poly_chromatic | ║ ninety-sixth stanza ║ action / video

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dead poets society - todd anderson

║ ninety-sixth stanza ║ action / video

[ action ]

[ If you're out in the City today, you might catch sight of a young man - one who is gazing around, examining his surroundings, clearly out of place. He's a new arrival, by his count.

Of course, some might recognize him - he looks quite a bit like Todd Anderson, though he's got a couple of years on his usual City counterpart. The light tracing of a goatee, a shaggier and more unruly hairstyle.Though he's come from an academic campus, working on his graduate studies, he's clearly claimed his individuality and expression, perhaps affected by the ideas beginning to form in the early 1960s paired with the impressions left on him by a high school teacher whose influence he won't soon forget.

As to where he is, he has no idea about any of it. No idea that any old friend may be here, nor of the life his other self has lived. He has no inkling that there may be ghosts lurking here that he had thought were far behind him now. ]

[ video ]

[ At a certain point, the man does uncover the device that's slipped in his pocket and, turning it over and over, gradually figures it out. It looks like something out of a movie, some crazy future. Then again, all of this seems that way...

It's hours later before he's managed to read a few things on it, but he's beginning to get the idea. After a number of false starts, this is where he succeeds-- a light is on. That means something, right? ]

Um... hello?

[ He gives a nervous smile. ]

So I don't really know what I'm doing with this... thing, but I hope I'm doing something.

[ With a slight hesitation, he clears his throat. ]

People out here tell me there, uh... there isn't any way to go back home. I guess I'll hear the same thing here, too.

[ So he shrugs. ]

So... what am I supposed to do?

[ ooc: Feels like the first time ... just several years later. ]

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[Neil has been in a panic all morning, since waking up alone. It could be a curse, yes, but there's never a guarantee of that. He'd looked around-- the Library, the coffee shop down the street that Todd prefers... eventually, reluctantly, even the Hall, which was a relief, at least.

His first instinct is to say-- but you are home, this is home-- before the full gravity of that oblivious message really strikes him.

Oh.]

[TEXT]

Todd Anderson?

[Better safe than sorry. He has that kind of face, after all.]

[ He needs a minute - several, actually, to look at this text and figure out how to send his own back. The device he's been given has a gentle learning curve, at least. Perhaps that's a kindness from the City, knowing exactly when they yanked him from.

Never mind that he's completely bewildered. ]

Yes?

[Thank God. If it wasn't, if he had to deal with a look-alike newcomer and a missing Todd, he might have lost his mind.]

I'm sorry, I know how confusing this must be for you. This place is called the City-- you don't remember it at all?

No. Why would I remember it? Who is this?

This kind of thing happens here. It doesn't make a lot of sense, I know. You've been here before though.

I'm a friend.

You're right. That doesn't make a lot of sense.

I can't really make it make more sense.

That's all right.

So do you just know me or do I know you?

That's a complicated question. It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just, I don't think it'll make you any less confused.

I'm not sure there's much that would right now.

Can you get someone to show you the way to the Library?

There's a coffee shop down the street from it, with a striped green awning. If you want, I'll wait there and I'll try to explain some of this.

All right. I'm going to the Welcome Center right now, so they can probably tell me where to go.

I'm sure they can.

[And as promised, if and when Todd makes his way to the coffee shop-- the selfsame one Todd likes, usually, the one where they make his ridiculously too-sweet drink just right-- Neil will be waiting, his hands wrapped around a mug of tea, more than a little worry written on his face.

He's reasonably sure Todd will recognize him. Reasonably. There's no doubt, looking at Todd, but of course Neil has the unfair advantage there, has seen the City and and take years at its whim, but Neil thinks he looks enough like he always has to be picked out of a crowd. If Todd hasn't forgotten him, which he supposes is a possibility, though it's not one he wants to consider.

This might be a mistake, he knows.]

[ It is some time before he finds his way over to the coffee shop, his entrance tentative and nervous because he really has no idea who he should be looking for. Of course, if he's been recognized then this person clearly will know that they're looking for him. It touches on anxieties that haven't been nearly as active in recent years, being at a bit of a social disadvantage. On the other hand, not having to approach someone himself is also somewhat relieving. The burden of initiating contact is not something he envies.

Regardless, he does of course scan the small seating area, looking to see if anyone seems to be keeping an eye out for him, and then something completely unexpected happens. He recognizes someone. His eyes fall on Neil, and there's really no doubt about who he's looking at - or at least, who he thinks he's looking at - though certainly Neil has a couple more years than he strictly should. But he knows that this can't be Neil. Neil has been dead for years. It's well beyond impossible that he can really be looking at who thinks he is.

Unless perhaps he's dead himself - or maybe he's just lost his mind. Anxiety, uncertainty, complete and utter confusion freeze him in place, just inside the door and he stares, wordless. ]

[Both of them have been cursed, before, to be older than their years. It's always bittersweet; in the mirror, Neil can see what he might have been, and he can see what Todd will be. It's one of the more painful reminders of what he took from himself, but he likes to think that Todd's future will be worth living, even though he won't be there to share it.

There's no doubt he's been recognized. It's not all that comforting, really.

He just smiles, somewhat apologetically, as he makes eye contact, and waves vaguely at the seat. He can't quite bring himself to talk, or to stand, just yet. This won't be, can't be an easy meeting for either of them.]

[ This is not easy. Todd feels himself swallow acutely - not that he's gulping or his throat is dry, but the tension he's apparently been holding in his jaw is tightening the muscles in his neck as well. Consciously, he tries to release it, pursing his lips briefly and drawing in a breath.

There's a bit of hesitation before he walks over - a shade of the shy boy in his uncertainty as he does so, the tension creeping back into his muscles.

He stops just short of the table, but doesn't sit yet. He stands, and he looks for what feels like an extremely long and heavy moment. Any chatter of the cafe is not audible to him - his focus is solely here.

But he can't help but actually venture the question that hangs heavily on his mind, through a deeply furrowed brow and an uncomprehending gaze. ]

Neil?

[Honestly, Neil has never had such a difficult time meeting Todd's eyes. But he feels as if he owes him that much, under the circumstances.

He leans back a little to look up, trying not to look uneasy, and nods. He can't quite manage a smile.]

I did say it was hard to explain.

I guess so.

[ He looks at the empty chair for a drawn-out moment, swallowing again and hesitating before he finally sits. As he settles into the seat, he stares at the familiar face opposite him. ]

You're... older.

Yeah.

[And he smiles a little, in spite of himself-- all nerves and more than a little embarrassed at the scrutiny.]

I've been here almost five years. You, too, you just don't remember right now.

I have?

[ He takes in a slow breath, considering that thought. He's pretty sure he's been at home for the past five years, and it's definitely not possible that he's seen Neil during them.

He looks down at the table, his voice diminishing. ]

Neil, you're...

[ Dead. You're dead. Is Todd dead, too? Maybe. How would he know? ]

I know.

[But he's not, not here, not in any way that matters. Living and breathing and inexplicably terrified. It's strange to think of it, since here for all intents they've grown up together. Today, though... Todd is his best friend, and he isn't Todd's, isn't anything more than a memory of a kid he knew for a little while before something horrible happened.]

It's hard to explain. You're here now, but someday you'll leave and go home and won't remember any of it. Think of it as a visit. Or a dream, if that's easier.

[He looks down at his hands, takes a breath, then forces a wavering, watery smile.]

But I'd like to know how you are. How things are at home.

[ A memory, maybe, but one that comes up frequently, one he still thinks of often. Not many people have made the effort to really reach out to Todd, to connect with him, so the ones who do, the ones who genuinely cared... they stay around, even when they're gone. ]

I'm... all right, mostly.

[ A tense, uneasy smile, a nervous laugh. ]

I'm working on my PhD - English. I, um... I'm making my own way through. My father wouldn't pay for me to study something so "useless."

[That, incredibly, makes Neil break into a wide grin, though it doesn't last.]

But you did it anyway.

[He's always believed Todd had that in him, to take a stand for what he wants, what he believes.]

[ The uneasy smile is genuine for a moment, along with that grin. There's even a small snicker, before the expression turns sad. ]

I did. I guess... everything kind of stuck with me.

[ He thinks it's pretty clear what "everything" is, particularly when he falls silent. ]

I'm glad. Really, really glad.

[There's an edge of relief. He knows he won't have Todd forever-- there's a life waiting for him. He's always known that, but it's impossible to pretend, sitting across from him. Knowing Todd is all right is a close second, if they can't be together.]

I'm so sorry about... [You know. He'd go on, but the words catch in his throat.]

[Squiiiiint.

Penny totally knows this guy. Somehow, somewhere. But, since it's the City, that somehow or somewhere could be a curse or visitor's day or aliens or basically anything.]

Hey there, and welcome to the City! Do you have a good coat? If you don't, getting one should probably be right at the top of your to-do list.

[ He gives a nervous, small smile there. So he is using this thing right. Probably. ]

Well, it isn't terrible, but it is colder here than where I was.

So... that's a yes?

[ He glances down slightly with a sheepish laugh - this is probably the strongest the resemblance is going to get right here. ]

I probably could use a better coat.

[OH. This is a curse, definitely, because she knows this guy. This is Todd, it has to be. But maybe she shouldn't say anything, since that would be creepy. Almost as creepy as she feels for thinking he's attractive.]

Not a problem. I can either bring one to you or you can look for the Welcome Center. It has a pretty big sign that you should be able to see from the main square with the fountain. Otherwise, just show me some landmarks and I can find you.

[ To be fair, he is pretty attractive. Nobody will blame you. ]

Oh, no, that's all right, I'm sure I can find it... just a minute.

[ With another little smile, he's on the move, back toward the square... he hasn't gone far, fortunately.]

[And yet there's a distinct flavor of wrong to it.]

Okay. Good luck!

[If she doesn't hear from him in, like, five minutes, she's going to track him down.]

[ Don't worry, he figured this one out all right. He shows up at the welcome center after a moment, and spots the woman from the strange science fiction device. He offers another smile, tentative and slightly nervous. ]

Hi? I think I spoke to you on the...

[ He hold sup the device, but looks completely lost as to how to refer to it. ]

[In the short time it takes him to get there, Penny has decided that it'd freak him out less if she pretends they never met. Right? Right. So she greets him with the same big smile any other newcomer would get.]

Network? Yeah, that was me. I'm Penny. Go ahead and sit, if you want. Can I get you anything besides a coat? Tea or coffee? A blanket?

[Okay, so maybe she's fussing a little more than usual.]

[ He laughs a little, that small smile back again. ]

Um... I'm Todd. Hi.

[ But he does go ahead and sit down. [

I... think I'm all right. I mean, aside from being a pretty long way from where I belong, obviously.

It's great to meet you, Todd.

[Which she can't say to his face (speaking of which, he has really nice cheekbones--when did those happen?) for fear of letting on that she knows him, so she heads for the storage closet to find a coat. Close enough for conversation, invisible enough to, hopefully, not be weird. Good.]

We're all a pretty long way away from where we should be. Did someone already give you the this-is-a-different-dimension spiel?

Yeah... it's nice to meet you too, Penny.

[ He calls after her, and though it's a little weird to be talking to someone he can't see he manages it all right. But he can manage - in some ways, it's actually easier. He even nods to the question, despite her not seeing it. ]

I... sort of got the gist of it. It all sounds a little like something George Pal might come up with.

[She resurfaces with a coat. It's not the most attractive coat ever, but at least it looks warm?]

Who's George Pal?

[ A coat is a coat, and a warm one is fantastic. He smiles just at the sight of it. ]

Oh, he's a producer on all these films... The Time Machine, War of the Worlds. Stuff like that.

[She hands it over with a smile.]

His head must be an interesting place to be.

Thanks.

[ He takes it with a smile offered back. ]

And yeah, that's sort of my line of thinking. So... this might be a slightly dumb question, but what do I do now?

Not dumb at all! There's... well. There's a library, and there're cafes and things.

[She bops away again, this time to a low kitchen cabinet. Todd's not really a newcomer, so she's not too sure what to tell him, but...]

I'll give you some of the money we use here, okay? Just enough for, like, a coffee and a book. And before you refuse or say it isn't necessary, this is a thing we do for everyone who's new.

Well, it's really not necessary, but... thanks.

[ The sheepish smile speaks volumes, really, about how he feels about taking it. ]

I think... I mean, I'm supposed to meet someone. I don't... really know who, but they mentioned a cafe near the library.

Sure.

[She usually respects sheepishness, but he's taking this little organza bag with reds and oranges in it whether he likes it or not.]

You don't know...? Okay, that's... okay. Do you want me to point you in the right direction?

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