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

[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.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Mmm..

[she looks back out at the passers-by as well]

I do. But...sometimes it's like looking in a mirror. Some things you know because you've been there too.

[it's a matter-of-fact statement. Nothing more]

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Oh... [He's unsure if he should ask... but he does.] You lived on the streets before?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she nods. She's still serious, but not embarrassed. Talking about it to 'civilians' was one thing. Talking about it to others who'd been there? This was something she was used to]

Until I was older than you, actually. [a quick smile in his direction] Unless you're older than you look.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

[He smiles, a little.]

I'm not really sure a hundred percent how old I am... but the people at the orphanage told me I was just a tiny baby when I got there. So... Chapel says I'm probably twelve.

I just pretend November's my birthday, now. That way I always got a age.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

That seems like a smart plan to me. The important thing is that you have a birthday. The actual day doesn't matter, much.

[she knows, though. Secrets are sometimes more precious than money when you live on the streets..and even if his age isn't a closely guarded secret, she doesn't want to take anything from him without fair exchange.]</small. I always looked really young for my age. It didn't help much when I got caught shoplifting and tried to convince the cops I was older than I actually was.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

[Well, first thing that catches his attention--]

Cops??

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Police?

Or....law-enforcement types?

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

....

Like, uh... sheriffs, or something?

I never heard of police or cops, though, where I'm from...

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Right. Like sheriffs.

They probably aren't so different. They're just people in charge of keeping other people safe.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Pfft! Like they do anything to keep people safe. They're too busy being scared of all the things they're supposed to stop.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she laughs] Maybe some of them. Some of them really try, though. One of them saved my life.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

... They did?

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she nods] One day when I was in really bad shape. I didn't have anywhere else to go.

One of the cops helped me get food and a place to stay. I dont' think I would have made it, without him.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

.....

[He looks down; he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little bit envious. But then, at least he had Chapel to find him, right? Even if he was so entirely reluctant at first...

But he was also relieved for her.]

That's good. I'm glad you had someone to help you like that...

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

I was lucky.

[there's weight to those words, and she makes sure to look at him when she says it. She's completely aware of just how lucky it was]

So...they aren't all bad. Though it took me a long time to trust them, even after Lou.

[notpunishingyet.livejournal.com]

Mmn... [He looks down at his feet.] I don't... know. I trust some people here. I think. But at home -

I don't think I want to... try it.

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she shakes her head] I'm not saying that there aren't good people there, too. I'm sure there are.

...but even good people can...make things worse. Or just not realize what's happened. Believing its possible isn't throwing out all the caution you know you have to have.

[because, when you're really scraping by just to survive, idealism is more likely to get you killed than helped.]

It's more...keeping an eye out for the possibility. Like maybe letting people help you here, where there's less at stake. [the last was just the tiniest bit teasing.]