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taxonomites2011-06-21 11:42 am
honoraryhobo.livejournal.com) wrote in taxonomites2011-06-21 11:42 am
[accidental visual | location: twelfth floor] trust our deepest secrets to the artificial lake
The sun's scrambled high into the sky like a sure-footed kid climbing a tree—it's the itch under his collar and the sweat on his palms. He raises the hoe and swings it down into dry earth, sending up a puff of dust. There's always one weed left. Sun's baleful glare on his back, he drives the blade in again. He hears himself grunt (it sounds more like a squeal, like he's gonna cry) as if from far away.
He must close his eyes because the next thing he knows his hands are empty—slick with sweat and streaked with dirt but empty. He wipes them on his pants and looks up.
His eyes go wide. His arms prickle with goosebumps; he hugs himself against the sudden cold. He takes a step back, then another—it's a white room with a bed and the covers are rumpled. Maybe he should see if they're warm but he takes another step back and stumbles over a bottle. A gasp snags on something before it can escape his throat. He freezes, goes rigid. Listens with all his might.
The tablet switches on to show a dark-haired boy in clothes—a grimy shirt, suspenders, brown pants—that are worn but not ratty stooping to carefully right a whisky bottle.
He must close his eyes because the next thing he knows his hands are empty—slick with sweat and streaked with dirt but empty. He wipes them on his pants and looks up.
His eyes go wide. His arms prickle with goosebumps; he hugs himself against the sudden cold. He takes a step back, then another—it's a white room with a bed and the covers are rumpled. Maybe he should see if they're warm but he takes another step back and stumbles over a bottle. A gasp snags on something before it can escape his throat. He freezes, goes rigid. Listens with all his might.
The tablet switches on to show a dark-haired boy in clothes—a grimy shirt, suspenders, brown pants—that are worn but not ratty stooping to carefully right a whisky bottle.
[visual]
For a long minute he studies Kaylee's surroundings--now that he's glimpsed the room he can spot bits of machinery in the background, tools whose purposes are a mystery. "Where's your home?"
[ visual ]
Don's room. Kaylee's brow furrows a bit. Somehow the kid's landed himself in Don's room, and she can't find Don anywhere on the map. Oh boy. "Here, though, I normally live a few blocks away from where we are right now. What about you?"
[visual]
"Illinois."
Something's bothering her.
Re: [visual]
She doesn't realize until after she's said it that the question might sound a little odd to the poor kid. Things are clicking in her mind, though, and she finally looks back to Dick with a soft smile on her face. "Well, Earth'd make the most sense, wouldn't it? Does for most people. Bit scatterbrained sometimes, sorry 'bout that."
[visual]
It's easier to distract himself with lesser puzzles.
[ visual ]
He’s got an interest in the contents of her room, that much is clear. Kaylee shifts the tablet a little to give him a better look around. Isn’t like she’s got anything in there that needs hiding anyhow. “Can you tell me what year it is? Back home, I mean.”