it's not always black and white | Connor

[tarquin finley ellis]

There had been a lot going on in the past few days for Quinn. He was still made to check in with the doctor twice a day to make sure there wouldn't be any sudden relapses, though considering what he'd been up to in those days, Quinn didn't mind it. He really hadn't had to go far, since he had decided to volenteer at the hospital. Mostly it was cleaning up or odds and ends, but it was something. He figured he could give back a little and be helpful. Something. And it got him closer to drugs, even if he did have to be drug tested to ensure he wasn't swiping to get high or use. But Quinn had a new start, and he had no intentions of using drugs. Couldn't remember any upside anyway to them so it didn't matter. But with records at his grasp, he had found out a few things right off. Sure, it wasn't right to look, but he only wanted to help.

Today he had gotten the package he'd been waiting for, and so he excused himself from what he'd been doing -- picked up Calan -- and with the paper bag under an arm and the somewhere around two year old on his hip, Quinn made his way towards Connor's doormroom. He could retain new memories, so he was keen on remembering the place. Mutation ward, three doors down. Not a big deal, though he did find that he didn't really have the greatest hips for balancing babies. Oh well, this should be quick. He had all day and whatnot, but he was still setting up basic online college classes and a few on campus -- could you really call it that here? -- and wanted to get all of that in place. The sooner the better. Might as well do something with his life, even if he was stuck here. Plus, he had all his high school credits in order early. Homeschooling had it's nifty points, but a lot of drawbacks. Right now he just hoped he could catch up on what he'd forgotten.

With a few things bouncing around in his mind, he reached that third door in the mutation ward and knocked. Quinn hadn't spoken to Connor since that first day, but the reality of the situation wasn't that Quinn was throwing away a potential friendship with the male, but simply keeping himself away from the problems that could come from hanging around Connor when the male was drugged out or desperate to be. Quinn had seen and gone through that already and got kicked around. He would rather not have a repeat of that. Connor didn't seem to care who got hurt around him in those moments, and Quinn didn't want the staff pissy at him for helping the winged male get what he wanted. Yet Quinn did still care as much as a friend could in the situation he was in, the fact that for him it was new and strange. And he wanted Connor to know that.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor had barely been down from a high all week. He was sick. He'd always been sick, but more now than recently. And today Christy was with him, so he had done his best to stay away from his glass, but it wasn't turning out so hot.
Jordan had let him borrow a portable DVD player for the little girl, and she was in the bed watching Finding Nemo, her white tail draped over a leg. Connor tried focusing on the movie with red-rimming eyes, coughing and sniffling.
The knock had his uneasy body jumping, and he got slowly to his feet, pulling ratty wings close, wiping away hair clinging to his sweaty forehead. 'Sick' was more withdrawal than anything. And it had only been a day, since Christy had stayed over. He was itching to grab his stash and disappear into the bathroom. But last time, the little seven year old had cried until he had come back out.
Trembling fingers turned the knob and he opened the door with a disgruntled expression, gazing at Quinn and the..child? with glazed eyes. "Uh..h-hi."

[tarquin finley ellis]

He shifted from one foot to the other, adjusting Calan at his hip. It was an odd thing to get used to, but Quinn was managing it. Trying to spend time with the small child as much as possible between helping out at the hospital, getting stuff together and free time to hang out and all of that. He'd been told of the martial arts thing too, which was something he supposed he should get back into. Something to relearn, he guessed. Sounded good between that and classes and all that. If he could spare the time. It might be a stretch, but Quinn wasn't feeling overly stressed for sleep these days. He'd spent enough time sleeping. He was good on that and could go with a few hours and be fine. Full time classes in the morning, volenteering at the hospital until late with some break intervals and then online courses, practice... yeah, he could juggle that. At least he'd try to. See how that worked out for him.

When the door opened, Quinn noted the sickly look of Conner and the red rimmed eyes. The male seemed calm enough, though Quinn wasn't sure. He wanted to be careful about that sort of thing. Of course he also noticed the rather young female in the room. With a tail. Interesting. At Connor's words, Quinn blinked and refocused on the male. "Hey. I just thought I'd stop by and give you these." He shifted and handed the paper bag out to Connor. "I've been helping out at the hospital and managed to find some files and order these for you. Let me know when it's out so I can get more..." He explained evenly. It had been interesting, ordering the medicine and all over the doctor's heads more or less. But Connor needed them according to the files, and the hospital hadn't been funding it. Not good. When Calan reached out for one of Connor's wings, Quinn intercepted the tiny fingers. "Nope, no grabbing.." He chided the two year old, who then fluffed up his own white feathers and started babbling in irritation.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor blinked in surprise, took the bag in shaking hands and looked into it. Tranxene. Thank god. "Thank y-you.." He whispered, coughing huskily and looking up at the reach of the child. No matter Connor's mood and current struggle, he couldn't hide the growing smile on his face. It may not seem it, but Connor had always adored children. He stretched a wing out slowly and took the child's hand, guiding it slowly along the dark, slightly ratty feathers. He hadn't exactly showered in a few days. Mainly the ends were ratty from dragging, being careless.
Christy had looked up from her movie, intrigued by company. "Hi!" She huffed, bouncing off the bed and over to Connor, a hand fisting in his jeans as she gazed up at him in admiration. Connor smiled back down at his little albino sister. But the action was exhausted.
"Bubba I'm hungry.."

[tarquin finley ellis]

He was calm and considering as Connor took the paper bag and looked into it. The male seemed relieved at the sight of the medicine, so Quinn figured he had done the right thing. He can't remember what it was like before or any of that, though it was sort of obvious that if medicine shouldn't be stopped, then the doctors should still be ordering it for Connor. Had they given up on the male? Quinn could see why if all Connor really did was get drugged up and let himself waste away, yet that didn't mean they shouldn't give him the medicine that he still needed. At the thanks, he dipped his head a little. "I do care, Connor. I'm not throwing away friendship, even if I don't want to be around when you're all...." He cut himself off with a glance to the little girl. Shouldn't say that in front the little ones.

At the extending of Connor's wing and his fingers being moved over the feathers, Calan giggled happily. Appearently the child was thrilled to see another winged person. Quinn couldn't help the grin on his lips as he watched the two. Squealing softly, Calan stretched his own wing at Connor. "You now!" He chirped gleefully, wanting Connor to touch his wing now. Quinn simply quirked an eyebrow in amusement, then watched as the little girl moved over to clutch at Connor's jeans. At the words of food, Quinn perked up. He couldn't help it, the injection hadn't left his system yet, even though it wasn't as bad as it had been. "We could go and get something if you're up for it? Cal could probably eat too.." Quinn said lightly, giving a smile to the little girl.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor reached out and ran his fingers over the little wings,, thinking about Bandit's.
He nodded slowly at Quinn's words, understanding. He didn't have many friends here anyway, so..what did one less matter..?
But Quinn said he wanted to be there.
"Yeah!" Christy huffed.
Connor muoved shakily to the DVD player to pause it and close it, then grabbed a water and swallowed two pills. He really hoped it startd to help again. He couldn't afford aymore panic attacks or seizures. He didn't need to end up having another heart attack.

[tarquin finley ellis]

Calan seemed quite pleased with the mutual wing touching, and the two year old was smiling and content now. If Quinn had known about Bandit, he might have been curious to see how Calan reacted to the little girl with wings. It would probably thrill the child to see someone more close to his size with wings. Alas, Quinn has no idea and so that wasn't an idea. Of course had Quinn been able to remember anything, he'd probably realize it might not go over well anyway. Right now though, the idea of food had Quinn occupied enough, and even if Connor didn't want to go, he'd probably take Calan to get something to eat anyway. The little one needed to eat, and Quinn wouldn't say no to some food either. Looked like the little girl liked the idea as well. And Connor was moving around now to get ready to go. Looked like it was going to be happening.

So Quinn waited for Connor to take the pills, looking at the little girl. "I'm Quinn and this is Calan. What's your name?" He asked with a light smile, glancing at the winged critter at his hip who was oogling the girl with large, curious eyes. Calan hadn't seen a tail on someone before, so that was new. Quinn was surprised that they had used someone so young to test on -- Calan was different, he'd been created, really -- but why would they have done this to a little girl? Or was it another genetically altered child like Calan was? That made Quinn want to ask, but it probably wasn't a good idea in front of the little girl, so he refrained from questioning. Instead, he waited for Connor to get ready to go.

[connor crayze sykes]

Calan. Connor faltered, blinking. Interesting..
Christy was beaming though. "Christy." She huffed.
"That's bubba." Nodding, Connor smirked and looked at the albino girl woth utter affection as he took her hand and held her close. "R-ready?"

[tarquin finley ellis]

It wasn't so hard to notice the way Connor had faultered when the child's name had been said. Quinn might not have caught it if he had looked up a second later. No, Quinn doesn't know that his younger brother's death played such a big part in his attempted suicide, but he does know the original Calan is dead. It bothers him, but Quinn doesn't remember his brother now. It's not the same. Still, Quinn had noticed Connor's reaction to the name, so he has to assume the male knows of his brother's death. "You think it's weird that my son is named after my brother.... yeah, it sorta is..." Quinn shrugs a little. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. Couldn't keep calling the kid nicknames, after all.

Quinn looked back at Christy. "Pleasure to meet you, Christy." He replied evenly. But now with the two ready to go, Quinn switched which hip Calan was on to turn and start for the food place, waiting after getting out of the room to step beside Connor and Christy. There were a few things going on in his mind, but Quinn was staying positive. Calan was trying to climb up his side, which led to some uncomfortable walking, but he was patient with the child, settling Calan in his arms this time. Easier to walk that way at this point. "It's funny... I'm told I didn't like kids or anything, though I can't really see why now..." He grinned a little. It was kinda obscure to him and didn't make any sense. Oh well.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor followed, his soft brwaths audible. He listened quietly and shrugged. "M-maybe it's better you like them." Looking towards the little boy, he smiled slightly,tthen opened the door to the dining hall woth clear struggle before stepping aside to let them in and following. "What y-you want Chris?"
"Pizzaaa." she drawled, still intrigued by the boy in Quinn's arm.

[tarquin finley ellis]

He has to chuckle just a little at Connor's reply to what he'd said, nodding. "I should say so. It would be sad for this little one if I didn't." He points out, glancing down at Calan with a fond smile. Quinn already found that he adored the little boy. Didn't take very much, though. After all the things he'd heard about not liking or wanting children before the coma, it was strange to find he felt like this over one. It was strange to think had hadn't liked them to begin with, and he wondered why that was. He supposed there had to have been a good reason, right? Then again, there hadn't been all that great of reasons as far as he knew that had him doing other things.

Once they had gotten to the dining hall and Connor went to open the door, Quinn stood bac and waited. He didn't help -- he wasn't sure Connor would want that -- though he could see it was a struggle for the male. Yet it got open, and when Connor stepped aside for them to enter, Quinn went in and waited for Connor to step back with them. Quietly, Quinn held Calan to him, debating food and what to get for himself and the little boy. Of course hearing the conversation of what to eat between Christy and Connor, Quinn had to grin. "Pizza sounds like a great idea. I think we'll get that too." And Quinn would wait to let Christy and Connor get their food first before ordering.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor hesitated, uncertain, then took the winged body and held him close. He wasn't sure howhealthy holding a kid was on his body, but he could care less, ordering two slices of pizza and a water pitcher. He gave the plates to Christy to carry, balancing Calan on a thin hip with ease as he took the pitcher and cups.

[tarquin finley ellis]

Quinn felt a little odd with Calan out of his arms, but he was calm enough with Connor holding the small boy. He couldn't be sure if it was the best idea, just because half the time it looked like Connor was going to fall over without carrying anything, but Quinn said nothing. And Calan, well, the little one was estatic over being held by someone else. Chattering away in some mis-matched garble of words that Quinn couldn't keep up with. But with the ordering out of the way, Quinn intercepted the pitcher Connor was carrying and his own plate with his and Calan's food in the other hand.

Quinn didn't want Connor balancing too much at once with Calan in the male's arms. He was quite protective of the kid already. After getting to the table -- Christy probably picked it out -- Quinn set the pitcher and plate down then went to go get a juicebox for Calan to bring it back for the boy before settling into a seat and holding his hands out for Calan to be returned to him. Then he could cut up bits of the pizza for the little one while Calan occupied himself with the juicebox.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor mumbled halfhearted thanks and followed Christy to the table. When arms were held out, Connor returned the boy to Quinn before he took a seat next to his little sister and nudged his pizza.
His stomach churned in complaint at even the thought, Christy already munching away carefully on her own. She reached for a napkin and looked at him.
"Eat."
"I don't f-feel good, Chris'." He mumbled stubbornly, red rimmed eyes fixing on the table as he drew in trembling breaths.
"Please bubba?" She begged and he sighed. If anybody pouting could persuade him, it was her. He picked up the slice, swallowing back a gag as he took a bite.

[tarquin finley ellis]

It didn't take him long to cut up a slice of pizza for Calan while the child slurped at the juice, seeming to be content at the sugar rush from the drink. Once the pizza was all cut up, he pulled the plate closer and shifted Calan in his lap to help the boy eat, starting to munch on one of his own slices -- of which he had two, damn hunger -- and idly listening to what was being said by the other two. Some words and pouting seemed to be working to get Connor to eat; and the male looked like he really needed it, so that was good. Hopefully the male would keep Christy around more. Might straighten him out a little.

Calan was getting a little messy from the pizza sauce, and Quinn had to wipe the boy's face off a few times with a napkin. And he was amused when Calan paused in mid bite, nearly stuffing a piece of pizza in his face before piping up; "Bite!" and smushing the piece to Quinn's face. He managed to actually eat the bit of pizza after an odd sound of surprise, then shook his head and wiped his own face off. "Crazy kid." He muttered with a soft laugh. At Calan's second attempt to do the same thing, Quinn caught the boy and shook his head. "All yours." He said lightly.