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[moointhedark]

[Ever since their return from the Red Room, Charlie has been a lot more subdued and lacks his usual level of energy. He's called his parents, has had it explained to them that he's at some sort of boarding school for troubled kids (since he ran away and all) and somehow they bought it.

That doesn't make anything better, though. He just wants to go home and see them and his cousin again.]

[Cabin Seven]

[Whenever Charlie got scared of thunderstorms, he would sometimes hide under the bed (so long as he didn't think the space was currently occupied by the boogeyman -- sometimes the boogeyman was there or in the closet) and play with his action figures, trying to make the sound effects louder than the thunder.

Since coming back, this is his new favourite activity. It makes him feel better and there's comfort in something so familiar.

Heck, he even pretends to be the boogeyman sometimes, reaching for his cabin mates or their guests' ankles.]

[Anywhere and Everywhere]

[The person he really wants to see out of all the other campers, the one that made him feel safe, is Eponine and Charlie is on a mission to find her. This will take him all over camp until he does, still lacking the usual bounce in his step. Not happy Charlie is kind of freaky, okay.]

Comments

[ospreyed]

[She can tell he's crying, but right now, she can't summon up the strength to take care of him. Not when she's been worn down to her lowest and most vulnerable.] It doesn't matter. You can't protect me. You shouldn't have to, Charlie. No one should.

[She's calming slightly, sniffling.] I just want to go home. I want to see Gavroche and Azelma, and help them. I can't do that. Not if I'm stuck here. My-- [she chokes.] -my dad's going to hurt them without me. They're going to starve without me.

I can't stay here, Charlie! I can't!

[moointhedark]

Can't -- can't they make an exception? Can't they let you go home? It's important to if..!

[Gods, he can't imagine a dad hurting his kids. His parents may be a little spacey, but they've never hurt him.]

[ospreyed]

I don't... I don't know... [she lifts her head slightly, black tears streaming down her cheeks and on to Charlie's shirt.] I don't want them to tell me no. And I can't- I can't tell anyone about any of it, Charlie. I can't.

[moointhedark]

If they're in trouble, then... you gotta tell someone and help, right? Like a super hero? [Because that's what he still thinks, that superheroes will swoop in and save the day.]

[ospreyed]

The world doesn't work like that, Charlie! [She turns on him again.] There aren't superheroes! If there were, my family wouldn't be in this position! I can't tell people because do you know how much pain I could cause my brother and sister? I could go to jail for real this time.

And then I couldn't do anything to help them. Ever.

[moointhedark]

But... [He's at a loss for words again. There are always superheroes; he's seen it in all the cartoons, movies, tv shows. Aren't they at a camp that basically trains heroes?]

But there's still gotta be something someone can do...

[ospreyed]

Like what? I child services? I won't ever see them again. Charlie... And if they find out? My parents? They'll make it worse for them if they aren't taken away.

[moointhedark]

Can't they come to camp too?

[ospreyed]

They're human.

[moointhedark]

So? If they need protecting, anyone should be allowed!

[ospreyed]

...I don't know. They need protection from something worse than gods and monsters, Charlie. They need protection from humans.

[moointhedark]

Then we're gonna protect them and save them. I promise, Ep. I promise they'll be okay.

[ospreyed]

Don't say that, Charlie. [She pulls away from him.] Don't make promises you can't keep.

[moointhedark]

But I can keep it! I mean it!

[ospreyed]

You may mean it, but that doesn't mean you can. Some things just aren't possible.