[He had heard it spoken, once, when Livio had reasserted his control, when Nicholas had already dosed himself too high and the clock had begun ticking. If he were asked to focus on the memory enough to remember the details through the fog of misery it left in him, he probably would have been able to recall it, and what he'd just said would have probably hit a nerve about the whole thing that meant he would lose whatever composure he'd been able to maintain. And maybe give Livio an apologetic hug, if he wasn't feeling so poorly about himself that he would have thought it was unwanted.
Maybe it was better, with the current mood, that that particular memory hadn't been pinged in his head.]
Hey, a couple more than I would know, so that helps.
[He began poking his head into doors, pausing to listen and barely even breathing for a lot of the search. He knew, sometimes if kids were scared, even the sounds of friendly voices were enough to send them into hiding. It could be a great survival technique, until it ended up getting them overlooked when actual help arrived.
Still, from time to time he would call out, his voice friendly and soothing and gentle in a way that he usually only had when speaking with small children. "Is anyone there?" "Its ok to come out, Livio is here, we're not angry," Or the old rhyme Rem had taught him when he was young, the phrase that meant Hide and Seek was over and they needed to come out. Did kids still use it?]
no subject
Maybe it was better, with the current mood, that that particular memory hadn't been pinged in his head.]
Hey, a couple more than I would know, so that helps.
[He began poking his head into doors, pausing to listen and barely even breathing for a lot of the search. He knew, sometimes if kids were scared, even the sounds of friendly voices were enough to send them into hiding. It could be a great survival technique, until it ended up getting them overlooked when actual help arrived.
Still, from time to time he would call out, his voice friendly and soothing and gentle in a way that he usually only had when speaking with small children. "Is anyone there?" "Its ok to come out, Livio is here, we're not angry," Or the old rhyme Rem had taught him when he was young, the phrase that meant Hide and Seek was over and they needed to come out. Did kids still use it?]
Olly olly oxen free!