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]

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.]

[prismshards]

[ So much for that idea. ] H-hey. You said he was really nice, right? And he's your brother!

[onwingsofflame]

Big Brother would listen, but... he doesn't want me getting involved, 'cause people'll use me... 'cause I'm Lorelei's special person. And... and they don't listen to Big Brother much 'cause he's not...

[prismshards]

Ah.. Don't listen to them, whoever they are. Asch is also special to Lorelei.

[onwingsofflame]

I know he is, but 'cause Yulia only talked about me, they think Asch isn't important. That's part of why Papa yells at him... but, but I know Big Brother's just like me. He can do all the same stuff I can, so he's gotta be Lorelei's special person, too.

[prismshards]

That's because they have their heads up their asses and can't think for themselves! So long as you know he's special and Asch knows he's special, what everybody else believes isn't important. If you ask me... Yulia might have left out Asch to protect him or allow him to live his own life.

[onwingsofflame]

[Ooooooh, Luke, what did you just say?] You said a bad word...