Kid Rebel Mink

roy--walters‌:

[Roy chuckles a bit.] I know, I’ve um… I’ve looked for it since we talked about it, too. I guess just one day, someone returned it? It was just sitting on one of the back shelves. Maybe the universe was just being nice to me. [He doubts that. Jut a fun coincidence. There was something rumbling in the back of his mind. He ignores it for now. At least while he still can. God please he just wanted to have a normal conversation with him.] Yeah, it’s pretty damn good. Haven’t gotten that far into it yet, but… yeah it’s good. [He says with a smile. he pats the seat next to him.] You can read it with me. Or I can give it to you when I’m done. Whatever’s easier. And, um, you don’t have to sit if you’ve got like, other things in mind. Just um, you can if you want. 

[He wants to be friends with Mink. He wants to be able to hang out with him like things are normal. And right now he thinks he can manage that. But the Reaper’s been quiet in past conversations. He wonders why, but he doesn’t want to look this gift horse in the mouth. He just wants to enjoy this normal time he can have with mink before something changes in his own head that tells him he needs to stop.] So how have you been? Anything, um, anything new with you?

Same! I’ve also looked for an audio-book version and even an e-book! But it seems like the gods favor you more than they favor me. Or you have better karma, whatever it might be, you’ve just become my favorite person. [Mink said, and as he said it, he remembered that Roy was already his favorite person, and he quickly gave himself a fist in the gut before he could start blushing.] Whomever that someone was, who kept it from us for so long, I hope we meet them one day, make sure they don’t hog the second and third books either! 

[How can someone be so cute and so hot at the same time? Mink wondered as Roy patted the seat beside him and so charmingly asked him to sit down next to him. AND READ IT TOGETHER? This was a dream come true, luckily Roy wasn’t an Empath, or he would not know how to deal with the feelings Mink emitted.] Oh gods, shhh! Of course I want to read it together! [There was nothing he wanted more in the world.] That’s like... one of my favorite things, reading books or comic books with other people. [With you, mostly.] How far did you get? 

mitch--douglas‌:

Ohh… mm. [[ Mitch nods in agreement, shifting in the chair so he can lean back and fold his arms over his chest, nodding solemnly a second time. ]] This is actually a tougher choice – you’re right, before national healthcare, or I guess it wouldn’t be a question at all.

[[ Rubbing a couple of fingertips along the stubbled edge of his jaw, Mitch starts to smile. ]] Obviously, as a Hufflepuff, I think it’s their problem and I don’t give a– [[ Nope, he can’t even say it jokingly, dissolving into laughter and running the same hand over his face instead. ]] I won’t even try to joke about that, it’s never going to fool anyone. Mm.

[[ It’s also funny to him how these questions are highlighting his own naïveté. ‘You don’t help thieves’ – Mitch would, apparently, for such an act of desperation. He sighs out a breath and shrugs helplessly, smiling. ]] Four, I’d give them the money. I can’t imagine trying to tell someone my bike is more important than their sick mother’s life. I’m not, however, going to be trying to nurse anyone back to health – I wouldn’t be much better at that than I would be helping to repair a car over the phone in a horror movie.

It’s tougher because this question at least doesn’t have half ass-hole questions, meaning you actually have to think about it! [Mink offered, nodding as they filled in Mitch’s answer in the quiz. So far, that seemed like less of a Hufflepuff answer, so maybe Mitch would end up being a Griffindor or a Ravenclaw from the looks of it. Though they still had their money on Hufflepuff.]

That, and it would’ve been a horrible joke. But you saved your reputation just yet. I’m just going to pretend you never even tried to make that joke, and move on to the next question: A friend of yours tells you that there is some really cool stuff in an old abandoned building. When you get there you see a sign that "Danger: Do not enter!", but the building doesn't look dangerous. There is nobody around to see you, and your friend wants to check it out.

This is my kind of friend, obviously. I could probably be the friend trying to coax you into following me into that building. THINK OF ALL THE GHOST WE COULD SEE, TEACH!? 

kip-whitmer‌:

[Mink relaxes a little; enough that Kip can let out a breath. They’ve both been waiting for this to go downhill, apparently. He’s still not a hundred per cent sure, because the air between them feels wary still, but he thinks that maybe this won’t end in an argument.

He’s glad for that. Kip hates the idea of fighting with other Infected people, because it feels like letting the NWRF win. He might not agree that the raid was a good thing, or the right thing to do, but it’s significantly less awful than what the NWRF were doing.

…He thinks.

It’s difficult to say, really, because he’s pretty sure he’d heard that people had died in the raid. Yet as far as he knows, the NWRF haven’t actually killed anyone. It’s why Kip has avoided aligning himself with any groups thus far; he knows he’ll never fully agree with anyone. After talks with Teilo and Zach, he’s been prodding around his PDD to see if he can figure anything out, and it also gives him time to consider if he really wants to team up with them. They’re probably stronger united, but he isn’t a natural team player, and he’s also aware that Teilo is particularly silver tongued. He doesn’t want to allow himself to be talked into anything just through charm and flattery.] 

I just worry… [Kip flips idly through the pages of the book in front of him, not really looking, but just eager to have something to do with his hands as he mulls over Mink’s words.] Like, how far can that kind of thing go before we’re no better than them? You say that ‘Evolved’ doesn’t mean other people are less, but it kind of… just does. Something that’s not evolved is un-evolved by definition. It doesn’t sound better than Infected to me, because it still has an implication of superiority, it’s just that we’re the ones benefiting from it. I mean, that’s just semantics really, but it seems like a slippery slope. If we’re calling ourselves Evolved and using violence to get what we need, is that any different or better than what the NWRF are doing?

[He’s careful to keep his tone level, simply curious. He’s not asking these things to challenge Mink’s beliefs, and he really doesn’t want to start a fight. But he wants to know more – the NAR sounds appealing, but he won’t throw his lot in with anyone until he knows the full picture, and understands all parties involved.]

[Mink lifted their shoulders in a gesture that they also didn’t know. Did they worry about it though? No, because they knew very few people who even worried about the term Infected. So why should Evolved be any different. It was just what you were used to. And they liked how it put people like them in a positive light, rather than saying the were ‘infected’ with something. It sounded gross, also it didn’t match with how incredible their powers were. But well, they could understand that the term Evolved wasn’t much better than Infected. It was just better for them, it was nice to hear as it made Mink feel like a superhero.] 

Like I said, I wouldn’t have picked it if they left it up to me. I would’ve gone for something more catchy, something comic-book-y. Powered, maybe. Or I don’t know. Mutants? The X-men made it work for them, after all. But I guess that’s the thing. it’s like the X-men, isn’t it. You have the people who believe those with powers are Evolved, like Magneto, and you have those who believe those with powers have a responsibility, like Professor Xavier. And then you have the government, who want to control the Mutants. Personally, I’m on team Professor X. But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t support an alliance between him and Magneto if the situation called for it. You know, if the lives of all mutants were in danger. 

occamcomplex‌:

[[ Even if Hufflepuff seems to be the foregone conclusion they’re both already expecting, Mitch is still more than happy to continue; he loves listening to Mink talk. The animation of their hands and features, the colorful interjections, everything about it is terribly charming. He laughs in easy agreement to the mock-movie ending constructed, positively delighted. Mitch is well enough aware there are those in the colony who find Mink’s presence unnerving, and he doesn’t necessarily blame them or want to invalidate those feelings, but he himself can’t help but be glad they’re around. His shoulders already hang so much less tensely for the course of the conversation.

Mitch is, unsurprisingly, shaking his head along to any answers that recommend even threatening violence towards a child, letting Mink rule them out right off the bat – not that they weren’t already assuming as much. Mink takes ‘a minute to process that’ and Mitch lets out a soft chuckle, bordering on a snort, as he flattens his palms on the table. ]] Well, I think this question self-eliminated plenty of answers for me, because if I can’t handle a little talk-back from a kid without wanting to threaten him with physical injury, I should really hand in my teacher’s certification. [[ Not that such a paper meant anything at all anymore, but Mitch could still consider it a point of pride.

He drums his fingers on the table in consideration of the last few answers, and likely still picks the one that the two of them – and perhaps everyone else – would expect. ]] ‘Numero cinco.’ He’s obviously quite upset, to go so far as to accuse me in public with so many people around, and without backing down. I’d want to make sure his mind is put at ease.

And this is why you’re a good human being. I can’t even imagine someone answering one of those first two’s. Like, you would have to be a little fucked up to be yelling that to a small kid. Even if you don’t like kids. Anyway, enough about how fucked up humanity can be, we have to move on to the next question. [They winked, looked back at the Echo and started reading the 7th question aloud, when they remembered to fill in the previous one before they forgot. They scrolled back.]

So, Question numero... sept? Seite? I always mess up French and Spanish. Like, those five words that I know in either language. My gran tried to teach my Arabic, but I was shit at that as well. I only learned a little Spanish because of Zorro. I had a friend of mine whose parents were from Spain, and he loved Zorro, but he could only find the Spanish dubbed one online, so we watched that every Wednesday afternoon during lunch. 

Anyway, no clue where all of that came from, question number seven: You have saved up for months to buy a new bike. As you're getting ready to buy it, a child runs by and steals your money. You chase him down and find that his mother is deathly ill and the child stole the money to buy her medicine. I think this was before national healthcare. But the possible answers to these questions are the following: one, you don’t give a fuck about other people. You think it’s their problem, you worked hard for that money and it’s yours. Honestly, even I wouldn’t be this heartless. Also, I would probably never make enough money for a bike anyway. Two; perhaps you would have helped them if they’d asked, but you don’t help thieves. Three; maybe you’ll let them keep some of the money and buy the bike later. Four; they’re obviously more in need of that money than you are, so you give all of it to them. Five; you’ll give them the money, AND you try to nurse the mother back to health. Six; you refuse to give them your money, but you still try to nurse the mother back to health. 

kip-whitmer‌:

Nah, it’s never for more than like, a few days. Few weeks if you’ve like, really fucked up.

[It’s fucked up. They could just issue community service or something useful, but… well, clearly those in charge don’t listen to reason.

The way Mink explains their involvement, it sounds a lot more understandable than Kip had imagined. Mink doesn’t sound mindlessly angry or aggressive; they sound like a kid that was excited to be involved in something bigger than themselves. And Kip gets it. He’s not done anything on the scale that Mink had, but he’s certainly done stupid things in order to fit in, or impress older people.

Obviously that doesn’t excuse what had happened, but Kip gets the impression Mink hadn’t known fully what was likely to happen. They talk about ‘bosses’, which actually borders on sinister to Kip. He hates the Reformists, but having some sort of organised pro-Infected group just seems like tipping the scales too much in the opposite direction.

He’s never heard the term ‘Evolved’ used before to describe those with Infections. And he’s not sure if he likes it; it sounds very superior, as though they’ve reached a point in their development that some people never will.] 

Okay. Yeah. I get that. [Kip nods levelly; he can feel how Mink simmers below the surface, hackles raised and ready to argue, and Kip’s not really looking for that. He’s not trying to prove anyone right or wrong here, he’s just trying to understand.] Obviously I don’t think the status quo here is great. Don’t think anybody does, really, and everyone’s got different ways of pushing back. How come you say ‘Evolved’? I don’t think I’ve heard that before.

[’Infected’ obviously has its own unpleasant implications, but he’s not sure if ‘Evolved’ is an improvement.]

Really fucked up. [Mink said in agreement. They couldn’t imagine what that would do to a person. They had see some movies where such things happened and it always ended up with the main character going completely crazy. They figured they too would end up completely crazy.]

[Mink was ready to start fighting him if things went south. Not actual fighting, but arguing until they could either win it or flee. They didn’t want to, but they figured given how old both of them were. They thought Kip was the kind of individual who might. However, the other surprised them with that. There was no fight, no arguing, no trying to convince Mink that what they had done was wrong. Maybe because Mink had said all the right things, maybe because the other didn’t want to discuss it further, because he might to a certain extend believe it as well. Or at least they could hope.]

[They watched Kip for a little while, before their heart beat calmed down and they felt a little less on edge listening to the other speak. Maybe this could turn into something positive, they almost smiled. Kip seemed to focus only on one part of their long speech, the term Evolved, which was something Mink had gotten comfortable saying back at the base, but here it had almost been beating out of them. As if thinking it wasn’t a disease was somehow wrong.] That’s what we used to call everyone who was Infected back where I’m from. [Mink started to explain. They had gotten incredibly great at not mentioning too much about where that was, because they were loyal, unendingly loyal, to their friends. They probably couldn’t explain where it was their friends were holding up, and even if they sometimes had a feeling that they had been left behind here, that they had been expendable, they still didn’t think about selling them out.]

It’s not a term that’s like... suggesting people without powers are less, I mean. I don’t think it is. But it is a lot more positive than Infected. Like, I wouldn’t have picked it, if they asked me. But I felt part of something bigger the moment they told us that was what we were. [Mink explained, a little longingly to be back there. With their friends, with people who seemed to want to understand the new powers only to help those who had it. That didn’t want to figure out where they had come from, only how to hone them so nobody would be bothered much by them. They imagined a lot of people being better of if they learned to accept what they had, not fear it.] 

kip-whitmer‌:

Yeah, the tattoo thing. They add up, and if you get too many they’ll stick you in the cells.

[Fuck. Kip thinks he might have stuck his foot in it, as he is so prone to doing. Mink’s face falls, and with it he feels their mood drop. And he does feel a pang of guilt for that, because he’d really not set out to cause any upset. But it’s an important question. It had to be asked, because if he didn’t ask it, he’d feel like he was proceeding under false pretences. Because honestly, if Mink is the kind of person that wholeheartedly supports kidnapping and all the nastiness that came with it, he’s not sure if he’s really going to want to let this conversation go too much further.

Maybe it’s a little hypocritical of him, since Kip isn’t exactly a paragon of good behaviour, but the whole thing just makes him… uncomfortable. If Mink just got caught up in the excitement and allowed themselves to be swept away, he could understand that, and forgive it. But if they really believe what they did was good, he’s not sure if he can. Shifting where he sits, Kip finds he can’t quite maintain eye contact. Though he’s prone to fights, that’s generally when he’s amped up and running on adrenaline. This isn’t one of those moments, and so he’s a little more himself: shyer, more awkward.] Right. I thought so. Um… why? How did you get involved with something like that?

Oh seriously? And then what? They put you in a cell and you never get out? [Mink asked, feeling like surely and slowly they were finding out they had a right to try and oppose this government. That their friends better come soon and safe them before it was too late.]

[As they warily studied Kip, they thought about their answer. They still stood behind what and who had driven them to participate in the kidnapping, They knew, now from personal experience, that this place was a terrible place to live in for the Infected. And they had tried to save just a few of its population from being treated like dirt, like inhuman dogs that did not deserve a place among the living. The NWRF would never be able to sway them to an other side, nor would any of its Colonials be able to convince them that what they had planned on doing was wrong. It wasn’t. The Infected were mistreated here, and they would be better off in the Wastes. It just... Mink knew they couldn’t, wouldn’t be, able to convince them either.] 

I was asked... it was a pretty big deal. Like... they picked me for it, wanted me along. So I did. And uhm. Because we were trying to do the right thing. I know... I know it’s wrong, like... technically not very smart. But we were trying to... what I knew about the Colonies, they’re prisons. I feel like we had that much right. And it was more of a prison break. Where I’m from, the Infected aren’t... see, they’ve already corrupted me in here. The Evolved, we’re not Infected, it’s not a disease! My friends and I, those Evolved and not Evolved, we were all equal, we all do chores, none of us get tested upon. We were saving people to give them the chance to live in a better place... didn’t work out, obviously. I’m stuck here now, and yeah, I know there were better ways to do what we wanted to do, really, talk it over with my bosses, I didn’t do the planning, I was just giddy on the whole idea of them picking me. 

occamcomplex‌:

[[ Mitch finds the comparison strange as soon as he makes it, but he also finds it apt: spending time with Mink is a bit like spending time with an enthusiastic battery. Their energy is thoroughly infectious in the best way, and even if Mitch can’t get a word in edgewise, he rather doesn’t care. He decides he could listen to Mink talk all afternoon, and at the rate they’re going, this may very well be the case.

He also can’t help but compare their enthusiasm to some of his youngest wards, which hopefully wouldn’t come across as patronizing or unflattering. Quite frankly, it’s on an ever-dwindling list of items that truly give Mitch hope anymore; the enthusiasm of youth. That there’s still enthusiasm to be had in the world is a terribly comforting thought.

Mitch knows his answer to the question before Mink even goes through them, but he lets them finish regardless, an absent smile on his lips. ]] I’d absolutely go get them, no questions asked. I’ve always been rubbish with cars, but I think even if I did know a thing or two, I’d still offer to take a look in person rather than coach over the phone. Because yeah, remoting in car repair seems… iffy. [[ He pauses, then adds with a chuckle. ]] Maybe that’s how the horror story would get both of us? Lord knows that’d be how I go, lured to the desolate countryside because I was determined to help out a friend…

You’re not even charging them for gas money, that’s so Hufflepuff of you. [Mink said dramatically. Though, what would happen if Mitch suddenly WASN’T a Hufflepuff. Problems for later.] Very iffy, very iffy indeed. You can spend the whole movie asking the friend why they called you in the first place. You would definitely be the protagonist though, so no worries there. I think you might survive, and then the end credits role, and we hear an other phone call, and we see you waking up in the middle of the night, and on the other end of the phone is an other friend, asking you to please come back them up. And there is a zoom on your face, and we can see the horror in your eyes, but then your Hufflepuff-ness takes over and you answer: yeah sure, be there in ten. 

Anyhow, still lots of questions to go, Teach. We’re moving on. Question six: A little kid accuses you, in front of a whole crowd people, of stealing his toy which you did not do. You are twice his size, but he won't back off. Pretty sure you would charm the kid into letting you off the hook, or I don’t know, distract him by being you or something. You gotta pick from the answers though. So off we are, answer one: How dare he insult me in front of all these people? I'll show him how things work in the real world! - Real world, says the wizard to the kid. That’s like, minus points for bad come-back, don’t choose this one. Okay, number 2 is you explain to him that you didn't take his toy and give him fair warning that he'll have a black eye if he doesn't drop it. Oh wow, these answers are so violent. I need a minute to process that, who would even say this to a kid?!

roy--walters‌:

[Something about reading had become a lot harder after D-Day. He thought it’d be easier, that you’d want an escape from this horrible world. Or even just something to pass the time. But it was a struggle. Something about sitting in silence with your thoughts that made him feel like he was losing the little bits of sanity he had left. And that was only on good days when the Reaper actually let him read. But he always tried to get back into it. It had always been such a huge part of his life, it felt stupid that he couldn’t do it anymore. He missed books, he missed getting lost in stories and just that feeling you got when you were invested in a story.

The library is quiet, so he goes there when his own head is too loud. Sometimes he tries to read. Today he didn’t think he would, but after scanning the shelves he had found the first book in the His Dark Materials series. It had definitely seen better days, and honestly, he could barely make out the title on the spine, but it had caught his eye and he felt almost compelled to pick it up.

He still doesn’t know what to think about Mink. They were confusing to him and he didn’t know why. He feels a draw to him, and they have enough in common that he should have no trouble just saying they’re friends. But that was such a hard thing to do because it opened up so many doors that he was scared to look behind. What it could do to Mink. What it could make Roy do to Mink. And that’s not even touching what Orson had said. 

He should bring that up, he should think about it or ask about it but he’s afraid to. He’s afraid of how it could impact whatever little bit of friendship he had with Mink. He’s always been a master of living inside an illusion. An illusion that he didn’t need people in his life, an illusion that he could trick the Reaper into letting him have friends. He could just live this lie of acting oblivious to Mink’s past until he brought it up. Then maybe he’d mention that he knew something about it. Maybe.

Roy sits curled up in a seat, actually getting a few chapters into the book which honestly feels so good to do, before he hears his voice. He almost jumps a little, looking up with just a hint of a grin. There’s a ringing in his ears, just a constant hum that he tries to ignore.] Hey, [he returns, sitting up straighter in his chair. Roy flashes the cover to him with another little smile.] I saw it on the shelf and just couldn’t help myself, [he admits.] Almost like the universe knew you’d find me reading in here. [he jokes a bit, remembering his page number before shutting the book.] How’re you?

[Of course. Mink’s smile got much bigger when Roy presented him with his recent find. A book to his heart, and to Roy’s, one of the subjects to bring them together. But his smile disappeared and made place for an act of surprise, looking at the book with intense enthusiasm.] Where did you get that?! I mean, library, obviously, but I’ve been scouting the planks ever since we talked about it! [He looked at the worn out cover of the book, the title was readable, but only vaguely, it must’ve been catching dust for ages.] Tell me, is it as good as I can remember? [He asked dramatically.] 

[Mink was aware of how little he actually got into contact with Roy over the course of weeks, they hadn’t had many interactions since Mink had first flirted with him, but there was a profound sense of friendship that Mink was certain he wasn’t just feeling himself. He knew Roy had trouble making friends and believing anyone would want to be friends with him. Which made him even more intent on showing him that Mink cared, that he cared for their friendship and for him. More than just a crush, but also as a crush. A huge crush. Mink thought about Roy on a daily basis, in all matter of situations. Even if he still didn’t know a whole lot about him, there were all these things that reminded him of Roy. Like, Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, Dinosaurs, inventions, nerds, science, math, Spiderman, books, the sea, boats, and so on. Aka. most things Mink thought about during the day eventually ended up having something to do with Roy.]

[Today however, Mink didn’t just think about Roy, he actually saw him; sitting in the library, reading a book. Looking very comfortable in his chair. He walked up to him right away, no pause, no second thoughts. He just walked.] Hey you! [He said with a smirk as he tried to get Roy’s attention.] Figured you would be here. What are you reading? 

kip-whitmer‌:

[Super obedient in high school? Kip can’t see it, initially, because Mink has made a pretty strong impression for themselves as being a rebel, but, again – they’re so young. And he has to remind himself, it’s possible to rebel against unfair treatment and oppression but also be well behaved in classroom environments. Kip might be committed to flouting rules just because he likes to be difficult, but not everyone is like that.] 

As someone that has skipped it, I’d recommend not bothering. Much as it sucks sitting staring at nothing for an hour, them busting your balls and giving you strikes for skipping it is even less fun. And yeah, I used to be the DM for my group before the asteroids. I was so fucking uncool in high school, figured I might as well embrace it. [He flashes a smile, before a more thoughtful expression takes over his face.] Look, can I ask… you were involved in that raid, right?

[He decides to just ask it, bluntly, as he tends to do. He’s not great at pussyfooting around, he’s not the most tactful person, but it feels like an elephant in the room right now. And Kip could ask other people, but he’d also kind of like to hear Mink’s side of things. Everyone’s biased, and presumably a lot of people are going to be biased against Mink. Kip would like to give them a fair chance, but he’s also not going to just invite them to a D&D session without clearing the air.] 

The strikes is just the tattoo thing, right? I’ve never really understood how any of that worked. I mean, I’m bound to find out at some point, right? Given the situation, but then again, I feel like I would never do that. Or maybe I would, but it would definitely be to impress someone. [Mink admitted, grinning to themselves.] Uhm, listen, running a Dungeons and Dragons group, actually running it, is one of the coolest things ever. If people say it isn’t, they’re wrong. It’s like such a stupid idea, anyway, that being a nerd is uncool. Especially since nerds were the ones to make Star Wars, Star Trek and the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe a hit. So, I will forever stand for the fact that the uncool were truly the cool, but the not-truly-cool just hadn’t realized it yet. [Mink proposed.]

[Then they had to face the question. They could see Kip’s face changing, but weren’t prepared for what he was about to ask. Their grin dropped right off of their face. They should’ve known the question would follow at some point, they should’ve known it would become a problem. Because honestly what if it didn’t? Then so much would be left unsaid, while Mink could feel that it was important. They bit their lip and looked at the ground.] Jep. [Was all that followed, because Mink didn’t want to answer more than that question. Part of them hoped that that would be it. That this would be the only thing for Kip to ask, and this would settle it. Mink bluntly admitting to the fact, and they could look past it from then on. But they knew it wouldn’t. Kip would want to know why, they all wanted to know why, but Mink wasn’t sure if they wanted the answer that they could give.]