AGE PLOT SHENANIGANS

[microbrobotics]

WHO: Everyone and anyone!
WHERE: De Chima, various
WHEN: Around 6 PM EST, March 25th
WHAT: Age plot kickoff!
WARNINGS: Cuteness.

[ LET'S GET THIS PARTY OFFICIALLY STARTED! Opening events so we don't do too much comm flooding (although people are welcome to make their own posts for the event). You're welcome to toplevel with your character if you'd like to have them show up somewhere else for this plot.

Current toplevels:
Spring Festival in a De Chima city park
De Chima #1
De Chima #1, later (Minato)

The age plot will run from March 25th through Sunday, March 29th. More deets available at the plotting post. ]

Comments

[siriusly]

[freak powers aside, Manabu is kind of a magnet for fortune or...destiny...or whatever is in charge of these circumstances; a kid banking a corner and straight into his legs is far from the worst of things, but he didn't exactly expect it.]

Uff–!

[he does have the sense to reach and grab hold of little shoulders to stop any extra momentum from causing a fall.] Careful! Care–

[he's fast to detect fear, almost as fast to ease his grip.] Hey, it's alright–

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Our vote is for ~destiny~.

As it is, Peter's quick to try to twist out of the guy's grip, and only when it eases of its own accord does he look up.

-- Not a familiar face. That's not a surprise, but he had hoped--

He manages to choke down his panic -- which is easy enough, considering he's taking deep gulps of air to catch his breath. A glance around yields the same results (familiar but not), and he finally looks up. ]

Do you know where this is--?

[siriusly]

Hmh?

[his hands are still hovering near while Peter does his turnabout, frowning worriedly. where's this kid's parents? relatives? he looks really spooked, and...well, judging by the question, lost.]

De Chima. That's the town. [he shoots a quick glance across the street, looking for the road signs before refocusing on the kid.] You got separated from someone, didn't you? Do you remember where?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That name sounds familiar, but he still can't really place it. He frowns and chews on his lower lip for a bit,then shakes his head at the guy's question. ]

I don't think-- I don't think they're here. I've don't think I've been here before...

[ Granted, that last bit sounds unsure. ]

[siriusly]

[here can be as simple as this particular street or as complex as not even the same neighborhood as this universe. Manabu's still not used to thinking on the latter; he keeps his focus smaller.]

No? Well, where's the last spot you were? There's some bus maps and things we can check to see where you got turned around. [he pushes an encouraging look on his face.] Does that sound okay? Maybe better than running around unsure and getting more lost.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His brow furrows as he tries to think back. Because he remembers running outside, and falling to his knees in a field of grass, but he also remembers a fair and the smell of popcorn and cotton candy, and--

At the suggestion of bus maps, though, chews on his lower lip, trying to remember. ]

-- Heropa. [ He blurts it out, then frowns at himself. ] Do you-- is that a place near here?

[siriusly]

Ah, well– [he grimaces a little.] Yes and no? [he straightens up, scratching the back of his head as he looks about.] You must've gotten on the teleporter and got zapped here without realizing what was going on, huh...

[weird. he thought people needed clearance for that. huh.

welp. he shrugs up his shoulders, glancing back down at him.] But that just means we can get you back there pretty fast, if that's the case! We can call your parents, or someone who'd be looking for you beforehand? I bet they're worried.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He purses his lips at that, eyes wandering a little as he thinks. ]

-- My family ain't here.

[ Peter's sure of it, in fact, though he doesn't know why -- and neither is the fact as upsetting as it should be, like he's grown used to the idea. ]

But I think-- I think I live there. In Heropa.

[siriusly]

[well. well that's a dubious thing to hear...how old is this kid, anyway? he can't be running around by himself, unless this town is really weirdo-free (more dubious)...]

Are you sure? [he tilts his head, glancing him over for sign of something like...a whallop to the head. something to explain such a strange sequence of remarks.] I mean, if that's so, it shouldn't be so hard to get you back, but you have to be sure... What about a teacher? A friend? Someone you know we can get in contact with?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Excuse you, Peter is currently at a very old, very wise nine years old. But in answer to this guy's question, Peter nods. (He also has the fleeting thought that all of the adults in his life had basically hammered into his head that he shouldn't talk to strangers, and yet here he is. Take that, everyone ever.)

He tries to think of any of the people he knows, anyone who could help. Mom and Gramps spring immediately to mind, but he knows they're not here; and he thinks Mom... he thinks she might gone. He bites his lip to distract himself from the way his eyes sting. After that, he sees brief flashes of people in his mind's eye -- a woman with green skin, a man with red tattoos, a giant tree (?), a raccoon (???) -- before ultimately shaking his head. ]

Don't think none of them are here. But-- I think--

[ he tugs down his sleeve, looking for a mark on his wrist -- and when he doesn't see anything, he's a little disappointed, as shown by his small pout. He doesn't realize the marking only shows up in the dark. ]

I thought I had a thingy. A tattoo.

[siriusly]

[things are clicking together slowly for Manabu, whose eyes drop to the boy's wrist at mention of tattoo. it puts a very troubled look on his face while he hesitates, ultimately tugging at his own sleeve to turn and expose his wrist.]

...Like this?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He peers at the guy's tattoo, then nods. ]

Yeah, like that.

[ He goes back to examining his own wrist, and on a hunch, he uses his free hand to shade it. With a small, triumphant smile, he shows it to Manabu. ]

Looks like I have one, after all.

[siriusly]

Huh... [Manabu looks a touch dismayed at this, despite trying to grin back. because he's...this kid, he's like. six? he's little. who magically zaps little kids into things like this?

welp. what are the odds his folks are even here? probably not good. that's not good. Manabu straightens back up, rubbing the back of his head.]

Guess that puts us in the same boat, huh... [but. wait.] Did you just port here right away after getting out of the military base? Do you remember that? Big, underground place, lots of grumpy adults in uniforms...

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The description does ring a bell, so Peter goes back to chewing on his lip as his brow furrows. ]

I was walkin' around a fair, earlier. And-- there was a noise. My clothes got too big, and I didn't know where I was, so I left.

[ A beat, and he adds helpfully, ]

Still not sure where I am. I ain't heard of De Chima before.

[siriusly]

[who the heck ports in kids? that's just messed up... the clothes thing floats over his head while he's fussing about this, his hand going from the back of his head to his chin to rub it pensively.]

It's not much of a landmark, for what it's worth...but maybe getting you back to Heropa will help you get your bearings? [absolutely better than running around aimlessly, he's certain.

his shoulders go up and down with a huffed breath, resolving himself. he leans forward a little, extending a hand.]

My name's Manabu. I can either get you along your way, or help you find someone who can, if you'd rather not have much to do with me. Either way, I don't think you should be tackling De Chima or anywhere on your own...I know I wouldn't.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hesitates before giving the guy's hand a shake. ]

I'm Peter.

[ As for Manabu's annoyance or-- exasperation or-- whatever it is, Peter just kind of frowns. He's not sure what he did or said, aside from the running-right-into-him thing, which he didn't seem particularly annoyed about to begin with. The tattoo thing must have bothered him.

he tugs on his sleeve, covering his wrist. ]

If you could just show me how to get to Heropa, I'd appreciate it.

[siriusly]

[nodding.] Mm, alright, Peter. Let's go.

[he is visibly less troubled with a decision set, with a task he knows how to do. the rest may be too much for him to fix, but having one small task to tackle builds up to fixing bigger ones, and he can live with that.

he pats Peter's shoulder partly to reassure him, partly to turn him back the way he'd come.]

Did you get any papers along with that mark on your wrist, by any chance? Probably in a manilla folder...

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He nods at that. ]

Mm-hmm. A while ago, though. I don't got that stuff with me right now. I think I left it back where I live.

Why? D'you need to see it?

[siriusly]

No, I don't really. [he stuffs his hands in his pockets as they walk, his mouth tugging on one side.] It's only that I'm realizing we've got a bit more in common, if that's so. It means you're way far from home than just Heropa, huh.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's quiet for a beat, then he says helpfully, ]

I'm from Missouri.

[ does that help??? ]

[siriusly]

[knowingly:] Ahh, I see...

[a beat filled with quiet steps.

unknowingly:] Is...Missouri a country? Or a planet?