26 • [video|action]

[endthem]

[the journal falls open to the sound of a gasp and a metallic clattering, and the camera might just pick up a glimpse of a boy with long blue hair falling to the ground and scrambling backwards, iron shackles on his wrists jangling like oversized bracelets

Comments

[corrinesbell]

[Sheena isn't affected, this early in the experiment. She's just herself for now. When she sees a child-shaped shadow sneaking around, she has to go investigate.]

[endthem]

[he's sneaking in between buildings, pressed closed into whatever shadows he can find, with the short lengths of chain that hang from his shackles bundled up into his hands so they don't rattle.

When she starts to get close, he suddenly turns to face her as if he's picked up her presence on radar, staring wide-eyed]

[corrinesbell]

[Spotted! That's okay, she wasn't trying to be very ninja. At the look on his face, she stops walking and puts her hands in the air, shaking hear head]

Hey, sorry. I wasn't trying to scare you.

[endthem]

[an anxious sound presses out of his lungs as he flattens himself closer to the wall as if it can save him, looking like he's afraid to even try running, at this point]

[corrinesbell]

Don't freak out! I'm not gonna hurt you either.

[And she's still not coming any closer.]

...You can understand me, right?

[endthem]

[he tries to answer, but still hasn't quite found his voice, so... h-he nods!]

[corrinesbell]

Great. My name's Sheena.

[endthem]

"It i-is a pleasure to meet you, Sh-... Sh-Sheena."

[it is automatic politeness. his terrified face says that this encounter is really anything but a pleasure]

[corrinesbell]

Calm down, okay? You look...a little lost.

[You look a lot more than that but it's so obvious you don't trust the ninja.]

[endthem]

[another tentative nod. That's a pretty fair assessment of the situation here]

[corrinesbell]

I just wanna help. I promise I'm not gonna do anything to you.

[endthem]

[he nods again, fidgeting slightly with the bits of chain balled up in his hands, but doesn't say anything else. ...Doesn't look like he quite believes her]

[corrinesbell]

[She totally thinks he was just returned from a kidnapping. That'd give him reason not to trust anyone.]

Is there a way I can prove that to you?

[endthem]

[she's not speaking like the kind of people that he's used to dealing with... this fact is a little alarming, but it gives him just enough boldness to brave asking a question.

Voice small and terribly tense--] ...Where am I?

[corrinesbell]

You're in a village called Luceti.

[endthem]

[an alarmed sound catches in his throat]

Why?