She'd be lying if she said she wasn't in the least bit frustrated.
[break][break]

After painstakingly holding onto a mountain of pent-up regret, things were finally panning out with MATIAS SILPH, and although it was messy, for a second, there was something there.
[break][break]

Something worth capturing.
[break][break]

Still, the urgency in Ollie's voice couldn't be swept under the rug. If he needed her, she'll be there, no matter the situation.
[break][break]

It was with a loud knock on the door that she announced her arrival.
[break][break]

"It's me! Open up."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

the others he could tell over text. annalise henderson, willow atkins, illeana reyes, his friends, half of who probably already knew if his sister's word was to be any indication. but penny was special.

[break][break] even if he didn't know what they were yet, even if she didn't know. but that was his fault, wasn't it? wasn't he the one who'd told her to take some time? wasn't he the one who told her he'd wait forever?

[break][break] he clamps his jaw shut. no. there was no point in worrying. she would understand; she had to.

[break][break] her voice rings through the apartment and he calls back:

[break][break] "doors open! come right in!"

[break][break] when she entered, she'd find him stuffing a duffle bag full of belongings.

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

That was one image she would never forget; him hunched over that same damned duffle bag, hurriedly stuffing clothes away without regard for how or in which way it was folded.
[break][break]
It was the last image she saw of him before he'd left for kalos.
[break][break]
"Ollie."
[break][break]
Her eyes hung open, wide and restless. Her heart quickened.
[break][break]
"Whats going on?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

he starts at the sound of her voice, heart stuttering in his chest, before it settles on her.

[break][break] his heart calms almost immediately.

[break][break] "you're here," he says, breathing a sigh of relief.

[break][break] he jumps to his feet, grabbing a pitcher and empty glass off the island. he pours the water into a glass, handing it to her.

[break][break] "water?" he smiles easy, hoping to ease the moment for a second longer.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

The peace offering of water was almost an insult.
[break][break]

With a curt nod, she shoved the glass away, forcing her gaze back onto his. Both hard and nearing the edge of breaking, she pressed onwards.
[break][break]

"Ollie," she warned, voice nearing a level of lethality. "What is going on?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

her hand pushes roughly against his, forcing the glass out of his grip and spilling onto the carpeted floor.

[break][break] his smile falters.

[break][break] "eva called."

[break][break] he doesn't even look at the mess. it doesn't matter.

[break][break] "she's going back to kanto."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

That doesn't explain anything, and he knew it.
[break][break]

It was just another diversion to avert her attention.
[break][break]

Penelope's been through it all - she knew his tells better than the back of her own hand. Stepping forward, she felt her foot sink down into the mushy, wet carpet. It was gross, but she paid no mind to it. Her attention was spent elsewhere.
[break][break]

Each additional second taken to answer her plea served as another stalk of wood to add the flames that burned inside.
[break][break]

"That doesn't explain your duffle bag."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

she stepped towards him, with all the venom of a snake, a predator zoning in on her prey. but he'd spent months of it, knew her toxins better than his own blood.

[break][break] he stood his ground.

[break][break] "i'm going with her."

[break][break] he looks at her, searching her face for her expression.

[break][break] "pen, i -" he bites his lip. "i'm sorry."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

"Oh."
[break][break]

Again.
[break][break]

It was happening again.
[break][break]

Just as things were falling back into place, he was leaving her for another region, with only promises tethering him back home.
[break][break]

The step she'd just taken was retracted, as were her eyes, which leaped back to the couch for support.
[break][break]

"Don't be. It's your sister, right? You have to go."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

no.

[break][break] she stepped back, meaning she was looking for an exit. no, he wanted to talk about this. no, she couldn't just -

[break][break] "i'll be back," he says, almost pleads. he steps forward, his socks soaking into the wet carpet. he reaches for her wrist. "but yeah. it is for her. i just - i have to, you know?"

[break][break] "it's for eva."

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

Her arms involuntarily moved out of his reach. They didn't belong to him anymore. None of her did.
[break][break]

"Yeah, okay," she tried shrugging away the pain that wrung in her voice, but there was no escaping the small cracks that bled through. "Do what you have to do, Ollie."
[break][break]

It wasn't like she could stop him, anyways. She already tried before and failed.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

frustration burns in his chest when she pulls away, just out of his grip.

[break][break] why was she doing this? he just wanted to talk to her.

[break][break] "don't be like that," he said, frowning. "i'm just trying to talk."

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY [break]

"What is there to talk about, Ollie?"
[break][break]
1
The question bore out from her in an explosion. Turning, she looked to face him again, this time with a sheer glaze over her eyes.
[break][break]

"You have to go, so you're going to go, just like...just like--"
[break][break]

Just like last time. With Kalos. With willow atkins.
[break][break]

"It's fine. I'm disappointed, but I'll be fine."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] ollie morales[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]