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

Re: voice

[t0uchy]

Baba said if I was good today we were going to go to the bookstore and get new books for me and Qadir. Amina and I were going to try to see if you really can make a rope out of bedsheets and climb down a building with it like in a story.

[Amina is the 'what could possibly go wrong?' Gul-Aisa sibling, clearly.]

Hmm. This house does have an upstairs, but I think the other people who live here need their sheets... right?

Re: voice cw: child soldiers

[jeesh]

[ Is this what normal seven year olds are interested in? Bean isn't sure he ever thought about tying bedsheets together. But then, by the time he was seven, he was already a war veteran. ]

I can take you to a bookstore. Or I could bring over some extra sheets from my house, if you'd rather try that.

[ Sure, it's not exactly the safest endeavor, but Bean still has his size changing ability. He can always stand outside the window and catch Nashir if he falls. ]

Re: voice cw: child soldiers

[t0uchy]

[Who knows? Nashir just takes his cues from his sister and assumes she knows what she's talking about.]

The bookstore sounds good. I can do the sheet thing later. But I don't have any money, here.

[jeesh]

That's alright. If you see something you want, I can pay for it. You can pay me back later, or just consider it a gift, to honor your becoming the Seer.

[ Bean is sure this will make for an interesting conversation with Nashir once they're both back to normal. But he can't ignore a child left alone. ]

[t0uchy]

Um... I know Ummi said people might think they have to give me things to get me to do things for them, but if you want me to see your death, you can just ask. You don't have to give me stuff for me to keep you safe. I'm not like that.

[Or at least, he doesn't want to be. Good God, he hopes he doesn't turn into that kind of jerk, ordering people around, demanding they buy him things and making them feel like they have to trick him into helping out. Nashir doesn't want to be a bad guy.]

[jeesh]

I already know how I'm going to die. You don't need to show me anything.

[ Though, he is even more motivated to find a way to change his fate, now that he's forced into his older body again. ]

Do you know where you are? I can come pick you up.

[t0uchy]

Um, I don't know, actually. Someone explained that it's in the United States, but I don't know exactly where. And I think I'm the only one in the house right now, so I don't know who to ask...

[jeesh]

[ Okay. That'll make this a little harder. Bean knows Nashir is from the early twentieth century, so he'll have to explain this carefully. ]

You know the device you're using to talk to me? It has a maps function.

[ He sends a screenshot of the app icon on his own phone. ]

Press that, and see if it can tell you an address.

[t0uchy]

Okay, I'll try.

[It takes significantly longer than older, teenage Nashir would have taken, but he manages.]

I'm in somewhere called De Chima - is that French? - house number two. Does that help?

[jeesh]

It does. I can get there in about half an hour. Can you wait for me?

[ Best that Nashir doesn't go getting himself lost before Bean can get to him. ]

I know the best bookstores in De Chima. I'll show you them.

[t0uchy]

Yeah, I can wait. Thank you.

[Nashir tries to make himself presentable looking before Bean arrives, combing his hair and making sure his shirt is buttoned right. Behold, he is a responsible adult! Kind of. Sort of. Well, not really. But he's trying his best.

When Bean shows up, Nashir timidly opens the door, tilting his head at him.] Hi. Um, do I look okay? I couldn't find my jacket or the fancy hat Ummi got me. I guess those didn't come with me.

[The 1900's and 1910's were a time where appearance was everything in terms of how one was treated. It's just barely 1911 where this Nashir is from, and he doesn't want people to make fun of him for looking poor.]

[jeesh]

[ Bean's own appearance may give Nashir the impression that looks aren't as meaningful in this day and age. He's dressed simply, in the largest shirt and trousers he could find, and still the sleeves are a bit too short for his long arms. ]

I think you look fine. No one's going to say you don't. Are you ready to go?

[t0uchy]

[His clothes look clean and that's all Nashir's parents would have insisted on, outside of official stuff like being confirmed as a Seer. Nashir smiles at him, tugging at the gloves Ronana had brought him earlier to make sure they're on tight.]

I'm ready. Thank you for coming. It's really nice of you to do this for a stranger.

[Bean has Big Brother Energy and Nashir appreciates it.]

[jeesh]

[ Funnily enough, Bean is the little brother in his family. But he's definitely feeling like an older brother today. He wonders what Nikolai would make of him now. ]

It's alright. I had nothing better to do today. And, I really like this bookstore I'm going to take you to.

[ He'll lead the way out of the residential complex and towards town. It's not too far a walk, though Bean has to move somewhat more slowly to accommodate his overworked heart struggling to keep up with his huge body. ]

[t0uchy]

[Nashir is the little brother in his family, and although he doesn't cling to Qadir much, big moves to new countries is definitely enough to make him seek out a new person to stick to and let guide him.]

Are there lots of bookstores here? What kind of books do you like?

[Now that he's a little bit more comfortable, he feels like he can ask questions, even if he still keeps out of Bean's reach, trying to make sure no accidents happen. Nashir isn't used to touching people with his powers just yet.]

[jeesh]

There are several, in each city. But the one I'm taking you to is the best in this city.

[ It has the most selection, especially of older, harder to find books. Which Bean thinks Nashir might like. ]

I mostly read historical accounts. Though, lately I've been leading a lot of scientific journals.

[t0uchy]

I like history books. My English isn't good enough for science books, though. I have to read anything like that in Arabic. But I like fairy tales, too, even if Baba says those are for girls. Um... you won't tell on me if I get some of those books, here, will you?

[Teenage Nashir would never admit to liking fairy tales. He'd sooner die. Tiny Nashir has no filter.]

Do they have puppet shows here? Can we go see one?

[jeesh]

Your English is still very good, for your age.

[ Bean decides not to mention that the nanites are likely helping to translate. Best not to explain to the twentieth century child that there are tiny machines in his bloodstream. ]

I promise, whatever books you want to get, that will stay between us. I don't know about puppet shows, but I can see if there's something we can go see after the bookstore, if you want.

[t0uchy]

Thanks! Ummi taught me and Adina helps me practice. Her English is the best out of all of us. She even writes poetry in it!

[She's so smart! The smartest. Nashir hopes he can be that good some day, even if he'll have to publish under a pen name since he's a boy.]

Baba doesn't always let me read those kind of stories, if the cover is too girly. People give him funny looks. He says I should be reading books with wars and heroes and horses instead. [He shrugs, as if to say 'dads, am I right?'] I'm glad you don't mind. And I do like other books! But sometimes I just want a story with magic in it, you know?

[Finally, someone who gets it.]

[jeesh]

Poetry, huh? Do you remember any of her poems?

[ Could be nice, for Nashir to think of something home. ]

You'll get plenty of magic here, and no Baba to stop you.

[ Even if Bean does prefer books with "wars and heroes and horses." ]

[t0uchy]

Not a lot. Adina writes about really strange things, and sad things. But it makes her feel better and Baba and Ummi said that's the important thing.

[Nashir is seven. He doesn't 'get' poetry, or art, or any of that stuff. What he does get is that Adina always seems happier after she's written something and that other girls like it, too. Whatever makes them happy.]

Are there any books with magic horses in them? I like the one with the mane of fire from the Russian stories.

[jeesh]

[ Bean doesn't know much about Russian fantasy stories, so he pulls out his phone and starts Yahoogling. ]

I'm sure we can find something like that.

[ The bookstore he's taking Nashir to has a wide selection, so there's probably a title that would fit the description of magic horses. ]

[t0uchy]

[The Humpbacked Horse was a Russian classic. Magic horses, spirits, and an ending with an implied awful death for the villain. Due to complicated reasons relating to the Ottoman Empire, Russian stories were more readily available in Arabic than English ones. Nashir's read some interesting stories, but the one with the magic horse is the best.]

I like stories where the hero is smart instead of just being strong. And ones where there's magic. What kind of stories do you like?

[jeesh]

[ The bookstore Bean was taking them to had a wide selection of foreign literature. It was part of what made it his favorite shop in the city. He could always find obscure texts in their original language there. If they didn't have The Humpbacked Horse, they would certainly have something like it. ]

I tend to read more nonfiction than fiction, [ he answers honestly, seeing no need to beat around the bush just because Nashir is a little kid. ] I like histories, research papers, scientific journals. Things like that.

[t0uchy]

I like both. Is that weird? I feel like everybody else I know only likes one or the other.

[Is that okay? He's a little unsure of himself, because he comes from an era where being academically minded is considered a virtue and he's not 100% into that. But he looks at Bean like he'll have all the answers, trusting in the older boy to give him an honest response.]