freeman and freddy

<Antioch|GM> ...
<Antioch|GM> The sound of his cell phone vibrating where he left it next to his bed drags Freddy out of fitful sleep. He's got no idea how long he's been out for and his mouth is dry, but he does, at the very least, feel marginally better rested.
<-> You are now known as Nick|Freddy
<Antioch|GM> His phone clock says 1:45 PM, and the alarm is labeled "SCHEDULED PSYCHIATRIC EVAULATION PRT BUILDING ROOM 307 2:00 PM".
<Antioch|GM> Amidst his other notifications, he also sees he has an email from The Good King. ||
<-> Teruzi is now known as Teruzi|GM
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<-> Fracta is now known as Fractasleep
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy groans softly after stopping the alarm. It almost feels like he never fell asleep, except for the fact that apparently several hours passed, and he has an email and an appointment no one had bothered to tell him about before. He sits up in the bed.
<Nick|Freddy> He wishes he had his clothes here. He's been wearing his current outfit since before the fundraiser, and they aren't exactly in pritine condition after the fight.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy avoids thinking any more about that right now, though. He stands up and checks the email from Blake. ||
<-> Teruzi|GM is now known as Teruzi|Freeman
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<Antioch|GM> "Hey Freddy," the email reads.
<Antioch|GM> "I know you've been having a hard day, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm still in your corner, even if I'm busy trying to sort out things at the hospital and make arrangements today.
<Antioch|GM> I'll be over at the PRT headquarters to smooth whatever paperwork needs smoothing over, but for today, I got Director Mendez's permission for you to attend the memorial service for Khandhas and Absynthesis tonight.
<Antioch|GM> If you want to go, it's at 6 o'clock tonight until 8, and I can have someone pick you up around 45 minutes before then in case of rush hour traffic. Let me know if you're up for it.
<Antioch|GM> I hope you're feeling a little better, and all the best,
<Antioch|GM> Blake King."
<Antioch|GM> ||
<Nick|Freddy> A memorial. So much for not thinking about the fight.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy takes a deep breath. He should go. They saved his life, and Blake's life too. Is Blake going to be at the memorial? The email doesn't say.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy starts typing his response.
<Nick|Freddy> "Hey Blake," he starts. No, too upbeat. He starts over.
<Nick|Freddy> "Blake,
<Nick|Freddy> Thank you for the invitation. I'd like to go.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy."
<Nick|Freddy> He hits send.
<Nick|Freddy> That's not something to look forward to, exactly, but it's something to do later, anyway. He remembers the alarm. Right, psych appointment. Freddy pulls up the map and walks into the Wards common room.
<Nick|Freddy> He wonders if the fact he has an appointment set up means his dad finished the paperwork. Or maybe the psychiatric evaluation is something that can happen before he's officially a member. ||
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<Antioch|GM> It's nice and straightforward -- he only needs to glance briefly at the map to refresh himself on his tour earlier in the morning. Up to the third floor, across the bridge, hang a left and 'round the corner past the medical wing.
<Antioch|GM> The door with the removable nameplate reading "Dr. Richard Freeman III" is slightly ajar, not enough to peek into the room, but it's more an open invitation to come in than a closed one. ||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy knocks twice on the door before pushing it open cautiously. He's nervous enough that he doesn't want to just walk in. ||
<Antioch|GM> ...
<Antioch|GM> The room that greets him is comfortable enough. It's noticeably warmer than the rest of the building, and the ambient temperature lends a bit to the cozy feeling. There's a soft couch or single-person seat for him to take a seat, and it seems like a kettle of boiling water being made into tea is contributing a great deal to the warmth.
<Antioch|GM> There are books on the shelf and a few personal effects on the desk, but not enough to the degree that it feels like the occupant has truly made this room their home.
<Antioch|GM> Sitting in a chair and facing him as he enters is a man who's in his early-to-mid fifties, by Freddy's assumption, perhaps younger than his father by a few years, but still old enough to have the salt-and-pepper hairstyle as his hair unevenly loses its coloration. With his argyle vest and semiformal attire, pretty much everything about the guy screams out
<Antioch|GM> the stereotype of a psychiatrist. ||
<Nick|Freddy> "Hi?" Freddy says. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> ...
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Hello there, er, Frederick is it?" Richard gives the boy a quick once over. Hrm, he seemed polite. Withdrawn. Not surprising given that he had witnessed the death of two people. "Please, come in. Make yourself comfortable."||
<Nick|Freddy> "Freddy," he says.
<Nick|Freddy> He walks in the room. He sits down on the couch.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy doesn't know where to look. He eventually settles on looking at Freeman's knees. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Freddy, huh? Dislike of his name? Or maybe connotations. Richard pays attention to Freddy carefully. He had the feeling that the boy was one of the nervous types.
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<Teruzi|Freeman> "Freddy, then. Sorry about the confusion. Would you like something drink? I got tea. Some water. A couple of other various drinks. I'm afraid I'm out of energy drinks." Richard offers, aware of how the boy avoids his gaze.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I'm Doctor Richard Freeman, by the way. You can Richard if you wish. Or however it's most comfortable for you."||
<Nick|Freddy> "Water's fine," Freddy says. He puts his hands on his lap. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard lets the silence hang in the air for a bit, while he pours Freddy some water. He pushes a tray with some sweets and snacks towards the boy. He doesn't say anything else while he waits to see if Freddy grabs one.||
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<Nick|Freddy> "I'm good, thanks," Freddy says. He's sort of hungry, but this isn't exactly the environment he wants to eat in. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Darn. Richard had hoped he would get to ask Freddy a question while the boy chews. Well, it was best to get right down to it.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You look miserable." Richard comments, casually.||
<-> Faustus is now known as Feastus
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy's vaguely insulted, even though he knows he's probably right. That's not something he expected a psychiatrist to say.
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," he says. "I'm... not great."
<Nick|Freddy> Maybe an understatement. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "It looks like things have been happening one after another." Richard goes on, somewhat pleased he caught Freddy off guard. "Were you just sleeping?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," Freddy says, again. "I didn't even know this was scheduled yet." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Ah, yes. Neither did I." Richard admits. "Director Mendez insisted you and me had a talk. After all, you are Cleveland's newest ward."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard sips from his tea.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Is that official, now?" Freddy asks. "Did my dad come in and do the paperwork?" ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Yes. It's official." Richard continues, intent on shaking Freddy's train of thought again. "I just wish this had happened in a less hectic time for you, but it's something to celebrate, no?"
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard sneakily grabs a snack.||
<Nick|Freddy> "I guess," Freddy says. "Yeah. I'm surprised I'm not more excited." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You almost died recently, Freddy. You are most likely still in shock." Richard is somewhat disappointed. Then again, it was to be expected. Freddy had been through a lot.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "How have you been?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Since last night?" Freddy asks. "Or in general?"
<Nick|Freddy> Not that there's a huge difference between the answers. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Both, I suppose." Richard answers, sipping from his tea again. "Last night is more immediate. I would understand if you didn't want to talk about it. The timing of this evaluation is less than ideal, to say the least."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard had a number of words reserved for Director Mendez.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Is it better to talk about it?" Freddy asks. It seems like Freeman would know. ||
<-> Feastus is now known as Faustus
<Teruzi|Freeman> "For some people, it is. More often than not sharing anxieties and impressions can help." Richard says. "If you think you can't bear to talk about the topic, then it could be approached later."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "My job, ah, requires we talk about something. But it doesn't need to be that." He jokes, somewhat grimly.||
<Nick|Freddy> "I'm... not sure I can focus on talking about something else," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> He managed it with Tara, and almost failed with Annemarie, but something about the atmosphere and situation makes him doubt he can do it here, now.
<Nick|Freddy> He takes a breath.
<Nick|Freddy> "Three people died."
<Nick|Freddy> Absynthesis. Khandhas. Antithesis. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Yes." Richard nods, somberly. "You lived. And so did The Good King."||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm, even as he feels his eyes start to water. He's been crying a lot this past week.
<Nick|Freddy> "But we wouldn't be if they weren't dead," he says. His voice is, impressively, mostly flat. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "That is true, from what I know." Richard nods. "Choices were made that day, Freddy. Several, in fact."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Khandas and Absynthesis, right? They made their choice. You are alive because of it." Richard goes on, keeping his voice even and soft.
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard pulls a box of tissues from below the coffee table, putting them near Freddy. He makes no comment about them, nor does he acknowledge his tears for now.
<Teruzi|Freeman> ||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy sniffs.
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," he says. He knows. That's what he just said, even.
<Nick|Freddy> "Why? The director won't tell me." ||
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<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard opts to deflect. "I don't think I'm being wholly clear. I apologize."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You- How to say this? A sacrifice is a powerful thing." Richard reframes the idea. "A hefty choice. In this case final."
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<Teruzi|Freeman> "It's very hard to really wrap your head around it." He goes on. "And I can understand why you cry. But at the same time, Freddy. You are alive. This is a good thing."
<Nick|Freddy> ...
<Teruzi|Freeman> "There's going to be a funeral later today, correct?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "I know!" Freddy says. "I know I'm alive, and that that's good."
<Nick|Freddy> "That doesn't mean it's good that they're dead!" His tears start to fall. He grabs a tissue and dabs his eyes. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Of course not. If their deaths are anything to go by, the world is lesser two good people." Richard says. He sighs, weary.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You are a ward now, Freddy. I wish I could tell you it won't happen again." Richard says, with complete honesty.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Loss and sacrifice is a part of heroics." Richard continues, his expression grim. "I wish I could tell you otherwise."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "But I can't. I won't lie to you. It would be a disservice to Absynthesis and Khandas."
<Teruzi|Freeman> ||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy sits there for a second in silence. He wipes his face with the tissue and grabs a fresh one.
<Nick|Freddy> Are more people going to die in front of him, for him, at least partially?
<Nick|Freddy> He can't imagine it as anything less than likely.
<Nick|Freddy> "Will it always be this bad?" he asks. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "No." Richard shakes his head. "Did you ever dream about joining the wards? Before getting your powers, I mean. Lots of youngsters do."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "They always fail to capture the highs and lows. It's very hard to explain. Deeper valleys, higher peaks." Richard says with a poetic flourish.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Maybe not so hard after all." He smiles. "There is loss, yes. But there is triumph too. And you're are young. Barely starting out."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "This feeling you have now? The torrent of emotions? You can let them overcome you. Or you can put yourself at the helm." Richard goes on. He was really hankering to read some poetry now. Maybe some Borges.
<Teruzi|Freeman> ||
<-> Lysa|GM2 is now known as Lysa
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," Freddy says. "You're probably right."
<Nick|Freddy> It reminds him of what Blake said. Conviction.
<Nick|Freddy> "I've always wanted to be a Ward. But never like this. I didn't have any idea." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I understand there were some, ah, difficulties with you joining up?" Richard asks, subtly changing the topic.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Uh, yeah," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> How did everyone here know everything? Did they put spy stuff in his new phone? ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You mentioned your father when you came in." Richard mentions. "Something about paperwork?"||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy sniffs again.
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Alright. I sense that's something you don't want to talk about." Richard nods, taking a sip of his tea.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Do you plan to attend the funeral today? The PRT will most likely give you transport."||
<Nick|Freddy> "Blake said he'd send someone," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> "And I can talk about it if you want." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I already made you cry once." Richard comments, taking some notes. Probably something he should have been informed of, if the visit wasn't so bloody rushed.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "We could discuss something more pleasant, if you like."||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy wipes his face again.
<Nick|Freddy> "OK." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Have you given your hero moniker any thought?" Richard says, moving the topic to something amenable. The future.||
<Nick|Freddy> "A-a little," Freddy says. "It's hard to make rats sound heroic. Maybe I'll do something not about my power, like Valiant."
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy still really wants to have a cool name and costume, even if he's not as excited or focused on it as he was. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Okay. Right. So, I've just realized I don't really have a complete handle of your power, Freddy. I thought you made ... illusions of sorts?" Richard says, feeling out of the loop.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Rats," Freddy says, grumpily. ||
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<Teruzi|Freeman> "Just rats?" Richard asks, has he writes 'Rats????' in his notes.||
<Nick|Freddy> "They can look like people," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> He almost wants to make a rat to show Richard, but if he doesn't like his power, should he really be inflicting it on others? ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You should most definitely show me." Richard says. "I'm fairly sure there are no cameras in here."||
<Nick|Freddy> "OK," Freddy says. He starts making a rat that looks like Richard, as close as he can. He has to actually make eye contact to examin Freeman's face. ||
<Antioch|GM> ...
<Antioch|GM> In the shadows, outside of Freeman's line of sight, the shadows begin to shift and solidify, congealing into an indistinct figure.
<Antioch|GM> The process is slow -- he's never had to make one of Freeman before, and it takes a good deal of effort and attention to ensure he gets the details right. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "That's quite interesting." Richard comments, as he sees the shadows take shape. "Are you creating a me-rat? Rat-person? My daughter used to draw some sort of ratsonas. Only, they weren't rats."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I'm not sure why I thought of that." Richard smiles, as he sees his face appear in the office. Groovy.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," Freddy says. "I hope it looks like you, that's what I was trying to do." ||
<Antioch|GM> A face-perfect facsimile of Freeman steps out of the shadows, fully formed and not at all rat-like. Taking smooth, confident strides across the room, he proffers a handshake to his doppelganger.
<Antioch|GM> "How do you do," not-Freeman says, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Would you care for some tea?"
<Antioch|GM> The fake gestures to the teapot that's very certainly not his. ||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy makes a face. "I don't like it. They're always creepy."
<Nick|Freddy> "Go away," he tells the rat psychiatrist. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard almost gives his doppelganger a handshake before he remember it's a rat. "Well, I think he's quite charming."
<Antioch|GM> "Are you sure?" not-Freeman asks Freddy, giving an avuncular chuckle. "The way things are going, you might need two of us to help." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Fascinating. It might have the right of it." Richard comments, highly amused. "I think your power probably draws on your impressions to create the rats."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Might be why you find them creepy. It's just one aspect of a personality without all the details. All the other things that you don't focus on."
<Teruzi|Freeman> He then coughs. "I shouldn't speculate too much. The power testing folks will get cross at me."||
<Nick|Freddy> What? Freddy's deeply unsettled. They're creepy enough when they actually follow his commands. Now he's afraid they're going to start acting against him.
<Nick|Freddy> He's going to have nightmares about this.
<Nick|Freddy> "I said go away," Freddy says, firmly. Masking his fear well, he hopes. ||
<Antioch|GM> "If you insist," not-Freeman says, wandering over into the corner of the room. It's well-lit enough that he doesn't exit line of sight, and both of them are able to see the facsimile just collapse into a swarm of rats that scamper every which way until they're all out of sight. ||
<Nick|Freddy> "The small rats aren't real, I think," Freddy says. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Oh dear.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Oh. Did I just make you start a rat infestation in the building?" Richard inquires, totally keeping his cool and not freaking out at all.||
<Nick|Freddy> "I think they just disappear. I've never seen them after they hide." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You never really see a rat. Well, until you do. They just skitter around, hiding in places. Always avoiding attention." Richard looks at Freddy once more. "Does it usually talk back to you?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "They all talk," he says. "They say dumb things."
<Nick|Freddy> He remembers 'pass the butter' rat and 'I'm a very important business man' Dad-rat. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Well, mine was a gentlerat." Richard says. "Your power freaks you out, then?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," Freddy says. "At least I don't have to drink blood, though."
<Nick|Freddy> Even though Tara conceded the argument, in his mind she definitely won. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Ah, you spoke to Embody. Her power is rather macabre." Richard concedes. "She seems so collected too."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "This is just a thought, Freddy, but it's obvious your impressions affected the outcome of the rat. I haven't seen any of the other rat-people, but I believe you are exerting some sort of unconscious control on their creation."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard thinks on how to phrase it right. "I think you ought to experiment with the rat-people you create. See what behaviors are common in which cases. Might shed some light on why you find them creepy."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "It's not great, being afraid of your own power."||
<Nick|Freddy> "That sounds awful," Freddy says. ||
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<Teruzi|Freeman> "I think we can both agree that it's better than drinking blood." Richard jokes, then turns serious. "Your power will forever be a part of your life. Understanding it is just another step in understanding yourself."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You, ah, do realize you'll be using your power in the future, correct?"||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy glares at Richard. Of course he realizes. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Of course you do. Then you realize that people will turn towards you as the expert on how it functions?" Richard continues, unabashed.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah, I guess," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> He's never thought about that before. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I can see it already. A casanova rat gets loose on the city." Richard jokes. "Wait, what happens if someone touches your rats?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "The only one who's really touched them was Antithesis," Freddy says.
<Nick|Freddy> Don't think about it, he tells himself.
<Nick|Freddy> "And she... sliced them in half and stuff."
<Nick|Freddy> Remembering the rats in the fight, he recalls that some of them hadn't even been disguised as people. He wonders how he made that happen. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard almost points out that Antithesis sliced most things in half, but that would be rather unnecessary.
<Teruzi|Freeman> Instead, he spends a moment studying Freddy. "If you find yourself thinking about it too much, there are things that can distract you."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Singing, for example. You could try to draw it out. Cooking. Vacuuming. I'm not trying to get you interested in chores, honest." Richard says. "I just want to point out that it's easy not to dwell on memories if you are in motion."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard ponders for a moment. "But if need to, sometimes there's value in thinking about it."||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy thinks about it. His hobbies basically were just soccer and capes, and the second wouldn't be helpful. It's not like soccer is something he can just do on a whim, either. He also had computer club, but not with school being out, still.
<Nick|Freddy> None of the examples Richard gives him are super interesting, either.
<Nick|Freddy> "OK," he says. ||
<Antioch|GM> ((RAT SOCCER TEAM!!))
<Nick|Freddy> ((smdh anti))
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Monotony can be a nice break." Richard says. "I know cooking is not very interesting for a boy your age, but it's a good skill to learn now."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Goodness, how many times had Richard said that to his children? Far too many.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Of course, never feel bad about crying." Richard goes on. "Nothing to be ashamed about."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I suppose you can try crying mindfully, but really, sometimes you just need to let things out."||
<Nick|Freddy> What and where is he supposed to learn to cook? If he's living here now, he'll be eating at the cafeteria all the time.
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy nods, not wanting to interupt. ||
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<Teruzi|Freeman> "It's just easy to fall into the trap where you try to stop thinking about things by thinking about them. Fill your time with something else. Try. It will get easier with time. Hopefully." Richard finishes.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Sure," Freddy says. "I'll try." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Don't hesitate to ask for help, either. You're part of a team now." Richard goes on. He's been making notes about Freddy all this time, but he doesn't have enough substance yet.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "How many members are in your family?" He suddenly asks.||
<Nick|Freddy> "I have two brothers and a sister," Freddy says. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Do they know you have powers?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "My big brother does," Freddy says. "I told him yesterday. I don't know if my parents told Clarissa. Samuel's only four." ||
<-> Lysa is now known as Lysa|GM
<Teruzi|Freeman> "How do you get along with your family?" Richard asks. "Generally."||
<Nick|Freddy> "I like Dirk," Freddy says. "And Clarissa," he adds after a short hesitation. ||
<Nick|Freddy> ((Mind if we pause so I can get dinner?))
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Samuel is too young to be anything but annoying, right?" Richard offers.||
<Teruzi|Freeman> ((Oh, uh, I could get dinner too Anti))
<Antioch|GM> ((Go for it! I'll be around all night.))
<Nick|Freddy> ((cool. brb))
<Teruzi|Freeman> ((Also that))
<-> Camtist|GM is now known as Camtist
<-> Divock|Maiden is now known as Divock
<-> soulpelt|GK is now known as soulpelt|
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah, basically," Freddy says. "It's like he's not a full person yet."
<Nick|Freddy> And there's also the fact that his parents spoiled him at a time when Freddy wasn't getting any attention, but Freddy doesn't want to get into that. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> ((Can I empathy that?))
<Antioch|GM> ((Sure. Roll it versus Freddy's Deception.))
<Teruzi|Freeman> $roll 2h6+1 Empathy
<[ATM]> Teruzi|Freeman "Empathy" [5] (3) +1 = 6
<Nick|Freddy> $roll 1d6-1 Deception
<[ATM]> Nick|Freddy "Deception" [1] -1 = 0
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I get the distinct feeling you resent your brother." Richard mentions, lightly. "But he's far too young to have done you any wrong."
<Teruzi|Freeman> He lets that hang in the air for a moment. "Other than being born."||
<Nick|Freddy> "He's adopted," Freddy says, ignoring the point. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Touchy subject. "Ah. My youngest is adopted as well."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard almost asks if it's because of and Endbringer. But did it really matter?
<Teruzi|Freeman> "How would you describe the relationship between you and your parents?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Screwed up," Freddy says. "I, uh, ran away from home. Twice." For opposite reasons, but he's sure that Richard will ask him for clarification later.
<Nick|Freddy> It's almost easy to talk about, contrasted with what happened last night. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Oh." Richard says, not hiding his surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't take you for the type."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Did he trigger after running away? Or before?
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I would like to know what happened that made you want to run away, if you feel like you can talk about it." Richard inquires.||
<-> Divock is now known as Divock|Loogie
<-> JustLurking is now known as Lurks|GM
<Nick|Freddy> "The first time, it was because my parents were ignoring me. I thought I should run away to show them not to take me for granted, I guess. It was dumb. It didn't work. They basically didn't care."
<Nick|Freddy> This part's not easy to tell. Freddy's embarrassed as he remembers pounding on the door, crying, yelling, knowing someone was inside. He remembers giving up, curling up on the doormat. The rat coming up to him. And then, finally, the door opening. The shock his mom had, seeing the rat. Being pulled inside, away. And the ensuing two weeks of constant attention. Bars on the windows. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "That's-" Richard scowls. Some people should never had children.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I'm sorry." He says, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, Freddy."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I believe you ran away the second time after you, ah, had acquired your powers, correct?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah. I think I told the director about that one. I was trying to come here." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Mhm." Richard checks his poorly prepared notes. At most one day to prepare for the visit. Honestly! Director Mendez really wanted to squeeze value out of his visit.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Do you plan to go back to them?" Richard asks, neutrally.||
<Nick|Freddy> "I'm living here," Freddy says, with a measure of steel. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I can't blame you." Richard says, with a degree of finality. "What about your siblings?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "Only Samuel's still living with them. Clarissa's at Cleveland State, Dirk has an apartment with some friends in town. And I'm here." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "A new beginning of sorts?" Richard asks, as he writes down some more annotations.||
<Nick|Freddy> "For me?" Freddy asks. Maybe it could be. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Why not? You've quite literally received a fresh lease on life." Richard nods. "It might take a while to sink in, but you did it."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You're away from them."||
<Antioch|GM> (("I'm a big guy," Freeman says. "For me?" Freddy asks.))
--> Lexicon (uid137968@highgate.irccloud.com) has joined #WDCleveland
<Nick|Freddy> "Maybe," Freddy says. "I'll still be at my same school, but yeah, everything else is different." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Do you feel different?" Richard inquires, curious.||
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah," Freddy says. Especially after last night. His whole worldview seems different. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard smiles wryly. "Take some time to make sense of what you want to do in the log term. The wards are glad to have you, but that's not necessarily all you can be."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard looks at the clock. "Of course, you should know you -are- wanted."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "And I think you'll fit right in with the wards. Try befriending them. You're all in this together."||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy sighs. "Yeah. I met Ta-Embody earlier. And I know Lumina from computer club." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Small world. Hrm. Something to consider.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "I think you'll get along well with everyone. Do pay Ripcord some mind. Then again, so does Fleetfoot." Richard trails off, thinking.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you have any questions for me?"||
<Nick|Freddy> "What do you mean about Ripcord and Fleetfoot?" Freddy asks. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> "They strike me as shy." Richard shrugs. "And you strike me as somewhat more mature. Couldn't hurt to ask."
<Teruzi|Freeman> They were a trio of dorky kids, more like. But that would be impolite to say.||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy's own image of himself is so far from mature that he doesn't believe Richard. But he doesn't question it.
<Nick|Freddy> "OK," he says, instead. ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard smiles. "I didn't say you were mature, Freddy."
<Teruzi|Freeman> "But you're going to be forced to grow up awfully fast to adjust. I think you realize that."
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard looks at Freddy with a practice poker face. Placid. Unthreatening.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "You already know there's a clear cut before and after."||
<Nick|Freddy> Before. Yesterday.
<Nick|Freddy> After. Today.
<Nick|Freddy> "Yeah." ||
<Teruzi|Freeman> Richard nods, pulling out some forms and questionnaires. "Alright, I'll need you to fill some of this things. If you are unsure of something you can just ask me about it."||
<Nick|Freddy> "OK," Freddy says, taking the papers.
<Nick|Freddy> "Do you have a pen." ||
<Nick|Freddy> ((?*))
<Teruzi|Freeman> Couldn't he make a rat-pen? Well, maybe that was unsanitary.
<Teruzi|Freeman> "Yes, Freddy- Here."||
<Nick|Freddy> Freddy takes the pen and fills out the forms. He asks a few questions for clarification, but finishes pretty quickly. ||
<Antioch|GM> |||