Gray Whittman

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he fiddles with Dorian’s hair sluggishly. He tries to be as gentle as he can considering how out of it he is.]

[he nestles in again.]

[he goes quiet. Sniffles again.]

can i stay the night with you tonight, dad?

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he fiddles with Dorian’s hair sluggishly. He tries to be as gentle as he can considering how out of it he is.]

[he nestles in again.]

[he goes quiet. Sniffles again.]

can i stay the night with you tonight, dad?

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he fiddles with Dorian’s hair sluggishly. He tries to be as gentle as he can considering how out of it he is.]

[he nestles in again.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he fiddles with Dorian’s hair sluggishly. He tries to be as gentle as he can considering how out of it he is.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he fiddles with Dorian’s hair sluggishly. He tries to be as gentle as he can considering how out of it he is.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he wipes his eyes.]

I- i killed people- i- iii-

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he sniffles and tries to stop the tears.]

Why am i like this, Dorian?

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[its a little broken sound- accompanied by more tears seeping through Dorian’s shirt.]

I- ii looked ffor yyou- inthe hospital inn case you visited- everyysingleday-

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he cries a little more into Dorian’s shoulder.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

It’s- itsokayy… i thought for awhiile that yyou died with everyyone else- and- mmomma had totell mme you just… moved away…

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he murmurs a soft “im sorry” when Dorian stumbles.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

[he smiles at Dorian, though the second he gets his head out of Dorian’s hands, he buries it again to hide his tears.]

[he slid down to the elevator floor on the way up, repeatedly tapping his head against the wall sluggishly. He started crying some time during bar 3, he estimates, and it was painfully obvious it would be starting again the second he found his room again.]

[he tried to stand up to get out of the elevator once the door opened, but fell to the floor again. Dorian found him after maybe a minute of Oculus having been there, lying facedown to cry a little.]

- @its-a-movement

"Gray?"

Alastor had adopted her.

Now, of course this was a shock. Everyone was surprised by this - Vox included. However, Maris worked/stayed at the hotel, so of course-. . .

Of course the little girl had fallen right into Oculus's hands, as Alastor didn't want her to be left alone to wander hell, and Maris needed to run some errands.

She sat on the floor of Maris' room, sewing a tear in a dress with shakey hands. The sound of the door startled her, and she turned quickly.]

@intourhandsicommendmyspirit

So he took you in, huh?

[he scanned her for a moment- trying to see if there was anything to clue him in on why she was here so young. He sighed, going over to the corner of the bed and sitting down.]

Can’t say I’m surprised, though. Im sure you know as well as I do that he’s only doing it for power.

[he looked at her hands- the shaking- getting up before sitting down on the floor this time. He let himself drop his act a bit.]

Um- okay, if you want to, I guess-

[Shifted to hand him the needle first, then the dress. It was clear that Alastor had at least picked out her outfit, or at least in the clothing that made it up; a basic dress with a sweater over top. She didn't know who she was; of course Alastor would keep her away from TVs.

[he took the dress from her. He took a few seconds to look over the tear before beginning to work on it. He tried to stay a little intimidating, just in case anyone happened to come in during their time, but for the most part he tried to be down on her level.]

Why are you staring at me like that? I don’t even know what you want. You’re not going to get it by staring at me, either.

[She spoke rather quietly, a bit shy. If anything, half her time here had already been spent hiding behind the nearest adult. Her gaze didn't waver, though, except to flick down to him sewing.]

[he chuckles. He pauses sewing for a moment.]

Though, as much as I hate to admit it, your papa is a smart man. He’s right, studying people is a skill I have to use down here a lot.

. . . Why ? What do you do?

[he finishes sewing, tying a few knots in the string to get it to hold before motioning for scissors.]

[She picked up the scissors, handing them to him rather carefully.]

[he takes the scissors, snipping the thread before sitting them down between him and scarlet.]

Papa would never let me. I'm not allowed near the TVs, like I said.

[he sighs.]

[he has a gut feeling about her uncle. Something was off, he figured, but he didn’t press further.]

I dunno. Papa said no, and-. . I don't want him to be angry.

[he chuckles.]

But why would he lie? To me?

[he sighs dramatically. It is obviously faked.]

[he chuckles and ruffles her hair.]

But, that’s the good thing about me being your friend, right? I can call it as I see it.

[he gets up, stretching. His back faintly pops and he winces.]

What-. .what favor?

[he says it so naturally, as if he’d done this many times before.]

Either way, somebody is bound to own it eventually. Alastor would’ve gone after it, and pretty much every other overlord wants their it too.

[he crouches to her level, sticking out a hand. He was too happy about this- as if he was trying to make it sound decent.]

Papa said-. . . not to give anyone anything, unless he was there, or even Maris, and- and he's not here and Maris isn't here-

[he chuckles. It’s sounds wrong now.]

[he moves his hand closer to her insistently.]

[Her tone changed drastically - almost like a cornered animal beginning to get loud to try to scare off danger.]

[so he improvises. He goes to the door, quietly locks it, and stands in front of it. He stares at her for a moment, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.]

No. No no noNo No no No No No.

No. No. No.

No don't do that.

Don't. Do. That.

[he shifts to sit down on the floor.]

Only because you asked so nicely.

…

Not with that tone, little lady. Ask a little nicer, will you?

[The static seems to grow - she gets a bit of a green tint around her. Very Alastor. She also stumbles to her feet, still holding the scissors.]

Unlock it.

So stop asking. You’re being a brat about this, you know?

[Her whole being seemed to just - shift. It was unsettling; there was a sudden calm, almost.]

Unlock. The door.

[he doesn’t notice. He’s never taken a child for someone he needs to study as closely. Children usually show their emotions, he thought.]

I'm hungry.

[he doesn’t like that look in her eyes. He’s never felt intimidated by a child, so he pretends not to be afraid of her.]

I like Papa's snacks.

[he groans in frustration.]

[Her eyes have sort of glazed over now.]

Not so timid. Not very scared.]

Hungry.

[he stands only to be more intimidating to her.]

. . . . I don't want her snacks.

[he takes a step forward to get closer to her out of pure anger.]

Alastor had adopted her.

Now, of course this was a shock. Everyone was surprised by this - Vox included. However, Maris worked/stayed at the hotel, so of course-. . .

Of course the little girl had fallen right into Oculus's hands, as Alastor didn't want her to be left alone to wander hell, and Maris needed to run some errands.

She sat on the floor of Maris' room, sewing a tear in a dress with shakey hands. The sound of the door startled her, and she turned quickly.]

@intourhandsicommendmyspirit

So he took you in, huh?

[he scanned her for a moment- trying to see if there was anything to clue him in on why she was here so young. He sighed, going over to the corner of the bed and sitting down.]

Can’t say I’m surprised, though. Im sure you know as well as I do that he’s only doing it for power.

[he looked at her hands- the shaking- getting up before sitting down on the floor this time. He let himself drop his act a bit.]

Um- okay, if you want to, I guess-

[Shifted to hand him the needle first, then the dress. It was clear that Alastor had at least picked out her outfit, or at least in the clothing that made it up; a basic dress with a sweater over top. She didn't know who she was; of course Alastor would keep her away from TVs.

[he took the dress from her. He took a few seconds to look over the tear before beginning to work on it. He tried to stay a little intimidating, just in case anyone happened to come in during their time, but for the most part he tried to be down on her level.]

Why are you staring at me like that? I don’t even know what you want. You’re not going to get it by staring at me, either.

[She spoke rather quietly, a bit shy. If anything, half her time here had already been spent hiding behind the nearest adult. Her gaze didn't waver, though, except to flick down to him sewing.]

[he chuckles. He pauses sewing for a moment.]

Though, as much as I hate to admit it, your papa is a smart man. He’s right, studying people is a skill I have to use down here a lot.

. . . Why ? What do you do?

[he finishes sewing, tying a few knots in the string to get it to hold before motioning for scissors.]

[She picked up the scissors, handing them to him rather carefully.]

[he takes the scissors, snipping the thread before sitting them down between him and scarlet.]

Papa would never let me. I'm not allowed near the TVs, like I said.

[he sighs.]

[he has a gut feeling about her uncle. Something was off, he figured, but he didn’t press further.]

I dunno. Papa said no, and-. . I don't want him to be angry.

[he chuckles.]

But why would he lie? To me?

[he sighs dramatically. It is obviously faked.]

[he chuckles and ruffles her hair.]

But, that’s the good thing about me being your friend, right? I can call it as I see it.

[he gets up, stretching. His back faintly pops and he winces.]

What-. .what favor?

[he says it so naturally, as if he’d done this many times before.]

Either way, somebody is bound to own it eventually. Alastor would’ve gone after it, and pretty much every other overlord wants their it too.

[he crouches to her level, sticking out a hand. He was too happy about this- as if he was trying to make it sound decent.]

Papa said-. . . not to give anyone anything, unless he was there, or even Maris, and- and he's not here and Maris isn't here-

[he chuckles. It’s sounds wrong now.]

[he moves his hand closer to her insistently.]

[Her tone changed drastically - almost like a cornered animal beginning to get loud to try to scare off danger.]

[so he improvises. He goes to the door, quietly locks it, and stands in front of it. He stares at her for a moment, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.]

No. No no noNo No no No No No.

No. No. No.

No don't do that.

Don't. Do. That.

[he shifts to sit down on the floor.]

Only because you asked so nicely.

…

Not with that tone, little lady. Ask a little nicer, will you?

[The static seems to grow - she gets a bit of a green tint around her. Very Alastor. She also stumbles to her feet, still holding the scissors.]

Unlock it.

So stop asking. You’re being a brat about this, you know?

[Her whole being seemed to just - shift. It was unsettling; there was a sudden calm, almost.]

Unlock. The door.

[he doesn’t notice. He’s never taken a child for someone he needs to study as closely. Children usually show their emotions, he thought.]

I'm hungry.

[he doesn’t like that look in her eyes. He’s never felt intimidated by a child, so he pretends not to be afraid of her.]

I like Papa's snacks.

[he groans in frustration.]

[Her eyes have sort of glazed over now.]

Not so timid. Not very scared.]

Hungry.

[he stands only to be more intimidating to her.]