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[a1enzo]

Enzo leads the way in through the closet.

He is not looking forward to this. At all.

What's the worst they could react?

That might be a more comforting thought if he didn't immediately start imagining the answer.

Comments

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob nods. "Go ahead."

[ami_imperfect]

Dani looks over at him, and gives him an encouraging nod.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal, likewise, nods, and touches Enzo's elbow as a silent reminder: We're right here. You're going to be fine.

[a1enzo]

Enzo smiles softly, gives a tiny nod of his own, and produces the mask from his belt.

"You remember when Hex gave me this?"

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Yeah..." Bob frowns. Where is Enzo going with this?

[a1enzo]

He holds it in both hands and fidgets with it as he speaks.

"I... I found out it's not just a mask. It's a real mood. If you wear it, you feel calm. And, like, nothing else."

Normally, as Dot has observed, if something's wrong his biggest problem is his tongue being unable to keep up with the flow of words. But this isn't an emergency or a momentary panic. This is what will my family think of me? There's no going back after he tells them. There's already no going back.

Maybe he could explain it better if he demonstrated NO!

[command_dot_com]

.
.
.
It's probably very scary for Enzo that she's being so quiet right now, but really...she's thinking about how to say things so she doesn't end up rattling him even more.

"...how did you find this out?"

[a1enzo]

"...I put it on. It was before exams, when I was feeling so rotten, and I just wanted to pretend like I could make myself feel better, only then I wasn't pretending 'cause it worked..."

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob stares at Enzo. (Mairi, on the other hand, sucks merrily at her bottle, oblivious.)

"And then what?"

[a1enzo]

"I... I kept it on while I was studying, I didn't really get what was going on 'til I took it off, an' all of a sudden I felt awful again. Worse, maybe."

[nullofscience]

The mask does what now?

Welman noticed that Enzo was way too calm and reluctant to speak right off, so his concern was equal to Dot's maybe more so. Then, he pulled out the mask and...

Oh my...

Scientific awe and parental worry, walking hand in hand, digits entwined. He let the others speak as his thoughts settled themselves. The mask was a face of Hex, and was part of what kept her in check. Welman had studied the logs in the Principle Office. The masks held back such power...and Hex followed their mood to a T. They really did influence her...

"Enzo, have there been any lasting effects? Anything you've noticed at all, no matter how insignificent?"

Better to know sooner than later. He wouldn't imagine Hexidecimal doing any harm to Enzo, but she also was, in all likelihood, not in control of that mask.

[a1enzo]

"Not really? Not like that. Just... just wanting to keep using it. Whenever I get upset. 'Stead of dealing with it myself."

[command_dot_com]

...On the one hand, she wants to give him such a lecture about how BASIC it is to even think that.

And on the other, some of her own coping mechanisms might not be that much better in some respects.

Having gone a year without alcoholic drinks or Java resulted in a lot of donated sweaters, scarves and hats to Bar, and to the welcome-to-the-neighborhood baskets for expecting parents.

"...I can see why it'd seem easier, short term."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"But it wasn't just short-term, was it?" guesses Bob.

[a1enzo]

Enzo shuts his eyes. "No. I mean, it only went on for about a second. But it would've been longer, if Cal didn't figure it out and tell me I was g-getting... addicted."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal speaks up now, partly to draw some attention from Enzo and give him a moment to steady himself.

"I know the signs," he says. "I have personal experience. I was a little worried I might be jumping the gun, but when Enzo told me what was going on, I really didn't like the sound of it all."

[a1enzo]

"And w-when he said, I got so upset I ran off to use it again. So that proves it."

He's trying to steady himself with deep breathing as much as he can without meditating outright. It helps, but he's still trembling a little.

[nullofscience]

Indeed, one can see the uses of a real-live mood in their hands. Never get angry or sad or... Oh dear. The null's thoughts clicked at the notion of it. Even lacking an infection, this mood would keep a mental hold from temptation alone...

"Yes, thank you, Cal. Your intervention is enlightening."

Father mode...engaged. Welman steps before Enzo in a calm manner to get an understanding across to his son.

"Enzo... I know that it was a gift from Hexadecimal, but I don't think it wise to wear it anymore. Your moods are, inevitably, part of what defines you, and you have to master them in your own way, even if it makes the studying harder."

Assuming he accepts this, though, there is the issue of what to DO with the thing. Errr, Guardian? Help?

[a1enzo]

"I know, I know. I haven't used it since then. And I'm not gonna."

His jaw sets in a very Matrix-like way.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"And you're getting rid of it, right?"

[a1enzo]

"I..." He hesitates. "I was gonna hang onto it. To remind me."

It's an Enzo thing, apparently. At least this time it's not a lost body part.

[ami_imperfect]

Anyone looking over at Dani would see the young purple sprite roll her eyes at this.

"If you hang onto it, it's just gonna make the temptation to use it again worse," she tells him gently.

[a1enzo]

"Good." He juts his chin out determinedly. "I can learn to deal with that, too."

[isaysimplewords]

It isn't Cal's favorite coping mechanism, either, even if it does work for some people.

"How long has it been, Enzo?" he asks. Milliways makes it difficult to keep track of other people's timelines.

[a1enzo]

"Most of a month." Translating for User-time, of course.