tenth prayer [closed]

[prayed]

Characters: Kyoko Sakura, Czeslaw Meyer
Setting: Room 03-08
Format: Action brackets.
Summary: Checking up and enjoying the fall weather.
Warnings: None.


She has a bad feeling about him. That kid that she spoke with before. She couldn't pin down precisely what it was, but there's something about him that she just doesn't like.

Even so, this place is making her soft, far more than she cares to admit, and after the recent bout of flooding she finds herself checking dorm rooms for him out of what she tells herself is boredom. It didn't seem like there was anyone taking care of him and a kid that size would get washed away with everything else.

Of course, nobody going by the name "Benjamin" exists. She's made sure to check each one and, at first, she wonders he's gone, but--no, she's pretty sure he's still around here. The telepathic message she's able to send him (What the big idea!? Giving me a fake name--there's nobody in this place by the name of Benjamin, y'know!) is proof enough of that.

Eventually, after trying a few dorm rooms and coming up empty, she chooses the right one. Spotting Czes, she's just going to glare at him like he just killed her family and burned down their house. And she's going to continue her thoughts without skipping a beat.]

It took me forever to figure out where you were. I was starting to wonder if they'd kicked you out, y'know.

Comments

[bytheirhand]

[Because, you know, the past few days haven't been bad enough with the tidal wave of rain and the heat. Clearly what he needed was a nice, friendly telepathic message to scare the ever loving shit out of him.

Something like that has never happened to him before, his mind has always been his own. He's never heard a person's voice in his own head that wasn't his own and it is creepy as hell for more than one reason. He still looks shaken up when Kyoko finds him and at first he he doesn't even acknowledge her statement.]

H-How... how did you...?

[HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN MY HEAD?????]

[prayed]

I checked every room until I found the right one. You're lucky I was already pretty close by, y'know.

[Obviously.]

[bytheirhand]

No, that's not what I meant.

[He hesitates, unsure and still pretty terrified.]

I heard you.

[FUCKIN' MAGIC HOW DID YOU DO IT]

[prayed]

[She places a hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow at his statement. It's been awhile since she's been in contact with anyone who wasn't already familiar with the idea of telepathy, so it doesn't occur to her that he's referring to that.]

...Yeah, so? What's your point? Seriously, you look like you just saw a ghost.

[bytheirhand]

No! You don't... I heard you in my head.

[prayed]

Sure. It's easier to communicate that way, don't you think? ...ah, it's kind of a pain here though, 'cause not many people can use it. Since that annoying rat's gone, I can't depend on it to relay messages either.

[A small shrug, like this is all perfectly normal. After a moment, perhaps realizing that he is probably a relatively "normal" human, she adds:]

Well, even if you don't have that sort of power, you should be familiar with the concept of telepathy, right? There's tons of stories about it.

[bytheirhand]

Well, yeah I've heard of it before, but I didn't think it was real.

[prayed]

That's 'cause you can't use it. Most people who have it wouldn't bother with it, at least not outside of this tower.

[Another small shrug. Of course, not having a cell phone herself, she's managed to make good use of it both back home and here.]

There's cell phones for long distance conversations, so it's really only good if you wanna have a private conversation in a public place.

[bytheirhand]

[And now he's just confused.]

... Cell phone?

[prayed]

[For a second she looks like she's about to berate him, but stops just short of doing so.]

Ah, that's right, you're from when mankind was still living in caves. Well, the short version is that it's a pocket-sized, wireless telephone.

[bytheirhand]

What? I am not!

[Still, it seems like he's trying to wrap his head around the thought of a tiny telephone.]

[prayed]

Right, right, I forgot. From where you're standing, mankind hasn't even gotten that far yet.

[bytheirhand]

No one lives in caves.

[prayed]

Too busy standing out in the rain waiting for lightning to strike and start a fire to even seek shelter, eh? Well, I guess you could always hide out in a tree if it got too bad.

[bytheirhand]

[HUFFS]

Why were you looking for me anyway?

[prayed]

[She laughs, walks over to Czes and reaches to stick her hand under his hat. If she's successful, she'll both knock his hat off and ruffle his hair.]

I thought I'd make sure you didn't get washed away along with everything else. [She spares a glance around the room.] Who's taking care of you, anyway? Somebody you knew back home?

[bytheirhand]

[She is successful! He doesn't try to get away, but he does look mildly annoyed. He bends down to pick up his hat, dusting it off before putting it back on.]

Mm, I managed ok, I guess.

[He quietly shakes his head.]

No, there's no one I know from home, but it's ok. I'm used to looking after myself.

[prayed]

Hmm. Is that so?

[Then she can probably rule out the possibility of this being someone else's room.]

So then, you never answered my initial question. What's your deal? Lying about your name like that. A guy like you shouldn't have any reason to lie about something like that, right?

[bytheirhand]

Oh, that... it's not that I was trying to hide it or anything, really. Most people have trouble with my name, so I introduce myself as Benjamin.

My name's actually Czeslaw. Czeslaw Meyer. You can call me Czes, if you'd like...

[prayed]

[There's a flicker of suspicion, but it disappears quickly. She doesn't want to accept any excuse right now, not really, anything that doesn't prove that she's been right to be suspicious of this kid. IF she could do that, then she'd be able to get rid of the nagging guilt that comes along with suspecting a little kid.]

Wouldn't it be easier to just tell 'em to quit screwing up your name? All you're gonna do is wind up confusing people.

[She sighs and, perhaps precisely because she wasn't able to find anything to latch onto in his reasoning, her voice softens a little as she continues.]

...we're in fall right now, huh. I guess winter's probably gonna be next.

[bytheirhand]

It's never been a problem before, but I'm sorry if it seemed like I was lying to you.

[He nods]

Mhmm, that would make sense.

[prayed]

Tch. That's just great.

[She sounds less than enthused about the prospect of winter, but no point in worrying about it now.]

Well, why don't you try and enjoy the nice weather in the meantime instead of locking yourself up in this stuffy old room. Go play in the leaves or something.

[bytheirhand]

[This idea doesn't seem to thrill him too much or maybe it's something else...?

He looks down, quiet for a moment.]

It's no fun playing by yourself...

[Perhaps he's just lonely?]

[prayed]

[...

She's not really going to wind up having to babysit this kid, is she?]

Mm? I thought you were used to taking care of yourself?

[bytheirhand]

I am!

[Look he has better things to than roll around in leaves, ok?]