[Too much has happened today. Far too much. John needs to contact Kid, though. Reassure him. Do... something. It's the last thing Alfie asked him to do before shutting the door between them. It's the least he can do. It takes him a few tries before he thinks he's ready to talk and sound confident and reassuring.
Too much has happened, but Kid may have just lost a friend permanently to... whatever horror was visited on Claire. Not to mention Stein's name turning up in the Obituaries again.]
Kid, Alfie contacted me earlier and let me know what happened with Claire. Can you talk to me? I'm sorry if you want to speak with someone else, I can see if there's anyone else, but I'd like to help, if I can.
[Kid's reply is immediate--he'd clearly been on the tablet and with intents to make a call. No matter. Unlike his call to Alfie earlier, the calm tone has been replaced with one thick with tears. He'd intended to call...when he could get himself together. If.
The only delay are the ten seconds of sniffling quiet when he answers the phone.]
I am able to talk with you, Dr. Watson, but please don't feel obligated. You've already done so much to help me.
I'm in a house, with a f-flooded first floor. I haven't eaten dinner. Too queasy.
[Too much aggressive doctoring--it stresses him out. Kid doesn't even understand how Watson tolerates him. All of this is his fault.
Why is he even calling?]
When I spoke with him, I asked Mr. Solomons to leave you be. I've done enough damage, but he did it anyway. I already told him, I am fine to manage on my own.
You don't need to waste more time though. You have helped me enough. Really--I don't mean to bother you more-- [He would be hanging up, except he's preoccupied by coughing. Claire has convinced him to take the cough syrup every night, but without her...]
[John takes a breath and his voice becomes firm.] Kid, stop talking like that. You're not bothering me, and you haven't done a thing to hurt me. I'm the one who couldn't help you after Stein... [He lets that trail off.] I'm responsible for what happened to you. If I'd been on my guard around him like I should have, none of what happened would have.
[Moving on.]
And you haven't eaten or taken your cough medicine. Are you taking the ibuprofen? You're not fine and 'managing' isn't going to keep things from getting worse. If Claire's not there, I need you to do those things still. I know it's hard. Just try nibbling on some food if that's all you can manage, but eat something. You're a rail already and you need it for the energy to be able to get around.
What are you--I heard you telling Sylar, at the aquarium. That my being there probably would help protect him from getting lobotomized. That...you hadn't see the professor turn on me. [The tablet clacks as it falls against the floor while Kid shifts. Admitting he'd been eavesdropping, even unintentionally, wasn't pleasant.] So if I were there, then...it would be okay. But it wasn't. ...I...I'm s-sorry.
[He's silent, a long few moments, breathing carefully--occasionally Watson might hear a murmured number between one and eight.]
I have been taking the cough medicine. Sometimes. Not every night. With Claire, it was easier, because someone else was with me and so it was all right if I was a bit sleepy. Traveling alone, I'm not as comfortable. You...you have seen how sleepy it makes me. [After all, Watson had seen that the overdose left him effectively unconscious; a regular dose was enough that his reactions were slowed and he was incredibly groggy. Of course he'd worry.
Something crinkles, though. Kid is going to do at least one thing he's been instructed to do. His words are a bit muffled as he chews. He'd like everyone to shut up about how he doesn't eat.] I take the ibuprofen once in the morning, and once at nighttime, like everyone's told me.
[Well, fuck. John hadn't expected Kid to be listening in on that conversation. He'd been so unobtrusive. Children are always paying more attention than you expect, though. He closes his eye and thinks how to spin this for Kid.]
I was being factitious to an extent, Kid. And no lobotomies happened, as you'll recall. Regardless, I would never blame you for what Stein did. That was my mistake for being too complacent. And it got you in trouble, as well. I never should have left you alone with that man.
Where are you, exactly? I'm over near the eastern convenience store. I... have something I need to do that's going to be trouble if there's more than just me, but there are a lot of people in the area you might be able to meet up with. I don't want you alone.
I didn't mean to overhear. [He hesitates, and his fingers tap against the tablet, the microphone picking up the rhythmic noise.] And if I am not responsible for Professor Stein's behavior, then it would follow that neither are you.
The building I am in has water on the first floor. It's north of the school, but not terribly far. I needed to get inside before lockdown.
Kid, Stein was my patient. That sort of makes me responsible for him. I didn't in any way mean to imply you were responsible for him. If anything, he should have been responsible for you as your teacher. The fact that he abused that and abused you, as a result, is a failure on my part to recognize a clear and present danger to your safety.
And... right. You mentioned the flooding. You're queasy. I think I've stayed there before. How are you doing on food stocks, overall?
Do not forget that I represent the god whose rules of order he follows, Dr. Watson. [Kid doesn't sound angry, or upset--just resigned.] I knew his symptoms were bad...I just did not think they had gotten this severe. Regardless of your opinions, Professor Stein holds my father's rules of order very much to heart despite not necessarily understanding then innately. His own moral compass may not be in great form, but that is why he relies on my father's. And, in turn, mine.
[Kid pauses, hesitant.] I overheard you, yes. But your conversation with Sylar was not fundamentally incorrect.
[He's quiet for a few moments then, digging through his bag. The pills Watson had given him rattle quietly.] Not well. We had been headed to the school. I will head back tomorrow and restock. I've enough for tonight, though.
You're not the God of Death, yet, Kid. You are not responsible for your father's followers. Least of all someone who has authority over you as a guardian figure. [John's voice is firm.]
All right. Why don't you grab food and then start heading east. Take it at an easy pace. There's someone else in the area I don't want you running into, and I'm not sure how long he's sticking about if I can't catch him.
I am the God of Death here. If there is no external moral compass for him to follow, whose does he choose? Humans are inherently flawed. Why do you think he tells you at each opportunity that I am not human? It isn't simply a reminder that I am still adjusting to the physiological needs of the species!
[Kid doesn't typically have much of a temper but articulating his point to Watson is becoming increasingly difficult, and he isn't sure if it's because he himself is doing a poor job explaining it or if Watson is just not listening to him. The more he tries to make it clear to the doctor only to find that he's still misunderstood, the more irritated he becomes.
Kid takes a careful deep breath.]
I will restock tomorrow and be careful. Please do the same, Dr. Watson.
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@jwatson; audio; Night 188
Date: 2016-12-13 06:48 am (UTC)Too much has happened, but Kid may have just lost a friend permanently to... whatever horror was visited on Claire. Not to mention Stein's name turning up in the Obituaries again.]
Kid, Alfie contacted me earlier and let me know what happened with Claire. Can you talk to me? I'm sorry if you want to speak with someone else, I can see if there's anyone else, but I'd like to help, if I can.
@Kid audio; Night 188
Date: 2016-12-13 12:18 pm (UTC)The only delay are the ten seconds of sniffling quiet when he answers the phone.]
I am able to talk with you, Dr. Watson, but please don't feel obligated. You've already done so much to help me.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-13 04:32 pm (UTC)[He feels obligated, but it's still what he'd want to do.]
And I really haven't done much.
[Other than lie there helplessly and let Kid lose one of his eyes to protect John.]
Can you tell me what happened with Claire?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-13 06:20 pm (UTC)[Kid is quiet for a moment, hesitant.]
How did you...? She promised n-not to ask--I didn't want to bother you more. [Kid's voice is barely a whisper.] I have caused enough trouble.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-13 06:29 pm (UTC)Tell me what's going on with you, Kid. Where are you? Have you eaten dinner, yet?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-14 02:31 am (UTC)[Too much aggressive doctoring--it stresses him out. Kid doesn't even understand how Watson tolerates him. All of this is his fault.
Why is he even calling?]
When I spoke with him, I asked Mr. Solomons to leave you be. I've done enough damage, but he did it anyway. I already told him, I am fine to manage on my own.
You don't need to waste more time though. You have helped me enough. Really--I don't mean to bother you more-- [He would be hanging up, except he's preoccupied by coughing. Claire has convinced him to take the cough syrup every night, but without her...]
no subject
Date: 2016-12-14 04:39 pm (UTC)[Moving on.]
And you haven't eaten or taken your cough medicine. Are you taking the ibuprofen? You're not fine and 'managing' isn't going to keep things from getting worse. If Claire's not there, I need you to do those things still. I know it's hard. Just try nibbling on some food if that's all you can manage, but eat something. You're a rail already and you need it for the energy to be able to get around.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-14 08:32 pm (UTC)[He's silent, a long few moments, breathing carefully--occasionally Watson might hear a murmured number between one and eight.]
I have been taking the cough medicine. Sometimes. Not every night. With Claire, it was easier, because someone else was with me and so it was all right if I was a bit sleepy. Traveling alone, I'm not as comfortable. You...you have seen how sleepy it makes me. [After all, Watson had seen that the overdose left him effectively unconscious; a regular dose was enough that his reactions were slowed and he was incredibly groggy. Of course he'd worry.
Something crinkles, though. Kid is going to do at least one thing he's been instructed to do. His words are a bit muffled as he chews.
He'd like everyone to shut up about how he doesn't eat.] I take the ibuprofen once in the morning, and once at nighttime, like everyone's told me.no subject
Date: 2016-12-14 08:52 pm (UTC)I was being factitious to an extent, Kid. And no lobotomies happened, as you'll recall. Regardless, I would never blame you for what Stein did. That was my mistake for being too complacent. And it got you in trouble, as well. I never should have left you alone with that man.
Where are you, exactly? I'm over near the eastern convenience store. I... have something I need to do that's going to be trouble if there's more than just me, but there are a lot of people in the area you might be able to meet up with. I don't want you alone.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-15 01:50 am (UTC)The building I am in has water on the first floor. It's north of the school, but not terribly far. I needed to get inside before lockdown.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-15 05:43 am (UTC)And... right. You mentioned the flooding. You're queasy. I think I've stayed there before. How are you doing on food stocks, overall?
no subject
Date: 2016-12-17 02:20 pm (UTC)[Kid pauses, hesitant.] I overheard you, yes. But your conversation with Sylar was not fundamentally incorrect.
[He's quiet for a few moments then, digging through his bag. The pills Watson had given him rattle quietly.] Not well. We had been headed to the school. I will head back tomorrow and restock. I've enough for tonight, though.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-17 09:42 pm (UTC)All right. Why don't you grab food and then start heading east. Take it at an easy pace. There's someone else in the area I don't want you running into, and I'm not sure how long he's sticking about if I can't catch him.
no subject
Date: 2016-12-19 03:05 am (UTC)[Kid doesn't typically have much of a temper but articulating his point to Watson is becoming increasingly difficult, and he isn't sure if it's because he himself is doing a poor job explaining it or if Watson is just not listening to him. The more he tries to make it clear to the doctor only to find that he's still misunderstood, the more irritated he becomes.
Kid takes a careful deep breath.]
I will restock tomorrow and be careful. Please do the same, Dr. Watson.
Goodnight.
[Yeah--grumpy Kid cuts the feed right here.]