Their Differences

Keeps floating around Campus before spotting Lauren, he slowly glides over, saying nothing however, looking to the otherside while scratching the side of his face, which currently has strawberry jam covering it.

His movement is wobbly, still recovering from his injuries - he looks extremely pale and absent minded, a shadow of his former self. Theodore looks pitful to say the least and his conciousness? It believes that he deserves it.

Mentally scarred, bodily scarred even soul scarred at this point, it is accurate to say that Theodore had lost it at this point.
(Theodore Rowan)

Arthur made his way back to Academy.

Truth be told, he was beginning that he wish he didn't - witnessing Theodore like this, and in such state, and even moreso knowing that he caused this... it was more than enough to almost cause Arthur to flee in shame.

Yet, at the same time, a doubt was clicking in his mind - shouldn't he approach at least, apologize, or check up how he's doing? It was the smallest thing he could do after messing up this much, but--

-- he simply had no spirit for it.

For now, he remained nearby, watching. Almost waiting for something to happen.
(Arthur Rowan)

Another set of studies done and dusted for Lauren and with that came the wandering around the campus part of her day; needless to say she wasn't too fussed on what she did next. Some might label that as a lazy way of going forward, others might see it as indecision but for Lauren, it was more along the lines of keeping herself available incase something cropped up.

Such as Theodore getting battered like a watermelon and crushed in half almost.

That being said, Zio didn't come rushing to her to fulfil any demands of the healthcare variety for his pals, nor did the other kids pester her for a paltry token for some minigame that oft turned to a more violent shade.

"Huh?", speaking of, Theodore however, Lauren noticed the lad as she dwelled deeply in her own autistic little thoughts. Those dull coloured eyes of hers studying the wobbly boy; he didn't seem in the brightest of spirits.

And then Arthur also popped up. Sheesh, this was going to become quite the sandwich of drama potentially; or so the budding wannabe engineer assumed.

"Ahhh, hello you two.", she blurts out, trying to be friendly-ish.
(Lauren Raynor)

This was probably his chance.

Acknowledging Lauren's presence with a nod, it didn't take him long to speak out a greeting to her - even if she didn't seem to approve of Arthur's actions, he had no qualms with that. To each their own how they view the world and actions of others, right?

"Hello, Lauren."

But he couldn't just avoid acknowledging Theodore like that. He'd have to say at least something to not come off completely awkward, or even cold and harsh. That was certainly not needed after what happened.

"And... hello to you too, Theodore."

"How... are you doing?"

Quite a way to start the conversation after crippling his brother like that. At least, a first step was made, even if somewhat odd or awkward.
(Arthur Rowan)

Theodore kept floating from side to side, not able to hold himself together, before turning over to Lauren as she spoke, trying his best not to look her in the eyes as that seems to intimidate him. He looks down at her neck before catching a glimpse of her face - which can totally be percieved as something else entirely.

"H... Hi-" Theodore spoke in a very low tone, but loud enough to be heard - it wasn't a whisper, his tongue was extremely heavy, so even the simple word he spoke sounded silly - seems like the after effects of Arthur's shock had neurologically damaged him to some extent.

He waves, holding a small wooden rod, almost four inches in height and two in width, he seems to direct his attention down to it every once and a while and drop a smile before gazing back at Lauren, everywhere but her face.

The way he acted was odd, very odd - it seems after the beating Theodore needs a way to rehabilitate into society again, not that he had any clue of how to do that in the first place, but at least social anxiety wasn't something he suffered of.


(Theodore Rowan)

... Then Arthur spoke, which caused Theo to turn to where his voice came from, in a frantic motion, before holding his head and going into fetal position, the boy simply ceases to cast any form of magic and fall's straight to the ground.

Why did he do so? Instinct?

Survival?

... Fear?

He doesn't know, but that's how his body decided to react, Theodore ran in basic human interaction and a primal way of thought, as of recently - he needed to find himself again.
(Theodore Rowan)


Zio says, "Ah."

Zio says, "Young Theodore."

Zio says, "I hope you're well."

Zio says, "--"
Theodore is currently covering his head and lying down in fetal position.
(Theodore Rowan)

That didn't look good.

In fact, it looked horrible. The fact that his brother was like this, it honestly didn't seem that Arthur could even communicate with him anymore - simply because something like this would easily occur and, well, break any possible communication.

"I--"

He paused before he would utter any sentence. Was there any point to even speak further towards Theodore? No. He'd more than likely do the matters worse - he's done enough bad at this point already, there's no need to push it any further.

Instead, the speech was directed to Lauren, with a sigh.

"Help him stand up, please..."

"I don't think I should approach..."
(Arthur Rowan)

Bad blood between the two brothers could be felt and the spectacle that occurred not so long ago, such could be understood; whilst Arthur might feel sorry for what he did, Theodore was understandably still quite hurt despite her own best efforts to repair the damages made.

"Ahhh.", in truth, Lauren felt quite awkward; she didn't hate Arthur for what he did, but she didn't agree with it in the slightest, yet at the same time she couldn't excuse Theodore's anxious and overly cautious behaviour that impacted his ability to be somewhat social.

"Hi."

As quickly as she acknowledged Theodore with a wave, Lauren's eyes glanced over yonder to Arthur, "And uh, you should help him, Arthur, being cold and keeping your distance means y'don't wanna fix things y'self. My momma always said, if you make a mess, it's best to fix it yourself.", to which she did as asked, quickly approachingTheodore and dragging him up to his feet -- she had no time for her pals being weak and pathetic! They needed to stand tall, together!

"I fixed his injuries though, wasn't easy, wasn't nice."

Perhaps, Lauren was pushing for a resolution between the two, far too soon, but in her mind given she had fixed him up, the two could at least try to hit a neutral note between eachother.

"So, y'two best work it out together, instead of being a pair of idiots."
(Lauren Raynor)

He still wasn't certain.

Was it really a good idea to approach him like this, especially after it happened so recently. In fact, it sounded like a bad idea, if anything. What if he simply damaged him more, instead of amending any wounds?

And not the physical, but mental ones.

"Lauren, I do not think it's time yet, he's-- looking wrong. I think it'll need a bit of time..."

He couldn't bear to look at his brother being like this for far too long. Observing him for a while, with quite a pitiful look portrayed over his face, he continued.

"I--"

"I really want to fix this, I just... I don't know if it's the time, and how I should fix it."
(Arthur Rowan)

Wouldn't allow Lauren to touch him, even if she is trying to help him - he'd been way too anxious to let anyone try to grab him - instead, the boy made his way forth crawling towards the wall of the building before himself, not moving a muscle.

It surely didn't look good or an easy fix, Theodore was too afraid to let anyone near him, he simply leaned against the wall shielding himself. So much for a proud Valmasian, acting like a frightened dog.


He began to scream, hoping that would sending them away, screeching and growling - while he found Lauren slightly comforting to be around, with Arthur being there, the little sense of security established simply faded and ceased to exist.

Back to square one.
(Theodore Rowan)

Arthur might want to fix it and sure he was right it might be too soon, but Lauren didn't like to wait around; the girl was pretty impatient and wanted to see results sooner rather than later. Life was too short to be pissing it away with... Pettiness or indecisive or cowardice over social matters -- not that Arthur was being any of the three listed, he was moreso… Cautious?

Regardless, Lauren squinted at Theodore as she moved in to help; far too anxious yet in mind also heavily aggravating.

"I'm tryin' ta' help, stop acting so stupid.", the girl lets out, as the lad screamed; was he having a stroke? Sun stroke? Was he losing the plot, so soon? SO many questions, but Lauren held not a single answer for any of them.

"He wasn't being this weird earlier, I'un geddit.", if anything Theodore's behaviour merely alienated Lauren, this was the first time she had seen anyone act this whacked before.

"Zio, help me out here, get some sense in'ta him, we can't let him go around campus screamin'. People will pick on 'em."
(Lauren Raynor)

Just as he wanted to try and approach Theodore, this happened.

Now, how he could possibly even try to begin to make it up to Theodore? If he reacted to other strangers like this, what can possibly Arthur do to help his brother, if anything at all? He was the one who caused it, and no doubt that Theodore's mind held such memory clutched like a dead man holds his treasure.

He'd wish he'd known what to do, but he didn't.

"I, uh..."

"I honestly think it's a very, very bad idea for me to approach him now, Lauren... if he acts like this to strangers, I'm afraid to think what will happen if I come anywhere near him."

Was it going to result in a breakdown, or some sort of other psychosis? A panic attack, or Theodore would literally pass out? Who knows, really.

One thing is certain - nothing good would happen.
(Arthur Rowan)

Man.. Zio went into a trance at the worst times.

As he was leaning against the tree, eyes closed-- the sounds of senseless screeching and screaming would jolt him back to reality.

Blinking idly, jade irises would flicker about, slightly hazy.

It was Theodore. He wasn't well.

Pursing his lips, the Neries Acolyte took a deep breath, his comforting presence approaching the frightened and obviously traumatized boy.

Though, he'd offer Arthur a glance first, his stoic expression complimenting the tone of his words.

"Arthur, take a walk, for now. We'll have a talk later."

So far, he'd noticed that the red haired teenager only made Theodore more and more agitated, perhaps his absence could gradually soothe his episode.

Sighing, his warm presence would come closer and closer to the black haired boy, Zio inevitably crouching and placing ahand upon his shoulder.

Speaking in hushed tongues, he'd offer him a sincere smile, youthful dimples appearing on his obsidian cheeks.

"You're alright, Theo. Don't worry. You're safe. I promise."

Extending his delicate hand in his direction, the Neries almost expected him to take it-- a curt nod offered to Lauren for her help.
(Zio)

Lauren nodded as she glanced over to Arthur; she wasn't sure how he was going to be able to fix this problem just yet.
(Lauren Raynor)

To cause such fate to his brother...

It's the sort of fate you wouldn't wish upon even your enemy - to twist and change one's mind until there was nothing but scrapes and bits of sanity, desperately trying to cling together and hold onto whatever remains of the host's mind. It was horrible.

And he was responsible for this.

Arthur stared. His expression portrayed a silent horror, a blank stare at what he created, and realization that he may not be able to do anything about this at all, ever. The feeling of hopelessness and desperation ringing in his heart, mind and soul alike--

-- and there's no answer to it. How? Why?

"I... understand."

His gaze drifted elsewhere, and his expression was washed over by shame and regret, and loathing nature - one that was directed at naught but himself. How could he let this sort of thing happen? How did his mind slip away in such moment, to cause his brother such pain and suffering?

There was no explanation. What's done is done, and Arthur could only live with it.

'What kind of monster was I that night?'

A single thought passed his mind, before he turned elsewhere. His feet shifted, silently leaving the two to help his brother. And what of Arthur, what did he do?

He left.
(Arthur Rowan)