nomans_land | Location: Who in the blue blazes even knows???

Location: Who in the blue blazes even knows???

In the grand scheme of things, Melanie thought perhaps her and the kids might have gotten off better than most, when everything was said and done. Things were still up in the air, yes, and people were still in desperate need of a place to stay, but they had been taken care of, and being housed on that big, half-functional space ship as the residents of the orphanage were, she had found herself with more hands to help care for the kids than she'd had in years! It was like she had been given a vacation for the first time in her life, though it did make her feel a little guilty, seeing all of the people in the streets who hadn't fared as well as they had in the chaos.

Unfortunately, it also left her with a lot of time on her hands, and in the few months since the events that had lead to them all staying on the ship while the fancy Earth military tried to get everything put back into place, she had been trying everything she could to distract herself from a few very intense, very recent memories that had been making it a little hard for her to get a peaceful night's sleep. But at least they were all safe, shown far more care than she had ever expected, and it was comforting to watch the children of the ship playing with her own kids, all of them doing their best to be just a bunch of normal, happy children in spite of everything.

Thankfully, for today, the one strange blond boy that seemed to follow the matriarch of the ship's community around like a lost puppy had asked if she wanted to help collect a few baskets of apples, and bless his heart, he was such a sweet, bubbly little thing that she couldn't help but agree, especially what with him still healing from such a severe, disabling injury as he was. She honestly thought it was a bit of a travesty that anyone even let him work in that state, but that stern, protective young man named Brad had made it seem like it was harder to get him to let people take care of him than it was the other way around. And she couldn't help but wonder, all that being said, if there wasn't more to the little voice in the back of her head that said he sure did remind her of that other strange blond man she'd seen during that horrible business back in December.

But all of that was far more unpleasant than she cared to think about right now, when he was chirping at her from up the ladder above her, after he'd insisted on climbing up himself instead of letting her wobble her short, little legs up there on her own, and dropping the bright, red fruit down by the handfuls into the baskets as she held them up above her head. It didn't take them long at all before they had three big, heavy baskets full and were walking back across the bright, green atrium on their way back to the kitchen to drop off their harvest, and he was chatting her ear off the whole way, asking about the kids - he'd already memorized all of their names - and about their orphanage, the way it was run, how they cared for them, seemingly fascinated with the concept and wanting to know everything about how the whole thing worked.

She wondered if there was a particular reason he'd taken such an interest. When she'd asked Brad if he was his younger brother, the man had just sputtered and denied any family connections, though it was obvious he and a good number of other people were going out of their way to care for the boy, and she had never seen him with anyone who she could definitively be sure were his own parents. Perhaps he was on his own, too. The community here seemed to be close enough that she could imagine them simply taking any wayward children in and caring for them as a group, and if that were the case, she could certainly imagine the concept of orphanages being an unusual one to the boy. How must they all look to a community that went out of their way to take care of each other so much, when her and all of the kids often seemed like they barely had enough shoes to fit on their little feet?

She was trying to explain the chore rotation that had been in place since well before she had been in charge when, just as her foot went to step out of the grass and onto the metal flooring of the corridor, she felt a strange sort of pop in her ears, her hair fluffing up from underneath the bandana she used to keep it held back, and found herself, in the blink of an eye, putting her foot down instead into soft, shifting sands.

She gave a startled shout, stumbling as she tried to maintain her equilibrium, her two baskets of apples going rolling off into the desert around her. Luckily, the sand was soft enough that when she fell, the landing was relatively forgiving, and she sputtered as she looked up, spitting out clumps of sand, squinting at the bright and shining sun, and stared in confused shock at the sight of the tiny skyline of a distant city, iles away.

The words that came out of her mouth shortly afterward would have gotten so many double dollars in the swear jar!

What in the actual fu-...???

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Never mind the swearing. Or the desert. Or the rolling apples.

She was getting a preteen boy barreling into her and hugging her with a fierce, sunburned, exhausted strength.

"Miss Melanie!"

Today was certainly going to be a day, for her.

The first response she had to that little voice before she was bowled over by one of her boys was sudden concern and a strong, confusing sense of awe and relief and joy that made no sense. She couldn't let herself focus on it, though, had to keep calm, so she simply wrapped him up in a hug and held him tight.

"Oh no, sweetie, you, too? It's ok, mijo, don't worry, we're alright!"

For weeks, there had been rumors about strange forces moving people about, bringing loved ones back from the dead or dropping people into strange places far from home. She supposed this just confirmed it, but it also looked like she wasn't alone. She has to keep her wits about her, for his sake.

But then she glanced down at the little boy in her arms, mindlessly pushing his mop of messy hair up out of his face to make sure he was uninjured, and felt herself freeze when she saw just who it was she was holding.

"Nicholas...???"

That explained, a small part of her mind thought, why the sound of that little voice had filled her with so much relief, when she should have been worried for the poor thing instead.

The other part of her, though, could only gasp in shock, holding his little face in her hands and staring just long enough to be sure that she hadn't lost her mind, it really was her little Nicholas, clinging to her and as young - younger even, maybe - than the day he'd been taken to that awful church!

She wrapped him up in her arms again, hugging him just as fiercely as he held onto her, laughing and shouting in pure shock and joy before she realized she was probably worrying the poor thing. He'd always been so perceptive, so serious but also always so concerned and able to catch on when things had gone wrong with a surprising amount of focus for one his age.

She did her best to calm herself, trying to keep the sound of her laughter light as she rocked him back and forth, and fought furiously to keep the memories of the man she'd seen in December out of her mind, lest she break down into uncontrollable sobbing.

"Oh, Nicholas, my sweet boy, I didn't know you were out here, too! So this is where you got off to! I was so worried! I'm so glad you're safe! Don't worry me like that!"

How long had he been out here? Had whatever brought her out here brought him at the same time? How???

And oh, did this make her think back on that little blond boy she'd just left with a bushel of apples with a lot more knowing suspicion. Once she got the two of them back home, she was going to have a word with that Luida!

Oh... crap. She was upset. But also just for the moment he was going to hold on and be held, because it wasn't that he hadn't believed Livio but it was different to actually see her and know for himself she's all right.

"Wasn't out here all the time. I'd - I'd gone to get some things from the store, and then somethin' happened and December was... all empty. An' quiet. And there must've been some big fight." That was terrifying. "Was kinda like a ghost town, so I - worried."

Closer to panicking but panicking wouldn't have helped.

"Then Livio showed up, 'cept he's an adult - he's so big! - and told me you're alright, and he's been gettin' me to Octovern but the car overheated."

So no, he hadn't been out there alone for a long time. Still on the road for days, and sunburned and tired accordingly.

"You... really alright? And the other kids?"

Just the fact that he was clinging to her like that told her more than he was with words that he'd been worried after whatever had brought him here, and she was happy to let him hold on as long as he wanted. He would probably find, in fact, that she was going to be holding onto him for even longer than that. And when he described being dropped into the middle of an abandoned December, at the orphanage of all places, from the sound of it, the sound she tried to disguise as a little hum of confirmation sounded a bit more like a slightly distressed, motherly coo.

"Oh, sweetie, all the way out there, all by yourself? Yes...yes, there was a very, very big fight, but...a couple of men came and...and made sure we were alright. I'm so happy you didn't have to see it." No, no, she could not start crying, she refused to let herself break down over that when he was right there in her arms, needing her to be calm! But he might have noticed her squeezing him against her plump frame just a bit tighter.

There was a wave of relief, though, at the thought that Livio had found him and was bringing him home, and she gave a happy little sound as she looked up and around them for any sign of the man.

"Livio found you, that's so good!" She pulled away to hold Nicholas' face again when she didn't see any sign of him, a vague thought crossing her mind and making her have to hide a tiny, thoughtful frown. "Has he remembered to cut his hair? The silly thing let it get so long. And is he still wearing that...that strange mask of his?"

Make it seem like it was something nonchalant, nothing that she was actually worried about, because she hadn't initially recognized him in all of the chaos at the orphanage, but when he had come to her after the battle in Octovern, crying his poor, big heart out and explaining what he could in a desperate need for forgiveness, she'd realized what had happened, and now worried that if it were possible for Nicholas to be here at this age, then there was the very real risk of the Livio he'd met being the man who was still under the control of those horrible men with the church. Still dangerous.

He'd been so broken up at the time, still was to be honest, as he shuffled around the Home ship and helped watch the kids when he felt mentally alright enough to come out and be social, that learning why he had done the things he'd done had helped her start to come to terms with how she'd failed that little boy when he'd still been under her care and also to start to forgive him for what had happened. It was still a tenuous thing at times, the two of them still broken up and grieving in their own ways. But she was doing her best to give him a second chance and to get to know the massive man that tiny, timid boy had grown into. But she knew, if it was the Livio who still wore that grotesque mask - or was it Razlo who preferred to wear that thing? She didn't much understand any of that and still had trouble telling which one she was talking to, sometimes - and he saw her as an enemy, she wouldn't stand a chance against him!

That sweet little voice chimed up again, though, distracting her with his worry, and she had to fight back tears when she looked back down at him. He was so tiny, so sweet and kind and oh, how could she have ever let him go away to those horrible people???

"Oh, sweetie, of course I'm fine! The kids all got out safe, and we're all staying in this big, pretty spaceship in the city! Things are going easier, too, there are more people to help out, and there are kids there who will just love to meet you!"

And kids who would be shocked to see him again. Some maybe scared, others simply overjoyed to see he was alive and well? Oh, that was going to take some navigating when they got back, before she let him go back to seeing all of the other kids. Even after she tried to talk to them, to explain that they shouldn't tell him what they'd seen back home until she'd had a chance to figure out how and when was best to do it, there was still a possibility that one of them would let it slip, and she didn't want the poor little boy to have that hanging over his head!

Oh, but that just made her realize something else, and she puffed out her cheeks in exasperation before blowing a breath out in a raspberry through her lips.

"The other children are a little bigger, too, though, so you might not recognize them immediately. Not as old as Livio, no, but a few of them are almost adults, themselves! There have been strange things happening recently, Nicholas, the people in charge of the city think it has something to do with the Plants, but they aren't sure, yet. Everyone is quite a bit older than you'll remember. Even I'm not as young as I used to be, see?"

She giggled out for him, reaching up and taking a little curly lock of grey hair from underneath her bandana and waving it at him playfully.

"I'm practically an old lady, now!"

Nicholas immediately shook his head. "No mask. Short hair, big black hat." He'd have to ask about the long hair and the mask. That sounded like an interesting look. He also pointed in the direction of the car. "He's over that way."

Beat, as he chewed on his lip, before the last part made him straighten up a little while still holding on.

"You're you, Miss Melanie!!" You're perfect except he didn't think to say those words, this was just what he meant.

Slowly, he nodded his head, taking in the information. Plants...

"It..." He hesitated. "I just wanted to make sure you're all alright. If- if they'll be upset if I show up, I can stay away." Not that he wanted to, but he would figure something out.

The description of Livio made a great deal of the worried tension bleed right out of her and her smile became brighter, and she nodded, looking out in the direction of where he'd apparently left him. "Oh yes, he does love that big hat. One of the kids gave it to him, and his poncho! You can hardly find him anywhere without them."

And then he was shifting, chirping at her so sweetly, as if to reassure her that she wasn't old, and it was like a shot right to her heart, such an adorable, sweet, kind thing that made her almost break down into tears right then and there. But no, she couldn't, she wouldn't, and instead she simply crowed happily, grabbing his head and kissing his precious little cheeks.

"You're right, I'm just me. Still a little old lady now, but that's alright, I'm still kicking and that's what matters, right?"

Sorry, Nicholas, you're going to get mommed on for a couple minutes. She can't help it, the joy of having him back and back to his sweet, affectionate little self is just too much. Even for all his grumbling and fussing, pretending he was a little grouch, he'd always been one of the sweetest kids she'd ever cared for.

The worry in his voice finally made her pull away, though, and she gave him a little sympathetic look. It was unfortunate that she had to take a moment to properly think of an answer, and he would no doubt notice right away, but he deserved a proper answer, especially if he was already beginning to worry. She probably wasn't as convincing as she'd hoped, and...well, if he had already met Livio, the Livio who had come back to her after the fight was over, then he no doubt been subjected to the big teddy bear's soft, sensitive and fussy side. He had never been able to hide his emotions very well, had he?

"I'm very alright, Nicholas, I promise. Things have been a little...strange, lately. And there have been a few things that were upsetting recently. But we're managing as well as we can. I promise, the kids will be happy to see you. Maybe they won't be used to seeing you as young as you are, but you know they all love you. Just give them time to get used to the change, it'll be alright." She brushed her fingers through his fluffy head of hair, and though there was a bit of sadness behind it, the smile she gave him was true enough. "No one is going to make you leave, I promise. We're not at the orphanage right now, but we're together, and that's what matters, isn't it? Home is where your family is, and we're your family."

Besides that, the children may have been confused to see the man in December, knowing who he was and seeing how much older he'd looked than he should have been, but there hadn't been a single one of them who had known him as he was in front of her right now who hadn't wished he could stay with them. Who hadn't been upset, when she explained that he couldn't and that he most likely wouldn't be able to visit them ever again. The older kids had known what she meant. They'd all seen what had been done to him. She had no doubt that once the shock wore off, the other kids wouldn't let him out of their sight. It was painfully clear, how much they loved their "big brother."

All that being said, she glanced up and around them again, obviously trying to catch sight of the wayward Livio, before she shuffled to her feet and, looking down at Nicholas with a thoughtful look on her face and her hands on her hips.

"Well. I know you're not as small as you used to be, but...do you want to walk, or would you like me to carry you?" Because frankly, she wants to carry him around like a toddler on her hip right now, if only because it means she doesn't have to let him go after everything that's happened. But she knows how persnickety kids can be, if they feel like you're treating them like they're more baby than they are.

It's been a long ride. Not all unpleasant, what with the company or anything, but it was long. A long ride in the desert always feels endless, no matter how many resources you took from home (which he still feels a tad bad about, but necessity overrides that).

He'd tried his best to keep his little charge happy and distracted from the overall Chaos around them, and Livio thinks maybe he had.

Until they'd arrived, and Nick had scrambled away to go pee and take a look around. He wasn't worried at first, knows the boy did need a moment alone, not like he's here to hold his hand while he pisses.

But after a little longer than he'd like, he goes searching for him. He thinks up ahead he can see him-- his little shape-- and someone with him.

"Hey, Nick!" He calls, his pace picking up then with the thud of his heart-- there's someone with him, a woman--

The reassurance helped. Because it made sense, things were already weird and it might take time, but it would be all right. And nobody would make him leave. That...

He would have done it, because he knew there were more important things than himself.

But it had been terrifying, so hearing it said out loud helped in ways that he couldn't even begin to express. So just clinging on was kind of... really good, for a little bit.

He was about to answer that why would she have to carry him when there was a car when Livio's voice called out to him, and he pulled away only enough to wave one arm at his... friend? He thought he could think that. Maybe. His other hand was not letting go of Miss Melanie.

"Over here, Livio! She just appeared out of thin air and dropped on the sand!"

It was the truth, after all.

The sound of that big, gruff voice made her lift her head, but there was a touch of worry to it that also helped reassure some of the mild concern she'd still had about which of the men who shared that large, imposing frame she would be talking to. When Livio was speaking, he always sounded softer, gentler. Razlo rarely made himself known, no, but when he did, he spoke so little and even then, he usually sounded so much more...gruff. She would have given the same reaction either way, a habit that was becoming easier and easier the more she grew to know them, but it at least meant there was a touch less trepidation when she turned, holding Nicholas' tiny hand in one of her's and reaching up to wave to the blond as he approached.

"Oh, there you are, Livio! I'm so lucky you and Nico came along when you did!"

When her hand dropped back down, it moved to pat Nick's between both of her own, a small, fussy gesture as her mind still tried to accept the fact that he was there, and even though she wasn't looking down at him right that second, he was still there, safe and sound against all odds, and wouldn't disappear into thin air. "I was almost worried I'd have to get back to Octovern all on my own! I don't even know where we are. One moment I was on that old ship with all of those lovely people who helped Our Friend and His Partner," she gave a little tilt of her head, a look on her face that quietly filled in the names she didn't want to say out loud around the boy, without losing her smile, "and the next, I was out here, all by myself. Well, until Nicholas found me, of course."

She just dropped out of nowhere....he comes closer and closer, catching most of the snatches of what she's saying, all Livio can do for a bit is just stand there. Staring like an idiot, mouth agape just a little.

It's not as though he hadn't just seen her recently, before all this-- but to see things are....the same. The same old Miss Melanie.

He doesn't manage to hide the flinch at the mention of Wolfwood, the bigger one, the deader one. But in a shaky voice he does manage to answer.

"I'm glad we found you. We'll make sure you'll get to where you're going. Right, Nick?" Livio turns an even shakier smile the boy's way.

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Location: Who in the blue blazes even knows???

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well hewwo mom

FAMBLY FAMBLY FAMBLY

FINALLY GETTING BACK ON THE OLD HORSE!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i didnt knowww