[czeslaw has been serving as an extra set of hands around the clinic - it seemed wise to get himself somewhere "safe" and stay there, and the tasks around the clinic aren't that bad. fold linens, organize supplies, and make deliveries.
such as the tray he's delivering to scott's bedside now. it's a simple meal - bowl of soup and a glass of water - but it does smell good. seeing that scott appears to be sleeping, and wary of the bird, czeslaw approaches the bedside with caution and without speaking. he carefully slides the tray onto the table beside scott's bed, eyeing the bird all the while. he'll sneak away now...unless scott stops him, of course.]
[Phoenix seems to narrow her eyes at the young boy, but luckily doesn't appear aggressive otherwise. The fact that Czeslaw is bringing food and obviously is trying to help her host, calms the fiery bird. She makes a small noise from the base of her throat, as if to alert Scott, before flapping to the end of the bed while still keeping watch. She will attack if needed!!
But with that fuss happening, as quiet and minor as it was, there's an audible sigh from Scott before he turns around in his bed to face Czeslaw. He's definitely beaten up, bandages wrapped around his upper body and he looks to be in pain. Along with quiet, solemn. Probably a far cry from the bright teen that welcomed the young immortal in his dream.]
...You're Czeslaw, right? [There's at least recognition from Scott, the mutant speaking quietly as he takes in the boy.]
[czeslaw tracks the bird's movement with his head, wondering if it is even safe to retreat - gosh he hates dealing with the various weird creatures around this place - but he's distracted from that by scott addressing him. getting a good look at him, czeslaw seems a little surprised. maybe he hadn't realized until now that all of his dreams that long night weren't just dreams after all.]
That's right. [he sounds just as young and delicate as he did in the dream.] And you're Scott, right?
[Maybe any other time, if he wasn't beaten up and recovering in the clinic, Scott would've smiled. He would've made some sort of snarky and cocky comment, with his mouth twisting into an easy smirk, but he can't muster up any kind of energy to even attempt something like that. It's just really been a shit day.
The mutant at least eyes the soup on the table, something softening in him at the gesture. He's not feeling especially hungry, even though he probably should eat. He can't remember the last time he had a meal at this point.
Still, his eyes draw back to Czeslaw, nodding a little to his question.]
Yeah. [...] Sorry, I probably look really different compared to last time.
[Sort of. That's what he wanted to do when he teamed up with Kotone. Them pairing up together is almost instinctual at this point, expected. Even though he has the X-Men here and he trusts them with his life, he often goes off with her to fight whatever recent shit is going on. It's just this time, she was the one that was affected, transformed into something else. And then...
Scott breathes out, only mildly flinching when he feels his bruised body shift with such a noise.]
...You've been helping at the clinic this entire time? [Scott suddenly asks, as if trying to pull himself away from those thoughts.]
Yeah! Well, I was wandering around kind of lost, and Ms. Ethelyn found me and offered me shelter here. The least I could do was help out in return.
[he answers chattily, sensing that there's something there scott would rather not get into. well, that's fair enough, he is in the clinic covered in bandages. obviously something less than ideal happened out in the field.]
[Ethelyn found him? That makes sense, given her connection to the clinic and how she's always trying her best to get people to safety. He's glad that she managed to find the kid before something got to him.
...And yeah, he knows about his healing factor, assuming that what happened in the dream was real, but that doesn't mean it's okay if he's hurt.]
Good. [Scott nods, eventually answering in a quieter, if less upset tone. This is something that he's actually glad to hear about, trying to focus on this instead of the events that led him here.] I'm sure she's been appreciating all the help you've been providing.
[And as if showing that he's accepted his help, Scott takes the tray from the table and secures it over his lap, so he can start eating the soup he gave him.]
[Mmm, soup is good. Thanks. Doesn't quite instantly heal everything, but it does warm his stomach and further helps with his mood.]
You're like ten years old.
[Although, why is a ten-year-old in this place in the first place? Well, probably Jerry and the AI or whatever up to its usual bullshit. The simulation's done that before, hell, his current 'crime' isn't even something that he actually did. It's kind of all crap to him.
But it's kind of sobering to hear Czeslaw admit the stuff about violence. Sure, he was kidnapped and brought to this place, but. It sucks still. Didn't he mention that he was used to it too?]
...Yeah, it can be this way. [No point saying otherwise. It wouldn't help anyway.] This place tends to be creative about it too.
You should be watching Saturday morning cartoons, not worrying about being useful.
[Yeah, not many kids around, although they shouldn't be brought to a place to be punished for a crime in the first place. He's including Czeslaw in that description because what the fuck. He doesn't have the full energy to get mad right now, especially since his hand still shakes a little while trying to eat, but it's not something he's just going to forget either.
He's just a little distracted by thoughts of the Black Beast. His girlfriend transforming into a monster. Those kind of things.]
...Wonder what? [Okay, what is the kid trying to say?] You might as well spit it out now that you brought it up.
[czeslaw rubs the back of his head, now feeling quite the idiot. why had he brought this up in the first place? well, like scott said, might as well spit it out.]
Um...it just makes you wonder if this could be some kind of...I don't know, purgatory or something. Somewhere bad people go.
[a beat.]
Not that I think you're a bad person! It was a stupid thought.
Do you think we're all dead? [Which is sort of a grim thought, but Scott is pretty sure that isn't the case. Unless a meteor just came out of nowhere and nuked the whole school, then he was just brought here. Again.
But more importantly...
Scott temporarily stops eating, spoon placed back down on the tray as he levels a look that is both serious and maybe just a little piercing. Not unfriendly, but maybe just a little uncomfortable combined with his visor.] Do you think you're a bad person, Czeslaw?
[he says immediately in response to the first question. he knows he can't die. but when the second question comes firing after, he seems startled, then a little guilty, then tries to cover his feelings with a smile. he does look away from that piercing gaze, though.]
Well, I have apparently been convicted of a crime.
[was his voice a little more high-pitched than usual there?]
He wonders what a kid could've possible done, how much of it is bullshit but how much is it true. Scott continues to watch Czeslaw and the way he looks away from him, clearly showing some guilt about what happened. The shift in his voice only adds to it. The mutant remains quiet for a couple of seconds, as if letting that silence build, before he speaks.
There still isn't judgment in his voice, but he's definitely pressing him.]
[czeslaw wasn't expecting that question - in fact, it startles him, making him jerk a little in surprise. it was so unexpected that a ready lie doesn't come to him. stupid, he should have thought of this possibility as soon as he arrived.]
It, ah, it doesn't...
[he looks back at scott, finally, and firms up his voice.]
[So, his crime is probably true on some level. He probably wouldn't be acting like this otherwise, right? There's definitely acknowledgement that whatever it says on his parchment actually happened. Scott stays silent, still keeping his focus on him but remaining patient. Even with the difficulty of this conversation, he still finds it better than talking about the crap that happened to him.
Yeah, bothering others about their problems instead of his own. A sure fire tactic.]
You don't have to tell me. [...] But just want to give you a heads up, because this place might sentence you over it at some point. And it's usually really hard to face it alone.
[Yeah, guess that confirms it: no one has told Czeslaw about the whole sentencing ordeal. It sucks that he has to be the one to tell a kid about all this, but there's no turning back now. He doesn't want to backtrack anyway, because it's important that he knows about it. Having Jerry show up at your house without warning? Yeah. Awful.
Doesn't mean that Scott won't sigh, his eyes turning back to his now lukewarm soup. He should start eating more, but in a moment. Or two.]
No, there's a separate sentencing thing that happens. Jerry... or whomever, usually takes you to city hall-- courthouse, and it's there you're actually sentenced for the crime that's on the parchment. [He doesn't look grim, more like all of this is a pain. He doesn't believe in the stupid system.] People usually end up having to do some sort of task to repent for it.
[he sounds very small. for something as serious as his own crime, he would expect something crazy like jail or even death as a punishment. not that he can really die, but say someone decided to take that as a challenge...he shudders at the thought.]
['That's all?' Heh, when Czeslaw puts it like that, the whole sentencing thing does feel kind of mundane. He hasn't seen anyone get sent to some torture rack or get killed for their crime; it's always working on the actual crime itself. Guess it's the whole seeing the 'error' of their ways. It would actually be kind of nice if they weren't kidnapped here in the first place, not to mention that some of the crimes are bullshit.
Still... it's clear that Czeslaw's crime isn't fake, even if he doesn't know what it is.]
Yeah, usually it forces us to reflect on our crime and talk it through with others. Then we report back to Jerry or whomever. [...] Although, if you don't complete that task, you get punished in some way.
[Scott slowly exhales hearing that. Yeah, sometimes it can be hard dealing with all the crap that happens here. Most of the time, he thinks he's been handling it, mostly because of his friends and girlfriend that's with him. He hasn't forgotten, however, just how hard it was when he first arrived in Aldrip.
Back when it was just a small village.]
It's hard. [He acknowledges, but it's not what he wants to just leave the conversation on.] But there's good things too. I made a lot of friends here. Learned a lot.
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expiationlogs2025-03-11 10:18 am
atomize me captain
such as the tray he's delivering to scott's bedside now. it's a simple meal - bowl of soup and a glass of water - but it does smell good. seeing that scott appears to be sleeping, and wary of the bird, czeslaw approaches the bedside with caution and without speaking. he carefully slides the tray onto the table beside scott's bed, eyeing the bird all the while. he'll sneak away now...unless scott stops him, of course.]
no subject
But with that fuss happening, as quiet and minor as it was, there's an audible sigh from Scott before he turns around in his bed to face Czeslaw. He's definitely beaten up, bandages wrapped around his upper body and he looks to be in pain. Along with quiet, solemn. Probably a far cry from the bright teen that welcomed the young immortal in his dream.]
...You're Czeslaw, right? [There's at least recognition from Scott, the mutant speaking quietly as he takes in the boy.]
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That's right. [he sounds just as young and delicate as he did in the dream.] And you're Scott, right?
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The mutant at least eyes the soup on the table, something softening in him at the gesture. He's not feeling especially hungry, even though he probably should eat. He can't remember the last time he had a meal at this point.
Still, his eyes draw back to Czeslaw, nodding a little to his question.]
Yeah. [...] Sorry, I probably look really different compared to last time.
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You've been fighting. Protecting people, right?
[he definitely remembers scott having a "protecting people" thing. even in the toothless dream land.]
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[Sort of. That's what he wanted to do when he teamed up with Kotone. Them pairing up together is almost instinctual at this point, expected. Even though he has the X-Men here and he trusts them with his life, he often goes off with her to fight whatever recent shit is going on. It's just this time, she was the one that was affected, transformed into something else. And then...
Scott breathes out, only mildly flinching when he feels his bruised body shift with such a noise.]
...You've been helping at the clinic this entire time? [Scott suddenly asks, as if trying to pull himself away from those thoughts.]
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[he answers chattily, sensing that there's something there scott would rather not get into. well, that's fair enough, he is in the clinic covered in bandages. obviously something less than ideal happened out in the field.]
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...And yeah, he knows about his healing factor, assuming that what happened in the dream was real, but that doesn't mean it's okay if he's hurt.]
Good. [Scott nods, eventually answering in a quieter, if less upset tone. This is something that he's actually glad to hear about, trying to focus on this instead of the events that led him here.] I'm sure she's been appreciating all the help you've been providing.
[And as if showing that he's accepted his help, Scott takes the tray from the table and secures it over his lap, so he can start eating the soup he gave him.]
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Oh, it's not much. Just trying not to be a burden during these trying times, you know?
[it would be pretty lousy of him to do nothing while everyone else is fighting and getting hurt, after all.]
When I first got here, I didn't think there would be so much...violence.
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You're like ten years old.
[Although, why is a ten-year-old in this place in the first place? Well, probably Jerry and the AI or whatever up to its usual bullshit. The simulation's done that before, hell, his current 'crime' isn't even something that he actually did. It's kind of all crap to him.
But it's kind of sobering to hear Czeslaw admit the stuff about violence. Sure, he was kidnapped and brought to this place, but. It sucks still. Didn't he mention that he was used to it too?]
...Yeah, it can be this way. [No point saying otherwise. It wouldn't help anyway.] This place tends to be creative about it too.
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[since he kind of needs protecting and all.]
The "creative" part is what has me worried. I know the leading theory is that it's all a simulation, but do you ever wonder...
[he hesitates, realizing he's getting into kind of dark territory. scott probably doesn't need that right now.]
Um, never mind. Just a stray thought.
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[Yeah, not many kids around, although they shouldn't be brought to a place to be punished for a crime in the first place. He's including Czeslaw in that description because what the fuck. He doesn't have the full energy to get mad right now, especially since his hand still shakes a little while trying to eat, but it's not something he's just going to forget either.
He's just a little distracted by thoughts of the Black Beast. His girlfriend transforming into a monster. Those kind of things.]
...Wonder what? [Okay, what is the kid trying to say?] You might as well spit it out now that you brought it up.
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Um...it just makes you wonder if this could be some kind of...I don't know, purgatory or something. Somewhere bad people go.
[a beat.]
Not that I think you're a bad person! It was a stupid thought.
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Do you think we're all dead? [Which is sort of a grim thought, but Scott is pretty sure that isn't the case. Unless a meteor just came out of nowhere and nuked the whole school, then he was just brought here. Again.
But more importantly...
Scott temporarily stops eating, spoon placed back down on the tray as he levels a look that is both serious and maybe just a little piercing. Not unfriendly, but maybe just a little uncomfortable combined with his visor.] Do you think you're a bad person, Czeslaw?
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[he says immediately in response to the first question. he knows he can't die. but when the second question comes firing after, he seems startled, then a little guilty, then tries to cover his feelings with a smile. he does look away from that piercing gaze, though.]
Well, I have apparently been convicted of a crime.
[was his voice a little more high-pitched than usual there?]
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He wonders what a kid could've possible done, how much of it is bullshit but how much is it true. Scott continues to watch Czeslaw and the way he looks away from him, clearly showing some guilt about what happened. The shift in his voice only adds to it. The mutant remains quiet for a couple of seconds, as if letting that silence build, before he speaks.
There still isn't judgment in his voice, but he's definitely pressing him.]
What did it say?
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It, ah, it doesn't...
[he looks back at scott, finally, and firms up his voice.]
I don't want to talk about it.
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Yeah, bothering others about their problems instead of his own. A sure fire tactic.]
You don't have to tell me. [...] But just want to give you a heads up, because this place might sentence you over it at some point. And it's usually really hard to face it alone.
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I thought being here counted as being sentenced.
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Doesn't mean that Scott won't sigh, his eyes turning back to his now lukewarm soup. He should start eating more, but in a moment. Or two.]
No, there's a separate sentencing thing that happens. Jerry... or whomever, usually takes you to city hall-- courthouse, and it's there you're actually sentenced for the crime that's on the parchment. [He doesn't look grim, more like all of this is a pain. He doesn't believe in the stupid system.] People usually end up having to do some sort of task to repent for it.
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[he sounds very small. for something as serious as his own crime, he would expect something crazy like jail or even death as a punishment. not that he can really die, but say someone decided to take that as a challenge...he shudders at the thought.]
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Still... it's clear that Czeslaw's crime isn't fake, even if he doesn't know what it is.]
Yeah, usually it forces us to reflect on our crime and talk it through with others. Then we report back to Jerry or whomever. [...] Although, if you don't complete that task, you get punished in some way.
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[there's a lot of trauma tied up in his crime. he doesn't relish the idea of having to talk it out with someone.]
Getting stuck here...it's hard to come up with positives, you know?
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Back when it was just a small village.]
It's hard. [He acknowledges, but it's not what he wants to just leave the conversation on.] But there's good things too. I made a lot of friends here. Learned a lot.
[Grew up in a lot of ways.]