<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><span style="font-size: 15px">Narrowing his eyes to slits, Max settled one palm on the curve of his waist and steadily targeted the man with his second. "<i>Well?</i>" Patience and empathy were certainly not his virtues, and witnessing a naked stranger in one's attic is jarring alone. "Need I dial the police or what?" A foot tapped in the dim lighting as he toggled the options in his mind. Once the male had shivered in his corner for a few more minutes with zero audible replies, he motioned forth and threaded a cold clutch on one of the male's wrists. Unfortunately, he had abandoned his cell down stairs in the master suite and he could not take leave of the attic. Not unless he hoped to opportune the stranger an escape from the authorities. <br/>
<br/>
"Alright, fine. Guess I'll have to drag you along," Muttering this more to himself than to the human, he roughly yanked him upright. Shockingly, the man had a lightweight posture and nimble body, something Max could not deny as he raked his dark irises over the man's flesh. A droplet splashed behind him in the muggy atmosphere of the roof and a shudder hung on his spine as he noticed the collection of discolored blemishes. Faded scratches, violet and cobalt bruises, and....and... <br/>
<br/>
<i>No, no, this isn't... </i>Dumbfounded, he beamed the light on a singular tattoo etched in azure on the male's lower half. "Thing?" A phrase popped from his lips heedless of thought. Everything and nothing about the male appeared to formulate sense into Max's mind. "Holy Hell," Unable to halt his roaming at simply the hip-level, his eyes traveled to the pelvic region and a sputtering chuckle perched his throat. "You...you're real. Do you remember me, little doll?" <i>God, I seem absolutely unstable. </i>Nonetheless, he flicked his sights up to the emerald irises and split a bemused half-open smile on his lips.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't understand," Max mumbled, balancing the flashlight between his teeth for a moment as he brought his free hand to Thing's jaw. Gentle yet firm, he brushed his thumb along the pale skin, forcibly turning the man's head to and fro. "Nn, thiths can'th be happheningh.." Pausing for a minute to truly stare at the features and match the toy he once knew to the man in front of him, he decided the two were the same. Except Thing had grown into a mortal now. <br/>
<br/>
To double check his intuitions, he unhitched the object from his mouth and tugged the male with him as he stumbled to the cardboard boxes. "Aha!" Fingers ripped aside a freshly wrinkled sheet and a plethora of novelties expanded into view. Soldiers, plushies and board games collapsed on one another as he momentarily released his handle on the man and combed through the box. No doll. His next clue arrived with the torn cloth on the floor, feet having grazed against the silky fabric as he had shuffled over. <br/>
<br/>
Beyond himself, Max turned to face Thing once more, eyeing him with sly suspicion. "I know it's you," Even if the male could not acknowledge him yet, he had to define what he knew and didn't know. And he knew this had to have been the former toy. Casting a glare at the permanent ink once more, he steadied Thing with a curl of an arm around his torso and drew him nearer. "You know, I never thought I'd have you to myself. I have no doubt you can recall the evening I wrote this on you," An index and metal whisked against the 'MINE' as light from the flash swerved with motion.<br/>
<br/>
</span></span>