Death the Kid (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
equal_shots) wrote2016-05-06 12:48 am
equal_shots) wrote2016-05-06 12:48 am
It is difficult to remain neutral while being simultaneously invested in the lives and well-beings of each and every innocent human.
I imagine you might feel similarly-- [The teen pauses, thinking at first before a few weak coughs keep him speechless a few moments longer.] --that the being responsible for your death have a bit more propensity towards allowing you to live longer.
I imagine you might feel similarly-- [The teen pauses, thinking at first before a few weak coughs keep him speechless a few moments longer.] --that the being responsible for your death have a bit more propensity towards allowing you to live longer.
Edited 2016-11-11 04:51 (UTC)
I think many humans are worth saving. [Kid closes his eyes, thoughtful.] I in fact believe most are, though it is most definitely not within my purview to allow such things.
[He pauses, a quiet determination in his voice.] Death teaches how precious life is, and lives that can be saved should be. If that thinking will get me into trouble, so be it.
[He pauses, a quiet determination in his voice.] Death teaches how precious life is, and lives that can be saved should be. If that thinking will get me into trouble, so be it.
[Kid hums in quiet agreement, shivering on his side of the tablet. His opinions on life and death are not necessarily complicated, but they are deeply personal and very deep-seated--and also ones he typically does not share freely.
He closes his eyes, sighing quietly.] I'm glad.
He closes his eyes, sighing quietly.] I'm glad.
[Kid had begun to doze off in the intervening silence, his breathing slowing and evening out, but turns sleepily towards the tablet when Undertaker speaks again.]
Y'should sleep too. [A small yawn is audible through the connection.] An' no more tablets y'don't know anything about.
Y'should sleep too. [A small yawn is audible through the connection.] An' no more tablets y'don't know anything about.
[For once, Undertaker doesn't have a cheerful tone to his voice as he leaves a message.]
Are you inside somewhere safe? What are you feeling right now?
[Because he's unsure of whether Kid feels like running for his life, or perhaps itching to cut someone's throat right about now.]
Are you inside somewhere safe? What are you feeling right now?
[Because he's unsure of whether Kid feels like running for his life, or perhaps itching to cut someone's throat right about now.]
[Kid is panicked. He can't see the buttons clearly. He can't judge the distance, how close they are versus how far. It's why he accidentally switches video on instead of responding in audio.
His face is a bloody mess, a dressing haphazardly pressed against what would be his right eye; his left golden eye glows slightly in the dim light. The camera shakes as his hands do. Two guesses as to what the teen is doing. (Spoilers: he's hiding. Behind a snow drift, for the moment, but it's better than nothing.) His answer comes in a whisper.]
I'm outside. [His entire head turns at a sound the microphone doesn't pick up; a few seconds later and he turns back. His teeth are chattering.] Hiding. I keep--feeling like I need to run.
His face is a bloody mess, a dressing haphazardly pressed against what would be his right eye; his left golden eye glows slightly in the dim light. The camera shakes as his hands do. Two guesses as to what the teen is doing. (Spoilers: he's hiding. Behind a snow drift, for the moment, but it's better than nothing.) His answer comes in a whisper.]
I'm outside. [His entire head turns at a sound the microphone doesn't pick up; a few seconds later and he turns back. His teeth are chattering.] Hiding. I keep--feeling like I need to run.
[Undertaker responds by switching his own video on. Wherever he is is exceptionally dark, but the glow from his own eyes has the intensity of two small flashlights. Yellow-green filters through his bangs and highlights his face and longer hair, a floating head in his own space.
He peers closely at his tablet's own screen, wanting to ask just what happened to Kid if there weren't more important things at hand.]
You've already been attacked? [He gives a small shake of his head.]
Where are you? I can try to find you.
He peers closely at his tablet's own screen, wanting to ask just what happened to Kid if there weren't more important things at hand.]
You've already been attacked? [He gives a small shake of his head.]
Where are you? I can try to find you.
[Undertaker might notice no hint of light coming from beneath the dressing, despite his own eyes both glowing clearly beneath his own bangs.]
Today, before lockdown-- [Kid leans closer to the tablet, shakes his head.] I'm trying to get away from the aquarium. I need to, until this stops--
Today, before lockdown-- [Kid leans closer to the tablet, shakes his head.] I'm trying to get away from the aquarium. I need to, until this stops--
[It looks bad. Undertaker knows what that complete dull side probably means.]
Try to remain calm. [Easier said than done, he knows. He's been fighting his own small waves of panic since he'd gone out.]
Head upwards towards the housing area when you can. I'll look for you when I can leave this spot again.
Try to remain calm. [Easier said than done, he knows. He's been fighting his own small waves of panic since he'd gone out.]
Head upwards towards the housing area when you can. I'll look for you when I can leave this spot again.
I'm trying.
[Blood loss and illness are not helping Kid do anything to stay calm, but he takes a deep breath and rubs his remaining eye, smearing blood across his face.]
The residential area? [Kid nods.] I'll head that way. Please, be careful.
[Blood loss and illness are not helping Kid do anything to stay calm, but he takes a deep breath and rubs his remaining eye, smearing blood across his face.]
The residential area? [Kid nods.] I'll head that way. Please, be careful.
[Too much has happened today. Far too much. John needs to contact Kid, though. Reassure him. Do... something. It's the last thing Alfie asked him to do before shutting the door between them. It's the least he can do. It takes him a few tries before he thinks he's ready to talk and sound confident and reassuring.
Too much has happened, but Kid may have just lost a friend permanently to... whatever horror was visited on Claire. Not to mention Stein's name turning up in the Obituaries again.]
Kid, Alfie contacted me earlier and let me know what happened with Claire. Can you talk to me? I'm sorry if you want to speak with someone else, I can see if there's anyone else, but I'd like to help, if I can.
Too much has happened, but Kid may have just lost a friend permanently to... whatever horror was visited on Claire. Not to mention Stein's name turning up in the Obituaries again.]
Kid, Alfie contacted me earlier and let me know what happened with Claire. Can you talk to me? I'm sorry if you want to speak with someone else, I can see if there's anyone else, but I'd like to help, if I can.
[Kid's reply is immediate--he'd clearly been on the tablet and with intents to make a call. No matter. Unlike his call to Alfie earlier, the calm tone has been replaced with one thick with tears. He'd intended to call...when he could get himself together. If.
The only delay are the ten seconds of sniffling quiet when he answers the phone.]
I am able to talk with you, Dr. Watson, but please don't feel obligated. You've already done so much to help me.
The only delay are the ten seconds of sniffling quiet when he answers the phone.]
I am able to talk with you, Dr. Watson, but please don't feel obligated. You've already done so much to help me.
I don't feel obligated, Kid. It's what I want to do.
[He feels obligated, but it's still what he'd want to do.]
And I really haven't done much.
[Other than lie there helplessly and let Kid lose one of his eyes to protect John.]
Can you tell me what happened with Claire?
[He feels obligated, but it's still what he'd want to do.]
And I really haven't done much.
[Other than lie there helplessly and let Kid lose one of his eyes to protect John.]
Can you tell me what happened with Claire?
You have done quite a bit.
[Kid is quiet for a moment, hesitant.]
How did you...? She promised n-not to ask--I didn't want to bother you more. [Kid's voice is barely a whisper.] I have caused enough trouble.
[Kid is quiet for a moment, hesitant.]
How did you...? She promised n-not to ask--I didn't want to bother you more. [Kid's voice is barely a whisper.] I have caused enough trouble.
Like I said, Alfie told me. [Claire also told him about Kid, but he'll leave that out.]
Tell me what's going on with you, Kid. Where are you? Have you eaten dinner, yet?
Tell me what's going on with you, Kid. Where are you? Have you eaten dinner, yet?
I'm in a house, with a f-flooded first floor. I haven't eaten dinner. Too queasy.
[Too much aggressive doctoring--it stresses him out. Kid doesn't even understand how Watson tolerates him. All of this is his fault.
Why is he even calling?]
When I spoke with him, I asked Mr. Solomons to leave you be. I've done enough damage, but he did it anyway. I already told him, I am fine to manage on my own.
You don't need to waste more time though. You have helped me enough. Really--I don't mean to bother you more-- [He would be hanging up, except he's preoccupied by coughing. Claire has convinced him to take the cough syrup every night, but without her...]
[Too much aggressive doctoring--it stresses him out. Kid doesn't even understand how Watson tolerates him. All of this is his fault.
Why is he even calling?]
When I spoke with him, I asked Mr. Solomons to leave you be. I've done enough damage, but he did it anyway. I already told him, I am fine to manage on my own.
You don't need to waste more time though. You have helped me enough. Really--I don't mean to bother you more-- [He would be hanging up, except he's preoccupied by coughing. Claire has convinced him to take the cough syrup every night, but without her...]
[John takes a breath and his voice becomes firm.] Kid, stop talking like that. You're not bothering me, and you haven't done a thing to hurt me. I'm the one who couldn't help you after Stein... [He lets that trail off.] I'm responsible for what happened to you. If I'd been on my guard around him like I should have, none of what happened would have.
[Moving on.]
And you haven't eaten or taken your cough medicine. Are you taking the ibuprofen? You're not fine and 'managing' isn't going to keep things from getting worse. If Claire's not there, I need you to do those things still. I know it's hard. Just try nibbling on some food if that's all you can manage, but eat something. You're a rail already and you need it for the energy to be able to get around.
[Moving on.]
And you haven't eaten or taken your cough medicine. Are you taking the ibuprofen? You're not fine and 'managing' isn't going to keep things from getting worse. If Claire's not there, I need you to do those things still. I know it's hard. Just try nibbling on some food if that's all you can manage, but eat something. You're a rail already and you need it for the energy to be able to get around.
What are you--I heard you telling Sylar, at the aquarium. That my being there probably would help protect him from getting lobotomized. That...you hadn't see the professor turn on me. [The tablet clacks as it falls against the floor while Kid shifts. Admitting he'd been eavesdropping, even unintentionally, wasn't pleasant.] So if I were there, then...it would be okay. But it wasn't. ...I...I'm s-sorry.
[He's silent, a long few moments, breathing carefully--occasionally Watson might hear a murmured number between one and eight.]
I have been taking the cough medicine. Sometimes. Not every night. With Claire, it was easier, because someone else was with me and so it was all right if I was a bit sleepy. Traveling alone, I'm not as comfortable. You...you have seen how sleepy it makes me. [After all, Watson had seen that the overdose left him effectively unconscious; a regular dose was enough that his reactions were slowed and he was incredibly groggy. Of course he'd worry.
Something crinkles, though. Kid is going to do at least one thing he's been instructed to do. His words are a bit muffled as he chews.He'd like everyone to shut up about how he doesn't eat.] I take the ibuprofen once in the morning, and once at nighttime, like everyone's told me.
[He's silent, a long few moments, breathing carefully--occasionally Watson might hear a murmured number between one and eight.]
I have been taking the cough medicine. Sometimes. Not every night. With Claire, it was easier, because someone else was with me and so it was all right if I was a bit sleepy. Traveling alone, I'm not as comfortable. You...you have seen how sleepy it makes me. [After all, Watson had seen that the overdose left him effectively unconscious; a regular dose was enough that his reactions were slowed and he was incredibly groggy. Of course he'd worry.
Something crinkles, though. Kid is going to do at least one thing he's been instructed to do. His words are a bit muffled as he chews.
[Well, fuck. John hadn't expected Kid to be listening in on that conversation. He'd been so unobtrusive. Children are always paying more attention than you expect, though. He closes his eye and thinks how to spin this for Kid.]
I was being factitious to an extent, Kid. And no lobotomies happened, as you'll recall. Regardless, I would never blame you for what Stein did. That was my mistake for being too complacent. And it got you in trouble, as well. I never should have left you alone with that man.
Where are you, exactly? I'm over near the eastern convenience store. I... have something I need to do that's going to be trouble if there's more than just me, but there are a lot of people in the area you might be able to meet up with. I don't want you alone.
I was being factitious to an extent, Kid. And no lobotomies happened, as you'll recall. Regardless, I would never blame you for what Stein did. That was my mistake for being too complacent. And it got you in trouble, as well. I never should have left you alone with that man.
Where are you, exactly? I'm over near the eastern convenience store. I... have something I need to do that's going to be trouble if there's more than just me, but there are a lot of people in the area you might be able to meet up with. I don't want you alone.
I didn't mean to overhear. [He hesitates, and his fingers tap against the tablet, the microphone picking up the rhythmic noise.] And if I am not responsible for Professor Stein's behavior, then it would follow that neither are you.
The building I am in has water on the first floor. It's north of the school, but not terribly far. I needed to get inside before lockdown.
The building I am in has water on the first floor. It's north of the school, but not terribly far. I needed to get inside before lockdown.
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