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

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.]

[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]

...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]

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

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.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[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?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[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.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

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.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

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.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

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.

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

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.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

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!

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[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.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

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.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[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.]

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

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.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

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

[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.