mayfield_rpg | action; phone (forward dated to Monday!)

Entry tags:

action; phone (forward dated to Monday!)

{ACTION} Mayfield Elementary; before class
[Despite seeing and hearing some things he didn't want to encounter during the trip into the void, Czeslaw has been attending school without missing a day. Dressed in a white shirt with a tie (fixed to be straight by his drone mother) and jacket but missing his usual hat, Czes makes his way on campus, arriving a little bit early.

He bumps shoulders with people sometimes, uttering a small "sorry" whenever he does. But if he sees a face he recognizes, he looks up with the best smile he could plaster on his face.]

Hi... good morning! How's it going?

{ACTION} Stone Street; afternoon
[Czeslaw received something in the mail after coming home from school. It was just an envelope with a card inside, but what's important to Czes is what is dran on the card. It's a two-panel comic, a simple picture of a human with a wound in the first panel; the human's wound is healed in the second. He looks at it for a couple of seconds before he pales and nearly drops it, turning white and running inside the house.]

{PHONE} filtered to Firo Prochainezo
Firo! Hey Firo, can I talk to you?

[First he calls Firo, because this is the guy he was living with back home. First he's got to call Firo and see if he's still alive and around, and tell him what happened. He already tried to see if the mail wasn't joking, and sure enough it was real. The cut on his lip he bit down on it earlier healed in seconds.]

Not over the phone, though -- I can come to to your house or meet you anywhere, but I need to talk to you!

{ACTION} Nelson Street; nighttime
[Czes was also going to try calling Elmer C. Albatross but instead he runs. He remembers that Elmer lived on Nelson Street, so he runs as fast as he can to that street, hoping he'll find the house. But it's the one with the treehouse, right?

He's running so fast he might crash right into a passerby, saying "Sorry!" and hoping he won't get pulled into a conversation.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What?

[He doesn't flinch at Firo's fist slamming down. He frowns back, his expression dark.]

It's true, you know. They thought it would be all right, but you know what happened.

[Czes, having been so small, doesn't know how much people didn't think Szilard was okay.]

[Firo doesn't know how most of the others felt, and he's not about to go dig around in the hazier memories of those eaten early on by Szilard right now. Szilard didn't care enough about other people to tell Firo reliably how they felt about him, so he doesn't disagree with Czes. Dimly, he's aware that he may be overreacting, but he just wants this subject gone. Sitting stiffly in his chair, he folds his arms and glares at Czes.]

You don't need to talk to me about him.

... Fine.

[He puts his hand in his pocket. Firo looks mad. He'll at least have enough money to pay for his own if he wants to walk out eventually. He can't help but be irritated that Firo is so mad over Szilard though. All he was was an old, greedy man.

There are so much worse.]

Good.

[Firo leans back, looking off to the side but watching Czes out of the corner of his eye. Now that he's yelled at the kid, regret is starting to trickle in, and he'll only feel worse once he's had time to cool down. For the moment, though, he's still angry that Czes would bring up the guy who hurt Ennis and Maiza so badly.

His appetite completely gone, he taps his fingertip on the edge of his plate. Maybe he should just pay for both of them and walk Czes home. He doesn't want to end their meeting on such a sour note, but what can he do?]

... I won't do anything.

[He mumbles it, glancing at Firo.]

You don't know anything about me, so I think... you should still be careful about how easily you trust me, or anyone. But I won't do anything to you. Promise.

...Huh?

[He looks straight at Czes now, cocking his head quizzically as he tries to understand what Czes is getting at.]

I... I wouldn't think you would.

[He leans in, now forceful but not angry.]

But if there's somethin' I need to know then... then tell me.

[He's on edge as he waits, then listens to Firo's reply. He's left unsure how to feel, and he leans back a little when Firo comes closer.]

... Yeah. I'll definitely let you know.

[He's taken aback by how Czes retreats and settles back in his chair accordingly. The more time there is after angry words are spoken, the worse he feels about it, and he really didn't mean to frighten the kid.

Just a moment ago he contemplated ending their little meeting on that note, but now that he's out of the fog of anger he realizes that that's a stupid idea. This is Mayfield; one of them could wake up tomorrow droned or dead.]

Good. And, um... I'm sorry if I scared you.

... Huh?

[His narrowed eyes widen into surprised circles, and then he immediately shakes his head.]

You didn't scare me. Don't worry about that, Firo. I'm not mad at you either.

[One side of Firo's mouth lifts into a smile of relief.]

...Good, I'm glad. And I'm-I'm not mad at you, either.

[His conviction that he has a right to be angry with Czes is disappearing. Given what, admittedly little, he knows about Czes, he wouldn't think the kid would bring that up to be malicious.]

It's okay if you are... but thanks. Are you still hungry?

I'm not, I swear.

[It's important to him that Czes knows that; he doesn't want the kid to think he's giving a forced apology. He shrugs and stares at his food. He's lost most of his appetite after their near argument.]

I can stay if you wanna stay.

... I'm not that hungry. I'm sorry. I can pay for mine...

What? Don't even think about it, I've got it.

[He reaches for his wallet and starts pulling out enough for both of them, as if he's trying to get the money out before Czes can.]

And what're you apologizin' for, anyway?

[Czes' hand had already reached for his pocket... but he puts it back in his lap now, watching Firo.]

Well, I upset you, didn't I?

[He sets the money on the table and pauses before returning his wallet to his jacket.]

...A little. But it's not you, it's just...

[Him. He shakes his head.]

It doesn't matter anymore. I'm not gonna let it bother me.

...

[He hops off his stool and straightens his jacket. Then he looks up at Firo, silent for a second before he smiles and tugs on the bigger guy's sleeve.]

Come on, Firo.

[Firo drops the money on the table, indicating it with his free hand to the nearest staff member as Czes tugs on his sleeve.]

Hey, hang on a sec--I'm comin'!

I know, I know.

[He tugs, though, and -- because he likes Firo, and he feels bad that he upset the man and thinks this guy can be trusted to be less than a foot away, and really because each other is all they've got around here -- he steps in to close the rest of the distance to give Firo a quick, friendly squeeze around the middle. He only lets it last a second before pulling away, grinning.]

[Firo peers over his shoulder long enough to make sure the money gets into the right hands and so is taken by surprise when he feels Czes give him a... a hug? It's over after a second and he blinks at Czes, slightly confused, before registering what happened.

He'd like to return it, but for now he's content with the thought that maybe this meeting isn't ending on such a bad note. He beams back at Czes.]

...Thanks. I can walk you home. Unless you don't wanna go back yet..? Whatever you want.

Edited (I should probably finish typing before hitting send) 2013-05-03 00:21 (UTC)

Home is boring. Let's go around town! Is there a park around here, Firo?

[He laughs.]

Yeah, there is! Not too far from here, and it's pretty big. I've spent a lotta time there.

[He turns and motions for Czes to follow him.]

This way.

What's a grown man like you doing at a--

[No. Don't answer that. You hang out with older grown men who play with dominoes, after all. He follows.]

What? That's where a lotta my friends go, and besides there's lots of space.

[Come on, Czes, it's a public place for anyone!]

Edited 2013-05-08 01:29 (UTC)

What do you do there? I want to go on the swings.

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