Im so tired but I cant sleep, standin on the edge of something much too deep [W3 Post-Investigation]

[hydrokinetics]

[Not long after Mrs. O'Leary was patched up, Percy went back to his room. It's in one of the short spaces with Harry there that he finds himself curled up around his dog and keeping an eye on her, thinking about everything that had happened this morning.

It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair, he was supposed to protect her and in a way he finally understood what it really meant to be powerless.

He's aware that his head hurts something awful from a lack of sleeping or eating, but it's not important. He thinks he should get some water for Mrs. O'Leary though, at least, and this is how he finds himself heading for the door to his room and opening it to see Sara on the other side. He stares for a moment, unsure of what to do before he swallows thickly instead.]

...hi.

[It's a start, at least.]

Comments

[hydrokinetics]

I imagine not. She found someone's decapitated head. Someone she knew, even. This game's designed to mess with us but the kids shouldn't be involved at al. That's what's so unfair.

[alcobrawlic]

... And you're how old, worldly one?

[hydrokinetics]

[A shrug.] If we're going by time where I'm from, I'll be seventeen in a month. Why?

[...yeah he's missing the point.] It's still more than some of the others, Sara, you have to agree with me on that.

[alcobrawlic]

You're still a kid, Percy. And you're right that it's unfair, but kids being forced into situations they don't deserve has been happening forever.

And it doesn't matter how old you are-- four, nineteen, twenty-three-- when you're in a situation where you lose something important, it's always going to hurt like hell.

[ That was an oddly specific list, Sara. ]

[hydrokinetics]

...four seems a little young to be playing this kind of game, you know. [That is to say he definitely caught that. He looks at her carefully, unsure of where to go from there.]

So how do you make it stop, exactly?

[alcobrawlic]

... Funny, how that's the one question everyone wants to ask...

[ To his look, she only smiles wryly. ]

Making it stop hurting means you don't care anymore, so I'm not sure you'd want that. Unless you mean putting a stop to a losing situation.

[hydrokinetics]

The latter. I already know there's no way to stop the former or I would have a long time ago. There has to be a way, doesn't there?

[alcobrawlic]

Well, yeah. No one really likes hearing it, though.

[hydrokinetics]

[A raised eyebrow.]

Try me.