riverview | Video; un: ilikehorses

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Video; un: ilikehorses

[Laura's been trying to adjust. Part of her wonders if coming here wasn't a grave mistake — she'd come thinking there are more like her, people who would accept her more willingly, and in a way, that's true. However... There are a few... annoyances. Grievances. Her rather overworked case worker Linda has been making sure she goes to school. Today isn't the best day for school, though. She's quiet and 'weird' and the other children usually aren't fond of her and her quiet but present danger.

And for Laura, well. She doesn't do well with anyone 'teaching' her. She's had too much of 'teaching' the last eleven years of her... eleven years.

She may or may not have punched another kid in the eye.

She may or may not have ditched school.

And now she sits on the top of a rather tall and dangerous brick-ish wall in the city, her feet hanging precariously off the edge. Close by, the shadow of a tram wooshes by, and somewhere out there, Linda the Case Worker is having a heart attack. Laura, however, seems more puzzled and annoyed than anything. She sits with a potentially stolen bag of mini-donuts, her favorite glasses pressed up on her forehead and her lovely albeit mildly damaged unicorn shirt clear and vibrant.]

Why do children have to go to classes?

I can learn outside of school.

[There are mean children that exist. She's never ran into children who are so exclusionary; after all, mutants had to stick together.

And teachers aren't bad, but something about the set-up bothers her, in ways she's not sure how to explain.

Maybe it's harder to blend in than you'd think. Not that she had gone into this with any high hopes.]

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[He uses context clues to recognize the meaning behind her words and smiles.]

Pleased to make you acquaintance, Laura. [Ciel looks to the store and gestures for her to come inside with him.]

It is. Welcome to Funtom Toys and Candy.

[Her lips twitch into a momentary smile, because she certainly hasn't lost the desire to be a child that much, not enough to turn her away from candy or toys. It's not quite the same sort of expected glee a kid had at the sight of so many things they love, but rather a sort of awe, a patience; Laura slowly walks in, looking around with a wide gaze and exploring eyes.

It's nice. She's never been in a toy-themed shop before like this.]

[Ciel watches her, a little curious, and then moves over to a shelf and pulls a large stuffed rabbit from one shelf. He may not behave like a child himself but he knows what it's like being denied a full childhood. Ciel chose to abandon his childhood though, hers soudned as if it had been entirely stripped away.

No toys? Rubbish. He offers her the doll.]

Here. This is Bitter Rabbit. Consider it a gift. It won't make up for what you missed but it's a start.

[She holds it carefully, looking it over before crushing it in an embrace much like the ones Ciel does in testing his goods; she's not particularly ready to let up, either, enjoying the feeling of hugging something close for comfort like this; it's rare, and the last time she can think of holding something this close and kindly, it'd been her pillow on a particularly difficult day at Transigen.

Yes... that was the day they had tested her regeneration capabilities.

She sniffs the bunny, and finds it a pleasant scent.]

... He's cute.

[It is a candy store, he'd actually kind of hope some of the scents from the candy would seep into the dolls.]

I'm glad you like him. [She can, of course, squeeze the bunny all she likes. He was a gift after all and what she does with it isn't his business. It also has the added benefit for trying to right at least one wrong that had been done to her. Children aren't tools. Not to their parents. Not to anyone.]

[Perfecto, A+, you're her new toy drug dealer.

She has not stopped hugging the rabbit close, like someone may very well pry it from her hands.

Silently, she drifts along the shop's walls, eyes rounded owlishly with interest.

There's so much compared to her upbringing; she's not sure where to begin.]

[He's sure he can handle that. And hell, she might be a good pick for advertisements for Bitter Rabbit in the future.]

If you weren't allowed toys, you probably never got much candy either, did you?

[She shakes her head.]

Candy does not keep bodies in peak health. And it causes unwanted sporadic activity levels.

[It's really just parroted wording, but it's what she knows.]

[As a kid with a vicious sweet tooth, he feels so attacked right now.]

Yes but it's sweet and makes you feel good. [Where ever she'd been, Ciel has such an urge to spite them. In fact, he will, and grabs a caramel lollypop from a display on one of the counters and hands it to her.]

[..... Ahhh......

She stands there with the caramel lolly in her hand for a moment, staring at it.

Then she's reaching into her jacket pocket, holding out her hand for him; when he holds it out, she'll drop some crumpled money in his hand. She's not really sure how much lollypops are worth, but she gives him a decent amount. Like. Enough for eight or nine of them.

What? Money's weird. Make it rain.]

[He's confused at first and then she drops money into his hand. A quick count shows it's far too much, even at a glance he knows. So she hadn't ever dealt with money either?]

They're a gift, this time.

[He would never have done this in England but something about her reminds him of That Month. And it bothers him. It isn't his job to right wrongs like this but he can help.]

Next time though. And they aren't so much. [And hands the crumpled money back.]

[She files that big of information away, holding her dolly with one hand, her lolly with the other, and... well, she stares at him for a moment with a thought brewing. Isn't the thing about shops is you must buy things? He seems to have some kind of exception to her first visit.]

You are being... very nice.

Why?

[Why? That's a good question. And not one he wants to answer with complete honesty. He has things he refuses to discuss and secrets to hide, but Laura deserves some kind of answer.]

Because you remind me of me.

Years ago, I was in a place where... there were no toys, no candy, nothing happy. And I hated it. Knowing it still happens, it's the least I can do to trt fixing what I can.

[That makes him sound a lot kinder than what he thinks he is but it'll do.]

... Did they try to make you into something bad?

[It's spoken with some sympathy, even if Laura has a hard time emoting.

These sorts of things, they're... easier to understand.]

[How observant. In another world, he and Sebastian would have taken her into the Phantomhive household. Not as a servant like the others, he's not even sure what role she'd fill. But he could see her skills benefiting the protection of the estate.]

In a way. They did it to a lot of children. [Made them lambs.] They wanted us just to watch us die.

[She nods after a moment, mind drifting to the day they'd all ran. Some of them had already been put down before the nurses unlocked their doors and pulled them to freedom. And there are others unaccounted for, others who never reached Eden. She tries not to think too hard about them, most days.]

They wanted to watch us die, too.

I'm glad you don't have to be there anymore. It's no life for anyone.

[He does the same, avoiding thinking about the day he'd watched the cultists die, the day his life had started 'fresh' with his butler.]

Now all you need is to experience the things you missed.

[She eyes him for a moment, the stuffed doll hugged carefully.

Despite her upbringing, she did not want to harm the bunny, living or not.]

And you, too?

No. [The faintest smile, forced.]

No, I left my childhood behind. I experienced all I needed or wanted.

[She wrinkles her brow.]

But you are... happier now, at least, yes?

[Asking all the hard questions, why?

At least she's not asking if he's happy, that would be much harder.]

Happier, yes. I have a shop I dreamt of when I was small and I'm alive. Are you?

[She certainly looks very unsure for a moment, thinking hard on the matter as she pets the stuffed doll's head for some tactile comfort.]

I don't know yet. I think I'm happier.

[She gives pause, putting trust in the boy, because he's close to her age.

And he seems to understand.]

Sometimes I am angry, and sometimes I feel nothing. It's hard to understand.

There's plenty here, I think, that you coudl find to help you be happier.

[In Riverview, as a generalization. Although, he knows children are often happy visiting his shops in England.]

I can understand that though. Sometimes just having someone to talk to can help, or finding an outlet for your anger. [Pause.] You're welcome to message me if you need to.

[......... She gives a short nod, sincere despite its brevity.]

I'll remember.

You can talk to me, too, if you want. I am a good listener.

I'll remember as well.

[He doesn't want to burden anyone with his memories though, his scars, but taking on others? That he could do.]

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Video; un: ilikehorses

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