have_your_lives | TYL Event - after Nagi's return to his normal age

[You know who has no respect for personal property? Or, apparently, bazookas? This guy. He literally tried to just grab the thing off of Lambo, because there is no possible way wrenching a bazooka out of someone's hands could end in anything other than candy and rainbows. Or whatever would be the evil equivalent as far as Schuldig is concerned - probably tears and kicked puppies.

It's been mentioned before that Schuldig has no inkling of common sense, and this should be an excellent reminder to everyone how crippling of a disability that is.

What actually happened was that the bazooka got dropped onto hard concrete and went off more or less in the telepath's face. And instead of being blown into the bloody, quarter-sized pieces he probably deserved, he got rocketed back into the past, while his twelve-year-old self has been jerked forward in time and dumped into Mayfield.

The upshot of this is that a small, skinny boy with scruffy orange hair is prowling around Mayfield. He's dressed in worn, nondescript grey clothing and looks kind of malnourished; there are many methods of discipline in Rosenkrüs, and denial of food is actually one of the pleasanter ones. Unlike others in this same situation, he seems less confused than wary and suspicious...but those who expect Schuldig's usual personality in a smaller package will be significantly surprised if they approach him. He's fairly easy to recognize with that hair, in any case.]

[OOC: I wish I had more icons for him as a kid, but this is pretty much the only one that even looks remotely close. :| You may see a lot of it.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[The boy stares at him, eyes boring holes as he probes at Crawford's mind - not particularly well compared to his present-day skills. It's a rough and blatant intrusion compared to the silk that is Schuldig sliding into his mind. Every now and then, there's a flicker of uncertainty across that young face; Brad is one of the weaker spots Rosenkrüs could have played with, a trusted source it's hard to question.]

...no. I don't care what face you use, I'm not going to believe you. You want to see if I'll break and I won't. [This last part comes out almost violently.]

I know you're not holding me here, but if the psychics made you, they ought to be able to hear what I'm telling you. [He sighs.] But if they're still not letting me out yet...either they want to see how long I hold out, or they want me to get out on my own. [That...or he's really gone crazy. But he won't even let himself think that.

He looks around uneasily. This illusion is particularly complex and detailed, and he's been looking for seams with which to tear it open but isn't finding a single one. It's starting to unnerve him.]

[The boy's eyes narrow.] And now you're helping them do tests?

[Ken doesn't know what to do. Should he turn small Schuldig like child over to Crawford and Farfie? Is this even Schuldig and not just someone else who looks like him and went to RK?

....can Crawford even do well with kids and not scar them for life?]

You hungry?

[There's a brief flicker of an undeniably hungry expression on Keane's face before he catches himself and looks disdainful.] It's not like anything I eat here will matter.

You don't know that for sure. Look, I can make you some food if you'd like.

[Schuldig or not, this is still a child, and well, he has a soft spot for kids.]

[Ema passes him on the street and has to do a double-take. She's seen a lot of random kids around town (her hypothesis is that someone in town knows how to alter ages somehow--a resident, not one of the puppets 'in charge'), but this one in particular throws her for a loop. He's smaller, thinner, and smirking a lot less, but that head of hair and that face are unmistakable.

Schuldig's a preteen.

Ema approaches slowly, looking the boy over.] Schuldig?

...no. I'm Keane. [After all, Ema, do you think he started off with that name?]

Of course I do. I didn't just teleport here, so the instructors are testing to see if I'm going to go crazy. I'm not going to. [This is said with some ferocity.]

...I guess it couldn't hurt to eat, though. Being full's probably a good thing to be tricked about.

Don't worry. I doubt you're going to go crazy right now anyways. Come on.

So...what would you like? There's a burger joint around the corner, or I can make you curry rice or somethin' like that.

Of course not. I don't want to help them with anything.

[Nagi's less than thrilled with the accusation.]

This isn't one of their tricks or tests.

[Of course not. But she doesn't know another name to call him by (or didn't, until just now) and has no idea when he took on the new name.

She's surprised he gave it to her without hesitating or giving her a headache over it. Obviously, he has no idea who she is and has yet to develop his mean streak.]

Keane, then.

Do you have any idea where you are right now?

A burger. [This comes rather promptly.] ...why are you being so nice to me, anyway? [And Ken will be treated to a mental intrusion that's rather more rough and noticeable than any of Schuldig's, because Keane hasn't been fully trained in the use of his powers yet.]

[Keane sighs and gives Ema the clearly routine litany.] My name is Keane. I am a telepath in training at Rosenkrüs. That is my reality and I will not get lost in any others. [He also repeats this in German; Ema won't need to know the language to recognize the tone, or the familiar words in it.] The instructors are testing me again - making up a world in my head to see if I get lost in it.

That's what they'd want me to think, isn't it? [Clearly the boy will need convincing on this point.]

Alright, I'll get you a burger. And why shouldn't I be nice to you?

[Not to mention Ken has the mental defense of a wet paper bag, so you're going to get all of it. Especially the annoyance at his future self, the tower, the elders going KABAM, that sort of thing.]

H-hey! Don't do that!

Edited 2010-11-16 01:27 (UTC)

I don't know what they'd want you to think. Like I said, I'm not a telepath.

[Nagi knocks over a trash can with a small flicker of power, proving what he actually is.]

Whatever you think, this place isn't going to go away or change.

[Of course, Keane is so convinced this is all some weird mental test that he doesn't really believe any of it.] ...I'm supposed to be Schuldig? [His skepticism is obvious.]

Who knows. Maybe someday in the future, but you definitely aren't now.

[He leads him to the diner and lets him order what ever he wants, getting himself some fries and a soda.]

Telekinetic. [The boy nods; clearly he'd already picked up on this.] Nagi Naoe.

And they'll let me out once they're sure I won't break.

[He nods in reply.]

They won't because that school's not in charge of this. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.

[Nagi has no idea what else to do right now.]

Do you want food or a shower or something?

[Keane orders...a surprisingly large meal for himself. Apparently if the boy is going to deceive himself, he intends to do so by a wide margin.]

You don't like me. [This seems to be a mere statement of fact.]

I don't like who you remind me of. But, you know, I kinda like you just fine. I'm just having trouble making sense of the two things.

[He grins and doesn't make a fuss about how much Keane orders.]

...that doesn't make sense. None of this does. They're just waiting for me to go crazy.

...why?

The memories are made up...to confuse me. [That's all Keane says for the moment before he starts wolfing down the food.]

Page 2 of 10

TYL Event - after Nagi's return to his normal age

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject