oo4;

[enduringwinter]

[the last couple of weeks, there's been a slightly sniffly and very skittish child running about the Plane. He's been keeping to himself, fleeing whenever someone gets close. Everyone is given a wide berth, though Richter often winds up staring at those who use magic or other non-humans with curiosity. Without later experience, he can't quite figure out what's happening and, still fearful of humans, he hasn't been able to muster up the courage to ask.

The young half-elf just knows he can't go back home to his parents and that he doesn't want to go back to that dark basement.

Today finds him sitting in a book fort not of his own creation. Some of the books around him needed to be restacked to prevent them from falling on top of the half-elf but the stacks upon stacks of books remain largely untouched. Save for the rather heavy volume the boy's trying to read through at the moment]

...

[he's totally engrossed in it too]

[ooc: LIFE IS SUFFERING but hi I'm late and my reason why is because Richter is terrified and little and THE MOST MOE BLOB OF SOBS the sniffles are the results of allergies and bawwws I've wanted to post this for a while but haven't found the time. ;A; ]

Comments

[perfectpartner]

[Someone else also likes books. He catches a glimpse of red hair in the book fort. Hesitation gets him first, then curiosity, so he comes over.]

Hello?

[enduringwinter]

[there's a startled yelp, followed by the sound of a large book being dropped-]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to- [his words die in his throat when he notices it's a human here (but they weren't yelling at him?). He looks torn between putting the book back or getting ready to run but refuses to make eye contact]

[perfectpartner]

[At first, Emil doesn't recognize him-- and then something within him wakes, and brings with it a torrent of bittersweet emotion. It nearly brings him to his knees. He kneels down anyway, trying to look smaller and less threatening.]

W-- wait! Wait, it's fine... You don't have to hide. I won't hurt you, or get you in trouble. I like books, too.

[He holds out his hand. It might be some kind of experiment. There's no mistaking who that is, though...]

I'm Emil. What's your name?

[enduringwinter]

[the problem with hiding away in a book fort is that escape was complicated by the fact that running into the walls was likely to result in being buried under it. The half-elf stares wide eyed at the blond for a moment before looking at the hand in front of him in confusion. Hm? Well, if it wasn't going to get him in trouble... This guy did ask first...]

R-Richter.

[but he still looks uncomfortable]

[perfectpartner]

[He nods and smiles, and lets the handshake go.] It's nice to meet you, Richter.

What were you reading? Can I see? I've read a lot of these books, but it seems like there's more appearing all the time.

[enduringwinter]

[he looks around hesitantly - there must be some internal battle going on in his head right now - before he holds out the text book for Emil to see.

It's a text about the energy resources and was also the first thing he grabbed from one of the smaller piles that he could understand]

... Th-The other books are really, really difficult.

[perfectpartner]

[His smile lights up.] Oh, this one! I've read it before. [He sits down without a care in the world.] Did you get to the part about hydroelectricity yet?

[enduringwinter]

[a small squeak and Richter scoots over and awaaaaaay whoa personal space whoa]

U-Um... [he's flustered at how easily this human talks to him but he's also suspicious. Was there some ulterior motive to this?]

[...]

No...? I think it's the next chapter though... [a confused frown] They don't list 'mana' as a type of energy.

[perfectpartner]

[He doesn't LOOK like he has an ulterior motive...

He does, however, have a funky mana signature. FUCKIN WEIRD YO]

It's a book from a world that doesn't have mana.

[enduringwinter]

[YOU SEEM HUMAN?? BUT NOT?!?!? WHAT IS THIS YOUNG RICHTER CANNOT COMPREHEND THE TRUE FORM OF RATASTEMIL'S MANA SIGNATURE]

... [oh. There's this incredulous look on his face. A world without mana?? Oh, u so silly]

But life wouldn't exist without it! [and then he turns his face downwards again. What is eye contact?]

[perfectpartner]

[LMAO. That expression is really, really funny-- and it makes Emil laugh for a second or two.]

S-- sorry, I just... that face. [He clears his throat.] I think mana might exist for them, but not in the same way it does for us. They don't seem to have Summon Spirits or anything like that.

[enduringwinter]

[If there was anything to prompt the half-elf to look at Emil again, laughing was probably it. His face turns as red as his hair for a moment. FLUSTERED CHILD RICHTER AWAY] Wh-What's wrong with my face-?!

... Mmmm... [a world without Summon Spirits, huh? Wouldn't that be like-] I wonder what if Tethe'alla would be like that if it were in decline.

[perfectpartner]

Ah, nothing's wrong with it! Sorry. Just-- forget it. [It feels like several lifetimes ago when he was dealing with Richter's shorter, socially-anxious self. It makes his heart... ache, but he tries to smile through it.]

Maybe. We'd definitely have to be more careful about how we used our energy.

[It's so easy, so tempting to lapse into... Ugh, he has to stop. He doesn't want to blow his cover for when the experiment is cleared up. Because that's all this is, right?]

[inhumanity]

[He puts a hand on one of the piles to prevent Crushed Children.] Hello. Do you need a handkerchief.

[enduringwinter]

[Richter almost jumps out of his skin at the greeting. Green eyes turn to look upward at Christopher (and if the small half-elf wasn't afraid before, he certainly was now) before shaking his head furiously 'no'. Looks like words are failing him at the moment]

[inhumanity]

[The monster crouches beside the child and smiles gently, baring all of his teeth.] Don't be frightened. I'm not human, either.

[enduringwinter]

[you would think an admission like that would terrify him more (and it does) but eventually, Richter nervously pipes up] I can tell...

[he still holds the book in front of him like a shield or barrier. You are scary even when you try(?) not to be]

[inhumanity]

[Hurtful, Richter!]

[He is a little amused at that 'I can tell,' but he shrugs it off.] I'd hate to be mistaken for one, you see. But you mustn't worry. I don't want to hurt you.

[enduringwinter]

[he's giving this look, one that speaks of MASSIVE CONFUSION and befuddlement because what. What is this person he is speaking with even trying to say? Richter shifts slightly to lower the book in his hands to his lap before sniffing. Looks like the allergies have still got him]

Then wh-why are you talking to me? [a slight jump before he nails his gaze to the cover kf the book in his lap. Wait, that question came out wrong what does he do now??]

[inhumanity]

[Christopher takes out a handkerchief as blood red as the ruffles of his clothes and holds it out to Richter. He doesn't seem upset by the terribly phrased question.] Hm... well, you seemed to have a cold.

[enduringwinter]

[...]

[he looks at the handkerchief. Then up at Christopher. Then back to the handkerchief]

[sniff]

Th-Thank you? [he's not sure if he should be taking the offer but it'd be rude to decline now that it's actually being held out for him, right? Right?]

[...]

[he takes the handkerchief and wipes his nose. Sniff, sniff allergies are suffering]

[inhumanity]

[Chris smiles. (which is always just a little bit creepy)] There has been a bit of a cold running around here.

[enduringwinter]

A... Cold. [he doesn't sound like he buys it, if the disbelieving look is anything to go by. A disbelieving look that quickly gets nailed back to the floor once he realizes that saying something like that to someone who looked like this was probably not wise] I'm sorry!

B-but I just got here. I think. [it's hard to keep track of days when everywhere is a strange starlight sky]

[inhumanity]

[There isn't a violent response.] You don't need to apologize. I've already decided not to hurt you. You can say whatever you like.

S-Sorry this took so long. Schoolwork. orz

[enduringwinter]

[there's a frown because what a novel concept this is... Richter's still not sure what to make of Chris though (then again, is there anyone who does?)]

... Um... [nervously looks around] Th-then...

Why wouldn't you want to be mistaken for a... a human?

[this is baffling to him. Baffling]