(Untitled)

[prodigyalone]

There's snow in this particular corner of the Nexus, beautiful rolling drifts that look like they belong on the cover of a Hallmark card. It's really quite picturesque and peaceful until a gash appears in reality about a foot above the highest of them, and a small figure tumbles through the opening. Since the sudden change in universe was as

Comments

[tastes_of_honey]

::This child looks familiar, but it doesn't pay to assume in the Nexus.:: The cosmos hates everyone, just some people worse than others.

[prodigyalone]

"No shit." Nagi mutters, and yes, he is Nagi. Then he glances up, and snaps through emotional reactions fast enough to be Weiss something really emo. First is utter shock that Mastermind is standing in front of him. Second is utter fury with the universe for taking so long to give him a teammate again. Third is wariness, because Mastermind isn't exactly right. Nagi just came from a place where lookalikes are far too common.

Y'know, feeling that much stuff all at once is way too much work. Shutting down emotionally is a lot easier. And safer. Of course, that leaves Nagi with nothing in particular to say, so he just watching Schuldig warily.

[tastes_of_honey]

You asked. ::Schuldig considers whether he should wait a bit for the kid to get better possession of himself, but goes with his favorite reaction of "Nah.":: You can meet alternate versions of yourself here in the Nexus, and it's interesting how much better or how much worse their lives might be than yours.

[prodigyalone]

"I doubt they've had worse." Hey, sarcasm is a default setting.

Nagi intensely dislikes sitting in the cold snow, but he's not entirely sure about his legs being able to support him if he tries to stand up. He's really past worrying about being embarrassed, but staying like this probably won't help him build up the energy to move.

[tastes_of_honey]

::If Nagi were a regular kid, Schuldig might have helped him up. Given that Nagis rarely appreciate that kind of help, Schuldig doesn't try.:: You never know until you've met one.

Thus far, I'm the best Schuldig to have ever walked through here.

[prodigyalone]

Since Nagi isn't trying to shield his mind, the thought that at least other version of him can lift more than a sheet of toilet paper with their minds still, is loud and clear. There's a lot of other crap under that, including him being stuck in the snow right now.

"Of course you are." Nagi rolls his eyes. This old guy isn't his Schuldig, but he's obviously still a Schuldig.

Nagi wouldn't trust an offer of help from Schuldig just now. Schuldig probably has a perfectly good, not-practically-powerless Nagi somewhere. Nagi figures that makes this here Nagi someone that Schuldig wouldn't mind screwing with. He tries to stand up, and almost makes it before his knees start to buckle.

[tastes_of_honey]

You did get a raw deal.

::"Old" guy? Hmph. If the kid collides with his outstretched hand, Schuldig will stop him from falling all the way. If not....::

[prodigyalone]

Nagi's been wobbly for long enough that his reflex is to reach for the nearest thing that will keep him from falling over. Schuldig's hand is there, and even if Nagi half-expects it to be pulled away, he's got to reach for it.

He's completely unprepared for the memories that rise up and smack him, but he just spent several months trying to repress any thoughts of his team, and the cold and wet don't help much. Last time he reached for any Schuldig, it was underwater.

As the shittiest bonus ever, Nagi's lack of powers in general and current utter lack of strength mean that he won't last out at anything by accident as he freaks the hell out.

He's also not letting go of Schuldig's hand because at least that's real. And warm. Warm is definitely good in Nagi's book.

[tastes_of_honey]

::Schuldig's not letting go either. Even the tiniest, nastiest Nagi is still Team until consciously, violently proving otherwise. There might be some telekinetic backlash, but Schu's hoping that thing about being just strong enough to move toilet paper will help protect him from serious harm. Watching him Portal most of himself away while keeping his hand here coming out the hole might freak the kid out worse.::

::If Nagi is willing to be reeled in closer to Schu to have someone to lean on, that's cool as long as Nagi doesn't try to break any Schu-bits off.::

[prodigyalone]

Nagi doesn't have enough power to lose control of it, even if he wants to.

Since Nagi's first inter-universal trip he hasn't had physical contact like that with anyone bigger than him, aside from doctors. He stiffens in surprise, but considering that he's shivering, warm wins out over anything else. He doesn't come anywhere near snuggling, but Schuldig is much better for leaning against than a frozen wall.

Schuldig will probably also notice that Nagi is far lighter than he has any right to be. The stolen jacket has enough padding to hige just how badly Nagi is skin and bones right now, but he's not in good shape.

And just to reiterate the important part. Nagi is sooo not letting go, even if he's doing it in the most independant way ever.

[tastes_of_honey]

::Schu came here directly from London in the winter, so he's wearing a long coat. It has a nice soft surface, actually. Snuggle away.::

::Schu's free hand reaches into his pocket on the unsnuggled side.:: Want some jerky?

[prodigyalone]

Nagi has to stop and think about food. His stomach has had a jihad against it until very recently thanks to the poison that was in his system. Jerky is completely not on the list of things that the hospital was giving him to get him weened back onto food, but why would a hospital serve jerky in the first place?

"Umm... maybe?" Nagi looks up at Schuldig. He wants to want food, but he's really not so sure how well he'll do with that. It's only been in the last week or so that he's been able to keep much of anything down.

[tastes_of_honey]

If you're willing to go to my apartment with me, I could see what more stomach-friendly food I have there. ::Schu is as reliable as any Schuldig ever is!::

[prodigyalone]

Nagi considers checking his head for bumps because he's going to be very unhappy if he wakes up and finds out that Schuldig isn't real. Nagi has had ample time to learn the difference between being alone and being lonely. Lonely really sucks.

On the other hand, he's nearly positive that Schuldig isn't messing with his head, and that offer also doesn't strike him as skeezy. The offer seems about as harmless as... well, Nagi wouldn't ever say that Schuldig is harmless, but there seem to be decent intentions?

"How far away is the apartment?" Nagi can walk a little if he needs to, but he's not too keen on being carried, and he doesn't see a car nearby.

[tastes_of_honey]

::The thing about Schuldig being an "old" guy is he's managed to develop nurturing instincts. Toward the right people, of course. Also, this Nagi is too young and small to attract Schu.::

Just a few steps! ::Schu opens a Portal. You can see his kitchen on the other side.::

[prodigyalone]

Nagi is definitely impressed, but strangely wary. Or not so strangely consider that his travels thus far have been involuntary and through things that were decidely one way only.

No, Nagi doesn't much want to move towards that Portal. It might not be safe, and the sensing part of his TK is totally on the fritz right now. "How did you do that?" The vocal tone is one of total distrust, but he'd really like that to be a safe way to travel. That kitchen doesn't have snow in it!