Drift Fleet // Not Remotely Canon

[scratchling]

OPTION A:

You've noticed that things have been going missing for the last few days. Little things, mostly. Spoons. Lightbulbs. Maybe that pet rock you were particularly fond of. There's also been more rattling in the vents than usual. Today, you wander into the engine room for whatever reason and find that a child is in there, huddled in a far corner.

This child looks to be twelve, maybe fourteen at the most. Red hair, red eyes. Very thin. His face is scratched up and in various stages of healing. He's bleeding around the mouth a little. His arms look scratched up, under loose, dirty bandages. His clothes are worse for wear. He looks like he might be eating spare parts for the engine, which is pretty strange. He picks a small wrench up, pops it into his mouth, and presumably swallows it--as it disappears.

Further investigation might reveal a soft, absent-minded, telekinetic humming in your head. How odd.

OPTION B:

A boy of similar description is on the surface of one of the three moons, but he is having a frightful time trying to get across a busy street. People don't seem to notice him so much, and he seems terrified to touch anyone--darting nervously around legs and trying not to make any noise.

He looks to be in bad shape. Attentive people might notice a soft whimpering noise being projected into their minds.

OPTION C:

There's a pile of mice. Wherever they are, they seem very confused, all trying to climb clumsily on top of each other. There are about a boy-sized amount of them, isn't that odd? Gosh. Who the heck left all these rodents here.

Comments

A

[alwayscomeback]

[Sokka has, indeed, noticed the disturbing lack of stuff. Not at first, of course, but enough spoon go missing, you start to ask questions. He heads into the engine room to do some upkeep work, and is surprised to find a kid there. He pauses, then offers a small smile. ]

Uh. Hey. When did you show up?

[scratchling]

[there's a small, curious, telepathic little "?" as he turns to look... but the humming goes very suddenly quiet as the kid stares back at the person who's found him.

and slowly... sinks... down... and starts to slide underneath the engine to hide.]

[alwayscomeback]

[Oh, snap. Sokka falters for a moment, not sure what to do, before couching a little, trying his best to soften his tone.]

It's okay...little guy? I'm not gonna hurt you.

[scratchling]

[he does an unusually good job of quickly wedging himself under the engine! he stares up at Sokka with very wide, red eyes... that mind-noise comes back again, but this time it forms very clear words. he sounds like a little kid, though his mouth never moves.]

Muh... Monster is not... in trouble...?

[alwayscomeback]

Monster?

[Was that what this kid is calling himself? Yeesh. ]

No, not it's fine. Welcome to the Blue Fish, little buddy. You're safe here, I promise.

[scratchling]

Hm...

[he looks up for another moment... but decides that Sokka isn't lying, and sticks his head out a little more, slowly emerging from his spot.]

He's not supposed to be here. He won't tell...?

[alwayscomeback]

You're not? But if you got Shuffled, this'll be your ship.

...But sure, ok, I won't...tell?

[scratchling]

Shuffle... Sshhuffle... Hrm...

[he slides out a little more. almost completely out of hiding...! but since Sokka seems very nice, the kid starts 'speaking' more freely...]

Mmrm, Monster... was on the big ship, and there was him everywhere outside, and he was there for a while but then he was here and the little papers went POP!

[he throws his hands in the air! and sprinkles his fingers down with a little mental shimmering noise. ...maybe he's talking about the confetti.]

[alwayscomeback]

Yep, that's about right.

[Sokka offers what he hopes is a warm, encouraging smile. He's not the team cheerleader, this isn't his forte.]

That means that you got moved off the big ship, and now you're on this one. I promise you'll like it here, we're all pretty cool.

[scratchling]

...Mm! Mister seems very nice.

[he seems to get a little shy as he says this, looking down at his arms... oh, what a mess. he frowns.]

...Monster... Is sorry, he didn't mean to get messy again. He should... Find more of these? [he holds up his vaguely-bandaged arms.] Tabby-mom always put Monster in them.

[alwayscomeback]

Sokka. My name's Sokka.

[Oh you poor fucking kid.]

You need more bandages? We can get them, Allen has a ton in his lab.

[scratchling]

Sooookka. Aaaaallen.

[he nods... sticking a finger in his mouth.]

Sokka is captain. Sokka will be nice to Monster. Monster knows... Okay!

[he seems to brighten a little! smiles and stands up. he's not very tall, but at least he seems a little more human.]

Monster and Sokka will go to the lab!

[alwayscomeback]

[Well, this is better than him hiding, Sokka will take it. ]

You better believe it, kiddo.

Come on, we can go find Allen.