Event Log: The Hope of a Child

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters participating in the event
What: The event log for the The Hope of a Child event
Where: All over the city!
When: January 23rd-Feb 1st
Warnings: Youths

By now, the gods have probably done enough weird crap to you while you're asleep for you to be a little suspicious- but it's not like you can just not sleep, especially when there are a few supernatural forces making your eyes droopy and your body feel heavy.

And now, when you fall asleep, you'll wake up somewhere else and you'll likely have quite a different temperament- you'll be younger, maybe a little more naive and innocent, and you won't exactly remember all the wild stuff that's happened to your adult self. Maybe now you'll be a little more trusting and emotional, hm? The gods could definitely use a little boost in power, and what better way to do it than to harness the power of overemotional kiddos!

Or maybe you aren't affected at all and find yourself surrounded by youths. What are you going to do when your best friend doesn't know how to cook for themselves? Or your bitter rival is throwing a temper tantrum because they broke their favorite toy? Nobody asked for this kind of responsibility, but think about what would happen if nobody was around to take care of these babies...

► This log covers January 23rd-Feb 1st.
► Feel free to make your own logs as well!
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If you trip over a kid and die, please let us know here.

Comments

smol

[foxpup]

[There's a confused, scrawny-looking boy wandering the streets, gazing around at everything in a mixture of awe and fear. He's nowhere he's ever seen before except in paintings or stories, and while at first it's interesting, the heat, the unfamiliarity, and the fact his mentor is nowhere to be found are all starting to get to him.

There are people around, but he's not supposed to trust strangers, right? They're dangerous.

So instead of asking for help, Yusuke does as he's been taught if he gets lost. He finds a place in the shade to sit and wait, because he knows if he wanders, he risks getting lost even further.]

I'll wait here, Sensei... [He mumbles and draws his knees up to his chin, trying to be braver than he feels.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[It's been... a little embarrassing, so far. Julie has been waking up with just enough recollection of her wanderings as her younger self to feel awkward looking some people in the eye, and she's spending the time that she is actually awake getting some exercise and some time in the sunshine.

She spies the boy sitting in the shade and pauses mid-step, observing him for a moment. There's something familiar about his features and as she draws closer, she hears him mumbling.]

Hey... [Julie crouches beside him, wrapping one arm around her knees.] Hey, are you lost?

[foxpup]

[There's nothing familiar about Julie to Yusuke, however, so as she approaches and crouches beside him, he only watches for a moment with a wary, uncertain expression, before looking away and staring at his knees.]

No... [He sounds like he's trying to convince himself, more than anything.] If I stay where I am, Sensei will find me.

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Is this... Yusuke? It's hard to tell when he's so young, but there's something about the face making her think she has to be right. She doesn't come too close, and doesn't move closer, just smiles in a small, encouraging kind of way.]

Who are you waiting for? Maybe I can help you find them.

[foxpup]

My teacher. He takes care of me.

[He looks up again still unsure, but... she seems kind of friendly?]

... His name is Ichiryusai Madarame. [His hopeful expression says he's clearly waiting to see if she recognises the name. He's famous in a lot of places, not just in Japan, so it's the best chance he has.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Ichiryu--- never mind.

She doesn't recognise the name, but the last few years where she comes from haven't really given much in the way of celebrities. A little apologetic, she shakes her head.]

What's your name? [It's Yusuke, she's sure.] I'm Julie.

[foxpup]

[She doesn't know him... His expression falls.]

Yusuke Kitagawa. [He bows politely, despite his disappointment.] Pleased to meet you, Julie-san.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Hey, Yusuke.

[She shuffles a little closer, then settles back into a sitting position with her hands in her lap.] If you don't want to go anywhere, do you mind if I sit here with you?

this is going to be terrible

[hot_mes]

[It's not a helpful adult who approaches, but a ten-year-old wearing grenades. What a trustworthy face that is.]

Adults can't help you. They'll all just kill you. You should forget about your sensei.

oh god

[foxpup]

[Fortunately (or not), Yusuke is both too young and too sheltered to recognise grenades, and just assumes they're some unfamiliar toy. He flinches at being addressed by the scary-looking boy, however, then looks indignant.]

N-no... You're wrong! He isn't like that at all.

[hot_mes]

[fortunately, this is just some weird inner vision of Law so it's not like they'll explode anyway...]

Oh? Is he kind? Gentle? Naive? [sneering that last word] Then maybe he's the one that's going to die.

[foxpup]

[The boy's eyes well up with tears, but he quickly wipes them on the back of his sleeve. He can't get upset in front of a bully.]

He's very kind. Why are you saying such cruel things?

[hot_mes]

Because. [he's an unstable jerk] That way when it happens, you'll be prepared. You won't have to cry about it and let it hurt. It's better not to have to hurt.

[foxpup]

[Shakes his head emphatically.]

He helps me if I hurt...! Nothing bad is going to happen to him.

[hot_mes]

You think that now. You're just naive, just like most kids.

[welcome to the bitter and jaded party of one]

[jocoeur]

( he hadn't even heard yusuke leave the house this morning. but once he was wandering the citypools proper, something wasn't sitting right with akira. there seemed to be... a lot more kids around than usual. had hadriel brought more children in on an off-day than when arrivals usually made their appearances? maybe investigating this phenomena and tracking down his friend could be accomplished in the same trek, but... as he scoured the area for yusuke's usual shaded spots, he didn't know just how connected the two things were.

the hairstyle was the same, which is how he spotted him in the distance, but as he approached... the size difference was glaringly obvious. with a confused— )( he slowed his steps as he closed the distance, standing a little ways away from... )

Yu... suke?

[foxpup]

[From where Yusuke had huddled against the wall, he looked up with wide eyes, slightly intimidated by the Scary Teenage Delinquent coming towards him. But Madarame wouldn't allow himself to be cowed by unkempt ruffians!!! So Yusuke tries to imitate that, sits up a little and tries to look dignified and unafraid.]

Y-yes? Do you know me?

[jocoeur]

( not only had his friend regressed into a child like state but his memories had been affected too? akira tried to keep his expression neutral, he didn't want to show is concern so openly... when surely yusuke needed support now, perhaps more than ever. )

Yeah. We met before... It's okay if you don't remember. ( especially since it's about ten or more years in the future... ) Is it all right if I sit with you?

[foxpup]

[Yusuke gives him a long, distrustful look at that vague response.]

Why? ['What do you want?' is what he really wants to ask, but he's trying to be at least somewhat polite towards this stranger.] Do you know Sensei, too?

[jocoeur]

Yeah. ( it's not a lie, but he hides his eyes with a convenient glare on his glasses as he says it. it's a bit... of a punch to the gut, seeing first hand how much he must have trusted madarame at this age. )

I've seen some of his paintings before. ( 'his' ... term used loosely. ) Do you like to paint, too?

[foxpup]

[Oblivious to whatever is on Akira's mind, Yusuke nods, and seems to relax a fraction. Maybe this teenager isn't so scary, if he knows about Madarame and about art.]

Yes. Sensei teaches me a great deal, so I can strive to paint as well as he does someday. Which one of his works is your favourite?

[jocoeur]

( akira shifts his weight, still not keen to sit without at least trying to gauge the situation a little better. if he said too much things might get... complicated. and more than anything, he didn't want to frighten the extra small sized version of his friend...

of course, the answer to his question is obvious. )

That's easy— it's Sayuri. ( though it leaves a bit of a bad taste in his mouth to consider it madarame's, even just for this moment. )

ADOPTS IMMEDIATELY

[odinbolt]

( It's one of the sad facts of this event: the planet they're on isn't exactly the most hospitable to adults with the extreme temperatures, never mind unprepared children. Serah takes to walking through the city, trying to keep an eye on the randomly appearing younger versions of people here. She also takes to carrying a flask of water with her, just in case. )

... Are you okay?

( Her students may call her Meanie Miss Farron, but it's not like she's always, or even often, a meanie. She's just strict when necessary. And there's no reason to be anything but gentle with this kind who's closed in on himself in the shade. She holds out the flask in her hand as she crouches down next to him/ )

Are you thirsty?

yaaaay ;w;

[foxpup]

[He stares at the pink-haired girl cautiously for a long moment like he's not sure he should even answer. But she looks friendly, and at her offer, his eyes go to the flask...]

Y-yes.

[He reaches as if wanting to take the flask, but hesitates. He's not supposed to accept things from strangers. On the other hand, his throat feels completely parched, and if he doesn't drink something...]

[odinbolt]

Go on.

( Her smile's encouraging and her outstretched hand doesn't falter, waiting for the child to take it. To that end, she even shifts onto the floor, crossing her legs carefully.

Hm. Maybe she should try talking some more. )

My name's Serah. What's yours?