(no subject)

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[Today, Abyss DR, you'll find one small child plopped down in the middle of a pathway. He blinks and squints in the sudden sunlight, then turns his head away to try and block it out, not realizing that raising your hand to do so would accomplish the same thing. Once he dares to open his eyes again...

He looks confused, then scared. Of course, he's not sure what that uncomfortable feeling is that seizes his chest and makes the beating in it increase its speed, but he knows that it's unpleasant, and it makes him want to get away from whatever's causing it.

Where was he, anyway? This was bright with colors and shapes he's never seen before, not the dark, muted walls of the castle. He shouldn't be here, right? He was told to wait. Well... dropped to the floor and continuously pushed down every time he tried to follow that man until he got the message, anyway. But that message still rings clear - he needed to stay there. And he's not there anymore.

So, he's going to try to scoot and drag his way to a space between two buildings. It doesn't look as bright, so it's practically the same thing, right? Still... where was he?]

[[OOC: Hi everyone! Luke is as new as I am to this place, and not only that, but he's only about... oh, an hour or two old. Have fun with that!]]

Comments

[lilfonmaster.livejournal.com]

[Hey Luke.]

[There's someone even tinier than you standing nearby, staring. wut r u doin, boy.]

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[He almost made it, too! But as he looks around again to try and figure out what everything is, he happens to see the other boy.

And he promptly stops to stare. It has the same hands and arms... Like the man from before, but not as tall, not as scary.]

[lilfonmaster.livejournal.com]

[Ion just returns the stare for a few minutes before taking a small step forward.]

What are you doing?

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[Just as Ion takes a step forward, he leans himself back a little, away from the other boy. "Stay away". He's not sure what he is or what he just said, so he's just a little intimidated.]

[lilfonmaster.livejournal.com]

[Ehhh, what's up with him?]

[He crouches down to Luke's level for a few moments before taking a seat on the ground. Then, he pats the spot beside him. Come on out of that dark corner!]

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[What's that gesture supposed to mean? He stares with wide, questioning eyes for a second, then pats the ground in front of him. Okay, what was the point of that...?]

[lilfonmaster.livejournal.com]

[...did he not get it?]

[Okay, trying something new! He scoots just a liiittle closer and holds out his hand.]

Y HALO THAR

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[It's been long enough time, despite the major injuries he sustained, that Asch is out and about, mostly just getting some fresh air. He wasn't fully healed yet, and still had to check into the hospital routinely (much to his chagrin), but he just couldn't stay cooped up there any longer. It was not only suffocating, but brought back bad memories.

Once he spies movement out of the corner of his eye, his hand reflexively goes to the hilt of his sword, but...wait. Red? Was it the--

...Oh, Score. Not this. He really, really doesn't need this right now. Yet he can also hear one of Luke's friends harping at him for not helping out the little dreck. Again, much to his chagrin, Asch approaches Luke's hiding spot and gazes down at him sharply. He's not really aware he can't talk, so--]

Are you lost?

O HAI

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[He managed to make it to the dark place. This is a little better; he's still scared and lost, but this resembles the castle he was in more closely. He holds his upper arms in his hands and curls up just slightly, preparing to wait-

When someone's suddenly staring down at him with a very scary face.

He makes a slight squeaking sound out of fear and curls up even more, ducking his head down low. If he doesn't see it, maybe it'll disappear...]

HOW U DOIN?

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[SORRY, STILL HERE. Asch raises a brow at Luke's odd behavior, suppressing the urge to sneer over how pathetic his replica was at this age. Tch, he should try walking hundreds of miles fighting monsters left and right to stay alive some time.

Though, after a moment's pause, Asch realizes something. If Luke was this age, the age he was when he was captured and replicated, then...ugh. Damn. Damn, damn, damn, DAMN. Bracing himself against one of the walls of the two buildings, Asch knelt down to look like less of a threat, wincing at the pangs of pain.]

...Hey. Can you talk? I won't hurt you. [Or at least try not to.] Are you hurt?

I'M DOIN' GOOD HOW ABOUT YOU

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[That gruff sound was still there, even though he can't see it. Why was it still here? He can't see it, shouldn't it be gone? To see if it's really still there, he peeks up, only to cringe away once he realizes that the man is even closer.

But he's lower, too, and looking at least a little less menacing from before. Thus, he doesn't duck his head out of sight again, but stares up at him; still frightened, his expression and his shaking hands should say that much, but... kind of curious, too.]

I'M DOIN GOOD.

[ashen-knight.livejournal.com]

[Aaah, why is this happening?! Asch can't deal with normal children, let alone a tiny replica that can't do anything! He suppresses the urge to groan at the situation he's gotten into, and shifts uncomfortably. This position is really very painful... Can't he just grab the kid and sling him over his shoulder or something?]

You can't stay here. Come on, I'll...take you back. [GRUDGINGLY. And only until he can dump the little nuisance onto someone else. Sighing, and half knowing the kid doesn't know what the hell he's saying, Asch holds out his hand, palm turned up.] Somewhere safe.

GOOD GOOD /ON LUNCHBREAK

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[He probably shouldn't go anywhere. He was told to stay, and that's what he should do. Until... he's not sure. And, quite frankly, he'd like to be able to move. So, even though he doesn't understand the invitation, he is willing to go.

He stares at the hand for a moment, then reaches out his hand, palm turned down to rest it against the other man's... and he marvels over their hands. They both look the same. Not the same size, not even the same color, but the same shape. This man has five digits, too, ones that he didn't know how to use except to bend experimentally, and not gripping his wrist painfully like the scary man did earlier.

With his other hand, he grabs Asch's fingers - lightly, in a quiet, observing way, and feels along them. They're definitely much larger than his...]

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

[flamefusion]

[ Like everyone else in this place, he was just strolling down the street, but carrying a sack of groceries in one hand. He's got his shotgun over his shoulder, and wings tucked underneath a long cloak with his slightly longer hair fluttering about his face. Damn breeze. He'll need to tie it back again, soon. ]

[ Wait, hold on just a minute, back up. ... What was that bit of red he caught in that alley he just passed? Huh? Luke stopped and turned towards the little replica, nearly dropping his bag in the process. Whoa... ]

[ He moved closer, though slowly, and crouched down with a smile on his face. He didn't want to scare him off. ] Hey... What are you doing back here by yourself?

DAMMIT. MY DISGUISE...!

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[He'd made it to the dark place and curled up just slightly, shivering a little from the cold around him. Sure, the castle he was in was also cold, but... not like this. It was kind of scary, and very unpleasant. He hoped he didn't have to stay here long...

Then he heard footsteps, and he looked up to see someone moving towards him. Not the scary man, but someone different... someone with the same arms and legs, but larger. Despite how slow this man's being, he still scoots back away from him a little and tried to hide further, tried to duck his head and not see that person anymore. Maybe he'd disappear if he did that... After all, his last experience with someone of that shape was not pleasant at all.]

MWAHAHAHAHA.

[flamefusion]

[ Luke blinked when he ducked his head. Did he think that he'd...? Heh, cute. Flame just smiled and plopped himself on his rear, sitting cross-legged. There, that was more comfortable. ]

Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you... [ He held out both his hands for him, warm smile still on his face and voice gentle. ]

MY PLAN WAS SO CUNNING TOO.

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[Agh, that sound - that voice was still there. But it sounded... gentle. Much more so than earlier, when that scary man practically growled at him.

Tentatively, he looked up to find that person still there, but he didn't seem as scared as before. He didn't lower his head again; instead, he lifted it up more and relaxed himself a little, though he still kept himself curled up. It was cold, after all!

He might not have understood what the man said, but that smile, that voice and that gesture... Maybe he didn't get it all, yet he did know that it seemed much nicer, much more inviting than that of the scary man.

So, he glanced around nervously, as if looking to see if said scary man was lurking nearby, then took one scoot closer. Was that what this new man wanted?]

Not really. :|b Also, school kicked my ass this week.

[flamefusion]

[ Luke beamed at him and waved him closer. ] There you go. [ He folded his arms and leaned on his legs, smiling warmly at him. ] I bet you can't talk, can you...?

We should get to a warmer place. You'll freeze out here like this. [ He's mostly talking to himself since he figures the child can't understand him and reached a hand out for him to take. ]

It's okay, worked kicked my ass too. :|b

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[And as the man predicted, he didn't understand him at all. It wasn't the words the he reacted to, but the hand that reached out to him. He paused in his trek to stare at it with wonder, then glance down at his own hand. It... looked the same. This other person's looked a little bigger, yes, but...

He scooted even closer, only to reach out his hand and press it to the other person's. They really were... No, the other person's really was bigger, but... still...]

[scionofhispower]

[ooc; H-hope you don't mind if I join in; I'm always late to the party. D: But this is too cute to resist.]


[Asch happens to notice the tiny and scared replica scooting himself into a dark spot and can't help but investigate. He makes his way over, not too loudly but certainly not perfectly silent so he doesn't take the kid completely by surprise - he figures that would only make him more scared, after all - crouching down once he's close enough. He doesn't quite smile, but he doesn't really look menacing or anything like that either; he tries to keep any sort of hard edge out of his voice when he speaks.] Are you alright?

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[ooc: I don't mind at all! Anyone's welcome early or late. ♥]

[There. He made it, and now all he has to do is wait. This place is still different, but at least it's... somewhat similar. So it should be okay... for whatever reason he was told to stay in the first place.

Then he hears footsteps - quiet ones, though even that makes him automatically pull his legs up and reach his arms around to curl into a ball, barely peeking up over his arms to see who or what is making that noise.

It's... a person. Rather, something moving and with the same shape as that scary man - though he was in the shadows when he was pushing him down and growling at him. He tenses, but the fact that this new person is crouching down, isn't scowling and has no frightening rumble to his voice makes him keep staring up at the man.

He can't understand a word he's saying, though. So, there's no response.]

[scionofhispower]

[ooc; ♥]


[He isn't sure what he expected, although he's fairly certain the silent staring wasn't it; however, that does make him consider at least one explanation for the situation. He tries a slightly modified approach, just to be sure. Keeping his face as passive as he can - if not strangely almost smiling gently - he continues to speak, a little more soothingly this time.] You don't have to be afraid; I won't hurt you. [You're just a bitty little kid, after all.

Asch holds out a hand to him but doesn't move closer; if the kid is afraid or unsure, he figures it's best not to crowd him. And that's especially true if his suspicions are correct. Luke does look about that age...]

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[The man spoke again, but what was he saying? He can't tell. It just sounds like one long noise to him with occasional breaks - he himself hasn't even tried using his own voice yet. The words get no reaction...

But the action does. His gaze moves to the man's hand now, and his expression turns more and more curious by the second. He even raises his head to get a better look. That's the same as... He loosens his grip on his arms to glance down at one of his owns hands: yes, it looks just like that.

Spurred by wanting to know more about this small discovery, he scoots forward enough to press his hand against the other man's, though there were a few points of hesitation - if he moved, would the scary man come back? shouldn't he stay here? what if this man didn't want him to move? - in his little trek, but now that he's touching hands...

They're different. This person's hand was bigger, like the other man's... He shifts to settle on the ground more comfortably, then reaches his other hand out to feel along the other man's, bending and gripping his fingers with the gentleness of someone trying to figure something out.]

[scionofhispower]

[His smile turns a little more fond at this, just letting Luke play with his hand; if nothing else, he figures that will probably help him learn a bit. He's going to keep talking, keeping that soothing tone the whole way, just to try to keep Luke calm and maybe instill a sense of safety for him, even though he's pretty sure now that Luke doesn't understand any of it.] It's alright; I'll protect you. You don't have to be afraid here, Luke. No one will hurt you.

[And now he offers his other hand to Luke, as well.]

[repliderp.livejournal.com]

[There goes that sound again, but... strangely, he doesn't find it so intimidating or bothersome. It's a comfort, actually. He still inspects the larger hand, though he pauses and glances up at the man once he starts talking. The way his mouth is moving, the sound coming out of it... Is that what it's for? Sound?

He frowns just a little, enough to make it seem like this is one of the times he's done so, as he thinks about this. If this person can do it... and if he has his same shape, shouldn't that mean that he can, too?

He opens his mouth... but no sound comes out. How did that man do it, then? He leans his head forward a little, just trying to get some kind of sound out:]

A-Ah... [It's very quiet, but it's there. That's right... He had made noise before, when that scary man had dragged him so roughly to the spot he was supposed to stay in - he had cried and screamed. This is much different, though... and a sound he made willingly at that.

And now that the other hand has been offered to him, he quickly forgets about making noises and takes the other hand, pulling it closer to the other so that he has easier access to them both. This is so interesting... At one point, he even presses the palms of both their hands together, just to marvel over how similar they are.]