Tales of the Sanders' Household

Hoodie (Or not.)

Virgil yawned, stretching and checking the time. It was noon o'clock. The anxiety trait supposed he should be, well..anxious about waking up so late but honestly he was way too tired. Three nights in a row of worrying over finals with Thomas (without actually studying at all) had taken its toll on him. He only relented when Patton told him to go to bed with that look on his face.

He yawned again, popping into the living room after patting down his bedhead. Virgil was greeted with the usual scene, Thomas and the others standing in their usual spots talking about who knows what. "Oh hey kiddo-" Patton cut his greeting short, his eyes flicking down to Virgil's arms. Everyone else gradually followed suit, all staring at him without talking.

Patton looked worried, Roman seemed more shocked, Thomas both confused and sad, and Logan's face was unreadable. It made the side very...uncomfortable. "What?" he asked sharply, reaching for his hood so he could pull it over his head.

His fingertips paused when they didn't feel anything.

There was nothing there, which meant he wasn't wearing his hoodie. If he wasn't wearing his hoodie that meant everyone could see his.. "Virgil, is there something you need to tell us?" Logan spoke up, have the common sense to speak gently. Patton, the more emotionally competent trait, tried to take a step towards the angsty side, walking as though approaching a frightened cat. Which, in a way, he was. "Kiddo?" Patton asked, concern showing in his voice.

"I have to- I- I need to go." Virgil said quickly, his voice getting slightly lower and more distorted. He vanished, retreating into his room and slamming the door, slamming it and slumping down into a heap, curling his arms around his knees. The once-smooth skin was littered with jagged, pink lines, most were faint, but a couple stood out. Reminders He had told himself. Just reminders. Most of them were his own fault but... Virgil shook his head, trying to focus more on his breathing, His room certainly wasn't helping, but it was the only place he could be sure he was alone.

Why had he forgotten his damn hoodie?

------Meanwhile, in the living room.-------

All three of the remaining sides winced when Virgil slammed his door. Thomas stared at the spot where the trait had been, shaking his head to clear it. "Did-- did Virgil have scars on his arms?" he asked, worried for the wellbeing of his anxiety. No, he was more than that, Thomas was worried for the sake of his friend. Roman furrowed his brows and nodded. "I saw them too.." he affirmed. Logan nodded, "Yes, I saw them as well. There were...far too many." Patton, out of all of them, seemed the least shocked. "I, uh, guess I have some explaining to do." he took a deep breath.

"I've known for a while. I found him a long time ago wrapping his arms up with a razor next to him. He wouldn't tell me what was wrong, but I made him give me all the knives he had. That worked for a while but.." The usually cheery side seemed distant. "Thomas? Remember that week when you were so anxious it felt like you could barely breathe?" Thomas nodded. "That was the week that Virgil just couldn't handle anything, so he took apart something, somehow got another blade, and I- I- found him lying on the floor of his room..." Patton seemed to have lost his voice, but what was left unsaid was clearly understood.

Thomas looked unwell.

"I understand that he is upset, and overwhelmed, but why hurt himself like this?" Roman asked nobody in particular. Logan, who had been previously silent, spoke up. "I believe, at least from an objective standpoint, that Virgil still feels he does not completely 'fit in' with us. And logically speaking, these feelings get amplified the longer Virgil feels overwhelmed.." Logan suddenly looked as though he had been stricken with a realization. He turned to Patton. "Do you know if Virgil is still doing this? Shouldn't somebody be checking on him?" Patton's eyes widened even more. "I'll go! I'm the most..um, good with feelings." he explained, sinking away to Virgil's room.