Re: [carnival: misha and james]
Misha, he glanced at the coaster seat when the haunt shifted in invitation. He hadn't never spent time talking with haunts, and he was real young, was Misha, but even he realized this wasn't regular. He looked on back up at the face of the young man he'd seen die so graphic, and he reckoned this is what Nilus meant when he talked 'bout ways to bring folks back at great cost.
Nilus, he'd managed it somehow.
After another beat of heart, Misha sat himself down beside the boy that felt real alive. He looked over at him, curious and being real impolite by not agreeing 'bout his name right off, but he couldn't help himself any. "Y-yes," he finally stammered. "Misha. I know Nilus real well." Misha, he hadn't never been able to grow accustomed to calling Nilus Zeke or John. Nilus was Nilus, and that was that.
His head was brambles and thorns and longing, and his heart was a clear two counties away, but there was promise in this boy sitting here. And, too, his heart warmed real pleased for Nilus. Dietre, he was a real selfish thing of a boy, and Misha had always wanted something more giving for his friend.
But that was 'nough rambling thoughts, and he shifted onto his hip and looked at the boy sharing the cold with him. Boy- man- he couldn't tell real well how old James should be, and he had so many damned questions. "I got so much I want to ask, but I'll hold off so you don't feel drowned. I reckon I should start real basic? Hi, yes, I'm Misha. My boyfriend owns this carnival, and Nilus is a real good friend." A pause: "Are you here to stay, do you reckon?" He wondered if James knew what he, Misha, was, but that question could hold a bit. Did Nilus know James was here? That was a more important question, but something in James' expression made Misha reckon that, yes, Nilus knew.
And he was pretty good these days at not feeling folks' emotions 'less he wanted to, was Misha. He reckoned it was invasive mostly, so he controlled it somewhat now, but he wanted to know if this boy felt dead as doornails, and so he looked at him real plain, looking all boy and nothing Heavenly, and he tried to suss how James felt (if he could).