nomans_land | a new arrival

His nap is light enough that the words startle him awake, and he does his best to stay still and only open his eyes a little to see what the fuss is about.

His best, unfortunately, at this age, isn't very good. So he's squinting at the man in the shades who exclaimed. Who is also staring at him, which makes his skin crawl a little but, for some reason, he's not scared, not right now.

He sits up and glares. "What's your problem."

He's hot, he's unhappy because he has been walking for a while and he hasn't found his family yet. And the fear that they were killed in whatever happened at that time (somebody put a grave with a heavy slab and a big cross and it could have been one for a number of people) is far too real for him to be. Nice.

There's no question -- it's definitely him. Young him, before the Eye got their hands on him. Wolfwood doesn't know whether to start swearing or fall to his knees in thanks

"Kid, we don't have the kind of time it'd take to explain what my problem is." His words are snide, but he can't hide the relief in his voice... or on his face, for that matter. For all his habitual surliness, Wolfwood really does have one lousy poker face. "Do you know where you are?"

Nicholas just stares. This guy is confusing, but he doesn't seem to be trying to attack him, so the glare gets downgraded to a suspicious stare.

"Octovern. They say it's the only place where there's still a lot of people. Sure there aren't any in December." He grits his teeth and looks away. "Dunno about any other places."

Yeah, that makes sense. Of course he'd have checked December already. Seems like every version of him ends up there sooner or later, huh?

"They're right about that." If he hunkers down here in a squat, is he gonna get kicked? Or ditched? Play nice, kiddo, okay? Creepy big brother here doesn't mean any harm. "Pretty much the whole world's emptied out, and everyone's come here. That's why I'm here, anyway."

Has the kid guessed who he is yet, or does he need to be more obvious? Damn, he can talk a kid out of tears from a toma bite or bribe them into doing chores, but he doesn't have the faintest clue how to explain this whole mess. "I heard that Miss Melanie and the rest of the brats ended up out this way. Don't suppose you've seen 'em?"

Nope, though he might get kicked if he comes much closer, within an easy arm's reach. And he didn't choose to go to December, he was already there and then it was different.

However, as he hasn't yet gotten around to finding out about time shenanigans, he doesn't even begin to suspect who the guy is. So when he drops the name, Nicholas stiffens, fist clenching at his sides. But, of course, bad poker face. There is a glimmer of hope that was missing before.

"If I'd seen them, I wouldn't be here on my own." He chews on his lip for a moment. "Whoever told you would know? That they didn't-- it looked real bad, back there."

Damn. Oh well, it was worth a shot.

Wolfwood nods sympathetically in agreement. "Yeah, there was a hell of a fight there, huh? From what I saw, it's a wonder anyone got out." But they did, kid, don't worry about that! "The dumbass who told me they were here, he's a dumbass for sure, but sometimes he knows what he's talking about."

The place was shot to shit, but there weren't any bodies -- well, other than the buried one. Everyone got out okay. "I think they're all here, I just don't know where."

It's not exactly the kind of thing you think happens for real? So why would he think that?

Nicholas slumps a little, worrying at a frayed thread on the hem of his pants.

"That's... good. Why're you lookin' for them, anyway?"

It's not like he could know there was only one body. It's No Man's Land. Sometimes people get buried in the same hole. If they even get buried at all. This is the first confirmation he is getting that they get out, and, after days, the relief is making him a little dizzy. It's fine. They're fine. If they're fine, he can definitely find them.

Also, it's not like he's been to many cities, for all he's had time making do for himself, back before he was brought to Miss Melanie, but people here seem awfully... nice? Like they had some reason he didn't get to be friendly and helpful to each other. Even the ones who had to turn him down from getting some work actually apologized. It's weird. But he can't quite put into words what exactly feels too much.

So he has to ask.

He wasn't intending to lie. He was planning to tell the kid who he was right off -- there's enough falsehoods getting spun by all the Vashes already -- but the kid still doesn't seem to recognize him at all. There's so many questions he'll have to answer if he confesses his identity... and for the kid's sake, most of those answers will have to be lies.

Better to start with a big lie up front, and skip all the rest of the mess.

"Melanie's a friend." It's not a lie, not really. It's just not the whole truth. "I used to do some work for her, out at the orphanage. When everything went to shit I went looking for her, to see if she needed any help, but the place was empty." The best lies are lies of omission, after all. "I recognized you from your picture, the on the wall in her office?" She had pictures of every child that had ever come through, no matter how short or long their stay. As a kid, he'd thought it sweet, if a little stupid and sentimental. As an adult, he can't help but wonder how many of those kids ended up with the Eye. How many of them he killed, without ever knowing it.

"The name's Roberto."

"Okay." That makes sense, at least. He's not quite certain, because of, well, the initial reaction, and also the way the guy stares at him, like Nicholas is missing something important, but those things would make sense.

"'m Nicholas. And if they are here, I'll need ta find 'em." Most of the anger has faded down, at least, and his eyes are bright and determined. He sifts to kick in the direction of the bag. "Some of the groceries I was sent out for're still with me, they can probably use 'em."

Yeah, that's why. Really.

Nicholas. It really is him. Wolfwood doesn't sigh and rub a hand over his face, but he's sure thinking about it.

"Okay, Nicholas, then how about you grab those groceries. Let's go see if we can find your folks."

This world's Wolfwood is dead and buried, and here he is, bringing an unsoiled and whole kid version of himself back to Melanie. If they're stuck here, like it seems they are, then this kid might be the first ever Wolfwood to grow up naturally. The first ever Wolfwood who doesn't have to sell his soul to become a killer.

Anyone tries to mess with this kid between here and the ship, Wolfwood decides, and they're gonna be picking their teeth out of the pavement.

"They've got to be here somewhere!"

He might not have to, if certain people make sure the eye of Michael stops using the orphanage as fresh blood source.

Nicholas stares at Roberto for a moment, his eyes a little brighter with unexpectedly renewed hope, before he nods and scrambles to his feet, shouldering the bag in a way that is very familiar.

"Yeah..." Beat. "And... thanks."

Miss Melanie does teaches them manners, even if Nicholas has decided only adults who are at least acquaintances deserve the benefit of those lessons.

Oh, he's going to track down and murder every remaining trace of the Eye in this world, don't you ever worry about that, kiddo. They won't hurt anyone ever again.

That look of hopefulness, however small and brief, does something funny to Wolfwood's heart. Was he ever really this small? And this friendly?

C'mon, kid, let's walk.

"So how'd you get here from December? That's a long ways." And there aren't any sand steamers or buses or anything. He didn't walk all that way, did he?

Oh, no, 'Roberto,' you were even smoler and arguably friendlier.

And anyway, you have earned the friendliness, for bringing news about his family. So yes, he's coming with, looking around with renewed sharpness, his gaze running here and there over the ground, to pick up any ankle-biters who might not have parents with them.

"I walked parta the way. I wasn't comin' here, just to check the next town over, and then the one after that. And at some point I was actually here, and had'ta ask about to find out where I am and why's it so crowded.

There's no way he could have walked all the way. That must have been those annoying transport bubbles that he's run into a couple times.

"It's lucky you ended up here, and not out in the middle of nowhere, huh?" Somebody in the crowd is smoking, and Wolfwood can't help turning his head in their direction, sucking in a deep breath. He's got to find some cigarettes here, if it kills him. "Things got weird recently, and I mean weird weird. A piece of advice, kid, you should keep water an' something to eat on you all the time, just in case one of those magic portals drops you out in the sands."

Most of the time, when people start with 'a piece of advice, kid,' they're usually either about to tell him something that he can't do even if it's not a bad idea, or some complete bullshit. He scowls, but he listens, and then he blinks, nods.

"Makes sense." He was lucky he had some stuff, and indeed lucky he didn't end up somewhere really, really bad.

"That happen to you?"

Most of the time, people giving advice just want to hear themselves talk, or don't really give a shit about the person they're giving the advice to.

"A couple times now." And it's sucked every time. "I don't really know what's causing it..." Or rather, he's been told, but it's just so unbelievable that it simply can't be true. They're here to help a Vash fight a Knives? But the fight's already over? How's that many any kind of sense? "...all I know is that it's a pain in the ass when you're walkin' one place and suddenly, bam. You're somewhere else entirely."

He's actually pretty sure one of those bam moments saved his life, a couple days back, but that's not a conversation he needs to have with a kid, junior version of himself or not.

Damn this city got crowded! How are they supposed to find anyone in this mob?

"Right. I'll... keep stuff on me." He's thinking of what jobs he hasn't yet tried to look for that might still take him. Maybe messenger? He can get through to places and find people, and get back quickly. Probably. If he has some double dollars, he can be prepared.

As to where to look...

"I haven't been here long. Do you know anything about how the city's set up? Miss Melanie would not take everyone to the worst parts of the city, and likely won't be able to find a place in the best parts, so we could start with the the rest."

With the way everything was crowded, she probably wouldn't have been more picky than that, but perhaps that's a start?

Good luck finding a job right now, kiddo. With the number of refugees in the city, chances are that anyone hiring will be paying dirt wages, and might not want to hire a kid. Still, he might get lucky!

"The guy who told me they were here said that a, uh, mutual friend might've set Melanie and everyone up in their place." In a ship. He can see the dim outline of a ship way up at the edge of the atmosphere, just a blur of blue-on-blue. Is that the ship that Needles meant? How in the hell are they supposed to contact somebody all the way up there? "I don't know where their place is, though."

And he's never going to spot a thing in this crowd. Where can they go to get higher up? The cliffs? Is there another option? "...Hey, okay, I know how to find them. Let's head downtown, right into the middle of everything, and find whoever's in charge of all this." If Luida was giving a speech on the radio the other day about the Earth ships, then she's got to be nearby, right? She'll know where Melanie and the kids are, if they're here.

Nicholas listens, and tries to make marks of everything, but then the last part comes out, and he gives the universal preteen 'something's not right with your head' look.

But he swallows any sharp words down. He has no idea where to start, and while people have been friendly and nice, they haven't been able to help, so perhaps that will work. Or if not work, at least scratch one of the list of things to try.

"Right. Alright."

Sure. Whatever.

Look, he's not all that excited about talking to the government officials and federal agents and space cops and whoever else might be milling about downtown. He's a criminal, someone who's spent their entire life trying to avoid that kind of attention. If it was just him here, he'd... well, he wouldn't be trying to find Home in the first place, but if he did have to, he'd probably just break into one of these taller apartment buildings, get out on the roof, and play spot-the-spaceship. But that's dangerous -- and more difficult -- with a kid.

"Her name's Luida." There's no harm in filling his younger self in with information about who they're going to find, right? And this way, if they get separated, at least young Nicholas here will have some idea where to look, and who to look for. "I don't know if that's her first name or family name or what. Just Luida, I guess. She's head of..." Of a spaceship that didn't crash a hundred years ago? That wouldn't go over well. "...of an organization, that's working with the government and all these Earth ships to try and figure out what to do next."

Nicholas is walking with him, and listening. (And if it was phrased right, he might have stayed put so he wouldn't have slowed 'Roberto' down, but then again. Maybe better not to risk it.)

But then there is that last sentence and Nicholas skids to a halt, staring up at the adult.

"... what do you mean Earth ships."

He has been very focused on finding any information about those from December. He may have missed this. Just a little.

How the hell did he miss this?! Wolfwood turns on his heel, staring down at Nicholas with wide-eyed disbelief.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" They've been all over the radio? They're all anyone on the street is talking about? He points up at the sky, where the shape of one of them is just faintly visible, way high up there. "The ships from Earth!"

He was a little busy trying to find out if his family is alive??? Also, it's been a few days, he hasn't had that much time to listen to the radio!

He squints up in the direction that Roberto is pointing, though it takes him a moment to figure out what he's seeing. Then he bunches up his shoulders and glares into the distance.

"Right."

Actually, none of his business. If it's relevant, Miss Melanie will say so. If that will help them find Miss Melaine, whatever.

Right, he says, and that's it, like ships from Earth isn't the most amazing thing to ever happen on this miserable rock!

"Oi, kid, this is a big deal!" They can keep walking, keep heading toward their goal, but come on. Isn't it exciting? "Don't you get it? Things are gonna change now, it's gonna be better!" And sure, change comes slowly to those at the bottom, but they aren't alone here anymore! There's help!

"It'll be a big deal when I find my family. Then I'll deal with the rest of what is going on after."

He's. Skeptical. About things getting better.

Re: Octovern

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject