The Inspection

[acciomod]

On the whole, the weather had been temperamental lately. One minute, it was absolutely bucketing it down, and the next, it was bright sunshine. The amount of rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess, but at least the tents provided perfectly adequate shelter, and a gazebo had been erected over the community dining table to protect everyone from the elements.

Despite the temperamental weather, however, it had been fairly warm throughout the past two weeks, so the chill in the air during dinner that evening was particularly noticeable, even before the dark, hooded figure by the Ministry's representative's desk had been seen.

Nervously, the Ministry representative approached the table.

"I'm afraid we have a visitor," he said, addressing everyone at the table and hoping that anyone not there could hear him. "This is a Dementor, one of the Guards at Azkaban. It's a high security prison. He's just here to, well, ensure that a certain escaped criminal isn't hiding amongst you.

"I don't expect he'll be here for more than an half an hour, so do try not to worry too much. They can make people rather, well... uncomfortable."

Bowing his head slightly, he left the Outsiders to their meal.

[And so, a Dementor is lurking around the camp, just in case one of the Outsiders is secretly Sirius Black. They're known to sap the happiness out of the environment, and - in cases where there are true horrors in someone's past - cause traumatic memories to resurface.

The chilly, depressed feeling can be lifted by the deliciousness of chocolate, though the Outsiders will need to discover this on their own. Good thing there's dessert.]

Comments

[corruptedsouls]

[The moment the fabric comes down over him, he locks up, taking in something that could barely be considered a breath and looking up almost like you'd think he was a protagonist in a horror movie.

...Well. I think his heart just stopped.]

[justicereigns]

Oi...

[Yeah Smoker scares little kids. He can't help his face okay! And he doesn't have any candy-- oh wait yes he does. Want a candy cigarette? >> He's not a pedophile, he just likes candy cigarettes okay.]

Do you have cops or marines in your world? I'm a good guy, I swear. [Points the symbol on his jacket.] That means justice, okay.

[corruptedsouls]

[...The fear gives way to utter confusion. Surprisingly, it doesn't seem as if his face really does terrify the boy that much, if it's something so easily tossed aside at the mere sight of...

Candy?

The boy hesitates, one hand going to touch the jacket gingerly as if he's afraid that it's going to burn him. When it doesn't, he -- very slowly -- takes the candy cigarette too, looking at it interestedly like it's some strange thing he's never seen.]

...No marines...

[Holy crap, he speaks!]

[justicereigns]

[Smoker just gives him the whole pack and grabs a cross-legged seat on the ground next to him.]

Understood. Well, it means my job was to protect kids and fight pirates.

How are you feeling?

[corruptedsouls]

[Eh? More things? He takes it, though, looking over to Smoker now. He's still afraid, but it seems he's more curious than not now.

Feeling...? He just shrugs a little, playing with the cigarettes like he thinks they're a toy rather than candy.]

[justicereigns]

[Takes one and replaces one of his smoking cigars for the candy one. See? Candy.]

That demontor thing is rough, huh?

[corruptedsouls]

[He blinks a little at that, tilting his head and looking down at the candy. He puts one of them in his mouth like Smoker did, his eyes widening a little.

I'm sorry, were you saying something? He was scarfing down the entire package in the blink of an eye.]

[justicereigns]

[His eyes widen.]

O-oi... Kid... slow it down. You'll get sick like that. They taste better slowly anyway. Like pocky.

When was the last time you ate?

[corruptedsouls]

....

[He shrugs a little, clearly not sure. He does stop after getting most of it down, though, putting the package in his lap and looking down a bit.

He does try to give the package back, though.]

[justicereigns]

[Takes the pack.] Here you can have these back when you get some real food.

They have some here, so let's go do that, all right?

[corruptedsouls]

[A pause, then he shakes his head again, looking at the assembled table with enough fear that you'd think he was looking at a group of serial killers.]

[justicereigns]

[Not so much a mind reader so Smoker just tilts his head in confusion.]

I don't think the dementor's still here, if that's what you're worried about.

[corruptedsouls]

People.

[And that's all he'll say to that, curling in one the coat and... almost disappearing into it. Geeze, what a small kid for someone supposedly his age...]

[justicereigns]

[It doesn't help that that is a huge jacket.]

[Smoker just nods his head thoughtfully and takes out his cigar to finish up the candy cigarette he was sucking on.]

Wait here, I'll be right back. [And you know it's true, because he left his jacket with the kid. Call it insurance.]

[corruptedsouls]

[He nods a little, pausing to snuggle into the fur part of the jacket. Hee, this is actually really warm. Makes him feel almost sleepy now...]

Okay.

[justicereigns]

[Smoker heads off and returns pretty quickly with a plate of food, your usual picnic fare, but also a chocolate bar for desert. And a plate for himself, of course.]

All right here. [Though hopefully the kid won't get the jacket too messy, he's not sure how easy it'll be to clean yet.]

I'm Smoker. [Offers a handshake.]

[corruptedsouls]

[His eyes light up at the sight of the food and he sits up, though the handshake seems to confuse him. He looks at Smoker's hand, then up to him, clearly baffled and frowning a little now.

...He doesn't remember how this works.]

[justicereigns]

[He switches the handshake to a very light gentle head pat.]

Eat up. [And he will just have a few things himself. Nom nom.]

[corruptedsouls]

[He winces at the head pat, but doesn't shy away too much. Especially not with the food there -- time to scarf it all down in the blink of an eye!]

[justicereigns]

So just when was the last time you ate anything?

[Holy shit kid. You make Luffy look reserved.]

[corruptedsouls]

...

Days ago... maybe...

[Well, that would explain partly why he's so easily consumed by Smoker's coat, even beyond what he should be.]

[justicereigns]

All right, well take it easy, okay? Your body needs time to adjust.

[corruptedsouls]

Adjust?

[DOES NOT COMPUTE.]

[justicereigns]

Yeah, it's like getting stronger, it doesn't happen overnight. It's gradual.

[corruptedsouls]

But... I don't usually... get this much...