▓ １4 Ｐｔｓ．► video/text. ► w3lc0me B@cK, ruNt!

[throwsdown]

[Video.]

Hi, I'm Takeshi; I was gone for a long time!

[Best way to re-introduce yourself: name, followed by exclamation of your absence. It seems legit.]

I didn't know, I swear, pinky promise; I woke up and it was all kinda different, but not that different. I, um, I dunno who left like me, so I wanted... I wanted t'see who was still here. I didn't say goodbye to anyone... and... it's really important to get to say bye. But at least I get to say hello again! Hello! [Wait no, we already did that. Been there done that. He smiles, a bit more confident.] If I never met you before, though, we should talk! It's good to know everyone here, that way you can be friends and help each other and be happier. And being happy is really important, and... I like having more friends. An' my brain is kinda fuzzy, because... I feel like I can't remember things as good...

Did everyone get friends yet? Make sure you're with your friends a lot. And don't be in the halls by yourself!

I learned that from before. The halls are bad. Baaaad news! Plus it's dark, and some people are scared of the dark.

[He puffs out his chest a bit.]

But not me!! M'not afraid of the dark, because it's not a real monster! There's bigger worster monsters anyway. But, um — [where was he going with this... ah, yes!] I have a list... It's a list of all my old friends! I dunno who came back and who stayed and who is gone, so... I copied the names. If people rec'nize them, lemme know! Cuz a lot of them were gone, but maybe they came back...

[They're important names. They're some of his friends — you gotta' look out for your friends.]

[TEXT]

kazama
casTiel
frodo
betty
mattie
dean
reapEr
edgeworth
nathann
robb
seraphIM
rIver
Roy
CID
yorkk

[IT WAS A NICE ATTEMPT. Too bad most of them have left, but you can't blame a kid for trying.]

Comments

[Video]

[alldamned]

You're--

[God, this kid's tiny. That's the first thing that strikes him, impossible to ignore. Benny's sure other people have already commented on it, so for the moment, he lets it slide.]

I know Dean an' Cas. Not sure if either one of 'em will remember, that seems to be touch and go around here. Both here, though. You doin' alright, little fella?

[Video]

[throwsdown]

[GASP.]

You're Benny!!

[#plot twist]

Do you remember me? We talked before! And you asked if I was strong enough to throw you!

[spoilers he would have thrown your ass across the garden

nobody suspects

nobody]

[Video]

[alldamned]

[What the--

Okay, right. Right. Not the first time this has happened, but it is the first time someone he doesn't recognize has actually been excited about recognizing.]

I asked that, huh?

[He grimaces a little, rubbing the side of his head.]

Sorry, pal, I uh-- I don't remember that Head's a little fuzzy. Got a whole previous stay on the ship I don't remember a lick of.

[Video]

[throwsdown]

Awww, you, too?? So many people forgot! [He huffs a very nonthreatening sigh, because a kid trying to sound huffy is usually just funny more than anything. Alas.] But I guess it's okay — as long as everyone's okay, then I can just tell them what they miss!

[Video]

[alldamned]

Yeah, sounds like it's goin' around.

[He can sympathize, really. For as much as he doesn't remember, he's had friends come and go and not remember him, either. Not an easy thing-- but for a little guy, this kid seems to be handling it well.]

You'd do that? Fill people in? [He cracks a smile. Kid's cute, anyway.] Awful nice of you.

[Video]

[throwsdown]

Well... Yeah! It's m'portant to know the stuff you miss.

What if there's a big game and nobody knows what happened from the last game? It'll make the mission real hard! And we gotta finish our missions to win!

[Video]

[alldamned]

You been on many missions, have you?

[He's talking like he has.]

What do you think we might be tryin' to win? I'm curious.

[Video]

[throwsdown]

[He nods, sure of himself and smiling very casually.]

Lots of missions.

I think we're trying to win, um... win being alive. If we lose we, we die.

And if we win, we get t'live.

[Video]

[alldamned]

[Give him a moment-- he's actually kind of proud of himself for not doing a spit-take at that little nugget of info.]

You win the right to live? Kid, that ain't right.

[To say the least.]

Ain't nobody should have to fight for that. Least of all a kid.

[Video]

[throwsdown]

[He flusters a little bit.]

Y-yeah...! It's because I died. Sometimes if people die, they have to fight to live.

But it's not bad! I got a new dad.

[A new dad and wallops of PTSD and getting used to really grizzly shit but w/e.]

[Video]

[alldamned]

[Child if he were alive he would be having a heart attack right about now.]

It's not bad.

[He echoes that, disbelieving. Kid, your view of the world is all kinds of skewed.]

You got someone lookin' after you, then. Back home, at least?

[Video]

[throwsdown]

Yessir!

[He gives pause on that, though.]

But we got split up. M'waiting for him at the park. He's was busy fighting aliens in space, so I gotta wait 'til he gets back! People said when I go home, I'll be waiting there again!

So I don't gotta worry 'bout missing him.

[Video]

[alldamned]

[You're killing him, Takeshi.]

But until then-- until we get you back home-- you don't think you'll be a little lonely?

[Translation: you are a child and someone needs to supervise you.]

[Video]

[throwsdown]

[Huh... Oh!

Ohhh!!

He grins.]

I'm not lonely, promise! I got Heder and Mr. Ned! And all kinds of friends. And I even got my own room! I didn't have one before ever; it's really cool.

[SEE BENNY, SILVER LINING]

I live next to Mr. Ned and Heder, too.

They take care of me lots. Even if I'm being bad, they're nice.

[Video]

[alldamned]

[That helps put his mind at ease. Somewhat.]

Yeah? These friends of yours, they treat you good?

[Because it sounds like this kid needs that more than anything.]

[Video]

[throwsdown]

Mhmm! They're my family. [He seems very pleased by that, mildly distracted by one of the little wooden figurines to his left; his favorite toys, in a place with very little toys in general.] I had a family with my real mom before, but my dad died and my mom and her boyfriend doesn't like me.

I like my new family lots, lots more.