first page ❁ hello castle

[bearcub]

[There's a young man standing in the lobby, looking rather confused. He appears to be wearing deerskin clothing and a knitted poncho, and there are a couple of pouches and a large knife attached to his belt.

The teen's hair is a mess, gray in color and rough, like it has never seen a comb. Little blue beads are visible here and there in the dreads-like strands, and he has a black cloth sash tied around his head, covering one eye.

His other eye is also gray, and seems to be slightly unfocused as he's looking around the room. He appears lost and confused, his journal forgotten on a nearby table.]

Comments

[punk_cute]

[Well, Kanji's not about to let someone all lost and confused pass him by without help (or him pass them by, but details.]

Hey. You lookin' for something?

[bearcub]

[It takes him a moment to react, and then the boy simply shakes his head.]

[punk_cute]

Quiet guy, huh? Okay, lemme ask another. Did you just get here?

[bearcub]

[The teen looks around again, and then shrugs. He didn't quite know, but it didn't seem familiar.]

[punk_cute]

[He's amused but he sighs heavily. Reading body language is hard, but if the guy doesn't talk, he won't try to force the issue.]

Want me to show you around, man?

[bearcub]

[Show him around. Perhaps that was a good idea, but Senri had a nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something again.]

...okay.

[punk_cute]

This way! I'll show you the kitchen first, then the dining room. 'Cause a guy needs to eat!

[And the kitchen is indeed where he's heading towards.]

You got a name, man? I'm Kanji!

[bearcub]

[Food was at least something that interested the teen, and he only hesitates for a moment before following along.

He's quiet for a long time, until he crosses that line where it seems like had not even heard what Kanji had said. Then, softly:]

Senri.

[punk_cute]

Nice to meet you. And here's the kitchen. You can ask the dudes to make you things or cook yourself.

[He continues on, prattling about all the things that are available.]

[bearcub]

[Senri stopped listening somewhere around there, focusing on calmly exploring the kitchen. Opening a cupboard, he stares.

...and stares.

Why was everything in weird bags?]

[punk_cute]

[He doesn't see what's upsetting.]

Hey, what's wrong? See something you don't like?

[bearcub]

[He picks out a box of cereal and looks inside it. It smelled good, at least? Curious, he takes a handful and eats it.]

[punk_cute]

[He takes a look at Senri again and, oh, right. This guy probably doesn't have those things, if he's dressed like that.]

I get it. You don't recognize all this stuff. That's cereal. You usually have it in a bowl with milk.

[bearcub]

[It was pretty good, and it makes the teen brighten up a little.]

[punk_cute]

Tasty isn't it? Better in milk though, so do you wanna have a bowl?

[bearcub]

[In milk? That might work.

Senri nods just a bit.]

[punk_cute]

[So he goes and pulls out a bowl and puts some cereal and milk in before handing it and a spoon to Senri.]

There's usually milk in the fridge, and the bowls are there, and the spoons over there.

[He points things out again, just in case Senri missed them the first time.]

[bearcub]

[He takes the bowl and the spoon, staring at it. The cereal thing had tasted pretty nice, but it seemed to become soggy in the milk.

...yes, he'll stand here and watch the bowl for a while.]

[punk_cute]

Uh, you should eat it before it gets all soggy and shit...

[bearcub]

Ah...

[He obediently starts eating.]

[punk_cute]

[He'll get himself a glass of water, since he doesn't want to disturb the snack and sip it while he waits for Senri to finish.]

[bearcub]

[He eats fairly slowly, deciding that he liked the meal enough to savor it. When he's finally finished, he picks up the bowl.

Where was the nearest well?]

[punk_cute]

You wanna wash it? This way.

[And he shows Senri the sink and how to turn the water on, figuring that it couldn't hurt.]

Here. And the soap for washing dishes is that bottle there.

[bearcub]

[Having a well inside was amazing to the teen, and he turns on and off the water several times.

The soap, however, smelled more like chemicals than the soap he was used to, so he frowns.]

[punk_cute]

Cool isn't it?

[He doesn't know what to make of the frowning at the soap though.]

It's dishsoap. I guess you don't have it where you're from or something?