[video/action] ♪ I'm a big kid now! ♪

[throwsdown]

Who: Takeshi and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Iskaulit Gym
When: Now!

I grew!

[Hey, it's ya' boy Takeshi, taking up the screen! And... actually... yeah, now that you look at him, he looks... older. A thicker neck, taller, more filled in. He no longer looks like a under-developed five-year-old; he's eight now! Like, physically, to do with his mentally! His crew may have noticed the three-month-long growth spurt, but it may have flown from under the radar.

He holds up a ruler proudly and wags it around.]

Almost a whole ruler taller, guys! The aging thing really worked! I just put some credits in and — bam!

[He fans his longer arms out, blissful in not being small enough to lob in the air. What's up!]

What kindsa' stuff have you guys bought on the computer? Not ship stuff, but stuff for you. They got so much stuff on there, I don't know how anyone can pay for all of it.

action.

[Afterward, you can find him at the Iskaulit Gym, where he'll be in the ring, practicing his moves, doing fast, methodical push-ups and sit ups. Probably a little weird to watch. But hey, he's got this whole work-out routine thing down pat. Nearby, of course, his little panda babe Hoi Hoi is sitting on his rocking horse, a handful of toys scattered around for him to enjoy while his not!dad works.



... What the hell is this gym coming to?]

Hey! You! D'you wanna spar?

[Is he talking to you? He might be talking to you.

... Takeshi, not the panda.

Just. FYI.]

Comments

video.

[exothermia]

[He nods slowly. So, that would make the boy something like eight years old, if he's judging correctly.]

Congratulations. [Really. He means it.] How does it feel?

video.

[throwsdown]

[Hmmmm. He seems to think about it pretty intensely.]

Well... I guess it's kind of... nice! I gotta grow up sooner or later, right?

And if I get bigger, people'll realize I'm not a little tiny kid like they think.

video.

[exothermia]

You do. [Though it sparks ugly considerations in him about what forces can prevent someone from ageing in the first place. Takeshi's sad circumstances aside, it's something that this place clearly accounts for.] Some people refuse to be told. They only believe when they see it for themselves.

video.

[throwsdown]

... Well, I don't wanna throw 'em into a wall to prove it!

[clearly that's what you're nudging at

clearly]

I know I don't know a lot yet, but... I don't think I can be a very normal kid anymore.

video.

[exothermia]

Do you want to be?

video.

[throwsdown]

[He considers it for a moment, a little smile tugging at his face.]

... Sometimes.

But I guess I just like being me, 'til I know for sure.

video.

[exothermia]

[Erik smiles a bit.]

That's the best place to start, in my experience.