|
Post by Adrien Baillon on Nov 28, 2009 18:38:20 GMT -5
((Adrian and Adrien, only in about 1956, during what is canonically the 17th year of Adrian's life.))
Adrien: Somehow or other, Adrien did not make noise of the kind that would either draw the attention of anyone inside a classroom or the boy at the end of the hallway when he ran up to him, leaped upon him, joyously wrapped his limps about him, and exclaimed "Man hug!" in the most adorably French and not-wrong way ever.
Adrian: *alarmed, falls back against the locker*
Adrien: *beams, kinda cuddles* Allooooo!
Adrian: Adrien, really-
Adrien: *smoothes hair, or tries, and takes a tiny halting step back, then steps up again, almost bouncing in enthusiasm* Allo.
Adrian: Yes, hello.
Adrien: *giggles, repeats almost vapidly* Eeyes, ello. ...*the extent of his greeting skills* *...still standing way too close for comfort*
Adrian: *vaguely alarmed look*
Adrien: Zee? Zee wot I deed?
Adrian: Adrien, just because you call it a man hug doesn't make it a man hug.
Adrien: Bot we'eur boz men -
Adrian: That's... not how it works.
Adrien: Zen - zen... *big troubled eyes* Weel you show me 'ow eet weurks?
Adrian: *looks around to make sure no one's watching* ...all right. *leans toward Adrien, puts one arm around him and brusquely pats his back*
Adrien: *beams. Switching from troubled eyes to beaming is a hugely apparent, radiant, heart-warming change* Ssank you. ^__^
Adrian: *as he releases him* See? That's a man hug.
Adrien: *attempts. is short. kind of does more petting than brusque patting* Okay zen. Man hug!
Adrian: That's... closer.
Adrien: *beams again and indeed moves slightly closer, looking up at him devotedly* You sink so ree-llee?
Adrian: It's an improvement, I'll give you that. *starts arranging his locker again*
Adrien: *scoots in to be able to see inside the locker* 'Oo eez zees? *pulling out glossy Alexander photo*
Adrian: That's Alexander of Macedonia.
Adrien: Oh. *quite oblivious* Ees 'e re-ul, oor...?
Adrian: Yes, he was. He's been dead for a very long time.
Adrien: Oh. Ah deed not know zey make zem of re-ul peo-pul. *carefully tucks back in*
Adrian: *pats him on the head, a bit like a cat*
Adrien: *smiles, bites lip, turns head into his touch* Why eez ees peec-shure een youeur lockeur?
Adrian: ...I admire him very much, is all. *as a teenager, he still shows some visible awkwardness about this*
Adrien: Oh. Ozzeur boys 'ave peec-shures of Bett-ee Page.
Adrian: And the hall monitors tend to confiscate those, so there you have it. *smiles*
Adrien: Wot ees 'ave eet'?
Adrian: I mean- that's all there is to say.
Adrien: Oh. *looks momentarily abandoned, as though he's taken this to mean the conversation is over, and then suddenly looks into the locker again* Goodness, zey learn Latin 'ee-eur? *pronounces Latin as a French boy would* I cannot ee-ven learn English.
Adrian: *without thinking* English is a very complicated language. It took me several months to pick up.
Adrien: *faintly* ...goodness.
Adrian: *glances at him* Hm?
Adrien: *...launches into a new subject with more enthusiasm* Adri-an, do you want to carry me your books? I to carry zem, I mean.
Adrian: *looks at him, up and down* From the look of you, you'd topple over.
Adrien: *giggles at the looking* Please? *this is prounced with two syllables [accent on the second, of course]: plees-euh?*
Adrian: It's not necessary, Adrien.
Adrien: ...plees-euh? *in a smaller voice*
Adrian: Adrien-
Adrien: *big sad huge troubled eyes, but it's apparent from the subtle change in them that hope has been crushed and he is resigning himself*
Adrian: *relenting a little* I could carry yours.
Adrien: *mouth opens in awe* Bot - bot - like a *geurl?*
Adrian: No, like you're a particularly small frosh who hasn't hit a growth spurt yet.
Adrien: Feureu - frosh?
Adrian: Freshman.
Adrien: *light dawning* Oh. Oh. Well. Okay. Eef you want, of course. *very deferentially*
Adrian: *takes his books*
Adrien: *has nothing to do with his hands. folds them behind his back and follows close after/beside Adrian*
|
|
|
Post by Adrien Baillon on Nov 28, 2009 18:45:59 GMT -5
Adrien: *pops up on Adrien's doorstep, rings the bell, and licks his fingers, trying to tame his hair*
Adrian's mother: *Adrian's mother opens the door. She is pretty but rather faded-looking, and has a very similar unfocused suprised look to her son's*
Adrien: *giggles to himself and holds out a hand* Allo, Meesus Vay-eedt.
Adrian's mother: *blinking a bit* Und you har...
Adrien: Adrien Baillon, madame.
Adrian: *Adrian suddenly comes bounding from upstairs* Adrien, what are you-
Adrien: *was in the process of explaining that he'd been invited to dinner, but gives up when he sees Adrian* Allo you!
Adrian: *to his mother, as he pushes past her* Entschuldigung- *takes Adrien by the shoulders* What are you doing?
Adrien: You eenvit-ed me for deen-eur -
Adrian: *shuts his eyes, sighs*
Adrien: I beurought flow-eurs for ze table - *thrusts bouquet at him, beaming*
Adrian: *Adrian and his mother exchange looks, and Adrian takes the bouquet* Just come inside, and try to be quiet.
Adrien: *voice almost inaudible, a hushed, excited whisper* Okay. *also a hush* ...zey-eur dai-zees from ze park -
Adrian: *they go inside. Adrian's mother shuts the door a little guiltily*
Adrien: *stays about an inch away from his arm*
Adrian: Wait here for a moment.
Adrien: *all patience*
Adrian: *goes over to his mother and attempts to explain things*
Adrien: *as there is nothing of great emotional loudness going on, he doesn't appear to notice and gazes about at the furniture and decor*
Adrian: *mother and son both turn to smile at him, perhaps too enthusiastically*
Adrien: *his smile is also enthusiastic, but shockingly sincere even in that*
Adrian: *Adrian starts to lead the kid upstairs*
Adrien: *once they're out of sight and nearing his room, he reaches out, hesitantly, and then grasps, rather surely and almost absent-mindedly, his hand*
Adrian: Keep your voice down. My father's ill and doesn't like to be disturbed.
Adrien: *in a hush* Bot I 'av-en't said anysing...
Adrian: I know. Better safe than sorry.
Adrien: *nods. Once in Adrian's room, he reluctantly - though trustingly - lets go of his hand and stands near the door, watching to see what Adrian does and to follow his lead. his voice is still in a hush* I 'ave nev-eur been before een ze room of anozzeur boy.
Adrian: *unconcerned* The doctor says he has maybe a month left now. If you come here again once he's dead, there won't be any problems.
Adrien: A monss?... oh. I am sorr-ee. *sits sort of timidly on the edge of the bed, taking up very little space, and running a hand almost tenderly over the coverlet*
Adrian: *The room looks pretty much like a hotel room, save the maps pinned to the wall and the posters. A fat, lazy-looking cat is laid out on the bed*
Adrien: *a little less timidly, reaches out to pet the cat* Ssank you.
Adrian: That's Raphael.
Adrien: Oohhh il est un bon chat, n'est-ce pas? - tu es un très bon chat oh oui, oh tu m'aimes? minouminouminou - *all in a little French happy hush while he scratches him*
Adrian: *The cat obligingly rolls onto his back and puts his paws in the air. Adrian smiles.*
Adrien: *after a moment, he pulls the cat gently into his lap and gathers him up. Then he stands, holding him close, and walks over to Adrian, sitting beside him on the bed so that their legs touch. He holds Raphael out to him in n offering, suddenly inexplicably shy*
Adrian: Coming over here was... probably not wise.
Adrien: *lowers the cat, and lets him climb over their legs and back onto the bed.* Wais-euh?
|
|
|
Post by Adrien Baillon on Nov 29, 2009 13:40:09 GMT -5
Adrian: My father doesn't like company.
Adrien: Ohhh. *Understanding the word, and then realizing the meaning belatedly* ...oh. *mumbling, after a moment, in a distant voice* Eet's betteur zan my 'ouse.
Adrian: Yeah, well, then things must be pretty bad at yours.
Adrien: *flushes and gets up to go sit at Adrian's desk elsewhere*
Adrian: Look, maybe you should go.
Adrien: *looks over at him with distress* I... I do not want to be 'ome. Please-euh, I want to be wiss you -
Adrian: Well, you can stay, but- *is interrupted by the sound of his father calling him*
Adrien: *sits back in Adrian's desk primly*
Adrian: *shouts back, annoyed* WAS IST LOS?
Adrien: *starts to look taken aback*
Adrian: *more muffled German from down the hall* *sighs, calls* Ein blicken... *makes an apologetic gesture and leaves the room*
Adrien: *stays very quiet and very, very still* *but after he's gone, gets up and peeks through some of his papers. After a moment, has to stifle a giggle*
Adrian: *comes back a few minutes later, still looking petulantly over his shoulder, slams the door, wipes his hand on his pants* Sorry...
Adrien: *looks up, surprised* *still has the papers in his hands*
Adrian: *sits down* It was time for his morphine shot.
Adrien: Ooh. *looks back at papers, blushes and beams and then looks back at Adrian* *holds up a glossy image of a Grecian urn* 'Ave you eveur done zees?
Adrian: *flatly* No.
Adrien: *holds up another one with his other hand, this one showing a different position* 'Ow about zees one?
Adrian: No.
Adrien: Neizzer, ree-llee?
Adrian: I tried the second one. It didn't quite work.
Adrien: Ree-lee? Wiss 'oo? *glances back at them, almost absorbingly* I 'ave done zem boss. *putting them down* And I can do eet wiss my hands. And I can do eet wiss my mouss.
Adrian: With your mouth, you mean.
Adrien: *a little bit suggestively, if a 14-year-old were approximating his idea of what suggestiveness was* Zat ees wot I said. Wiss my mouss. ...I can proove eet -
Adrian: WiTH your mouTH.
Adrien: Oh. *getting it* WiSS my mouSS.
Adrian: No no, wiTH your mouTH.
Adrien: Wisssss my - *breaks off* Bot eet ees so 'ard, zough! *tragic pouty face*
Adrian: Come along. Just try it. TH. TH.
Adrien: Ssssssss! *pouts more, eyes brightening* I jhuzt do not know where to do my tongue -
Adrian: It goes under your front teeth.
Adrien: *sets it there*
Adrian: TH, TH, TH.
Adrien: *something almost approximating a "th", but not gliding - he's pressing his tongue against his teeth*
Adrian: Not so hard-
Adrien: *softens* *perfect little thorn comes out and then vanishes. His face is pure astonishment*
Adrian: There you go. *beams at him*
Adrien: *is beamed at, jumps up and goes to sit promptly beside him once more* I can do eet wiTH my mouTH!
Adrian: *smiles with honest happiness on his behalf*
Adrien: *hugs him suddenly*
Adrian: *unfocused eyes for a moment*
Adrien: *loosens but stays resting against him, smiling* Mmmm... sank you.
Adrian: THank you, you mean.
Adrien: Thhank you. *that was the correction. His arms go up a little higher and he holds Adrian close, and then repeats, voice soft and sincere* ....thhank you, Adrian. ....so...much...
Adrian: Um... you're welcome.
Adrien: *turns his head against Adrian's shoulder* Adri-an... can I...?
Adrian: What?
Adrien: *voice continuing to drop very softly* ...keeess you?
Adrian: *hesitates*
Adrien: *pulls back to look into eyes*
Adrian: Adrien, you're a sweet kid.
Adrien: *hopeful look comes into his*
Adrian: Look- just- not... not right now.
Adrien: *it dies* *pulls back more, looks down* oh. *after a moment of fiddlng with the bedspread, looks up to almost defiantly stare into his eyes* Adrian?
Adrian: Adrien?
Adrien: *look loses the defiance and its edge and looks almost lost, fixing on Adrian like an anchor* Do you like me?
Adrian: You're a good kid.
Adrien: *starts to look almost hollow at this reiteration of the earlier let-down*
Adrian: And I do like you.
Adrien: *hesitates, but then hugs him again anyway*
Adrian: *Adrian's mother calls him for dinner*
Adrien: *pauses mid-hug* *then pulls back and looks up at him* Zees ees - thees ees not a man-'ug, ees eet?
Adrian: *raises his voice* Ja, Mama... ...no, it's not a man hug.
Adrien: *giggles but keeps eye contact, like they're sharing a secret*
Adrian: Do you want to... you know, stay for dinner?
Adrien: *nods steadfastly, like a devoted pet* *as they stand from the bed, gently clasps Adrian's hand again, briefly* *his fingertips press against the inside of Adrian's knuckles very sweetly, as though he won't slid his hand all the way in, which gives the impression of his hand being small as a child's*
Adrian: Well, come on, I guess. *starts heading downstairs*
Adrien: *follows after like a happy dog*
Adrian: *Adrian's mother is already sitting at the table, with her head hanging down defeatedly*
Adrien: *....horribly, horribly oblivious, as he really doesn't know what normal family dinner is like*
Adrian: *Adrian sits uncomfortably*
Adrien: *takes a seat beside him* T....thank you fo-eur 'aving me.
Adrian: *neither one says anything*
Adrien: *Adrien is many things, but bad-table-mannered is blessedly not one of them - his mother taught him well*
Adrian: *eventually, Adrian's father shuffles into the room, in obvious pain, run rather to fat, red-faced and watery-eyed, though there's still a vague family resemblance*
Adrien: *looks a bit too long, looks quickly to his plate* *is always a bit uncomfortable around father figures*
Adrian: *Adrian's father looks at Adrien for a long time*
Adrien: *peeks up at him from beneath 50s hair*
Adrian: *he looks at Adrian, and asks, in very poor English* Who this? *Adrian retorts, kind of mockingly* This IS Adrien. He's a friend from school.
Adrien: *beams up at Adrian shyly at this appellation*
Adrian: *Frau Veidt murmurs* Die Segen... *she holds out her hands*
Adrien: *in a whisper* Eez thees a pray-eur? *is Catholic*
Adrian: *nods at him*
Adrien: *hand-clasping, head-bowing*
Adrian: *everybody joins hands*
Adrien: *hastily fixes* *IS GETTING TO HOLD ADRIAN'S HAND* *fingers are a bit damp and his grip is clearly excited*
Adrien: *Adrian's mom says the blessing*
Adrien: *is a teensy bit reluctant to release Adrian's hand, although it might just be awe*
Adrian: *releases hands*
Adrien: *lifts fork a bit hesitantly, remaining polite and trying to stay in line with everyone else*
Adrian: *uncomfortable silent eating*
Adrien: *in a low voice, about an unfamiliar dish* Wot eez zat, eez that, exact-euh-ly?
|
|
|
Post by Adrien Baillon on Nov 29, 2009 17:49:18 GMT -5
Adrian: It's a casserole Mama found in a magazine. *lowers voice* She's still trying to be American.
Adrien: *low voice* Zo ees mine.
Adrian: *small sympathetic pat*
Adrien: *hadn't meant it in a bad way and didn't realize Adrian did*
Adrian: *picks at his food*
Adrien: *has a better appetite than he does at home, where dinner can be very awkward for him*
Adrian: *notices his father staring at him* *stares back defiantly*
Adrien: *has noticed too, and now gives Adrian a sympathetic pat*
Adrian: *GERMAN ARGUMENT BREAKS OUT*
Adrien: *tense and tiny*
Adrian: *ANGRY GESTURES ON BOTH SIDES* *Adrian's mother just looks at her plate and picks at her food*
Adrien: *accidentally knocked by Adrian in the shoulder* *puts down fork and timidly touches Adrian's hand, trying to lower it*
Adrian: *shakes him off, keeps arguing*
Adrien: *picks up fork again* *puts it down a little while later, hands in his lap* *shortly after, under table, brushes Adrian's thigh reassuringly*
Adrian: *culminates in Adrian actually making a vulgar gesture at his father, his father slamming his fist down and starting to get up, and Adrian fleeing from the table* *returns, still running, like he's forgotten something, and drags Adrien after him*
Adrien: *formerly had sat, dropped-jaw and staring, and now is running along with Adrian up the stairs*
Adrian: *practically throws Adrien into his room, slams the door as soon as he enters after him, locks the door and starts barricading it with his desk*
Adrien: *almost trips* *climbs onto the bed and clings to the pillow, holding it in both hands up to his mouth, staring with huge, scared eyes over it, clearly silently crying*
Adrian: *leans against the desk, out of breath*
Adrien: *lets go of pillow and goes to put his arms comfortingly around Adrian's waist*
Adrian: *pounding outside of door* *Adrian shouts* Ja, immer wieder versuchen, und vielleicht wirst du sterben jetzt, Bastard!
Adrien: *tries holding him closer, nuzzling, like a cat might try to comfort*
Adrian: *shouts a few things back after his father does*
Adrien: *strokes his hair concernedly*
Adrian: *slides limply into a chair* You should go.
Adrien: *pets hair* *softly* Let me stay withh you.
Adrian: *points to the window* Just go home or something.
Adrien: *almost inaudible* You should-n't 'ave to be alone.
Adrian: Look, I'll be fine.
Adrien: Ah weel seeng to you eef you'd like.
Adrian: Adrien, really-
Adrien: *pets his hair and starts singing in a little soprano" Dodo, l'enfant do, l'enfant dormira bientot...
Adrian: *listens for the pounding to stop*
Adrien: *tiny voice* Bett-eur?
Adrian: *pissed off broody teenager face*
Adrien: *gently, starts petting his hair again and starts to sing Dodo l'enfant do again*
Adrian: *sigh*
Adrien: *tiptoes over and very clearly moves as though to push himself up and give Adrian a kiss on his cheek or his temple*
Adrian: *puts an arm around him as if he's a teddy bear*
Adrien: *pecks him on the cheek - was trying for the temple, but doesn't go up that high very easily*
Adrian: *looks at him*
Adrien: *looks up at him like a little devoted pet waiting for his next move*
Adrian: ...sorry you had to see that.
Adrien: *softly* Eet ees okay. *lifts up a hand, slowly, to smooth back his hair and down his cheek*
Adrian: Adrien, don't, okay?
Adrien: *freezes, then pulls his hand away* Eef you don't want.
Adrian: Just... now's not the time.
Adrien: *tiny, slightly throaty, apologetic voice* Ahm sorr-ee 'e ees not well.
Adrian: It's not because he's ill.
Adrien: Oh. ...zen... then I am even more sorr-ee.
Adrian: *mutters* I wish he'd just die already.
Adrien: *takes his hand*
Adrian: *not-even-gonna-argue-it kind of smile*
Adrien: *voice still a little throaty* Bett-eur? *r catches in his throat*
Adrian: Not really, but it's okay. You're a nice kid.
Adrien: I-eul seeng somessthing else fo-eur you eef you like.
Adrian: It's okay. Don't worry about it.
Adrien: I would like to -
Adrian: *sighs* Okay.
Adrien: *pulls Adrian by the hands over to the bed to sit down.*
Adrian: *sits with him*
Adrien: *sings La Complainte de la Butte gently to him* *you know, the real French version, not the Moulin Rouge one* *after he's done, hugs him again wordlessly*
Adrian: *pats his back*
Adrien: *rather hating his inarticulate-ness, manages only a slightly-muffled,* Bett-eur?
Adrian: Not really. It's not your fault.
Adrien: *pulls back to look up at him very sadly* Do you want me to go?
Adrian: No, Adrien, it's fine.
Adrien: *starting to smile a little, warming* I really like you.
|
|