martelsnotmypeach | 2 | dream [1920s AU event]

Entry tags:

2 | dream [1920s AU event]

Warnings: Mithos' sister complex, fluffiness.
Effects: A feeling of peacefulness and contentment.

"Martel!" Mithos called out to a gentle-looking woman with green hair as he walked into their home. "I got my test results back!"

"Did you, Mithos?" the woman, Martel, smiled. "May I see?"

With a cheerful laugh, the boy handed Martel the paper. "Here. I'm sure you'll be happy."

If the smile on her face widening was any indication, she was very happy. "Oh, Mithos," she said, patting him on the head. "You've done such a good job! You're so smart."

"But Martel," Mithos looked up at her with wide eyes. "You're much wiser than I am! You'd do so much better than I do!"

"Perhaps," the woman sighed, "but I couldn't go as far as you, Mithos. Sadly, most people don't think a woman are capable are doing the things a man can. You know that."

This irritated the boy. He looked away from her, to the floor. "But that's not fair! You're just as capable as they are!"

Martel chuckled. "Then it's our job to prove them wrong. You will help me, right, Mithos?"

Mithos nodded furiously, looking back to her. "Of course, Martel! Just because you're a woman doesn't mean you're below me! I promise, I'm going to change this world right alongside you! We're going to create equality for everyone, regardless of gender or anything else!"

"It makes me very happy to hear that..." the smile on Martel's face was kind and gentle, but also somewhat weary.

The blond hugged her tightly, with no intent of letting go quickly. "I love you, Martel..."

Martel hugged him back, so happy that he was there. "I love you too, Mithos... my dear, dear brother."

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"I don't know why they killed her," Mithos admitted, "I don't even know who did it... but it's not like anyone had a real reason to hurt her! She did her best for me and anyone she met...!"

"I'm sorry..." What else could he say to that? "She sounded really nice. I wish I could have met her." It made him briefly wonder what it would have been like to have a sister.

"...and now you can't. No one can."

He was laughing again. Once more, it was an unpleasant sound.

Lloyd didn't know enough to understand the tone of that laugh, but it disturbed him to no end. Blinking in alarm, he cradled the phone closer to his ear, as though somehow that might get him closer to the boy on the other end.

"Mithos? Are you all right?"

Most people didn't laugh about the loss of family.

"She wasn't supposed to die..."

It was all Mithos could manage to get out between bitter, defeated laughter.

That wasn't much better, but at least he wasn't laughing anymore.

"...is there anything I can do?"

"There's nothing anyone can do now. She's dead. I've been living on the streets since her death."

He still seemed very angry, but there was more of an upset tone to his voice now.

"Living on the streets?" That startled Lloyd enough that he sat upright. His leg twinged at the sudden movement, but he ignored it. "What do you mean? Don't you have someplace to live?"

"No."

Mithos' voice now sounded much more distant.

"Why should I want one?"

Edited 2011-05-04 01:50 (UTC)

Of all the responses Lloyd could have expected, that was the last, and it puts him completely off balance. "Because it's... It's home." He fumbled for the words. How did someone explain something that shouldn't need to be explained? "It's someplace to stay that's out of the rain, and you have a bed and food and people to take care of you. What about your parents?"

"I no longer have a home, and I'm doing just fine on my own."

Another pause.

"My parents have been dead for a long time."

"Oh..." He trailed off, not certain what, if anything, he could say to that. He knew from experience how touchy people could be about parents who had died. "My mom died, too..."

Actually, maybe he just shouldn't say anything else.

"How do you get food? Do you have a job?"

He chuckled.

"I have my ways."

Lloyd frowned. What was that supposed to mean?

"So you're okay, then? I mean, if you're hungry, I could get you some food."

"Why would you want to help me?" Mithos' tone was suspicious.

"Why wouldn't I?" In contrast, Lloyd's voice was open and curious. "If someone needs help and there's something I can do, I want to do something to help. Besides, everyone has the right to live, and you need food to do that, right?"

There was a very long bit of silence after that.

"...all right."

Lloyd grinned, even though Mithos couldn't see it. "Great! Where can I-" Wait. No, that wouldn't work. "Damn it, I can't leave the house. I'm not supposed to walk if I can help it, even with my crutches."

He paused, thinking hard. There had to be a way around this. "Hey, can you make it to Espoir?"

Another long bit of silence.

"Yes, I think so."

The grin came back. "Okay, I'll meet you out front!" He gave Mithos the address to his cottage in Espoir, never once thinking that maybe he shouldn't be so open with a stranger. "Dad's out getting some things, so it'll be just you and me."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

He really wasn't sure about this, but the other boy had been so... kind.

No one had been kind to him like that since Martel's death...

"All right. Bye, Mithos! See you soon!" Lloyd waited just a moment, then hung the phone up. He had things to do if he wanted to be ready when Mithos showed up.

When Mithos did show up, he'd be waiting outside as promised, sitting on a bench on the porch. His crutches were propped up against the wall of the house, and he was dressed simply in a white shirt and brown pants held up with suspenders. He hadn't bothered with shoes since he wasn't expecting to go anywhere, and they were kind of a pain to get on right now.

He could barely keep his excitement down as he scanned the street in front of his house. What did Mithos look like?

What did Mithos look like, indeed...

Lloyd was soon met with a dirty boy in torn-up clothes. His hair was short, but it seemed to have been done by his own hand, causing the result to be uneven and messy.

And at first, he wasn't looking directly at Lloyd.

"Mithos?" Lloyd called hesitantly. There weren't many boys who would be passing by at this time of day, but the other boy wasn't looking at him. Was it him?

"...you must be Lloyd," Mithos stated, eyes downcast.

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