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

[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.]

[jeesh]

It's okay to like both. That's probably better for you, anyway. Makes you more well rounded.

[ Bean knows there's plenty of people who think he should have more well rounded interests, more appropriate to his age. ]