polariity | Prisonstuck IX

You made the offer. I'll thank you enough for that.

[The Psiioniic has been trying to not look at the device. Instead, he simply pulls away from Dualscar reluctantly and stands up. He goes to pat his drone, who had been looking about as nervous as a drone could be.]

...I'm going to go to the library, alright? Let me know how it goeth.

[He's not sure he wants to listen into that conversation.]

[If Dualscar doesn't particularly want to have the conversation, the Psiioniic definitely doesn't want to listen to it.]

Yeah. I'll be up soon to tell you howw it goes.

[Once the Psiioniic and his drone are gone, Dualscar turns the device back on and makes the call. Twenty minutes of arguing over price, fielding jibes about "finally upgrading," and forcing laughter at jokes that just aren't funny, and he's the proud new owner of a junior helmsman.]

[Immediately afterwards, he makes a call to his blueblood acquaintance, and after ten minutes or so of ritualistic hoofbeastshittery, manages to secure a visit in a few days to have biowiring removed.]

[He goes up to the library to tell the Psiioniic the good news.]

[In the half hour Dualscar has spent talking with people, a book fort has been made in the library. At least, it is most certainly some sort of structure made rather expertly out of a great many books. The... entrance seems to have a few oranges placed oddly in front of it, as if they tumbled out from the inside.]

[...Yes, he made a book fort to get rid of nervous energy.]

[Yes, he stuffed oranges inside of it.]

[Yes, he is hiding inside of it.]

[Fucking fight him about it.]

[In all seriousness, it was normally highbloods who had a tendency towards making piles of one item or another to curl up on so that something could calm their dangerous emotional instability. Lowbloods generally were more calm and less of a threat to either themselves or others. However, even they had the latent instinct towards piles if things got too much... and as Dualscar had pointed out once, the Psiioniic was about as mercurial as a blueblood.]

[His drone is sitting obediently outside of the book structure, and perks up at Dualscar's arrival.]

[Dualscar examines the structure, bemused. This isn't the first book pile that's been built in this library, and it probably won't be the last one either, but it is definitely the first one that might get some use.]

[He crouches down outside it, gathering the escaped oranges and--because there's no one around to see, not even the Psiioniic--gives the drones a few affectionate pats on the head.]

Hey. Can I come in?

[A small surprised chirrup escapes the drone, since it's usually the Psiioniic who shows it affection, but it is more than happy to take what it can get.]

[Inside the pile, the a pair of dimly glowing eyes can be seen peeking out before the Psiioniic reaches out, the tips of his fingers just barely managing to press against Dualscar's wrist.]

Yeah. Ith it bad newth? I'm prepared for that.

[The kind of tone hints at someone who is used to bad news, but would love for it to be different.]

[Shush, drone. You'll blow Dualscar's cover!]

[Meanwhile, the seadweller crawls inside the book fort/pile. The space inside isn't really big enough for two adult trolls, but that just makes it nice and cozy. He squeezes in next to the Psiioniic and catches his hand, giving it a gentle pat.]

She's getting dropped off tomorrow.

...Oh.

[As they are now, they're flushed chest against chest and the Psiioniic has to look into Dualscar's face. There's a slightly dazed look in his eyes, as if he can't quite believe this is happening to him- something good.]

With... biowiring, or removed..?

... still with biowwiring, I'm afraid.

[Please understand, Psiioniic... he had to tell her current owner he'd be using her as a helmsman to get him to sell her. Moreover, when she's dropped off, he'll have to act like that is still a thing that is happening.]

But in a couple days, another troll I knoww wwill come by and take the wwiring out.

[He tries to look reassuring as he looks into the Psiioniic's face.]

Wwe can drug her in the meantime, if the wwires are too painful.

Right. [He exhales sharply through his teeth and sags just a bit.] Right. We'll jutht have to wait then.

[Ducking his head, he curls up against Dualscar and holds him tight. The seadweller might be a ridiculous, mercurial, and vulnerable idiot, but bless him, he was nice and sturdy to press up against. Right now, he just needs that for a second.]

...I with I could do thomething about her pain. If I had my thyionicth, maybe I could do thomething, but... I'm utheleth right now.

[Hey, it's not exactly like the Psiioniic is the height of mental health and stable behavior!]

[Dualscar awkwardly puts his arms around the Psiioniic, holding him close, and paps nervously at the back of his head. His psionics... yeah. If he had his psionics available, he could do a lot for the young helmsman that is about to arrive. He could also tear the hive apart, right down to its atoms, and destroy everything.]

[He could run away. And Dualscar wouldn't be able to stop him.]

Maybe...

[His voice trails off.]

[And that's why he's clinging, isn't it?]

[There's no expectation for Dualscar to understand. How could he? The Psiioniic knows he certainly didn't. His powers were a curse that were destroying him slowly until it eventually came to a head, and that is all he had known.]

[And then he stopped an avalanche just by willing the rocks to stop. He shot concentrated energy from his eyes, and yet could make it softer, gentler, let it make those he cared about feel good by directing it just right. He could step off the ledge and keep going, keep rising higher and higher and there was nothing like that miraculous feeling and...]

[Sometimes, he's bitter at Dualscar. Bitter at everything. He had so much before he was captured. And now... it's gone.]

[The Psiioniic holds onto him even tighter.]

We'll need to get her clotheth.

Something yelloww.

[Dualscar nods, not really thinking about clothing or yellow dye or anything, and holds the Psiioniic a little tighter.]

You could... help her... wwith the pain?

Maybe...

[With this, it's like they're clinging because they might fall apart if they don't. The Psiioniic can't say he minds it right now.]

There'th not a lot I can do. [A bitter chuckle.] I hate thith... Being tho weak. I thought I etchaped that.

[Who is to say that Dualscar wouldn't fall apart if he let the Psiioniic go?]

I meant... if it wweren't for this...

[He reaches up and taps the psionics-cancelling helmet lightly.]

You'd be able to stop the pain?

[Carefully, the Psiioniic pulls back just enough to look up into Dualscar's face, his brow creased and his mouth stuck in a frown.]

Yeah... I could probably do it. It'sth jutht a matter of guiding the energy right inthide... [His fingers creep up Dualscar's chest, his throat, brushing against the side of his face and tapping lightly against his temple.] And letting the the heat thoothe away the pain...

[He doesn't mention that same energy could do the opposite, shut down a mind if he's careful enough and has the time.]

[It's probably for the best that he doesn't mention that, because it would make Dualscar more jumpy and nervous than he already is.]

If I... if I took this off...

[He reaches up and traces the side of the helmet, where it runs down the side of the Psiioniic's face, before moving over on top of the other troll's hand.]

... wwould you stay?

[The Psiioniic stops breathing.]

[All he can do is stare, completely and utterly still. His eyes nearly ache from how wide they are, but he doesn't quit. ]

[Off. Gone. Nothing restricting him anymore, nothing blocking him from tapping into that power deep inside him and being able to do so much. Would he even be able to stay? Freedom would be just a step away- true freedom, not this paltry and weak mimic. He could go find Signless again, find Disciple and Dolorosa, protect them like he swore he would. ]

[He could do something besides just waiting for the Condesce's ship to arrive and take him in and insert biowiring into his skin and his brain and have it take away everything...]

[All he can do is stare. His body gives a tremor, and tears begin to gather in his eyes.]

[How can you ask me that?]

[No.]

[The Psiioniic doesn't have to say anything more; Dualscar can tell what he's thinking. Why would he want to stay? What on Alternian could be keeping him here, beyond that helmet that prevents him from using his powers and blasting the hive back into a pile of bricks and rubble? Why would he ever want to stay with him?]

[Why would anyone want to stay with him?]

Yeah... yeah, that's wwhat I thought.

[Dualscar looks away, and he's thankful that the little shelter made of books is dark, because he can feel a traitorous purple film building up over his eyes. He fans one fin forward, using it to cover his face.]

They're waiting for me!

[The words burst out in a wail, and the tears follow after soon enough.]

You don't underthtand, you can't, but they thaved me from mythelf! They thaved me from everything, I owe them everything, and that'sth what I thwore to them! I thwore everything I am and would ever be to them! If I could leave and I- and I didn't, that would be a betrayal! That would be the wortht fucking thing I could ever do!

[He sobs, and his entire body is wracked with it.]

[Dualscar doesn't answer, just sits there, immobile, with his fins up and hiding his face. It's not like what they have going on here isn't a betrayal, like what he's doing isn't just asking for a culling fork in the throat. Befriending a traitor, an enemy to the Empire, being kind to him, giving him as much free will as he can safely allow, and now rescuing a young helmsman... he doesn't know if the Psiioniic realizes this, but decommissioning a helmsman and removing their biowiring is a capital offense, something that could get both him and the blueblood who takes the wires out culled. Everything he's done since he crawled into the bathtub with the Psiioniic and cleaned him off has been a betrayal, of his station, of his duty, of everything he's worked for since he was seven sweeps old and had hands stained with green blood, and...]

[And that's when his body betrays him, and his chest hitches in one low, wracking sob.]

I'm thorry, I'm thorry, but you can't- you don't know, pleathe-!

[Try as he might, the Psiioniic can't stop crying. All he can do is reach up, normally clever hands suddenly clumsy as he reaches up to try and reach beneath those fins to cup Dualscar's face.]

Underthtand, pleathe, pleathe.

[Dualscar hates himself. He hates himself for crying, he hates himself for being weak, he hates himself for caring... but most of all, he hates himself for actually believing that anyone could actually feel anything towards him that wasn't hatred.]

[He bats the Psiioniic's hands away from his face, keeping his fins wrapped tightly around it, and fumbles at the helmet. Even with his eyes blocked, he can feel the little trips and catches that hold it on, and he works his way through them... until the helmet opens up and falls free from the Psiioniic's head.]

Go, then. Just... just go.

[His voice is rough and gravelly, full of everything he wishes he could hide away.]

Take your fuckin' drone and leavve.

[It hits him like a gunshot.]

[The entire time Dualscar has been touching him, he has only stared, nearly unable to comprehend despite seeing it for himself. But then the restraint falls away and the way he recoils backwards with a ragged gasp. Trembling hands go up to his face, heels digging into his eye sockets and it is the worst pain he has ever felt-]

[And the most wondrous.]

[He has no doubts that the pain is retribution- payback for being held in check for so long when power like this is meant to burst. It's too much for just one meager little troll body to handle, but somehow, he always has, and alongside the pain, there's a rush. Rasping for breath, he raises one hand, fingers shaking, and let's it all flow.]

[Everything is red-blue.]

[Everything rises.]

[The books rustle and hover from their shelves, this paltry little fort begins to float as if gravity is some sort of idea for a different reality. Paper and oranges and even Dualscar- right up from the floor. The entire library is awash in those two colors, outdoing even the moonglow from the windows. Only the Psiioniic remains on the floor, curling up with his hands pressing against his eyes, energy leaking out between his fingers. Eventually, however, he too is pushed up, but there's more focus to the way the energy pulses and curls around him, helping him to his feet.]

[He feels weightless. He feels like he could touch everything. It's been too long.]

[His hands fall away, and the fall turns into a sweeping gesture with his palms held outward. A look of wonder is spread across his face, eyes brilliant, and the tears still upon his face looking ethereal. His voice is hushed.]clear.

[The drone squeaks and starts scrambling, beginning to panic as it's lifted into the air, but Dualscar doesn't respond. He just pulls tighter around himself, tucking into a ball, his fins still over his face, ignoring everything that's going on around him. Why bother? Why bother caring? It only gets him hurt when he does.]

[For a few minutes, the Psiioniic doesn't even notice Dualscar. He's too enthralled with his own power, so dearly missed. He can pick up every single book in this place, put them wherever he wants, so effortlessly and without moving from his spot.]

[But when he finally does, oh, when he finally lays his eyes upon that pitiful, beautiful excuse of a seadweller... Energy tugs at Dualscar's limbs, wanting him open and not curled up. Floating upwards, he lets his hands slide along Dualscar's chest and over to his arms, that he grips.]

[His smile is a jagged tear along his face, filled with sharp teeth. To call it 'manic' is to put it lightly.]

I'll take you with me.

I'll thow you thingth you've never theen before, 22, and I won't let a thing touch uth, or them, or anything. I told you, I'll make everything burn before that happenth, I can do it.

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