ALL THAT MATTERS • a psl post

[galvanised]

my head is heavy, my limbs are weary,

and it is not life that makes me move.

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[relearn]

[ He's trying to do the buttons for himself, following along. Frowning at them because they're wrong. He doesn't understand. They're wrong and they won't--

Proteus nearly walks into the door frame. Drops a step back, looking up at it as if it jumped out at him. ]

Sorry...

[ His eyes stay on it, muttering, fingers still on forgotten buttons, giving it a wide berth. Be careful. Keep calm. ]

Victor.

[ The name is a - an anchor. Like the frigate, like he remembers. The ocean pushes and the anchor holds the ship steady. The Everything pushes and Victor holds Proteus steady.

He has called somebody that before. ]

Can I help?

[galvanised]

[ As panicked - as worried - as he is, Proteus's voice is grounding. He looks terrified. Granted, he should be. But Victor has no idea how much of his natural ability to defend himself still lingers. He only knows that fight or flight will take over when necessary. If the man Proteus was before the type to fight... He may lose him.

He has to keep calm for both their sakes. As weak as it is, he does give a smile in return. ]

Will you hand me that?

[ Only the essentials. He cannot leave his basic tools should they never be able to return. It can stay next to this bag if only to make sure nothing is forgotten in haste. ]