Checking in

[greennotgold]

Fletcher had gotten his rooming information; apparently he didn't have a roommate yet, which was a little disappointing. He'd hoped he could at least share a room with his brother.

When he arrived in Pale dormitory, room 1-A, he looked around the large room and sighed. There were five beds, and only one tiny boy living in this room. Between waking up on a mysterious train, watching that strange movie, and now this, he found that he really wasn't liking this.

He set down the two items he'd been given -- the Exaclan rule book and the white glove -- on a bedside table, and sat down. Well. What now?

Comments

[greennotgold]

Fletcher blinked up at her, eyes wide in surprise. "R-really? But don't--don't you have your own to buy back?" It was beyond him why a complete stranger, someone he'd never met before, would be so generous for someone like him.

[allurprincess]

She nodded, suddenly energetic again. He didn't look as upset any more, and that was a huge victory. Her own problems could be worked out in time; his took priority, and she was sure the others would understand. "I'll be okay. A knight will face anything if it's to help someone!"

[greennotgold]

Despite himself, Fletcher found himself smiling. He almost couldn't believe that someone he'd just met had offered something like that.

"Th-- thank you!" He made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a hiccup, as though he wasn't sure whether to be happy or what. "But-- I... my brother needs them before I do, and I--" He couldn't just say "Buy them for my brother instead", that would sound so ungrateful.

[chainedbyred]

It had taken a little while for Russel to find Fletcher's room. It didn't help that he was on the way other side of campus. He didn't even bother to knock, instead he just let himself in. "Fletcher?" he said, to at least make sure he had the right room. He ignored Sora for now, as he crossed toward where his brother sat.

[allurprincess]

Sora's smile softened, and she was on the verge of including his brother in her promise when the door clicked open again and someone who looked like he fit the bill walked in. When he greeted the younger boy - Fletcher, so apparently she'd forgotten to introduce herself too - familiarly, that clinched it. They'd need some time to talk, so she fished out her list of names again and began to study it. She'd almost managed to remember one of the names for an entire second before! If she kept working at it, maybe the memories would come back on their own.

[greennotgold]

Fletcher looked up. Ah, it was his brother... He'd intended to spend some time alone and pout about the whole situation, but with the red-haired girl here it seemed like that wasn't going to happen, so whatever.

He smiled up at his brother, then over to Sora. "Oh-- right, sorry. My name is Fletcher Tringham. And this is my big brother."

[chainedbyred]

He crossed to Fletcher and gave him a hug. "You okay?" he asked. He sat down beside Fletcher. "Hey," he said to Sora. "I'm Russel."

[greennotgold]

That hug was sorely needed. Fletcher clung back just long enough not to embarrass himself in front of the strange person.

Then he blinked in surprise. Russel? He hadn't heard that name before. Wasn't his brother's name... ... he drew a blank. What was his brother's name?

His breathing grew quicker just slightly, but he tried not to show his panic. Why couldn't he remember his brother's name? He'd just introduced himself as something-- what had he said? Why couldn't Fletcher remember?

[allurprincess]

"Hi, Russel! And Fletcher too. My name's Sora," she dipped into as good a bow as she could manage whilst gathered up on top of a bed, her list crinkling in her hands. "It must be a relief to be with someone close."

[greennotgold]

Russel! His name was Russel! Fletcher muttered it under his breath to himself in hopes of remembering. How could he forget? They were brothers, Fletcher had known him his whole like, how could he ever forget that his name was Russel?

"Y-yeah. It, it is," he said, but he sounded anything but relieved.

[chainedbyred]

Russel absently rubbed his brother's arm. His anxiety was obvious, even to him, but he didn't want to address it at that moment. Not in front of a stranger, anyway. "Hi, Sora. Actually, could you give us a minute? There's something I need to talk to Fletcher about." His face was a little stony. Fletcher would know it's how he got when he was annoyed with something and he wasn't trying to look it. But for others, it just made him a bit hard to read.

[allurprincess]

"Ah- Okay! I really should go find the others," she swivelled herself so she could clamber back off the bed without faceplanting into anything solid, and made a brief, terrible effort to straighten the covers for whichever unfortunate soul might have wanted to use them later. After a few seconds, she gave up, tucked her list back into her pocket, and gave them both a wave. "If you want to talk, I'm in the Red dorm, okay? 1-A!"

And then there was the sound of air rushing to fill a sora-shaped space in the centre of the room, as she left again. Her cheerful "See you both later!" just managed to slip through the door before it closed.

[greennotgold]

Fletcher didn't have a chance to say anything before Sora stood up and left; all he could manage was a wave. He was kind of numb. His brother speaking had distracted him, and he'd forgotten the name again.

Finally, now that they were alone, his breath hitched in his throat and he looked up with a panicked sort of expression. "Brother--!"

[chainedbyred]

He rolled his eyes at Sora's departure, and cringed a bit when she'd said she was in his room. Boys and girls together. Great. This was going to suck.

But more importantly, Fletcher was upset. "What's wrong, Fletcher? Did something happen?" He knew he shouldn't have let him go on his own in this strange place.

[greennotgold]

"I can't remember what your name is," he said, voice shaking. "I--and you just said it again but now I can't remember it!" That was coherent. Way to go, Fletcher. Well it's not like he could really help it. "What am I gonna do?!"

[chainedbyred]

Russel stood, and leaned over toward Fletcher, his hands on the boy's shoulders. "It's okay, Fletcher. They said we'd all lost memories. Some of them are probably more important than others."

[greennotgold]

His mind was racing, trying to remember. Trying to pull that name out of whatever hole it had fallen into. He went through every masculine name he could think of, trying to attach it to his brother's face, but none of them fit right. He heard the words he'd just said, but they seemed wrong. It wasn't okay, it wouldn't be okay until he could remember.

He covered his eyes with his hands and whimpered. "I don't want to fight, though! Why-- why are they doing this to us?!"

[chainedbyred]

"Calm down, Fletcher. You don't have to. Listen to me." He pulled Fletcher's arms down so they can make eye contact. "You're still my brother, no matter what. Even if you can't remember my name. I'll protect you. You don't have to fight anyone."

[greennotgold]

He sniffled a little, not outright crying but still feeling pretty miserable. At least he understood and wasn't mad about it. "What if someone wants me to be a weapon? Or-- what if they pick me as a Player?"

[chainedbyred]

"Then you just tell them no. They'd have to be insane to want a kid to fight in the first place. And just because they pick you, that doesn't mean you have to fight in the first place. It just means you're capable." His voice was certain and resolute. In his mind, he made plans to find out whose ass he had to kick to get an exception made.

[greennotgold]

"But what about the memory charms? If-- I don't-- people can't just buy them for me." And then he remembered what the video had said, that that was exactly how it was supposed to work, and added, "Not without me doing anything in return! That's not equivalent exchange!"

If he thought about it rationally, he realized he wouldn't have to fight or be used; the video had said that Weapons had to agree to be owned, and if he was a Player he could just avoid owning anyone, probably. But there were still problems.

[chainedbyred]

"I'll get yours," he said. "I'm your brother, it's my job. And I'll give you my credits and you can buy some for me. That way it's all even. Okay?" He reached over and ruffled his brother's hair, in a way he hoped was comforting.

[greennotgold]

That was even? It didn't really seem like it. But then his brother ruffled his hair and he couldn't bring himself to protest. He always wanted to protect Fletcher from everything; the least Fletcher could do was not complain.

"I... um, okay." But he still wasn't happy with it.

[chainedbyred]

"We'll be okay. I promise," he said, pulling his brother into another hug. "Nothing bad will happen to you."

[greennotgold]

Fletcher clung, much more tightly than before, and didn't let go this time. He couldn't shake that feeling of guilt that he was a horrible brother for not being able to remember something as simple and basic as a name, despite knowing it wasn't his fault. So he didn't say anything.