bravelittlehero | Musebox!

[Since she seems content to wait him out, he starts talking, faking a bit of cheer. Yet another thing that always irritated him to no end with Sin, but it worked.]

How old are you, Clementine? Ten? Eleven? I know a little boy your age back where I come from, but he's not nearly as responsible as you. I'm sure if he was here right now, he'd be back in that town square talking to everyone and trying to wheedle food out of them and not even giving a single thought to where he was. I'm sure he'd notice he wasn't where he'd been a few minutes before, but I'm not sure he'd care. Caring is for people like you and I, I suppose.

[He pauses and surreptitiously looks up to see if she's listening.]

[Clementine hasn't moved, he probably can't tell if she's listening or not. She's not watching him, at least not directly. She's focused on looking around. She does hear him though, and if he's somewhere he wasn't before, then she might be back in that place. She thought it had been a dream.]

[She's doing a very good job of ignoring him completely. He's sort of impressed. Nevertheless, he keeps chattering away.]

I'm sure when I was your age, I would have done what you're doing. I would have found somewhere no one could see me and watched everyone until I had an idea of where I was and what was going on. Then I would have found somewhere where I could be by myself to figure out what to do about it.

[He reaches into his robes and pulls out the book he'd found when he'd arrived.]

I wouldn't have looked at this book like I did today. I couldn't read back then. Has anyone taught you to read, Clementine?

[Clementine frowns a little. She finally looks down at him and sighs, shaking her head a little in the middle of his speech. So far the coast is clear.]

I can read now.

[The journal is familiar.]

I know where I am.

[That gets him to look all the way up at her.]

Do you? Would you mind telling me, because I've never been to this place before.

I know the world. Not this particular place. I don't know that much about it. We had to sail from the first place we came into within a week. That's all I know.

I see. So that would be this island. The book did say something about needing to find a crew.

[He heard that "we."]

Did you lose yours? Is that what happened?

I went home. I don't know what happened.

[Clementine shrugs a little.]

I know where I am, you can go now.

[He stands, but only to turn and get a better look at her.]

And where will you go now? If you left and returned, do you know how to find your crew? I don't have one of my own yet, so perhaps you could direct me.

[What is he even doing? He would have spat in Sin's face. Actually, that might have happened once...]

[Clementine hasn't moved though, she's still sitting in the tree.]

You can ask on the book. Everyone can read what you write. Or hear what you say.

Is that so? That's quite helpful.

[Extremely helpful. Why doesn't he have something like this at home?]

Are you planning on waiting in that tree until they come and find you?

Maybe.

[Clementine isn't sure if she's going to call someone to get her or not. She needs to think about her options. What can she do?]

Then I'll wait here as well. I'll need a crew of my own, after all.

[He's surprised she isn't angry yet, really.]

Just leave me alone. I don't need a babysitter.

Then you babysit me. I'm the one who doesn't know where he is.

[This is his Sin impression, isn't it? He's just channeling the stupid crap he spouts all the time. He's going to start laughing like a moron next, isn't he? How did he not kill him back then?]

[Clementine sighs loudly and rolls her eyes. She climbs down half the distance and jumps, landing on her feet in front of him. She just stares at him. At least she doesn't need a weapon right away and abandons the branch.]

You're better off finding someone else.

Is that so? Why?

[At least she didn't hit him with the branch.]

Because. Just use the book.

[She shrugs a little bit and looks around again, it's a habit, one she can't stop.]

Because you don't trust me? Because you think you'll be safer on your own? Because you think I'll get in your way? I'm sure you're quite capable of taking care of yourself, but there's no reason why you should have to. I'll see you as far as your ship.

I don't trust you.

[That's all there is to it. She frowns at him. She's smaller close up. Starving, slowly. Either way, the gash was enough of an injury it might get infected. All of this matters little to her right now.]

I wouldn't imagine you trust anyone. I don't expect you to trust me with anything more than seeing you to the docks to find your boat. What can I do to get you to allow me that much?

[If she sizes him up, she'll notice that he's not so tall himself. He's a bit better fed than he was when he was her age, but that malnourishment as a child has had its effect. He's also keeping his arms folded to better keep his sleeves in place and his weapons hidden because he doesn't know how she'll react to seeing them.]

[Everyone carries weapons these days.]

I don't need an escort. I'm leaving.

[She turns her back on him and starts walking back to town.]

[He follows her, not quite at her heels, but close enough for her to know he's there.]

You're allowed to yell at me, you know.

I don't need to yell at you. I know you're hearing what I'm saying.

I mean get angry. I was angry when someone pulled this crap on me.

[And there goes his language. He was doing so well...]

Musebox!

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