(Untitled)

[clownhate]

[There's a small boy walking along outside in one of the DR's courtyards. He's wearing badly-fitting, grubby clothes, and if you look closely you'll see some bruises on him. It's a beautiful evening, and the setting sun is making the sky a pretty shade of red. The boy looks down at the ground again - the grassy, summery ground - and then suddenly

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[selfdeluded]

[He has a grocery bag in one hand when he comes across this kid, and-- he blinks, raising an eyebrow. For a moment he looks back down the hall briefly, then the other way.]

...I don't think he's here.

1/2

[clownhate]

He was a second a...

2/2

[clownhate]

[He looks up at Allen, recognising that face somehow, and splutters out a few words in confusion.]

W-what...who? Who are you?

[selfdeluded]

[Aw hell, freaking out newbie kid. He blinks, surprised at first - the last thing he wanted to do was get a kid worked up.

So without thinking about it, he blurts the first thing that comes to mind.] --Len. I'm Len.

[It wouldn't be the first time he went by the old nickname.]

You are..?

[clownhate]

[He opens his mouth, beginning to say something starting with A, then closes it again, surprised at himself. And looking a little quietly resentful.]

I don't have a...

[And he stops talking again, memories suddenly itching at the back of his mind.]

...Is this the Dressing Room?

[selfdeluded]

..Don't have what? [...a name? No-- why did that sound familiar? He was certain it shouldn't. Should it?]

Ah-- you know it?

[clownhate]

The Dressing Room. Yeah, I was here before. [He turns around quickly, checking again to see if Mana's there, but he isn't.] This is what it's like to go "home", huh...

[selfdeluded]

...I guess it is. [He couldn't really say he'd ever done it, himself. He glances in the direction that the small Allen does though, before looking back at him.]

Are you okay?

[clownhate]

...Yeah.

[Only not quite. His eyes flicker over Allen, and he looks away, unsure of how to deal with concern from somebody; it's too soon since he's been back in his world. His right hand clenches nervously at his side.]

[selfdeluded]

[He doesn't really believe that, for obvious reasons - but he stays quiet a moment longer, as if expecting for the kid to say something else. When he doesn't he glances down at the grocery bag in his left hand - which is on the more notable side of normal - before lifting it slightly.]

...are you hungry?

[clownhate]

[Absolutely and totally ravenous. His eyes light up, and he nods, finally noticing the grocery bag.]

You...can call me Allen. That's my name. Allen Walker.

[selfdeluded]

[Tilting his head a little. He'll hear it if that's a lie - handy thing, enhanced senses. But he holds the bag out. Yup. Pretty much offering the whole thing - there's anything from dango in boxes to chips inside. He was wandering off to visit another Allen.]

You can still call me Len if you want.

[clownhate]

[It's true in the Dressing Room, but not back in his world. Not yet. He takes the bag in his right hand, surprise obvious on his face.]

Len, right. You're the first one I've met who's called just that. But. Uh. Is this food all for me? There's so much.

[selfdeluded]

[A few mixed signals - but since the kid does identify as Allen, for the most part it reads as truth, then.]

It's a nickname. I'd be surprised if anyone else was called that. [He offers a smile.] Only if you want all of it.

[clownhate]

...I do. But aren't you hungry too? It's not as if you go around looking for people to hand out food for, is it?

[He frowns a little at seeing Allen's smile. So confusing. But he does remember how kind the other Allens can be.]

[selfdeluded]

Ah... I'm on an odd diet. I can't actually eat a lot of the things in that bag - only liquids. [chuckles, albeit somewhat nervously. It was always odd, explaining his "condition" without going into great detail.]

I was taking it to a friend. He's usually a little happier if I bring him food when I visit - but since I'm not visiting now, I don't have to take it to him.