(Untitled)

[3nanashi]

[OOM: Time passes.]The boy who steps through the door is perhaps nine (several months older than the last time he was here), wearing drab grey pants and businesslike boots, and an equally drab olive t-shirt. He has forward-spiking brown hair and a slightly rumpled air, as if he was just asleep

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[creator_raven]

There is a loud snort from behind him and just to the left.

And then a cookie, brightly frosted, with -- Is that a clown face? -- is thrust into his field of view.

Raven is a very helpful bird.

Really.

[3nanashi]

The boy jerks around at the snort. (Not quite far enough to put his back fully to the room.)

His small hand isn't on his gun, but it's abruptly closer to it, as his eyes flick to the -- cookie? what? -- and then up to the man.

The very weird man.

[creator_raven]

Raven's grin is very wide and very bright.

"You are not so hungry, perhaps? It is a pity."

Then he inhales the cookie.

Them's the breaks, kid.

[3nanashi]

"No."

He doesn't trust food from random strangers who make sudden moves into his personal space.

But he's also not that hungry anyway. That's just less relevant.

[madeyoudodge]

"Hey, honey," Cathy says, as she comes away from the bar with a smoothie in her hand. She's casual, but she's approaching in a way where he can see her, and stops far enough back that it shouldn't be intimidating. "You been here before?"

[3nanashi]

It's a dream. You go with the dream's assumptions.

Or it's not, and -- you still go with it. That's how you learn. He doesn't need the captain's lectures about reconnaissance to know that, though he could recite them for you anyway.

"Yes." His young voice is level and calm.

(She's easy to peg, at least broadly: a civilian, with the inexplicable concern civilians often show him.)

[madeyoudodge]

"That's good," she says, still gentle. "I'm Cathy, it's good to meet you."

She extends her free hand.

(He looks-- has she seen him around here?)

[3nanashi]

Yeah.

Civilian.

"Hi," says the boy, politely enough but without taking her hand.

He's in a strange place (or a strange dream, but whatever) and much smaller than even a short and slim adult like this. He has no great inclination to touch, especially for pleasantries.

[04_after]

Quatre glances over to the door immediately, smile starting--and stopping, when he doesn't see who he expected. After a brief moment's confusion, he notices the young boy.

And then notices the young boy, and chokes slightly on his coffee.

He glances away, but he'll keep an eye on him just in case he needs it.

(Or if Quatre can think of something to say that wouldn't put him on guard.)

[3nanashi]

It's -- a weird reaction.

Not necessarily a dangerous one, and there's the whole room to watch at once right now, but a weird one. And noticeable, as such.

One more person to keep an eye on.

[04_after]

The fact that young Trowa is good at surveilling his surroundings isn't exactly a surprise.

Quatre changes tactics, and catches his eye deliberately, before tilting an amicable nod.

[3nanashi]

They haven't met.

(This could be a dream, but if so, he's going with his dream convictions. Which say he's never seen this man before.)

The boy returns his look with impassive silence.