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

[withsparkles.livejournal.com]

[Have a sparkling toddler cling to your leg and babble about vulcanoes excitedly.]

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

[Oh well this is a nice change of events. Nagi doesn't completely remember yesterday, except that he was a little kid and Schuldig carried him and Ken and Miakis were absurdly nice...apparently now it's Schuldig's turn to be a kid. Nagi almost laughs when he gets closer.]

Schuldig...you're smaller than I thought.

[scarletheir.livejournal.com]

[Oh. This place doesn't seem economically depressed. He's seen villages in worse shape. So this kid is kind of out of place with the rest of "Mayfield".]

Excuse me. Do you live here?

Because it has to be done

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Itty bitty Nagi was a sobering experience, so Ken was out for a walk the next day. He sees that mop of hair.]

What the hell...I didn't think that was natural...[He still dosn't really connect that this is Schu.]

[clairvoyeur.livejournal.com]

[]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[The boy looks at him skeptically, but fortunately at this stage he hasn't developed quite as healthy a dislike for kids as he will in the future.] Who're you supposed to be?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[The boy gives him a cool look that has no recognition in it.] I don't know who that is.

[Nagi will be able to feel his mind being scoured...literally. Schuldig was more fully trained, was able to make his telepathic intrusions smooth and almost unnoticeable. This boy has only two years of proper training behind him, and the sensation is kind of like fine-grain sandpaper being rubbed along the interior of Nagi's skull. It doesn't actually cause pain, but it's rough and obvious and the boy's own thoughts seem to keep catching and dragging, like he's only half-able to keep them from tangling with Prodigy's.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Itachi will receive a probing, calculating look in exchange for his question.] Here? No.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Technically, it isn't.] What's so strange about red hair? [His voice may jog Ken's memory - it's significantly higher, and lacking in the usual mockery, but it hasn't changed much otherwise.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

It's not that it's red it's just...mop...[Again, the image of a mop with Schu's hair]

Wait, that voice...Schuldig?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[The boy stares at Crawford. This is the only person he'd have cause in Mayfield to know, but the ten years between the Brad he knows and this man have rendered him only vaguely recognizable...though, telepathically, he can confirm the identity.

That doesn't mean he believes it, of course.] ...they're getting better. [This is said rather grudgingly.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

...why do people keep saying I'm guilty?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Sorry, you just kinda look like a guy who goes by that name...

[Oh hell, if what happened to Nagi happened to Schuldig...there could be a lot of trouble. But for now, there was this kid, here, lost. He kinda feels sorry for the little guy]

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

...isn't that your name?

[He winces a little at the uncomfortable intrusion, but doesn't fight it. The smaller version of his teammate should be able to find plenty of memories of his older self and Nagi in various situations.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I'm not lost. I know exactly where I am. [The boy crosses his arms over his skinny chest with an air of sulky defiance.] None of this is real.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

I wish you were right. But you've been told you're in Mayfield huh?

[Well that makes things easier. Waiiiiiitt...He didn't remember mentioning lost out loud. Hm. Maybe it is Schuldig. A very young but still himself Schuldig. He hoped this wouldn't explode anything.]

You gonna be alright here?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

Guilty? No. That's not a name at all. [The boy does pick up on those memories, and Nagi will be able to see the confusion on the boy's face...though it seems to be warring with a skeptical sneer. Finally, the deliberate intrusion fades away.]

...you're good. [He sounds a little huffy.] But I'm still not fooled.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

It's...one you gave yourself. [And Nagi relates to that confusion since he felt it yesterday. This is a mess.]

I'm not like you. My power's different.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

I'm in my bedroom. This place is just made up. [The next part is said in an exasperated singsong, as though the boy has repeated it dozens of times before.] 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 then repeats this litany in German - 'Keane' and 'Rosenkrüs' are recognizable, and the cadence is similar - before glowering at Ken.] I don't know which of my instructors you are, but I know you're testing me.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[The boy pauses, looking suspicious.] ...are you one of the instructors?

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Rosenkrus? That takes the cake. The image of the four old elders flash into his head,thier fucked up plan involving Aya's sister, and then their deaths. Well, at least what he knew of it. This had to be a younger Schuldig. Oh. Dear. God. So his mind seizes on the first thing it can comprehend.]

Keane? I never woulda pegged you for a Keane.

[clairvoyeur.livejournal.com]

[]

...they never... get this good. [] They don't last... long enough.

[bittermayfly.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not. I used to be a student though.

[And now things make more sense to him. Nagi's smart enough to put most of the pieces together on his own thankfully.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Keane huffs. He's clearly annoyed that he can't break out of this illusion himself, and doesn't have much patience for it.] Why are you still acting? I know what you're doing. You're not going to fool me just by keeping it up.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Look. Keane...[Christ am I saying this right? European names always give me trouble]

I ain't holdin' you here. I'm stuck here just like you are. If you don't believe me that's fine but I can't help you.