Peter Kimura Whelan (itakunai) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2017-02-05 15:15:00 |
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Entry tags: | # 2020 [02] february, kāne van dale, pete whelan |
Who: Pete Whelan and Kāne Van Dale
Where: The Austin Orphanage
When: 2/2/20, afternoon
What: Big Brother bonding time turns into an almost-debate.
"You guys doing okay?" Pete asked as he took a seat in the playroom next to Colonel Van Dale and the child he'd been working with. Nearly two months old, Austin's Big Brothers & Sisters program was going really well so far -- better than Pete could have ever imagined. He loved stopping by the orphanage after his shift at the hospital and seeing everyone working and playing together. Kāne had been spending as much time as he could volunteering at the orphanage, though depending on the day it wasn't always possible. When he was able, it was the highlight of everything. He'd disassociated from fatherhood long ago, it had been easier that way, but being put into a role where he could see himself that way again, he loved it. He’d missed it. “So far so good,” he replied, glancing over to Pete before having his attention drawn back to the little girl he'd been working with by way of her clambering into his lap and settling in to brush a doll’s hair. “Though I think I’ve been demoted to a chair.” "That happens sometimes," Pete said with a laugh. Though he spent a fair amount of time at the orphanage, he hadn't yet started mentoring a specific child. Maizie had gotten pretty attached to the kid that she'd been assigned to -- the two of them were over on the side of the room, watching television together -- and Pete was a little afraid of getting attached to someone, too. "You just have to go with it." “Oh I do,” Kāne said, chuckling softly. “Sometimes it's a chair, sometimes it's a jungle gym…” It all brought back memories from when his daughter had been that young, the fun they'd had. It felt nice to have that lightness and joy coming back. Plus he liked being able to help out, particularly there at the orphanage. "One time I had to be pregnant, and then they delivered my baby," Pete said brightly, finishing Kāne's sentence. "But that's what I get for telling them about my day job, I think. At least they're learning about medicine!" “So how have things been going around here? About what you expected with it officially opening?” "Things have been really good." Pete gestured to the busy playroom; on another floor, he was sure that the older kids were engaged in a similar sort of scene with their mentors, too. "The support from the city has been incredible. It was probably a long time coming, setting up something official like this, but it's going awesome so far. Thanks for taking the time to get involved with this. I know the kids who've worked with you have enjoyed it." “I think it probably helps the community of the city in general, gives a sense of normalcy, having a program like there would have been before,” Kāne commented, his gaze dropping down as the girl in his lap leaned back against his chest and pushed the hairbrush into his hand so he could take a turn brushing the doll’s hair. The brush looked extra small in his hand compared to hers, but he still did as she indicated. “I’m glad to,” he added, glancing over to Pete. “And I’m glad to hear that. I’ve definitely enjoyed being able to come here and help out as I can.” Pete knew that Kāne was in the process of applying to adopt, and he was looking forward to when his application would be finally approved. "Lots of kids who need good homes," he agreed, gesturing towards Maizie and Ritchie at the television. "My girlfriend's daughter has already been asking her if they can 'keep' her Little Brother." Kāne looked over to where Pete was indicating, watching the kids over by the television for a moment before turning his attention back closer. “That’s another way to do it. After all, how could people say no to such a nice sentiment?” He chuckled, giving a shake of his head. “I think the opportunity to give back and work with kids, the future, is especially good for Austin - everything the people in this city have been through, it’s a bright spot.” "Yeah," Pete agreed. He aimed a smile and nod in Kāne's direction, thinking only briefly how new it was to apply such a gesture to such a family-friendly agreement instead of bro shenanigans, before he added, "What did you do before you came here?" He had seen Kāne's application, of course, but he was curious about how the Colonel would phrase his responsibilities. “Before I came to Austin?” Kāne asked, passing the brush back to the girl in his lap so she could turn her attentions to the doll again. “I’ve been an active Colonel since 2015, worked in Washington until the uprising and then went where I was needed, put in charge of different groups of soldiers to try and get the country secure and back on its feet. I’d been up in Colorado for a bit when things opened up here and they sent us down to help.” Pete nodded again, listening to this, before something caught his attention. He nearly did a double take as he tried to put the pieces together, an unsettled expression moving over his face briefly before he willed it away. "I've always wondered, did the Army know about what the U.S. Government was doing down here?" “We had knowledge of what was happening,” Kāne said slowly, his words measured as he thought them over. It was perhaps more complicated than could be put across easily, and he didn't exactly want to make an uncomfortable situation. “Though the perspective wasn't always shared appropriately. As far as we knew for a long time, things were going well.” "And that seemed normal, that there was an experiment going on, even if it was going well?" Pete really hadn't meant to start some sort of debate, especially here in the orphanage's playing room of all places, but he couldn't help but ask. What else was he supposed to do, anyway, and who knew just when he'd get the chance to again? “If you're asking me if I agreed with everything that was going on, I didn't.” Kāne thought perhaps he should have anticipated questions coming him way at some point, though he wouldn't have guessed they would while he was volunteering there at the orphanage. No reason why they wouldn't. “Nothing seemed normal, not just in Austin but everywhere.” He paused, looking over to Pete. “I don't know if I have the answers you're looking for or want.” Maybe a few months ago, Pete wouldn't have taken that as the end all, be all of the conversation. Part of him did want to pry further, but he was all too aware of the little girl still on Kāne's lap and looking at him as someone who could make a positive difference. "Fair enough," Pete said simply, though he would've been lying if he said he felt good about the aborted conversation. Kāne was grateful for the lack of pushing on the subject, because it was hardly the time or place for such things. He didn't doubt the citizens of Austin had a lot of questions, especially for those who had come in from places of ‘power’ on the outside. He also knew he didn't have answers. With the topic dismissed, it was easy to go back to less turbulent conversations, and he steered it back to how the orphanage was doing - an easier topic for all and much more appropriate for where they were, and one he could make last until he needed to leave. |