θ 17

[bit_impossible]

[the extremely happy and carefree disposition that's 'plagued' him has finally worn away, and he's thinking clearly now. so clearly in fact, he's wandering deeper into the forest and uses the excuse of having more of the planet to explore to keep himself from running into anyone else.]

[the sphere hovers a good distance in front of him and he either doesn't notice that it's on or doesn't care to acknowledge it. gone is the smile that made his cheeks ache. his face is blank, but his eyes tell a different story. after a few long moments of walking, he finally looks up. he's done deciding what he should say.]

Ollie, Lara, everyone I talked to, just forget what I said since that sun came out. None of that's important now, so just forget it. [points a finger at the hologram screen] I mean it.

[he looks away from the sphere, muttering] Well...there are some things I do still mean. Abel, I will write that letter for you. I meant every word, especially to you, Amaterasu.

But Rangiku...I--[he falters for a brief second.] I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I couldn't help you or even think about wanting to help you in the state of mind I was in.



Despite everything that happened...I want that feeling back.




[ooc: opting out of the genderswap. he'll need the laugh for later!]

Comments

[oliverplus]

I did know something was wrong, Doctor. Lara told me--got me to believe her. But I didn't even care! It was like...I couldn't think through anything.

[shakes his head] I wouldn't've minded telling you that. Don't worry about it.

[bit_impossible]

I'm sure you didn't do anything that bad.

[oliverplus]

[cringes, looking down] No, I did. To Lara especially.

But thanks.

[bit_impossible]

[doubts it but asks cautiously] What'd you do?

filtered;

[oliverplus]

[sighs] I don't know if you really want to know, Doctor.

[bitterly] I tried to get her killed, for one.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

Ohhhhhh, but I do.

Funny though, she seemed rather alive the last time I saw her.

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

Because she wasn't being an idiot like I was.

[sighs] What's it matter, really? I'll be lucky if she ever wants to speak to me again.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

[firmly] Tell me what happened.

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

[sighs, then smiles faintly] I've gotta say, it's at least nice having a choice again.

Nevermind you're going to want to kill me for it, too. I ran into the forest, Doctor. Into the gas. I don't...I don't even know why. I was just enjoying the day so much, and Lara seemed nervous about it, so maybe I was trying to prove something?

Anyway, she got us both out of there.

Re: filtered; 1/2

[bit_impossible]

[his eyes widen] You what?!

Re: filtered; 2/2

[bit_impossible]

[a second later, he composes himself] Ollie, I'd normally tell you that you know better than to do something so stupid like that, but I don't think you had any control over such actions any more than I did. All that matters is you're both safe.

Re: filtered; 2/2

[oliverplus]

[winces, cringing away from the Doctor's anger--he's feeling like dirt enough as it is; glances up as the Doctor continues, his words full of anger at himself] That's an excuse! And if Lara had died, what would you be saying then?

[catches himself, regretting that outburst] I'm sorry. You're trying to help, I know. But there's no way to fix that--not any of it.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

That it was an accident. Plus if she died, more than likely you would've died too. Equal exposure. Gas like that doesn't discriminate... [he doesn't even want to begin to think what it would be like to lose them both.]

But we're not going to think about that any longer, understand?

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

[nods numbly] What do I say to her, Doctor?

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

That's up to you to decide.

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

Heh, 'course it is.

[hesitates] I wish that were all of it.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

Lara's a tough girl, and from what little more I know about her, she's been to worse places than a gassy forest. She'll understand.

[eyes Oliver curiously] Oh?

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

[bitter] She said she'd had a bad experience with gas before. You know, right before I ran into a forest full of it. Because obviously that wouldn't be upsetting to her.

[hesitates again, watching the Doctor closely] I told her everything, Doctor. Everything.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

Well...was she? Upset, I mean?

What, like your measurements, IQ, and birthday? [quick beat] Oh.

[another quick beat] Ohhhh. Hold on a mo'. You even mentioned to me that you'd told her about the Puppeteer! [groans smacks his head with his hand] Of course! How could I have missed something so simple! I should've known something was completely barmy the second you said that!

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

[quirks an eyebrow] You wanna take a guess?

It's not your fault, Doctor. [pause] And I wasn't talking about telling her when I said that.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

Hmmm, I'd venture a guess, but she's a rather difficult one to pin down...[rubs the back of his head]

Alright then, what were you talking about then?

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

[swallows] Telling other passengers.

Lara already knew about the Puppeteer. But she didn't know...what I've been doing for the last year.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

Is that what you're worried about?

Re: filtered;

[oliverplus]

Mostly, yeah. I didn't want anyone to know, Doctor. But it's not the sort of thing you can take back.

Re: filtered;

[bit_impossible]

[smiles wryly] No, it's not.

But let me ask, what were their reactions to your little revelation, hm?