Box 2029 - Absent Elements

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Dec 6, 2009, 8:49pm

Box 2029 :: New York :: The Box :: Alpha Level :: Absent Elements

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Topic: Absent Elements (Read 111 times)

Molly W. Suresh
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Re: Absent Elements
« Reply #15 on Oct 8, 2009, 11:40pm »

Molly's short tirade almost had her wishing that she hadn't rushed over here this morning. Almost. It wasn't as though she could lie to herself and say that she wasn't worried about Joshua ... but to her it was obvious that he really didn't want the help. To be honest, the idea of being away from home and alone with the younger Gray was both enticing and terrifying to her. What would they do? Would he avoid her and attempt to isolate himself, or could they actually have a good time?

Hiding behind her mug wasn't helping anything, and Sylar must have caught on to her nervousness and conflicting expressions of worry and bruised ego. With an uncanny smile, he turned to her calmly,

"It's alright, Molly. I think he sees the light. Have to keep you from experiencing the same misfortune, after all."

She sighed audibly, and relaxed, setting the now-empty tangerine-swirled mug down on the countertop. She looked at it, rather than either Gray, and said as nonchalantly as her soft voice could muster,

"Well, I'm up for this vacation if Joshua's willing. It's not like we're so vital that we can't disappear into the modern wilderness for a while and remember what normalcy feels like, right?"

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a couple other things to attend to, being so very important and all."

Molly smirked faintly at that. Of course Sylar was leaving ... even he knew that she and Joshua had to discuss this situation they were being thrown headlong into without others. Or ... no, there was no way Sylar knew how Molly really felt about his son, was there? She shook her head briefly, as if to rearrange her long hair, even though it was really to dislodge any conspiracy theories her mind could create.

But suddenly, to her dismay, Sylar stood with his mug in hand, and eased his way over to the door. Just before slipping out of the apartment, however, Sylar had one last tidbit to share with the two.

"Oh and no, the tickets are not refundable. You two leave the morning after next. Pack lightly; it's much hotter in Florida, but it worked well enough for your mother."

"W-wait a ... we're leaving Monday?" Molly squeaked. "So you're saying you've already got all our travel plans made ... what else do you have in store, Sylar? Is someone packing our clothes too?"

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Joshua Gray
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Re: Absent Elements
« Reply #16 on Oct 9, 2009, 12:41am »

"It's alright, Molly. I think he sees the light. Have to keep you from experiencing the same misfortune, after all."

Joshua had the sudden desire for a new ability to show up in place of the old one - pyrokinesis. Then he could set his father ablaze every time put on particularly pleasant airs. He worked hard to control his face, hoping that for once his dad was only commenting on the more obvious situation . . . instead of Joshua's situation being terribly obvious. Yes, his concern for Molly was the deciding factor in the end. That didn't necessarily jump to him having more than friendly- Oy. He was far too paranoid. If his dad hadn't suspected anything before the comment, he very well might now. Joshua kept his attention on making sure the flavor of his tea was evenly distributed through the hot water.

"Well, I'm up for this vacation if Joshua's willing. It's not like we're so vital that we can't disappear into the modern wilderness for a while and remember what normalcy feels like, right?"

Ouch. The line of Joshua's jaw tightened. He appreciated the distraction from his paranoia, but the last thing he needed was to be reminded how very much the opposite of vital he was without his ability. His dad thankfully decided it was high time he pretended he hadn't cleared his whole day just to meddle. Joshua wondered if he was on his way to convince Mohinder that their children simply had to frolic on a beach somewhere in Florida if they were survive the week. By the time the state they were to travel to came up, Joshua was hardly caught off guard. He made a mental note to enjoy himself as much if his dad ever got into a bind. Molly, however, had not expected that at all.

"W-wait a ... we're leaving Monday?" Molly squeaked. "So you're saying you've already got all our travel plans made ... what else do you have in store, Sylar? Is someone packing our clothes too?"

His father was already gone though and Joshua did not bother to argue any more. He had a feeling things would get horribly tangled up in some way or another and he'd have even less options for what to do with himself. Once there was a chance he wouldn't be overheard by his dad, Joshua rubbed his face and groaned again.

"It wouldn't surprise me. It really wouldn't. Be careful about asking; he might draw up a whole itinerary."

Joshua took a long draught of his tea and, setting it back on the table with unnecessary force, plunged on suddenly with,

"Look, it's not that I don't want to accept help. It's just that I know that . . . person, my dad, he's up to something. If he really does have tickets, and I have no reason to doubt it, there's clearly an agenda. Sure, I could let myself think it's just out of fatherly concern for both of us, but ability or no I'm not that dense. He's having fun over some part of this and I'm not certain I want to know why."

Anger drained from his face, taking much of his color with it. His eyes drifted over to the recently vacated spot. Barely above a whisper he said,

"At least I won't have to look at him for a while."

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Molly W. Suresh
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Re: Absent Elements
« Reply #17 on Oct 9, 2009, 1:13am »

"W-wait a ... we're leaving Monday?" Molly squeaked. "So you're saying you've already got all our travel plans made ... what else do you have in store, Sylar? Is someone packing our clothes too?"

She asked the question too late, though; Joshua decided to answer in his father's place. Molly turned her attention just in time to see him rub idly at his face, groaning out of frustration.

"It wouldn't surprise me. It really wouldn't. Be careful about asking; he might draw up a whole itinerary."

Her bright eyes widened suddenly as she thought about why exactly he was frustrated ... and her quick words of assent to Sylar's plans caught up to her. Ashamed, Molly's cheeks blazed hot, and she down to her small hands.

"Itinerary? Wait, he wouldn't ... never mind that." She sighed heavily. "Look, Joshua, I ... owe you an apology. I spoke rashly earlier, and ... I didn't mean that you're not important. I was just trying to say they could do without us for a while. Honestly, I can't believe I didn't catch it before I said it."

Joshua took a long draught of his tea and, setting it back on the table with a sharp clatter, ignoring all attempts at subtlety, "Look, it's not that I don't want to accept help. ... He's having fun over some part of this and I'm not certain I want to know why."

Molly cocked her head to the side as she took in Joshua's words, while she replayed the past few minutes in her mind. Sylar did seem overly ... chipper, considering the circumstances. If he was playing at something, which Joshua seemed to believe wholeheartedly, Sylar was far better at covering his tracks than the two could uncover them. She regarded the younger Gray with a sidelong glance, and finally piped up.

"He would think it fun, wouldn't he. Get both of us thinking that he's playing, Cu- ah, Devil's Advocate, when he's really just being sincere. I know he's your father, and you know him better than just about anyone ... but there's always the possibility that we're being paranoid over nothing. He doesn't like seeing you at less than happy, and neither does anyone else."

She stood up again, and carried her mug to the sink, filling it with water for washing later. "For what it's worth, I'd just take this whole thing at face value and not worry about it."

Molly turned, a faint smile on her face that quickly faded as she saw Joshua's expression. He'd gone from flushed with agitation to wan with defeat. His blue eyes, darkened with his mood, flitted briefly to his father's empty chair before being downcast again.

"At least I won't have to look at him for a while," he said so softly that Molly almost didn't hear him.

She stepped closer to him, and tentatively rested her hand on his shoulder. Confused, she attempted to look him in the eyes as she asked, "Why? What else has he done to make you so upset?"

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Joshua Gray
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Re: Absent Elements
« Reply #18 on Oct 9, 2009, 1:45am »

"Itinerary? Wait, he wouldn't ... never mind that. Look, Joshua, I ... owe you an apology. I spoke rashly earlier, and ... I didn't mean that you're not important. I was just trying to say they could do without us for a while. Honestly, I can't believe I didn't catch it before I said it."

Joshua winced. As wise as it probably was at this point, he did not like Molly walking on eggshells around him.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just trying extra hard to be upset at everything. Look . . ."

And he explained his thoughts on the entirely untrustworthy behavior of his father. After a while to think it over, Molly said,

"He would think it fun, wouldn't he. Get both of us thinking that he's playing, Cu- ah, Devil's Advocate, when he's really just being sincere. I know he's your father, and you know him better than just about anyone ... but there's always the possibility that we're being paranoid over nothing. He doesn't like seeing you at less than happy, and neither does anyone else."

Joshua's eyes widened. Now that was an angle he had not considered. Great, now he was going to lie awake trying fruitlessly to decide what option was more likely. Assuming those weren't just the two or three coatings over a fifteen layer plot that somehow led to taking over the presidency.

"For what it's worth, I'd just take this whole thing at face value and not worry about it."

He nodded, giving Molly the point. Whatever his dad's reasons, worrying like this was not going to help any part of the situation. It did keep his mind off other things though. His eyes moved of their own volition to the chair his dad had just been using. Almost without realizing he said it aloud, he made a none-to-relieving comment of relief over having time where he didn't even have to look at his father.

"Why? What else has he done to make you so upset?"

Molly's hand on his shoulder distracted Joshua for a moment before he realized what he had said. He spent a fleeting time wondering how to get out of answering before he decided he should just confess and see if she had anything helpful to add.

"Believe it or not, it's not something he's done that makes me want to stay far away. If things were more normal, I might rather keep an eye on him and try to figure it out and maybe head it off. I don't know if you can understand what it's like, this simplicity. There's far too much my limited senses are trying to make me take at face value."

He crossed his arms over his chest, uncrossed them, put his hands in his pockets, let them hang down to his sides.

"I've been developing my ability for so long that it worked its way into everything I do. Even the way I see- or rather, the way I saw. When I was little, of course he looked like Superman. All dads do. Of course, I've known for quite a while that he's more than a little bit different than Superman, but . . . "

He gave a weak smile at the comparison, abandoning it quickly when he couldn't put any mirth into it. He hesitated, biting the inside of his lip for a few seconds before making a decision. It was nearly pointless if his dad was eavesdropping, Joshua knew, but if he was going to explain this he wanted to feel more comfortable that little bit farther from the corridor. He jerked his head over to the hallway and all but drug Molly in the coinciding direction, ending up in the tenuous safety of his room. Only when the door was closed did he continue.

"I could see everything he is. It didn't change his physical appearance, of course, but there was so much more to go with it. Every ability was an overlay. Power, skill, I could sense it all. Whenever he walked into a room, he filled it. It was easy to see why he can be so intimidating even to people who don't know about all the things he's done."

Joshua eyed his door as if he could tell whether his dad had his ear pressed up against the painted wood, just dying to hear this source of tension. He leaned in toward Molly so he could drop his voice and have her hear him all the same.

"Now, all of that is gone. Every trace of power that he wore every second has vanished entirely. All that's left is . . . a man in his early fifties who hasn't had the easiest life. I know he's the same size he was last week, but it's like he's lost several feet. More than anyone else I've seen since this happened, the difference is disconcerting to say the least. He looks so . . ."

He pulled back, standing straight again as he looked listlessly around the room before he breathed out,

"Normal."

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"Somebody finally realized there's a war going on and the only way we're gonna win it is in a lab."
~ The Invasion

Molly W. Suresh
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Re: Absent Elements
« Reply #19 on Dec 1, 2009, 3:02pm »

"Why? What else has he done to make you so upset?"

Molly's hand on his shoulder distracted Joshua for a moment before he realized what he had said. He spent a fleeting time wondering how to get out of answering before he decided he should just confess and see if she had anything helpful to add.

"Believe it or not, it's not something he's done that makes me want to stay far away. If things were more normal, I might rather keep an eye on him and try to figure it out and maybe head it off. I don't know if you can understand what it's like, this simplicity. There's far too much my limited senses are trying to make me take at face value."

"You're probably right. Simple isn't something I'm used to dealing with anymore ... but I can try. I'm here to help, after all."

It was hard for her to stand idly by and watch Joshua fidget like a small child who'd been stuck indoors on a rainy day, but there wasn't much comfort she could give. True, she herself had been powerless, once upon a time, but it was well before her ability had become the well-honed second nature that it was now. She couldn't fully grasp just how hard this was for him, though she wanted to.

"I've been developing my ability for so long that it worked its way into everything I do. Even the way I see- or rather, the way I saw. When I was little, of course he looked like Superman. All dads do. Of course, I've known for quite a while that he's more than a little bit different than Superman, but . . . "

Joshua hesitated, something he didn't normally do in conversations. He eyed the room, then focused toward the front door as if expecting someone to burst through. Molly was about to chime in with something about feeling safe and secure in his own home but before she could speak, Joshua's hand was in hers and they were briskly walking through the Grays' home straight for his bedroom. Here's an awkward place to flee to, Molly thought. Especially considering what happened the last time I was in here. Then again, it is his room ... he probably feels more secure in a personal, familiar environment.

"... It was easy to see why he can be so intimidating even to people who don't know about all the things he's done."

Molly nodded. The older she got, the easier it was for her to recognize each ability as Sylar 'rescued' it from its original host ... although the methods in which she recognized it still bothered her from time to time, focusing on someone as they became someone else -albeit briefly- wasn't the ideal situation, but Molly was practically unphased by it now. To Joshua's thoughts, though, she added, almost playfully, "He's a legion unto himself, alright."

"Now, all of that is gone. Every trace of power that he wore every second has vanished entirely. All that's left is . . . a man in his early fifties who hasn't had the easiest life. I know he's the same size he was last week, but it's like he's lost several feet. More than anyone else I've seen since this happened, the difference is disconcerting to say the least. He looks so . . ."

Joshua tensed again, as if trying not to reveal a huge secret that was weighing him down. Molly tilted her head up at him, waiting patiently before he sighed and spoke at last, "Normal."

Silence filled the room for a moment as Molly, ever the scientist's daughter, collected her thoughts. "Ah," she said at last. "And not knowing if this can be reversed ... you're afraid that you'll never see him the same way. Well ... I can't say that I wouldn't react the same way, honestly. I can only imagine that if my ability took a long stroll off a short pier I'd panic too." She sighed. "But Sylar's vacation idea has merit ... and my guess is that by sending me along, it's not just for my health either."

She nodded, mostly to herself, absently twirling a lock of cinnamon around her finger as she paced back and forth in a miniature version of her father's form of concentration. Suddenly, she stopped and spun back around to face Joshua with a bit of a smile on her face.

"You realize what he's doing, don't you," she asked, then answered herself without pausing. "He's taking advantage of what I do with the children and half-forcing me to use that on you ... only in a warm, sunny environment that isn't buried underground. It could work ... it has to work."

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