[ open ] #throwbackthursday

[aeturnus]

who: Cain (now Romulus), Anyone
what: During the effects of the Temporal Chalice, Cain gets to explore some of his much, much earlier years. He's in his early twenties, not immortal, shy and gentle, and goes by his birth name: Romulus. Oops.
when: 15th until the event ends.
where: Housing during the day (floor six + around), and out in the Quarantine at night mostly. Specific starters upon request.
warnings: Romulus at this point in his life is a slave. Mentioned of free vs not, expectations of having lesser value, and possible other related subjects are very likely. More will be edited in if necessary.

i. Housing. Floor six.
[ He's not sure what to do with himself here. One of the first things Romulus did when he came to was familiarize himself with the device he carries around with him, because he remembers that being important, and notices that the job he only vaguely recalls sent a message to not show up if you couldn't do the work citing distraction to the other workers who were still in their right minds. He supposes that means he should stay away from the place and he intends to. It just doesn't leave him a whole lot to do aside from putter around the floor he knows he belongs in, even if most of his belongings feel foreign and familiar at the same time. Sparse, too. Some technology to work, small knickknacks here and there, and nothing that really speaks to who he is. All except for a plain lantern hanging from the bedpost with scenery drawn on it that makes him feel more at home. It's familiar to him, only a breath away, if he were back home at all. That lantern is lit every night to help him sleep.

Either way, Romulus putters. Messes around in the kitchen to try and make food but plenty of the products are foreign and confusing and he sticks with what he knows, basic fruits and vegetables and puts together simpler things with simpler tools and methods. He's not going for anything fancy, just subsiding on what he can until he figures out what he's doing here anymore. What he doesn't do is actively bother anyone. Finds his own supplies and makes sure whatever he uses is communal and doesn't belong to anyone in particular, shops with the money he's found for himself to buy things he can't find.

It's probably easier to ignore the guy who's suddenly turned wallflower around floor six, or even in the rest of the building where he comes and goes quite often out to explore the city. Except... he didn't used to be like this, not at all, entire demeanor changed. Not that he's the only one but it's pretty radical and noticeable. Kinda sad, really. ]

ii. Quarantine.
[ Mostly, he goes out at night. Lots of people don't notice the nervous ones at night because crime still exists but Quarantine is better protected and managed than most cities in other universes, apparently, and a lot of the older residents expect the nervous ones to calm down eventually. Romulus isn't nervous because of crime, but instead because it feels like a lie. He shouldn't be out here without a cause or an order or a reason given to him to explain if anyone catches him out — but he's not doing anything wrong. There's no master here, no one holding him in their hands and certainly no one to say he can't explore or shop or live.

It's freedom, and it has his heart constantly in his throat. What do you do with freedom?

Either way, he stumbles into people because he's not paying attention, lost in thought. Flinches back and swerves to press nearer to the walls or almost walks into the street sometimes and has to get fished out of the way. It's all very nerve-wracking, but again, people expect it more in the darkness for whatever reason. Sometimes he does go out in the day, too, but this is easier for him. ]

I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to run into you—forgive me.

[ He doesn't meet many peoples' eyes in the dark of the night, either. ]

iii. Wild Card.
[ Romulus gets places he shouldn't. Curiosity is certainly his vice and that's never gotten him anyplace good. It's usually up to Remus to keep him from wandering and Remus isn't here. He doesn't go into dangerous-looking places, but stores or odd streets or stopping to watch something odd? There's no reason not to. ]

[ Make something up, and I'll work a response in! Contact at plurk or at biomagnet#1925 @ disco to discuss more if necessary. ]

Comments

[ quarantine ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki blinks. That was . . . odd. He peers at Cain skeptically. ]

Obviously, I would assume you did not intend to.

[aeturnus]

[ He's trying to not make eye contact, but he sees that look so he's sneaking glances of his own. Furtive and uncertain. ]

No, but the blame does fall with me. And so... I apologize.

[dothelokimotion]

And if I don't accept your apology?

[ It's a dick thing to do, but it's entirely in line with Loki. Besides, this change was . . . curious. He had noted other changes along the way, of course. ]

[aeturnus]

[ That gets a grimace and Romulus obviously flounders at the challenge. His mind whirs and his first thought is: what would his brother say to that? Because he certainly doesn't know what Romulus would say. Except perhaps more simpering. ]

Then you wouldn't have to. We—I... just meant to say I didn't intend to run into you.

[ Okay, imagining what Remus would say has the side-effect of speaking for the both of them, but he's not here. It's very stressful. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His amusement is clear and Loki isn't going to let up just yet. ]

And what would intent matter to me, if the result is so clear?

[aeturnus]

[ How rude, Loki. His shoulders tense, and he's glaring halfheartedly somewhere around Loki's arm or shoulder. Less angry and more trying to not get turned around because this usually ends in ways he certainly doesn't like. ]

It usually lessens the consequences to be shown respect.

[dothelokimotion]

It might.

Or it might serve better not to repeat such a thing. I imagine raising your head a little more couldn't hurt either.

[aeturnus]

[ He closes his eyes, only briefly, before looking up. It's kind of a storm in there, fire untempered and without defiance burning inside. Unlike the look in Cain's eyes, calm and measured and knowing, Romulus has very little life experience and too much spirit to deal with the hand he's been dealt. Maybe not enough heart to fight his way out, though.

Almost immediately, he's searching for whatever game Loki is playing, not to stop it but to at least guess the outcome. ]

I don't intend to walk into you again, Sir.

[dothelokimotion]

I'm well aware of that.

[ The sir is nice, but Loki never liked the affixes of Midgardian culture. They seemed trite in nature. With a flippant hand, he waves it off. He's not bothered by the anger. Anger is easy to interpret and work with. ]

Will you take the steps to look up now and then though?

[aeturnus]

[ He's quiet for a moment, eyes uncertainly flickering to Loki's neck before affixing back to his face. Still not quite meeting his eyes but waaay closer than before. ]

I'll... try. [ His eyes narrow, thought and memory coalescing into confusion. ] Have we met before?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki purses his lips thoughtfully. ]

In a manner of speaking. Another lifetime for you, perhaps.

[aeturnus]

[ His head cants to the side before he rights his posture. ]

There's been a lot of that happening, hasn't there?

[dothelokimotion]

Such is the way of these places and convergences.

[ Realities have a way of melding and blending together when there's too much of anything. Loki shrugs. Taako seems to have a handle on it and Loki will end it . . . eventually. ]

It will pass.

[aeturnus]

[ That just makes him tense right up. ]

Will it? Then we'll—go back?

[dothelokimotion]

It is an aberration and should be fixed.

[ Loki notes the tension. ]

Do you prefer this? Your gaze to the ground? Because your eyes told a different story.

[aeturnus]

[ He flinches lightly, and can't help casting his gaze away. ]

It's a very... complicated situation. To be here is to be free, but to be here is without my brother. To be back is to be with him, but slaves, and...

[ Remus is going to die. He can't say it, hasn't said it, won't say it. Probably ever. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Freedom or brotherhood. For Loki, it isn't a hard choice. He'd always choose freedom over Thor. Or so he believes. Their relationship is complicated and one of the last pillars of a life he once loved. ]

Was it truly a choice to begin with?

[aeturnus]

Because it will end no matter what?

[ He's not sure what Loki means, but all in all, he knows it isn't a decision. Romulus doesn't get to make those. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki amends with a frown. ]

There is that.

But slavery rarely involves a choice.

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus looks a little surprised, then shakes his head. He can't make himself look up again. ]

Some would sell themselves into servitude to pay off debts or otherwise secure safety. Our case was... not one of those.

[dothelokimotion]

Whatever the case may be.

[ And he doesn't really care because why would he? ]

Is it really a choice?

[aeturnus]

No.

[ He sighs, glances back up partway before trying to hold his shoulders still. Keep them from hunching over. He wishes Remus were here to hide behind, to give him a buffer. ]

No, there's no choice.

[dothelokimotion]

Then why even explain? Why bother holding it in? You can feel the freedom in your veins and yet you leash yourself?

[aeturnus]

Tamed animals often don't survive in the wild.

[ He's seen it before. Had it explained to him by one of the older slaves when he saw dying dogs out by the mansion, ripped apart by mongrels that lived nearby. It isn't what he wants for himself but he knows that he doesn't know enough.

It's survival that keeps him from making the foolhardy decision that's likely to kill him or his brother before they're ready. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's look is pointed. ]

A brilliant analogy. But the truth is, you are wild. You don't hide it as well as you may think.