Todd Wants Key's Face

Todd: *grins* He'll get used to it. :P

Sam: Maybe. >_>;

Todd: No, you will - Sarah had to get used to it, and before her, I had to get used to it. The roof can be scary. :)

Sarah: Yeah. :P Hey Sam, wanna go outside?

Sam: Yeah, okay. :)

Todd: Right then, you two do that - I think I'll try looking for a job again. *he gets off the couch and heads over to the family's only computer - he was hoping for a job that allowed him to work from home*

Sarah: Good luck, dad! ^^ *heads outside with Sam, her smile fading a bit*

Sam: How long has he been looking for a job? :/

Me: since he got out of the asylum.

Me: Thank you~

Sarah: Since he got out of the asylum... he hasn't had any luck at all. no one'll hire him. <:/

Sam: Wow... and he sure seems positive, too...

Sarah: He's always positive... It's what keeps mom going. :/ If he wasn't always happy like that, she would've given up already. <:(

Sam: Oh... was he like that before he...? ...You know...

Sarah: Was he always happy? Yeah. At least, mom says he was.

Sam: ... Weird... I wonder what made him go crazy, then...

Sarah: ...mom says it was the second outbreak. *pauses, then speaks quietly* ...did i ever tell you that I got infected?

Sam: *his eyes widen and he shakes his head* Noo... D8

Sarah: ...Oh. *shrugs* Well, now you know. But yeah, second outbreak, mom and I got infected, and that drove dad over the edge. :/

Sam: ... and then after the outbreak, he blew up the school...

Sarah: ...mhmm...

Sam: ... man... you know, my dad also got infected. D:> ...

Sarah: Yeah, I know...

Sam: ... I still remember him lunging at me...

Sarah: <:( *gives him a sympathetic look, and puts a hand on his shoulder* Hey... you know he didn't mean to...

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Sam: ... I like you... <:(

Sarah: *looks at him, confused* huh...? OH! *claps a hand over her mouth, looking shocked* D-Did I really say that out loud? D:

Sam: Yeah, you kinda did... <:/ is that really true?

Sarah: ...Yeah, sort of. I mean, everyone knows what he did... when they find out he's my dad, they stop talking to me cuz they think I'm gonna suddenly go crazy and kill them. :/

Sam: But it's not like you're even RELATED to him - you're ADOPTED... well, that's not the point - but that's really MEAN! D:>

Sarah: no, see, that's the thing, I TELL THEM i'm adopted and it still doesn't help. D: i mean, yeah, i can deal with it, but it'd be nice to have someone TALK to me sometimes...

Sam: I'll talk to you. I will. I'm doing that right now, aren't I?

Sarah: *smiles at this* I know... I was just thinking it'd be nice to have more than ONE... :/ why am i angsting again? XP

Sam: 'Cuz you're a teenager. :P C'mon, let's get off this roof - my butt hurts. :P

Sarah: *mumbles* kids can angst... *slides herself over to the edge of the roof, then hops back down onto the ledge and into her room* come on, I'll help you down!

Sam: Okay - *he carefully climbs down from the roof, onto the window's ledge. He was stuck* mnn... D:

Sarah: whoops. okay, okay, give me a hand and I'll pull you in, alright? D:

Sam: *gives Sarah his hand* D:>

Sarah: *takes his hand and pulls him into the room, making sure he lands on his feet* There... see, it's not that hard. ^^

Sam: Yeah, I guess. <_<; So, uh... can we be as on the ground as possible right now? I think I actually WANT to go downstairs, now. ._.;

Sarah: pffft... Okay, whatever. :P Come on, scaredy-cat. *leaves her room, and heads downstairs*

Sam: I'm not a scaredy-cat. <_< *follows Sarah down the stairs*

Todd: Back again?

Sam: Yessir. ._.

Sarah: Yup. ^^ He doesn't like the roof. :P

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Sam: Oh... D:> I'm really sorry about that - but at least they're not hurting you, right? <:(

Sarah: *shrugs* Even if they wanted to, they'd never get close enough. :P

Sam: Ahah, right. :P Uh, so now what? :/

Me: Sarah lies.

Sarah: ...I dunno. I come up here to think. It feels different from when you're down there. We could... talk...?

Me: Knew it. XD

Sam: About what? :I

Me: long sleeves are a miracle. :D

Sarah: ...I dunno. How dumb are people at your school?

Sam: Pretty dumb. They can't help but hurt each others' feelings. It's really stupid - and they're so immature! This is a really serious time for everyone, and they won't even stop talking during a lesson! >:/

Sarah: I gotta say, that's pretty dumb. :/ at least there are some people who actually TRY in my classes...

Sam: Well, that's 'cuz it's high school! See, in elementary school, it really SUCKS when you're pretty smart in a class full of dumb kids - every day is TORTURE.

Sarah: I can only imagine... D: how in the world do you deal with it?

Sam: *quietly* ... punching them... b-but it's not my fault! They say... things...

Sarah: What?? But you're not the type--What do they say!? D:>

Sam: Hey, they were making fun of the X-WDs, and my DAD is an X-WD, and they should NEVER get away with that! D:<

Sarah: I'm pretty sure your dad won't be very happy when he hears you've gotten into fights...!

Sam: He hasn't found out yet - I'm careful. >_>

Sarah: ...you mean you've never gotten caught? o.o

Sam: ... well, he isn't around much, anyway - he's always busy. <:/

Sarah: Oh, well yeah, right... duh... mmh... Well... i know how you feel, I barely get to see mom anymore. <:/

Sam: Well, at least you have your dad... <:(

Sarah: *mutters bitterly* No one likes me 'cuz of my dad...

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Sam: Ugh... I know they're supposed to be part of the future of the human race, or whatever, and that's why I'm freaked out by the future. DX

*they arrive at Sarah's house*

Todd: *in the house, he was laying on the couch, watching TV - bored*

Sarah: I couldn't agree more. D: *drops her backpack when she gets inside* Hey, dad.

Todd: *smiles at her* Hey, Sarah. :)

Sam: *glances away from Todd while speaking to him - his voice was quiet and submissive towards Todd, like always* ... Hi Mr. Huntings... *In truth, he felt uncomfortable around Todd - he knew the man had issues - EVERYONE did - and that it would only take him forgetting to take his pill ONCE for him to go ballistic*

Todd: *waves at Sam, still smiling* Hi, Sam. ^^

Sarah: *glances at Sam, and frowns (this always happens...) she nudges him lightly, then nods towards the stairs* <:/

Sam: *glances over at the stairs, then nods, walking over and climbing up them quickly - away from Todd*

Todd: Well, wait - Sarah, hey - how was your day? D:

Sarah: *pauses in front of the stairs* It was okay. People are stupid. *continues up the stairs after Sam*

Todd: Uh... alright. <:/

Sam: *now at the top of the stairs, he steps back and waits for Sarah*

Sarah: *continues down the hall, and goes into her room, motioning for Sam to follow. avoiding the random things strewn about the floor, she heads for her window and opens it*

Sam: *follows her to her room* Oh - Okay then. :/

Sarah: *rolls her eyes* Come on, it's more fun to sit on the roof anyway. :P *climbs up on the window ledge and hops up to grab the edge of the roof. she pulls herself up, then calls after Sam* come on, I'll help you up!

Sam: >.>; *walks over to the window and carefully climbs out, standing on the ledge while holding onto the edge of the roof tightly* ._.;

Sarah: *laughs a little at his expressing, then grabs him and pulls him up* There we go... easy-peasy. ^^

Sam: *glances back down, behind him, and immediately regrets it* U-uh, yeah... sure. Easy-peasy. *scoots himself further onto the roof*

Sarah: You know there's no way to fall off this roof unless you try, right? *scoots up to sit next to him, hoping that'd make him feel a bit safer* You'll be fine... :/

Sam: Well, okaaayyy... :/ So... uh... sorry about getting kinda uncomfortable around your dad... I mean... it's because of... you know...

Sarah: It's okay, I get it... I get that a lot, actually. At least you're nice about it. :P

Sam: ... no one else is nice about it? <:/

Sarah: ...Remember how I said it just got worse in high school? Yeah. Stupid people think it's okay to pin what my dad did on me. It gets really annoying after a while. D:

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Todd: I don't understand why you're so speechless about it... and I don't understand why you don't think I'm so awful - and I KNOW it's possible to love someone who's awful, even if it IS some sick, hollow love that once existed, only for fate to scoop out its actual contents... not that I'm talking about us, because what I described was more like an abusive relationship, I guess... what was I talking about...? Oh yeah - love is a bullshoot excuse, because, as I said before, loving an awful person is possible... but you don't think I'm bad at all... do you?

Key: ... *shakes her head* ...i don't. all of those things you did... you wouldn't have done any of it if the outbreak hadn't happened... you were just under pressure...

Todd: ... I want people to stop hating me, then... if it wasn't my fault, then I need to find a way for them to see that...

Key: ...you just have to give them some time... I don't know how much else we can do...

Todd: ... yeah...

*it was eight years later, with Todd fully recovered, while nothing else changed, that Harry Gatzsky got an idea while in his and Claire's office*

Harry: ... Claire. I think we really need to help the rest of the world now with the Green Flu.

Claire: *looks up from the paperwork she was working on* ... *nods* I think it's about time we do that.

Harry: ... I also think we should personally go there with our soldiers.

meanwhile

Sam: *walking home from school, humming a tune to himself*

Claire: ...do we have enough troops for that?

meanwhile

Sarah: *is headed home as well, running along the rooftops like her father taught her. spotting Sam on the ground nearby, she leaps off a lower building and lands near him, rolling to absorb the shock and ending up next to him* Hey, Sam. ^^

Harry: Damn straight we do.

meanwhile

Sam: *freezes up when she does this* D8 ... you need to stop doing that.

Claire: *smiles a bit* Then we'd better start planning.

meanwhile

Sarah: But it's fun! You'd think you'd be used to it by now. :P

Harry: Well, we've nearly always been at least semi-friendly with Europe... maybe we should start there, then start moving towards the more densely populated continents, since we'd need to build a resistance anyway?

meanwhile

Sam: *pouts* You can come from ANYWHERE, though! |:C

Claire: That makes sense...

meanwhile

Sarah: That's because I'm a ninja. *strikes a ninja pose* ;D

Harry: Well, let's go inform the troops now.

meanwhile

Sam: No, you're just spontaneous - and spontaneous things can give people heart attacks! X(

Sarah: Naw, you just need to loosen up a bit. :P Why are we still standing here? *keeps walking down the sidewalk*

Sam: ! *walks with Sarah - since his parents weren't home, he had to go with her to her house, as usual*

Sarah: *talks again once he catches up* Sooo, how're you doing?

Sam: I'm just doing, is all. I can't believe how dumb some of the kids in my class are, though. It's crazy. How about you?

Sarah: I'm doing okay. But you're right, people are dumb sometimes. What'd they do?

Sam: Oh, just normal dumb-kid things. Not shutting up for the teacher, saying all this mean stuff about the X-WDs - just... normal stuff for them. Is it better or worse in high school?

Sarah: *sighs* It's worse. It's like switching school makes them more confident or something, they just get dumber and meaner...

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Todd: ...I dunno... like I can't move. How are YOU feeling?

Key: I'm fine... *places her hand on his* ...you'd think we'd get a break...

Todd: ... this isn't a break...?

Key: ...I was just hoping the bad luck would stop. It's like a curse, or something. We just never get a lucky break. It's one thing after another. <:/

Todd: ... Yes we did... all those years happily raising Sarah... that's not a break...?

Key: *quietly* ...I meant after the outbreak...

Todd: *snorts - he was still drugged, so his response seemed normal to him* Picky, picky...

Key: *is a bit taken aback by his response* Well, excuse me for being worried about you. >:/

Todd: Oh, you shouldn't worry about me... jus' so long as I'm not doing parkour on tall buildings... that's... that's how I'm destined to die, I think... just like my dad... and don't get mad at me because you are being picky... we had ten happy years t'gether... ten... thas a new record, I think. An' you said after the outbreak - well thas okay, cuz I got released from the asylum, so... so thas pretty okay. Thas a break - some good news right there. We jus' live with stupid people. And maybe this - I deserve this. Killed those children, blamed someone else, killed more people. Why do you still visit me, and love me, and all that? I'm a bad, bad man... *somewhere around the middle of all that, he was mumbling his words, running out of steam, but still allowing things to tumble out of his unfiltered mouth*

Key: *opens her mouth to respond, but absolutely nothing comes out. she doesn't know what to say, she truly honestly doesn't. its was a lot to take in* ...

Todd: ... I get it. You don't know what to say right now. 'Cuz I'm speaking my mind right now, and my mind's like'a cracked mirror... it once showed the real me, but now it'sa dist'rted mess. Right?

Key: ... *nods, but barely noticably* ...

Todd: Mnngh... I knew it... but will you say SOMETHING...?

Key: ...I don't know how to answer...

Todd: ... well... what's your opinion of me, now?

Key: ...I don't know... I really, really don't know anymore.

Todd: ... ... Okay... then you agree with me, I guess. I AM a bad, bad man... please don't visit me again - for both our sakes. I shouldn't be with anyone.

Key: ...You're forgetting Sarah... even if I DO stop coming, Sarah'll just keep asking and asking about you, where you went, why she can't see you... A-And I never said I agreed with you, Todd...

Todd: ... then I don't understand...

Key: don't understand what, exactly...?

up

The next morning

Harry: *he gets up early - mostly because he was forced awake. His head was pounding from his revived craving for nicotine, which Harry tried to ignore as best as he could, as difficult as it may be. He sat up in bed, staring blankly at nothing, rubbing his head with a hand* mnn...

Claire: *doesn't wake up until a little later* mmnnh... morning... *feels around for Harry next to her, and is confused when she doesn't find him, so she sits up as well* ...Harry, you okay...?

Harry: *still rubbing his head* ... y... yeah... this is what I get for smoking again, I guess...

Claire: *sighs as she rests her head against his shoulder* I told you you shouldn't have started that up again...

Harry: ... I was really stressed and scared, Claire... I didn't really know what I was doing...

Claire: ...I know, I'm sorry... It'll go away eventually...

Harry: ... Yeah... *he gets out of bed and starts getting dressed in his work clothes* Lots of shoot to do today.

Claire: Hah, no kidding... *gets out of bed and does the same*

Harry: *gets his clothes on, then goes into the bathroom, brushes his teeth and such, and walks back out* I hope the soldiers we'll be sending out will actually be WILLING to protect X-WDs... a lot of them are racist...

Claire: We're just going to have to change that, then. *goes into the bathroom to finish getting ready herself*

Harry: If we can.

meanwhile

Todd: *a problem occurs. His repaired heart valve fails, and blocks off a path for blood to travel to the brain. Todd soon finds himself having a stroke*

Claire: Won't hurt to try.

meanwhile

Key: *doesn't suspect a thing, going on with her normal morning routine of getting Sarah up and taking her to school, then going straight to work... it's a bit harder getting there on time, since Todd isn't around to take Sarah, but she makes to with what she has... at least they can still support themselves*

*much later*

Todd: *has been worked on again by his doctor, having been able to press the "call nurse" button at the very beginnings of his stroke*

Doctor: *has been able to save Todd, afterwards needing to once again preform surgery to repair the broken heart valve - he had to reinforce it with a device*

Todd: *stares up at the ceiling, numb all over from the drugs used on him* ...

Key: *had managed to excuse herself from work to come see him, wondering if he could really take any more abuse like this... she runs into the doctor on the way there* OH! Dr. Hyll... Is Todd doing okay? D:>

Doctor: He had a stroke. We had to help him with that, then fix his heart valve again.

Todd: *looks off to the side, his mind fuzzy*

Key: *quietly* ...is he going to make it...?

Doctor: Don't worry about it - he's safe.

Todd: ...

Key: ...alright... can I, um...? *looks past the doctor at Todd*

Doctor: Sure sure - go right ahead. *steps aside*

Todd: *turns his head and finds Key there* ...Oh...

Key: ... *goes to stand right next to the bed* ...hey... how're you feeling? <:(

up

Harry: ... poor Todd... he has to go through all of this crap...

Claire: *sighs* I know... we can't do much for him unless we hunt this gunman down... but even then, what if someone else tries the same?

Harry: Y'know, with that thought in mind, I'd LIKE to put him in protective custody, but I wouldn't want us to tear him away from Sarah and Key again...

Claire: Knowing him, he wouldn't agree to it either... he'll just have to be more careful.

Harry: ... and WE'LL have to place more patrols on the streets...

Claire: *nods* That's definitely something we'll have to do... prejudice against X-WD's is still strong. :/

Me: *ARE still strong.

Harry: ... well... we got past racism of black people, and Asians, and Muslims, and we got past homophobia - we got past all SORTS of prejudice against race, religion, and even gender - we CAN get past a hatred of a new SPECIES. And before you try correcting me, Claire, I'm sorry, but the X-WDs ARE a new species - they are NOT human anymore. They have equal rights, but aren't human... we aren't human.

Me: nope. *prejudice* is the object there, not X-WDs. Prejudice *IS* not prejudice *ARE* :/

Claire: ...But you used to be. That alone should be enough reason to make you equal. <:/

Me: XD;

Harry: ... I know. Equal rights and all that. But don't think that makes us human NOW.

Me: GRAMMAR NAZI BACKFIRE. XD

Claire: I didn't say I thought that, I know what you mean... I just don't think you should be discriminated against because of something you had no control over. :/

Harry: And I completely agree with that.

Claire: Now comes the hard part-- to get everyone ELSE to agree. :/

Harry: ... We'll sleep on it, alright?

Claire: ...right... *stands up from the chair she was sitting on, and starts heading upstairs* Oh, umm... were Key and Sarah doing okay?

Harry: ... yeah. Yeah, they were fine. Well, obviously, Sarah seriously missed her dad, but... yeah. They're doing fine.

Claire: That's good to hear... I worry about them sometimes... *continues upstairs*

Harry: *travels up to the bedroom with Claire* Ditto. I'd hate to see anything fall apart between them... *he climbs into bed*

Claire: They've gone through enough as it is... *climbs into bed as well* I'm surprised they're still all together...

Harry: ... They're strong. All of them.

Claire: Mhmm... *scoots over towards him* I really hope they stay that way.

Harry: ... They will. They just... will. *he puts his head on her shoulder, and soon finds himself falling asleep*

Claire: *puts and arm over him, and falls asleep there as well*

up

Doctor: *uses the key to unlock Todd's handcuffs. He puts the handcuffs on the small table beside Todd's bed*

Todd: Uh... thanks. Those were really starting to chaff.

Doctor: ... whatever. Sure. *he walks out*

Harry: I don't like that doctor.

Key: I don't like him either. Keep getting bad vibes from him. :/

Sarah: mmph. I dun like him either. :C *to Todd* ...Good hug now? :D

Todd: Yup. :D *he carefully sits up, making sure not to knock anything over, or accidentally loosen the IVs and wires from his wrists, then pulls Sarah into a warm hug - a FULL hug*

Harry: *looks over at this* :)

Sarah: *is comfortable enough with hugging him tightly, and does so* <333

Key: <:) ...

Todd: *after much hugging, he lets go* ... Now then... I'd hate for you all to just waste your time with this sack of chained-to-the-bed-and-no-fun... maybe you guys should head out, and I dunno, run around like crazy for me. Because I really want to do that right now. D:

Harry: Are your legs sore?

Todd: Very. DX

Harry: ... heh... Well, Claire might be wondering where I am by now, so... I'll head out. Bye, Todd - feel better soon, okay?

Todd: Will do. :P

Harry: *leaves*

Sarah: I'll run around for you~ :D

Key: You do that all the time already. :P I think we should get going too, Sarah.

Sarah: Aww. :(

Todd: C'mon, Sarah... you came from school, you probably have homework... <:P *he lies back down* Oof... if the doctor saw me up like that, he might have had a fit...

meanwhile

Harry: *walks back to the house*

Key: Yeah, try to play it safe for a while. If you hurt yourself, it'll only take longer for you to get out. ^^;

Sarah: Aaaand... that'd bad. D:

Todd: Aha... yeah. ^^;

meanwhile

Harry: *arrives back at the house, entering it* I'm home!

Key: Well, we're off. *gives Todd a quick hug* We'll be back to visit soon, okay? :)

Sarah: ^^

meanwhile

Claire: *is farther in the house, on the phone*

Todd: Alright. <:)

meanwhile

Harry: *explores a bit before he finally finds Claire. He keeps quite for her*

Key and Sarah: *leave the room, headed back home*

meanwhile

Claire: *hangs up after a few minutes, and sighs* No luck...

Harry: ... well, the good news is that Todd's awake, and he's gonna be okay. <:/

Claire: He is? That's definitely good news...

Harry: Yeah... now hopefully we can catch the gunman before Todd can go home, or else he might try again... and succeed...

Claire: How much longer does Todd have to stay in the hospital?

Harry: I asked the doctor immediately when I found him in the hall - he said a month, that being the earliest unless something goes wrong.

Claire: *nods* That should be plenty of time.

up

Me: Listening to "On My Way" from Brother Bear. XDDDDDDD

Todd: Hey. Hey, Harry. Come here.

Harry: Uh... are you sure that's okay...?

Todd: Come on... Key did it... just don't touch the wires...

Harry: ... *he walks over* :/

Todd: *give him an awkward one-handed hug*

Harry: ... *he hugs him back*

Me: *has no headphones* ...Todd can do that handcuffed? either way, aww. <3

Key: *reaches the school as soon as the bell rings, and watches as within moments, kids started pouring out. she waits for Sarah*

Sarah: *comes out and spots her immediately, and runs over to her* Hi mom! ...Why're you so smiley?

Key: I have good news. ^^ Your dad's finally awake. :)

Sarah: :D!!! Can we go see him??

Key: of course, he's waiting for you. :)

Me: Are you on a computer?? D:

Todd and Harry: *hugging <3*

Me: no i was not. :P

Sarah: well, let's go then! D: *hurries off in the direction of the hospital*

Key: *laughs a bit, and follows her*

*after a bit of walking, they reach the hospital*

Key: Okay Sarah, you've gotta be careful not to touch any wires or anything, okay?

Sarah: okay.

Key: *opens the door into the room*

Todd: *lets go of Harry* Sarah! <:D

Harry: *steps away from Todd to give Sarah room*

Sarah: *runs into the room, stopping just short of the bed* Hi dad! :D You're okay! ^^

Key: *steps into the room* :)

Todd: Yeah - I am, now. ^^ Come over here - CLOSER, Sarah, you're like eighty miles away from me, and I want to hug you as best as I can right now - which, as have found out from Harry, would be hugging either your leg, or your side. ^^;

Harry: You'll be out of here soon, Todd. <:P Anyway, I don't think you need those handcuffs anymore, since you took your medicine.

Todd: Hey, yeaahh...

Key: hm. we'll have to see when the doctor comes back, then. :P

Sarah: *laughs a little, then moves closer to the bed, hugging her father cautiously* <3

Todd: *hugs Sarah as best as h can* There we go...

Harry: Maybe one of the nurses can, if we call one in.

Sarah: *hugs him a bit more tightly* <3

Key: Right! Um. Where's the...? *looks around for the 'call nurse' button*

Todd: *hugs Sarah, happy* <3

Harry: Found it. *presses it*

Key: Heheh. ^^;

Sarah: Mmh. *loosens her hug a bit* I'm happy to see you awake. I was worried when i heard you... D:>

Harry: *glances over at Sarah* ...

Todd: ... When you heard that I got shot?

Sarah: ...one of my friends from school told me... i had been waiting but you never came... I ran to the hospital as fast as I could...

Key: <:( ...

Todd: ... I'm sorry, Sarah... you must've been so upset... D:>

Harry: ...

Nurse: *Comes in* Mr. Huntings? Do you need any help?

Todd: Oh! Yeah - these handcuffs - I need them off. D:

Nurse: ... hang on, I'll go get your doctor - was it Dr. Hyll?

Todd: Uhh...

Harry: That's the one.

Nurse: Alright. *walks out*

Sarah: mmh... i was scared for a while... but it's not your fault, it's that guy's...

Key: <:/

Harry: We're hunting him down, Sarah... he can't hide forever.

Todd: Right. We won't have to worry about him ever again - and I'm much better, now. <:)

Sarah: That's good to hear... <:) *hugs him again*

Key: ...

Todd: *hugs Sarah*

Harry: *steps aside to let the doctor in*

Doctor: Alright, alright, I've got the key - stand aside, little girl.

Sarah: :/ *reluctantly releases Todd, and steps back*

Key: *waits* ...

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