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[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?

[inhumanity]

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

[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]

[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.

[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?

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]

No problem!!

[inhumanity]

[Christopher chuckles, a soft laugh that is only made terrible by his appearance.] I don't want to be human. I don't want them to get too comfortable with their existence. No, it's better that they're reminded: something better is out there.

[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]

[enduringwinter]

[oh, back to cowering]

[... Then he looks up again in time because oh. What a thought that was. Chris, you are a terrible influence] But... Hmm...

[he wants to say they're scary, but right now, so is Christopher. Rock and a hard place? Young Richter's lacking in worldly knowledge to know what to do right now]

[inhumanity]

But what? [He seems at ease. He isn't, not entirely, there is something so deep in him that feels the pain of not being human, of being always trapped outside of human existence--there is something in him that needs inhumanity to cope with what he has been through. But that is all tucked far away as he speaks with Richter.] If you can't join them, surpass them. It's an old adage on my world.

[enduringwinter]

'Surpass'...? [the young half-elf doesn't look convinced]

B-But they're scary... And strong. [he pulls his knees up and wraps his arms around them with a sniff. Mother was human, yet the Knights still- Still--!]

[... sniff]

[inhumanity]

They aren't frightening when you surpass them. Once they can't hurt you, there isn't anything to fear. All you have to do is become superior to them.

[And kill any one of them that threatens you.]

You should use that handkerchief.

[enduringwinter]

....-! [and as suggested, Richter blows his nose. Welp]

[some silence you are a terrible influence!] How though? They're... Mmmm... They have armor. And weapons.

[inhumanity]

[shh he is great with kids hdu Christopher smiles. He takes out his gun, with its blade all along, and lets Richter see it.] Don't surrender so easily! Weapons are only as good as those who hold them and, yes, I would say that armour always has gaps! As long as they have weaknesses, we can be stronger!

[enduringwinter]

[I do what I want, can't stop me. :( What's that on Richter's face? Yea, it's stuck somewhere between disbelief, fear and... awe? Guns don't exist in Tethe'alla, what a strange item this is...]

... So what are you? [he looks at Christopher] You're not a human, but you're not a half-elf like me.

[there's innocent curiosity there. very different from the suspicion of his adult self]

[inhumanity]

[As long as Richter doesn't start shooting with it.]

I'm an incomplete homunculus. Quite a good one, at that.