The timid one

forgotten-vows:

Yeah, well, Nell would probably call them “the wrong sort.” Unless they were really super-rich. Then she might deign to give them another look.

Victor smiles. “They do sound lovely. I’m afraid I didn’t get to know my grandparents all that well. I never met my mother’s side of the family, and my father’s parents died when I was still young. I do remember Grandfather Van Dort being a fairly nice man. Very obsessed with fish, though — just like Father,” he adds with a chuckle.

He frowns when he hears that. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, feeling a fresh wave of sympathy for the young boy. “I — m-my parents weren’t e-exactly attentive with me either, sometimes.” He never wanted for any of his physical needs. But emotionally? Yeah, Victor was kind of starved.

Jinx listened with a smile. He stuck his tongue out in disgust at the mention of fish, though.

“I never likes fish,” He said, “Then again, the only type of fish I ever tried was sushi. Ever had that, then? It’s raw fish with white rice held together with seaweed. Some people like it; I’m not one of those people.”

Seems like they both feel for each other in that situation then.  He managed a sympathetic smile for the young man, squeezing the still-sleeping girl in his arms a bit.

“I guess you always have to look at the bright side of things though.” he said, trying to smile, “I didn’t have to get yelled at for knocking over the vase..!”

He remembered being little, but he couldn’t remember their faces. He did remember playing with a ball and throwing it at the vase on purpose to try and get their attention. They just cleaned it up and left for work soon after. He was very destructive when he was little, but then they were never home, so there was no reason to be…

forgotten-vows:

Victor shakes his head. “My mother told me it was time I g-gave up childish things. That I’d be an a-adult soon, and adults d-didn’t have toys.” His scornful tone suggests he doesn’t quite agree with that.

Victor nods, then winces. “I see. Your grandparents sound like they were fine people,” he says, sidestepping the issue of the parents for the moment. He wonders if they’ve even come to visit their son in the hospital. Surely someone had to come down and fill out the paperwork for him, at least?

Jinx just scoffed at that. Please; He knew tons of people who played with toys and video games, and made tons of money off it too! He nodded, looking down at Alia for a moment, deep in thought.

“They were the kind of people who just loved everyone, and always gave second chances and helped to get things right.” he said, smiling a bit, “But my parents never cared for me. Even now, they came to the front desk to fill out paperwork there, then left right after…”

His explanation pretty much answered your thought then, Victor. They always got things done in a rush, even had to leave his own name blank, for they’d forgotten it. He had to fill out the basic things about himself on his own; Name, age, height, weight… They didn’t care, they never cared.

forgotten-vows:

“I see.” Victor smiles. “I’m sure you were glad of the company, though. Er, n-not to say your dogs weren’t a-adequate company, I just mean —” No, he’s going to stop right there before he says anything else that might give offense.

He chuckles at Jinx’s play. “I had a stuffed dog when I was small,” he says. “What was his name… Patches? That sounds right. I used to play with him all the time.” He sighs. “But when I turned fourteen, Mother made me give him away.” He knows he was probably too old for toys at that point, but — still. He misses his toy dog. At least he knows he went to a good cause — Victor donated him to a charity collecting toys for unfortunate children.

Jinx didn’t like the sound of that, really.

“That’s just not right.” He said, voicing his own thoughts, “Someone should be able to keep stuffed animals; They carry memories!”

He looked at his own dog, saying,

“Grandma gave Woofy to me. She passed away, sadly… But she told me she’d lived a full life, and she had no regrets. That is, until grandfather died as well. Again, it was of old age. His one regret was that he couldn’t take care of me anymore and had to leave me to my parents again…”

He spat out the word ‘Parents’ as though it were poisonous. He hated his parents; Damn workaholics. He’s never even seen them, they’ve never been home or payed the slightest attention to him. He didn’t care; They could die and he wouldn’t give a second glance.

forgotten-vows:

Victor has to nod to that. “It’s not right,” he mumbles. “Nobody should have to suffer like that.” He’s glad Jinx never had to go through that. Though neglectful parents aren’t much of an improvement. (He would know.)

He watches her fall asleep in Jinx’s arms. Awww. Though it does make Victor feel the tiniest bit awkward. He’s not sure how to make conversation — he doesn’t know Jinx all that well. He finds himself fiddling with his tie as he searches for topics. “So — ah — you’ve got the same a-ability Alia has, only with dogs?” It’s as good a start as any.

Jinx nodded, smiling.

“Yes. I was in the alleys before her, and she came to me for a lot of advise on how to control the cats. She got the hang of it soon though.”

He pat her head lightly, smiling.

“It was so strange having another person in the alleys, to be honest…”

He tucked Jaguar into Alia’s hands, watching as she shifted to hold him more tightly. He held his own stuffed dog in his hand, smiling at the stuffed dog. He put it on his bed and had it walk over to him, making it ‘woof’ when it was close. The boy couldn’t help a laugh at his own actions, grinning.

.

forgotten-vows:

Victor nods his agreement. “Oh yes — please, try to smile? He’s all right — he’s safe here, and he’ll be out soon, I’m sure.” He hopes, anyway. He wouldn’t want to stay here any longer than he had to.

Victor smiles at them. Oh yes — very good they found each other. He nods at Jinx. “You two — you two really seem to belong together,” he says quietly.

Jinx smiled a bit at that, Alia blushing faintly.

“I just want her safe is all; I know you do too. We just don’t want to see her suffer anymore…”

She snuggled up beside him, looking a bit tired. He ran his fingers through her hair gently, beginning to rock her again.

“Just relax, Alia. You’ve been tense for a while, I can tell. Just settle down, I’m right here for you…”

He soon got her lulled to sleep, holding her close to him, as though a ward from any nightmares that might get her.

Read More →

forgotten-vows:

Victor continues patting her back, hoping it helps in some small way. Poor girl, he wishes he knew how to make it all better… And make Jinx all better, by extension. “He’ll be all right,” he repeats. “Nobody’s going to leave you. Please don’t cry.”

He looks up at Jinx, smiling a little at his attempts to comfort her. They really are cute together. He’s glad they found each other.

“Come on, I like it when you smile.” Jinx said softly, “So don’t cry, alright? You’ve cried enough; I want you to be happy…”

She managed to calm herself down soon, Jinx wiping away her tears and tilting her head up. He gently nuzzled his head against hers. She managed a small smile, holding his hand tightly.

“See, there it is.” He purred, “That smile that lights up the world.”

She giggled a bit, hugging him tightly. He gently rubbed her back, glad to see her alright again. He smiled over at Victor, grateful that he managed to calm her down as well. She’d probably still be crying if it wasn’t for him as well.

forgotten-vows:

Victor shakes his head a little. “It’s not something anyone, particularly someone as young as you, should have to become used to.” Poor kid.

Awwww. Victor goes over to Alia and puts a hand on her back. “Shhh,” he whispers, trying to calm her with Jinx. “It’s all right. He’s fine — or, well, g-getting there,” he qualifies. “He’s not going to l-leave you anytime soon.”

He can understand her worry, though. He doesn’t think he’d act much differently if it were Alice in the hospital. He hates just thinking about it. Good thing she seems to be the healthy sort.

Alia hid herself behind her hands, beginning to tremble. Jinx held her close, giving Victor a thankful look for trying to help at least.

“I’d never leave you.” He murmured, “I promise. I’d never leave you unprotected. I’ll always be here for you.”

He continued to hush her and assure her, hating seeing her upset like this. He always loved it better when she was smiling, though he still loved her when she was upset. The way he saw it was if he couldn’t handle her at her worst, he definitely didn’t deserve her at her best.

forgotten-vows:

“I’m glad to hear that,” Victor says, smiling. “Though I am sorry you fell ill in the first place.”

Awww, they’re so cute together. Though Victor is slightly concerned about Alia catching whatever Jinx has got. It’s good to hear that it’s not contagious. He can’t help a frown as Jinx says that his immune system hates him. “That’s really too bad. I can’t imagine what it’s like.” He’s had his share of minor illnesses, of course, but according to Alia, Jinx is sick pretty much all the time.

He doges get a small laugh out of Jinx’s joke. “Yes, you think it would have the common courtesy to take you along.”

Alia sat at the end of his bed, smiling over at him for a moment, holding Jaguar tightly.

“Ah, you eventually get use to the sick feeling. It’s only times like this that bother you a bit.” Jinx assured.

He pulled her closer so she was sitting between hi legs and leaning against his chest. He rocked her gently, knowing how scared and worried she was. She couldn’t help it; Seeing someone she loved so much in such a place, his life on a screen…

“Hush hush, Alia. I’m alright, we’re alright, everyone’s alright…” He murmured.

She hadn’t realized yet she’d begun crying. It was terrifying, seeing him hooked up to machines and in a white room and for one thing to set off his death…

forgotten-vows:

“Oh, I’m s-sorry if we disturbed you,” Victor says, feeling a small stab of guilt. He hadn’t meant to wake the poor boy. He takes in the scene with a frown. None of that looks comfortable.

He smiles at the two of them. “We don’t,” he assures him teasingly. “How are you feeling?” Victor may not know Jinx like Alia, but the kid’s always proven to be helpful and kind. And Victor’s the sort who worries about everybody.

“Could be worse.” Jinx said with a shrug, “But I’ll get better. I promise.”

He added the last part in for Alia. He knew she took promises seriously, and he would never break one for her. He lifted her head and kissed her forehead, getting a smile in return.

“I was just sick, and the heat got to me is all. I’ll be out of here in no time.”

He looked up curiously as Alia handed him his stuffed dog, making him blush a little and smile gratefully. She kissed him lovingly and he gladly returned it, breaking away soon after.

“The nurse says it’s not contagious; Just my body failing again. What I have wouldn’t affect either of you, since it’s so weak. But my immune system just hates me.”

He ruffled her hair playfully, managing to get her to laugh by saying,

“I just says, ‘I’m taking a vacation to Hawaii!’. Don’t know why it’d go there, but I wanna go with it! Stupid immune system.”

forgotten-vows:

Yeah, that’s the tough part. You want to see your loved one, but seeing them sick and in pain…

Still, a visit should hopefully cheer him up. Victor leads the way to where Jinx is staying. Since it’s only polite, he knocks on the door before opening it a tad. “Hello? Is it all right to come in?”

Jinx roused from his light napping, forcing himself to sit up in the bed.

“Huh..?” He groaned sleepily, rubbing his eyes, “Oh, yeah, come in…”

Alia opened the door the rest of the way herself, walking into the bright room. For a moment, she was a little scared. To see Jinx attached to something that seemed to be taking his heard rate and pumping— medicine?— into him.

“What are you two doing here?” He said with a smile, voice a bit scratchy, “Visiting a sick boy in the hospital. Don’t you have anything better to do, huh?”

Alia hugged him tightly, Jinx returning it and patting her head gently, trying to soothe her.

“I’m sorry if I scared you, Alia…” he whispered.

.

forgotten-vows:

“Woofy,” he chuckles. “I like that.”

“Right — thank you,” Victor nods. Now it’s time to approach the front desk. “Do excuse me — is it possible to visit Jinx Silken? My little sister here is a friend of his, and she’s quite worried…”

It appears it is possible to visit him. After bluffing his way through a few questions, Victor gets a room number. “All right — let’s go say hello,” he says, grinning at Alia.

Alia remained silent, standing beside Victor, holding his hand tightly. She smiled back up at him, nodding. She willingly followed along, happy yet worried about meeting Jinx. She wanted to see him, but the thought of seeing him so sick to be put in the hospital… That part she didn’t fancy too much.

forgotten-vows:

Victor looks between the dog and Jaguar, feeling nostalgic. “I had a stuffed dog and a stuffed cat when I was younger too,” he says softly. “Mother made me get rid of them once I got ‘too old,’ though.” That was a sad day, giving up his last stuffed toy. He sighs a little, then smiles. “Do you know his name?”

Victor gives the dog a grateful pat as well, then starts for the front desk —

And stops. Uh-oh. One problem. “Do you know Jinx’s last name?” he asks in a whisper. He doesn’t think he can just go up to the nurse in charge and ask to see “Jinx.”

“Woofy.” Alia answered, giggling a bit, “His name’s Woofy…”

She shifted a bit nervously as they walked inside, grateful they stopped so suddenly.

“Jinx S-Silken. Th-that’s his f-full name…”

He’d told it to her once, in some random conversation they had one. She never understood his name; He told her it was different form his parents for some reason. They never understood why.

‘I never cared for my parents anyway,’ he’d assured her, ‘they never payed attention to me, so why bother?’

forgotten-vows:

Victor smiles and nods back, before taking her hand and letting her lead him to the Dog’s den. He’s relieved that the dogs don’t give them any trouble. It’s nice to be welcomed without worrying about growls or bared teeth. He notes the stuffed dog she picks up. “Like your Jaguar?” he guesses as they start toward the hospital. He’d be rather surprised if it wasn’t.

Alia nodded a bit, smiling as she held the dog up, Jaguar still in her other hand. It was a fair length walk to the hospital and, when they were there, the dog hurried back to the den after Alia thanked it and pat it’s head. She sighed a moment before walking in beside Victor.

He can do the talking.

desdemona-night:

Dez glanced back at the building without a word. She wondered what exactly happened that made Alia start acting that way. 

“She has to eat at some point, doesn’t she? She’d die otherwise.” She mumbled, her grey eyes flickering back towards the group curiously. “She is a very quiet girl. It wasn’t easy to get her to say anything.”

“I think the counselors manage to force something down her throat sometimes, when she doesn’t have the door locked.” He mused.

“The point is that no one knows anything but her first name. She came in and was dropped off by some guy and she locked herself in her room. She didn’t come out for a month on her own, she still doesn’t. I really don’t know about her.”

“She reads and draws a lot; She recommended— Well, gave me— a book to read, and it was good. Found a little picture of an old bookmark in there too. A white kitten with foggy blue eyes. Think it might have been a pet of hers or something.”

.

.

princelypianist:

As Tamaki watched the two of the play, the urge to snatch Alia away from this boy only grew. He swallowed thickly, and did his best to remain as expressionless as possible. Ever since meeting Alia, he had been overwhelmed with paternal feelings for her. And if anything, the emotions that this scene was stirring up only proved how much he cared for the younger girl. But he wasn’t going to voice his concerns just yet. Not until he really needed to. This was probably just a little friendship that would mean nothing in a year or so. He had nothing to worry about. They were just… being children… Right? As soon as Alia ducked behind him, Tamaki moved his arm so that it was around her, protectively pressing her to his side.

“Alia… Are you going to introduce your friend?” he asked softly, trying not to sound too much like her actual father. While he’d always treated Alia as if she were his daughter, he wanted her to view him as a friend as well, not just a father-figure. He wasn’t one to enforce rules on her, trusting her enough to stay out of trouble and be safe. He was there to comfort her. He was there when she needed someone to play with. He was the best of both worlds, or so he liked to believe. And meeting a friend of hers shouldn’t be the thing to change that. Right…?

Alia hugged him a bit, noticing that protective feel about him now. Jinx calmed down a bit now, giving a polite, friendly smile.

“Tamaki, this i-is Jinx,” she answered in a soft tone, smiling lovingly at the boy, “He’s my… m-my boyfriend…”

He nodded at that, returning the smile with just as much, maybe a bit more, warmth to it. Was this her new adopted father, then? He held out his hand politely, still smiling.

“Hello, sir.” He said properly, “Alia’s said a lot of nice things about you. I can’t thank you enough for taking her out of Drew’s care…”

The boy said Drew’s name as though it was poison. He hated the man with a burning passion, for the abuse he’d done to Alia. He’d tried time and time again to protect her, but it always ended with him bloody and Alia violated. But he always tried and fought until his own body refused to work. But even then, he tried to comfort her, if only to try and make the worse a little better. Alia’s protective love puppy, she called him once. Guardian Love Puppy.