a new arrival

[tinico]

i. december

Nicholas was out for errands, a shopping bag slung over his shoulder with things that he'd been sent to buy, and he was almost back to the orphanage, smile already on his face to be returning to the shade. Then there was an odd shake of the ground, making him stumble, and when he looked up, everything was very different. Where buildings had been standing, now there was much damage, his familiarity the only reason he could recognize them anymore. Where people had been wandering around, laughing or yelling or just going about their business, there was... nobody. Only silence. And there was a strange smell in the air, like something wet had been spilled a while ago.

Nicholas's smile faded, eyes going very wide, and he ran towards his home, only to find the worst of the damage to be around it. He was calling out names - Miss Malanie's, everyone's - but there was only silence. Soon, he could see that there were signs that someone had been holed up in the basement, and then upstairs also but those were more recent.

And nobody was answering. Nobody.

ii.desert walking

Everyone had left. So he had to go somewhere else. He had no idea where, but. He'd managed to find a wide brimmed hat, and had added to his shopping bag whatever supplies he had. And he was walking to the next town he had seen on the maps. Which he'd also taken. There would be someone somewhere, right?

iii. octovern

Luckily for him, before walking in the desert could become too much for him, there had been another earthquake - and then he was among people again. After many, many hours mostly alone, other than some random encounters, he kind of needed a moment to lean in the shade and close his eyes in relief. He had not been to this city, but at least it was alive. He would take that.

Then he squared his shoulders, and went exploring. Even if he knew nobody, he should be able to find people who needed help that he could earn a living with, right?

iv. wildcard

ooc: have another idea? he'll pop up there! brackets and prose all good, will match.

Comments

[tinico]

No, no, it was not.

Nicholas has no idea, of course, so he just watches him work through what he means.

"Um... unless we find enough food to boil stuff, I don't think we'll be able to have pasta until we get there. But maybe once we're with Miss Melanie!"

annd wrap.

[tinico]

In all fairness, Nicholas really, really is determined to find his family, so he also kind of completel means it, though the please is an addition because of how, well, official everything around them looks.

Luida starts to answer, and then there is a sudden... not exactly sound, but the absence of sound where there was some before, like breathing, and they both stare at the blank space where Roberto used to be.

Nicholas's chin drops, because, of course, he was always the one who was moved like this before, never having witnessed it, and the words slip out of him helplessly. "You've gotta be fuckin' kiddin' me!"

There is a pause, and then the woman gives a sharp, but not quite pained laugh.

Well, that certainly answers some questions. And raises a few more, but they're not yours to answer. C'mon, kid, let's see if we can find Melanie for you. The last part sounds a little more tentative, but Nicholas is willing to take that, too.

He'll follow.

[graveresemblance]

He breaks out of it-- breaking into a smile.

"That's true. That's alright, anyway, s'expensive."

[tinico]

"I guess. Maybe one day."

It's still a nice thought.

And then another thought comes to him, and he freezes.

"Livio? If... all this time has passed. And I show up. Won't everyone be frightened?"

[graveresemblance]

Oh....

Oh. That's right.

"No, not at all. First of all, Melanie would recognize you. She'd calm them down if anyone was worried."

[tinico]

"R-right."

Nicholas is not letting go of Livio's hand, and his eyes are looking for things they may take, but his mind is also now spinning. What if Miss Melanie says that the kids would be too frightened? And he couldn't stay with them?

Or, perhaps, the kids there now wouldn't know him at all.

For some reason, that thought is both sad and soothing. He'd get to know the ones there now, then. It was always like that, some kids would go, adopted or grown up, and new ones would come in.

But if they don't know him from when he was this age, he can't upset them.

[graveresemblance]

He gives that tiny hand a reassuring squeeze-- at least he hopes it's reassuring. Melanie wouldn't give Nick up for anything-- and if, on the offchance she tried-- Livio wouldn't let her.

"It'll be fine-- there's no way we'll run into trouble with that."

He does not mention any other trouble between here and there.

[tinico]

Going by the way Nicholas holds on, tight, to that squeeze, yeah, it helps. It's just that, of course, he will not be okay if his mere presence upsets the kids, that's just not right, only he has no idea what he would do if that's the case.

So the reassurance gets a hitched breath, but after a moment a very determined nod. He'll trust in Miss Melanie.

He'll trust in Livio, too.

"S-sorry. I just ... thought about it and worried."

[graveresemblance]

Naturally, he wouldn't be happy about upsetting anyone. It's just how Wolfwood is. Even as a grown-up.

They'll be alright.

"Hey, no sorries-- you're sounding like me. It's okay to be worried. Just not too much."

He smiles softly.

[tinico]

Grown-up is far more willing to step on a few toes, to be fair.

For now, the smile helps, it's so soft and it makes Nicholas want to hug him again, except they have something to do so he'll hug him later.

And 'no sorries' sounds, hmm.

"Alright. Not too much." Beat. "When we get there. You'll be staying there, or at least visiting often, right?" What Livio said earlier suggested that may be the case, but he wants to make sure.

No vanishing without a trace and making do on your own, you hear him?

[graveresemblance]

He...that question gives him pause, for sure. Will he stay? Usually, he lingers, but doesn't stay more than a day these days. He's too unsure of whether it'd bring back memories.

"Yeah, I'll be keepin' an eye on you. Just in case."

And he winks.

[tinico]

Yeah, the exact same problem except he has slightly fewer options of what to do if he can't be there.

But he squeezes his hand again.

"Good. I mean, you probably have things to do, but it'll be good to be 'round you."

And if Livio is worried, he can show himself to Nicholas and he'll come over. That'll be fine, too.

[tinico]

Nicholas was staring.

Then he let out a long breath.

"You don't hafta smile for me when y'feel like cryin'. I'm not small enough that I'll start cryin' when you do." A pause, and then he carefully added, "I won't ask if you don't wanna talk about it."

He would be curious. He already was. But there were things that people wanted, or needed, to not say.

He also would have assumed that people close to him were hurt in the fighting he was talking about, but he seemed grow calmer rather than more upset talking about it, so Nicholas had no idea how to help.

After chewing a little bit on his lower lip, and a little bit on the sandwich, he manages, mouth a little full. "Thanksh. 't makes shen-- 'mean, thank you, it makes sense. It was... kind of hard to make sense of anythin'." He knew things were being left out, but Vash was not making an effort to hide that, and Nicholas could appreciate that. He didn't need to know everything, and knowing something was a start.

"A little bit of fightin's okay, but the kind of big fightin' that seemed to've happened in December, that can't be good. So not finding those two to make'em fight's probably better."

It seemed reasonable to him, to avoid more destruction.

[graveresemblance]

"I really don't," Livio laughs, because it's certainly the truth. He's just been wandering, trying to find ways to help. To find redemption.

"I'll be glad to be around ya."

[tinico]

"No?" Nicholas blinks up at him, then rubs the back of his head a little, but the smile slowly starts returning to his lips. "I'd be glad, too."

Beat.

Deadpan.

"And you can help in the kitchen."

It's a tease. A memory.

[graveresemblance]

This little brat...he chuckles, squeezes that little hand again.

"If you don't want me cutting something of mine off by accident, I dunno about that."

[tinico]

"Well you don't gotta cut things to help in the kitchen! You'd be allowed to watch the pots, the kids usually aren't allowed to not burn 'emselves."

No, seriously, if he wants to be around, they'll find a way for him to be useful.

Though chances are he'll be the little ones' very own jungle gym.

[graveresemblance]

"Not you, though, cause you got a knack for it," he's still teasing, even though he appreciates Nick's faith in him. He can watch pots and not miss it, and let it boil over....oh, Nick. Such a kind kid.

"They'll probably try and pull my hair, though..."

[tinico]

Ducking his head and kicking his foot a little as he walks because now he's a little embarrassed but ... holding on. It's a nice and warm feeling, just not one he's used to so he doesn't know how to handle it.

"Well. Other than the littlest ones, you can prob'ly ask them not to... Or I can ask them for you!"

[graveresemblance]

"You'll try and boss 'em around," he laughs. But no, Nick was always gentle, but firm. A lot like Miss Melanie. That's who he got it from, obviously.

"But they won't bother me, don't worry."

[tinico]

"'course I will. Hair pullin' ain't nice!" Not in this context. Not that he knows enough to add this part.

His grin softens. "So, you lemme know if it gets too much, alright? Or if they're fightin'?"

Playing is supposed to be fun.

II

[rejuvenation]

The rumble was weird, but it wasn't the first time the strange teleporting had brought her out into the desert like this. The sisters must want something, like the time she was brought out and checking on the red brother that was face down in the sand.

Tessla hurries to find a higher sand dune and climbs up, looking around to see if she can spot any red brothers... but what she sees instead is an unfamiliar boy. A child, just like her - but she can't sense him.

Human.

Fear grabs her heart and she panics, almost losing her footing as she tries to scamper away before the boy sees her. Of course that makes a lot of noise, including a terrified squeak, so it most likely does the opposite instead.

[tinico]

Nicholas has been walking for far too long. Most of the day, really. There has been little shade, too, and even with the hat he's scavenged he's not sure he'll manage without having gotten sunburn in the process.

So he doesn't actually notice her until the noise and the squeak, and then his eyes widen and he stumbles across the sand to get closer, eyes wide with worry more than ...noticing the feathers.

"Hey, hey, easy! Didja hurt yourself?" He skids to a halt close enough, but on his knees, the sand too soft to support him easily while upright.

[rejuvenation]

He saw her! He's coming for her, what if there's sharp things in the bag, what if he'll make her stop feeling her body?

Tessla cries out in horror, more wings sprouting out to cover her up into a much, much smaller version of her ball of terror from when she first arrived in this place.

"Don't hurt me, don't hurt me, please! I don't want to, please, please, no more!" She cries out, begging, pleading even though she knows humans don't listen.

[tinico]

The explosion of feathers makes him blink, and try to see better, because what. Did he get a sunstroke?

But the terror in her voice makes him scramble back - a little. It's the kind of cry that he's heard before... So he gives a bit of space, without hesitation, and tries to make himself a little smaller.

"I won't! I won't! I won't even touch you if I'm scary."

He's a little breathless, but his voice is ... Well. As calm as he can make it while staring. What he saw before the feathers exploded, she seemed older than the littlest ones, but she doesn't sound that old.