[OPEN] Changes in Me

[mylastchance]

Who: Lauren and you.
What: He mad.
Where: The carnival grounds.
When: Before agent-nappings

I. He nearly shrieks when he sees it. He's washing his hands, leaving the restroom when he catches sight of himself in the mirror. There it is, a large leaf growing out out of the top of his head, and falling down over his hair. He stares at it in shock, lifting it up and trying to pull it out, but of course it doesn't budge.

"Susan? SUSAN?!"

II. Despite the change Lauren wasn't reluctant to leave his trailer. He had a leaf growing out of his head instead of hair, and it refused to be moved. His ears were longer and more elf-like as well. He should have known it was coming, of course, but for some reason he hadn't expected it to happen like this. Although many individuals at the carnival were strange in appearance, he'd had no reason to assume it was because of working here, or that it would happen to him. He knows he was being naive, and that only makes him angrier. That's the feeling that motivates him now, the only reason he can make himself leave the trailer.

He can't stay in that small space right now. His feelings were getting the best of him, boiling over and he didn't have any idea how to deal with it. Instead he stomped throughout the carnival grounds, staff in hand. He was angry and it showed in the tension of his shoulders and the scowl on his face.

Will you get in his way?

Comments

[fragileandsoft]

You know what helps in getting in the way? Carrying too many broken chunks of wood and metal to see where you're going. Really makes it hard to avoid bumping into people.

"Ohh cripes-- I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

[mylastchance]

He steps back, startled, he was so angry he hadn't even realized where he was walking. He hisses in pain, looking at his arm. It's a scratch, but it's small, barely even bleeding. He huffs, covering it with his hand as he steps out of Greg's way.

"I'm fine."

[fragileandsoft]

There's no clearer way to say he's not fine. Greg's attention quickly turns fully to Lauren, and he shuffles his load in order to start putting it down.

"Oh no. Here, lemme see."

As soon as he gets his stuff down, he starts reaching into onee of his belt pouches. "I think I've got a bandage."

[mylastchance]

He hesitates, but soon draw closer, showing the cut to Greg. He could just heal it, but it was stupid to waste magic on something like this, especially if someone was offering to help.

"Thanks." Even though he genuinely means it, somehow the words comes out sounding resentful.

[fragileandsoft]

"If it keeps hurting or gets inflamed or anything, you should talk to the doctor. I don't think I got you with the metal, but better safe than sorry." It's a bit of an overreaction for a cut like that, but Greg's been on edge and twitchy ever since he came home to find these absurd horns on his head. He's kicking himself for being too distracted to look where he's going.

"It's Lauren, right? This is the first time we've gotten to talk in person." They went different ways in searching for Susan, after all. "I'm not much for first impressions, I guess."

[mylastchance]

He nods as Greg asks his name. He's really not sure what to say about an introduction like this, but for once he's too busy stewing over other things to feel embarrassed. He wears his frustration like armor, it makes him brash.

"It's fine."

Of course a brash Lauren isn't always a jerk. He really wasn't upset by Greg running into him, after all, it was his fault too. If it weren't for his stupid changes this wouldn't have happened at all.

"I wasn't paying attention."

[fragileandsoft]

At least Greg's paying enough attention now to pick up that frustration, and he knows he can't be the cause of all of that. Something must have happened... and that could count for just about anything around here.

"There's a lot of stuff going on." He finally fishes out the little pocket first aid kit and hands it off to Lauren. "How're you doing?"

[mylastchance]

He shrugs, not wanting to answer the question as he takes the small box from Greg. When he opens it and see's the self-adhesive bandages in their wrappers he really isn't sure what to think of it all. It's just another annoying thing he doesn't understand, so he snaps the kit closed and hands it back to Greg.

"Just forget it."

[fragileandsoft]

The rejection catches him off guard, and Greg's concern keeps mounting. He clutches the little box. Susan said that the two of them got caught here, rather than choosing to stay. He can figure how that's starting to weigh on him.

"Look... I don't wanna belabor the point, but the music lessons... I meant it when I said anytime. Just to, I dunno, vent or anything."

[mylastchance]

This guy, Greg, he just kept talking to him, when all Lauren wanted to do was be left alone. It was annoying, especially to be stopped for something so trivial.

"I just want to be alone." he says, not loud but clearly annoyed and upset.

[fragileandsoft]

He hesitates a moment longer, then nods. Sometimes people need space. "All right. Take care of yourself." He starts picking up his armfuls of broken game pieces. "Just... if you ever don't... I'm around."

[mylastchance]

It's surprising that Greg, actually listens to him. Everyone else just seemed to want to yell at him more. He hesitates.

"Do you need help?"

[fragileandsoft]

"Oh, um. If you don't mind?" It's not as heavy as it might look (at least, not to Greg), but it is awkward to balance it all. "I'm just moving this over behind misc. right. Fewer customers to look in on the mess."

[mylastchance]

Maybe people won't bother him as much if he's actually working. He takes some of the pieces from Greg and some from where he'd set them down. They aren't too heavy, just bulky. He silently waits, holding the pieces of scrap as he follows Greg's lead.

[fragileandsoft]

"Thanks." The walk isn't far, but Greg leads them on a longer route to avoid the high-traffic areas of attractions and games. "I'm pretty used to having my job all to myself. Nice to have the help around, even if I'm not my own boss anymore."

[mylastchance]

Lauren nods, he can understand that feeling. He was used to being left to his own devices for the most part as well.

"My job at home never took much time either." Or well, it was never a hassle even if it did. He just looked into things for the Emerald Order every now and then, other than that he could do what he wanted.

"...I'm not used to being around so many people."

[fragileandsoft]

"You and your brother lived in the forest, right?"

All by themselves, from what Greg's gleaned. He's a little surprised to hear Lauren even had a job, but it makes sense.

"I guess this is all a lot busier than you two are used to."

[mylastchance]

He hesitates for a second, but then nods.

"Susan doesn't have a problem with it." His fingers tighten on the junk he's carrying as he follows Greg. "But. It is difficult."

For him, it was difficult for him. And honestly, it was a little frustrating how easy it was for Susan to talk with and get along with so many different people. It just reminded Lauren of his own shortcomings, which he hated.

"He doesn't remember... Living with others." Maybe that was part of the reason it was so easy for his little brother to live like this now. He didn't understand how living in a small community could be just as bad as it was good. Of course Susan just wasn't the type to cow away from conflict, so maybe that was the difference. Or maybe it would just take a while before he decided he didn't like this. It was hard to say.

[fragileandsoft]

Lauren can't see Greg's face as he follows behind, and in the teen's defensive state that may be for the best. For him to feel that way being around people... it makes Greg really afraid for this misfit duo of brothers.

"When you've been living one way for a long time... well, change is hard. Especially when you don't get a choice about it. Even tougher, when someone you trust doesn't seem to be on the same page as you."

The details are different, but the broad strokes sound an awful lot like how Greg and Steven are getting along with this. He still hasn't figured a way through it, either.

[mylastchance]

Change is hard. He's had his entire life change on him more than once, and usually without his consent. He couldn't help resenting the carnival for doing it to him again. It forced him to adjust to things he didn't like and to cooperate with people he didn't understand. He'd gotten by so far by mostly keeping to himself, not just here in this strange fae world, but also back home in Faerûn.

He tried not to show his frustration. He knew Susan felt guilty for getting indebted to this place, and thereby trapping them both here, but sometimes it was difficult to hide how he felt. Like when parts of his body suddenly weren't his own anymore.

He hadn't thought about it before, but it would be easier if Susan felt the same way he did. Though they so rarely agreed on anything he'd be more concerned if they felt the same way than if they didn't.

"I don't like it here. It's dangerous. I don't know what to expect or how to react."

He was referring to the events that occurred here as much as the people he'd met. He suddenly feels nervous, his uncertainties weighing out his frustration as he considers the exact reasons why he dislikes it here. This is more than he's shared with someone in a while, even if it was obvious from the start why he wasn't happy here. He'd never really admitted to it before.

[fragileandsoft]

"I don't think there's a single person here who does." It's part of the nature of this place--a whimsical sort of chaos, ever-changing in status and nature. "I know a lot of people like that kinda thing, but for the rest of us..."

Greg's had the world pulled out from under his feet before. In big ways, in small ways. In ways he thought he wanted, in ways he didn't think he wanted until they happened. Even ones that turned out well in the long term... the act of change never comes easily.

"Well, it makes it hard to find a place to catch your breath."