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]

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...

[justicereigns]

No, you're not. It doesn't matter what you did, there is no good reason for her to do that.

[corruptedsouls]

[And now he's trying to wrench away. He's... not very strong, so there's basically no chance.]

I am... I am! I... I killed someone! And... it's still...

[And now he's having a psychotic freak-out, here, Smoker. Good luck with that.]

[justicereigns]

It doesn't matter. You're just a kid, killing you in return is unforgivable.

[corruptedsouls]

It's not! It's not! I... I shouldn't be alive!

[Sorry, it's going to take way more than that to knock him out of his fit.]

[justicereigns]

Then why are you?

[corruptedsouls]

...I don't know...

[That, however, will do it. He just looks down at the hand bearing the bracelet angrily, like it's the cause of all his misery.]

[justicereigns]

[Gentle hug.]

Then I don't believe you shouldn't be alive. Of all the people who've wound up here, maybe you belong here for a reason, all right?

[corruptedsouls]

...Why...?

[justicereigns]

[It's not his style to say so the kid will be safe, and besides there are more reasons to it.]

How did you kill someone before?

[corruptedsouls]

....

[He doesn't want to say. He really doesn't. But something about Smoker makes him want to confess, so he tries to wriggle out of his grip again.]

I deleted him.

[justicereigns]

[He has no idea what that means so...]

On purpose?

[corruptedsouls]

No... he was just trying to help, but... I didn't know... how it worked... and I...

[And he goes back to sobbing violently.]