video;

[unenchantment]

[Here's a small boy. He is blinking, confused, into the camera. He looks remarkably like a one Billy Kaplan, but tiny.]

Zeyde, wo bist du-

[There's a pause.]

I think I'm lost. I shouldn't have left, hello? Hello? Can you see me?

I'm looking for my grandfather. Or my brother? Or-

I lost Matthew.

Comments

[unenchantment]

Thank you-

Do you want something in return?

-> action?

[doneproperly]

[What a very Nathaniel-like question. But he doesn't expect it from Billy-- it takes him off guard. He almost laughs.]

No-- no. Just for you to stay safe.

action

[unenchantment]

Okay. Okay, I'll do my best.

[It's fine. He moved from the slide to the swingset, and now he's practically floating the swings.]

[doneproperly]

[Oh. Good.

When Nathaniel arrives he looks somewhat disheveled-- his suits are not made for warm weather or for running.]

... Ah.

[unenchantment]

[He looks down from where he's floating.]

You look hot, mister.

[doneproperly]

[HOW DO I EVEN DEAL WITH THIS]

... I am not adequately dressed for the weather, it's true.

[He wipes his forehead with an arm. Gross.]

[unenchantment]

[He scowls a little and there's a burst of magic and now he has his own little air conditioner spell.]

Is that better?

[doneproperly]

[He blinks in surprise.]

Oh. Yes-- much. Thank you.

[Now that he's here in person, he realises there's something else weird that's coming from Billy, though. Not just Billy's usual magic. His brow furrows a moment as he tries to work it out. Distractedly--]

I'm Nathaniel, by the way. We've... not been introduced. [When you're like this.]

[unenchantment]

I'm William.

[He floats down a little.],

Hello.

[doneproperly]

["William." Not Billy. It sounds so strange. It's only Nathaniel's years of training to keep his cool in impossible situations that puts him in good stead here.]

... Nice to meet you, William.

Your grandfather said I should wait here with you until he gets here.

[unenchantment]

[He looks at Nathaniel a long time.]

Do you know my brother?

[doneproperly]

[Billy's mentioned him before, so it's not a lie when he says--]

Ah. I know of him? Why do you ask?

[unenchantment]

Because I miss him, I don't know where he is.

I thought a grown up might.

[doneproperly]

... Oh. I'm sorry.

[He can't really relate, but he thinks that's the right thing to say in this situation, right?]

Perhaps... he'll turn up soon?

[Nathaniel you are so far out of your depth.]

[unenchantment]

You aren't very good at this, right?

[He is smiling a little, though.]

Will you sit with me?

[doneproperly]

[Wow rude!!]

I can get better.

... But sitting sounds like a good plan, yes. [Let's sit.]

[unenchantment]

Okay.

[He 's on the swing, and he looks over at the other swing.]

I think you'll get better soon.

[doneproperly]

[Oh. You want me to sit. On the swing. Okay. Okay!! I can do this. This isn't weird at all.

He sits on the swing. Awkwardly. Like he's never sat on a swing before. (He hasn't.)]

Do you know, I think I might be a little old for this.

[unenchantment]

I can probably change that!

[Pause.]

But I shouldn't, should I?

[doneproperly]

[Nathaniel's eyes go wide with alarm.]

--That would be a tremendously bad idea, yes.

[unenchantment]

It's okay.

I won't.

Grandfather wouldn't like it.

[doneproperly]

Truth be told, I'd not like it much either.

I quite enjoy being an adult. Much more so than being a child. Fewer people telling you what to do.

[unenchantment]

But no one takes care of you.

[doneproperly]

[No one ever did that anyway, he thinks, but doesn't say.]

True. But the good thing about being an adult is that you can take care of yourself.

[He says, like he isn't only EIGHTEEN.]

[unenchantment]

That doesn't sound very nice.

[And he takes a moment.]

I don't want to get old and fight with my grandfather.