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

[have_your_lives]

[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.]

Comments

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

It's something to do until all of this ends?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

They're real to me.

[Ken doesn't really appreciate being told that he's an illusion created to fuck with some kids head. He's very real. Painfully so. But in all honesty, he can't blame Schuldig for thinking this. Mayfield is very surreal and he thought it was a dream at first too.]

Don't eat so fast, you'll choke.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[The boy thinks this over. There really isn't an argument against that logic.] Okay.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I guess...how would a made-up person know they were made up? [This philosophical question seems to give him a moment's pause to consider it...but then he goes back to the food.

He gives Ken a look of almost bewildered amusement at his chiding, though.]

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

It's not a long walk.

[Nagi's going to take Schuldig to Schuldig's own home, since that seems easier than explaining this to Crawford or dealing with Farfarello or Ken and Miakis.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema gives him a blank look. This is the most she's ever heard from him about his training--not that she's asked or has expected him to open up about it--and she's taken aback by it. Rosenkrüs invaded his mind and altering his perception in the name of training him? Plus they didn't seem to treat him all that well, if the kid's figure is any indication.

Suddenly, his distaste of the human race makes a bit more sense.

The investigator in her wants to ask him more about what Rosenkrüs does to him, but she forces herself to keep the questions to herself. There's nothing she can do with the information to help the kid not became the prick she's 'married' to, even if deep down she wishes she could. She's not terribly fond of children at the end of the day, but seeing them suffer bothers her on a core level.

Besides, she's pretty sure she doesn't want to know the answer. What she's realized already is uncomfortable enough. She'll stick with playing along as best as she's able.]

You seem to be doing a good job not getting lost so far. I'm sure your instructors will be proud of you.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

I promise, it's not going to disappear, and you can have more if you're still hungry afterwords. [He holds up his hands and laughs a little.]

And I would be grateful if you could at least pretend I'm real?

[clairvoyeur.livejournal.com]

...I'm fully aware.

[]

I just need you to understand.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

The ones who get lost get shot. Of course I'm good at it. [This is said with some asperity, as though this should be obvious.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Keane chews this proposition over, rather literally.] ...okay.

Your name's Ken?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's me. [Still weird, but he's used to Schu pulling things out of his head, so he figures the kid is doing the same thing.]

Ken Hidaka.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Keane - that name Schuldig long ago discarded - seems to be losing his resolve not to accept this place fairly quickly in the face of Crawford, and perhaps the things he's finding in the man's mind. He's still denying them, for the moment, but...no longer with any degree of certainty. It may be fear that's motivating his refusal to accept any of this now.]

Understand what...?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Schuldig follows Nagi, completely unaware of the true owner of the house they go to.] You live here?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[For a moment, Keane seems to be at a bit of a loss. Social interaction - especially with normal people, those not fired in the forge of Rosenkrüs - has not been a large feature of his training.] ...hi. [Apparently, underneath that suspicion he was showing earlier, he's quiet and almost introverted.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[He smiles gently. Best to take it slow with this little one he figures.]

Hi Keane. Do you want some catsup?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I guess. [Keane is studying him outright now, looking almost puzzled. Then he repeats a question from earlier.] Why're you being so nice? Can I not read your mind enough...?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Ken hands him the red stuff and then pauses a bit at the question.]

Why shouldn't I be nice? I like being nice to people. Also, I don't think that's it. I'm kinda powerless against you in that respect.

[He doesn't like admitting this, but it is true. His only real defense is that he doesn't think about his actions, and that's not much of one.]

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

I stay here sometimes, but it's not where the town thinks I'm supposed to live.

[They get inside and Nagi hopes none of the other residents are around right now. That could be awkward.]

[clairvoyeur.livejournal.com]

[] That this is a glimpse. What happens next. This is...

[]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

...the future? Our future? [He may not be directly probing your thoughts right now, Brad, but Keane's still able to hear surface thoughts as easily as his present-day counterpart. Judging by his frown, he's both skeptical and a little intrigued.]

Did I get caught inside one of your visions or something...? [This is the only explanation that makes any immediate sense to him.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

Where the town thinks...? [The boy makes an aggravated little noise.] I think they're trying to drive me crazy. None of this makes sense.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

The instructors aren't nice. And nothing they make is nice, either.

...besides, people aren't nice no matter what. Even the ones that act nice - their thoughts are always different. [He says this while putting ketchup on his burger.] And you hate Schuldig and you think I'm him, but...you're still nice. It's weird.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

I don't like Schuldig because of what he's done, both to me, my friends, and other people. But you aren't him. [Well, yet.] You aren't responsible for his actions, and shouldn't be judged by them.

Why should I be mean to you? I'm not one of your instructors.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

...Mayfield doesn't really make sense. People come back from the dead every day, damage undoes itself, sometimes the candy makes you act weird or you get stuck in a car with someone for hours. We're trying to get home though.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

Because people aren't nice, made up or not.