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

[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?

[onwingsofflame]

Um... w-well, you look lots like him, but Big Brother's hair's longer, like mine! But darker, too, and smoother...

[prismshards]

So what you're saying is that he's better-looking. [ Tugs on a piece of hair hanging in front of his face. SIGH. ] No use worrying about that now, I guess.

[onwingsofflame]

Huh? [You lost him, congratulations.]

[prismshards]

[ Be grateful for that, kidlet. ] Anyways.. Do you know how to make flower chains?

[onwingsofflame]

[Luke tilts his head for a moment before nodding with a bright smile.] Uh-huh! Natalia showed me!

[prismshards]

Awesome! [ It might be kind of silly, but he can't help feeling enthusiastic. ] We can make a wreath for both Mother and Natalia!

[onwingsofflame]

Okay! Natalia's really pretty like mama, too, so she's gotta get a really pretty one, too, 'kay?

[prismshards]

Sure thing! We'll need a lot of flowers. [ Pauses just after he plucks another one to give Luke a curious glance. ] Say, how old is Natalia? Same as your brother?

[onwingsofflame]

Yeah! [Picks a few more flowers, too.] Um... yep! Same as Big Brother! But I don't get to see her lots 'cause she's always busy...

[prismshards]

That's what I thought... Natalia's working hard for everyone in Baticul, but you should see if you can give her a hand sometime! That way you can spend time together and help out.

[onwingsofflame]

But no one'll listen to me 'cause I'm little...

[prismshards]

Figures. Could you ask A-- your brother? He might understand.

[onwingsofflame]

...

[Suddenly, he's a whole lot more interested in the flowers.]