AGE-DOWN MEME

[devoutish]

Inspired by this and this! Post top levels of your characters as they were when they were younger - it's up to you whether that means "when they were a kid", "six months ago", or something in between. Then tag around, either throwing kids together or throwing normally-aged current CR at people in order to "????" about how their friend/enemy/casual acquaintance is suddenly bitty.

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[gangsterbaby]

[He sits up a little straighter, grabbing his hat from the floor and jamming it on his head. It's not very surprising that a complete stranger knows his name, but he isn't sure if he knows it for good or bad reasons.]

Do you know my dad?

[jumpthegun]

'Fraid not. [Thank goodness not.] Y'know how you asked if this was a dream, though? I know someone named Alfie Solomons, but he's a much older man. And you're wearing his coat. What d'you make of that?

[gangsterbaby]

[Alfie frowns - not angry or distrusting, but clearly a little perturbed.]

You're trying to fool me. That's what I think, yeah.

[jumpthegun]

Nah, mate. I'd be in a lot of trouble if I tried anything like that, wouldn't I be?

[gangsterbaby]

Yes, I think so.

[But he's still frowning.]

Who else is here?

[This guy knows Alfie, so that means he knows everyone, right? All his family, all their neighbors, all the men who work with his father...]

[jumpthegun]

Something like 40 people. Couldn't name them all off, and I'm not sure if they're all in the same situation as you right now.

[God help him if he's the only adult left.]

Any change you've still got your tablet? Looks like a thick gray clipboard, but there's a panel on it that lights up.

[gangsterbaby]

[He'd tucked it away in the blankets after poking it it for a bit, and is still unsure of what it is or what to do with it. He digs around for it, then holds it out for Watson to see, but doesn't hand it over.]

Is my mum here?

[jumpthegun]

I'm not sure there's anyone you'd say you know here, Alfie. Do the names Duster, Kesara, or Tifa mean anything to you? I think they're your closest friends here.

[gangsterbaby]

[Alfie just looks confused as fuck. He retreats a little further into the fort.]

I don't know them. You've got the wrong Alfie Solomons. I don't know anybody here.

[jumpthegun]

[John sighs. This isn't going to work.]

Guess I do. Sorry about that. Are you hungry? I've got some food, if you'd like.

[gangsterbaby]

[Alfie's starting to look a little more guarded, but he is hungry. He starts to scoot forward, then stops.]

What's your last name, Dr. John?

[jumpthegun]

Not Jewish, if that's what you're after. It's Watson.

[gangsterbaby]

How do you know--

[He retreats again, and starts eyeing John's coat, looking for the telltale bulge of a hidden gun.]

Who are you really? Really. You do know who I am. I'm not the wrong Alfie Solomons.

[jumpthegun]

You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Alfie. Have you ever hear of time-travel?

[gangsterbaby]

Yeah. Are you a time traveler?

[jumpthegun]

Yes. And so're you. Not sure how, but we all wound up in a place that's well ahead of our own times. D'you know much about America? This is Alaska in the year 2050. [At least.]

[gangsterbaby]

[Alfie goes wide-eyed, leaning forward despite his nervousness and suspicion. He has the look of a kid who's old enough to know he shouldn't believe what he's hearing, but who's also still young enough that he kind of does anyway.]

How do you know? And how did you know who I was?

[jumpthegun]

Because we've been her quite a while. I know you as Mr. Solomons. You're usually a lot older, near my age. Not... really sure why you're not anymore.

[gangsterbaby]

That doesn't make sense.

[But he's inching forward again.]

Do we work together? Do I have a long beard?

[jumpthegun]

You have a very long beard, and we've worked together on a few things. [More or less. He doesn't want to scare little Alfie off by telling him they've gotten into a tussling match and threatened each other.]

We're working together on getting out of here, actually.

[gangsterbaby]

I can still do that.

[Inching, inching, inching.]

I'm a natural leader.

[jumpthegun]

[Okay. He's back to being really cute. John's tempted to tousle his hair, but thinks better of it. He just offers a friendly smile.]

I'd like that if we could. You'll need to get to working with that tablet if you're going to help, though. It's where all the information is. Are you much of a reader?

[gangsterbaby]

[He shrugs. He's seven.]

My mum and dad read to me. And Uncle Amos.

I can read.

[He's just not incredibly good at it yet.]

[jumpthegun]

That's all right. Handy function on those things, yeah? It'll turn any text into a voice reading for you if you ask it. Why don't you try turning it on? There's a power button on the side.

[gangsterbaby]

All right.

[He presses the power button, and--]

Wow!

[He immediately starts running his fingers along the sides and back of the tablet, looking for more buttons sticking out.]