010 Omens of Crusnik

[kinship]

[A: Elementary School (OPEN)]

[What is that sound floating out over the playground at lunch? It's piano music, just basic tunes being repeated over and over again from the open window of the music room. Cain has retired there to study the books that Charles gave him, tireless in his pursuit of being the very best at whatever task was set to him.

Every time he makes a mistake, he repeats that part of the piece over and over again until it's flawless. Anyone at all is free to hear his attempts or tell him to shut up.]

[B: Around Town (OPEN)]

[Tis the season, and all that... It's Cain's first Christmas where he'll actually get to celebrate, instead of watching all the colonists exchange presents while never being part of it himself. He's been saving all the pocket money that his drone not!mother had been giving him (until she got replaced yesterday), as well as the money he got for doing odd-jobs for his friends. So now he's out and about shopping for gifts.

Do you work in any of the stores? Then this blond haired boy might just be peering over the counter with a bright smile. Are you wandering down the street aimlessly? Feel free to bump into Cain as he carries a stack of boxes too high to see over... because clearly that's just asking for trouble.]

[C: Phone (OPEN)]

[Did you order a rousing pep talk by a ten year old today, Mayfield? No... shame, because it's coming anyway.]

Christmas is coming soon... Maybe you celebrate something else in your world, or maybe you don't celebrate anything at all, but here... I think they'll have Christmas. I don't know if anything will happen, but...

Even if it does, and even if it hurts us, we can't let it break us. We have to keep our eyes forward, and we have to stick together. As long as we look out for each other, then we can change the future to whatever we want.

[D: Home (Locked to Housemates)]

[It seemed like he was the first one home, which was a little odd after the drone!Esther housewife who had always been there to welcome him in and tell him to do his homework before dinner. Which, consequently, led to the thought that there was no dinner... Astha didn't seem the type to make a meal for the family based on what he had seen, Rachel had already shown she believed cooking beneath her, and he didn't want to die so Abel was out.

Therefore, whenever anyone else gets home, they might find the youngest non-drone member of the household stood on a chair by the stove. He's pouring over one of the recipes Esther had left behind, not being allowed to go and find any more of his own, and is carefully adding things to a big bubbling pot.]

Comments

[ex_seventh238]

[It was originally supposed to be a double life thing, not gonna deny that. There's just no point in trying to hide here, so she dropped the facade. It's how she is at the Church anyway on a normal day, and how she met his younger brother when he first came by the Church to check things out.]

Of course not! I know I'm carrying things myself, but not nearly as much, and I'm taller and stronger than you. Are you headed home, or is there somewhere else that you still need to stop by?

[kinship]

[He was used to being the stronger one and asked to do tasks, not have them taken from him by others... this other world was still so strange in that regard. But she was obviously offering out of kindness, and he wasn't going to deny her.]

I just need to stop by the library, I have a few books to return. But I can do that another time, I don't want to make you carry anything for longer than necessary. What kind of boy would I be, to let a nice lady carry all my things like a pack horse all day?

[ex_seventh238]

Geez, it's fine. I can carry a deceptively lot, so don't be fooled by my physical appearances. You don't need to do more to prove your kindness to me either, because I already know how good you are. [Was that a wink or just your imagination...] We can go by the library, if you don't mind stopping by the church for 2 minutes first? It's on the way, I just need to drop these supplies off. The drone priest has been nagging at me for those again, aha. [She replies cheerfully, undeterred by the fact that apparently she's been chided by a drone.] Would that be okay?

[kinship]

[How good he is? It's not something he's unused to hearing, but it still makes him slightly amused. She has no idea what kind of person he is, and yet everyone is so quick to judge by what they see on the surface.]

I don't mind at all, I'd quite like to see the church. I don't even know where it is, that's pretty bad of me, right?

[ex_seventh238]

[That's fine, if so many in this town already believe her to be kind and good as well. It's only a fair trade, in a sense.]

Aha, it's fine, but thank you for accepting. The drone Mass would have bored you, and the fact that the denominations change weekly here doesn't help either. It's that way [points with her free hand], now may I go ahead and take some of these off of you? [Eying his bags/boxes/etc... She'll be okay with them, seriously!]

[kinship]

[Hm... Hesitating for a moment longer, he eventually handed her off some of the bags carefully.]

I'm sure Mass wouldn't bore me, I've never seen one before and it would be interesting to see just for the experience.

[ex_seventh238]

Mm, thank you, I'll be careful, promise! [And beaming, she'll take them up with ease before--]

2/2

[ex_seventh238]

Really? [...oh wait pime taradoxes with Abel and stuff, right. So at their age, it's fully possible that...] Hm... Would it really be okay, to attend one more or less exclusively composed of a drone audience? Though to say you've never been to one, may I ask if you're religious at all, Cain?

[kinship]

[No. Not at all. Not even a little bit, and NEITHER IS ABEL.]

I'm afraid not, though you'd think I would be with such a biblical name, right?

[ex_seventh238]

[Not even on some aspects? C'mon selective practicing is totally legit... 8(;]

It is a bit surprising, yes, but it's okay. Um... May I ask which country you're from too, on Earth? [she's trying to at least get a feel for the region so to determine the religion and denomination possibly practiced there. Did she assume too fast by mentioning planet Earth? Possibly, but knowing that Abel knows about Roman Catholicism, it didn't seem like it'd be a far-fetched conclusion to draw...]

[kinship]

[Not even slightly, not ever.

He refrains from telling her that he lives on Mars, because he's not quite sure how that would go down yet.]

Germany, originally. And you?

[ex_seventh238]

[Some shock and "oh... neat...!", may follow with curious inquiries depending on if he seems like he'd be in the mood for it, probably. But until that actually crops up, it's sinking back into the ocean of infinite possibilities...]

Oh, that's a more Protestant country. Protestantism and Roman Catholicism are both denominations of the Christian faith. [Putting that explanation in just in case.] I have acquaintances who have been to Germany, but I've never stayed in the country myself. I'm from France. [She briefly considered asking him if he's been there, but...

He's had a recluse childhood, hasn't he? Maybe it's best to refrain and just answer his question, for the time being.]

[kinship]

I know of the church and the denominations, there were people who celebrated a number of faiths where I live. I'm just not one of them... sorry.

[He's not really apologetic, but it seemed the polite thing to say when addressing a nun about this topic.]

[ex_seventh238]

Aah, you really don't have to, so there's no need say sorry! Some people were brought up with it since they were young, and others found a calling at some point during their lives. There are other reasons too, but religion is still a choice, so please don't apologize for having lived differently. But aha... to be honest, I'm not good at preaching either, I just help out as an assistant to the drone priest, and I mostly try to be there after drone services just in case an actual person comes by needing something. While it's true that things like coming for confessions and asking for minor blessings aren't really in demand by conscious people, I just thought that it'd be better to have a real person to go to, instead of having to deal with the drone Father. ...Does that make sense? [She gives a sheepish smile.]

But that said, healing is still a public service we also offer that can be very handy. It's... magical of nature, but I can close most wounds and stop bleeding. I'll be offering hot drinks during Winter too, so you're welcome to pass by in the future, if you're in uptown and not too busy? [She'll be leading the way as she goes on, somewhat rambling about things he hasn't really asked about... but well, it's still some information.]

[kinship]

[Wow, he wasn't expecting such a lengthy ramble, but he listens politely throughout as they walk towards the church. The religious aspects don't interest him at all, but he perks up a little at the mention of healing.]

You can use magic?

[This was still surprising in and of itself, despite meeting others that could, but also because...]

Isn't that considered heretical?

[ex_seventh238]

--Oh! Um... I simplified the term, since some people would qualify anything mystical as "magic". [Except Cain is more aware than she'd have first thought.] It's actually spiritual healing based on Christian Sacraments, but it's effective even if the target isn't a believer. I've been told a few times that it's "just like magic", so in the end I thought that it'd be easier if I just call it as such. But you're right, the Church in my world doesn't think highly of thaumaturgy, although we coexist with the Mages' Association in London.

[kinship]

[So magic does actually exist in her world as well, and spiritual healing sounded more like... miracles... than he was comfortable with.]

It all sounds so fascinating, Miss Ciel. We have nothing like that at all in my world, religious magic or otherwise.

[ex_seventh238]

[oh man that's not even getting into the technicalities, "Magic" is actually something super hax that less than a handful of individuals were truly capable of in her world. What normal magi practices is more called "sorcery", there's really a huge difference, but... YEAH that'd just get confusing trying to explain in detail so ;;]

It's... a bit complicated, actually, but yes, there are magi who practice thaumaturgy, while priests draw their powers from faith through the use of Sacraments and prayers. The two are different in theory and practice, but both do generate what ordinary humans would call "magic" - "miracles" even, in some cases. Aha... Normal people don't usually know about these things, magi tend to try keeping their works secret from the rest of the world anyhow, but there's not much point in hiding our abilities in Mayfield. Whatever that could be useful should be used, you know? So I'd like to help as much as I can. If you ever get hurt or know someone who got hurt, please don't hesitate to let me know?

[kinship]

[It's a shame he doesn't know that even at this moment, Abel is letting the postman rip his kidney out of his body like an IDIOT.]

Mayfield really is a fascinating place, isn't it? There are so many different people, that it can give a lease of freedom to just about anyone, without the need to hide at all.

[If he sounds like he's speaking from experience, it's because he is.]

[ex_seventh238]

[Oh she's... been there too... and went through something similar... ...

SHE CAN STILL CHEW HIM OUT ON YOUR BEHALF if this ever gets out...]

Mm, it's really a mixed bag. [She does hum in acquiescence, recognizing the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes, as faint as they may be.] A lot of horrible things happen and ultimately this is just a mink-coated prison, but it does offer some people incredible chances that they would otherwise never be able to have. Some here have already died in their worlds, and others may have a fate worse than death waiting for them once they return. It is very much like a new life, in every sense of the term.

[She takes a beat to consider bringing up the other side of the coin: this place would also be a big hindrance to people with fulfilling lives and important objectives to accomplish back home who'd love to return as soon as possible.

But taking another glance at Cain, she chooses to skip that in favor of asking him something else, her expression calm and cheerful as usual.] Have you been enjoying life here, Cain, if we don't take in account of the things that the town does?

[kinship]

[That was a loaded question... On the one hand, he was eternally grateful for the chance to be here. He had dreamed for so long of being free to feel the breeze on his face and interact with humans on an equal footing, instead of only breathing the recycled air of the colony where everyone knew his place. He enjoyed spending time with Abel as he was now, he can't deny that his heart had ached to be held affectionately like that for as long as they had known one another.

Yet, at the same time, he wished he had never come here. He missed the way his brother used to behave, if only because it was... familiar, it was his. And what he had learned of the future still frightened him beyond belief, even despite his determination to change it. He was destined to... die, to leave Abel all alone forever.]

...It's certainly an experience, Miss Ciel. There are a lot of good things about being here, like meeting friends like you.

[ex_seventh238]

[It is, and she'd feel the same way if it was asked of her. His answer is what anyone may reply, so she smiles and nods, sharing the sentiments that he has conveyed.]

Aha, thank you, but I can say the same to you too. People tend to complain about things being boring and not having anything to do, but that's still a good change of pace for others. Speaking of which, have you tried doing new things and visited more places in town since the last time we met, Cain?

[kinship]

[He can't imagine anyone wanting to complain about the quiet times when it was 'boring', he just relished the day-to-day mundane life.]

Hm, I haven't managed to get to the cosplay cafe yet, but I have been snowball fighting and explored more of the town by the school.

[He grins at her, shifting the bags in his arms.]

And visiting the church with you will be another tick on my list.

[ex_seventh238]

[She can sympathize with the feeling, but well, a town takes all kinds...]

There's no rush, although miss Taiwan is doing themed decorations for Christmas, so it could be nice to take a look sometimes during the holidays. ...Aha, is that so? How's your aim, and did you find anything interesting?

[How can you react to that any other way than giving a smile just as wide?]

Hehe, that's flattering, but I will have to ask you to not get your hopes up. [Though her smile will turn a bit embarrassed.] It's nothing really special of a building. The denominations change each week, and so does the inside of the Church along with what the drone priest preaches. That makes it hard to redecorate anything, but I do my best to always keep it tidy. Although on a brighter note, I just got the list that I promised you last time ready there today! [please don't question how. this is clearly god's will! 8X;] Would you like to have it once we get there, Cain?

[kinship]

The denominations change each week?

[There's a note of surprise in his voice, he would have imagined that Mayfield would pick one and run with it. Something like a clean-cut Christian image to go with the rest of the era.]

Oh... ah, yes, I would like that very much. Thank you, Miss Ciel.