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.

[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?

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?

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?

[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 ]

[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?