abyssdressing | (no subject)

Entry tags:

characters: repliderp

(no subject)

[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!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Asch keeps a steady watch over Luke for about two minutes, then goes to check on and stir the broth he made. His mixing becomes slower once he hears the quiet sound of sniffling, and Asch can't help but sigh. Once he puts the bowl and spoon down at the table, Asch moves over to where Luke was and crouches down close to him. He opens his arms and scoops Luke back up into them, holding him gently and rubbing his back. There now, your punishment is over.]

Dinner's ready, Luke. ...Food. [He sets Luke down again, this time on a chair (with arms), and points to the bowl of broth.] Food.

[Nggh, he sounds so dumb and he knows it. Thank Yulia no one else could see this. He takes a spoonful, blows on it, and opens his mouth wide, hoping Luke will mimic.]

[Being held and having his back rubbed certainly helped - Luke knew he still did something wrong, but at least he was out of the corner and back with Asch, especially one who wasn't angry anymore. There were still tear tracks on his cheeks, and his eyes were still wet, but that was part from the guilt and part from the pain in his stomach. Luke wasn't sure what it was, only that it was unpleasant. Maybe it had to do with that nice smell in the air...

Once Asch held the spoonful of broth out for him and opened his mouth, Luke didn't quite get it at first. What was Asch doing? Opening his mouth like that... In confusion and possibly just to mimic him, he opens his own mouth wide, letting out a quiet "Ah?"]

Ah.

[Asch took the opportunity when Luke copied him, putting the spoon into his mouth and pulling it back, making sure to carefully tilt the spoon upwards as he went. While his one hand was busy, however, Asch took his other and brushed the remnants of Luke's tears away. He really wasn't a bad kid, just...a kid. A baby. Babies were curious.

If Luke takes the first spoonful, Asch will go for another, blowing on it before opening his own mouth. Again, if Luke copies him again, he'll give him a second spoonful of the warm broth he made. He had a few napkins on hand and ready, knowing this might get a bit messy.]

[The first spoonful surprises Luke more than anything, and if Asch hadn't had his hand on his face to wipe the tears away, he would've ducked his head to let the broth fall out. As it stands, though, he shuts his mouth and swallows, actions made out of surprise, and...

He widens his eyes and smacks his mouth, bringing a hand up to his chin. What... was that? Whatever it was, it was good.

But Luke still doesn't really realize that this is what he's supposed to do. So, for the first half of the broth, most of what Asch gives him dribbles out of his mouth, as Luke is unsure if he's really doing this right. Yet for the next half, Luke seems to slowly get it. Soon enough, he's eating correctly, save for a spill here and there. Asch doesn't even have to keep opening his mouth - Luke seems to be doing so before Asch can even get his spoon back to the bowl.]

[Pfft, what a little rappig. Asch was prepared for the mess, and wipes at Luke's face with mostly every spoonful. He really is just like a baby... It was astounding to see, to experience, to know this little person was the one who took everything from him...and now Asch was caring for him. Perhaps even growing somewhat attached to him. The bitterness and sting would always remain, but it...it was difficult to blame this child, who knew so little about the world.

Mentally thanking whatever god governed this psychotic place, Asch fed Luke with little hassle once he caught on, and even cracked a hint of a smile at his eagerness to eat. When the bowl was all gone, Asch chuckled quietly, then showed Luke the empty bowl.]

All gone. ...Nice work. [The latter comment was quiet, almost mumbled. Asch just couldn't bring himself to willingly congratulate the replica, no matter what the circumstance.] Bed time.

[And up you go again, little guy. Right to the second room you go.]

[Luke stares at the empty bowl with something akin to awe. Wasn't it full earlier? But it starts to dawn on him the reason for it - that's what he... ate, wasn't it? And it was going away... That's why it was gone!]

Aah...

[Aaand up he goes! And a hug you get, Asch. |D It's pretty much automatic at this point, and he leans over to rest his chin on his shoulder while he stares at everything over it, watching it go further away as they walk to the other room. Aww... He kind of wanted to play there longer.]

[Asch expects the hug this time, but even then it doesn't make him feel less awkward and somewhat surprised. It's not bad, just very unfamiliar to the redhead. He's never had someone hold onto him so frequently like that. It was kind of nice... He never really had anyone do such a thing. Nor did he ever really allow anyone to get so close to him like that.

He leaned his head into Luke's hair for a minute or two, drawing his hand over the kid's back in a slow and calming circle, trying to get him a little drowsy before he entered the dark room. On go the lights as Asch moves into the room, pulling back the blankets and putting the little replica onto the pillow and mattress, covering him up slowly and carefully. The bed should be big enough...yeah. Even if he rolls around or anything in his sleep, he shouldn't fall off or anything.]

...There. Now close your eyes and go to bed. [Nggh, how does he do this? He's never put a kid to sleep before.] ...S-Sleep. I'll be next door.

[Aand he's going to try and leave the room now. DOES HE SUCCEED?]

[What Asch did certainly made him drowsy... Enough to shut his eyes, lean his head against Asch's and not really notice the dark room. It's only when he's set on the bed and covered up that he stirs a little, watching Asch in confusion as he tucks him in and...

Starts to leave.

Starts to leave...?

Having not understood anything Asch said, Luke doesn't realize that he's not going to go very far. After all, when the scary man left, he never saw him again. He's thankful for that, but...

If Asch leaves, what if he doesn't come back?

Luke sits up in bed with wide, sad eyes and scoots forward a bit, trying to get around the blankets. He doesn't want him to leave! He's not going to see him again if he does!]

[Asch hears Luke moving and tries desperately not to turn around, not to go to him and reassure him, not to say a word and keep moving, but he can just feel the small child's eyes on his back, and knows the look that must be in them. He knows the look all too well.

Which is why, with a heavy sigh he turns and goes back to Luke, staying by the end of the bed and opening his arms to the little replica. Come on, Luke, If you want him there, you're going to have to work a little. You've got to learn how to walk soon. Consider this a kind of first step.

It also gives Asch a chance to think of what he can do to get the little kid to bed. He's not going to sleep with him, that'd only teach Luke that he can get what he wants by whining about it. This is perhaps the first, last, and (hopefully) only time Asch would give in to Luke's silent plea not to leave. But what could he do? He doesn't have any dolls or toys, and he couldn't leave Luke alone...

Nggh, he'd have to take him out if he went, and even if there was still a tiny bit of light out, it was late, and Luke needed to sleep. Damn little dreck! You're getting spoiled only this once!]

Come here...

[He... wasn't going to disappear! Good thing, too, since Luke looked like he was about to start crying. He still hasn't quite understood that just because something can't be seen doesn't mean it's gone.]

... Asch!

[Asch doesn't have to ask him to come to him; Once he's close enough, Luke scoots and crawls and does what he can to get close enough to throw his arms around him and hold him tight. Now that Luke has been with someone for this long... he doesn't particularly want to be alone.]

[Oh, Score, if he started to cry...Asch didn't know what he'd do. He wanted to think he'd get angry, but for now he can just breathe and wipe at the corners of Luke's eyes when he's close enough.

And holding him.

Nggh...this isn't good. This isn't good at all. Luke was already attached, and Asch knew he cared for the kid. But he also knew he wasn't fit to take care of the boy, either. What if he did get upset with him, and called him something derogatory like he was so accustom to? He wouldn't yell at a child, but this child was his replica. This child was the one who stole away everything. This child was the one responsible for the suffering he endured for seven years.

But this child also needed him, and Asch wasn't cruel enough to leave a child to suffer, not even his replica. He held Luke for a moment, stroking back his hair before picking him up securely into his arms, making a gruff sound at the pain from his old wounds. Ow, shit...forgot about those. Maybe he can pick up some gels to dull the pain while he's out as well.]

We're going for a walk.

[And now to get his boots back on to head out. Asch will make sure to curl a bit of his tabard around Luke as they walk. Even though it was warming up, it was still fairly cold for the season.]

[When they got outside, Luke brought himself a little closer to Asch, both for warmth and security. Snuggling down into the tabard might make it look like Asch is carrying a bundle with wild red hair peeking up at the top of it, and some passerbys might smile at the sight. Occasionally, Luke will lift his head up to look around at everything, only to duck down again. It was still cold, and Luke was pretty tired despite the little scare he had.

Everything was so new to him... He couldn't even think to himself except in feelings - how could he do anything else, when he knew no words? First in his mind, something that's lingered for a while now, is confusion. Everything was so new and different and changing, and... it was a lot for newborn like him to take in. And he couldn't learn everything himself.

He'd have to work on that later. Right now, he dozed lightly against Asch, though he'd open his eyes every few seconds to look around again. Where were they going, anyway?]

[Any and everyone who even glanced or giggled in Asch's direction were shot with his nastiest look. He doesn't want all this attention brought to him and Luke, so he immediately picked up the pace, even if his breath begins to come in shallow pants. Ugh, Asch hated being injured. It was really such an inconvenience... He needed to get some gels pretty soon, and a good night's sleep once Luke went to bed, too.

But until Asch got the little dreck some toys, he'd never get to bed on his own without crying. So it's off to the market they go! Asch has to juggle Luke just to open the door when he finally finds a building that looks large enough, and grunts with the effort. He's almost tempted to kick in the door, but obviously does not. Inside, Asch sighs with relief. The toys and dolls are close by. A short few seconds and Asch bows his head to whisper softly to the child in his arms, discreetly leaning his face into that mess of red hair.]

Hey...wake up. Pick out something.

[Prepare to be blinded by rows of toys and dolls upon waking, little dreck.]

[Asch's voice makes Luke lift up his head, accidentally brushing his cheek against Asch's. He doesn't pay that any mind, though, and instead, he blinks and looks back at what Asch is indicating to.

... Whoa. It's beautiful. It's...

... What is it?

Luke leans forward slightly to get a good look at the dolls and toys, though he stops himself when he feels his balance start to lose itself and moves back a bit to regain it. So many things... And they all looked so appealing, too! Save for the girlie toys. Luke can already tell that the color pink is not a color he enjoys.

There are many cheagle dolls, all of which earn a lineface from Luke. It seems that all Lukes, no matter how young, always start out with a dislike for stupidly cute things. Those get passed up, and he looks along the different rows of dolls...

But upon seeing one in particular (http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk28/catina95/Tales%20of%20Legendia/Giet2.jpg), Luke stares for a moment, then lets out a little noise and holds out both of his arms towards it. That one! That oooone!]

[Asch tenses when his skin meets Luke's and he turns his head away almost automatically, like some kind of reflexive action. Intimate contact of that sort never had been something Asch was very open toward, no matter who the person was. He's never been accustom to it, even when he was little.]

[But he watched Luke look around, and blinked when he made a rather sour face at the cheagle dolls. Asch had been sure the little dreck would want one of those things. He had the real thing follow him around so often, and it was so obnoxiously loyal to him that Asch felt almost disgusted just by looking at it (plus the fact that it was so annoying didn't help matters either).

He holds Luke steady when he leans forward, curling an arm around his back, and looked at what he was cooing at. What...was that thing? It looked something like a cross between a wolf and a liger. Huh. Weird. Asch goes toward it, taking it off the shelf and handing it to Luke. It was roughly half his size, and nice and soft and floppy.]

This one?

[As soon as that doll comes within range, Luke grabs onto it and holds it close with a grin. It was so soft! Perfect for holding, and... it looked so cool, too! Unlike those cheagles. Bleh, cute things. Give him something COOL any day.

Once he realized that Asch asked him something, Luke looked up at him with a smile still on his face. What did he say...? And what should he say in return...? Huh...]

Ah... dis! ["This"!]

[Hm, a good choice. Asch would have made a face if he had to be seen carting around a kid with a girlie toy or doll. His dignity was in shambles already just having Luke clinging to him when they walked around, but Asch could live with it for now.

A smirk curled on his face when Luke mimicked him, and he rubbed the boy's back and corrected, gently. Maybe even asked, just to be sure.]

This?

[Though he's sure Luke wants this canine thing. It definitely looked cool, and Asch was moving to the row of clothes next. At least three outfits for now... Two outfits and some PJs for next time - i-if there was a next time! He picked those out, something classy, but casual, then moved onto the the things he needed. Gels, a few potions and bottles, some polish for his sword, a new whetstone...and some clean bandages.]

Now we pay.

[Then home and bed for you, little dreck. 8| It's way past your bedtime.]

Deh... thh-this? Th-This!

[It was easy to say the word once he knew what he was doing. He wasn't exactly sure what it meant, but he got the gist well enough. The clothes were next, though Luke didn't really pay attention as he played with his new doll more. The colors really appealed to him, as did the general look of the thing. Definitely better than... whatever those other things were.

Once Asch spoke again, though, Luke looked up at him again. Now that he was trying to speak correctly, he didn't seem to mind trying again at it, even though he still didn't know what he was talking about. It took repeating and trial and error to learn, right?]

Paaay?

[Asch chuckle softly and would have ruffled Luke's hair, but his hands were full with supplies and a baby dreck. Luke was a smart kid, though. He'd have to really begin tutoring him so he's know what the words he was speaking meant, but for now, just enhancing his vocabulary and talking to him was good enough. Asch didn't know it, but it was opening him up to the child as well. He'd never been a talkative person, after all.

Once at the check-out, Asch placed everything down and fished through his pockets for some gald. He gently tugged at Luke's doll to take it away, jingling the coins so as to distract Luke and give them to Luke. If he's successful, Asch places the doll down and gives a few coins to the replica. Then he points to the clerk, who's all but cooing at the two.]

Yes, pay. [Asch gives a few coins to the clerk, HIS SMILE GONE, then looks back at Luke and repeats.] Pay. Go ahead.

[It's a smart move to distract Luke from the doll. Once it was taken away, he was just about to protest and maybe even cry until the jingling of the coins caught his attention. What kind of noise was that? And what were they? Luke takes them in his hands and runs his fingers along the gold pieces, his expression one of curiosity. They were cool to the touch, and hard, too... Not like his doll at all.

Luke was just about to taste-test one of those coins when Asch spoke to him again. Pay? But... what did he mean by that? Luke stares blankly for a few seconds before he blinks, remembering while idly watching Asch that he handed some coins over. Was that what these things were for? Is this "pay"?

He looks down at the coins, then slowly hands them over with both hands hesitantly, as if he isn't really sure if this is the right thing to do.]

... Pay?

[Distraction is a success. Asch watches Luke as he touches the gald, and frowns as he's about to shove the things into his mouth. No, Luke, that's bad. You know that word from before? Bad. Luckily, another distraction works, and Luke's even' doing as Asch had instructed. He doesn't smile, not yet, but he will once out of public and the peoples' scrutinizing looks.

The teller giggles, takes the offered money, and thanks Luke with a smile. She then exchanges the coins and gives Asch his receipt, which is pocketed, and then a bag for the supplies. The doll is given right back to Luke with another smile and a quick comment.

You look just like your father.]

He's not my son! He's my...brother. ...My little brother.

[Asch merely grunts to the clerk's apology, then grabs his things and leaves without a word. Ugh...he just wanted to go home. Go home and rest. Maybe this would all be over in the morning. Over and gone.]

[Well. That snap made Luke's triumphant smile disappear in favor of looking up at Asch with wide eyes. Was there something wrong? Something the nice lady said...? Or was it him? Luke wasn't really sure, but it still makes him hold the doll close to him.

Once they're outside again, Luke leans in closer to Asch and looks up at him with big, questioning, concerned eyes. He can't ask if there's anything wrong, but he'd sure like to.]

[Damn it. Asch can feel Luke tense in his arms and he berates himself silently for his little outburst once they're outside, heading back to their room. Why had he snapped like that? Was it really so hard to accept that he was willingly taking care of the one responsible for taking his entire life away? Was that why? Or just the fact that it was the replica being mistaken for his son...or acknowledging him as something more than just "the replica"?

Asch didn't know. So he sighed and rubbed his hand over Luke's back slowly when the little dreck leaned in. Just once, though. Asch felt strangely tired, and just wanted to go to sleep.]

Did I scare you? ...It's nothing you did. [The apology is there, just unspoken.]

[Whatever Asch said, he still seemed... troubled. Or some unpleasant emotion of some sort... But what could he do?

Luke looks down at the doll in his arms, clutched tightly against his chest. He already loved it - though Asch made him feel safe and warm right now, holding onto this thing, being able to... That just added on to those feelings.

Maybe it'd help Asch?

He had to admit, Luke was hard pressed to give it up even for a few minutes. So, it takes him a minute or two, but he holds out the doll enough to let it rest against Asch's other shoulder. Maybe it'll make him feel better, too...]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject