but when I took down my defenses

[mirrorbastard]

WHO: 8-year-old zombie MIRROR MASTER and YOU
WHERE: In ur reflections!!
WHEN: Wednesday (morning, at midnight) through Saturday
WARNINGS: Doubtful, but will edit as necessary
SUMMARY: You know how Evan has no tact and bounces around reflections with no respect to privacy or boundaries? Well at least as a child he's more polite about it. And maybe not as obnoxious to talk to.
FORMAT: Whatever!


He barely slept, anymore. He hadn't felt much need to since "the accident" just like he hadn't felt the need to eat much, but sometimes boredom won out over necessity and he settled in for a nap anyway. It did get boring, staying only in the mirror even if he could still look out it the same as always, or send clones out -- the clones had seemed off, sure, but they functioned. Too bad they couldn't drink beer for him.

But then he woke up, and everything was different.

He didn't know where he was. He definitely wasn't in Miss McCulloch's orphanage, or even Scotland, but rather some kind of abstract dark corridor with millions of windows dotting the endless abyss around him. He was cold, his skin slimy and pale like marble. He stood, slowly, and began skulking down the corridor, looking through the windows for someone that might help him. He was breathing hard, but not panicking, not crying. He just shivered, and knocked on the glass now and then, warily, when he thought he saw someone. (Sometimes he didn't even knock. He just looked out, in confusion or envy or curiosity.)

"Hullo?"

Comments

[centurybaby]

Thanks. [ She seems a little amused by that. ] Yeah, we're friends or something. I'm Jenny Quantum, Spirit of the 21st Century. Ring a fucking bell?

[mirrorbastard]

None, except that it sounds real nice. [ Chinhands of admiration. ] Sorry. Wish I did remember ya. And anythin' else, really. This place is awready more exciting than home is.

[centurybaby]

[ He's a weirdly cute kid. Makes her wonder what happened, anyway. But she was a pretty endearing kid herself once. People grow up. ]

It's cool. I won't take it fucking personally. [ A beat, then curiously: ] How old are you, anyway?

[mirrorbastard]

I'm eight years old. [ He pauses for a moment, then hesitantly admits: ] Or seven. I'm nae sure exactly, but I'd rather be older. Seven's such a wee age.

[centurybaby]

Fuck, I hated being eight fucking years old.

[ She says it mildly, though, and keeps her tone mild when she goes on: ]

How the hell do you not know your own fucking age?

[mirrorbastard]

Ya remember it? I don't like it either. Not much ya can do about anything even when ya want to. Y'know?

Ah, well. [ A beat. ] Miss McCulloch didnae ken how old I was exactly when she found me. Let me pick the year meself when I was old enough.

[centurybaby]

Sure. I was doing the make-yourself-older thing before it was fucking mainstream. [ Dryly: ] Perks of being able to alter reality, I guess.

[ A little pause. ] So, what, you're like an orphan?

[mirrorbastard]

[ With mild awe: ] Ya can do that? If I could get out o' here maybe ya could make me older. Eh -- older again. How's that work, anyway?

[ He taps the glass again and sighs. He doesn't know if it'd work from the other side. He nods. ]

Aye. Got a photo of me folks, but that's all. Miss McCulloch's nice enough, though.

[centurybaby]

I dunno. I sort of just will shit to happen. Doesn't work as good here though. Alternate universe fuckery, I guess.

[ Idly, she taps the glass too. ]

Maybe you'll get adopted or something.

[mirrorbastard]

Like ya snap yer fingers? [ He nods a little, though he doesn't quite understand. ] It's strange around here. Like a comic book, eh? Is it always like that?

[ He bites his lower lip contemplatively. ]

Think so? Maybe. I don't want t'stay here forever, even if it's nae as bad now.

[centurybaby]

Yeah. Like a fucking comic book.

[ She pauses to light a cigarette. ]

Sure, why the fuck not? You're a cute enough kid, besides looking like you're sick as fuck.

[mirrorbastard]

Only way I can think t' explain it. Nothing like this has ever happened t'me before.

[ He doesn't usually like being called cute, but he doesn't mind it coming from her. ]

Mostly people adopt the wee babies, they don't want much t'do with older kids. It's awright though, I guess. [ A beat. ] I wasnae sick before I came here, though.

[centurybaby]

Don't know what the fuck for. Babies just poop and cry all day.

[ A beat of her own, smoke curling from her mouth. ]

You were sick. I don't fucking know-- grown-up you was sick. The Evan I know.

[mirrorbastard]

They think they're cuter. Suits me enough, I don't have to listen to 'em hollering.

[ He shrugs a little, rubbing his arm. ]

I don't feel sick, any. I figured I'd just caught meself a bug from being out all night, but if I was awready sick I guess I didnae do anything wrong. Don't like it much, though.

[centurybaby]

[ Jenny makes a considering noise around her cigarette. ]

Yeah, well you've been sick a fucking while, so I doubt you've got a stupid cold or something. Probably wouldn't be a shitty idea to get you out here or get a fucking doctor in there.

[mirrorbastard]

[ Evan looks at her before shaking his head. ]

I don't want no doctor. I'm nae even coughing, see?

[ He smiles to indicate his great health. ]

Right as rain. Or right enough.

[centurybaby]

Pretty sure that isn't how people who are right as fucking rain look, but it's not like I can force you. [ Dryly: ] If you start barfing up your guts or something, don't say I didn't tell you so.

[mirrorbastard]

I'll tell ya if that starts happenin'. Worst I've felt is a chill. Besides, dinnae ken how I'd get out o'here even if I wanted to.

[centurybaby]

Only saying it 'cause we're fucking friends, and friends tell friends when friends look like shit. [ Her tone stays mild though. ] Don't you have like, a fucking mirror gun or something?

[mirrorbastard]

Aye... [ He wrinkles his nose a little. ] Havenae worked it out, though. I tried it a wee while and only messed things up. It's mad complicated.

[centurybaby]

Well.

[ Another curling exhale of smoke. ]

If it makes you feel any better, you'll figure it out eventually. They don't fucking call you Mirror Master for nothing.

[mirrorbastard]

[ He smiles a little. ]

The more I hear it, the better I like how it sounds. 'Course if I'm lucky I'll remember it all soon. Seems strange that I don't when so many people know me. [ He pauses, then amends: ] Older me.

[centurybaby]

Yeah, well, alotta shit probably happens between you now and older you. Not saying being eight fucking years old doesn't suck, but it's probably less fucking baggage.

[mirrorbastard]

Cannae be much worse, I bet. At least when yer older people cannae push ya around the same.

And I get a gun.

[centurybaby]

[ She huffs out an amused breath. ]

I guess you do make a pretty okay grown-up. Considering most grown-ups kinda suck and all.