thoughtformed | 01 | video/action downtown

Entry tags:

01 | video/action downtown

Who: Connor and you!
Where: Downtown New Moore
When: Late morning.
What: Connor is freaking the hell out.

[To anyone walking around downtown today, at first glance, Connor doesn't seem that different from any other citizen of New Moore. In fact, all things considered, his clothing marks him as pretty normal. Rather that merely walking, however, he appears to be prowling, crouched low whenever he moves as though it's nothing more than second nature. He jumps, startled, whenever other pedestrians pass him by, and while he stops to peer into storefront windows here and there, the first sign of movement from inside or the opening of a door is enough to scare him off, causing him to bolt for the next store over.

At some point during his cautious exploration, he ducks just inside an alleyway near the ice cream shop, pushing his left sleeve up to his elbow and examining his arm with a frown. There are several holes there, as well as faint streaks of dried blood, evidence of the doctors at the hospital trying to sedate him and being met with struggle several times over.]

This place...

[His voice is a low growl as he talks to himself, frustrated, hurt.]

More demon magic. I'm tired of magic.

[Video, Early Afternoon:]

[The young man on the video appears to be rather unsteady, vibrating slightly as he looks over either shoulder while on camera, having fumbled with it for several minutes beforehand. Technology isn't as foreign to him as it used to be, thanks to Fred and Gunn showing him how to work everything in the hotel over the summer, and video is preferable to text. His writing is terrible. He's never had to do very much of it.

When he finally focuses on the feed itself, his eyes are wide, spooked.]

This hell has computers. What kind of demons live here?

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[There's a lengthy pause as he struggles to understand Jin's speech pattern, but most of it gets through, and finally, he decides to give his name, as well, though hesitantly.]

... I'm Connor.

[The smile becomes even brighter and sunnier.]

It's a pleasure t'make yer acquaintance, Connor!

And also, 'm pretty sure I ain't met any o' the kind o' demons you was talkin' about 'round here. Most everyone's human, in fact. I been the only bonafide demon what I know 'bout.

[He looks incredibly suspicious, still wearing those wide spook-eyes.]

Do you know who opened the portal that brought us to this hell dimension?

[Because in his neck of the woods, if it's not Earth, it's a hell dimension. Some are more civilized than others.]

Nah, can't say I do. I dunno how much of a hell dimension it is, though. Seems a lot like paradise t'me! The sun's all bright and shiny, an' the wind seems a lot like it were back when I was still in the tourney.

I ain't seen s'much sunlight since I first set foot in Human World. Feels pretty nice t'not have ta fight to keep it. Ye sure it ain't jes' another part o' Human World ye never been to before?

[He looks uneasy at that, and shifts uncomfortably.]

At first, but after what those doctors said...

[He glances down at the series of punctures from misfired tranquilizer shots on his arm.]

They told me I wasn't real.

[Jin shifts so that he's sitting cross-legged in midair.

He can't see the tranq shots in Connor's arm over the video feed.]

Aye, I'm thinkin' that's the line those healery types are s'posed ta spout. Do ye feel any more real now than ye used ta?

... no. I feel the same.

Well then, I wouldn't let it get under yer skin in no big way. Whether they're tellin' the truth or not, we don' feel any more or less real than we used ta, so it's nothin' t'waste yer time chewing over. Yer still just as real now either way, whether or not ye were real before.

It doesn't bother me that they said I'm not real.

[He sets his jaw again. Things like this are damn near impossible to get his head around. He barely knows what "fiction" is.]

I want to know why they're lying to us.

Doctors... they probably want to cut me open, just like Wolfram and Hart.

[That makes his big blue eyes snap open.

Even disregarding the fact that Connor that makes no sense, if they wanted to cut you open they would have kept you in the hospital, something about it rubs Jin the wrong way.]

Ye can rest assured I won' be lettin' anybody be doin' a thing like that, Connor. If'n ye feel like ye need help or a place t'hide, they put me in West 204. Leastwise I can help ye out if ye need it. Give ye cover, anyway.

[Yeah... he kind of broke out of the hospital by force and ran away. He kept flipping out every time they tried to sedate him and they were forced to use restraints, but Connor is super strong. It didn't do much.

He may have punched a doctor or two in the face.]

... if I need help, I'll remember that.

[Nobody has ever offered to help him before. That's novel.]

Right now, the best thing to do is learn my way around the island.

[...Well. Jin got out on good behavior, anyway, and if they didn't dissect him then the chances that they'll wanna take a seemingly normal human apart are kinda slim.]

Oh, I might be able t'help ye with that, too. I been here a few days, and I ain't been doin' much sightseeing on the ground, but I can tell ye that the birds-eye? Is N-I-C-E. There's a whole lot o' empty space t'explore. Forests, mountains, that kind o' thing. And up at the top, 's the wee little city. 'S a real fine island, this.

Forests. That's what I was hoping for.

[He's totally going to hang out in the underbrush for a little while.]

They said there's a room where I'm supposed to be staying. I don't remember where it is... but I don't want to go there.

[Jin's ears twitch a little.]

'S fair. I ain't hardly been in me own room 'cept to sleep, really. Slept on me first real mattress in the hotel at the tourney, and I ain't gonna pass up the chance t'sleep on one again! Even if it does mean puttin' up with all the city air 'n such. Blech! Least there's the coast and the mountains t'get the taste out o' yer mouth.

[Connor actually smiles a little at that. Just the tiniest bit. All things considered, it's a nice smile, when he lets himself stop being surly long enough to show it.]

Yeah. I like it better outdoors, too. ... it's what I'm used to.

[Partially because he just spent a month living on the streets bust mostly because he spent all those years in the dark forests of Quor'toth. Houses and apartments still feel weird.]

[Just offscreen, Jin's ears are going crazy that he got the kid to smile. He is beyond excited about this. And it's a pretty adorable smile, too.]

Aye, but it's the best o' both worlds, really. If ye get tired o' sleepin' outside, then ye got a warm bed to stay in, but ye got no one tellin ye ye have ta stay there, either. 'S worth keepin' in mind, anyway.

Ye ever been flyin? And I mean proper flyin', not in one o' them human metal tubey-bird things.

... I'll remember that.

[He pauses, trying to sort out what Jin is referring to. Human metal tubey-bird things? Huh.

He settles for shaking his head.]

No... my father always said that man was not meant to fly.

[Not his biological father, but... he still hasn't broken the habit referring to Holtz that way. Holtz raised him. Even if it was as an instrument of vengeance, that doesn't change the fact that they did love each other. Holtz was all he had for eighteen years.]

[8( oh.

That's a kicked puppy face.]

Well still. Maybe ye'll get to the point o' puttin' enough faith in ol' Jin ta show ye jes' how pretty this island is from the sky. Cross me heart, I ain't dropped a soul what ever let me take 'em.

[He even holds out the camera far enough so that Connor can see him draw an X over his chest.]

[Trusting anyone to look after him feels like such a stretch, especially after recent months. Nobody trusts him. Why should he trust anyone else?

Regardless, he nods, if slowly.]

... maybe someday, I'll try it.

[But not today. His look is one of fear, even if he's trying his best to school it.]

[Regardless, Jin beams again at the concession, but acknowledges the look on the poor boy's face. It's one he gets a lot when he offers to take people way up into the air.]

Alrigh' alrigh', jes' tell me if yer ever wantin' ta give it a whirl, aye?

[He hesitates slightly before his next suggestion.]

Mind terribly if I meet ye face t'face before ye go runnin' off into the woods, Connor? Fine if not, fine if not, jes' thought I be askin is all.

[It's so he can get a read on Connor's energy levels, so he can find the boy if Connor needs him to, but he doesn't reckon Connor would take too kindly to that notion, nor believe him if he said he'd only track him down if Connor wanted him to.]

... okay. I'm--

[He pauses to look at his surroundings.]

I'm near a place called Starry Box.

[That's Starbox, sweetheart.]

[Eeeee cutie. Jin beams.]

I'll be there quick as a flash!

[It takes him a few minutes, but soon the wind around Connor will pick up significantly a few seconds before Jin flies in and lands, light as a feather, a little ways away, looking around for the human.]

[The change in the wind actually takes him by surprise; he couldn't sense the source of it, but it was strong and sudden. When Jin lands, he feels significantly better, although he still looks uneasy.

Yeah, uneasy is pretty much the norm.

Over here, Jin! Connor is standing outside Starbox with his arms folded, sufficiently tense.]

You really can fly.

[Jin tones it down and, wonder of wonders, actually walks over when he sees Connor and registers the look on his face. Still, he waves and is grinning benignly.]

Sure can! No need t'be nervous about it, though, 's just a little wind. It ain't gonna hurt ye, ye have me word.

[He offers his hand for a handshake.]

Sure is nice t'meet ye in the flesh. Wouldn't hardly have recognized ye - it's hard enough seein' detail on that fiddly little communication thingamajig.

[He nods, however hesitantly, and offers Jin an uncertain wave in reply. It's a custom he's not quite used to yet.]

Alright. If you say so.

[He stares at the offered hand before sticking out his own, closing it firmly around Jin's and giving it a good, strong shake.]

You look the same to me.

[But his eyesight is crazy good.]

It's-- it's nice to meet you.

[That's what you're supposed to say, right?]

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