002 | Video [Forward-dated to the 9th]

[t0uchy]

[The video feed is shaky, but then the boy thoughtfully sets the communicator on a table. Even though he's not a hundred percent sure what it is, the seven year old clearly doesn't want to break it, and he chews his lip worriedly for a second before scooting it a teeny bit back on the desk before talking.]

H-hello. Uh, ah, I don't... I don't want to bother anyone, but... [the young child's English is heavily accented, and he murmurs something in Arabic along the lines of 'kayfa taqūlu kalimah...', looking uncertain,] if someone can find my Ummi and Baba, please do. I'm not supposed to go places alone. I have an appointment tomorrow [he stumbles over the big words slightly] so I can get confirmed as the Seer and that's really important. People will be scared if I'm not there, and Ummi is probably scared already, so... please, get me home? Please?

[He starts to reach for the communicator to turn it off, then pauses to add,] If you have gloves that fit me, can someone bring me them? I need - I - I would like that very much. Um, thank you.

Comments

[nightwash]

Don't worry. Your appointment's postponed. What do you need the gloves for?

[t0uchy]

I can see people's deaths when I touch them. [Unlike when he's older and says it casually, seven year old Nashir says it with obvious distress, wringing his hands nervously and ducking his head, looking away.] Ummi says all Seers do and it's not my fault. She got me gloves, but... I don't know where they are. I think I dropped them.

[nightwash]

Jesus, you got a shit deal.

[ And that's all Ronan really has to say about that. ]

Put your hands up so I can see them.

[t0uchy]

[Nashir guiltily holds up his hands. It's obvious he's been nervously biting his nails, going off of the bloody state of them. He's better about that when he has gloves on, but, well.]

Where are my parents? Why am I here? I want Ummi... [His mother would know what to do. She'd help him.] Am I in trouble? Did I get kidnapped? [That happens to Seers, sometimes, but then, why is nobody here? Why is there no ransom or kidnappers or whatever? That's not how that works.]

voice; un: Julian Delphiki | Bean

[jeesh]

[ A young boy, about to be confirmed as the Seer and asking for gloves? Bean knows who this is right away. Looks like lots of people have been effected by this month's weirdness.

So as not to scare the boy with his giant appearance, Bean sticks to voice. ]

Did someone already bring you some gloves? I have some that might fit you, but they're bulky winter gloves so they might not be so comfortable.

voice

[t0uchy]

[Nashir doesn't know who this is, but he replies anyway so the nice man won't worry.]

Yes, someone did. Thank you for offering, though. You're very nice.

Um, the other person didn't tell me how to get home, so... if you know, that'd be nice. Ummi is making honey cake for breakfast and I was supposed to do important stuff today.

Re: voice

[jeesh]

[ Great. Bean hates being the bearer of bad news. Why does it always fall to him? ]

There's no way to go home until the thing that brought you here decides to send you home. But don't worry, when you go home, it'll be to the same moment you left, so you won't miss any of that important stuff. Or the honey cake.

Think of this place like a little vacation.

Re: voice

[t0uchy]

...are you sure? Can I ask the thing to put me back? I miss my Ummi and Baba.

[Nashir doesn't know if he likes this place or not but he knows he'll be happier with his parents than in a weird place with all kinds of plastic and metal devices he barely recognizes. Hell, plastic hadn't even been invented yet back home! This is A Lot.]

voice

[runningstart]

[ah damn it.] Hey, kid. How old are you?

voice

[t0uchy]

I'm seven. [A sniffle, as he tries to keep it together. This is a lot to deal with at his age.]

voice

[runningstart]

[Geez. God he hates this place.] Are you somewhere safe, kid? Somewhere with a door you can lock?

Video

[detectivedwloki]

You find your home yet, kid?

Video

[t0uchy]

Um, no, but... I think it's okay to stay here until I do? The other grown ups have said so, anyway.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Nashir. Damn. David feels you big time, kid. Is a kid himself, only fourteen, but at least he gets to remember who he is. He scrabbles through his languages, hoping he actually knows the one the kid is speaking. But nope. Not possible.]

Nashir. My name is David. I'm... a bit like you. A Seer, of sorts. Just a different kind. I'm going out to go buy myself some gloves. If you could take a piece of paper and trace your hand on it so I can figure out what size to get you, I can come by with some. Lots of them. All different colors so you can wear ones that make you happy.

[t0uchy]

You're a Seer, too? [He perks up, interested despite his uncertainty.] I don't know where the pens and paper here are, but I'll look around. I hope whoever lives here won't be mad I moved their stuff... um, I don't need lots of gloves, though. Just one pair is fine. I like most colors, except red and pink and orange.

[He's not picky. Or he hopes he isn't being picky, anyway.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Not... exactly. I don't see how people die. I just touch them and know what they know. Everything they learn. And I can do what they do.

[But David smiles. Cute kid. If a bit shy of warm colors.]

I'll get you a few pairs anyway. Because then you'll look really nice.

video

[republicrelic]

...anyone taking care of you yet, kid?

video

[t0uchy]

Someone got me books and someone else got me gloves. People here are nice. [He fidgets with the hem of his shirt, thinking.] I think I'll be okay. I miss my parents, though. Houses without people in them are too quiet. It's weird.

video

[republicrelic]

I'm sure. You're at no age to be alone. People here can be kind, but you still have to be careful, you hear me? I'm sure your parents -- your Ummi and Baba, they've told you about such things. Don't let anyone into your home unless you're sure. Listen to your gut.

You'll be needing food as well.

video

[anathemic]

[ Oh no, just look at him. Anathema's discovered a maternal streak over the course of her time with Adam and his cohort of pre-teen co-conspirators, and it flares even brighter at the sight of this even smaller boy. She leans in close to the screen, peering at him in concern. ]

Are you okay, kid?

video

[t0uchy]

I think so? I don't know where I am, but this house is nice. But, um, I need my gloves. I can't go out without them. Ummi said.

[And Ummi knows best. He's still at that age where he believes in the word of his mother with total certainty.]

[anathemic]

Are the gloves special? And did you come through a big building where people handed you some papers, or did you just wake up in an unfamiliar house?

[ New imPorts aren't usually this disoriented, so she supposes it might be another one of those magical aging effects. ]

video;

[rebelarrow]

[Well shit. Judd takes a deep breath before turning the camera on, careful to appear as gentle as he possibly can.]

Can you turn the camera to show me your room? I can deliver gloves to you.

[Normally he wouldn't just 'port into people's places, but this seems like an emergency.]

video;

[t0uchy]

Um, okay. I'm not good with this thing yet, though... sorry.

[Indeed, the video feed is wobbly as all hell, but Nashir does an admirable job of showing off the whole room, including the beginnings of a pillow fort.]

Is that good enough? [He's not really sure what Judd's planning or how it works, but at this point he's too stressed out to ask detailed questions.]

video; > action;

[rebelarrow]

[It might have been wobbly, but all it took was a second of stillness where the screen showcased the beginnings of the pillow fort and a distinct nock in the window behind it for Judd to get a visual lock.]

You did very good. Stay right where you are, and I'll be there in a moment.

[Not wanting to waste any more time, he turns off his feed, grabs a pair of gloves he bought for himself for riding motorcycles, then 'ports into Nashir's room. Suddenly appearing inside a child's room is bound to be a surprise, so he makes several steps backwards to put space between them, hoping to put the child Nashir at ease.]

I brought gloves.

[The gloves in question just hover in front of him, as he doubts Nashir would attempt to go near them if he's touching them. Once he announces them, they slowly glide towards Nashir, as if on invisible strings. There they float, enticing him to take them. THey are undoubtedly too big, but they will cover his hands just the same for now.]