[023] Shrunk in the Wash

[derpish]

[This morning finds a small boy of around nine years old in the lobby; he's wearing a pristine white uniform with red trim and hasn't yet got his usual gold-rimmed glasses

Comments

1/2

[custodismundi]

[...]

2/2 derp dictated whoops;

[custodismundi]

[Cain is not in his room.

...there's no note anywhere, either. his things are still there... and his nameplate's on the door.

this voice-- he's not imagining it, right? that's--]

Cain...?

/licks dictated;

[derpish]

[His head snaps around, confused. That sounded like...]

Abel?

dictated;

[custodismundi]

[it IS him...

he's relieved, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he grabs his journal and heads for the door.]

Cain! It's-- Abel, yes! [he sounds so young... oh, lord.]

Do you know where you are?

[percepts]

[ nudge is in the lobby, just having vacated the kitchen. she's holding a box of cookies, and stops abruptly when she sees this boy. ]

Oh, fudge. Not again...

[derpish]

[Again? He gives her a slightly confused look, she's familiar but... he can't place her exactly.]

Again?

placeholder ;;

[percepts]

[ she sighs, and walks up to him, smiling a little. ]

You're new, right?

/holds, i'll wait for you bb

[derpish]

Oh no, I've been living here for a few years now.

[How was his face not known? His was one of the most famous ones on the colony.]

[exanimatus]

[Zelman's found that he meets a lot of interesting people when he hangs out in the lobby. he was reading something thick and vaguely philosophical by the window--easy to miss, because he hasn't bothered with a chair this time. he's sitting with his back to the wall, on the floor.

but with what sounds like a child talking, he looks up... and decides to call over to him.]

Where are you trying to get to, kid?

SCREAM ZELMAN

[derpish]

[Here's another one he sort of recognises, although he puts it down to the red hair reminding him of Lilith.]

I'm supposed to be in class, I'm not sure how I wound up getting so lost.

TINY CAIN IS TINY

[exanimatus]

[Zelman also thinks he looks kind of familiar, but he can't quite place why, yet. He hasn't seen this kid before, has he?]

You won't have to worry about class for a while. You're pretty out-of-the-way.

DON'T BE A DICK TO HIM WEIRD NOT-DATE-FRIEND

[derpish]

[Oh dear.

If he's lost enough that he won't make it to class in time, he's going to be in so much trouble.]

Would you please direct me back, sir?

[mal_addict]

[Mal is wandering a wander though the lobby when she sees The Kid. She tries to walk past without making eye contact, because she's had enough of kid-contact for one week.

...Oh but his scent is familiar. She pauses, turning to look at him properly]

...Hello?

[derpish]

[...Why does he get the impression this person would have flunked out of remedial computer science when he looks at her?]

Hello, miss.

[mal_addict]

[Oh Gods, it was too. What was going on with the castle? Was it Turn into a Kid week or something?]

...Cain?

[derpish]

Have we met? I'm very sorry...

[toyhopes]

[Yay! Someone else close to her age! She greets him with a bright smile.]

Hi! What's your name?

[derpish]

[She gets a bright, if surprised, smile back.]

Cain, and you?

[toyhopes]

I'm Vivi! Where were you going? This place is so big I get lost a lot too.

[derpish]

I'm trying to find my class, I think I wandered in here by mistake.