A toddler in need? AKA one slight deaging

[project_kuron]

There's a young man, about twenty five by the looks of him, in the middle of the square. Plaza. Whatever.

He's looking either cofused out of his mind, or slightly upset as if he's spilled his soup or something, or was late for school, who even knows, just by looking at him one might think so, or mighty bored, it might be hard to tell.

He might look very familiar to some.

If he sees you, whoever 'you' might be, he might gesture vaguely at you. Maybe asking for some clarification. Or. Well. Whatever it is, it's definitely a question, one can judge that by his face expression and a vague spoken (sounded?),

"...a-ah?? Uhm, uhm, o-...ee??"

Comments

[project_kuron]

"Mantis is a friend? What Mantis gains? What can Mantis use Subject Y0XT39 for?"

"Head hurts. Right arm hurts. Can Mantis fix that? Yes, no?"

Wait...

"No. That's unnecessary. Subject Y0XT39 knows. Yes? No?"

[ginger_firebird]

"I gain knowing that I could protect you, even if just for a little bit." It's hard for Mantis to even say that kind of thing, but Yani deserves to feel like he's safe. "I can fix your head, and maybe your arm. Where does your arm hurt?"

[project_kuron]

Meanwhile, the Subject Y0XT39- no, Yani, here? - just tries to understand half of the things Mantis utters.

This is all... so new and unheard of. Very. New and unheard of.

He smiles shakily, because he's already done it a few times and it makes his body feel neat.

"Can Mantis --- slower?"

So much at once. Too much.

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis slows down his walking, but he also stops talking for a moment. He can see how clearly overwhelmed Yani is becoming. After a moment, he pats Yani on the arm gently.

"We're nearly at my apartment. You can lie down and I'll help your head."

[project_kuron]

"Vrepit sa."

Agreeing. Not that he thinks he has choice. Not that he'd even know anyone has any choices in life.

[ginger_firebird]

He will have choices. Even as Mantis leads Yani upstairs, he is thinking of blankets to choose from, how much water might the man need... Mantis's head is buzzing with speculation on what he's stumbled onto.

"I wonder what you'll be like if you get your mind back. Even as you are right now, you're looking at everything around you."

[project_kuron]

"No," Subject Y0XT39 whispers, shakily, worried, as if it was a crime. To be doing what Mantis says he's doing. And so, he refutes it lamely, like a child caught red-handed.

[ginger_firebird]

It's endearing, in it's own way. Mantis shakes his head and finally opens a door leading into his apartment. He holds the door open and beckons Yani to come in. "There's nothing wrong with being observant. It's what you do with the things you learn that matters."

Inside the apartment is the living room, resplendent with a futon couch and a table. Planters in the window are filled with dirt and to one side is a beaded curtain leading into the kitchen. Mantis gestures to the couch.

"Go sit. You've been through enough today."

[project_kuron]

Subject... no, 'Yani'? Comes in.

"No wrong? Then, why all the pain? Mantis... explain."

He sits down on the coach.

He says something, then, in another language. Not any from Earth. Apparently he only knows how to say it in that language. And it sounds as fragmentary and as if he's a very, very small child learning how to talk, as anything else when he's speaking.

He's in no hurry to translate, apparently just thinking Mantis understands everything that's said.

[ginger_firebird]

Whatever name he calls himself in the long run, Mantis waits until he's seated before considering what else to do for him. The new string of words catches him off-guard and he nods quietly, trying to catch a fragment of thought or image that would go along with the words.

"What does that mean? Those words? Your native language is different from others I have heard before."

Sometimes, a child will misunderstand. Especially a child who never knew affection.

[project_kuron]

Subject Yani stares at him.

He then repeats the same alien string of words. If Mantis's looking, he can see this. In Yani's mind.

Yani then points at Mantis, then at himself, and makes a questioning grunt.

[ginger_firebird]

He ponders the image for a bit and kneels down next to Yani. There are a lot of strange and interesting things this man knows. The two in the image were definitely a couple of some kind. It looked like a wedding from Earth.

"Those two are in love. It's a different kind of safety. We," He gestures between himself and Yani. "Are friends. When you're in love, it's very different, but you still protect each other."

And yup, Mantis has no way of knowing the witch when she was young is in that pic. Heh. :D

[project_kuron]

"Love," Subject Yani repeats.

"Is love good?"

He listens to Mantis intently.

"Friends is good."

He smiles. It almost looks like he's showing off with it, and feels that way, too. Look, this is a new kind of face, and he's learning this new kind of face! A face that feels good, somehow. Very, very, very new.

"She made that face. She was not in pain. And she was so different."

He thinks, for a moment.

And then says, "Subject Yani protects Mantis. Decides."

That is, he's decided that he will. But he doesn't understand time, anyway.

[ginger_firebird]

"Love is good. Friends are also very good. I have friends back home and here in the Nexus."

It's a sweet smile, and Mantis finds himself mirroring it somewhat in the course of conversation. Yani is such a sincere and honest individual, and he hopes that lasts if his mind ever gets back to him in a significant way.

"You're going to protect me too? Vrepit sa."

:D

[project_kuron]

Yani only understands very little, but he's delighted. For the first time Mantis can read simply joy from the clone.

Then he yawns and dozes off.

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis waits a moment longer before sneaking off to his own bedroom and comes back with a pillow and a blanket. The slightest bit of psychokinesis allows him to effectively tuck Yani in and he draws the blinds to keep the room dark.