As Sieghart moves through the alley with his stinky head bundle, he'll find that it doesn't really smell pleasant back here, either. Maybe a bit like decay, too, or sewage.
Nothing approaches from behind just yet as he makes his way through, and the first area that he's looking into has nothing more than a few rats clustered around a rotting lump of something. They dart away as Sieghart approaches.
From the corner of his eye, he may catch a little darting motion from one of the areas up ahead. Something small and pale withdraws from the thin moonlight, vanishing into the dark.]
There's enough rot here to stick to his new clothes. He's definitely not going to smell like flowers once he returns to the mansion. Withdrawing from the retreating rats and their meal, he makes for the area ahead while keeping an eye on everything in between.]
[He's going to be stinkier than Bucky's pits, even...
Moving ahead to that space, he'll have a little trouble with visibility at first. But nothing comes out at him from the shadows, and if he waits until a bit more moonlight peeks through the cloud cover, he'll see the small and huddled form of a child tucked into the back of the little cove. They're staying very still and appear to be looking out at Sieghart through their crouched position, though it's difficult to make out their features from where he is. Though they seem to be making an attempt at staying quiet, he might be able to pick up on a little huff of breath every now and then, too.]
[Perhaps the stink will be potent enough to drive Qi Rong back into the basement.
He figured it had to be a child. Now that he's here, though, he has to consider whether he should leave or engage. In the case of dreams, the best course of action is to ignore everything. But here . . .
Slowly, Sieghart crouches down before he can get too close, lowering himself to the child's approximate eye level.]
[Qi Rong probably rolls around in rotting bodies for an eu de parfum.
But yeah! Congrats! There's a child! The child seems to try to scoot back even further as Sieghart lowers down to their level, hesitant and anxious in all ways. But as he isn't trying to reach out for them, a voice eventually calls back - soft, wavering, and clearly scared.]
What does he want? He wants to leave! Chatting like this is counterproductive to that end. But he's engaged the child, so this is the hole he must continue digging until he knows enough to make his next big decision.
For now, he stays put. The last thing he needs is an even more frightened child.]
I thought I heard a noise when I was passing by. What are you doing here so late?
This is so tragic though. Mans just wants to be gone but he's having to sit out here engaging with this kid, who is still staring at him warily. Though considering he's not making any sudden moves or speaking in a particularly threatening way, they seem to untangle themselves from the little safety ball they were in, just a bit.]
I live here. [There's something vaguely haughty in the tone like BINCH THIS IS MY HOME??? There's a little snuffling noise, and a motion that's probably the child wiping their nose on their sleeve.] ...Are you a traveler? Are you going to the meeting at that inn tonight?
[The fake child's got tons of spirit, hell yeah. They seem a little more interested and a little less afraid, uncurling further until they're pretty much completely in a normal sitting position. Since the cloud cover has thickened, it's still a bit hard to make out their features just yet.]
Oh... Lots of travelers are going over there. They're making it sound like some party, but I heard people talking like it's gonna be an important meeting. With important people or something, from that new army.
[As long as the child doesn't come at him all of a sudden, everything will be fine. Sieghart isn't especially interested in appearances here, and he's not about to lean forward in order to find out.]
[The child doesn't come out suddenly like some sort of ravenous werewolf waiting to eat Sieghart's face. Fortunately there will be no vore in this CYOA. ...Unless?
Anyway!! Sieghart doesn't lean in and the child doesn't come out suddenly, but they do come out bit by bit. Eventually, they're close enough to the edge of the shadowy little cove they're tucked into that their features are illuminated by moonlight: it's a round and girlish sort of face, covered in grime, with short dark hair pulled up into a little sprig of a ponytail and messily cut bangs. There's a little bit of suspicion in their eyes, but apparently they've decided Sieghart isn't an immediate threat.]
The government's new army. [The child glances over toward the side of the alley Sieghart had come from, frowning. It's a very serious expression for such a young face.] It's better if you don't go over there, if you don't even know that... Where are you trying to go, anyway?
Remaining in place, Sieghart watches the child scoot toward him. His initial impression is that the child is a little girl. At a second glance, however, he corrects himself: this a boy. The boy is so young that it's hard to say for certain, but Sieghart thinks he wouldn't be surprised if tears were to fall from those alert eyes at any moment.
Supposedly, that one was once a crybaby child.]
I'm headed west. I want to pass through the forest nearby, but I don't know my way around. If I shouldn't head back over there, where should I go?
There are no tears falling! Though he does have some big and watery-looking eyes. His nose wrinkles a little at Sieghart's explanation and following question, and he looks for a second like he's trying to chew his way through some sort of thought.
That thought apparently culminates in this:]
...Do you mean the forest past the city? I can show you.
[Show, rather than tell. A lad wants to come along...]
[He says it less as an order and more as a request as he straightens his legs to a stand. This is going to be a double-edged sword, but that's better than nothing.]
[Who doesn't love a good double-edged sword! That's a sharp blade, you know - they're pretty useful!
The child's eyes widen a little at the agreement, like he hadn't actually expected it... But in the next second, he's smiling! This may be his stinky home, but that doesn't mean he likes it, okay. He's found a seemingly friendly stranger to latch onto now, and maybe he's always been a bit prone to latching.
He unfolds himself from his little hidey-hole fully, popping up to his feet in the alley proper. Even standing, he's a pretty small and scrawny kid, but he reaches out to grab a pinch of Sieghart's sleeve like he has never known a fear in his gotdam life. He doesn't seem to mind or maybe even notice the suspicious head-shaped bundle...]
Okay! It's this way.
[He starts to pull Sieghart toward the opposite end of the alley from where he'd entered, away from the row of shops and the inn with its questionable guests. As they get closer to the alley's end, it looks like the child's just going to start leading both of them through some back streets. As they go, he continues to ask questions in a quiet voice.]
What's your name, anyway? And where are you traveling from?
[A pinch of his sleeve is better than his gross hands. Led thus, Sieghart follows closely behind with the bundle clutched securely at his side. In the interest of stealth, he also speaks lowly:]
Call me Si. I don't have a home, so I've been wandering for a long time.
[Oh yeah his hands are covered in brain juice huh, whack.]
Si-san? [A curious little intonation, but he seems to accept.] ...I guess we're the same, then. Except I don't wander that much anymore. It's not good to be wandering around here right now.
[He'll lead the way through twists and turns, through silent (or nearly-silent) other alleys that seem bereft of any life save a few scavenging animals and fewer scavenging people.
Eventually, he comes to a wall, and specifically to a hole in said wall. It looks like it might be a tight squeeze, but unsurprisingly, the child lets go of Sieghart's sleeve long enough to crouch down and point.]
[The political climate—or something else—must be dire for even a child to say such a thing. He's going to have to avoid as much interaction with the people of this place as he can.
[He says this and then promptly ducks down himself, disappearing into the hole. Apparently he trusts that Sieghart is going to follow, but what is a lad going to actually do?]
UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME BUT FORTUNATELY FOR SIEGHART!!! With a roll that high, he manages to squeeze through the hole without too much fuss. Whatever the hell he's going through is a tight fit and it absolutely smells dank as hell in here. He'll likely end up with a few minor scrapes just from squeezing and scooting his way along, and he'll want to make sure he keeps a good grasp on Kondo's head, or the squeak of sewer rats might get uncomfortably close.
Eventually, though, he'll pop out on the other side. The child is already there, crouched down and waiting.]
Of course, he keeps a good grasp on Kondo's head. In fact, he'd sooner bite the sewer rats a new one than let them have his prize, because he needs this head to proceed. Fortunately, it doesn't come down to chomping on disease carriers, and he makes it out just fine.]
You're much smaller than I am. What did you expect?
[He climbs onto his feet, then extends an arm with the sleeve to which the child has taken a liking.]
The child's expression brightens when Sieghart offers his sleeve free of charge though, and he immediately reaches out to take it in his little grubby paw again before heading out.]
I'm smaller but you should be faster! You're bigger than me so you can move more all at once, right?
[Physics?? He doesn't know her.
Anyway on the other side of that weird nasty hole in the wall is what appears to be a forgotten, abandoned little stretch of city. The buildings on this side are dilapidated and look like they haven't been occupied properly in months, if not years. Grass grows thick over bits and pieces of wood, cloth, roof tiling.
The occasional cough or moan from within the depths of these buildings hint to the fact that it's not entirely devoid of life, but the child walks quickly, as though not to linger here. Sieghart can take a look around if he likes, or he can follow the child making his quick way to the darkened border of trees looming close, just beyond the edge of this stretch of buildings. Or he can do something else! The world is his oyster.]
The child has his sleeve, and it appears to be agreed upon between the two of them that it's best to move quickly. Sieghart follows, though he does take note of what surroundings he can glimpse on the way.]
[Why is there a slight goblin air creeping into this child's tone...
But for now, he's not running; just walking very briskly with his stubby little kid legs. It seems he knows the area well, since he can navigate despite the fact that the moon is barely peeking out now with the thickening of the cloud cover.
As Sieghart glances around, he'll notice that some of the buildings in this area appear to be charred rather than simply abandoned and overtaken by plant growth. Maybe it's a good thing he isn't dallying, because one or two of them smell faintly of blood and rust. From others, shapes move in the depths, just barely silhouetted by the moonlight. Their movements are strangely stilted.
Since Sieghart chooses to move quickly, they make it to the edge of the forest without incident. The child grips his sleeve a little more tightly.]
You said you wanted to go through here, right? West to the forest? ...Will you take me with you?
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As Sieghart moves through the alley with his stinky head bundle, he'll find that it doesn't really smell pleasant back here, either. Maybe a bit like decay, too, or sewage.
Nothing approaches from behind just yet as he makes his way through, and the first area that he's looking into has nothing more than a few rats clustered around a rotting lump of something. They dart away as Sieghart approaches.
From the corner of his eye, he may catch a little darting motion from one of the areas up ahead. Something small and pale withdraws from the thin moonlight, vanishing into the dark.]
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There's enough rot here to stick to his new clothes. He's definitely not going to smell like flowers once he returns to the mansion. Withdrawing from the retreating rats and their meal, he makes for the area ahead while keeping an eye on everything in between.]
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Moving ahead to that space, he'll have a little trouble with visibility at first. But nothing comes out at him from the shadows, and if he waits until a bit more moonlight peeks through the cloud cover, he'll see the small and huddled form of a child tucked into the back of the little cove. They're staying very still and appear to be looking out at Sieghart through their crouched position, though it's difficult to make out their features from where he is. Though they seem to be making an attempt at staying quiet, he might be able to pick up on a little huff of breath every now and then, too.]
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He figured it had to be a child. Now that he's here, though, he has to consider whether he should leave or engage. In the case of dreams, the best course of action is to ignore everything. But here . . .
Slowly, Sieghart crouches down before he can get too close, lowering himself to the child's approximate eye level.]
Hey.
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But yeah! Congrats! There's a child! The child seems to try to scoot back even further as Sieghart lowers down to their level, hesitant and anxious in all ways. But as he isn't trying to reach out for them, a voice eventually calls back - soft, wavering, and clearly scared.]
Who're you...? What do you want?
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What does he want? He wants to leave! Chatting like this is counterproductive to that end. But he's engaged the child, so this is the hole he must continue digging until he knows enough to make his next big decision.
For now, he stays put. The last thing he needs is an even more frightened child.]
I thought I heard a noise when I was passing by. What are you doing here so late?
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This is so tragic though. Mans just wants to be gone but he's having to sit out here engaging with this kid, who is still staring at him warily. Though considering he's not making any sudden moves or speaking in a particularly threatening way, they seem to untangle themselves from the little safety ball they were in, just a bit.]
I live here. [There's something vaguely haughty in the tone like BINCH THIS IS MY HOME??? There's a little snuffling noise, and a motion that's probably the child wiping their nose on their sleeve.] ...Are you a traveler? Are you going to the meeting at that inn tonight?
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That's right; I'm a traveler. I just got here, though, so I don't know anything about a meeting.
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Oh... Lots of travelers are going over there. They're making it sound like some party, but I heard people talking like it's gonna be an important meeting. With important people or something, from that new army.
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New army?
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Anyway!! Sieghart doesn't lean in and the child doesn't come out suddenly, but they do come out bit by bit. Eventually, they're close enough to the edge of the shadowy little cove they're tucked into that their features are illuminated by moonlight: it's a round and girlish sort of face, covered in grime, with short dark hair pulled up into a little sprig of a ponytail and messily cut bangs. There's a little bit of suspicion in their eyes, but apparently they've decided Sieghart isn't an immediate threat.]
The government's new army. [The child glances over toward the side of the alley Sieghart had come from, frowning. It's a very serious expression for such a young face.] It's better if you don't go over there, if you don't even know that... Where are you trying to go, anyway?
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Remaining in place, Sieghart watches the child scoot toward him. His initial impression is that the child is a little girl. At a second glance, however, he corrects himself: this a boy. The boy is so young that it's hard to say for certain, but Sieghart thinks he wouldn't be surprised if tears were to fall from those alert eyes at any moment.
Supposedly, that one was once a crybaby child.]
I'm headed west. I want to pass through the forest nearby, but I don't know my way around. If I shouldn't head back over there, where should I go?
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There are no tears falling! Though he does have some big and watery-looking eyes. His nose wrinkles a little at Sieghart's explanation and following question, and he looks for a second like he's trying to chew his way through some sort of thought.
That thought apparently culminates in this:]
...Do you mean the forest past the city? I can show you.
[Show, rather than tell. A lad wants to come along...]
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Yeah? Then show me.
[He says it less as an order and more as a request as he straightens his legs to a stand. This is going to be a double-edged sword, but that's better than nothing.]
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The child's eyes widen a little at the agreement, like he hadn't actually expected it... But in the next second, he's smiling! This may be his stinky home, but that doesn't mean he likes it, okay. He's found a seemingly friendly stranger to latch onto now, and maybe he's always been a bit prone to latching.
He unfolds himself from his little hidey-hole fully, popping up to his feet in the alley proper. Even standing, he's a pretty small and scrawny kid, but he reaches out to grab a pinch of Sieghart's sleeve like he has never known a fear in his gotdam life. He doesn't seem to mind or maybe even notice the suspicious head-shaped bundle...]
Okay! It's this way.
[He starts to pull Sieghart toward the opposite end of the alley from where he'd entered, away from the row of shops and the inn with its questionable guests. As they get closer to the alley's end, it looks like the child's just going to start leading both of them through some back streets. As they go, he continues to ask questions in a quiet voice.]
What's your name, anyway? And where are you traveling from?
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Call me Si. I don't have a home, so I've been wandering for a long time.
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Si-san? [A curious little intonation, but he seems to accept.] ...I guess we're the same, then. Except I don't wander that much anymore. It's not good to be wandering around here right now.
[He'll lead the way through twists and turns, through silent (or nearly-silent) other alleys that seem bereft of any life save a few scavenging animals and fewer scavenging people.
Eventually, he comes to a wall, and specifically to a hole in said wall. It looks like it might be a tight squeeze, but unsurprisingly, the child lets go of Sieghart's sleeve long enough to crouch down and point.]
We gotta go through here.
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Sieghart gapes at the hole.]
Here? Is this the way out of the city?
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[He says this and then promptly ducks down himself, disappearing into the hole. Apparently he trusts that Sieghart is going to follow, but what is a lad going to actually do?]
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UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME BUT FORTUNATELY FOR SIEGHART!!! With a roll that high, he manages to squeeze through the hole without too much fuss. Whatever the hell he's going through is a tight fit and it absolutely smells dank as hell in here. He'll likely end up with a few minor scrapes just from squeezing and scooting his way along, and he'll want to make sure he keeps a good grasp on Kondo's head, or the squeak of sewer rats might get uncomfortably close.
Eventually, though, he'll pop out on the other side. The child is already there, crouched down and waiting.]
You're kind of slow, huh?
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Of course, he keeps a good grasp on Kondo's head. In fact, he'd sooner bite the sewer rats a new one than let them have his prize, because he needs this head to proceed. Fortunately, it doesn't come down to chomping on disease carriers, and he makes it out just fine.]
You're much smaller than I am. What did you expect?
[He climbs onto his feet, then extends an arm with the sleeve to which the child has taken a liking.]
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The child's expression brightens when Sieghart offers his sleeve free of charge though, and he immediately reaches out to take it in his little grubby paw again before heading out.]
I'm smaller but you should be faster! You're bigger than me so you can move more all at once, right?
[Physics?? He doesn't know her.
Anyway on the other side of that weird nasty hole in the wall is what appears to be a forgotten, abandoned little stretch of city. The buildings on this side are dilapidated and look like they haven't been occupied properly in months, if not years. Grass grows thick over bits and pieces of wood, cloth, roof tiling.
The occasional cough or moan from within the depths of these buildings hint to the fact that it's not entirely devoid of life, but the child walks quickly, as though not to linger here. Sieghart can take a look around if he likes, or he can follow the child making his quick way to the darkened border of trees looming close, just beyond the edge of this stretch of buildings. Or he can do something else! The world is his oyster.]
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[Which he does not want to do.
The child has his sleeve, and it appears to be agreed upon between the two of them that it's best to move quickly. Sieghart follows, though he does take note of what surroundings he can glimpse on the way.]
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[Why is there a slight goblin air creeping into this child's tone...
But for now, he's not running; just walking very briskly with his stubby little kid legs. It seems he knows the area well, since he can navigate despite the fact that the moon is barely peeking out now with the thickening of the cloud cover.
As Sieghart glances around, he'll notice that some of the buildings in this area appear to be charred rather than simply abandoned and overtaken by plant growth. Maybe it's a good thing he isn't dallying, because one or two of them smell faintly of blood and rust. From others, shapes move in the depths, just barely silhouetted by the moonlight. Their movements are strangely stilted.
Since Sieghart chooses to move quickly, they make it to the edge of the forest without incident. The child grips his sleeve a little more tightly.]
You said you wanted to go through here, right? West to the forest? ...Will you take me with you?
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