Steal
Steal peered at the bottle curiously for a while before finally cracking the seal on it. It looked so interesting and so tempting. How he had resisted it so long was beyond him.
In his mind the angry murmurs of Zak started to tumble about. Each time he touched the bottle the voice had started to yell, and only recently was he able to actually hold it. It seemed the permisson Zak had granted only went so far as to let him touch the bottle. Opening it was a violation.
Winceing he lifted the bottle to his face, letting the mist inside of it curl around him. "Tickles.." He said in his usual mild voice. It seemed almost as though this substance wasn't natural. Yet it was supposed to be.
Almost immediately Zak's grumbles reached a crecendo, actually forming angry words of accusation in his mind. Yelling at him that he was trying to kill his friend.
"Not true!" Steal blurted the words out loud, though no one would have heard what Zak had said.
With cheeks flushing he repeated himself in a soft whisper before lifting the bottle again. "I was told to take this.. it would.. it would help to make you treat me better..... I think..."
Is that what it would do? Or was Zak right.. was it really intended to kill him?
In his mind the angry murmurs of Zak started to tumble about. Each time he touched the bottle the voice had started to yell, and only recently was he able to actually hold it. It seemed the permisson Zak had granted only went so far as to let him touch the bottle. Opening it was a violation.
Winceing he lifted the bottle to his face, letting the mist inside of it curl around him. "Tickles.." He said in his usual mild voice. It seemed almost as though this substance wasn't natural. Yet it was supposed to be.
Almost immediately Zak's grumbles reached a crecendo, actually forming angry words of accusation in his mind. Yelling at him that he was trying to kill his friend.
"Not true!" Steal blurted the words out loud, though no one would have heard what Zak had said.
With cheeks flushing he repeated himself in a soft whisper before lifting the bottle again. "I was told to take this.. it would.. it would help to make you treat me better..... I think..."
Is that what it would do? Or was Zak right.. was it really intended to kill him?
Steal
As the gas' influence wrapped around Steal, the words from Zak went more and more silent, until he was left sitting in relative serenity. It was as though nothing would ever touch him there, and if it did, it would only be in a good way.
"Maybe this will be good on Zak too.." Steal mused, looking down at the now silent blade on his knee.
Zak made no comment. It was as though for the time being the blade was asleep or throwing a fit.
"Poo.. well if he wont speak to me who will?" Rising from where he had suddenly sat on the floor, Steal slid Zak into his back pocket and hugged the bottle to his chest looking for someone to speak to.
"Maybe this will be good on Zak too.." Steal mused, looking down at the now silent blade on his knee.
Zak made no comment. It was as though for the time being the blade was asleep or throwing a fit.
"Poo.. well if he wont speak to me who will?" Rising from where he had suddenly sat on the floor, Steal slid Zak into his back pocket and hugged the bottle to his chest looking for someone to speak to.
Steal
Steal sighed and looked around. He couldn't even find where the bottles of sparklies were hidden anymore. It seemed that if nothing else about him, Vis had realized that he tended to hide under things and eat the sparkly pills.
From time to time that had caused problems with Steal being found the next day crying from a stomach ache among other things.
"No sparklies..." He sighed and contined walking around, the bottle feeling warm in his hands. With nothing else to do he sat down on a soft and stared into the swirling mists inside the bottle. "No matter how many times I open this.. it still seems full."
How strange that was. One would think it would have gotten more empty from the time he opened it. Nope, just as full and just as pretty. "Lonely... you can't talk to me and Zak is.. being mean."
He bowed his head and sighed. "where is everyone?"
From time to time that had caused problems with Steal being found the next day crying from a stomach ache among other things.
"No sparklies..." He sighed and contined walking around, the bottle feeling warm in his hands. With nothing else to do he sat down on a soft and stared into the swirling mists inside the bottle. "No matter how many times I open this.. it still seems full."
How strange that was. One would think it would have gotten more empty from the time he opened it. Nope, just as full and just as pretty. "Lonely... you can't talk to me and Zak is.. being mean."
He bowed his head and sighed. "where is everyone?"
Autumn_Fury
Autumn thought that perhaps she had never been so happy.
But then, she had never had somebody like Ati around. Had never trusted anybody enough to keep them with her. But now...well, her little invisible boy was all grown up...and solid. Perhaps she was just imagining him (which she occasionally reminded herself, but didn't truly believe), but she could certainly feel it when the cheery little (well, not so little now) boy slipped his hand into hers.
"Autumn..?"
But what if he ever went away? What would she do then? Ati was her life, now. He was the reason she found the courage to talk to other people..the reason she felt any measure of security, now..what would she do if he ever decided to go away? Biting her lip a bit, she squeezed his hand tighter. She couldn't let him go. Not her little Ati.
"Auuuutttuumn?
What if he started hating her too?
"AUTUMN!"
Finally, Ati caught Aut's attention with his uncharacteristic yell, and she cringed. Oh, he hated her. He hated her. She let out a soft, hysteric laugh, falling into a crouch as she let go of his hand.
But then, she had never had somebody like Ati around. Had never trusted anybody enough to keep them with her. But now...well, her little invisible boy was all grown up...and solid. Perhaps she was just imagining him (which she occasionally reminded herself, but didn't truly believe), but she could certainly feel it when the cheery little (well, not so little now) boy slipped his hand into hers.
"Autumn..?"
But what if he ever went away? What would she do then? Ati was her life, now. He was the reason she found the courage to talk to other people..the reason she felt any measure of security, now..what would she do if he ever decided to go away? Biting her lip a bit, she squeezed his hand tighter. She couldn't let him go. Not her little Ati.
"Auuuutttuumn?
What if he started hating her too?
"AUTUMN!"
Finally, Ati caught Aut's attention with his uncharacteristic yell, and she cringed. Oh, he hated her. He hated her. She let out a soft, hysteric laugh, falling into a crouch as she let go of his hand.
Viscount Greenleaf
Slouching on the couch with Dooma's Gwee softly snoozing on his head, Vis groggily stared at the room around him and the two, a boy and a girl, standing in front of his face. He had spent most of the day sleeping, but his dreams hadn't been much better than the terrors Val put him through. Letting out a huge yawn, he stretched and managed to stumble to his feet just as Aut dropped herself on him. "H-hey!" Unable to react quickly he blurted out a warning to the figure on a collision-course with his face.
Val on the other hand, was now completely awake. Thanks for that one, Ati. Murmuring to himself he had sauntered over to something (someone) that had caught his attention. He had seen a knife. And Val liked knives.
Autumn_Fury
Aut's eyes widened. Ohmygod, there was a person there. There. Was. A Person. There. With a yelp, she quickly sprang up, ducking her head sheepishly. "Oh- I- I...I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean to..." Why oh why did she have to screw everything up? Like she really needed another person who hated her, who whispered behind her back, who..
Stop it, Autumn.
She couldn't break down like this, not now. That's what the medicine was really for, after all...Ati was just an extremely pleasant side effect. She took a shakey breath, and then smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I was just..having a sort of breakdown, I guess. I didn't see you. I'm sorry." That was three times she'd apologized now, she scolded herself silently, dropping her gaze.
Ati, on the other hand, had followed Val. He wasn't sure why he bothered with the lovely grump, but...he still thought that Val really needed a friend. And he was good at being a friend, oh yes. He cast a worried look at Autumn, but stayed where he was, since she seemed to be at least mostly alright. Val was the one that needed him right now...whether he knew it or not. Persistant, maybe..but he really wanted to make Val smile.
Viscount Greenleaf
Val cocked his head to the side as he got close enough to see the individual holding the blade, which was now shimmering brightly in the light. Disturbed would be understatement, eh? He grinned to himself as he saw the person had now pulled his knees to his chest. The red-haired youth wondered how to approach this new guest, and was weighing the benefits of his different techniques (obnoxious or ultra-obnoxious?). He knew Ati was following him, but still miffed about the wake-up call he didn't feel the need to acknowledge the boy.
Bewildered by the many, many words the girl was throwing at him, Vis couldn't do anything but blink. He was easily thrown off balance and it's safe to say his IQ is well below the freezing point in the moments between his waking up and his eating breakfast: the nurses hadn't quite figured out yet why food had such an effect on him. "It's alright, really" he managed to stutter as the girl's gaze dropped to the floor. Standing up like he had intended he gestured to the couch. "It's okay if you sit here, I don't mind."
Bewildered by the many, many words the girl was throwing at him, Vis couldn't do anything but blink. He was easily thrown off balance and it's safe to say his IQ is well below the freezing point in the moments between his waking up and his eating breakfast: the nurses hadn't quite figured out yet why food had such an effect on him. "It's alright, really" he managed to stutter as the girl's gaze dropped to the floor. Standing up like he had intended he gestured to the couch. "It's okay if you sit here, I don't mind."
Steal
Steal's eyes glittered strangely as Zak took charge of the interesting greeting of seeing someone new before him. The usually peaceful and friendly lips of Steal curled into something closer to an angry smirk as the boy uncurled, the bottle sliding down into his lap.
Ehhh... what is this.. a ghost or somethin? Zak spoke carefuly through Steal as the blade shifted, hand closeing tighter over it. Well ghost boy.. do me a favor and toss this bottle out. Its cramping my Style and makeing my pawn into more of a wuss.
Steal's natural voice cried out. "Noooooo noooo I wanna keep my pretty... it was given to me cause.. cause Its pretty and its mine."
Disturbed and Steal.. understatement for sure.
Ehhh... what is this.. a ghost or somethin? Zak spoke carefuly through Steal as the blade shifted, hand closeing tighter over it. Well ghost boy.. do me a favor and toss this bottle out. Its cramping my Style and makeing my pawn into more of a wuss.
Steal's natural voice cried out. "Noooooo noooo I wanna keep my pretty... it was given to me cause.. cause Its pretty and its mine."
Disturbed and Steal.. understatement for sure.
Viscount Greenleaf
Trying to frown and laugh at the same time, Val's face ended up looking fairly confused. He had gotten close enough to hear the boy mumbling to himself in an unbalanced, neurotic way and thought he saw the boy tightening his grip, as if he wanted to defend himself against the imaginary friend. Before Val could turn his considerable smirking into actual laughter, though, he heard (thought?) a voice running through his head. The voice was harsh and demanding, both qualities which Val thoroughly loved in himself but hated in anyone else.
"I'm sorry, I think I may have missed the magic word" Val replied to the ghostly voice's request.
"I'm sorry, I think I may have missed the magic word" Val replied to the ghostly voice's request.
Steal
Magic word? Zak scoffed at that and rolled his eyes, forceing Steal to shift to his knees, the bottle of opium gas rolling away from him and under a cupboard. Im not some freaken fairy to use magic .
Steal groaned and tried to grab his head, wanting the barrage of anger to stop. Zak was in a crabby mood and it was not going to get better. He tried to tell Zak to calm down but it was not going to work, so his attempt was poor.
Zak glanced over at the bottle, makeing Steal's head turn to do it. Heh looks like I wont need your help afterall. He ain't getting that back.
Just like that Steal was back in control.. to a point, now he was sniffling and reaching for the bottle. "Noo.. the sparkly!"
Steal groaned and tried to grab his head, wanting the barrage of anger to stop. Zak was in a crabby mood and it was not going to get better. He tried to tell Zak to calm down but it was not going to work, so his attempt was poor.
Zak glanced over at the bottle, makeing Steal's head turn to do it. Heh looks like I wont need your help afterall. He ain't getting that back.
Just like that Steal was back in control.. to a point, now he was sniffling and reaching for the bottle. "Noo.. the sparkly!"
Autumn_Fury
Ati was well-aware that Val was ignoring him...and it did hurt a little..but he wasn't about to give up. He was used to having Val mad at him, annoyed by him..hell, the red-hair grouch changed moods more often and more quickly than Autumn did. And so, he sighed, moving up beside him to blink at the subject of Val's attention. A person...with a knife..and a bottle. Oh, this couldn't be good...
Kind words. Autumn relaxed for a fraction of a minute, but then tensed again. Was he teasing her? Trying to make her relax so it would hurt more when he laughed at her? Eying him suspsciously, she slowly sat down, resolving not to let her guard down...not to let him laugh. "I.." What could she say? With a shrug she curled up a bit, peering over to Ati in a plea for help. But..he was busy. So what now? "Sorry.." she murmured again, wincing. "You don't..don't have to let me sit here. S'your couch..."
Kind words. Autumn relaxed for a fraction of a minute, but then tensed again. Was he teasing her? Trying to make her relax so it would hurt more when he laughed at her? Eying him suspsciously, she slowly sat down, resolving not to let her guard down...not to let him laugh. "I.." What could she say? With a shrug she curled up a bit, peering over to Ati in a plea for help. But..he was busy. So what now? "Sorry.." she murmured again, wincing. "You don't..don't have to let me sit here. S'your couch..."
Viscount Greenleaf
This girl is weird. Vis thought to himself, balancing uncomfortably on one leg as he often did when denied a sitting space. "Could you maybe.. move a little? It's not my couch, really" he emphasized that last word, unsure of whether the girl had any idea who the Happy Home belonged to, "but I would like to sit there." Grinning carefully he made a pleading gesture with his slender hands, fairly oblivious to what Val or Ati was up to. The soft rumbling of his stomach made him blush, and reminded him that he'd still had no breakfast. "On second thought.. Maybe I'll get something to eat. Would you.. like to join me?" He questioned, attempting a most friendly look.
Caught between two conflicting desires (get the bottle and spite the voice - leave the bottle and spite the boy), Val's frown left deep creases in the purple skin that seemed to be stretched particularly tightly over his bones this morning. Turning to Ati, this frown quickly disappeared into a grin as an idea popped up in his mind. "Ati.. As long you're just standing there, why not help the poor boy? He's obviously desperate." Val waved his hand at the person currently half-way under the cupboard. This way the red-head would keep his bad-a** (Val's words, not mine) reputation and he'd be able to anger that obnoxious murmuring in the back of his head.
Caught between two conflicting desires (get the bottle and spite the voice - leave the bottle and spite the boy), Val's frown left deep creases in the purple skin that seemed to be stretched particularly tightly over his bones this morning. Turning to Ati, this frown quickly disappeared into a grin as an idea popped up in his mind. "Ati.. As long you're just standing there, why not help the poor boy? He's obviously desperate." Val waved his hand at the person currently half-way under the cupboard. This way the red-head would keep his bad-a** (Val's words, not mine) reputation and he'd be able to anger that obnoxious murmuring in the back of his head.
Autumn_Fury
Autumn started scrambling toward the other side of the couch, still biting her lip unhappily. She couldn't help but smile, however, as she heard the soft rumble of Vis's stomache..although she did hide that smile behind her hand quickly, not wanting to offend him, or for him to think that she was laughing at him. "I...Yes. Sure. That'd be nice..." Her eyes softened a bit, and she did smile at him now, getting awkwardly to her feet. "I, ah..I've only been here once or twice...and never actually..looked around, you know? So..l-lead on."
Ati blinked at Val's words, surprised. Val thinking about helping somebody? That was odd. It didn't escape him that Val wasn't doing anything to help the boy himself, but gave a mental shrug. It was the thought that counted, right? And so, he wandered over to Steal. "Need some help?" came the soft question, along with a shy smile. He quickly retrieved the bottle, and held it out to him, not even considering that he might be doing more harm than help.
Ati blinked at Val's words, surprised. Val thinking about helping somebody? That was odd. It didn't escape him that Val wasn't doing anything to help the boy himself, but gave a mental shrug. It was the thought that counted, right? And so, he wandered over to Steal. "Need some help?" came the soft question, along with a shy smile. He quickly retrieved the bottle, and held it out to him, not even considering that he might be doing more harm than help.
Viscount Greenleaf
A few thoughts registered in Vis' mind, but his stomach managed to produce such a racket he couldn't think about them for more than a second. Which was alright, they weren't that important anyway. Something to do with the way the girl smiled, or something like that. He too got to his feet and courteously held out a hand, accompanied by a light bow. He wasn't inexperienced with showing women around, just slightly out of practise. His free hand pointed to a hallway, the only hallway leading out of the room and he flashed his new acquaintance another smile. "It's right down the hall.. The food might not be great, but food is food."
Granted, getting back at the voice wasn't the only reason Val had asked Ati to pick up the bottle. Ever since Ati (and Nexi, too) had matured the purple apparition was taking way too much pleasure in watching them. Tilting his head to get a better view at Ati bending over, a grin spread across his face that had nothing to do with the adorable helpfulness Ati was displaying.
Autumn_Fury
Autumn blushed faintly as he bowed to her, but mirrored the motion. "I, ah. It'll be great, whatever it is.." And this, at least, was true..especially since Aut's diet consisted mostly of sweets, and soups, and tea. It was only recently that she'd started trying to make other things...Ati was fascinated by food, as he was now able to hold it, and eat it. She offered another smile in return for Vis's, and hesitantly linked her arm with his. "Do you live here..?" She asked curiously, carefully keeping herself from looking at him as she spoke. Maybe if she didn't look at him, he wouldn't look at her. Ugh, people always made her so nervous...
Steal
Something inside the bottle jingled around as it was reached for, it seemed to be upset but.. hey, what can a gas being do. Nothing.. specially not when corked up. -.-;; stupid cork...
Steal gave a weak nod and reached his hands toward the bottle, his eyes wide with dismay. He hardly noticed that the other boy was watching Ati as he went to get the bottle, he was too upset. He wanted it back but was too afraid to go against the anger of Zak. As a tribue to the blade's anger, a small cut formed on his palm when the exacto slipped down. "Ahhh.. no.. sorry.. no don't hurt me Zak... please..."
Zak flashed forward in anger. What the heck are you doing telling that kid to get the bottle back. Its bad news!
Steal gave a weak nod and reached his hands toward the bottle, his eyes wide with dismay. He hardly noticed that the other boy was watching Ati as he went to get the bottle, he was too upset. He wanted it back but was too afraid to go against the anger of Zak. As a tribue to the blade's anger, a small cut formed on his palm when the exacto slipped down. "Ahhh.. no.. sorry.. no don't hurt me Zak... please..."
Zak flashed forward in anger. What the heck are you doing telling that kid to get the bottle back. Its bad news!
Autumn_Fury
Ati froze as he heard another voice, blinking. "Bad news..?" he asked, wincing as he stared at the cut on the boy's hand. He noted the way that Val was watching him, a little shiver going through him, but merely gave him a curious look and turned back to the boy with the knife. "What's in it, sir?" He supposed it must have been him that had spoken...just...in a different voice. Right.
Viscount Greenleaf
Looking at the girl from the corner of his eyes, he felt a twinge of rejection as he saw that she was trying her best not to look at him. He wondered if there was something wrong with his hair, or with his face.. Perhaps it was the straightjacket he had on? Furrowing his brow in displeasure he looked away and began strolling towards the galley. Her question caught him slightly off guard, but he managed to continue walking as a hesistant answer escaped his mouth.. "Yeah." His grey eyes stared at the wall to his left as he miserably added "I'm probably going to be here forever, too" in his mind.
Val returned Ati's curious look with a wink and looked behind him to see what Vis was up to, but decided taking a girl for a walk wasn't interesting enough for him to ruin. He casually wandered over to the two boys, casting a disinterested look at the cut on the solid boy's hand as well. "Bad news?" he said, looking up at the boy ".. I guess that's just too bad, now isn't it?"
Val returned Ati's curious look with a wink and looked behind him to see what Vis was up to, but decided taking a girl for a walk wasn't interesting enough for him to ruin. He casually wandered over to the two boys, casting a disinterested look at the cut on the solid boy's hand as well. "Bad news?" he said, looking up at the boy ".. I guess that's just too bad, now isn't it?"
Steal
Steal stammered weakly as he faught off Zak's hold on him, biting his lip. "I don't know... its.. its my sparkly.. please don't let Zak hurt my sparkly." He reached again for the bottle, but this time Zak was ahead of him, the blade snapping at the bottle, moving to slice the cork off of it, letting the mist free to coil around Steal again.
All at once the blade wavered in Steal's hand, the boy's eye lids drooping a bit as a feeling of calm overcame him.
Zak wasn't even able to let out a mutter of rage this time falling back.
All at once the blade wavered in Steal's hand, the boy's eye lids drooping a bit as a feeling of calm overcame him.
Zak wasn't even able to let out a mutter of rage this time falling back.
Autumn_Fury
Autumn made a small sound of distress as Vis frowned, and then as he turned away to stare pointedly elsewhere. Had she done something wrong? Could she fix it, make him smile again..? "That's strange..." she murmured, then grabbed one of his hands, smiling as cheerily as she could. "Hey, I know. Let's go somewhere sometime, okay? It's...it's gotta be better than being here all the time..." She knew that she found it a little creepy here, at least. But maybe he didn't, since he did live here, after all.."That is...if you want to. You don't have to, obviously.."
Ati felt himself colour just a bit at Val's wink, but winked back anyway- or tried to, anyway. He found that it was a good deal more difficult than he'd expected, and only managed to blink a lot. Sigh. He flinched, stumbling backward as the blade bit at the bottle in his hand, which of course caused him to drop the bottle. "Ah! Sorry about that.." he muttered, grabbing for the now-misting bottle that was rolling to its escape.
Steal
Savon curled gently around Steal, the rainbow hued mist looking like a protective cloak almost as it settled where it belonged. Rather than being upset at the loss of its container it spoke with a musical and gentle male voice. "Thank you.. for letting me out finally.. My charge needed me so much... but I couldn't get to him." The voice was directed to Ati, projecting something of.. love(?) even toward him.
Viscount Greenleaf
Tilting his head upwards to stare at the ceiling for a bit, Vis considered what the girl was asking. He hadn't left the Home's grounds in months and wasn't sure he wanted to see what Outside was like. His hand absent-mindedly found its way to the galley-door and he slowly pushed it open. Unable to avoid looking the girl in the eye as he pulled her inside, he had to open his mouth and say something.. "Sure, going outside would be.. nice. Maybe we could go to a movie or something? Or a park? Or the casino? Or the Gambino carniva-" stopping in mid-sentence he realised that he did want to go Outside, and see the people, and breathe the fresh air. Far more cheerful he added a doubting "If you want to, of course."
Val couldn't hold his laughter in as he watched Ati's attempt at blinking. The poor boy just can't get it right, can he? He wanted to walk over, to do something that would certainly cause the blonde boy to close his eyes.. But then, something escaped from the bottle, enveloping the two boys in a rainbow-coloured mist. "Wuh? Ati?"
Autumn_Fury
" I do want to." Autumn replied, her mood lightened by Vis's enthusiasm. "I..I don't gamble much, but..any of those others sound like fun!" It had been a long, long time since she'd done anything with another person...not including the time she'd met that girl in the cafe. Ruriska, was it? But she had met her out, not gone out intentionally with her..but it would be fun, right? Doing something with somebody else...oh. But Ati would have to come too, of course..she wondered if Vis would be able to see him...if he was on medication too. It was..fairly safe to assume he was, she decided, since he did live here, after all. "Would it be okay if I brought my friend, too? He..I don't like leaving him alone any more than I have to." she bit her lip, noticing how strange that would sound if she didn't know about Ati, then went on. "He's a little...uninformed on how the world works..and does things that scare me, sometimes." He's also purple, she thought but didn't say, smiling sheepishly.
Ati blinked at the mist surrounding him and the poor owner of the knife, strangely calm when he might have panicked before. He heard Val call his name, and blinked over at him, a warm smile creeping onto his face. "Yes, Mr. Val?"
Ati blinked at the mist surrounding him and the poor owner of the knife, strangely calm when he might have panicked before. He heard Val call his name, and blinked over at him, a warm smile creeping onto his face. "Yes, Mr. Val?"
Viscount Greenleaf
Val's mind, mere milliseconds away from asking Ati if he was alright, retaliated heavily against this near act of kindness with a snapped "Whatever you're doing with that bloody mist, keep it there. I don't any of it to get in my clothes." Val scoffed, but couldn't help being overtaken by curiousity. He wondered what the mist was, and why it had appeared so suddenly..
"Er.. Sure.. " Vis replied, quite uncertain what to make of this "friend" who wanted to come along. "Is he a.. a.. pet?"
Autumn_Fury
"I'm not doing anything!" Ati protested, pouting just a bit, but staying where he was. What he really wanted to was go over to Val and...well..cling to him. Or something. He flushed a bit further, taking a step toward Val, just to test him.
Autumn laughed softly, shaking her head. "No..not a pet. His name's Ati, and..well..." she sighed, wondering what he'd think of her now. "He's...well...not everybody can see him, but..but not just me! Some other people can see him too, but only if they're from here, and..." she looked almost close to tears, trying to find the right words to convince him, finally just mumuring "I'm not crazy...really, I'm not."
Autumn laughed softly, shaking her head. "No..not a pet. His name's Ati, and..well..." she sighed, wondering what he'd think of her now. "He's...well...not everybody can see him, but..but not just me! Some other people can see him too, but only if they're from here, and..." she looked almost close to tears, trying to find the right words to convince him, finally just mumuring "I'm not crazy...really, I'm not."
