[A year is still a long time when you're 8, soon to be 9. In his limited experience, his brother had been gone forever. Even if he wasn't... totally the same as when he left, even if he was tinged blueish, this was still his big brother.
Questions could come later. Panic could wait. He was going to be happy now.]
You're here. Finally...
[Not going to stop smiling, nope. Never.]
Yeah. I'm fine. Yeah! Of course I'm fine.
[The smile even gets a little proud. And it was about to move on to borderline cocky when the drone-dad's voice rang out.]
"Picky! Close that door! I don't pay those bills so you can heat all of Mayfield!"
[...and it's like a switch has flicked. His shoulders rise, his smile turns into a grimace, and he's quickly motioning for Pokey to come in. And he really makes sure to shut the door behind them. It wasn't even fully conscious. It was latent survival reflex.]
[action]
Questions could come later. Panic could wait. He was going to be happy now.]
You're here. Finally...
[Not going to stop smiling, nope. Never.]
Yeah. I'm fine. Yeah! Of course I'm fine.
[The smile even gets a little proud. And it was about to move on to borderline cocky when the drone-dad's voice rang out.]
"Picky! Close that door! I don't pay those bills so you can heat all of Mayfield!"
[...and it's like a switch has flicked. His shoulders rise, his smile turns into a grimace, and he's quickly motioning for Pokey to come in. And he really makes sure to shut the door behind them. It wasn't even fully conscious. It was latent survival reflex.]