Unfurtunate Timing

[meowgical]

[ooc: Not set immediately after they escaped Agrabah, but while helpful chores may still need to be done.]

[A whole debate happens before Adrien ever actually talks to them on the mirrors. Because he's not about to deal with the strangest situation he's ever been in (and that's saying something) without trying to figure out what approach to take.]

[At first he's not sure the situation really is what the whispers said it was - after all, plenty of akumatized villains had the ability to draw people into little pocket dimensions or realms or alter reality around people. It's only after testing his surroundings and poking around a little that he's satisfied with reality actually maybe possibly being real.]

[Then there's the mirror. Adrien listens to it first, hears voices of people organizing camp, talking about helping injured people. He tries to glean enough to at least get a vague sense of what's going on with whoever's nearby and figure out if they're hostile.]

[Then comes the debate: he wants to rush in as Chat Noir - because that's his first instinct when people apparently are hurt and talking about an attack. Plagg, his own personal Greek chorus, disagrees because the situation is so different from home. There is a bunch of furious hissing back and forth, largely because they both have no idea what the hell's going on.]

[Ultimately, Adrien is convinced he can always run off and change later, so when he finally gets on the mirror, Plagg safely tucked away, it's as himself.]

[Because he can help as himself, can't he? Adrien Agreste is not someone that wades into danger when he's always running off to transform so he can come back as Chat Noir. But this is a really odd situation he's having trouble even believing is real.]

[So he tries, even if it feels wrong to have no plan to run off to become Chat Noir as soon as he can get away. Like showing up to a black tie event in a t-shirt because he had the wrong idea about the dress code.]

Uh. Hi? [A little, confused wave of his fingers.] I'm Adrien. Adrien Agreste. I just got here? Wherever here is.

[He's definitely young. Baby-faced. He only turned fourteen a short time ago. He sounds unsure at first, pensive.]

I have no idea where I am, or what's going on, or if any of this is even real, but...

[His voice takes on far more resolve, the way it does when he's helping usher classmates and other civilians away from akuma villain attacks, barring doors and windows and giving them directions when they're too scared to move otherwise, before running off to transform and help Ladybug fight after they're safe.]

What can I do to help? I heard people talking on the mirror about an attack, saying that some people were hurt. I don't know how to do any first aid, but I can run errands. Get water, help find things that can be used for bandages, things like that. I just need someone to tell me what needs to be done.

Comments

[millenyal_pink]

[Elle is going to kill someone. Because that's another child.

The Green brought in another fucking kid, one who looks like he could be even younger than Little Cato. Elle is fucking furious right now.

If she hadn't already let off so much steam tonight, she might've Frenzied then and there. Luckily, she's able to set the boiling Rage aside for now; she can deal with that later.]

Hey, Adrien, I'm Elle. Sorry no one can give you a warmer welcome, but things are kind of hectic right now.

[Understatement.

She doesn't want to put the kid to work immediately, but they need the extra pair of hands. At least it sounds like he showed up after they fled the city.]

Yeah, there are supplies that need doling out. We can make sure there's a bedroll and some food and water set aside for you, too.

Have you found the camp? We're a little scattered, but mostly in the same area.

[He can't be too far, with the teleportation boundary and everything.]

[meowgical]

I'm here at the camp. I'll try to find you.

[He starts looking for her as he picks his way through the scattered camp.]

If people are hurt and need the bed rolls I can go without one. It seems like all of you have been through a lot but I'm pretty well rested.

[He is 900% prepared to fall asleep sitting up against a tree if a sick, injured, elderly, or younger person needs warmth and something soft to rest on first.]

And I'm used to sleeping in odd places sometimes.

[He usually has a very busy schedule. One that, even aside from school and studying, and his clubs, and sports, and tutoring sessions, often includes supervillain fights and night patrols. While he has high energy in general, he's indulged in the occasional cat nap - ha! - while upright in his director's chair while they prepped a shoot. Or leaning against some kind of prop while they worked out a technical issue while filming a commercial.]

[There was also that time he nodded off and fell out of his chair while waiting for his cue when recording some voice lines for the movie about Ladybug... and himself. Because he played himself without anyone realizing.]

[millenyal_pink]

[This kid is way too prepared to sacrifice his comfort for others.]

Dude, it's fine. We have extras, and some people are taking watch.

[If he's insistent on helping then Elle can give him some stuff to do. That way she can make a general assessment while she's showing him around. So far the youngest members of the group have had powers or combat skills; something that could make a non-human entity think they're suitable for saving the world. Maybe Adrien will continue the pattern.]

I'm by the west campfire. The clearing with the big fallen tree.

[Hopefully that's enough description that he can find her relatively easily.]

->action

[meowgical]

That's good to know. It just...

[He looks around, expression practically bleeding sympathy.]

Looked like you don't have much to work with.

I'll meet you there.

[He does find her. He's taller than Little Cato but is definitely younger than him - or at least has the energy of someone less sure of themselves. There is no cagey awareness and confident body language.]

[He's a little shrunk in on himself.]

[But that's always how it is when he's Adrien. He needs to wear the mask to dare to be someone else.]

[But he still clearly is willing to put any fear or confusion aside. He looks at the camp around her.]

What do you need me to hand out and who is it going to?

[He's clearly underdressed for the misty woods, in only a t-shirt and jeans. Goosebumps are raised all over his arms.]

[But his first thought isn't for himself.]

[diedforyoursins]

[Hey, here's a kid that looks to be fairly close to Adrien's age. Peers are good, right? Disconcerting coloring aside, anyway.]

You're quick to help. Even without knowing what's real. It's very human, the instinct to give aid even with no promise of personal gain, even to complete strangers.

[ totally normal teen dialogue ]

[meowgical]

[Adrien is utterly unphased by Kaworu's entire deal.]

[A combination of unnatural hair-color and strangely mellow and philosophical discussion? All he has to do is torture a few metaphors about music and he'll remind him of a friend.]

[Adrien has been given some tasks and is already handing things out to people by the time he answers Kaworu. Fortunately, the mirrors do that floaty thing. He's multi-tasking - as he often does - trying to get information and meet people while helping.]

I guess it is.

Even if I'm not sure this is real, I'd rather try to help. If I'm wrong about it being real and it turns out it's a nightmare - or something else that's in my head - I can live with that. But I'd feel terrible if it turned out to be real and I didn't help.

The people here seem really hurt and exhausted.

[diedforyoursins]

[He waits patiently, sitting away from the main body of the group somewhere. Unharmed as he seems to be, maybe he's just staying out of the way of people more equipped to help. His own ability to help people is fairly limited, after all, and he's still not accustomed to being so involved with others.]

Is this more a nightmare than a dream to you?

[meowgical]

Yes.

I showed up somewhere unfamiliar where lots of people are hurt. Some of the hurt people don't look much older than I am.

[He notices a hurt little...cat? A cat boy? Being tended to by some people. His face falls - especially since he's a cat boy! Normally he'd want to go over and get to know him. How often does he get to meet someone else like him?]

Some are maybe younger.

[He gets back to handing out the things he was told to hand out.]

So it seems like a nightmare - or something caused by an akuma. If it's one of those two, though, I'd rather it be a nightmare; at least a nightmare would only be affecting me.

[He doesn't know an akuma isn't actually possible. He has no idea where he is, so he's not 100% sure he's not on his world. Even the cat boy and any alien looking people don't nix the possibility of somewhere on his own planet. His world has metahumans, magical amulets that create transformations with animal traits, superheroes, sentient robots, even a few displaced aliens like Majestia.]

[slowmotionbuscrash]

[ Oh hey. New guy.

New guy who is like 12. Tommy doesn’t have a lot of room to be superior here, as his superhero squad had some under 16s but fuck it. He isn’t the one who let them in; he can judge the fuck out of the green for this. ]

How do we know that you’re not a baby magic hunter, Adrien Adrien Agreste, because you’re like ‘I don’t know if this is real’ but ‘hey where’s the water and medical supplies’?

If you’re not, sorry about your new life as missing child.

[meowgical]

[The only person that Chat knows who has that much attitude is -]

[Well, himself. At least when he's being Chat. Though, this new guy - another white-haired guy for some reason? - is definitely a bit more blunt than him.]

[He'd never make a crack about someone being a missing chi - oh boy, does he really need to focus on helping people instead of picturing how much his father is going to freak if he notices he's gone.]

[He doesn't get angry, though. Technically he is a missing child, as of right this second.]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Passing out water and medical supplies is about all I'm good for, unless people need something translated - which doesn't seem to be a problem - or need tips on how to handle a catwalk. This doesn't look like Milan fashion week so I think it's safe to say the second one isn't going to come up.

[slowmotionbuscrash]

[ Tommy is also, technically, a missing child, but he has been since before he was here and no one seems much interested in finding him.

And Tommy doesn’t know what literal children should do in the camp - Molly is the only other little kid he knows and she’s definitely be pulling the rabbit’s tail and challenging Superboy to an arm wrestling match - but he had strong feelings about the exploitation of kids. ]

You’re 10. Since when do they let 8 year olds walk in Gucci shows?

[meowgical]

I'm fourteen. My dad owns his own brand so I do a lot of modeling.

[He doesn't sound like he hates it but also doesn't sound super enthused.]

[Because he's not really bragging, it's just that he doesn't want anyone to suspect he's some of the things he is, and the modeling definitely helps some people suspect even less, generally. He wants to try shaping some perceptions through his first impressions.]

[It's pretty useless compared to "hero that regularly teams up with another hero to save all of Paris."]

I can't think of anything else to do other than this.

[The handing things out.]

[unsealthecatbox]

[Adrien doesn't even know if any of this is real. Mood, kid. Mood. She doesn't give a welcome line right away, instead saying:]

The Green needs to stop bringing kids.

[Why does it seem to her like they're younger every time? Well, coming of age adventures are a thing. Who knows, maybe that's why this is happening]

[meowgical]

I'm a teenager.

[He says in the way kids do when they don't realize being a teenager in middle school is still being a kid.]

I'm 14.

[He says like he didn't just turn it not too long ago.]

[unsealthecatbox]

That's not the rebuttal you think it is.

[Yup, definitely a kid. Well, c'est la vie. It's useless to be annoyed at the Green because it's not like anything can be done about this anyway, so may as well welcome this one to the group]

Feel free to mingle around whenever you feel like it. You'll fit right in and soon others will come to get you settled. A lot of people around here watch out for the younger ones. [As hard as that's to believe, but hey, more power to them]

My name's Ange.

[French name! Although apparently it's a masculine one, haha]

[moonlightfrost]

[ this sweet summer child ]

Most modern cultures, which account for a large share of this group, would still not see that distinction as a justification. Our presence here is comparable to a military draft, albeit one lacking in clear goals and any hierarchy.

[ Mostly he just means that they're here to possibly kill and be killed, which for a fourteen-year-old who appears to be from a twenty-first century society, is no bueno.

Koshimizu sees it a bit more pragmatically, given that he's been around for most of human existence. He's seen views change and evolve, and while he doesn't exactly like relying on teenagers to help him defend Tokyo in the absence of the rest of his pantheon, he's seen that some of them are absolutely capable of rising to the occasion - even those raised in those softer modern times. ]

Don't take it as a reflection on your own capabilities, but rather as a statement on the dangers we face here.

[scansorial]

Adrien. Agreste, that's, uh, French? I'm Miles. Only recently arrived myself. I'm pretty much in the same boat, just. Trying to help out where I can somehow. This is....real enough. I mean. We just have to figure doing what we can to help each other out.

[As much as others would let them, being probably among the youngest of those here. Miles is the same age, after all. And without anyone familiar from home, even if some others are vaguely at least aware of Spider-Man, just. Not Miles specifically. Other Spiders. Probably Peter, whatever version of him their world has.]

It's. A lot, I know.

[meowgical]

It is French. I'm from Paris.

[He does look thrown by what's going on. Yes, he immediately jumped into trying to help; He's Chat Noir. It's his job to help people. If Ladybug were here she'd be doing it with him.]

[But he's also 14, alone in another world with strangers, having had no say in being brought here.]

[For just a second, the uncertainty and understandable fear bleeds through, but he quickly masks it. His brows are still furrowed slightly though.]

What was it that attacked all these people?

[scansorial]

Paris. I haven't gotten out of New York, but that must be pretty amazing.

[Then again. He himself lives in a capital. He can't really complain he misses out because of that. Because he doesn't. Miles just wishes he got to travel more, get out there more. Though of course, his parents jobs kind of make that a little difficult. Not to mention his Spider-Man thing now. He's not sure if he could really leave or take a break. Not without consequences anyway.]

That's. Depends? There were a few creatures and others attacking. So it might be a variety, kind of.

[tr1xx]

[ Well that's sure another kid, and Cammie's hardly the first person in the group to get all up in arms about the kid thing because she's a whole bundle of issues but 1) he looks among the youngest yet, 2) he looks like a normal kid, and 3) he kinda looks like her little brother might've looked at his age and oh, boy. ]

Welcome to the rabble, Adrien. I'm Cammie. Where you are and what's really goin' on is a bit of a long an' frankly incomplete story, but the short version is ye in some magical fantasy dimension, along with a buncha people from different universes. And aye, you luckily just missed us bein' attacked. [ a beat ] ...again.

It's all a bit bonkers no matter which way ye cut it, but however weird you think stuff is right now, it's prooobably gonnae get weirder, so uh. Brace yourself, I guess?

Group's all pretty happy to help each other figure stuff out, though. So there's that.

[meowgical]

A different...universe.

[His voice sounds faint.]

[Oh no, that's...bad. That's really really far from home. If this was some weird pocket dimension made by an akuma victim, there might be a way out that can be found shortly.]

[But if he's stuck here for longer, in a completely different worlds, how will he get back to help defend Paris?]

[And how will he get back before his father notices he's gone?]

And nobody knows why? I heard the voices...when I fell. Something about saving something. Is it... did magic cause this somehow? My world has magic.

[tr1xx]

It's a lot, isn't it? [ she sounds genuinely sympathetic ] For what it's worth, stuff works funny in these places. Had someone from home turn up recently, never even noticed I was gone despite arrivin' way later. So.

[ It's the thing that's always bothered her the most about being yanked away from home, not knowing what's going on back there, if things are moving on without her. She figures she's not the only one. No matter what your life is like back home, most probably don't want to miss it. ]

Magic's got somethin' to do with it. Not sure how much it's got to do with how it picks us, 'cause my world's got no magic at all, but...

What we know right now is mostly that this place, the Wilderlands, whatever it's called, is yankin' in pieces of other worlds. Mostly magical ones, we've seen a couple already an' we're heading to another. Apparently if it keeps goin' like this it'll eventually collapse? The Green people keep mentionin' seems to be who or whatever's bringing us here.

Seems to want us to help fix it, somehow. Far as we can tell, anyway. No pressure, right?

[partydude]

If ya really wanna help, pretty sure we could always use more water.

Unless we were in a lake. Or an ocean. Or stuck in a hurricane. Then we'd probably need less.

[meowgical]

[If he looks unphased by the turtle guy he...kind of is? He has a friend who turns turtle-ish and some of the United Heroez look very different from normal humans.]

I had to hop over a stream while walking here. I can show someone where it is, if you have something to carry water in. It's not fair. I could see the fires from the camp.

[partydude]

I'm not doin' anything right now. I can come with!

[Mikey has far too few friends for someone who's such an extrovert, and nearly none anywhere near his own age. This is an opportunity.]

I'm Michelangelo, beeteedubs, but you can call me Mikey. Everyone else does.