[ accidental visual / location: Osten ] || the bitterness of one who's left alone

[child_of_none]

Walter stirs under the jacket and pokes his head out. It seems too early, it's far too quiet for it to be time to wake yet, but then it hasn't stopped him in the past. He likes the quiet, without the other boys to avoid and the timing needed to make sure he gets his spot at the table, or by the window, or...most any place he's found and tried to

Comments

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

Adrian watches the boy for a few minutes before he finally makes the decision to speak to him. It's not he feels a particular necessity to make contact with other kids his age, but it's a strange place and every little bit of assistance or information helps.

"Do you know you're broadcasting on some kind of video feed? People can see you."

[visual]

[child_of_none]

The interruption prompts a jerk of his head to face the new voice that would make someone's neck hurt just by watching. But the startled appearance, as if he's been up to something he shouldn't be, doesn't last long before settling into something calmer, more ordinary, but just as wary. He's only spoken with adults so far, after all, so the other boy comes as something of a surprise.

Walter nods shortly; it's something he's found out for himself by now. "I didn't mean to."

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

"I didn't think so, that's why I wanted to warn you." He speaks with the slightest accent but his English is effortless and colloquial. "Sorry for startling you. I'm trying to see if there's a way to make it ring like a telephone. Just suddenly hearing people talk out of nowhere is creepy."

Bad enough if you're paying active attention to the tablet, Adrian has to figure it's worse if your attention is elsewhere.

[visual]

[child_of_none]

"...You can change it?" He seems almost eager about the idea; much like Adrian, he dislikes the interruptions, even as helpful as they've been so far.

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

"I don't know yet but there must be a way. Machines aren't supposed to just turn on and off by themselves, and there are some...some parameters you can set to make things private. Guess it's probably a good idea not to say too much that's private until we figure it out."

Adrian shrugs one shoulder uncertainly. He knows that given time, he can figure the little screens out, but he's reluctant to share that information with too many other people. Still, it's kind of nice to be able to be helpful. "I could let you know when I do, if you want."

[visual]

[child_of_none]

Adrian gains a critical look for the offer, half doubtful and half outright untrusting; in Walter's experience information isn't shared, isn't offered, it's only kept, given when it's required and no more. He's therefore at a loss as to how to respond to such a thing, he can't help but think it's some kind of trick.

"You don't have to, I can figure it out," he blurts out hastily in an attempt to circumvent the whole possibly-a-trick-but-just-as-easily-not problem. It's too quick to really be believed, of course, but it's a matter of pride. More or less.

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

"Sure, I know." The assurance comes quickly, both to head off any anger the boy might develop over Adrian suggesting he can't do things for himself, and to hide the fact that Adrian is pretty sure he can figure out how these things work faster and easier than even most of the adults around here. "Maybe...whichever of us figures out something useful first can tell the other about it. If you want."

It's not like he's ever had any friends, Adrian's not really sure how interacting with other kids is supposed to actually work, but in his experience with adults, offering a trade usually works well. As does bribery.

[visual]

[child_of_none]

"Maybe," he says with a shrug, hesitant to really accept the terms but having no real reason against it. Much like Adrian he's not entirely sure how these things are supposed to go.

"...So you're stuck here too?"

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

"Okay." That seems like enough of an agreement for now, Adrian isn't usually in the habit of making deals with strangers anyway. Even ones his own age.

"I guess I am. That's what everybody keeps telling me, like they don't even want me to try and find a way out." Which is...suspicious, actually. "Have you tried looking?"

[visual]

[child_of_none]

He shakes his head; he's been bombarded by strangers so far, and consequently hasn't had very many moments to himself to explore. "Not yet. There's a train though." Shouldn't that be able to leave the city? They always do everywhere else.

[visual]

[tinynarcissist]

Adrian apparently has the same thought. "Maybe the train goes somewhere else. I bet if we divided up the routes, it wouldn't take that long to find out. You know there's another lost kid besides us?"

Lost kids should stick together, is his point. Even if normally he'd prefer to go it alone.