Post by NEMO on Aug 29, 2010 23:57:19 GMT -8
The park was full of people, that day, with adults gathered around the arches and tables that lined the intricate, colorful gardens, and the citizens who were stuck as children enjoying themselves on the swings, slides, and monkey bars. Everyone looked peaceful here, making it hard to believe that someone could turn on everyone else in an instant if their energy reserves started to get low. The expressions on the faces of both the adults and the children looked happy and content here, as if life was normal, even if they all knew it wasn't. They all wanted that small piece of normalcy. That was part of what made this world so sad.[/color] If they didn't notice the tell-tale distortion, they would surely notice his odd voice and the way his words were broken and forced. Even in his human appearance, he still couldn't make the words come out right.
The Virus who called himself Nemo lingered in the quiet edge of the park, afraid that he'd destroy that illusion of normalcy if he stepped in. But...not approaching anyone would ruin his purpose for coming here. He hadn't fallen under control of the puppeteer, whoever or whatever it was, for a while, and he didn't want to waste this brief time that he had some control. Not when he had a real goal, for once.
He shifted into his human disguise, letting the illusion of flesh wrap itself around his body again as his small form changed shape into an image of a normal boy - how he'd looked back when he'd been called Icarus Bishop. At least this way he looked normal, like any other kid hanging out at the park. He'd have to be careful not to remain still for too long, though, or he was sure that someone would notice his distortion. Turning the distortion down to the minimum that he physically could, and tying the staff-like spear he used as a weapon non-threateningly to his back, the boy stepped into the park.
Seeing a large crowd gathered by a fountain near the center, he approached them cautiously, as if he was somewhat nervous. "Ex...cuse me... But...ha...ve yo...u see...n an...y on...e from th..e Bis...hop fam...ily...? I'm...loo...king fo...r my pare...nts an...d sis...ter."
A couple of the people turned in his direction, giving him weird looks, some looking alarmed and some just looking confused, as if they hadn't understood him. Some of them walked away, some ignored him, and the few that did seem to heed his question just shook their heads. He looked down, just nodding before turning away. "Th...ank yo...u..."[/color] He felt empty, but not necessarily disappointed. He hadn't expected anything different. What were the chances he'd happen upon someone randomly, with no leads, that knew after all these years?
He didn't even know what he'd do if he found them. He couldn't be with anyone - not like this. At any moment, with no particular warning, he could fall under the control of the puppeteer, and put anyone else around him in danger. Even just being here was selfish - he was creating a risk for all the rest of the unknowing park goers. But now he had a reason to find them. He'd heard from a little Siren girl named Rosie and a fellow Virus named Alyssa that an organization called the Annulus Institute was working on a way to try and bring Viruses back to their old selves. That statement had left the boy with something that had long ago become foreign to him - hope. He was still trying to figure out what to do with it.
Sighing inwardly, he moved over towards a bench swing and sat down, enjoying the rocking motion that reminded him of the old rocking chair that his family had possessed back at his home in the real world. He gazed absently out at the rest of the people in the park, wondering what to do next. ...Maybe coming here had been a mistake.
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