Event Private Finished Don't forget; don't remember

Tucker's always been told he caught on a lot of things really quickly. The thing right now is, he's already thought that Valerie wasn't coming downstairs. It's been an hour since the usual time she ran downstairs for the morning but he hasn't seen hair nor feather of his daughter.

She's sick, the thought came to him. Valerie had been sick for almost two weeks now but she'd been doing a whole lot better than most of the students he'd seen in school before they stopped classes. The thing that worried him from the news a couple of days ago though was that the virus had gotten worse; some with very... worrying symptoms. Sure, he was thankful he seemed to be immune for the most part of the epidemic, but he wasn't very sure about Valerie.

He sighed with defeat and prepared her share of breakfast and made his way up to her room. He'd hoped she was only getting distracted with things in her room -- but there's way too few things to keep her occupied for so long, especially with the illness. He prayed for nothing else but that though; something about new symptoms of the strain she contracted didn't sit well with him. To be frank, it was making him nervous.

He stopped to knock at her door, listening in to hear movement. "Valerie? Are you up already?"

It took a while before he heard a response from her and as much while it was very rare for him, his nervousness was building. If he hadn't heard her voice at all, he honestly would have just broken the lock of the door. Still. Her voice was too quiet -- it was very unlike her. He spoke gently, but loud enough for her to hear past the door, "It's long past breakfast time, Val. Is everything--"

Right before he could finish his question, he heard her voice again but now it was filled with panic. Tucker's brows furrowed: her arms were already affected by the virus a couple of days ago, for her to be startled now though... The thought that followed didn't feel very comforting. "Val!" he called from behind the door, his voice more firm than earlier. He "Val, listen, I need you calm down for a second. I'll explain everything, can I come in?"

Time seemed to freeze for just a moment when Tucker had heard Valerie's panicked voice, clearly looking for her mother. "Valerie!" he called again, but he was already sure it was falling through deaf ears whatever he wanted to say. He could pick up on the scuffles in the room and tried to open the door but it wouldn't have really budged for him. Of course, she kept it locked -- he hoped he wouldn't have to break anything.

There wasn't really much time to get keys either so he went for the first thing to come to mind. With a wave of his hand, a glowing circle appeared over the knob of the door. Hearing the thud on the floor almost seemed to break his focus with various thoughts seemingly distracting him from casting it but that was the last cue. A quick flick of his hand broke the circle like glass, breaking the lock of the door along with it.

Tucker's eyes fell immediately on Valerie, all wrapped up in the sheets what had been torn up from which he assumed was a struggle. His movements were fluid but there was a sense of urgency when he'd set down the tray to a nearby desk and rushed to Valerie's side. Any sign of panic didn't show on his face, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't any slightly worried. She'd hit her head, he was sure of that and he already knew he should be more careful with that. He didn't try to move her much but, he hushed her, whispered that it's going to be okay when he waved his hand over her head. There was a soft light to the invocation circle that appeared, somewhat calm and warm, lulling her into a sense of peace to keep her from panicking further. It wasn't a healing spell but he needed her to not freak out. He didn't try to get any close so as not to agitate her.

"Don't move too much," he asked her, trying to find recall a quick heal spell for her. He thought of her calling for Valencia but he decided not to bring her up -- telling the girl her mother won't be coming to help would be a terrible thing to say. "It's the sickness, it's getting the better of you. It'll all be alright, okay?" he said quietly.

For the most part, Tucker had been quiet. He didn't want to agitate her further with his voice so he kept talking to a minimum. Other than that -- and although he would deny it, the thought of having Valencia around was haunting him. He tried to keep his focus on building in the formula of the healing spell into the circle first and foremost.

Valerie was the first to break the silence. "I'm afraid this might not be a good time," he replied. His voice was leveled but he wouldn't say the same how he was actually feeling. There was an unpleasant feeling in his gut hearing how Valerie had spoken -- clearly the memory gaps had already started with her. For a second he wondered how he'd made Valencia feel when he told her he was leaving without any other explanation.

"You're in Manta Carlos right now; it's a little far from home. But there's an epidemic spreading right now and they'll likely not allow you to leave the island until it's resolved. You'll have to stay here for the meantime." he explained matter-of-factly. The way he was speaking felt distant to anyone listening; almost like he was putting himself far from what he was saying.

Tucker lifted his hand away, the invocation circle disappearing along with it; surely she'll be able to move somewhat but he only hoped he wouldn't have to take any measures to be able to talk to her properly. He tried to give her a smile to ease her but there was something somber behind it, "Your mother wouldn't want you travelling in this condition either way; if she found out I let you off my sight, I'm sure it'll be another thing she'll hold against me. I'm sure I've done enough."

The explanation seemed to suffice but it was like Tucker could see lingering questions in her mind; but until she said them herself he could provide no more answers. He allowed her to gather her composure while he set aside the torn up fabric from the blanket so it wouldn't be in the way anymore.

He wouldn't deny the fact that he was trying not to watch her for too long because he could feel that one of those questions was something he was afraid to hear. He'd expected her to ask who was he to her, but the build up made his stomach churn. For how long did Valencia really keep her from knowing anything about him? If it was true that she'd hidden every trace of him from Valerie then that only painted him a picture of how Valencia had taken his departure.

Tucker could only manage a small smile the moment she asked the question, and kept any heavier thoughts from from showing as he spoke. "You really don't remember anything..." he breathed out, though it had come off almost like a heavy sigh. There wasn't really an easy way for him to say it but he didn't want to just drop the idea on her head when she's confused and disoriented. He took a moment before he could make a decision how to actually explain the situation. Part of him also had the feeling she didn't even know why she was in Manta Carlos which could really unsettling for her.

"Valerie, I'm you father." There, he said it. Before she could say more, he quickly added: "You told me you came here on your own accord when you heard of me from your mother but it's all up to you if you want to go back home after all this passes."