
[He's quiet, for a long few moments, the only sign that he's still on the line his own uneven breathing.]
You are...mistaken. [How, Kid isn't sure, but he knows immediately that John is. He has to be. He mumbles quietly, hesitant and uncertain.] It wanted me.
It wanted me-- [Kid's voice hitches, wanting to explain, needing to. He could argue with the good doctor. He could tell John about the mask--skulls, five times over. About the shadowy figure standing out against the snow, reaching for him. It was so eerily familiar and he knew without question that the anomaly was supposed to be his father, so intimately that he didn't initially move, didn't run, didn't even breathe until Stein was shoving him out of the way.
But he doesn't manage to get that far, because the next words out of John's mouth are to take deep breaths and count to seven. The tablet, previously in his hands, clatters to the floor.]
Seven? Why--why would you choose seven? Of all of the potential numbers! It's--it's completely impossible to-- [And in the grand scheme of things that are important, somewhere he knows this is not. His voice cracks, but he can't stop himself. At least this anxiety is familiar.] --it's impossible to cut the number seven symmetrically, horizontally or vertically. Even diagonally! It can't be split evenly, either. What a disgusting number! Take it back!
Breathe in for eight, then out for eight. [He's mumbling, but at least he's not panicking. John's done a good job picking up on Kid's distaste for the number seven--not that he'd made it very hard.] I...can do that.
Still, he follows the instructions. A shaking inhale, followed by the whisper of a count to eight. The exhale is almost exactly the same, a whispered count and uneven breathing, the teen trying to show that he has control over his nerves. Unsurprisingly, he repeats the exercise eight times.]
...now what do I do?
[His tone, uncertain and just slightly pleading, makes it clear how loaded the question is.]
[John counts quietly along with Kid, just matching him for the time being.]
You say to yourself: This is a moment in time. I'll get past it. This isn't how I'll feel forever. I'm stronger than this moment, and I'll last longer than it.
And then we start again and repeat and repeat and repeat until you can believe what you're saying.
[Behind the safety of the tablet, Kid has pressed his forehead to his knees as Watson repeats the breathing exercises, the affirmation of strength.]
We will be here a very long time. [His voice is muffled, as he doesn't bother to shift positions. Even quieter and more hesitantly, he adds:] And...that is not what I meant.
You've already made it eight counts of eight and everything we've said since then, Kid. It's true, you just need to let yourself believe it. And what did you mean? I'm sorry I didn't understand.
Please excuse me for this, Dr. Watson, but for what reason should I believe it? It will pass for now, yes, but come tomorrow, or later this afternoon or in a few minutes-- [He trails off, exhaling a small sigh.] It will start again. Like always.
[But that wasn't his question and he feels foolish repeating it; the hesitation is just long enough to be noticable.] I was referring more to the general situation, and not this particular moment in time. With the consideration that Professor Stein-- [He stops. It still hurts to mention the professor and he carefully rephrases:] Ah, that I am traveling alone, now.
I know it's tough, Kid, but there will be a time when it doesn't start immediately. Remember that any time between how you feel now and the next time, that's still good time and worth it to get to.
As for what to do going forward... you're down in the entrance area, right? D'you know any of the other people down there? You'll want to meet up with some of them, if you can.
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no subject
Date: 2016-09-18 06:31 pm (UTC)[John had been afraid of this.]
Stop and think about that logically, okay? You are not responsible for the actions of the anomalies here. You can't be. And Professor Stein was your guardian, not the other way 'round.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 10:06 pm (UTC)You are...mistaken. [How, Kid isn't sure, but he knows immediately that John is. He has to be. He mumbles quietly, hesitant and uncertain.] It wanted me.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 02:22 am (UTC)But he doesn't manage to get that far, because the next words out of John's mouth are to take deep breaths and count to seven. The tablet, previously in his hands, clatters to the floor.]
Seven? Why--why would you choose seven? Of all of the potential numbers! It's--it's completely impossible to-- [And in the grand scheme of things that are important, somewhere he knows this is not. His voice cracks, but he can't stop himself. At least this anxiety is familiar.] --it's impossible to cut the number seven symmetrically, horizontally or vertically. Even diagonally! It can't be split evenly, either. What a disgusting number! Take it back!
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 02:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 02:25 am (UTC)Why don't we start, then? We can do it together. Deep breaths and count to eight, Kid.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 04:18 am (UTC)Still, he follows the instructions. A shaking inhale, followed by the whisper of a count to eight. The exhale is almost exactly the same, a whispered count and uneven breathing, the teen trying to show that he has control over his nerves. Unsurprisingly, he repeats the exercise eight times.]
...now what do I do?
[His tone, uncertain and just slightly pleading, makes it clear how loaded the question is.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-28 01:04 am (UTC)You say to yourself: This is a moment in time. I'll get past it. This isn't how I'll feel forever. I'm stronger than this moment, and I'll last longer than it.
And then we start again and repeat and repeat and repeat until you can believe what you're saying.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-28 01:17 am (UTC)We will be here a very long time. [His voice is muffled, as he doesn't bother to shift positions. Even quieter and more hesitantly, he adds:] And...that is not what I meant.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-28 01:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-28 01:56 am (UTC)[But that wasn't his question and he feels foolish repeating it; the hesitation is just long enough to be noticable.] I was referring more to the general situation, and not this particular moment in time. With the consideration that Professor Stein-- [He stops. It still hurts to mention the professor and he carefully rephrases:] Ah, that I am traveling alone, now.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-30 08:49 pm (UTC)As for what to do going forward... you're down in the entrance area, right? D'you know any of the other people down there? You'll want to meet up with some of them, if you can.