Lost Child

[onwingsofflame]

[Little Luke is humming to himself, picking at the grass slightly and playing with the flowers; every flower he touches seems to shimmer momentarily with more life, but returns to normal when his touch is gone. Every now and then, he'll pluck a flower very carefully from the ground with a little smile and place it into a neat little pile, mumbling something along the lines of, "Flower for mama," before humming once again.

The look in his eyes is a little sad and understanding, much too much for a child of his age. But he just keeps on going, in spite of whatever it is he understands.]

Comments

[prismshards]

Ack! Hey--! Aw, come on! [ Thank goodness for small favors. Repeatedly being whacked in the same spot doesn't do much for him, all the same, and Luke dances around in place to dodge the blows. ] W-well, maybe the we're thinking of different people! That has to be it! I'm sure your brother is a wonderful person and totally deserving of every kind word said about him and I'm sorry for saying he wasn't, so please stop hitting me!

[onwingsofflame]

[Hello, my name is Pouty McPouterson.] Big Brother's really nice. Papa just yells at him lots because he's mean and says Big Brother's done bad, but he hasn't! And... and...

[prismshards]

[ ...how about changing it to Sir Smiley Sunshine? ] Guess he could've gotten the attitude from Father after all. Hm? And...?

[onwingsofflame]

And whenever I'm lost, Big Brother always comes and gets me and brings me back home... [Luke drops back down to kneel carefully on the ground, playing with one of the flowers with a small smile, not even noticing that it starts shimmering when he touches it, just like the flowers were doing earlier.] I like those times, 'cause Big Brother'll carry me the whole way back and even though he'll scold me and, and tell me I shouldn't go so far and say that I'm making trouble for him 'cause he had to come get me, he's happy, too. 'Cause he found me. So he smiles and he lets me hug him. But... but I hate it, too, 'cause then papa yells at him when we get back...

[prismshards]

The way you put it does make Asch sound like a wonderful brother. [ Huh? Did that flower just shine? Curious, Luke leans down and pokes one of the flowers, frowning when it doesn't emit any light. ] Well.. Father has his own troubles, what with being Duke and all. Plus it can't be too easy when Mother's health is so easily affected by her concern for us. Are you running off just so Asch will come get you?

[onwingsofflame]

He is! [:D] And, and... I don't mean to do it! But... but last time, there was a really pretty butterfly and it wouldn't stop and come play with me! And I wanted to play with a kitten once, too, but it ran outside the manor, so I ran after it! [Getting the picture yet? And now he's going to start playing with another flower; the first one stops shimmering and the new one starts.] But Papa yells 'cause everyone says I'm Lorelei's special person and Big Brother's not...

[prismshards]

Wow. Never thought there'd be a day when I heard about that, heh. [ Really, how could even Asch be mad at such a cute kid? And oh yes, picture received in crystal clarity and surround sound. Don't mind him staring at you with a look that's both confused and surprised, kiddo. ] It'd be stupid for them to get mad at you or him for being a kid! Wait... shouldn't they think Asch is the one talked about in the Score if you're both at Baticul? [ S-so confused. ]

[onwingsofflame]

[Luke looks up and just stares at you, confused.] Big Brother's too big.

[prismshards]

[ Welcome to the club, munchkin. ] Isn't he your size?

[onwingsofflame]

[Have a blank stare.] Big Brother's your size. [The kid seriously figured anyone would have to know that. Now being carried by him doesn't seem so bad, huh?]

[prismshards]

Oh! [ Give him a break; Luke's not the brightest crayon in the box. Though the mental image of a tiny!Asch carting around a bitty!Luke was amusing. Yet the correction poses another problem. ] So, you're not... [ A replica? Really brothers? The same age? WHY IS EVERYTHING OUT TO CONFUSE HIM TODAY. ]

[onwingsofflame]

Huh? [Suddenly, he picks one of the flowers, smiling a little at it.] This one for mama...

[prismshards]

Don't worry about it. [ Oh, right. Need to help gather flowers for Mother. ] How d'you make them shine like that?

[onwingsofflame]

[blinkblink] Shine?

[prismshards]

The flowers. [ Points to the plant in question. ] It's really pretty.

[onwingsofflame]

[He's still blinking as he looks... and then, suddenly, bear witness to a kidlet!flail.] Oh no...!

[prismshards]

What? What's wrong?! [ Scare Luke out of his skin, why don't you. ]

[onwingsofflame]

B-Big Brother's gonna be mad, 'cause... 'cause I wasn't supposed to... [Flailing kid continues! Aww, kidlet, what did your lack of attention cause?]

[prismshards]

You haven't done anything! And I'll tell him that, okay? [ Flails just a tad too! Having to face an angry Asch would make anybody scared! ]

[onwingsofflame]

I was s'posed to be careful and not use it...

[prismshards]

It'll be okay! I think. Accidents happen. [ Pats the kiddo on the head and offers the flowers he's been picking. ] ...your name's Luke, right?

[onwingsofflame]

Y-you won't tell anyone, right? 'Cause, 'cause Big Brother said if anyone finds out, they'll make me do bad stuff... [He takes the flowers all carefully to set them with the ones he's picked.] Uh-huh, I'm Luke.

[prismshards]

Nobody wants you to do bad things, so it'll be our little secret. Just the two of us. Not even Asch will know. [ And if he ever finds out, it won't be from him. Gives the little him a grin. ] That's funny, my name's also Luke!

[onwingsofflame]

It is? Even though you look like Big Brother?

[prismshards]

Yeah. ...do I really look that much like him?