asgardeventide | [video]

[Conan spent most of Day 149 helping with the delivery and administration of the vaccines, keeping a distance from other Travellers, his friends especially. While being out and active helped, he was still struggling to come to terms with his own death as well as the sheer volume of lives lost in the sickness. Day 150, he discovers that he is missing people. He's still not ready to face anyone, but he monitors the bracelet again, and his thoughts turn to the Forensic Unit. He waits until the lab staff will have left for the day, the hospital approaching normal hours again as the numbers of patients decrease. Slipping into the lab, he intends nothing more than to check on his files, maybe catch up with some work.

He had no idea what lay in store for him.]

[Although a video feed, the screen is pitch black -- somewhat muffled and echo-y. Conan tried for a filter, but wasn't able to manage it for reasons that should soon be clear.]

Ah -- Detective Beckett? Castle-san? Anyone with a key to the labs -- um, could you come and get me, please?

I just stepped in to the storage room for a moment and um. I think the roomba hit the book I put there to keep the door open and it ... it locked me in. So, um. If someone could let me out I would really appreciate that.

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Conan?

[Kate schools her expression into one of those 'we are going to talk when I get there' looks, just wanting to make sure it's him. She's already on her way.]

How...how did you get locked in there, anyway?

[He's trying not to laugh, because this shouldn't be funny, because Conan is seven years old. But it is kind of funny, to be honest.]

You locked yourself in the storage closet?

Like I said, the door locks automatically and you can't open it from the inside. I put a book there to keep it open but-- well, did you know the lab had a cleaning robot?

The robot locked me in the storage closet, Castle-san. Weren't you listening?

Sure, sure, the robot.

[He bites his lip to keep from laughing.]

I'm on my way.

[Conan is so very put upon.]

Thank you, Castle-san.

My pleasure. See you in a little bit.

[About 5 minutes later, Conan can hear a key in the lock to the storage closet and then, suddenly, light!]

Hope you're not afraid of the dark.

[Conan winces at the sudden light, throwing up an arm to shield his eyes as they adjust.]

Castle-san!

[He was sitting on a bare patch of floor to await rescue, the files he came into fetch beside him, and he picks them up to join his colleague.]

It was less frightening, more annoying. I'm very glad to see you.

[Conan immediately looks around for the Roomba sending it a rather unimpressed look as he spots it still busy about its programmed task. If being locked in a room is bad enough, being locked in by a robot barely 9 cm high is the worst.]

Those things have minds of their own. You know what they say about giving robots brains.

[He gave the Roomba a withering look, then sat down at his desk. HIS desk. He never thought he'd see the day.]

What are you working on?

Ah ... I wanted to know if something like the cannisters had been used before as a weapon, so I thought I'd look through the hospital records that go back to before the Traveller's arrival.

[He sets the files on his desk, then climbs up onto his chair. Unlike Castle, Conan needs several cushions to be able to see over his desk, but details. It's still his desk.]

[Once again, he's suppressing a laugh. He might have allowed himself one if Conan wasn't so good at this.]

Want me to take a look through some of them?

[Working at the Forensic's Unit is going to be a series of daily battles for Castle, unfortunately, especially as some kind soul in the laboratory staff, keeps slipping picture books onto Conan's desk. Fortunately if there are any picture books currently on Conan's desk, they're hidden by casework.]

Ah ... it's alright, Castle-san! I expect you're pretty tired ...

[Conan heard that Beckett had become sick and he saw Alexis in the waiting room himself. He's pretty sure that between worrying about the two of them, the author would be exhausted fast. He's just hoping that Beckett forgot to tell Castle about Conan's own involvement in the illness.]

When did they get a cleaning robot?

I don't know, but it locked me in.

[Castle nods because Conan is right. Last night he had fallen asleep in the chair beside Alexis's hospital bed and it hadn't been very comfortable.]

Alright... well, if you need me for anything, like, say, you can't reach the top cabinet or something, let me know.

[Cops ribbed on each other. That was the first thing he'd learned when he started his ride alongs with Beckett.]

[A short joke? Really? Conan raised an eyebrow.]

I wouldn't want you to put your back out, Castle-san. That happens a lot when you're old, right?

[The teasing was -- welcome. Nice. The feeling of camaraderie made him feel a little less empty, and even if he didn't really want to think about the why and how of that, Conan found himself searching for a way to prolong the conversation.]

Ne ... I take it you're settling into the Unit just fine?

...you can't reach the door handle, can you.

... it's locked.

Children shouldn't be going around everywhere they please...

I think I'm allowed to visit the hospital, Shinji-niisan!

Look where it gets you.

I'll be careful not to be locked in the storage cupboard again, promise!

You're the one who should be more worried about these things.

You're worried?

Ah, does that mean you're all right with being my babysitter?

[ oh so slowly - ]

I'm not. Worried. I'm not - worried.

[ And then, with 250% more sulking. ]

You don't listen to me.

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