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Boy: *tears slip down his cheeks...* ...W-why?

Darnell: .....because it's what I do. I help people in need whenever I can. *straightens and gets comfortable* My name is Darnell. What's yours?

Boy: ....R9-ND7... *trembling, both sets of arms full of whatever he managed to grab while Darnell was unable to move...*

Darnell: ..............that's a designation. Do you know who gave it to you?

R9: *jaw clenches* ...My maker...

Darnell: ....... *so, science experiment, not an alien...that almost makes more sense in a way* Got it. Is there something you'd /rather/ be called instead?

R9: *that seems to catch him completely off guard, and that's clear on his face.* .........Rand?

Darnell: *grins and nods* Rand. I'm Darnell. Nice to meet you.

Rand: *studying Darnell...he...he doesn't know what to make of this human being... nice.* ...What... what now?

Darnell: ...will you tell me where you came from? About your creator? And what all /this/ - *waves at the stolen goods* - is about?

Rand: *chin tucks* ...I don't want to tell you about where I came from, or my creator... *he gives all the stuff a quick glance, though, and...will shift to put down what he'd gathered... the side of his shirt is now plastered to his side by blue mucus. It may take Darnell a moment to realize that it's not /mucus/.... it's blood. The boy's injured. Looking around at what's been taken at lot of it is food, cloth or clothing, pillows/blankets... and knickknacks of the sort that could be used as a decent bludgeon if one needed a quick weapon. The money's off too the side, he's not figure out how he can buy anything yet...that was a stupid steal... a hope he realized too late that he knew better than to believe in...*

Darnell: Fair enough... *for now. And then he frowns in concern* You're injured. Rand, will you let me approach to see if I can help?

Rand: *shoulders hunch and he curls back, even shifting back a step from Darnell.* You’ll just hurt me. *so certain. ...So certain a human will hurt him and yet aside from brief, terrifying moments of paralysis, the boy hasn’t hurt anyone...*

(no subject)

 

Rand: *nods and shifts back. He'll let Darnell start working on his wound. He gasps and suddenly pulls back from Darnell a bit, realizing he's gotten some of his blood on Darnell's shirt* I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! *please don't be mad at him for ruining your clothes!*

Darnell: *blinks, startled* Didn’t mean to what?

Rand: *looks down at Darnell's messed up shirt, then back up at Darnell's face...*

Darnell: ....... *looks down* Oh. It's fine. If it doesn't wash out, I have other shirts. *had already taken his shoes and socks, jacket and tie off to get in the water with the boy. Looks up to meet the boy's gaze* People are more important than clothes. I knew when I hugged you that I'd get blood on me. That's just how it goes. I'm not upset and you're not in trouble. It's okay, really.

Rand: ...*studies Darnell... and relaxes. He nods and will let Darnell get back to work* S-sorry. Thank you...

Darnell: *gives him a smile* You're forgiven and you're welcome. C'mon. *will get him to come back closer again so he can finish*

Rand: *moves back to Darnell, it won't take too long to get his cleaned up, treated, and bandaged...*

Darnell: There. Are you hungry? I have some stuff in my satchel. *which he left on the bank with everything else - he's learned to keep protein bars and the like on him*

Rand: *tummy growls in answer.* I-I...yes.

Darnell: *soft chuckle and will help him back out of the water and they'll settle on bank of the stream, Darnell pulling two bars to offer the boy*

Rand: *accepts* Thank you. *he'll open one and start to eat.*

Darnell: *will just...sit in silence with the boy for the moment, enjoying the surroundings - has a GAZILLION questions buzzing around his head, but...until the boy's ready to talk...he just wants the kid to feel comfortable with him, to feel safe with him, to trust him*

Rand: *softly, after he finishes the first bar* ...You’re really nice... my maker always hurt us... I... thank you.