You are a useless child, useless child without me to guide you

[ojisankink]

It’s very, very cold.

Barnaby can feel the urge to sneeze itching at the tip of his nose, interrupting his sleep. He tries to ignore it as best he can, but breathing in the cool air only makes it worse until he has no choice but to rub at his nose.

For a moment, when he tries to lift an arm to do just that and finds it pinned to his side, he panics, eyes shooting open. That’s when he notices he’s been tucked in. Not as well as his mom or Samantha would… it’s very sloppy, the blankets wrinkled and… adult sized clothing layered over top of them. Weird.

That’s when Barnaby finally gets a look at the room surrounding him and can deduce this is definitely not his house. It’s way too old, and dusty, even if it seems someone did their best tidying up the mess. There’s no sign of his toys or stuffed animals. His chemistry set isn’t on the dresser like it should be.

The only toy he seems to have is his little blue robot. He must have snuck it into bed again, even if Mom tried to stop him.

Before they went to bed… wherever this is.

After a few moments of fidgeting, Barnaby gets untangled from the sheets, nearly falling off the bed with a yelp before he regains his balance. Toy still clutched tightly in his hands, he looks down at himself, silently grateful that whoever put him to bed didn’t change him into pajamas, and heads out into the maze of hallways.

This place is huge… but Mom and Dad wouldn’t have gone far without him, right?

“Mom? Dad? Aunt Samantha?”

He calls for them a few times, until he remembers who his parents were making plans to visit with the night before. Is this really his house?

“Mr. Maverick? Anyone?”

Comments

[oldmantiger]

He's been trying not to dwell. But the hallways are big and echoing and cold when you get too far beyond the glow of a fireplace. And hardly anyone seems to know why he's here, and those people who do know aren't making sense. He wants to go home but he doesn't know where home is, he doesn't know where he is, and in the back of his mind the very real possibility remains that home might have decided that it doesn't want him...

He's been trying not to dwell, but it's hard, and as he'd been wandering through these big empty hallways trying to find the kitchen again, he could feel it building up inside him. The energy, the power, like a cold and merciless tide. The more he tried to bottle it down, the more he could feel it threatening to spill forth and break everything around him. He wanted to be quiet, to be good, but he also wanted to kick and scream and cry just like he had the last time someone tried to take him away...

Eventually, trying to swallow back tears becomes too painful. Kotetsu lets out a sob as blue light flares up around him, and kicks an end table hard enough to send it spinning into pieces down the hall. He punches the stone wall hard enough to send cracks spiderwebbing through it and leave his knuckles bleeding,

But as the din dies away, he hears footsteps, and lets out a soft little gasp of alarm. Hardly anyone here that he's met seems to know what he is. He wants to keep it that way. If he can just find a place to hide...

Barnaby will turn the corner to witness the scene of minor destruction, just as a closet door slams shut and Kotetsu hunkers down inside it. Sobbing might still be audible from the other side, though.

[lostbunny]

There’s a lot to be afraid of in a place like this, Barnaby knows. The cold cuts through his blazer easily and he wishes more than anything he had the scarf Samantha had knit for him. No one seems to be around, and that is the strangest part, as his parents would never leave him alone without explaining where they were off to and assigning a guardian to him. Home seems like it’s probably far away from this place, and he isn’t sure how he’s going to make it back to Sternbild…

But he has to stay strong. Mom had always said he was a brave little boy, and besides, both Mom and Dad promised to always protect him. He’s not going to start doubting them just because he can’t find them!

But the longer he walks, the more tightly he clings to his toy, the more violent his shivering becomes. He stubbornly blinks back tears, annoyed. He’s very brave, and brave boys don’t cry.

The sob makes him pause. For a minute, he thinks it was him, until he hears the shattering of wood and he covers his mouth to muffle a yelp. His footsteps become quicker as he hurries down the hall towards the noise, curiosity outweighing fear momentarily.

But by the time he finds the destruction, whatever caused it is gone. A monster or a ghost? Those aren’t real, he knows. Was it another person? His heart clenches for a moment with terror of what could possibly be after him…

But then he hears the sobbing again, and he can tell it’s the voice of another young child, probably not much older than him. He tiptoes towards the closet door, carefully pulling it open, his voice very soft as he squints into the dark area.

“Hello? Are you hurt?”

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu is trying to sob as quietly as possible. He practically has his fist shoved in his mouth. And at least that awful, awful glow should be somewhat hidden by the coats all around him. He can't hear any footsteps coming over the sound of his tears, and so that only makes the shock of hearing the door open even sharper. Kotetsu flinches visibly, his gaze snapping up to see a small silhouette outlined against the door. Obviously a kid. One even younger than him. Great.

His expression of shock fades to one of misery once more. "'m fine," he snaps, his voice wavering and weak and not brave at all. "Go away!" He buries his face against his knees again, hiding his changed eyes, waiting for the kid to run away. Hopefully he'll do that before he starts up with calling Kotetsu names. In this place, this strange castle that's so far from home, he doesn't want think he's still the monster or the freak.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby can see the glow, as faint as it is. It’s definitely familiar to him, and he gasps softly to realize what it is. There’s another NEXT here, and a kid too? Did he cause that damage before? Maybe he’s a power type…

But he’s just a kid, and so the realization that he caused the damage doesn’t scare Barnaby at all. In fact, he smiles a little wider, unable to hide his excitement. It’s nice to meet someone else who might be able to understand… who wouldn’t make fun of him for being weird.

He doesn’t run away, but just kneels down a bit so he can see Kotetsu clearly. “I don’t want to go away. Not if you’re a NEXT like me.” He activates his own powers with a nervous giggle. He doesn’t know how long they’ll last, since the time seems to fluctuate depending on his mood and any number of other factors right now, but hopefully it’ll last long enough for Kotetsu to see.

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu tries to scoot a bit further into the closet, at first. But then he hears Barnaby's words...and sees that unmistakable glow.

This time, when the boy looks up, it's more of a cautious peek, halfway lifting his head and squinting one eye at Barnaby. But there's no mistaking that light, that light surrounding Barnaby and making his eyes glow, too...

Kotetsu draws in a long, shuddering gasp, suddenly sitting up straight. "You're...?" He can scarcely dare to believe it. Then all of a sudden he surges forward, landing on his hands and knees, the better to look Barnaby in the eye as though to reassure himself that Barnaby is really there, really real.

"You're a NEXT, too?!" he cries. And then, because Barnaby is, Kotetsu beams from ear-to-ear, so hard that his cheeks hurt after so long crying. "That's so cool!"

[lostbunny]

Barnaby catches a glimpse of the child's eyes, and smiles just a little wider. Okay, he's seen now. That should help, right? He shouldn't be so scared if he finds out Barnaby is the same as him.

And indeed, Barnaby seems to be right, as he suddenly crawls out from the darkness. Barnaby stands his ground, doesn't back away. When Kotetsu beams so widely, Barnaby laughs again, more enthusiastic this time.

"Yeah! I'm Barnaby Brooks Jr. Nice to meet you!" He offers a hand to shake, before he recalls himself and lowers it. "Oh... sorry. I don't want to be rude, but I don't want to squeeze your hand too hard."

[oldmantiger]

Kotetsu is so caught up in the moment that he half-reaches out to take Barnaby's hand, before the other kid pulls it back sharply and Kotetsu remembers himself, too. Oh, right. That would not be a good idea. He pulls his hand away quickly, and sticks them both back in his pocket after getting cautiously to his feet. "It's okay!" he answers hastily, laughing a little. "I don't wanna squeeze your hand too hard, either."

...wait a second...

"Do you have the Hundred Power, too?" He knows there are a lot of different power-type NEXT, theoretically speaking, though he hardly ever sees any NEXT at all. But that glow, that reaction...it almost seems like too much to hope for, but he can't keep the hope entirely out of his voice. "My name's Kotetsu Kaburagi! It's really great to meet you, Barnaby!"

[lostbunny]

Barnaby is a smart kid. He knows that, his parents have told him that many times before. But it seems Kotetsu is just as smart, quickly realizing what would be wrong with... shaking hands with Hundred Power. And actually noticing that they both have the same power before Barnaby did.

He gasps, unable to hide his excitement.

"Yes! How did you know? That's what everyone calls it, since I have it on a time limit. We just don't know how long it'll last yet... but it's not super strength permanently."

That's about as much as he can explain about his power right now, but at least Kotetsu knows what he's talking about and has a similar power. Barnaby beams to realize he has a companion here.

"It's nice to meet you yoo! Um, kind of a coincidence to meet another NEXT."

[oldmantiger]

"Because...I don't shake hands with people, either. When I glow like that." His expression falters for a moment. "My dad says I shouldn't touch anyone. Just in case." Or else he'll hurt them. And since he can't really control when the power comes or goes, it's led to Kotetsu learning not to touch people at all.

It doesn't seem like quite as much of a coincidence to Kotetsu, given what he's seen already. Then again, he has a theory that he hasn't quite accepted is disproven yet. "I guess so. I kinda thought this place might be a school, though. Y'know. The kinda school where they send NEXT to." Where they could learn to control their powers away from normal people.

[lostbunny]

"...Oh. You have to be careful touching normal people when your power is working, yes. But I'll be okay! You shouldn't hurt me if I glow the same, right?" Barnaby just has to activate his powers at the same time, and then Kotetsu won't have to worry.

He tilts his head in confusion. "Really? I'm not even old enough to go to regular school yet. My mom says I probably could go to kindergarten if I wanted, but I like visiting my parents at work more."

[oldmantiger]

"Woah, really?" Kotetsu laughs in amusement. The blue glow around him starts to slowly die away. "Wow, you're tall!"

It's impossible to be scared of Barnaby, even when he's glowing with the light of the Hundred Power. Kotetsu looks down at himself, just to reassure himself that this fit is over for at least another hour. Then he sidles around Barnaby and out of the closet, dusting himself off a bit.

"How old are you? I'm twelve! We just got done with summer vacation." A summer vacation that just about changed his life. The memory makes him stick his hand in his pocket and curl it tight around his capsule figure again. He babbles happily, just grateful to have found someone to talk to so easily. "Do you know where Oriental Town is? That's where I live. What about you?"

[lostbunny]

Barnaby's powers quickly fade the longer he's talking, but he doesn't really mind, noticing that the other child is back to normal too. He blushes faintly and giggles.

"No, I'm not! Dad says I'll hit a growth spurt and then I'll be really tall. I'm only four!"

His eyes go wide. "You're twelve? You're like almost a teenager!" He's really old! And thus, really cool. Barnaby moves a little closer, happy to be able to talk with someone so easily.

"I know Oriental Town! I live a couple hours away, in Sternbild. We have a really big house, but sometimes we have the nanny stay overnight and stuff so most of the bedrooms are taken."

[oldmantiger]

"You're only four?!" Kotetsu's eyes go wide and his jaw drops. Barnaby is practically a baby! Even if he's a baby with the Hundred Power, Kotetsu knows he has to keep him safe. Maybe that's why they were assigned to be roommates. Maybe the teachers here trust that Kotetsu can help Barnaby and take care of him in such a new place. "Wow! But you sound really smart. So maybe your parents think you'd be okay starting school early."

Not like him.

At least Barnaby gives him an opening to talk about something better. "Oh!" Kotetsu claps his hands together, bouncing a bit on his toes. "I've been to Oriental Town! My school took a field trip there last week, for summer vacation!" He looks left, looks right, suddenly conspiratorial - before he leans in close to Barnaby to share his most precious secret.

"Do you know Mr. Legend? I actually met him."

And all it took was being taken hostage during a bank robbery.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby gets a little redder when Kotetsu points out his age, going back to fiddling with his toy sheepishly. “Maybe? I don’t know. School sounds really fun, and I could learn a lot, even if I like going to see my parents at work a lot too.”

Besides, then his parents won’t have to have Samantha around nannying as often, and they won’t have to find babysitters as often. So maybe it’s okay if he starts school earlier. He just wonders why his parents didn’t say anything about it…

He beams when Kotetsu starts rambling on, only for his smile to fade into complete awe.

“You met a real life superhero? Like the ones on TV? That’s so cool! My parents have a friend who knows all the superheroes, but I never got to meet anyone.”

[oldmantiger]

"Yeah! Like the ones on TV!" Kotetsu draws himself up proudly. "He said that I could be a real hero, too. And I'm gonna be. One day when I grow up, I'm gonna go to Sternbild and help people, too!"

He slings an arm around Barnaby's shoulders, even if this means he has to lean down a little bit. "What do your parents do, Barnaby? They sound cool. Mine own a shop. It's pretty boring. I have to go sometimes, though. Like when Mom's working late and I have homework to do."

[lostbunny]

“That’s so cool! I bet you’ll be an awesome hero! You could like… fight bank robbers and stuff! It’ll be exciting!”

Maybe a little scary too, which is why Barnaby definitely doesn’t have any plans to go into that line of work. But Kotetsu sounds confident, so he’ll be okay.

Barnaby automatically brightens when asked about his parents. “Oh, they’re really amazing! They’re scientists that make robots! They’re like making special armour for heroes too, but they want to make robots that will help people and… and that look like people! It’s so cool…”

[oldmantiger]

"Wow!" Kotetsu lets out a low, impressed whistle. Barnaby's parents sound amazing. "So they help heroes help people - that is really cool! And robots that look like people? That sounds just like Astro Boy!" His favorite cartoon, now and later.

He catches sight of the sign on the door out of the corner of his eye, just before they walk past it entirely. Kotetsu stops, tugging on Barnaby's hand and pointing up at it. Here's their stop - at least for now. But as he does so, another thought occurs to Kotetsu, and he finds himself asking somewhat hesitantly:

"What about you? Do you want to do that kind of thing when you grow up? Like make cool armor and Astro Boys and stuff?"

[lostbunny]

“Astro Boy? I guess so. I think it’s really cool though! They’re really, really nice.”

He’s very lucky to have them, and right now, he’s lucky to have a friend that is going to help him find them. He stops when Kotetsu does, but the conversation is keeping him distracted, even if they should continue on.

“I really want to! I like the robots they make, and I bet I could make cool ones too. And, and maybe I could make a real Astro Boy. For you.” Even if he doesn’t know what it is, because Kotetsu is cool and he deserves it.

[oldmantiger]

"Nah, I don't need a robot like that. Maybe to be friends with, but I couldn't take care of him like his scientist dad does in the manga." Kotetsu knows that it's hard enough for him to be a little brother. He aspires to be more like Muramasa...but it makes more sense to him to focus all his potential big-brotherness on Barnaby instead. "What'd be really great is if you could make some cool power armor! To fly around with and help me stop bad guys!"

Kotetsu pushes open the door to their room and steps inside, taking a look around before beaming back at Barnaby.

"Then it would be like we're saving the day together, huh?"

But to do that, they need to get home, first - or at least find out how to contact Barnaby's parents so they can get the two of them home. Kotetsu puts his hands on his hips to give the room another look.

"Do you know what your parent's phone number is? I guess we could call them...but I haven't seen any phones. Or power plugs. Or...kind of anything electric?"

That really does seem weird now, that he thinks about it.

grabby hands hhh sorry it took a while

[itstheend]

There's someone calling. But not for them.

Chara has been wandering the halls, equally lost. They've been trying to head back to the library they've found (and will probably end up sleeping in), but they must have gotten turned around somewhere - the castle is large.

At the sound of someone else, there's a hitch of breath loud enough to echo in the quiet halls. Chara wants to run away, but they're supposed to stay and face people, interact like something human.

"Excuse me, are you lost?" they call back. Is he one of the ones kidnapped here? (The ones they feel marginally more at equal footing with, because that must mean it's for similar purpose, musn't it?)

No need to apologize!

[lostbunny]

Barnaby is still calling out, hopeful someone will be able to provide some answers. Or at least some directions, because he’s sure he’s been wandering for hours and he doesn’t think he’s seen the same hallway twice yet.

He does hear something. A small gasp, and then another voice, belong to someone who’s probably a little older than he is. He squeezes his toy robot, hurrying down the hall and eventually turning a corner and finding the source of the voice.

“Hello? Yes, I’m looking for my parents. Have you seen anyone?”

Anyone at all that he knows would be welcome.

[itstheend]

Chara looks down at Barnaby, after some kicking themself for calling out.

"I have... seen several people," they answer. "I do not think any of them are your parents." Mostly because the vast majority have been kids and the one that wasn't was a monster.

They shift their arms from folded in front of them to behind them. "I am sorry," they say, low.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby just smiles at the other child, though his grin fades a bit knowing that his parents are still missing.

"Oh. That's alright. I'm sure I'll find them eventually."

He tries to look confident and brave. Surely he will find them. He's very brave, so he can take care of himself until then.

"It's nice to meet you, anyways! My name's Barnaby Brooks Jr. What's yours?"

[itstheend]

"My name is Chara Flannagan," they say. A last name for a last name. Junior. He sounds like he comes of rich stock, then. "It is nice to meet you too."

The platitude is perfectly polite, with little true warmth in it. Chara hesitates, a hand curling towards their mouth without input.

"My apologies, I have been told this place is another dimension. If they are not here, it may be impossible to find them."

This, at least, has more of a tinge of sincerity to it.

[lostbunny]

“Chara! That’s a cool name.”

He does come of rich stock, which probably explains his polite demeanor, even if excitement slips from it occasionally. The hand around Chara’s mouth is a sign of a secret, and Barnaby leans forward… only for his smile to rapidly fade.

“That’s… That must be a lie. They’re definitely here! They wouldn’t leave me alone.” His bottom lip juts out a bit, betraying his age.

[itstheend]

Chara has precious little experience with children younger than them, and moreover their sense of what is true and what isn't is somewhat shaky - so while it does feel like denial to them, they aren't sure.

"I suppose..." the idea is slow, said as it's forming. "It would not do any harm to look. Perhaps they arrived the same way."

It's within the realm of possibility, at least. Part of them itches at the idea of 'wouldn't leave me alone', but they shove it under, ignore it. Meaningless.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby brightens a bit to hear the child agree that they might be here. He hopes they have... though they must be worried then, having woken up in a strange place.

"They must be looking for me, too. I'm sure I'll find them soon."

But if they're looking for him, it might be better for him to stay in one place? Hmm.

[itstheend]

There is a secret, and it is that underneath all the thorns and vines and layers of defensive armor, Chara is a softie at the core. This is true of their younger self as well.

"If you are amenable, perhaps you could tell me what they look like. That way if I see them in my travels I can tell them you are here."

There's a subtle undercurrent to this - they will only do this if Barnaby is sure he wants them to know. Everything they've seen so far suggests he does, but they still feel the inexplicable urge to make sure.

[lostbunny]

That is a secret that Barnaby’s older self was already a little convinced was true, especially since he had been exactly the same a few years ago. Now his softie side is a little more apparent.

Being a softie, Barnaby doesn’t see any issues with letting Chara know a few extra facts.

“Oh! Um, my dad is named Barnaby, like me! He’s really tall, and he’s got brown hair, and big eyes that my mom teases him about, and um… he might still be wearing his lab coat, or just a sweater. I don’t know if he would be at work before he came here. My mom’s name is Emily! She’s really pretty. Dad says I look a lot like her. She has curly blonde hair like mine, and glasses, and she’s a little shorter than him but still pretty tall.”

[itstheend]

Chara carefully files the information away - they haven't seen anyone who looks like that in their travels, and they've explored a decent amount around the Castle, although not so extensively as to be sure they haven't missed them.

"Your father is a scientist?"

That holds their interest some - it's not a profession they've come into personal contact with outside of media.

"Would you prefer to be called Barnaby Junior?"

They wouldn't, personally, but their preferences don't matter here - they want to be sure.

[lostbunny]

“Both my parents are! They, um, they make robots and protective suits and stuff! It’s really cool, they’re trying to help people and protect them. They let me see their latest project, it’s like a robotic butler, but they’re trying to make it look like a person so it doesn’t scare little kids and stuff.”

Barnaby obviously isn’t scared because he’s a big kid. But at the question, he sticks his tongue out in a particularly immature move.

“No, that sounds all stuffy. I like Barnaby!”

[itstheend]

Robots and protective suits. Such things aren't unheard of in 211X, but they're not household items, and are expensive. It sounds like Barnaby's parents have the sort of affluence their own dream of.

Chara becomes even more inclined to become cautious.

"Barnaby it is, then."

Their older self would have adopted a dry tone, a show of casually twisting deference into defiance as is acquired habit, but as of now it's carefully earnest.

Honestly the scariest things Chara can think of look like people, but that would be... weird and creepy in and of itself to say, wouldn't it? Instead they let just a hair of curiosity out to test the waters. "Does that mean your house is full of robots?"

[lostbunny]

They're certainly not household items, but Barnaby thinks his parents are working to change that. He has endless admiration for them, and they always seem excited for what the future could bring when he talks to them.

He smiles at their confirmation. "And you're Chara! Mom says you have to repeat names if you want to remember them."

He giggles softly and shakes his head.

"Nope. I just have a toy one," he says, holding up his little blue figurine, "but the lab where my parents work have lots of robots. It's really cool in there! They're really big, and they look like... like from cartoons!"

[itstheend]

"I am."

They confirm. That's the first Chara's heard of that saying, and it's odd to someone who has been called weird or worse for their tendency to repeat, adding an extra layer of unease to their general demeanour of someone trying to navigate a conversational maze while blindfolded.

'Really big' does not sound like a trait one necessarily looks for in butlers, which suggests they build other things as well, and Chara is torn between twin 'well, duh, Chara' and 'maybe he considers person sized to be big' thoughts.

From cartoons. Chara's brain makes a particular chain of association and just punts the question out at the end without prior consultation, a tactic they hate.

"May I ask if they build mecha?"

This kid has a fondness for anime ok.

[lostbunny]

Well, Barnaby might have learned things very differently than Chara had, living a rather sheltered life so far. He’s young, though. Maybe in the future he’ll be called weird for the very same thing.

They build all sorts of things, of course, but a four-year-old is not good at describing all these things. Plus person-sized is big for a robot, so it’s a bit from both columns. The question makes him blink, and then grin. He knows about a couple anime, the ones Samantha lets him watch and the ones he watches when it’s late at night and he thinks he can turn on the TV without getting into trouble.

“I mean, I don’t know. Maybe? I haven’t seen like any people piloting robots. It’d be really cool if they did though!”

[itstheend]

"Perhaps it is a top secret project."

Chara can dream. Chara also pretty clearly doesn't have much experience with four year olds. They can tell they've done something right, at least. They step out onto a branch with the next question.

"Do they make robots for you? Perhaps one of those might be a surprise for you."

Gifts are something good parents do, right? Those mythical, hypothetical, theoretical beings.

[lostbunny]

“Probably! They have to keep lots of stuff secret. Otherwise people will steal research or something. Try to copy them.”

Chara may not have much experience with four-year-olds, but their comment on a gift certainly gets Barnaby’s attention.

“Oh! They made me this one!” He holds out the blue toy. “Maybe they’re going to make a new one too!”

[itstheend]

Chara looks at it, partly as is customary, partly out of a flicker of genuine interest welling up through the layers. All the same, look don't touch. Don't want to break it, for example.

"What does it do?"

It might just be exactly what it looks like. They feel they have to ask all the same. He sounds excited about the prospect of a new one, they think.

"An even better one, do you think?"

After all, if it isn't broken, don't fix it. The sense of floundering that hasn't left them this entire conversation is still in full force.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby giggles and continues holding it out, an offering for his new friend.

"It talks to me! Tells me stories and sings songs and stuff. It doesn't move very well, though. You can hold it if you want!"

It's a simple little toy, really, but it's impressive for what it is.

"So if they were going to make something better, probably something that could walk around and play with me and stuff!"

[ideaofjustice]

After meeting Grune, Yuri wound up looking for clothing more appropriate for the weather and more convenient than a blanket. Unfortunately, everything at the castle is at least a century out of date, but he was eventually able to find a dark hooded cloak and gloves that kept him warm.

(And maybe, just maybe, he liked the dramatic way the cloak swished around when he walked. Shhh.)

At any rate, being equipped for the weather made it easier to traverse the castle inside and out. The whole place still seems like it should be a dream but Yuri's initial dazed state has been fading, replaced mostly with frustration whenever the castle decides to switch what-door-leads-where on him, or when he starts hearing the singing from nowhere again. He's made a few fruitless attempts to find the source of said music but it always fades away before he can find it, leaving him lost in the middle of the silent hallways.

It's after one of those unsuccessful attempts when something breaks the silence. Yuri pauses, listening- it isn't someone singing, it's a child's voice calling out.

Tentatively, Yuri calls out: "Hello?"

He starts walking forward, glancing at the doorways scattered through the hall, asking "Who's there?" in a loud voice.

[lostbunny]

Barnaby is definitely looking for something a little warmer. The blazer he woke up in is more for show than to provide any protection against winter weather. He’s starting to think maybe it would have been better to just drag a blanket off the bed and try to keep warm with that.

He’s starting to get very frustrated. Every door he peers inside doesn’t offer him any source of clothing or extra warmth, and he’s always getting turned around. And worse, there’s no sign of his parents or anyone he knows anywhere…

But eventually, he does hear another voice. It’s not the voice of someone very old, as far as Barnaby can tell, and definitely not the voices of his parents, but it’s someone, and maybe someone who knows what happened to everyone and why he was left here without any explanation.

“Hello! Um, my name is Barnaby. I’m coming to find you!”

He strains his voice to call out, even as he rushes down the hallway, down a corner, and past a few pillars to find Yuri. He stares up at him, clutching his robot toy and frowning with a bit of confusion.

“Hello. N-Nice to meet you…”

[ideaofjustice]

And Yuri will also be staring down at Barnaby. This kid is... really small, probably the smallest kid Yuri's seen here so far. Yuri's an only child, far from an expert on younger kids, but it's pretty obvious from details like the way Barnaby clutches a toy for comfort that the kid's out of his comfort zone.

Which means this situation will probably take some delicacy? That seems a reasonable assumption.

"Hello," Yuri says automatically. He frowns. That's four hellos in the conversation so far, this isn't getting them anywhere. "Sorry. I'm- I'm Yuri. You're lost, right?"

[lostbunny]

Yuri seems like one of the biggest kids that Barnaby has met here. He seems really smart and… and sad, too. It looks like he’s trying to be mature, but is a little scared about it. If Barnaby’s out of his comfort zone, Yuri is too. He’s just pretending he certainly isn’t.

In an attempt to reassure the both of them, Barnaby smiles softly.

“It’s nice to meet you, Yuri. I, um, I guess I’m lost? I’m looking for my parents…”