28th Confession [Lotsa' Action/Video]

[notabluesbro]

[Wolfwood had been taken Sunday night, but surprisingly, they didn't keep him for long. Monday afternoon spat him right back out onto normal Luceti grounds. And to what? To being miniature again. Four years ago, Nicholas had ventured Luceti, looking unkept and nervous. Now, he's still unkept, but in a way that seemed to just be a lack of caring—clean now, free of dirt, but still carrying the bruises of struggle. Where they were once from running amuck on the streets of Gunsmoke, they were now marks of success or failure during training.

His hair is always a mess, of course. Who needs brushes. :|

But that's the least of his concerns! He's more occupied with his cross. Yes, that big, hulking cross, you know. The one Wolfwood could carry without any difficulty? Well, Nicholas has his, and he's busy with huff-puffing across the forest with it. It's on his back, but he's not the usual straight, dignified 20-something. No, he's hunched and might as well be relabeled The Little Engine That Could.

... time for a break. He sits under the trees near the lake, careful to keep away from it, and runs a hand across the journal. He remembers this place... though he never thought he'd be back. Four years may seem long, but really, it's hardly any time at all, is it? The 12-year-old opens the book up and looks at the set-up, remembering.

This button, right?]

[Video]



This thing's working, right? Is this really Luceti, or am I just having a weird dream? Feels real enough... but... I didn't—I mean... I didn't remember it. Why didn't I remember anything? [He runs a hand through his hair.] I shoulda' remembered something like this... even just a little, I definitely woulda' remembered.

[... Hm.]

Say, anyone knows if there's a kid here with long blonde hair? Blue eyes? Name was Vash. Did he make it back home, or...?

... Guess I should find a way back.

[And so he goes, with some effort at the 250+ lbs on his back! And he's a little lost, because while he remembers Luceti, he doesn't remember it that well to know his way through a dense forest. If anyone'd like to help him out or run into him, that'd be super duper. Otherwise, when he finally does get back to the village, he's hitting up the bakery after walking around to recollect his bearings and memory. One may find him in said bakery with his crazy-ass cross that's still an entire head taller than him, munching on a plate of sweets.

:|;;; it's so tasty okay

And of course, he'll give the strawhat kitchen a visit. He remembers you, Sanji. Very well. You and your shitty kitchen. Hmm... Challange accepted. He'll consider this task training, too. CAN HE GET PAST ANY OF THE OBSTACLES?! CAN THE FRIDGE BE OPENED WITHOUT DOOM AND DISCORD THIS TIME?!?!]

((ooc: all replies coming from notpunishingyet ))

Comments

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Uh... I can leave it in a apartment... Y'know, until I can finish helping you out. Or something like that. [Why are you going through this much effort to help a lady out, Nicholas? Geez. Can't even help it.]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[one eyebrow arches a little.] You know your way around? [he wasn't talking to her as if he recognized her, so she'd assumed he wouldn't know the village at all]

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I was here, once. When I was littler.

I remember it all now.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

I see. Well, that's awfully useful. Especially if you know people here.

[hopefully he wouldn't have to deal with this loss alone]

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Mmhmm.

[He hoists that damn cross with some effort, his stubbornness not allowing for any signs of strain on his face.]

Where's your place at? I can leave it there for a little while...

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

I'm in House 7, if that's not too far. [it's heartbreaking, watching him lug that thing around...like some sort of terrible penance. But she couldn't lift it, even if he would let her take it from him...and she doesn't want to belittle his effort by fussing over him]

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

I can make it. [At least he sounds pretty sure of himself.] I can definitely carry it that far.

[The truth, though, is that he wasn't even sure where that house was. He just has to be capable of it, though. He wouldn't quit!]

....I'm so, so sorry for the slow.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Alright. I'll lead the way.

[she takes it slow, though, trying to watch him without making the watching obvious]

It's all good >:^|b

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

[And he follows. He struggles quite a bit with the thing on his back, but he manages nonetheless. He's used to this sort of thing. His muscles are already getting stronger. He's scrawny, but he's muscular as he can get in the limbs—and although there are beads of sweat starting at his chin and cheeks, he's still determined.

Though, he does stumble once or twice. Skins his knee. But that's nothing; they'd already had traces of previous stumbles before this.]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she lets him handle things on his own...until he stumbles. Brow furrowing, she steps closer, hands hovering just off of the cross. She wanted to help...but when he steadies she looks him over, torn between understanding and a strong dislike of this burden]

Can I help?

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

N-no, I'm okay. [It's not even a matter of what Chapel told him now; he's a very prideful kid now, as much of a negative trait that can be, and that meant excelling at the only thing he was good at now. And that was training.] I'll make it.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Even if I want to?

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

[He looks up, face a mask of calmness. Like it's normal, to carry around something that outweighs you by a lot.]

Chapel said if I don't do it, I won't be strong...

And... I don't wanna be worthless again.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Hey...

[kneeling down, she doesn't get to close, but she makes sure to catch his gaze]

Getting strong isn't something you do all at once. How far have you been carrying that thing, today?

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

... [He looks at his feet, quiet.] I'm... not sure.

[For a while, now.]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[there's nothing patronizing about her tone. She isn't an adult talking to a child...not in her mind. He's already proved that he's beyond that.]

Even going from the forest to here is more than most people could do alone...and I'm guessing you've come further than that. That's pretty impressive.

[she's quiet a moment, considering, but she doesn't offer to take the cross again. Instead, she nods towards the nearest building and the curb in front of it, where she takes a seat.]

You know...maybe I don't feel like breakfast. I think I'd like to do some people watching first.

[she's not trying to fool him. She knows he'll be able to see through her offer for a rest. But the important thing is that no one else would be able to tell why they had stopped.]

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

... Okay.

[He sits down, the cross thudding heavily next to him.]

People watching's okay. I do that, sometimes...

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she rested her arms on her knees]

It's one of my favorite things to do, back home. Sometimes I'll just sit for a few hours and make up stories about who the people walking by really are.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

.... I used to do that, sorta.

[He leans into his knees, thoughtful.]

I used t'watch people pass by in the alleyway.

[He reaches into his shirt, pulling out an unopened pack of cigarettes, tapping it on his knee.]

They always looked like they had somewhere important to be.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

They do always seem busy, don't they?

The more I started listening to people's stories, the more I wanted to watch. I guess the more complicated people seemed, the more I wanted to try and guess what their stories might be.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Yeah? [He blinks, and then pauses for a good while.] ... What do you think my story is? By lookin' at me.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she's quiet a moment, pausing to look at him seriously]

...do you want the silly answer? Or the serious one?

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

... The one you think it is.

[He's curious. Not about himself, at least.]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[there's another long moment as she looks him over, her voice more solemn, now]

I think...you're a lot stronger than you think you are...and you're determined to get even more strong.

[...I don't wanna be worthless again.]

I would guess you've spent a long time [being] watching people get hurt and you're sick of not being able to do anything about it.

And I'd guess that you're a lot more grownup than people give you credit for.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

...

[He looks at the people passing by again, arms hanging on his knees.]

You must play this game a lot, like you said.