A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
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A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
All in all, Liam thought, his first week at Dunehelden was going pretty well. The cafeteria between mealtimes was an ideal place to get an early start on his homework. Liam sat at a table in the corner, a copy of Frankenstein open in front of him. Having that as assigned reading for his English Lit class had been quite a nice surprise. Not that he wouldn't have read it for fun anyway.
He turned slowly through the book, making notes on a piece of paper as he went, while Eve kept up a running commentary and occasionally pointed out spelling errors. The sound of rain on the windows provided a soothing backdrop to her voice.
A shadow fell over him, and he looked up. "Uh, hi."
He turned slowly through the book, making notes on a piece of paper as he went, while Eve kept up a running commentary and occasionally pointed out spelling errors. The sound of rain on the windows provided a soothing backdrop to her voice.
A shadow fell over him, and he looked up. "Uh, hi."
Last edited by Liam Farrell on Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:02 am; edited 1 time in total
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo looked the young man over, confirming the description his sister had given him-- slender, her height, blonde hair and sad eyes. Granted, the boy was sitting down, so he couldn't really judge his height. But.
Kazuo looked at the label on the package in his arms and smiled. "Ey, you Liam?"
Kazuo looked at the label on the package in his arms and smiled. "Ey, you Liam?"
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
Status: High School Student
Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam nodded, his eyebrows lifting. "Unless you know another Liam, that's probably me." He looked curiously at the box; he didn't recall ordering anything.
Eve wished Liam's eyes would linger on the delivery guy rather than the box he was holding. Those were some impressive muscles.
Eve wished Liam's eyes would linger on the delivery guy rather than the box he was holding. Those were some impressive muscles.
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo set the package carefully on the table. "Then it's nice to meet you, brudda. You're my last delivery of the day." He chuckled and tapped his fingers on the top of the package as he explained, "This's from my sis. She said that she understood how scary it was t'be in a new place, so she made this for you."
He ran his thumbnail along the seam in the top of the box, splitting the tape and opening the package to reveal a teddy bear, made of patches of several different soft, velvety fabrics all in shades of forest-greens and soft browns. The eyes were simple buttons and the bear was wearing a little ribbon necklace with an acorn on it.
Kazuo glanced at Liam as he lifted the plush from the box and handed it to him, eyes glinting still from his chuckle. "Ah, she must like you, Liam. Bears are important in our family."
He ran his thumbnail along the seam in the top of the box, splitting the tape and opening the package to reveal a teddy bear, made of patches of several different soft, velvety fabrics all in shades of forest-greens and soft browns. The eyes were simple buttons and the bear was wearing a little ribbon necklace with an acorn on it.
Kazuo glanced at Liam as he lifted the plush from the box and handed it to him, eyes glinting still from his chuckle. "Ah, she must like you, Liam. Bears are important in our family."
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam nodded as the delivery guy -- Kuma-kun, as he'd heard -- spoke. "That's sweet of her. I'll have to find her and thank her."
He looked up and grinned at the sight of the handmade bear. "If I didn't already know Kazari had talent, this would be great proof." He took the bear and ran his fingers lightly over its soft fur, his eyes returning to Kuma. "Thank you, too."
He looked up and grinned at the sight of the handmade bear. "If I didn't already know Kazari had talent, this would be great proof." He took the bear and ran his fingers lightly over its soft fur, his eyes returning to Kuma. "Thank you, too."
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
"Ah, y'welcome." Kazuo beamed and playfully swirled his hand into an elaborate ringleader bow, tucking his other arm neatly behind his back. His blue baseball cap fell off his head but he caught it as he straightened, and raked his hair back before tucking the hat right back onto his skull, backwards.
He turned on his heel and started to walk towards the doors, but the haunting, horrifying echo of muffled giggles-- giggles he knew all too well-- drifted to him and he froze. He immediately shuffled back to Liam's table and gave him a now-sheepish smile.
"Ah, would it be alright if I hung out for a minute or two, bruddah? There are a few people out there I'd like to avoid."
He turned on his heel and started to walk towards the doors, but the haunting, horrifying echo of muffled giggles-- giggles he knew all too well-- drifted to him and he froze. He immediately shuffled back to Liam's table and gave him a now-sheepish smile.
"Ah, would it be alright if I hung out for a minute or two, bruddah? There are a few people out there I'd like to avoid."
Last edited by Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge on Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:07 am; edited 1 time in total
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
Status: High School Student
Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam grinned, hearing an answering echo of laughter from inside his head. Thank goodness Kuma couldn't hear Eve. "Sure. I could use a break from homework anyway." He slid Frankenstein and his essay notes aside.
"So you're Kazari's brother. Whereabouts are you two from?"
"So you're Kazari's brother. Whereabouts are you two from?"
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo took a seat on the opposite side of the table and rested his elbows on the edge. He folded his fingers together and rested his chin atop them. "We're from Hawaii, 'round Kona. S'beautiful, man." He sighed through his nose.
"I miss it. But I like it here. I don't have t' disguise myself when I go into town, and I don't have to worry about somethin' happening to my sister'r I." He put on another smile, but this one seemed a little more forced. "And you? Zari said you were..." His brow furrowed in thought. "Irish?"
"I miss it. But I like it here. I don't have t' disguise myself when I go into town, and I don't have to worry about somethin' happening to my sister'r I." He put on another smile, but this one seemed a little more forced. "And you? Zari said you were..." His brow furrowed in thought. "Irish?"
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam nodded, glad Kazari had remembered that. "Aye. From Tralee, down in the southwest. I've been to northern Ireland and Great Britain a few times, but never over the Atlantic. Wish I could, sometimes. It'd be a nice change from the rain." He glanced toward the window with a snort. "This is definitely making me feel at home."
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazari scratched his chin. His expression eased again and his gaze slid to the windows. "Maybe you should come visit Kona, eh? Early summer's nice n' breezy, and the waves are choice 'round Oahu."
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam started to say, "Waves, huh? Do you surf?" but a crack of thunder superseded him. The noise filled his mind with memories of gunshots and the smell of blood. Blind panic took over, and he dove beneath his chair, wedging himself between its legs and curling up as tight as he could. His parents' screams and his own mingled in his head; the taste of chicken salad on his tongue mixed with the iron tang of blood and made him retch. He clutched the plush bear to his chest as he had clutched Eve, while the hole in her chest stained her favorite green shirt red. Choking sobs rose in his throat, and tears burned trails down his face.
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo flinched-- not at the thunder, but at Liam's sudden dive. He stood and darted around to Liam's side of the table, kneeling by the chair where he hid.
"Ey. Ey bruddah, you're alright. Just some thunder." His brow furrowed and he placed one hand flat on the floor, near enough to Liam that the lad could grab it if he needed. He kept his voice calm and tipped his head to offer him a light smile. It looked like his sister's gift couldn't have been delivered at a better time.
"Ey. Ey bruddah, you're alright. Just some thunder." His brow furrowed and he placed one hand flat on the floor, near enough to Liam that the lad could grab it if he needed. He kept his voice calm and tipped his head to offer him a light smile. It looked like his sister's gift couldn't have been delivered at a better time.
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam shut his eyes tightly and tried to focus on Kuma's voice as it cut through the memories. He took a gulping breath, then another.
Eve recovered a little faster, and sang to him in an attempt to calm him further. "Liam, Liam, bím I gcónai I do theannta..."
Liam opened his eyes and blinked a few times, freeing one hand to reach out for Kuma's. It took a bit of maneuvering around the chair legs before their fingers touched.
"Thanks," he croaked, to Eve as much as Kuma.
Eve recovered a little faster, and sang to him in an attempt to calm him further. "Liam, Liam, bím I gcónai I do theannta..."
Liam opened his eyes and blinked a few times, freeing one hand to reach out for Kuma's. It took a bit of maneuvering around the chair legs before their fingers touched.
"Thanks," he croaked, to Eve as much as Kuma.
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo squeezed his hand. "S' nothin', Liam. You okay?" With his free hand he patted Liam's shoulder.
"Come one outta there, yeah? That can't be comfortable."
"Come one outta there, yeah? That can't be comfortable."
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam swallowed and shook his head in response to the question, then tried to do as Kuma asked. And then he tried again. On the third attempt, he winced and craned his neck, trying to look at Kuma. "...Help? Please?"
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo bit his lip. He was not going to laugh at Liam.
He settled for nodding and got himself to his feet, before using one hand to lift the chair off of the lad. He offered him his free hand, to help him up.
He settled for nodding and got himself to his feet, before using one hand to lift the chair off of the lad. He offered him his free hand, to help him up.
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam braced himself for a lot of awkward wiggling, but blinked when Kuma just lifted the chair off him like it was nothing. He took Kuma's hand and climbed to his feet, the other hand still clutching the plush bear. "Thanks." He sat down in another chair, staring at the tabletop and biting his lip.
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo set the chair back in it's place and leaned his hip against the table. He took off his hat and crossed his arms as he arched a questioning eyebrow.
"You sure you okay, man? That was a pretty intense moment o' panic y'had there."
"You sure you okay, man? That was a pretty intense moment o' panic y'had there."
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam sighed and shook his head again, then scrubbed his sleeve across his face. "'m not. I can't stand loud noise like that, not since..." He shuddered, then forced the words out. "Since my sister was shot."
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo grimaced and actually pressed a fist to his own sternum, as if the words were a physical blow to his chest. He seemed to deflate a little and watched Liam for a long moment before he was able to force his mind to forma coherent string of words.
"I can't--" He gulped. He couldn't imagine what he would do if he lost Kazari. Probably curl up in a corner and waste away. Or go for a nice, permanent swim.
"Liam, I'm sorry." He rubbed his own shoulder, chilled by the thought of being in the same situation. "I'm really sorry, man."
"I can't--" He gulped. He couldn't imagine what he would do if he lost Kazari. Probably curl up in a corner and waste away. Or go for a nice, permanent swim.
"Liam, I'm sorry." He rubbed his own shoulder, chilled by the thought of being in the same situation. "I'm really sorry, man."
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam made a strangled noise of acknowledgement. He fought to speak again past the lump in his throat. "Could be worse, though... she could be gone for good."
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo's brow furrowed again. He tipped his head and moved to sit in the seat next to Liam.
"What d'you mean, 'for good,' eh?"
"What d'you mean, 'for good,' eh?"
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
Status: High School Student
Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam took a deep breath and rubbed his face. "This might take a bit to explain. Think I'll get some water first." He stood up and turned toward the kitchen, looking back at Kuma. "Do you want anything while I'm there?"
Liam Farrell- Posts : 170
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Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Kazuo rested his chin on his fist and shook his head. He was curious now, and perfectly fine with waiting for Liam to come back.
Kazuo "Kuma-kun" Baratoge- Posts : 74
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Full Name: Kazuo Baratoge
Age: 18
Status: High School Student
Re: A quiet moment (TW: gun violence, blood)
Liam nodded and went to the kitchen. He took a moment to rinse his face with cold water before filling himself a glass, and tried to organize his thoughts as he came back to the table.
"Okay," he said, settling down into his chair again and looking at Kuma. "About my sister. She was shot and pronounced dead, and we buried her body, but she's not gone. She's with me." He tapped the side of his head. "In here.
"I know it sounds crazy, and I hope that's not what you think of me. I didn't believe it either at first. I thought I was mad, or maybe even possessed by a demon. But I don't think any self-respecting demon would start to cry and deny being one when they were called out. And Eve... she proved herself. I had her recite prayers and Bible verses that praised God -- no demon could stand to do that."
He took a sip of his water, his eyes on Kuma as he paused to let that sink in.
"Okay," he said, settling down into his chair again and looking at Kuma. "About my sister. She was shot and pronounced dead, and we buried her body, but she's not gone. She's with me." He tapped the side of his head. "In here.
"I know it sounds crazy, and I hope that's not what you think of me. I didn't believe it either at first. I thought I was mad, or maybe even possessed by a demon. But I don't think any self-respecting demon would start to cry and deny being one when they were called out. And Eve... she proved herself. I had her recite prayers and Bible verses that praised God -- no demon could stand to do that."
He took a sip of his water, his eyes on Kuma as he paused to let that sink in.
Last edited by Liam Farrell on Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:49 am; edited 1 time in total
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