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

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Except that it isn't obvious to Ema at all. In fact, she's horrified by his answer.] Shot?! But you're just a kid!

What the hell kind of operation are these Rosenkrüs people running?

[Her kneejerk emotional reaction is not so much pity for the kid as it is a sort of righteous, indignant anger on his behalf. Even if she hates the man this kid will become, he doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. No one does.]

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Keane shrugs. He's no fan of Rosenkrüs or their methods, but when it comes to shooting burnt-out telepaths, he's fairly practical on the matter.] The ones that get lost are practically brain dead anyway.

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

Still. Wouldn't it be better to try and get them out of their catatonic state instead?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

That isn't how it works.

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

Why put you through this at all, then? If it's that dangerous... aren't there other ways to train a telepath than this?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

[Keane seems confused by this question, as though it's something no one's ever asked or he's ever considered.] ...I don't know. Most telepaths get lost if they don't get any training...and some get lost anyway. [He clearly has no idea whether there is any feasible alternative to Rosenkrüs' training beyond no training at all.]

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema frowns a little. It's about the answer she expected, but she's still not thrilled with it.]

I suppose it doesn't really make much difference to ask the question, since it doesn't change the fact that you're still their student.

Well, since you're convinced this is all an illusion, what do you plan to do with yourself?

[have-your-lives.livejournal.com]

Try to get out. [This answer is prompt.] I can't fail. [Then, with a far less businesslike childhood viciousness - ] And I'm not letting them drive me crazy.

[glowing-science.livejournal.com]

[Ema isn't sure what the proper response is, so she simply nods in agreement.] I'm sure you won't. [She knows he won't; at least, not in the way he means. Schuldig is a mentally screwed up person, but he's not flat-out crazy. That's Farfarello.]

Don't let me hold up your trying to get out, though. I'm just a figment of your imagination, right? Don't waste your time on me. [Might as well just let the kid try until he's back to his older, meaner, making-her-life-miserable self.

She gives the kid a wave and continues with her day. He seems determined to navigate the place on his own terms, and who is she to insist otherwise?]