Daybreak | IC Inbox.

[awooligan]

CLIFFORD NORMAN
UN: REDRIDINGHOODIE

STATUS: grade 11

ACCOLADES: n/a.

BIO: name's cliff. let me know if you'll buy cigarettes and shit for me, we can work something out.

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

THE COCO BOX

[awooligan]

[Because a girl doesn't have an inbox but a dog wants to bug her, so here we are.]

post-move, being self-indulgent

[awooligan]

[There's no space on campus that really feels safe to do a video call from, but he's missing his family something fiercely after all that bullshit with the herald(s?), so Cliff's tucked away in his room. Odds that something weird would happen or walk by there were low, at least... And yeah, he kinda looked beat to shit still, but that wasn't exactly unheard of, to his household. It would be fine.

His face lights up when the screen does, showing him the inside of his brother's room and -- more importantly -- his brother. The enthusiasm he sees there is almost a mirror of his own, but even brighter and more pure.]

Cliff!

Hey, Kev! Miss me? How're things going over there?

It's boring! I never get to go anywhere anymore unless Mom or Dad is free, and there's no one to play games with.

Sure there are. You might even win for once if you play with your friends.

But I want to kick your butt, not just theirs. I've been practicing! You're going down next time.

Ooh, I'm scared. Hey, maybe you can make the time difference work in your favor. You'll need all the advantages you can get to beat me.

If you weren't on the other side of the world learning to be a good kid again, I'd tackle you.

[Learning to be a good kid, huh...]

That what Carl's saying?

Sometimes. But Dad isn't mad so much now that he doesn't have to yell at you all the time...

[Because he had to yell every other time. Clifford clenches his teeth a second, then puts on a lopsided, easy smile, which Kevin gives a little frown at in return as if to say, come on, Cliff, take this seriously!!]

Look at that, school must already be working. Oh -- Hang on.

[Sounds like his new roommate -- well, the unofficial one -- is back from her outing, judging by what he hears just outside the door. Hey, Coco!!]

Re: post-move, being self-indulgent

[kept_his_letters]

[A girl's head pokes in and, yup, that sure is Coco slipping into the room.]

Cliff? Hey. I heard voices...?

[Specifically English voices, so not Lalli.]

I'm not intrerrupting something am I?

[awooligan]

[He offers her a grin, this time much more genuine, and tilts his laptop to show her the younger boy on the other side of the video call.]

Nah, it's fine. This --

[Before he can explain, Kevin's face goes back to the excitement that had been there when the call first started and he's leaning in like that might help him get a better look.]

Woah! Cliff! Is she your girlfriend?

What? N-no!

Clif-ford ha-as a girl-friend!

Kevin...!

[He might actually die, this is much worse than what injuries the Herald had caused. A bit muffled from distance comes a different voice: older, feminine, and coming closer.]

What? Clifford!

Oh my god, Mom, don't --

[THIS IS THE ACTUAL WORST, should he just close his laptop? Chuck it across the room or out the window? Maybe that would destroy all evidence of the fact that this is happening.]

Oh! Oh, sweetheart, look at you... [The already-tired-looking woman's face becomes even more tired, falling from the brief teasing joy, and she sets the basket of laundry she'd been carrying down as if suddenly the weight is too much extra to bother with.] You just got there, are you really getting into fights again already?

[Again...right. At least it helps his heart rate go back to normal... Well. He can clear up one of the misunderstandings.]

Mom, can we not, right now? Go back to meeting my friend Coco.

[She sighs, but then her eyes shift a bit to indicate she's looking at the girl and a smile and patiently amused tone returns.]

Sorry about that, Cliff's friend Coco. It's nice to meet you. I'm Nora.

I'm Kevin! What do you like about Cliff?

[kept_his_letters]

[She finds she's comforted by the immediate smile. It summons one of her own, before the screen is even turned around to a young beaming boy.

She opens her mouth to greet him but not a word is out before the word girlfriend is dropped. Shock registers, followed by a deep flush. Cliffords defences are defeated with gusto and she finds herself rooted, trying to shrink in on herself as a woman's voice joins in on the humiliating game.

It breaks for just a moment, Cliff's mother focusing on those injuries and her assumptions are enough to shake her into motion. She's still a little flushed, hearing the air quotes around the word friend, but she can properly speak now.]

H-Hola, Señora Nora. Hola, Kevin. Um! I just want to say! Cliff didn't get in a fight! I mean, he did! But it was for a good reason! He, um, kind of rescued me.

[All of humanity, really, but that's hard to explain. And she did technically get his help. A lot. So, it would work.]

So, don't be mad at him, please. He's a really kind person.

[awooligan]

[Kevin's feeling pretty smug right now, obviously having cracked this case wide open. Cliff, on the other hand, is still flustered, and feels his heart jump into his throat as Coco says he'd been fighting for a good reason. Yelling at her to not say anything or that his family couldn't know about that stuff would only prompt more questions, but -- oh. Oh, good, she's...sensibly bending the truth, and not even being horribly obvious about it. Small mercies, during this terrible, terrible time.

Nora's face softens even more as Coco explains. It's nice to hear someone other than herself defending her son and confirming that the sweet boy she knows is in there still sees the light of day sometimes. Although for Clifford and Coco, it's night... Gotta love a good time difference.]

He is.

We're not mad! Cliff's always getting in fights. I don't know how he gets beat up, though, he's really strong! He doesn't think I'm heavy at all.

[Okay. He can...work with this. Even if his face still feels warm.]

That's because you aren't.

Nuh-uh! Dad thinks I'm too heavy to carry around.

Carl's old.

Clifford.

What?

[Instead of continuing, Nora just gives him A Look and shakes her head before picking up the basket again. She doesn't need to explain to him how disrespectful he is, he already knows. Coco, on the other hand, gets another smile.]

It was nice meeting you, Coco. You make sure he behaves, alright?

[Ughhh, BYE MOM. He drags a hand down his face, relieved at least that now there's only one family member to deal with. Unfortunately, it's the gremlin. Kevin takes on a bit of a know-it-allish tone.]

I think Cliff's a jerk. He's not nice to any of his friends, just me, but all of his friends just do bad stuff, too.

[kept_his_letters]

[She tries not to laugh at the old comment. She really tries. That and the other concerning comment aside, it's nice to see a family together enjoying themselves. She misses her own Mamá sharply, and her Tíos too.]

Oh, trouble, uh, yeah, sure! We will! I mean, we won't? Or...

[Oh boy, she's going to die here. Thank goodness for small distractable little bothers. She moves in closer, going to sit if there's any space for it.]

Mmm. Sometimes boys are different with their friends. Sometimes they can be mean to each other because it's how they have fun. You don't have to do that though. That's just some of them.

[She... really can't speak about trouble.]

[awooligan]

[There’s plenty of room, but Cliff scoots over a bit anyway and shifts the laptop so they’re both well in view. Coco calling dudes out like this...unbelievable. He raises an eyebrow at her, but he can’t exactly protest what she’s saying.]

Uh-huh, I have plenty of fun and still follow the rules just fine. It isn’t hard!

It’s boring.

It isn’t! And if you did it, you wouldn’t have to be at that school anymore... But I guess you like it there now because you got a pretty girl to be your friend.

[kevin why...let him live, especially since he can’t explain why he’s actually at the school to change the subject away.]

I bet he looked super cool rescuing you!

[kept_his_letters]

Everyone's different, Kevin. What's easy for you might be really hard for someone else. Like... Imagine if you had to pick up Cliff! The way he can pick you up!

[But, her defense doesn't matter because the boy is jumping right to it anyway.

She laughs a little and colors again when Kevin says she's pretty. She tucks a braid back behind her ear.]

Yeah, he did. Very cool.

[awooligan]

[Somehow, this defense of him feels embarrassing, too, and he grumbles a petulant,] It isn’t hard for me, I just don’t —

I can! Not like how he does, but I can lift him a little bit!

[Explaining how is complicated, but he seems to be pointing his thumbs just below his shoulders and looking like he’d want to prove it if stupid Cliff wasn’t in stupid France. Clifford rolls his eyes and shrugs at the claim — he’s pretty small, so unless he’s a wolf, he’s on the lighter side. It’s what made his strength all the more exciting to easily-impressed Kevin.

But hmm, Coco says he looked cool, huh... Well...at least there’s that. He’s not sure it really counts, since he didn’t actually rescue her, she didn’t see him fighting the Herald as a wolf, and when he had been helping her, he kind of...froze up there. It’s nice to hear all the same, though, and he looks down at the keyboard with a little smile. Kevin totally sees what’s going on here. Or at least he 100% believes he does.]

Uh... You know. Anytime.

[kept_his_letters]

[The boy has missed the point, but the explanation and insistence is too amusing. She fights to keep her giggles down, beeming wide.

She liked this. Outside of dancing of course, this sort of thing always felt like her true element. She could just sit back and listen to families talk amongst each other, a happy part of the background.

She flashes a smile at Cliff before returning her gaze back to Kevin.]

It sounds like you two are really close.

[awooligan]

Sure. Kev's one of the only people I like. [He says it easily, no hint of it being a playful, offhand comment. Just...he doesn't like many people. He likes Kevin. Even when he's been exasperated and flustered by him in this conversation, there's a certain amount of adoration always present in his eyes or some other part of his face.] Except when he rats me out.

[Kevin, for his part, looks Shocked at this. Wow? Is Cliff calling him a tattletale??? (He is one, but he always means well by it. Like that matters.) He goes back to focusing on Coco rather than question the addition.]

Mom and Dad got me when I was a baby, so Cliff's always been there. He's a good brother. [The even when he doesn't act good looks like it's barely held back. He might have a hard time keeping thoughts to himself...hence the tattling. He's a very enthusiastic boy.

Despite the good review, Cliff tips his head a little, starting to lose the softer expression. His excellent hearing can just barely catch the sound of voices beneath the hum of the video call and laptop fan, but it's just enough to hear his stepdad apparently chatting with him mom. Hard to say whether he'd rather hear the conversation or be able to block it out entirely... Kevin eventually looks over his own shoulder once his human hearing dials in.]

I think Dad's coming. Dad! Come meet Coco! Cliff says she's not his girlfriend, but I think he likes her!

Kevin, shut. Up. I'm sorry about this, I didn't help choose him. [That bit's directed at Coco, though he's pinching the bridge of his nose instead of looking at her.] Hey, Kev? Just tell Carl I had --

Tell me what? [The older man's eyes aren't quite narrowed, but they're studying what he can see through the screen. Kevin smiles at his dad before trotting off to do other Kevin things. They'd all gotten the chance to speak with Cliff now, yay!] It's pretty late for you, Cliff. The school doesn't have a curfew? [Watching Coco... why is there a girl in his room this late, shouldn't this school be cracking down on this business]

We're in the dormitory, Carl. What, you want us locked in our rooms after 10? 9?

Don't take that tone with me. I was just surprised to see your friend there. They don't mind you having --

Except Kevin already said she was here? And probably Mom, too? She didn't have a problem with it, and the school's fine with it, too. We're not doing anything wrong.

Now, I didn't --

Like you said, it's late. Tell Mom and Kev goodnight for me. [He's just gonna close the laptop before Carl can embarrass him or get on his case any more than he has.] Christ, imagine if he fucking found out the rooms are co-ed...

[kept_his_letters]

[She's about to say that it's fine. Embarassing, but fine. He's just a kid after all and he seems nice enough. But then, everything seems to change.

A man comes into view. He looks at her like she's a rusty old car he's appraising, finding flaws in, seconds away from kicking a foot out. What a pile of junk. You expect me to buy this?

Her eyes stay fixed on Carl, but he never addresses her. She doesn't matter.

Cliff is defensive. Overly so, perhaps, because she can tell it's making him look like the bad guy and she doesn't think that's fair to him, but she doesn't say anything and she doesn't get the chance to. Not until the laptop shuts but she still finds herself sitting, staring, not quite finding her voice.

She wants to ask a question of "why" is the problem. But she knows. It's not a question with an answer. She focus on the other parts of this conversation, putting together pieces there.]

... Cliff? Can I ask you a question?

[awooligan]

[He busies himself with leaning to set the laptop aside, looking grumpy and a little tired. It had very little to do with the time. He'd really rather just move on, because any question Coco was going to have about something Kevin, his mom, or his stepdad said was sure to be much less fun for him than he liked having when he was with her, but Cliff gives a soft grunt of vague confirmation while rubbing at his side. He was trying to be more subtle about it. Moving that way had bothered one of the other sore spots.]

Okay? Sure.

[kept_his_letters]

[Even with permission, she still finds herself pausing.]

I know you're magic. You have to be, to be here. It could just be a coincidence, but Kevin said you were strong and you've proved it, in a way.

So... so what was hurting you? Back home.

[awooligan]

[He settles back into place, eyebrows furrowed a moment before he looks down. One leg comes up, and he almost wishes he were wearing his shoes do that he could pick at them like he likes to when he's feeling nervous or awkward. Is that the question she wants to ask...? It's what's asked, anyway, and he doesn't have a hard time answering it. Or...around it.]

Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I want to use that... Kevin's young enough he doesn't know any better, but if anyone else... I can't have people knowing there's something wrong with me. I don't want to hurt anyone, either.

[Physically or otherwise. His shoulder bobs in a weak shrug. He doesn't fight back, so he gets hurt. That's...all.]

[kept_his_letters]

[She nods her head. She can understand that. She can understand all of it.]

I wouldn't ask you to do that. But, in a place like this, we could find something that could protect you. Once I've found Papá, I could even ask my family. Anyone who tried to hurt you would know something was strange, but what could they say other than that they tried to hit you and it didn't work? They'd be the crazy ones. And worse.

[She pulls her own knees up. She speaks even softer.]

And there's nothing wrong with you. You don't deserve to be hurt. You really don't deserve to be blamed for getting hurt either.

[awooligan]

[His frown deepens a little while he considers her. She looks...so upset. He doesn't like that he's caused her to feel this way, or that she's worrying so much about him.]

You know what I mean. I'm not normal. [People knowing something was strange was one of the scariest things, aside from him letting the wolf get the better of him and someone else facing the consequences.]

Coco... It's fine. I'm used to it, and it isn't like it matters. I'm here now. People will already know I'm different. If someone tries to fight me, I can fight back, or run away.

[kept_his_letters]

[Her brow furrows. Her mouth presses. And then, she's turning.]

No. I don't know what you mean. You said wrong. Not different, not weird, wrong. And more importantly, it's not fine! No one's fighting you here because no one here is that cruel that they'd keeping beating up someone who refuses to fight back! Your Mom thinks it's your fault and so does your brother!

[She jumps to her feet. She paces. She shouldn't let herself get worked up. But that last part, that hits too close.]

You just saved the world. And you're letting the people who love you think you're just a dead-end. I'm guessing you're either never going home or you're going to let it happen again.

[She stops, facing away from him. She draws a breath, and some calm.]

You don't need to tell me. It's... I don't need to know. But don't tell me it's not important. You shouldn't be suggesting you don't matter.

[awooligan]

[Her agitation on his behalf doesn't seem to do much but throw him for a loop, and with his eyes he watches her pace with increasing concern. He's quiet, letting her say her piece, but maybe a little too still.

What does she want from him?]

They don't... Um. [His gaze is fixed on her, looking for any sudden movement or hint that he was saying the right or wrong thing. He doesn't want to mess this up, but he shouldn't...lie to her, either.] It isn't like that's the only thing they think I do wrong. Kevin told you, I like doing things, uh, bad stuff they don't want me doing.

[Cliff exhales, trying to run out some of the tension as quietly as possible. Without being too obvious about it.]

They can think what they want, it's really fine. Don't worry about it.

[kept_his_letters]

[She's glad she didn't turn. Like usual, she hasn't made a dent. She hugs her arms tighter to herself. She takes his words, swallows them down, and decides she'll do what she always does; what she wants to, in secret and alone. She didn't even have a solution yet. Better to come forward with the problem fixed than just talk about it.]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried.

[She doesn't sound sorry. Oh well. She turns and puts on a weak smile.]

Anyway, I wanted to ask if you'd like to get up to some trouble now that the call's done. I don't think your stepdad liked me very much. It seems a shame to let down his expectations of me as a sinister co-conspirator.

[awooligan]

[Quite frankly, he’s glad she didn’t turn either, with how much damage it seems he’s already done. It wasn’t fair that to keep his mom and brother happy, he had to disappoint his friend...but unfortunately, that’s the side he had to pick. He liked Coco. He loves his family.]

It’s fine, [he says again, more softly this time, like it’s more of an apology than the one she just gave. He’s still tense when she finally faces him, and he doesn’t seem all that encouraged by her smile, but he’s more than ready to move on.]

Don’t worry, it’s just because you’re my friend. He wouldn’t have been able to tell you’re trouble otherwise.

[Cliff tips his head and gives his own hesitant smile, moving his foot back to the floor.]

What’s up?

[kept_his_letters]

[She laughs a little.]

I'm not worried. His opinion doesn't mean anything to me. Even if he's right just this once.

[There were people who thought worse things of her. That look had been one she recognized.]

And I've got nothing specific in mind. I just didn't want to end things on a bummer note. Also, it's still early in Mexico and I can't sleep yet. So, trouble it is.

[awooligan]

[The fact that she already knows to say “Fuck what Carl says/wants” certainly helps lift his spirits back up. And he gets to choose their criminal activity... What a generous friend she is. Hopefully this isn’t going to help prove his stepdad’s view of him and make her change her mind.]

...Want to help me steal some cigarettes?

[he hasn’t smoked in so long help]

[kept_his_letters]

[Her head tilts. She looks up, pondering.]

How about sneaking into the teacher's lounge and raiding the fridge for things? If you start smoking, I can't sit with you. I don't like the smell.

[Out of luck, Cliff.]