nomans_land | a new arrival

Well. This is Nicholas going from irritated and worried to a little wide-eyed, and his cheeks darkening a little. Despite every indication, apparently getting outright approval from an adult still has an effect on him.

"... thanks."

... and then the flinch gets him right back into concerned. Very concerned.

"All right. There was a fight. Is that why the whole city is empty?" It might be, but he knows the people... one fight, however terrifying, would have sent them hiding, not... packing.

That little blush-- he'd forgotten how Nick had gotten after genuine praise-- and he wants to remember it, always. Burn it into his memory.

He sure dips his fingers into the wound there. Digs it around a little.

"The fight was part of it-- it was all part of something bigger. Part of the reason it's empty, yeah."

All right, that still hurts, apparently. Nicholas bites his tongue a little, then moves his hand to squeeze the large, warm ones on his shoulders. An apology.

"Right. How 'bout you tell me what it's alright to tell me. What I'll need, to find them and all that."

To not do something stupid and, uh, not manage to reach them.

But let's not say that out loud. He's pretty sure that might break Livio right now, even if not sure why.

He's been on his own, for a while, before coming to the orphanage. But then there were people all about. This situation right here? He's very, very aware how out of his depth he is. And he has absolutely no intention to get himself stupidly ... hurt because he didn't ask.

What is true is that Livio doesn't know what he should tell Wolfwood, and what he shouldn't Does this affect anything in the future? The...the past? This is all very confusing.

"Uh, well they're probably in Octovern, if-- if things are right. And we won the fight, things are okay now."

They are not remotely okay, but you know.

"Right. Winnin's good."

He almost sounds certain!

Looking around the empty city, though, might have driven home a lesson.

Not fighting at all might, just might, be better.

Anyway, he makes a bit of a face.

"'less I remember wrong, Octovern's a long way." Right, and on the heels of that, eyes wider. "Littlest ones made it all right, too?"

There are always, always very small ones. Such a long way...

It is a long way. Which is why Livio drove here-- Nick, though, just popped in here huh.

He pats his back gently.

"Well, it's a good thing you've got a road trip partner in the meantime." A solemn nod. "The littlest ones made it all right. We made sure of it."

Nicholas was nowhere else. Just someWHEN else.

He breathes out in relief, then nods slowly. --- and then the first part registers and he perks up.

"You'll come with me?"

He scoffs, but Livio's smiling wide.

"Yeah, hell yeah! You'd have to fight me to stop me."

Griiin.

"Yeah? Sorry, I'll leave that for somethin' that I wannna fight because of. This one I'm good with."

"Oh? You think I'm gonna ask ya if we're there yet for hours?"

What.

"Won't it be kinda obvious when we're there?"

He. Has not been on a long trip with other kids. They don't exactly go off on such.

He'll get it, one day.

Oh, wait-- he hasn't-- Well he hadn't really been on a road trip with other kids either....Just Vash.

"It will, but we'll see. Road trips can be boring."

Well, where would Melanie take the kids? To a museum? Sightseeing? Out in nature?

Yeah.

"Oh... that. Yeah." He did have to come to December at one point. He's mostly not thought about that since, but when Livio points it out...

"I can tell you stories, if you'd like." If... he's not too upset with the other kids over what made him run away, of course.

"Yeah? You'd want to? I'd like to hear em."

He remembers some of the ones he'd heard, listening just on the outskirts of the groups of kids seated in a circle around Nick, or around Melanie.

"Yeah! Stories are a good way to pass the time!"

Oh but there are also stories about the kids themselves. And this time, Nicholas will be all for Livio.

"Gotta agree. It'll be nice, telling stories on the road."

His smile softens.

"Yeah!"

Nicholas is getting to appreciate this softening in the man's expression, though it worries him, how hard crybaby Livio has had to become. What he must have been through, to drop down on his knees at the sight of him.

"Hey... you been runnin' alone for a long time, huh?"

Livio also hasn't really righted himself to his feet yet, either, and he's not staring at the boy, quite memorizing his features but he's still down here.

"Uh, kind of. Why d'you ask?"

"Dunno. You took off on yer own, and keep lookin' at me like a parched man who's seen a water canteen. Plus, you didn't even think of tellin' stories to pass the time.

"'s alright if you have been, I mean. Well, not alright-alright, just... I was curious."

None of it is, actually judgmental. Back then, he berated them on account of the smaller kids, the ones that also had it bad. Now? It's just the two of them. He just wants to know him, to know about him, rather than try to get him to be in a different way than he is.

He flinches just the slightest bit. Livio did take off on his own, this Nick never knew-- doesn't know what became of him. Maybe let him think things turned out fine--

Welp, nevermind.

"We didn't tell stories around the campfire where I ended up, no..."

Nick doesn't know yet, no. Nor has he even heard about them.

But that doesn't make him blind to the effects.

He reaches up, and presses lightly at Livio's forehead.

"I'll stop pryin'," for now, his curiosity might get the better of him later, "but it's okay to not try to act like everythin's alright. And now you don't gotta be alone."

If...

If time has passed, then he is also not part of the orphanage anymore, either. So if he knows they are all right, he can probably hang out with Livio some of the time, too. Right?

The gentle touch has him going crosseyed, before he's back right-eyed, gaze fixed on the boy before him who, as always, knows too much.

"Okay. If you say so," his smile is wistful. Livio knows he's...he has to be alright. He's the grownup.

It's been job to notice and take care of people for a while. He's good at it. Plus, he's the one less damaged right now, even if he doesn't realize by how much, not yet. They'll figure out a balance somehow.

Hands on his hips, firm nod.

"I do."

The smile widens into something fond.

"You got it, boss. Should we see if there's anything left, and then head out?"

... he likes that. It's good, to see Livio smile like this. Even more so to smile like this at him. And he grins back.

Then the words see if there's anything left sink in, and he makes a face, but nods.

"I guess we'd better. Staying here won't help anything or anyone, right?"

baby boy it's okay, he'll try not to poke his finger RIGHT in the wound...

just right into the wound

...gah. still better than asking who was fighting? also livio is apparently little brother AND adult

liv is living the life truly

... he gets a smol niisan all for himself?

that he does! and nick's resume is so expansive rn

he is going to become intensely confused by people wanting to protect him....

he'll learn...or he won't he must tolerate it i suppose

it's just weird!!!

it SURE is kid it sure is

he'll find a way to protect back while yelling they are all idiots. I'm sure.

i have the utmost faith in our baby boy

wheeze. he appreciates it. (unsure)

he'll be fiiiine!

i mean, yes, probably. he's durable. ... not yet physically, that is.

emotional...kinda

he's doing his best and he hasn't got suppressing down to a horrible art... yet.

not yet... ;~;

listen.... would YOU show weakness with the eye of michael....

i wouldnt even show my butt with them

and so he got into the habit.

of his tits out, true

it's a sTATEMENT

;0

>.>