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

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

[tinico]

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.

i have the utmost faith in our baby boy

[graveresemblance]

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."

wheeze. he appreciates it. (unsure)

[tinico]

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.

he'll be fiiiine!

[graveresemblance]

"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.

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

[tinico]

"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.

emotional...kinda

[graveresemblance]

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

His smile softens.

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

[tinico]

"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?"

not yet... ;~;

[graveresemblance]

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?"

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

[tinico]

"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.

i wouldnt even show my butt with them

[graveresemblance]

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..."

and so he got into the habit.

[tinico]

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?

of his tits out, true

[graveresemblance]

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 a sTATEMENT

[tinico]

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."

;0

[graveresemblance]

The smile widens into something fond.

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

>.>

[tinico]

... 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?"

[graveresemblance]

"I'm thinking they cleaned out all the food when things started going to shit, but they might have missed something," he adds, as if that's reassuring. Somehow it is to Livio.

He places a hand on Nick's shoulder.

"No...but we could leave a note, actually. Want to?"

[tinico]

At this age, it's the only home Nicholas has known, as before that he was far less. Settled. And he cares about it. Seeing it like this, even the thought to seek through it for necessities for the two of them, is not fun. But he'll do it.

A corner of his mouth tugs back up in a smile.. "Yeah. A note will be great." It's not nearly as amusing and noticeable a graffiti but very practical. "It'd be less scar-- worrying for anyone else showing up like I did. Thanks, Livio."

[graveresemblance]

"Of course-- I woulda left one, probably, even if you hadn't been with me."

At least a signature of his name to let Melanie know. "This'll be just fine."

[tinico]

Heh. Nicholas grins at him. That is certainly much better than leaving as he did before, and he's proud of Livio.

"Right. Let's get to it, then."

But he steps in and gives the large man another hug, tight, before stepping to head tot he orphanage itself once again. He's impatient not to get away from Livio, but to find everyone - there is a difference, and he thinks it's important to communicate it.

[graveresemblance]

Oh-- oh. He only has seconds, but he gives the boy a gentle, but firm squeeze. This kid is just killing him. He's going to do anything to keep him safe, to return him to where he belongs.

His smile is shaky.

"Wonder if there's any canned beans left...?"

[tinico]

Livio does give good hugs now and Nicholas might get a little selfish with those but also he does know that Livio himself hasn't probably had that many, so he's not going to feel guilty about that.

"Canned beans? You like those?" He holds up his groceries bag. "There're a couple here, and there may be more, Miss Melanie likes to stock up on canned stuff but they're heavy to carry all at once."

So she has him buy a couple of things every time he's buying other stuff, so it's not too much all at once.

[graveresemblance]

Nick also has Livio all to himself now so he better take all the hugs he can get.

Livio also doesn't sniffle, okay? Shush.

"I do like canned beans...they're sweet. And Miss Melanie had this sauce for it...didn't she?" It's a little hard to remember. "Oh, what else did she have you get? That'll come in handy."

[tinico]

Oh, he will. He will. They do have a long way and Livio will have to take breaks. He'll be expected to give hugs.

For now, he holds up his bag, open so Livio can see for himself. It's just normal stuff that some of the kids crave some days, nothing that can't be used on the road. Not too much water, but a couple of cartons of juice. Very... ordinary stuff. Very weird to find himself here with, alone, but not not nearly as bad.

[graveresemblance]

He takes a glance in and yup, there's the stuff. He'd been on a grocery run, truly, and gotten caught up in all this.

Poor kid.

"I'll haveta give Melanie some cash for using this up."

[tinico]

He'll be fine (?) now that he has someone to help him get his bearings and so he doesn't have to panic on his own. And he is grateful.

"I guess. I mean if these things never arrived in the first place, she's probably forgotten about 'em?"

But he's got enough of an idea that Miss Melanie can always use more cash. For the lot of them, of course.

"Thanks, also. Let's go looking for more stuff, yeah?" He's shouldering the bag because his responsibility still, right?