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ch: trustinjust

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[A certain someone is back in Wankerville. Not that he knows he's 'back' just yet. Much has happened since the last time he was here, if one could even say he was here at all. He was a different person then. He's a different person now. About a year and a half have passed, but it feels like a lifetime. He's Lex Luster Jr., though he no longer has a passport to prove it. The only identity he legally has is Sam-Sara Bardo's, because Interpol takes the protection program very seriously and so should he. Not that he's wearing Sam-Sara's mask or even his clothing. His appearance, from the thick woolen sweater with long sleeves to his favorite scarf, is very much Lex.

The memories from before are so vague that they don't reach him through the initial panic.

The first thought that strikes him is that he's not supposed to be here. Not out in the open. Not like this. He doesn't have anything to cover his face- what if someone recognizes him- what if they think he broke his house arrest agreement again? He didn't mean to! He doesn't know why he's here at all, or how. What if this was the last straw? What if they decide to overturn the penal committee's suggestion for real this time? What if they lock him away for good, or finally subject him to that long overdue execution? That's so unfair! He didn't choose to leave the house! He didn't choose to leave Benny-

-Benny. Shit shit shit. Is he okay? Does he know what happened? Did someone attack him in order to move Lex from the house? Why go through so much trouble and then leave him in some abandoned village in the first place? Is he even near L.A. anymore? What is going on?-

His immediate reaction to the reeling train of thought that he can't control or make sense of is to hide. To find somewhere safe and regain his composure there. Phantom or no Phantom, hiding is his first answer to everything. Hiding is that one instinct he's had since childhood that never left- not once. Hide and then wait to be found by someone trustworthy, no matter how long it takes. No matter how agonizing it is to feel alone and abandoned.

Once he can actually get his feet to move, he sprints towards the nearest house to yank the door open. Somehow, the fact that it's unlocked doesn't strike him as odd at all. It seems almost natural for it to be open to anyone. He darts inside and slams the door shut behind himself again, then allows his knees to buckle. He hits the ground with a thud. After all the training Benny's been putting him through, he'd been doing so well with controlling his emotional instability. He'd made such great progress. With the way he's hyperventilating into his hands, all that progress sure feels insignificant.]

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[Tori had just been trying to make herself food when she hears her door open and slam. Well, probably a good thing that her attempt at cooking is going awfully anyway--it won't be an issue if her meal's completely ruined by her confronting whoever the hell just entered her house. Because there's no way she isn't checking it out, not with the memories of that disturbed Yuan forever ingrained into her memory, especially when she's here. She won't be caught off guard, she won't go down without a fight, she's a lot stronger this time around and--

...oh. That's... that's not the disturbed Yuan at all. In fact, that looks like...]

...Bobby? [Well, not Bobby so much as... him. The other Bobby. She puts a hand to her mouth.] Ugh, sorry. I know you don't want me calling you that...

[At least, she thinks he doesn't? He didn't seem to want to be when she called him that with the mask off, but at the same time...

Ugh, the other Bobby is confusing. She tries not to think about it too much, instead focusing on how shaken he looks. That's... new. New, and wrong. The other Bobby is always so chill.]

Did... something happen? Are you okay? [Who does she have to hurt for hurting you?]

[As he attempts to draw in ragged breaths, he realizes this breakdown feels only too familiar. It's like that time in the Hickfield clinic where talking to Benny about his late father had caused him to lose his composure along with his consciousness and his lunch, if he'd eaten any. Or like those times shortly after he'd run out of medication. He'd almost slit LaSoote's throat during one of those episodes because he'd completely lost control of his own actions. Needless to say, this is bad. This is very bad. He needs to find a way to regain the upper hand.

The name "Bobby" causes him to freeze. Like something cold and nasty just washed through his veins. Nobody's addressed him by that name for a long while. He doesn't associate it with anything good, either. Nothing but lies and deceit. The real Bobby Fulbright is much more deserving of that name. And he's not alone in this house- he's not alone.

First he buries his face further into his hands, fingers tangling into his hair. Then the realization surfaces that he knows that voice. He knows this woman and she knows him. Why is that again? When did he meet her? It doesn't make sense. The confusion isn't helping his emotional state any.]

I-I-I... I c-can't...

[He can't speak. He can't breathe. It hurts too much.]

[Oh. Oh god. He looked awful before, and he looks worse now. Tori stares at him helplessly, not sure what to do.]

H-Hey... calm down... [Worst thing she could possibly say, and she knows it.] It's--it's going to be all right, okay? I won't hurt you!

[She couches down so she's at his level, but she keeps his distance.]

I would never hurt you. [That's not a statement she can commit to and she damn well knows it, but it feels right to say regardless.] Whatever happened, you're fine. You're safe, all right? I'll protect you.

[And of course she's assuming that something bad happened. That there's a threat. After experiencing two separate hellholes with creepy animatronics, she really can't help it. Not to mention the threat Tori still thinks the deranged Yuan could possess here, should he ever return (whether it be from hiding or coming back to this world in general. She isn't certain. She doesn't like being certain.) ...but spouting only half-full words alone isn't going to do much of anything, is it? If it even helps anything at all. She sighs.]

Do you need a glass of water? ...if you can't say anything else, just nod or shake your head.

Edited 2015-06-22 18:36 (UTC)

[Protect him? He's safe? Does that even really matter? This isn't just about him. This isn't about whether he's safe right now. He's in so much trouble and he can't stop wheezing. He can't get his thoughts straight.

At the question, he can't do much more than shake his head nimbly. Water? He doesn't need water. His throat's so closed up that he wouldn't be able to drink it anyway. What he needs is Benny. Or maybe Bobby, or Simon, or anyone else who's a comforting presence. Hell, even Lang would do at this point.]

Is there anything I can do...?

[She doesn't know how to handle this. It's mostly because she's never seen him like this before. She doesn't know if it's better to keep her distance or to provide physical comfort with him, and the fact that she has no idea how to help him frustrates her.]

[He keeps shaking his head. There's nothing anyone can do. Ultimately, the problem lies with him. He's the one who needs to overcome this and all he can do is run through Benny's advice until something sticks. Picture wide open spaces, focus on his breathing, etc. It's a shame he doesn't have his headphones with him- of course he doesn't.

Just give him a minute or two. He's got this. ... Hopefully.]

...okay. Sorry I can't do more.

[She'll fall into silence, giving him space. She bows her head, however, unable to actually watch him go through this. She'll just trust that he'll talk to her once he's able. ...as well as she can trust, anyway.]

[Talk to her? Errr. Maybe. To some degree. He's gotten better at talking to people these days.

Once he's able to draw decent breaths, he pushes himself back to his feet and wanders over to the nearest chair. Crouching on the ground gets painful after a while- he'd rather sit properly. Yes, sitting is good. He'll slump across that chair and press his hands up against his eyes for a moment longer.]

I don't... understand...

[She watches him carefully as he walks over to the chair. She doesn't follow after him, however, allowing the distance to remain between them for the moment.]

...what don't you understand? I might be able to explain. [She hopes.]

... This.

[He waves a hand at their surroundings, then it goes right back to his face. He doesn't understand how he got to this place, or why. More importantly, he doesn't understand why it feels familiar. Why she feels familiar. His mind is struggling to regain the memories through a haze of overwhelming events from back home that completely changed his identity and the way he views the world.]

...this? You mean Wankerville? ...ugh, that's still a stupid name. But man, you really don't remember being here?

[She stands, but doesn't approach him.]

Wankerville is a nexus. [Wait, what if he doesn't remember what those are, either?] ...basically, you're in another world. Time works really differently here, too--every time I've left this place, I've been taken right back to what I was previously doing.

[Just like whenever she was in the mafia games. Will it be like that if--no, no--when her world is restored? The idea of that leaves her with mixed feelings.]

It'll probably be the same with you, too. So, does that help any? Is there anything else you need to know?

[Wankerville... A nexus- another world... Time works differently... It sounds so surreal and illogical, and yet... And yet he knows it's all true. That's right, he was here before, wasn't he? And there were other places like this one. Places with sparkly vampires and places that were eerily similar to that stupid Five Nights at Franky's game.

And she was always there. She was by Bobby's side for a lot of it. Bobby's side, and the Phantom's as well. He peers up at her through the gaps between his fingers.]

You... I remember now. Your name is Tori, isn't it?

...yeah. [She finally allows herself to crack a weak smile.] That's me, last I checked. Tori Cra--Nygma. We're friends.

Friends... You really think that's what it was?

[The memories are still a bit of a blur, but one thing's for certain: the Phantom had no friends, nor did 'Bobby Fulbright'. Bobby could claim to be someone's friend- could claim to care about them and act accordingly, but is that really worth something without genuine trust?]

Um... yeah? Of course I do! Sure, you had secrets... and probably an issue or two [because people wearing different faces isn't exactly normal] but we were partners when we needed to work together, and I've valued you as a friend for a while!

[Then again, she's not without her issues either. After all, she's been desperately clinging to people while at the same time trying to keep them away, all because she's afraid of what she might do if she loses control. A potential omnicidal maniac isn't good company, but at the same time she hates being alone...]

[He ends up laughing into his hands. A brief stream of hoarse, bitter chuckling. The way she said that, it was like listening to the real Bobby Fulbright. Working together for a common goal and being friends isn't the same thing, but it's hard to tell the difference for some people, isn't it?]

I don't know... if I should feel gratitude or guilt. [Apparently he's feeling neither of those things and instead settled on bitter amusement. Emotions suck, sometimes.]

Why's that? [Hands on hips.] You know, I'd settle for you just feeling better. Or we could always talk about it...

It's a long story.

[He rubs at his eyes one last time, then finally moves his hands away from his face. There's still a grimace tugging at his lips. It's not an actual smile, but at least it's conveying real emotions, making it a far cry from the deadpans that used to grace his face.]

And I think... that introductions are long overdue. My name is Alexander. ...Lex.

Lex, huh...?

[Fortunately, she (for once) has enough true smiles for both of them, her own deepening into a grin.]

Cute name.

[Wow that remark isn't making his grimace any more genuine. Lex is his name, yes, but he's still only Junior. Lex Sr. didn't think he was cute, nor was he cute himself.]

If you say so...

Of course I say so! [She laughs for a moment before her expression softens again.] ...it's nice to finally know your name.

[Haha... Hah... That sentiment is very familiar to him.]

It is, isn't it? Names are important, I think. [Identity is important.]

Yeah, really important. [Says the girl who took the last name of a super villain because he became more of a father to her than her biological one, but doesn't that just prove the point more in a way?] You didn't seem to think so when I saw you last, though. Must be part of that "long story" you mentioned, eh?

Yes, it is. I wouldn't even know where to begin telling it, to be honest. [So he's going to avoid doing so.

Besides, he's got other things on his mind. Now that the memories from before are finally trickling back in, he realizes that it wasn't just Tori who was here in Wankerville with him. He ran into a little girl at one point and then there was one more person. Someone he actively avoided because he didn't know that person and refused to show his real face. Only now does he realize what a big mistake that was. ...Or maybe it was for the best back then, because the Phantom wouldn't have thought highly of Ben Volent.

He draws a deep breath and swallows. Apprehension is rising, as he knows the question he's about to ask might not give him the answer he wants to hear.]

... When I was here before, there was someone else. Black hair, glasses, always dressed in a suit... Is he still around?

...huh? You mean Benny?

[She looks thoughtful for a moment.]

Yeah, I think he's still here. I mean, he was the last time I checked.

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