The Boy

[Black Philip]

Why is this important? It's just a ring! He should mind his own business.

It was just a ring, and Ryan felt the hostility of his thoughts on the issue. Where was this coming from? This was Kerr, and he was just asking questions. Besides, Ryan couldn't figure out why he didn't want to take it off. Maybe he should, just to prove he could? He looked at the ring, studying it for clues.

"I don't normally. Do. Do you want me to?"

The upward inflection showed his apprehension at the prospect. Still, his fingers were already on the ring. He just needed a push.

[Existentially Odd]

"Yes, I think you should," he agreed equably. He wrapped an arm around Ryan's shoulders, his other hand reaching up to gently brush fingertips down the side of his face. They were pressed close together now and Kerr was highly aware of his warm breath washing over him as they stared intently at one another.

[Black Philip]

"Ummmm, okay," he said, slowly pulling off the ring. As he did he began to hyperventilate. Something was happening to him, and it intensified when he tried to take off the ring. It seemed almost like magic.

"I can't," he said, starting to tear up. He was clearly trying, but he could simply not remove it, no matter how hard he tried. "You do it," he said, looking away. He was still having trouble breathing.

[Existentially Odd]

Kerr watched cautiously as Ryan tried to remove the ring from his finger - to no avail. His tongue prodded his fang thoughtfully and he reached over to comply with the boy's wishes, holding his warm hand in the palm of his left while he tugged at the ring with his right. He started gently then increased his effort, pondering whether he should wet the finger with his mouth to make it easier to slip off - but the size of Ryan's finger didn't appear to be the problem.

There was likely information about this ring in the Oligarchy's old files but Kerr wasn't sure exactly where. It might need a deeper investigation. He pulled the ring firmly one more time to be sure it wouldn't budge.

[Black Philip]

The ring came off as Kerr pulled, and Ryan's panic left him right away. It wasn't just relief it had come off. It was like some spell had been broken. He looked to the ring and then to Kerr. His face was slightly fearful, but far more curious. He didn't remember gaining the ring, and it felt familiar, and yet for the first time he wondered why he cared for it so much. Hopefully Kerr would have an answer to that one as well.

"Ummmmm," he said, sounding sheepish. "Something is off about the ring I think."

Ryan didn't see how clearly obvious that was, but he looked adorable saying it.