[ 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]

Since you work at a place like that... Would you know anyone... willing to teach?

[ Look, he won't say anything more unless Loki asks. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Why not ask around the Facility? You would have better luck with them than me.

[aeturnus]

[ There's momentary surprise at that. ]

Would I be allowed?

[dothelokimotion]

I don't see why not.

[aeturnus]

[ Oh. Right. ]

They wouldn't know why it shouldn't be...

[ Which is like its own kind of exhilarating trick. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His chuckle is low and rich, unexpectedly drawn out. ]

Turn it on its head.

[aeturnus]

[ He smiles back for the laugh. It's a nice sound, but more than that it feels like something akin to freedom. ]

Yes. I think I'll try that. May I... follow you there?

[dothelokimotion]

[ He blinks before smoothing his expression over. ]

I suppose you may. It has no bearing on me.

[aeturnus]

Doesn't it?

[ Lots of people don't appreciate being shadowed. Be that as it may, Romulus does shift like he means to walk behind Loki now if he intends to continue on his way. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Should it?

[ He counters easily, moving at his own pace. ]

[aeturnus]

[ He follows, slightly behind, meant to keep out of his line of sight just out of habit and lessons learned. ]

It's usually not allowed.

[dothelokimotion]

And thus, it must always be so?

[aeturnus]

No, but you said... should it. It should, but it isn't.

[ It's an exception, and he finds it worth noting. Pretty much his whole life right now is an exception. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Everything has its loophole. Find it and everything falls apart.

[aeturnus]

[ That gets him quiet and then he'd say. ]

I'll work on that. Locate them.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Why was Cain telling him this? Unbidden, a memory comes to him, at his father's heels. I'm ready, father, two children chorus, side by side. The wave of bitterness rises up in his throat like bile. ]

I'm sure you will do . . . admirably.

[ He does not know if it's kindness or aversion. His heart thrums in his ears as if all he can hear is the beating of blood. ]

[aeturnus]

[ Encouragement is a rare and sweet treat for someone like Romulus. That it comes from someone he remembers holding in good regard, even if the specifics escape him, makes it all the better. ]

Thank you. Me and Remus will learn... if I go back.

[ If he doesn't disappear. However this works. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki makes a quiet sound at the back of his throat.]

And do what, precisely?

[aeturnus]

Leave, maybe.

[ It's said wistfully, like he's just now thinking of it. Longing for that. Whether the tamed animals will die or the wild animals will run free, he just doesn't know. ]

[dothelokimotion]

You lack conviction. You will not master magic if you treat it as such.

[aeturnus]

[ He stiffens, walk shifting to something a little heavier. ]

Conviction... Belief? For magic—for what I need to do, I'll make it happen.

[ At least it's much less whimsy now. If he's got a purpose for magic, that purpose is much clearer-formed than the possibility of skeedaddling. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Then perhaps magic will pave your way.

[aeturnus]

It has to.

[ Because Romulus doesn't have power to stop death on his own. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His smile is wry. ]

We shall see.

[aeturnus]

One way or another.

[ Everything is worth trying. It's just his courage that needs the help, the push that magic would provide. Power where he's otherwise powerless. ]