[About fifteen minutes later (maybe more, maybe less, depending on where exactly the intersection is in relation to his house), Sam's big car rolls up to the curb nearest where Feste is waiting, parks, and he climbs out and heads the boy's way.]
[Feste takes a step or two forward, halting suddenly at the edge of the pavement- there's the ledge where it drops to be the road, and the road salt lining the streets, and the road itself, but they're pretty sure none of those things should do much.]
[Sam looks around, frowning. It's a curb. A normal sort of curb, as far as he can tell. He can smell the salt (and see it) but doesn't make the connection just yet.]
And you got a pulse thing before you had to stop. When did you get it, how long before?
[Got to at least test it before he can guess what the problem might be. Sam takes Feste's hands across the invisible barrier, then steps back, aiming to pull Feste with him. He isn't pulling hard, not enough to hurt them if it doesn't work, but enough to hopefully overcome any simple mental blocks.]
[It is very much not a mental block, as Sam will discover- Feste can't even reach their hands across where the barrier is, and when he pulls, Sam will find that there is something preventing his grandchild from going any further.]
It's what I'm here for. Figuring out what makes you stop for no reason in the middle of the sidewalk.
[He's a bit more rattled by this than he lets on, but Sam is a pro with a capital P at acting unbothered and unimpressed. It tends to help other people not panic. He gives Feste's shoulders a brief hug, then goes to open the car door for them.]
[Feste gives him a small, still slightly anxious smile- but there's not really any way Sam could make this not weird enough that they would have a lot of worries about it. But they lean into the hug before jumping in the car. Hopefully this will be fine...]
[Sam comes around to the driver's side and drops in, starts the engine up, and lets it roll forward slowly, in case any stray salt in the road causes Feste a problem.]
[For the most part, it's fine- they flinch a bit here and there as they sense something deeply Wrong as they pass over some but as long as there's not a line of salt perfectly in line with where they're sitting in the car they'll make it.]
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Where are you, Feste? I'll come over and have a look and see what might be the problem.
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feste will send him the intersection they're stuck at.]
thx grandpa (ಥ﹏ಥ)
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Hey. Still stuck?
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Their shoulders sag with clear relief when Sam approaches.]
Yeah... I don’t know what’s happening.
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[Sam looks around, mouth open a little, taking in the scents.]
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[Feste takes a step or two forward, halting suddenly at the edge of the pavement- there's the ledge where it drops to be the road, and the road salt lining the streets, and the road itself, but they're pretty sure none of those things should do much.]
...here.
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And you got a pulse thing before you had to stop. When did you get it, how long before?
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[He paces back and forth around the spot Feste can't cross, then stops and holds out his hands.]
Let me try and pull you across.
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Ok...
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It's right over where the road salt starts.
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...........That makes no sense.
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It's the same as any road salt I've ever smelled. Here.
[He starts brushing it away, making a little path for Feste.]
Try now.
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it works. Whatever barrier that was holding them back is gone and they blink, stopping there because-]
What.
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[He sounds sarcastic first, but then adds, more seriously,]
We're gonna have to warn your mum. I'd hate to think what salt in your food would do. And there's salt in just about everything these days.
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...Am I going to be able to eat anything? [this will be awful.]
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[Sam straightens up and pats Feste on the shoulder.]
Come on, I'll take you wherever you were planning on going. And we'll see if driving over the salt is a problem, too.
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[This is all terrible and they hate it a lot??? But they'll nod, and continue heading towards work.] Thanks, Grandpa.
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[He's a bit more rattled by this than he lets on, but Sam is a pro with a capital P at acting unbothered and unimpressed. It tends to help other people not panic. He gives Feste's shoulders a brief hug, then goes to open the car door for them.]
Hop in, kiddo.
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So where were you heading, anyway? Or should I just take you home?
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