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

[dogsled]

[ The big guy that he'd stopped getting eaten by a wolf was really quite huge, and American--God, it just had to be an American. They didn't respect anything, especially not wildlife; his dad had told him so, and so had his grandmother and all of his native friends. Americans were just disrespectful in general, and Fraser looked over his shoulder to glower at the tall American as he called him names.

Disrespectful.

His expression was somewhere between very angry and a little bit arch. Older Fraser would control his emotions far too much to bother with the angry part. But little Fraser could show the full range, and he turned on Ray and folded his arms, which looked daft with the overlong sleeves. ]

I'm trying to protect you, Sir. This happens to be a wild animal. Don't let his size fool you! [ He narrowed his eyes more, looking defiant, like he was the wild animal, not Diefenbaker, who was sneaking up behind him to sniff at his clothing - which of course smelled like wolf ] Now I'd thank you kindly if you returned to your vehicle.

[cuff]

[ Aww, he was so cute when he was pissy. Lookit that. So cute.

Ray had been more intimidated by the little poodles those old ladies always dragged down the sidewalk in the middle of summer, sweat dripping and snarls curdling blood. Really, those little shitheels were terrifying when you were thirteen and still hadn't hit puberty and grown a few feet. Sharp little pointy teeth, scrambling feet, hot Chicago sun. They didn't have sleeves that flopped all the way down to their feet.

Little Fraser? Little Fraser just thought he was a rude annoying, shithead - which was generally how Fraser felt about him in the first place, Ray just figured he didn't say it most of the time.

And just to be a pest? Ray crouched down, holding out his fingers towards the itty bitty Dief - or what he thought was maybe itty bitty Dief, he was still utterly clueless as to why or how or who - wiggling his fingers, hoping the pup might be willing to come over and take a sniff. ] And Fraser, I'd thank you kindly if you stopped tryin' to boss me around. Think I know how to handle myself around your wolf. [ That was maybe an attempt to see if this was even Fraser. Or if some child had just decided to kidnap his clothing. ]

[dogsled]

[ He was just about to round on the American more thoroughly and give him a piece of his mind and then storm off like the monster he was, when the American got all cocky and friendly with the wolf, ducking down and reaching out for its muzzle in a way that clearly expected him to get his fingers bitten off for it.

It didn't happen that way. The wolf just licked the outstretched fingers, and then became best friends with the stranger at once, coming in to sniff at Ray's pockets eagerly. And more than that, he outright said his name.

What did he mean his wolf, and who was this stranger to pretend familiarity with him? How did he know his name? All his anger and confusion died on his lips. And now there was just... ]

Who are you? I've never seen you before. Or this wolf. Why would I have a wolf? My dad would never let it in the house.

[cuff]

[ Sadly, Ray didn't have any leftover tidbits from lunch - no doughnuts he'd stuffed into his pockets, no sandwich in coat sleeves. Dief could look all he wanted and it didn't mean anything would appear, though he had half of a roast beef one still tucked in between the seats of the GTO. Let Dief lick his fingers all he wanted in the interim, now Ray just had to get this kid somewhere that wasn't all by himself in the middle of the big city.

He'd get himself run over by a car. Or kidnapped. Or run over by a bicycle. Or carried off by a pigeon. Who knows. Ray didn't. ]

I'm Ray. Kowalski. I'll just fill you in quick, you can follow along. I know you, guessin' you don't know me, and this is your wolf Diefenbaker. Dunno if he's still deaf or not. [ He ruffled the pup's ears before leaning his forearms on his knees. ] Your dad- I dunno 'bout him, but he'll manage. So, how'bout, for the time being, you come with me. I got something you can help me with.

And if you're worried 'bout the whole stranger danger bit, then I can tell you all sorts'a things- [ Actually, he kind of can't. Shit. ] You told me bout the hand of Franklin. That work for you?

[dogsled]

[ Fraser folded his arms across his chest, scowling up at the stranger. Sure, so he knew his name - and apparently the wolf's name because it wiffed at him - but Fraser wasn't so convinced. He didn't believe he'd call a wolf Diefenbaker, for a start. It was a rubbish name. What was wrong with Bolt, or Hero, or Thunder Paws? Secondly, where was he, and thirdly and absolutely most importantly, why didn't he remember anything about this man or this place or the wolf?

Had he fallen off that cliff, after all, and bumped his head on the way down? Or better yet--

Realisation brightened his expression, the confusion ebbing away. He'd generated himself an explanation, which put to bed all his immediate concerns about being in a strange city with a strange man. ]

Ah. I see what this is. I'm dreaming. This is all just a hallucination, some sort of spirit journey. At least, that explains the wolf--but I'm not sure what you're meant to be. [ He paused, looking Ray up and down. ] Perhaps you represent my sense of disconnection from the native cultures in which I've been raised. [ He shrugged, and shook his head, looking at the wolf. ] Well, lead on, spirit guide. Let's see what you've got for me.

[cuff]

[ If he knew that you were thinking of Thunder Paws for a name, you and your older self would never live down that particular humiliation. But as it stood, Ray just watched from a certain emotional distance, waiting to see if he'd been deemed worthy by a far too discerning child. The likelihood that he'd bolt is high enough that Ray's primed to run after him, far too aware that looking like the crazy guy chasing down a child wasn't gonna help anyone's case.

Not that he's got a case.

But at least little Fraser's whackadoo theory seemed to answer enough of questions and Ray tried to keep his exhalation of thanks to himself. ] Right-o, follow me, then. To over yonder... car. Four wheeled gizmo. Whatever you wanna call it. Is Dief comin- [ Ray glanced over his shoulder, too used to Dief bounding ahead before he finally leaned on over and picked up the pup for safety's sake, holding him under his arm like a football. ]

The black car over there? Get in it. You get to ride shotgun- [ Wait. ] Uh, not a literal shotgun, the passenger seat. I need to do a drive-by.

[dogsled]

[ Fraser was giving Ray that I'm judging you right now look out of the corner of his eye, and rightly so, because as he followed him over toward the car he was becoming very aware of his being talked down to, and knew that the American wasn't actually seeing it himself. It was befuddling. Could his subconscious really be this condescending? How had he dreamed this up anyway? ]

I know what a car is [ He pointed out. ] My father has a brand new land rover he was given for work. I got to ride in it.

[ He gave the wolf a look. What kind of wild animal was it, anyway? Such a traitor. He climbed up on the passenger side, frowning at the car, which didn't look like any kind of utility vehicle he'd ever seen. ]

Where do you put the caribou that you shoot?

[cuff]

[ Well, see- the thing was, Ray had no idea what to expect from little Fraser. He didn't know what the hell Fraser knew, considering he hadn't been told nearly anything about his youth. How was he supposed to know if he'd grown up only travelling by snowshoe? Or riding moose? Ray could really only surmise and what he'd managed to grasp so far was that Fraser had at least had somewhat of a cultured upbringing... Ish.

Pulling the driver side door open, he stepped a foot inside before hit with the question. Where to put the caribou. Of course. Pausing to stare out at his car, Ray looked down at Fraser before he finally shrugged. ] On the roof. Where else would I put it?

[ Duh. Dropping down the rest of the way into his seat, he plopped Dieef into his lap and practically buckled him in. No Dief's through the front window. Fraser could obviously get himself buckled. Putting the car into gear and getting situated, it was only another second before Ray pulled out into traffic. ] You interested in knowin' where you are or should I just leave the figurin' that part out to you?

[dogsled]

[ Well that sounded utterly ridiculous. How could Ray put a dead caribou on top of this thing? It looked like the weight of a caribou would collapse the roof in the center. ]

Do all Americans drive useless cars, or just all the ones with ridiculous hair?

[ Because he had seen some movies. He knew these things existed...sort of. Cars that couldn't straddle streams and climb up steep valley walls. It still seemed all sort of pointless to build a car at all without considering multipurpose. All the Americans with dumb cars in those movies did indeed have ridiculous hair. Ray reminded him of Marlon Brando, actually, although somewhat slimmer and less confident.

He strapped himself in, shot another scowl at the wolf who was now squirming in his own restraints, then looked up into the mirror. ]

It doesn't seem that important to know where I am. I'm dreaming, after all. What use is geography when the next thing I know we could be walking on the surface of the moon?

[cuff]

[ Wow, little Fraser really did go in for the kickers, didn't he. Ray's eyebrows lifted towards the ceiling as he snorted quietly to himself. Oh yeah, keep insulting the hair, big guy. Ray will let you run out into traffic and watch his own personal game of Frogger.

Yeah okay fine, maybe not, but it's still tempting.

Ray guns the engine to let off a momentary flare of annoyance but overall keeps his cool, paying attention to the road instead of Fraser's snide little commentary. As soon as he grows up again (he'll do that, right? RIGHT??) Fraser's gonna get a motherfucking earful about why the hell he was such a brat when he was a kid. Because really, who managed to teach this little booger how to behave like... well, like he does now. This is weird. ]

Up to you, kiddo. But if I decide to leave you on a street corner 'cause I decide that you insulting your spirit guide's gettin' a little old, you might want to know where you are. Don't matter, though. At least i'll have the wolf.

[ He shrugs, taking the next corner. ]

[dogsled]

[ Fraser was about to point out that actually Dief was the spirit guide, but he closed his mouth and looked out of the window instead. This place really was incredibly beautiful. It was spring, all the trees were covered in blossoms and the grass was vibrant. There were children playing in the park they drove past and life in every direction. The hover cars were a bit of a stretch, but if this was a dream then hover cars wasn't entirely unlikely.

But it was a lot of detail for a dream. Even one brought about by drug induced psychosis.

Fraser raised his hand to his mouth and nibbled on his nails, then shot a wary glance toward the strange American in the car. ]

If you're not imaginary then...why don't I remember you? Why don't I know how I got here - wherever here is - and what happened to my dad?

[cuff]

[ Little Dief really was a little wriggle beast and Ray had to keep a hand curled around his belly to keep the guy from crawling off and into the center aisle, which was right around when he remembered he had part of a sandwich tucked down there. Somehow he doubted Fraser would want to partake, but he tucked his knee under the steering wheel for a moment and reached down for it.

He didn't have enough hands to be a parent, apparently.

All while trying to think through an appropriate response to Fraser's question. Which was, really, kind of impossible. ]

Your dad's fine, but why you don't remember me? Any'a this? Beats me. This place is kinda up there on the weird scale, and nobody's got a good explanation for any of it. Just hafta fly by the seat of your pants, and in your case, ones that don't fit so great.

[ Shaking the squished sandwich free free its wrapper, he offered it up to Dief, figuring he'd care about the crumbs situation when he wasn't in the middle of toddler-day-care, his hand going back to the wheel. ] In the meantime, you can help me check up on a case you and I just got handed, and then we'll go... figure out the rest of this mess.