Fourth Misfortune - [accidental video/action]

[devourthemfirst]

[When the video turns on, all that can be seen is the gray sky up above and all that can be heard is the sound of one of the rivers close by. All else is quiet and nothing is moving.

However, after a moment, there's shuffling along with a few sniffles. It's obvious a person is there just not visible on the camera. Czes had been walking around in the snow when he tripped and fell. More than likely from a root sticking up from underneath the snow.

He sits up, rubbing his arms before shouting out a name.] F-Fermet!!

[He almost sounds like he’s about to cry. Well, okay he is crying. Tears are falling down his cold, red cheeks and he begins to let out a few choked sobs and gasps. He's cold and he's scared. It’s been a little over a half of an hour since he woke up in this forest and all he’s been doing is walking around trying to find someone--hopefully Fermet--but to no avail.

At least the Malnosso gave him a jacket to wear, though it isn't doing him much good in the long run.

The very same strange men had also given him a book before he passed out then woke up in the forest and told him to keep it safe. Why? He isn’t sure, but he’s been carrying it with him ever since. Like it will protect him if he holds it close enough to him.

The crying continues for a minute before he forces himself to calm down a little, mumbling the same name he shouted earlier to himself.] Fermet... [He sniffles, takes a moment to rub his eyes then shuffles over to the journal. His face finally comes into view of the camera but he doesn’t know it’s turned on. The boy looks to be about six years old, his cheeks and nose are red, his eyes are glossy with tears and hold a look of fear in them.

His face doesn’t stay long on the feed as he shakily picks it up, dusts the snow off of it and closes it to hold it to his chest, which there is where the feed ends.

--- ---

A little later on in the day (towards later in the afternoon) anyone close to the plaza may spot a boy kneeling down in the snow. He isn’t making a snowman or snowballs or anything of the like. Instead, he’s pouring sugar and honey onto the snow. And then eating it straight off the ground. At least there's a good few inches of snow and it's not just sitting on dirt.

Snow is delicious, okay?]

Comments

not here!!! --> action

[contaeoro]

[Maiza had thought he was prepared for anything. Whether that be Czes in his twenties or his sixties or Czes as a cat. Or maybe even a bug or something; he thought he was prepared for it. But he's still surprised when he hears Czeslaw crying like this and calling for Fermet's name. After all... Czes had been strangely quiet about his old caretaker since they met up in New York. Maiza had assumed that Fermet was devoured by someone over the last two centuries and stayed quiet about it as well, not wanting to tear into any mourning Czes might still be doing over the man he treated like his own parent, back in Lotto Valentino.

But that aside, it sounds like Czeslaw is back from his mallynapping, and it sounds like he's been thrown back in time a couple centuries, too. How that is possible, Maiza can't even fathom. He guesses the part of the forest Czes is in by comparing the position of the sun with the image in the video, and the slowly-growing-familiar sight of the trees. It still takes him a few minutes after closing his journal to find where the boy will be though (at least his crying is a good indicator once he's closer!)

He takes off his glasses when he approaches, even runs a hand through his hair in hopes that Czeslaw might recognize him as "Aile" better that way. He slumps his shoulders, adds a slight... swagger to his step (he feels ridiculous), and crouches by the boy once he's close enough.]

Hey--

Hey Czeslaw.

action

[devourthemfirst]

[Czes hasn't gotten very far by the time Maiza gets over to where he is. He's so cold and worn out he's moving a bit slower.

He stiffens instantly the moment he spots the scary, taller person, gripping the journal that's in his hands as tightly as he would hold onto Fermet's arm for protection and just stares. The image of him is like a deer caught in headlights.

But as he gets closer and actually speaks, he relaxes only slightly upon finding familiarity in his voice and... somewhat appearance. He looks a little... different than he remembers.]

...A-Aile...?

action

[contaeoro]

... Yeah, that's me. But hey now. [It's strange how he can fall back into the speech pattern naturally. The formality came naturally to him after becoming Dalton's apprentice, but maybe the delinquency was still a part of him? He uses his left hand out of habit when he gently puts a hand on Czes' head.]

That's a nickname; you can call me Maiza since everyone calls me that here, and... you're freezing. Why don't you take this?

[He moves the hand now, shaking his coat off and putting it over the boy's body. Which year could he be from? 1707, when they first met? Or the years after that? Was it 1711 when the kid was scared as he waited for the ship to arrive? Whatever year it was, Maiza knows he must be frightened and lonely as he remembers how attached Czes was to Lebreau. How does he break it to him that the man is not here?]

action

[devourthemfirst]

[He nods, letting out a small 'mm' of acknowledgement then stares up at Maiza curiously as a hand is put on his head.

This is Aile--or rather Maiza. He's sure of it so he doesn't show--as much fear when looking at him. But why does he seem a bit... different? His hair is different, yes but something else too... ]

Thank you... [His words are mumbled but just loud enough for the other to hear him. He holds the jacket closed with one hand while the other continues to hold that book close to his chest] Where's Fermet?

action

[contaeoro]

I'm afraid Leb-- Fermet's not around here right now, Czes. Now you've gotta stay calm and listen to me carefully because this sounds like those fairy tales you'd find in one of the libraries at Lotto Valentino.

[Talking to Czeslaw like this brings back memories and a wave of nostalgia. Maiza remembers the library he studied at under Dalton, and he remembers the city as well. He remembers the ship they all had to jump on in 1711, leaving Lotto Valentino as the Dormentaires hunted them all down. Czes was sleeping when they boarded, and he stuck to Fermet or Begg constantly since.

Maiza had attributed Fermet's absence in 1931 to an unfortunate tragedy, perhaps devoured by someone like Szilard. If only he knew -- but the fact was that he didn't know and none of that mattered to tiny Czes who was probably still mortal.]

And it's gonna be a long story, so I'm going to take you to where I'm living right now and get you something warm to drink. You okay with that?

[voice]

[hisapprentice]

[The name shoots through him like a bullet, rousing half-remembered fears and anxiety out of their slumber. Luke turns to his journal, hearing the sounds of crying well before he gets a look at the face of their owner.]

Czeslaw? Is that you?

[voice]

[devourthemfirst]

[Czes has to stop walking and take a look around when he hears Luke's voice because where is it coming from. He can't see anybody around... and that voice was really loud just now.

And it knew his name. So he hesitantly calls--or rather stutters--back out]

...H-Hello...?

[voice]

[hisapprentice]

[Oh good that didn't scare him.]

Open your book, Czes, that's where my voice is!

[voice]

[devourthemfirst]

[Book.

...Book.

He takes a look down at the one he's holding in his arms and stares at it for a long moment, silent.

So this voice is... coming from this book.

.......

Okay yeah time to drop this possessed book on the ground, squeak and back up a few feet. THIS IS TERRIFYING WHY CAN HIS BOOK TALK AND WHY DID THOSE PEOPLE GIVE IT TO HIM AERIGHAOEIRGH.]

Video

[hero_of_smiles]

[Hm? What was going on on here? Opening up the journal, the teenager looks curiously down at the journal. Why did it sound like there was a kid crying? Wait, could a kid actually be crying!? Truly you are the captain of obvious, Cross.

When the boy actually comes into view, Cross recognizes the sign of a very freezing child. Oh Gosh, not good.]

H-hey! Are you all right? What are you doing out in the cold like that?

Video

[devourthemfirst]

[W-WHAT IS WITH THESE VOICES.

THIS IS SCARY...

Czes has already dropped the journal because other voices have started to come from it and he's staring at it on the ground with an absolutely terrified look. IS THIS THING POSSESSED OR SOMETHING]

W-Who's there?!

Re: Video

[hero_of_smiles]

[Oh...woops! Didn't even think if this kid would even know about the journal.]

H-Hey, it's okay! It's just your book. I'm not actually there, I'm just talking through it.

Video

[devourthemfirst]

H-How?!

[BOOKS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK OKAY.

ITS JUST NOT WHAT THEY DO]

screw it I can't resist Czes eating snow

[reminded]

[He doesn't know who Fermet is, but he does recognize Czeslaw's voice when he hears it, even if its tone is unusual. When the feed cuts off, he hurries out of the library, leaving a mess of half-read books behind. It doesn't take him very long to find Czes crouched in the snow and looking preoccupied. Layton addresses him cautiously.]

Czeslaw?

LOL no one can resist it

[devourthemfirst]

[Preoccupied? Yes, he definitely is. He has a mouthful of snow right now actually. But he swallows it when he hears someone call his name and cautiously looks back, almost like he's afraid of who's calling him.

And then he just... stares. With the look of a scared puppy on his face.]

[reminded]

[He glances at the condiments sitting in the snow before looking at the boy himself and stopping in his tracks. He doesn't like the look on that face.]

Come, let's get you out of the snow. Are you hurt?

[devourthemfirst]

[The expression on his face doesn't change but he shakes his head to answer the question. All he wants to do right now is hide behind Fermet. Just sit in his shadow and be protected from all of the tall people in the world!!!

But alas, he has nothing to protect him or hide behind. At least not unless he moves and goes behind a tree. Which he wants to do but he's stuck in that spot]

[Action]

[immamartillo]

[Firo was off in the Battle Dome when Czes first returned, so he's surprised to see him at the plaza. He stops in his tracks and looks carefully to verify that it is indeed his friend.]

Czes? Czes! You're back!

[But what exactly is he doing with the snow? It seems far too childish for Czes, and Firo wonders if maybe the Malnosso messed with him to make him less like a mini adult. Oh well, he can deal with that later. For now, he bolts over to Czes and tries to grab him by the shoulder.]

Hey! Are you-are you alright?

[Action]

[devourthemfirst]

[Snow is so delicious yumyum--

Oh, someone's calling his name. The voice itself isn't familiar but he turns anyways to see who it is since they certainly know him and...

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THEY'RE TRYING TO GRAB HIM.

He yelps, lets go of the snow in his hands then tries to get up and run but ends up slipping on a more slushy and slippery part in the snow and falls into the snow. More specifically on the part of the snow he put honey and sugar on.

Firo look what you made him do.]

[Action]

[immamartillo]

Whoa!

[Oops. He's not fast enough to catch Czes before he falls, so he offers his hand to help him get up. He probably should have expected that the kid would be a bit unsteady after just getting back from being mallnyapped, though the fear in Czes's eyes was unexpected.]

Sorry, Czes. You okay?

[Action]

[devourthemfirst]

[Instead of answering, he wriggles away from Firo and crawls through the snow over to a tree. Where he then proceeds to crawl around it, stand and stare at him from behind it.

This is his Fermet-tree. It will protect him.

This is what happens when you scare him]

[ action ]

[gohon]

[ Souji was not aware that Czes was gone. HAHAH.

But despite the frigid cold and the snow, he'll still go outside for his walks patrols, even if just for a little bit. Anything to not be cooped up inside with Hijikata.

So he'll come across Czes eating snow today... He immediately recognizes the boy, but doesn't really understand what he's doing. He'll approach, head tilted, and give a bit of a snort. ]

Is that how they eat where you're from?

[ action ]

[devourthemfirst]

[So nice of you to keep track of your little buddy, Souji.

When he hears someone behind him speak up, be freezes almost instantly but manages to swallow what snow he has in his mouth before looking back at...the...very tall... man.

...

Yeah Czes is looking at you like you're some scary monster Souji. He won't say a word]

[ action ]

[gohon]

What, what's with that look? [ He says that with a laugh in his voice. ] I don't think that's a very nice expression to show someone who's just come to say hi.

[ action ]

[devourthemfirst]

[Just come to say hi? Please tall man, come say hi when he has Fermet to hide behind. He can at least manage to speak somewhat if he's there with him since he protects him from the tall people.

His expression doesn't change, however he does stand up and dusts the snow off his legs then continues to stare at Souji, too shy and scared to say anything still.]