video;

[sidecar]

[The video opens on a three-year-old Lloyd Irving, peering curiously at the tablet with a "What's that thing?" before Kotetsu turns the camera back around to himself.]

Anyone recognize this kid? He says his name's Lloyd, and he knows someone named uh...Noishe?

[Yeah, that's all he's got and he's probably butchering the pronunciation, but there's only so much info you can get out of a toddler, okay.]

I found him wandering around the Hold by himself, so if there's anybody here from his world it'd be a big help to hear from them.

Comments

[sidecar]

You got it!

[Kotetsu perks up, not about to argue, except--. Well. There is one more tiny thing. Please don't kill him.]

You have an umbrella, right?

[ex_lecturing315]

( WITHERING LOOK.

he probably does but he doesn't know which is his and which is someone else's and he doesn't want to steal an umbrella god. )

I'll be fine.

[sidecar]

Are you sure? The weather here gets pretty bad sometimes!

[He's bringing one along, of course, but that's not going to be enough for both of them if the rain gets too strong.]

[ex_lecturing315]

I said I'll be fine.

( closes door and pushes past him into the hallway, hands stuffed into his pockets. )

[sidecar]

[Kotetsu grumbles something under his breath about stubborn teenagers, but really has no choice but to follow along. How many arguments has he lost to this kid already?]

Don't start complaining if you get soaked.

[Except he's already resolved to find Barnaby a raincoat that isn't several sizes too big.]

[ex_lecturing315]

( he goes to the elevator and presses the down button without looking at kotetsu. )

I won't.

[sidecar]

[Weeeeeell this is awkward. And awkwardness makes him fidgety, so he starts shuffling around and tapping his foot and generally being an annoyance.]

So what have you been up to? Still learning things from the people who knew you before?

[ex_lecturing315]

( the elevator dings pretty quickly luckily, and the doors open for them to go inside. )

It doesn't really count as knowing me if it's not me. Or - whatever. Even who I'm supposedly going to be isn't the same as me.

[sidecar]

[Easier to say than it is to really believe, but Kotetsu nods along anyway as he steps into the elevator and hits the button for the ground floor.]

It's still gotta be weird, though.

[He sighs and leans against the wall as the elevator makes its descent. Get to the point already.]

I'm sorry if I threw too much at you at once.

[ex_lecturing315]

( he still avoids looking at kotetsu, keeping his gaze on one of the empty walls or floor. )

It's fine. It doesn't matter.

[sidecar]

[Then he'll miss the frown Kotetsu gives him in response. Of course it matters, but he's trying to approach more carefully this time and that's never been his strong suit.]

Don't just say things like that.

It's your future, so I'll leave it up to you to decide how much you wanna know, alright?

[ex_lecturing315]

( he keeps looking stubbornly away, hands curling into fists )

I don't want to know anything from you.

[sidecar]

[He almost flinches, and there's an immediate urge to argue, to insist that he's Barnaby's partner, that he only wants to help, but... none of that is going to do any good this time, is it?

As much as Barnaby's trying to act otherwise, right now he's just a scared kid and Kotetsu's already gotten so tripped up in how to handle him that he's made the situation worse.]

...Okay. That's fine too. We can just talk about what's going on now.

[ex_lecturing315]

( there's something in the set to his shoulders that only gets stiffer, but the elevator dings again and the doors slide open. he goes ahead and gets out into the lobby without answering kotetsu, but he does also wait for him rather than make his way outside alone. )

[sidecar]

[Left to fill the silence himself, Kotetsu slides into a light-hearted tone as if he's already shaken off the fact that Barnaby won't so much as look at him.]

Like how much we have to do today! Let's see...

[He pauses briefly outside the doors as they exit the building, counting the items off on his fingers with exaggerated consideration.]

You need clothes, and you guys probably don't have a lot of food in your apartment... Hm, anything else?

[ex_lecturing315]

( he stops when kotetsu does, keeping pace with him. he looks down again, but with purpose this time, at his black shoes that have been getting pretty wet whenever he goes out. his mouth twists, and after a moment, he admits: )

Rain boots.

[sidecar]

Rain boots!

[He hadn't actually thought about Barnaby's shoes not fitting either; there's really a lot that he's going to need to get settled.

Kotetsu nods and starts leading him in the direction of the nearest stores. The truth of the matter is that he has no idea where his partner actually liked to shop--why would he have ever asked? He does know a few places that Barnaby hated and refused to go in, though, so having clues about what to avoid will have to be his guide. Or so he hopes. He probably should have asked someone else for advice about this.]

Like I said, this place isn't really a normal city so you can't expect too much.

oh my god i thought i tagged this

[ex_lecturing315]

( barnaby follows him, relaxing a little to be out of kotetsu's direct line of sight finally. he glances around at the shops as they walk - none of the sternbild glitz glamour that can be found especially in the silver and gold stages. it doesn't really bother him though, so he shrugs. )

It's better than stuff that doesn't fit.