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[asmywitness]

[[Tyler screens his calls - anyone who tries to actually call him, he'll text back in reply.]]

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[fingersandteeth]

It's a damn ROTOM and I'll give you three guesses as to who sent it.

[asmywitness]

[Tyler just stares at his phone in disbelief.]

Okay just you know I'm genuinely not sure if I should be offended or not that you think I'm friends with Solus.

[fingersandteeth]

I mean, *he* certainly thinks you are. Or at least that you're on 'good terms,' because you're 'willing to understand' him.

[asmywitness]

And you believed him. Cool. Offended it is.

Yes, we did have a proper discussion about some of the shit that's gone down between us. That doesn't make us friends, Steven, that makes us adults that talk about things when a communication breakdown fucks things up. Which I initiated, because if we're going to be seeing each other on a regular basis I'd rather not be crippingly debilitated by fear every single time I lay eyes on him.

Know your enemy, know your fear, you know? As someone who was so eager to become an Autumn courtier I thought you'd understand that implicitly.

[All of this is true. And he's rather hoping it guilts Steven into seeing that he's being stupid.]

Or is it that you think he's trying to turn me against you? Because you've never needed his help for that before, you know, you offend me well enough single-handedly.

[fingersandteeth]

[Steven flinches.]

Look, I thought I understood how you felt about him, but I was so fucking wrong about Dirk, so I thought that maybe I was wrong about you too! And he certainly thinks the fucking world of you—it's almost offensive how you're brave and admirable and I'm irredeemable, even though you've killed more people than *me*.

And yes, of course, I think he's trying to turn you against me, he's trying to make my life *hell* because I gave him one damn nightmare and I've already betrayed and disappointed you by not being who I'm supposed to be.

[asmywitness]

Six is not a number I'm proud of, for the record, and I know you know that.

Look, dude. Whatever happens between you and Solus is your business. I don't care what kind of arguments or stair incidents or what the fuck ever you two get up to in your free time. I'd like if you gave me the same benefit of the doubt. I'm not going to be manipulated by him, especially in regards to you. I thought you knew that, too.

And again, you being a semi-emotionless murderer-to-be is my problem, not yours, as long as you're happy with being that. As long as you're sure that's who you are and who you want to be, I'll learn to adjust.




Where do you want me to meet you for tech support?

[fingersandteeth]

I'm not *emotionless*, mine just don't work like a normal person's. There's a difference.




Is the Radio Tower roof okay for that? We can go down and find the rotom from there.

[asmywitness]

Sure. Meet you there.

It's a pretty lazy outfit from Tyler, but he's at the roof about an hour later, teleporting up with Isis and giving Steven a wave when he sees him. He doesn't look particularly pleased to see the man, but his expression isn't negative. Just kind of tired.

[fingersandteeth]

Steven looks pretty tired as well. He's dressed in what is a very standard summer outfit for him: a short sleeved button shirt and light khaki pants. He waves back.

"Hi," he says. "Ah, do you have Teller? I forgot to ask."

[asmywitness]

I do. I've got my whole work team right now.

And he pulls two Pokeballs out, releasing both simultaneously to show off Teller - and also EVA, who looks back with its trademark little grin. Isis peeps twice, and EVA sparks brightly, before it turns into pure electricity and yeets into a nearby junction box, zipping downwards into the tower with a shower of ungrounded sparks showings its exact location - which is very quickly not here.

Teller just looks over at Steven, and lifts a hand in greeting. Very similarly to Tyler, in fact, but Pokemon do pick up on their trainer's mannerisms.

[fingersandteeth]

Steven nods and pops open his briefcase. He pulls out a pair of pokeballs, one standard and the other great.

He releases one of the balls and Mesmer comes out, landing on the edge of the briefcase and very nearly upending it, if not for a quick save from Steven himself.

"Right. We're— basically going to have to brainwash the rotom, so I was hoping Mesmer could watch his dad and see how it's done. And then, maybe, hopefully, catch it?"

Look, rotom are incredibly fucking useful for crime.

[asmywitness]

Teller's eyebrows raise in surprise at the sight of his son, then his eyes crinkle in a warm smile.

Tyler raises an eyebrow too - but just the one, as he stares at Steven.

I don't mind changing its mind - please, Steven, let's have some tact about this - but you realise if the Rotom's already registered to a trainer, you can't catch it? That's why we steal them.

[fingersandteeth]

Steven makes a face. "I didn't play Pokemon as a kid, Tyler. It didn't even exist until I was in high school and by then I was busy playing Magic the Gathering. But okay. That's fine. That makes sense. The point is, we need to convince it to stop fucking with me and run as far away from H— him as it can."

(Meanwhile, Mesmer is giving his father a one-armed hug.)

[asmywitness]

That wasn't intended as a stab at you not playing the games, he signs, with an edge of weariness. Never mind. Let's find this.

He just turns away from Steven and heads towards the door, where EVA is grinning from the safety light overhead, watching the Changelings eagerly.

Teller steps forward and picks up Mesmer from Steven's grip to hold his baby himself, but he does give Steven's shoulder a gentle pat as well, and a quiet "Hypno." before he nods towards the door as well.

[fingersandteeth]

"I know it wasn't," Steven says, straightening himself and brushing any roof dirt off his pants. "You know me, I turn into a complete bitch when I'm stressed and among friends." But he gives Teller a tired smile anyway. He and Mesmer are cute together.

(It pricks at that part of him that had been laid bare by the stupid conversation with Hades about his kids that he was lucky enough to have and had done dirty by denying. But that's his damage, not Teller and Mesmer's.)

[asmywitness]

Tyler doesn't turn around; instead Isis turns to stare at Steven, and sends his tired-neutral I know.

And he'll take the lead inside, watching EVA spark through the systems, zipping busily from socket to switch to lights and back into the wires, glowing like a beacon the entire time.

I've got EVA searching for any other Rotom in the system, see if it can't flush them out, he explains telepathically, keeping one hand on the handrail as he moves down the stairs. If it belongs to Solus then EVA's going to have a distinct power advantage.

[fingersandteeth]

"He all but confirmed it when I confronted him about it on Tuesday," Steven says, doing much the same. "After Entrapta verified what had happened for me when we overnighted here on our way down to Azalea."

He's quiet for a moment before adding, "I guess maybe I was suspicious of everything with H— him because... well, I've been using Hythlodaeus for exposure therapy and I'm actually starting to like him."

[asmywitness]

Amazingly, Tyler doesn't seem surprised. Even if he bristles immediately at the other Amaurot's name. Teller just ignores him, as he grooms Mesmer's face with his snout.

And so you projected that onto me. Because you think I'll be suckered into Solus's point of view as easily as you are, because I have an even shorter temper, or something.

[fingersandteeth]

Mesmer makes a happy sound and attempts to return his father's favor.

"I mean, not for that reason," Steven protests. "But— if the things he says to you are anything like the things he says about you—"

He sighs. "Look. People like to be told they're good. Normal people. I... think I didn't mind it so much either once."

[asmywitness]

People like to be praised, and being told you're a good person is like fucking crack. Especially when you're inherently not one, because you take it to mean they don't see you as the shitbag you feel like. It's hard to portray tone through Isis's projections, but his body language sure suggests he's pissed.

His language makes Teller brush over Mesmer's ears in a pointed gesture as the Hypno snorts, in open derision, at Tyler's language.

Tyler doesn't look back, but he pauses mid-step for a moment. For the record, I don't recall that Solus has ever complimented me when it wasn't part of some higher scheme.

[fingersandteeth]

"Then why is he always talking you up to me—" Steven protests, stopping when Tyler does. He's very conscious that these are the very same stairs he threw Hades down.

"Oh," he says in a hollow voice. "Right. To fuck with my head. Even if he wasn't trying to specifically frighten me, that doesn't mean he wasn't and hasn't been trying to mess with my mind."

[asmywitness]

And so instead of thinking critically about why he might want to sing someome's praises, knowing he takes pleasure in getting a rise out of you, you decided I was the one at fault.

He stops again, both feet flat on the stairs, and audibly sighs, as he tilts his head back a fraction to stare at the ceiling for a few seconds. Before he turns and looks at Steven, and in the dim lights, made to flicker from EVA's surges of excitement, he looked tired and Wizened. One hand stands firm on the railing. I notice when you talk to me less, you know. Was there anything else, at all, that made you think I'm the one that's creating the distance here?

[fingersandteeth]

"I never said that—" Steven protests. But he stops on the stair. "I just—" He lets out a shaky breath. "You didn't like the real me," he says, finally. "The me I am now. You liked the guy you first met better and that's— he's me in a way, but he's the me for public consumption. You— you didn't throw me out of your apartment or anything, but."

He squeezes his eyes shut. "And Charley," he whispers. "Everything's a jumble from that weekend, but I remember saying something envious about my future self and her saying that I didn't need to become him, she liked this me anyway—I was so much more like the Steven she'd thought she lost forever. And that's— I might seem like him, but I'm not him. And Charley— she used to be able to know me and she doesn't now, not like she used to and—"

He draws in another breath, just as shaky. Grips the stair rail for dear life.

"I don't know where I'm going with this."

[asmywitness]

I told you, I am and will get used to it. Because this is who you are, and I still want you in my fucking life. And if I can't, then that's my problem.

He looks away when Steven remembers his future self.

I spoke with him too. I don't remember everything, which is... horrendously disconcerting for me. But I told him that Charley just came back to a world where everything is different and everyone she knew is gone. Your public face is her one constant in a changed world.

He looks back at Steven. You can't expect someone to adapt to drastic change overnight, we aren't designed for it. No one is. You just have to be patient. And have some fucking faith in them.

[fingersandteeth]

Steven opens his eyes again. Given Tyler a tight little nod. "Sorry," he says, softly. "That's-- maybe not always my strong suit. You're right. I just-- I need to give you time. I'm-- glad. That you still want me in your life. You're really important to me, Tyler, just because-- well. Just because you're you. Which... maybe you know. Or otherwise I wouldn't keep trying every time you shut me down for being a complete and utter asshole."

Then he laughs, suddenly. "God, you must have hated him," he says. "For just-- being even more not the guy you met and not knowing you at all. Completely the opposite of me talking to his friend... friends?"