002 | [Action/Accidental voice]

[screwthegods]

[Those wandering in the village might happen across yet another child in clothes that seem far too big for him, with shaggy hair and dirty skin, and chains around his wrists. He seems less concerned about his restraints, however, despite the cold. Instead he stares upward, squinting into a sky so bright it hurts his eyes to look at

Comments

[yourhatred]

[Perhaps you did die. Itachi knows this is possible. Will he mention this to the child? No.]

You shouldn't stay out here in the cold. Get yourself some warmer clothing.

[yourhatred]

Then let me show you to the right store and you can pick yourself out something. [He begins walking slowly in the direction of the clothes shop.]

[screwthegods]

All right. [No need to worry. Homura will follow, a few paces behind.]

How do you know if clothes are warmer?

[yourhatred]

By the way they feel.

[The store isn't far. Itachi opens the door for the boy.]

Pick something that fits you and keeps you covered.

[screwthegods]

[Homura nods slightly when he gets his instructions; those he can understand. He goes inside the store, and grabs the first things he sees that match Itachi's description, and look like what he's used to wearing, before turning back to the door.]

Should I put these on now?

[yourhatred]

Do you want to?

[screwthegods]

[In what will likely come as no surprise, Homura is completely thrown by this question. He understands it, at least, but what he wants has never even been considered, much less asked.]

I don't know. [Homura pauses, then frowns.] Does it matter?

[yourhatred]

No. You can wait. You can look around some more, find something you really like. I wouldn't suggest going back out into the cold without being more properly covered, however.

[screwthegods]

[That's a lot of options for a boy who has never had any. He thinks about it all carefully.]

What happens after I decide?

[yourhatred]

Then you find a place to stay until you get things figured out. I'd recommend the welcome center.

[screwthegods]

What things?

[yourhatred]

This situation as a whole.

[screwthegods]

[Homura's already been doing that, and he looks to Itachi with a frown.] Is this a prison too?

[yourhatred]

In some ways.

We can't leave, but we aren't chained or put behind bars.

[screwthegods]

[Well, Itachi isn't chained. Homura happens to be sporting a set of iron shackles around his wrists, but the boy doesn't point out that contradiction. Instead, he's upset by the whole of the news.]

So then it's the same. Just bigger.

[yourhatred]

[Right. The shackles. Itachi bends down, his own comment having reminded him of this little problem.]

I suppose. If you were in prison before arriving here.

...May I see these?