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.]

Comments

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[sighing forlornly... pushing his spoon around petulantly...]

I didn't think I was that bad...

[...look it was just food poisoning HE DIDN'T KILL ANYONE.]

[kinship]

You even made yourself sick, and I didn't think that was possible.

[Abel had always had an iron stomach, capable of eating anything with no ill effects.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

Yes, well. That was then, this is now! [he got his clone and Crusnik back IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT!! ...though he'd still poison everyone, fail.]

[kinship]

...I still think it would be better if I did the cooking.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

You're too young to be doing that kind of thing, Cain...! You should be enjoying being a kid. Running around and playing and... not... having to cook dinner! [so eloquent.]

[kinship]

I'd rather spend an hour out of my day cooking dinner, than three hours out of it throwing up because you cooked it.

[Forever practical, and kind of blunt.]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[sflskjdgsdg hanging his head. YOU SHAME HIM.]

I get the point...

[kinship]

[Gently patting Abel's knee, there there fail bro.]

Besides, I like doing it, it makes me feel useful.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

You're useful enough without cooking dinner, too, you know... [still petulantly poking his stew. why are you better at everything, Cain, you're ten and he's an adult AN ADULT]

[kinship]

[That's why he's the original and Abel's spare parts, man.]

It's still a better idea than you doing it, unless you think Miss Astha or Miss Rachel will step up to the mark.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

We'd starve if we expected either of them to take up the task. [and sadly that is no exaggeration :|]

[kinship]

Which leaves us with you or me.

[And thus the winner is...]

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

...Maybe I could help?

[kinship]

You can do the dishes.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

....

[man. he's even useless to his brother HE IS MADE OF SO MUCH FAIL...]

I guess it's better than nothing...!

[kinship]

Don't look at me like that, you don't do nothing... Abel, you're the protector of the house.

It's because of you that I can do silly things like learn to bake pies or have snowball fights, because I know you'll always be there to make sure I have those opportunities.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[ah, Cain. he hopes so much that's how you really feel... but that niggling voice of self-doubt tells him the truth about the way things are.]

Of course... I'll always be there for you. [until one day, you return home, and... he fails you spectacularly. but that doesn't count, right...]

[kinship]

[No, of course not, that doesn't count at all. Just because he's destined to go back to an Abel that will never really notice him until it's too late and he's an evil vampire-eating-vampire... NO NEED FOR GUILT HERE.

He just scoots a bit closer and stretches to press a kiss to Abel's forehead as though he were still the elder brother.]

Eat your stew, protectors have to keep up their strength.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[he notices you... :| he just... fails at seeing all of you. always had, and always would... ;(

mm. he finds himself relaxing a little bit at the touch of lips to his forehead; he really does feel like he's the child and Cain the adult at times like this. sob. he'll shamelessly enjoy being coddled anyway.]

I think you killed my appetite talking about my horrible cooking...

[kinship]

[His lips curve into a smile where they're still pressed to Abel's forehead, not wanting to step back. He was so worried, he's still so scared underneath it all and he doesn't know how to stop it.]

It's okay, you didn't cook this, it'll be fine.

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[mmph big-little brother, you're the best. he chuckles a little, before settling his head on Cain's shoulder. shut up he can do this and get away with it right now because he said so.]

Now you're just rubbing it in, smart alek.

[kinship]

[He doesn't mind Abel's head at his shoulder at all, raising his hand to gently start petting fingers through his hair. Cain just chuckles at the mild teasing, falling silent for a little bit to let Abel eat without distractions.]

Mm, Abel?

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[oh this is nice. hair pets AND cuddles AND food? he will be a good boy and eat in that case.]

...Mm?

[kinship]

[It's true that Abel is a dog, he just needs petting and food.]

Will you tell me about Miss Astha?

[custodismundi.livejournal.com]

[herp... his drowsy eyelids open a little more, at that... and he's quiet, thinking... before responding.]

Mm. Is there something you wanted to know...?