Not So Into The Size Of This Thing (Open)

[Monolilith]

Nero jumps at the second voice, raising his violin instinctively. His unnerving white eyes flash and fix on the source of the noise with an intensity only fear - warranted or no - can provide.

[ryocker]

A girl, similar in age to Penelope, came running to the beach, her blond hair covered up in a white sailor hat while she herself was dressed in a white sailor uniform. "You were later than you usually were," the new arrival sighed. "Was it a fairy or something?" Not the first time a fairy distracted you...

"Oh, no! Not a fairy!" Penelope laughed. "Just this nice man! He's named Nero! Mackenzie, say hi."

Getting a gentle push from Penelope, Mackenzie took a few steps forward. "Hello..." she offered, trying to give a sincere smile. Awkward...

[Monolilith]

Nero's hands are shaking, just a bit. The glow of his eyes wavers, heavy, frowning lips twitching. He jerks, then forces a shallow breath. The violin lowers.

"He-llo." The word is forced, through nearly grit teeth. Not like he's angry, like he's... panicking.

[ryocker]

Mackenzie watched him a moment. "I'm a friend of Penelope's. If you're afraid I'll hurt you, I'm unarmed," she offered. Penelope seemed to nod in agreement.

[Monolilith]

"It's fine. Not that." He bites down on his lip, hard, and his eyes squeeze shut. "jus... jjs gimme a min..."

[ryocker]

Mackenzie backed away, tapping Penelope's shoulder. "Alright. Just take as long as you need." Is this... a panic attack? This is the first time I've seen one...

[Monolilith]

He lowers the instrument to the ground with forced caution, then digs his hands into the dirt, hard. He almost tears a solid six inches straight out - fey strength and all. His toes, bare, curl, then he forces his eyes open. On the water. Not the whole thing, just the shore, just the feeling on his toes, it's a little lake, little lake, it's fine...

[ryocker]

"Do you know anyway to help him?" Mackenzie asked. Penelope seemed a bit panicked and flighty (nothing new there), but she soon lit up with an idea.

"I know he likes playing music!"

Mackenzie put a hand to her mouth, thinking. "I somehow doubt he's in any position to play-" Before she could finish, Penelope had already brought out a tiny audio player. "...Do you always keep that with you?"

"Why not!" she smiled pressing play.

[Monolilith]

His shaking shoulders still. A hand goes to cover his mouth as he forces a deep breath, then a second. One can quite literally see him calming, slow but sure. When the music stops, he raises his head, eyes reluctantly settling on Penelope.

"Can you play it again?"

[ryocker]

Penelope happily pressed play again, smiling. Mackenzie crossed her arms in thought, smiling as well.

[Monolilith]

He takes and releases a cautious but deep breath, reclining against the ground. Slowly, his head leans back. His hands unclench. His breathing evens.

Once again, he speaks only when the music stops. "thank you."

[ryocker]

The young teen smiled, giving a friendly giggle. "I'm happy I could help!" she smiled. Mackenzie gave a smile of her own.

"If I did something to put you into a shock, I didn't mean to," she sighed.

[Monolilith]

He shakes his head. "It's fine, I promise. I was just... AM just pretty out of it. I'll be okay.

"... You should go."

[ryocker]

Mackenzie nodded, taking Penelope's hand. "He said we should go," she told the young woman, Penelope pouting.

"But- but-!" She sighed. "W-will we see each-other again?" Mackenzie stopped, waiting for a response from this musical man.

[Monolilith]

It's a beat. One spent staring morosely into the water. But then he looks up. The broad smile he gives her may be forced, but there's real gratitude behind it.

"You betcha."