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]

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...

[justicereigns]

Hn. You still will here, okay? Even if I have to give you my meals to make up for it. So give it some time.

[corruptedsouls]

[He just kind of stares a little dumbfoundedly, as if it really takes his brain a moment to get caught up that this stranger is offering to give up his own food to feed him.

....Yeah. Sorry, Smoker, but this kid is suddenly latched on you in a hug, terrifying face or not.]

[justicereigns]

[aslkdjaslkdjaslkdj2liejaqlijaldkj]

[MENTAL KEYSMASH.]

[There's a kid hugging him OH GOD.]

I-it's no problem, really.

[corruptedsouls]

Thank you...

[Still barely above a whisper, but he's not letting go.]

[justicereigns]

It's fine, seriously. [Pats his head.]

[corruptedsouls]

[He still cringes a little at the pat, but that just makes him cling a bit tighter. Even if he can't even put his arms completely around your waist, it's actually... comforting like this.]

[justicereigns]

So no parents at home I take it?

[corruptedsouls]

[That causes him to tense up and he does release Smoker now, wrapping his arms around himself to try to hide down into the coat.]

...my mom... tried to kill me...

[justicereigns]

[Just. Eyes widen. And now Smoker's the one giving a hug. He literally can't think of anything worse. Hell in OP-verse, nothing is worse. So he's just biting back a growl.]

Hn. Good job getting away. [Definitely clenching a fist, but he's down on his knees, trying to keep the kid protected.]

[corruptedsouls]

[Eh? He's suddenly swept up into a hug by the big man, but it's more soothing than surprising right now. He tries to snuggle into Smoker as much as he can, though that only serves to muffle his voice further.]

...she... thought that... I was just... a monster... and already dead...

[And having to remember this is causing the tears to fall all over again.]

[justicereigns]

[Ugh. Just trying not to crush Toby in a hug, but it's super soothing like a giant plushie blanket.]

She was wrong. The most wrong possible. You're not a monster.

[corruptedsouls]

[Yeah, you might wanna be careful about that, Smoker. With how tiny and thin this boy is, even a little bit of extra pressure could snap him like a twig.]

...she wasn't wrong... I am one...