[ 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

[aeturnus]

More magic.

[ As if the science of the place is all the same as any other spell to him. Right now it's true, but really it's just faith in the sense that powers so strong must clearly be some part of an even greater whole. ]

So I may only have... an uncertain amount of time.

[ Well, that's certainly enough to shake him. Worry about dying has never occurred to him, not his own death, not with the vague words his brother has given him. He's always had time for as much as he cares to think about it (not that it will matter if when Remus dies). ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki eyes him dubiously. ]

Most likely. Spend how you will, I suppose. It matters little.

[aeturnus]

[ He takes a deep breath, tries to hold himself like he isn't floundering in all of this new information. Like this world isn't drowning him in uncertainty and loneliness and gaping, formless freedom. ]

And your name was... Loki? Wasn't it? [ It sounds both right and wrong. Wasn't there an A in there, too? ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki tilts his head before replying. ]

I am Loki. What of it?

[aeturnus]

Simply testing my memory. Faulty as it may be.

[ It's weird, because he knows there's significance to the name but can't place it to any knowledge he currently has. What's that about? ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His gaze is critical before it smooths over. ]

And? Has your memory offered any answers?

[aeturnus]

[ Romulus sees that because, for once, he's looking another person in the eye. That's still weird. ]

It's... important. It means something, doesn't it?

[dothelokimotion]

[ His lips twitch minutely, his inside joke. ]

It has many meanings, yes.

[aeturnus]

What's one of them?

[ At least one. His curiosity is sparked in a way he can try to sate in. Of course he's going to reach for that. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Which one would you like to know? As I said, there are many.

[aeturnus]

The... most relevant.

[ Because how else is he supposed to qualify that? ]

[dothelokimotion]

Trickster, then. That should suffice.

[aeturnus]

[ Brows furrow. ]

And that could mean... you were tricking me before?

[ There's something to this. It feels like old information just hiding under layers of dust or perhaps being held outside his reach, and on the other hand it feels like he wasn't offended or worried about this before. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki shrugs, unconcerned. ]

I could be. Though usually I prefer a bit more finesse to my tricks.

[ And who he chooses to trick matters. Loki is a little more discerning about his targets after all. ]

[aeturnus]

What sort of tricks do you make?

[ He'll let that go because it's fair. There's no grace in telling it like it is to someone who isn't ready to listen. That's different. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ He blinks, nonplussed. ]

A trick is a trick. I suppose the intent may matter, but rarely.

[aeturnus]

They're all the same to you?

[ It sounds like he doesn't agree with that. ]

[dothelokimotion]

I am the trickster. Why would I put them in categories?

[aeturnus]

Because... there's different types of tricks. Whether you trick the mind or the body, whether you intend it as a joke or to hurt...

[dothelokimotion]

I told you before. Intent matters little when the end result is determined. There may be kinds, but tricks are left to those who experience it, to interpret. Not to me.

[aeturnus]

[ And he just sighs to that. ]

All right... You just enjoy making trouble. Because you can?

[dothelokimotion]

It is my meaning.

[ And he has little else to hold onto these days. ]

[aeturnus]

[ He's quiet for a moment, debating, before he finally speaks. ]

Is it... does it help to have a meaning?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki considers not answering before dismissing it. After all, it would imply weakness. Sentiment. ]

I find that it does.

[aeturnus]

[ He smiles, vague and unsure but not dissatisfied with the answer. ]

Then maybe I'll find meaning someday, too.