Drabble Batch 23 - "dehumanization" drabbles
Set early in "dehumanization" universe and features young!NewS (6-nin.) All G rated. Cut text a selection of William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper".
Koyama&Masuda
They think no one can hear them, blissfully naive still in their 6th year of life as they play among the ruins of humanity hidden deep below the pristine layers of their masters. Down here they're free and they play loudly, as children should, or should have once, tagging one another and running away with gleeful shouts.
"Doooon't," Masuda says, when Koyama tags him with a grimy hand, and squirms away from his laughing birthmate.
Reality breaks in on them, then, the sudden sight of their A.I. minder staring silently at them and they have no idea for how long it's been watching. They stop, hang their heads in worry and follow as it leads them out, trembling in fear of punishment. Koyama reaches out noiselessly to twine his fingers with Masuda's, both heedless of the dirt.
Shige&Yamashita
"Pi," Shige whines. "Pay attention."
Too engrossed in making fish faces at the reflective panels, Yamashita utterly ignores him.
"Pi, if you fail our birthgroup out of the level and we have to go through remedial, I'm going to give Massu all your food for a week."
Yamashita's face snaps toward him, eyes widened and lips still ridiculously puckered. "You wouldn't," Yamashita says, then flaps his tongue at Shige. "Besides, I can do it. I don't know why you worry so much."
Saddest is that he's probably right. Shige doesn't have to be happy about it, though.
Ryo&Tegoshi
"Tell me another," Tegoshi demands quietly, kicking his feet back and forth as they dangle from his top bunk.
"No," Ryo whispers to him, lying on his side in his bunk next to Tegoshi's. "Go to bed."
There's a muted rustling and Ryo closes his eyes, figuring there's been a miracle of sorts and Tegoshi's actually listened to him on the first request. But then his thin mattress dips and there's a warmth against his back as Tegoshi burrows under the covers next to him.
"But I'm not sleepy yet," he whispers in a sleepy-sweet way that Ryo can't seem to refuse.
"Fine, but this is the last one," he tells him. He doesn't think he's imagining the self-satisfied smile curling against his shoulder.
Koyama&Masuda
They think no one can hear them, blissfully naive still in their 6th year of life as they play among the ruins of humanity hidden deep below the pristine layers of their masters. Down here they're free and they play loudly, as children should, or should have once, tagging one another and running away with gleeful shouts.
"Doooon't," Masuda says, when Koyama tags him with a grimy hand, and squirms away from his laughing birthmate.
Reality breaks in on them, then, the sudden sight of their A.I. minder staring silently at them and they have no idea for how long it's been watching. They stop, hang their heads in worry and follow as it leads them out, trembling in fear of punishment. Koyama reaches out noiselessly to twine his fingers with Masuda's, both heedless of the dirt.
Shige&Yamashita
"Pi," Shige whines. "Pay attention."
Too engrossed in making fish faces at the reflective panels, Yamashita utterly ignores him.
"Pi, if you fail our birthgroup out of the level and we have to go through remedial, I'm going to give Massu all your food for a week."
Yamashita's face snaps toward him, eyes widened and lips still ridiculously puckered. "You wouldn't," Yamashita says, then flaps his tongue at Shige. "Besides, I can do it. I don't know why you worry so much."
Saddest is that he's probably right. Shige doesn't have to be happy about it, though.
Ryo&Tegoshi
"Tell me another," Tegoshi demands quietly, kicking his feet back and forth as they dangle from his top bunk.
"No," Ryo whispers to him, lying on his side in his bunk next to Tegoshi's. "Go to bed."
There's a muted rustling and Ryo closes his eyes, figuring there's been a miracle of sorts and Tegoshi's actually listened to him on the first request. But then his thin mattress dips and there's a warmth against his back as Tegoshi burrows under the covers next to him.
"But I'm not sleepy yet," he whispers in a sleepy-sweet way that Ryo can't seem to refuse.
"Fine, but this is the last one," he tells him. He doesn't think he's imagining the self-satisfied smile curling against his shoulder.