010 Omens of Crusnik

[kinship]

[A: Elementary School (OPEN)]

[What is that sound floating out over the playground at lunch? It's piano music, just basic tunes being repeated over and over again from the open window of the music room. Cain has retired there to study the books that Charles gave him, tireless in his pursuit of being the very best at whatever task was set to him.

Every time he makes a mistake, he repeats that part of the piece over and over again until it's flawless. Anyone at all is free to hear his attempts or tell him to shut up.]

[B: Around Town (OPEN)]

[Tis the season, and all that... It's Cain's first Christmas where he'll actually get to celebrate, instead of watching all the colonists exchange presents while never being part of it himself. He's been saving all the pocket money that his drone not!mother had been giving him (until she got replaced yesterday), as well as the money he got for doing odd-jobs for his friends. So now he's out and about shopping for gifts.

Do you work in any of the stores? Then this blond haired boy might just be peering over the counter with a bright smile. Are you wandering down the street aimlessly? Feel free to bump into Cain as he carries a stack of boxes too high to see over... because clearly that's just asking for trouble.]

[C: Phone (OPEN)]

[Did you order a rousing pep talk by a ten year old today, Mayfield? No... shame, because it's coming anyway.]

Christmas is coming soon... Maybe you celebrate something else in your world, or maybe you don't celebrate anything at all, but here... I think they'll have Christmas. I don't know if anything will happen, but...

Even if it does, and even if it hurts us, we can't let it break us. We have to keep our eyes forward, and we have to stick together. As long as we look out for each other, then we can change the future to whatever we want.

[D: Home (Locked to Housemates)]

[It seemed like he was the first one home, which was a little odd after the drone!Esther housewife who had always been there to welcome him in and tell him to do his homework before dinner. Which, consequently, led to the thought that there was no dinner... Astha didn't seem the type to make a meal for the family based on what he had seen, Rachel had already shown she believed cooking beneath her, and he didn't want to die so Abel was out.

Therefore, whenever anyone else gets home, they might find the youngest non-drone member of the household stood on a chair by the stove. He's pouring over one of the recipes Esther had left behind, not being allowed to go and find any more of his own, and is carefully adding things to a big bubbling pot.]

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[kinship]

[He feels like he's been punched in the stomach, breath knocked out of him in relief. Abel... can't die, he really can't die, he's never going to lose his brother again.

He doesn't say anything as he finishes up the last few stitches, but then his arms are squeezing around his brother carefully from behind.]

...I love you.

[Don't scare him like that.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[sob. he closes his eyes, finding it easier to relax, somehow, now that Cain's pain had been... assuaged. had he really thought he was bartering to get something back through those dangerous methods without knowing it would be worth it?

he lifts a hand, resting it lightly on one of his brother's much smaller ones at his chest.]

I love you, too, more than... anything. That's why...

[he had to do it, and it was worth the cost. does he see, now...?]

[kinship]

What... what did they take?

[He has to know. This wound goes so deep, and Cain can only do so much by cleaning it and stopping the blood flow, he has no idea if there is going to be internal haemorrhaging.

He's still frightened, still trembling slightly under Abel's hand, but it's slowly abating now.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[he resists the urge to reach around and gently probe at the stitches -- he's morbidly curious how it had been taken. he hadn't seen a thing-- one moment he was standing there, and the next...

he shakes his head, tugging on Cain's arm gently to try and get him to come around for a proper hug.]

Kidney, but-- thankfully, one of ours... does the job of two, anyway, right? [just. come give him hugs. he wants all the hugs.]

[kinship]

[While that might be true, it's hardly the most comforting thing Abel could have said. A kidney... they had actually taken one of his internal organs away for this.

Is it horribly selfish that he's glad they didn't take his memories?

Going with that tugging, though ever so careful as though Abel were made of spun glass and might shatter, he came around to the front of him and just... looked up into his face.]

I never want you to be hurt again. I don't want your blood on my hands again... not ever, not for anything.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[he is staying very tentatively still, himself... eyes watching his brother's movement to stand in front of him. he listens, quiet, before reaching a hand out and cupping one of his brother's cheeks.]

I can't promise I'll never bleed again. I'd give up much more than this to keep you safe and with me, Cain.

But I'll do everything I possibly can... everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen. I promise.

[kinship]

[He tilts his cheek into that hand, skin still damp from where he had been crying, even if the tears have stopped now.

So many promises. Abel seems to make them like water. Promises upon promises, never die, protect Cain, do all he can not to bleed any more. Yet he believes every single one of them, as he always will unfailingly trust in his brother.]

You... have to rest now.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[it's all he can do, when all he has is words to offer him comfort.

he gives a shallow little nod of his head, before he gently tugs his brother into his chest... leaning his cheek atop a blonde head of hair.]

I'm so tired, Cain.

[he's tired of being scared, and... lost.]

[kinship]

[His arms wrap so so carefully around Abel in return, mindful to stay higher up away from the stitches.

His face nestles into the hollow of Abel's throat, inhaling the familiar sugary smell of his brother along with the undertone of copper.]

Then... go to sleep, I promise I'll stay with you.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

...mm, o... okay.

[he can't deny he's tired in body as well as... well, everywhere else; maybe he could sleep for another few centuries and wake up with all this behind them.]

...but that... means I have to move. [he is comfy just like this okay.]

[kinship]

Mm, you have to lay on your stomach, okay?

[He's detaching reluctantly, trying to push Abel to sink down onto his scrawny belly and go to sleep.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

...I can't hold you if I'm on my stomach.

[he's got priorities.]

[kinship]

I'll still be right next to you, but... you have to, or you'll hurt yourself more.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[mannn, he looks all the reluctant... but he carefully shifts to scoot back onto the bed, crawling over to sink into the pillows. g... ghh; he is never doing this again-- not that he had anything else to offer up organs for...

he's already wiggling his fingers. c'mere!]

[kinship]

[He's not going to let Abel hug him, because to do that his brother would have to at least be partially on his side.

But he does lay down next to him, and cuddle up close to his side.]

I won't leave you. Idiot.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[he settles for coiling fingers in his twin's shirt, shifting just slightly closer to rest his head closer to Cain's. ;( bro.]

I won't... leave you, either.

[kinship]

[It's sad that there would ever be a time when he had to know those words as not true, but he believes them in the here and now. Abel won't leave him again.]

I love you...

[Brother, clone, Crusnik, anything. He'll always be devoted to you, bro.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[Cain;; he mumbles something in reply -- drowsy, but... sadly, it's not much longer than that he's giving in and succumbing to the sleep monster.

...that hand is still coiled tight in his clothes, despite it. he loves you too ;;]

[kinship]

[He won't sleep. Much as Abel has laid many of his fears to rest, he can't erase them all so easily.

So Cain will be watching and waiting for when Abel next wakes up...]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[he sleeps like the dead for God knows how long-- it's a while. he really needed it, and sleep is clearly the best thing ever.

eventually, he is coming around with a groggy mumble that's mostly a groan. o-ow, shifting to try and roll onto his side before remembering what the fuckballs happened--]

S'the... that was my sandwich, L-- Leon, you're... so mean... [ok so maybe his pain is from the loss of an amazing dream sandwich rather than a lost kidney HE HAS PRIORITIES IN DREAMS TOO.]

[kinship]

[...Abel, you are the worst big brother in existence, why does he ever love you at all. Sigh.

During this time, Cain has run downstairs to stop the food he was cooking from setting on fire and burning down the house, and brought up a covered bowl of it for his brother.]

Hey... take it easy, just sit up slowly, okay?

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[--o-oh. Cain's voice has his eyes opening properly and he gives a disoriented blink--

...he totally. didn't say anything at all that's entirely your imagination forever. play it cool... h-heh.

he gives his brother a tiny smile; he was still here, like he promised.]

Are you okay...?

[kinship]

Mm. But I don't have your sandwich.

[He looks tired, but his smile is back again and there was that teasing tone to his voice. He's worried, but he'll cope. He'll just make sure Abel rests and takes care of himself.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[sob Cain why do you troll him. he rubs at his face a bit... damnit. so he heard?! THAT SANDWICH HAD LOOKED SO GOOD IN HIS DREAM IT'S... CRIMINAL...]

Ha... ha, very funny.

[kinship]

I do have some stew, though.

[It's his first attempt at cooking for the family, as this... is likely to be his job now. The pieces of veg are a little big and the beef is overcooked, but it's edible.]