he'd gone through something like this once in college.

[break][break] a horrible fever and days of food poisoning that had wracked his body raw, all because he'd ate a bad piece of fish. penny would know the story well, as it was often something that she'd referenced back when they'd been dating, had often made fun of him for his reckless choices. back when they'd been dating, she'd been doteful and affectionate and took care of him whenever he got ill, even if he pretended it was the last thing that he wanted in the world — to burden her.

[break][break] "penny -"

[break][break] it was a rare thing for ollie morales to find himself speechless or slackjawed, unsure what to say. but lately, his life had been full of these moments — lately, ever since his world had been rocked to it's core with realities that he'd never thought would happen.

[break][break] "okay," he said slowly, swallowing. he tried to keep his tone even, even if he was scared. even if he didn't know what this was. "what do you mean exactly? what's wrong?"

[break][break] "tell me what happened."

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

Penelope's lips parted, but no sound followed.
[break][break]

How does the moon explain to the sun the way in which it pulls the waves? How does certainty comprehend absurdity?
[break][break]

Was there even a point to either endeavor?
[break][break]

For the many years they'd spent cradled in each other's arms, nothing had remotely aired the same level of insanity of this past month. These inexplicitly high highs and remarkably sharp lows were the makings of only one word: hell on earth.
[break][break]

And yet, here stood another battle. Another hill to clamber over.
[break][break]

"I don't know how to explain," she admitted. Her eyes now traced the outline of the flooring. A silent protest to the ongoing deliverance of all she was about to spill. "I-I just--"
[break][break]

She paused, took a deep breath, then willed herself to continue.
[break][break]
"Like everything's falling apart. Like I can't stop it and it's all my fault."

[break][break]

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


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

he wants to help, he needs to help.

[break][break] the penny that was in his arms right now was anything like he'd ever seen before. not the version of her that she'd been when they were dating, not the version of her that she was when he'd come back.

[break][break] he wanted to fix it, but he didn't know how. he wanted to help, but he didn't know how.

[break][break] he felt helpless.

[break][break] "it's not your fault," he insisted. "and nothing's falling apart. it's just me and you here, we're safe, you're safe."

[break][break] "what are you worried about?"

[break]

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

"it's not your fault,"
[break][break]

Then why does her chest heave with such hesitancy? Weighed down by the regret of yesterday's shadows, of tomorrows forever lost.
[break][break]

"we're safe, you're safe.".
[break][break]

Then why do the hairs on the back of her neck stand? Why do her sorrows flood her, not in measures of simple individual spies, but battalions fitted to the nines with weaponry far more advanced than any wall still held intact?
[break][break]

Still, it is in spite of these worries that her cracked lips parted and a soft, ash-like voice emerged.
[break][break]

"I thought, if I were to get avatarship, things would get easier. I would be able to do more, be more."
[break][break]

She swallowed, hard.
[break][break]

"But I'm scared, Ollie. I finally got what i always wanted and I'm fucking terrified of myself."

[break][break]

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


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

'avatarship?'

[break][break] verdant green widens with surprise at the word. penny was an avatar?

[break][break] it felt exactly like it did when he'd learned his sister was when, when Eva Morales had gone to the meteor and had come back a god. ollie knew more about avatarship than he did back then, but even so, he still felt like he knew nothing at all compared to most other people. and the fact that he didn't know that it was penny —

[break][break] "wait — avatarship? is that why you've been — " he thinks about all the texts left unanswered, all the calls missed. he'd assumed it was simply because she was busy, just like he was. " — busy?"

[break][break] there are so many more questions on the tip of his tongue, but her soft words fall upon him like ash. his fingers wrap around hers in the blanket, tightening still.

[break][break] "it'll be okay," he said. "i'm here for you, pen."

[break][break] "what... who's the legendary?"

[break][break] he stares around the room, as if he's expecting moltres to fly out of her bedroom closet.

[break]

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

"Yeah."
[break][break]
Her voice held a sharp edge to it. Like a woman balancing off a cliff, heels barely dug deep enough to provide support, each word precariously hung off that jagged piece of rock. There was no telling when they'd finally go tumbling down to the deep end.
[break][break]
Curling further into herself, another wave of heat pulsated through her skin, radiating off like a miniature HEAT WAVE.
[break][break]
"Chi-yu."
[break][break]

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


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

"chi-yu?" he echoes.

[break][break] it was the first time he had heard the name.

[break][break] like a reaction, she curled further into herself. like the sight of an ember fading. the ranger leans closer to her, hands curved into her shoulders as he pulls her to him. the heat that radiates off of him is nearly suffocating, but ollie is willing to dive into the inferno.

[break][break] for her.

[break][break] "what happened? where'd you meet it?"

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

Before any more words could rush out, a great pain erupted. It burned her from the inside out, licking her her stomach and chest in scalding flames, so great even a whimper couldn't force itself out.
[break][break]

Cradling her knees, she felt herself falter, all while the world of color faded into a whirlpool of darkness.
[break][break]

Behind was only the murmurs of her own name calling back to her.

[break][break]

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


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