Running and Reclamation (Dominique)

[Lu Gavima]

Season of Winter, Day 20, AV 511

Making his way toward the three Towers, Lu had quite the maneuvers, like it or not. With a crowd of people milling about and a freshly broken arm splinted at his side, he had to be equally cautious to not bump it. Each time he failed, he became clammy with pain and had to rest. His father had deemed him unworthy to leave the City until his arm had healed. It was a disappointment to Lu, but it could have been much worse, all things considered. He was alive and his arm would heal. Avoiding bumps and simple patrolling would suffice.

His training had not ceased, however. He had merely changed it to suit his new handicap. The staff would have to wait until he could wield it again, so he had taken up the use of a short sword instead. His practice with it was equally limited, his body not prepared for exercise. Resting was a necessity, but Lu feared that if he did not stay on track with his training, he could end up failing the Awakening. That was not something the young monk could deal with at all.

So here he was, watching the comings and goings of the students at the Towers. With their burgeoning Magical abilities, it was mostly a type of monitoring, as a fight would be detrimental to the sparring partners as well as the local scenery. At least by Reimancers. Auristic students could have at it. The sword was hanging in his sash on his right hip, though with his current skill, it was merely for show. His fists, or fist in this case, was more than enough. Placing himself amongst the crowd, he observed the scene, looking for anything that could prove out of the ordinary.

[Dominique]

Dominique was shiviring in the shadows between two buildings. His clothes were worn, and his hair matted to his head with dirt and sweat. He had just gotten done running from a fruitstand merchant who had caught him swiping some fruit. This definatly wasn't his day, or week. He hadn't managed to successfully take any food in a while and it was starting to take a toll on him. He was now able to count all his own ribs, and his hair was starting to fall out. When he looked around he grinned again, maybe his luck was changing. Their in front of him was a monk watching the area beyond. Perhaps he was foolish to think him lucky for this, but by the way he favored his arm Dominique doubted he was at his A-game. This might be the lucky break he needed...a little dirt, a bruise or so, and a lot of tears, and he'd have the man giving him money. Looking around quickly, Dominique would pinch himself on the arm as hard as he could, tears welling up in his eye's. He would then cough and start stumbling out from where he had been hidden, stumbling towards the monk. Looking up at the man he would sniffle, tears running down his cheeks leaving streaks in the dirt their. The combined affect of the dirt, malnutrition, and tears making him look less then his real age. "Sir...sir plea-" at that, he would stumble into the monk if allowed.

[Lu Gavima]

Tedium. Watching the various students, bowing when necessary, watching. While he knew that this was standard operating procedure for Shinya guards, he couldn't imagine actually doing this for long periods of time. Especially when there was so much training to be done. The clunky pointed piece of metal at his side yearned to be practiced with. Soon, he thought. Best to remain focused on the job at hand. Had he done so before, he might still have two arms to work with instead of one.

The students were now making their way in or out of the Towers, the open areas thinning and allowing for easier surveillance. Lu paced about the general plaza, continuing his courtesy in the form of bows and nods. Once he made it to the entrance to the Towers proper, he straightened his robe and tightened the strings wrapping his arm splint in place. His awareness divided, he heard a cough from his left and saw a young boy stumble out toward him. He looked like he hadn't bathed or eaten in some time, tears in his eyes as he wobbled toward the young Acolyte.

"Sir...sir plea-" was what came from the boy's lips and he began to fall toward Lu, who knelt to catch and brace the boy. His hand firmly on the smaller child's shoulder, he looked at him intently. "Where did you come from? Are you new to Lhavit? What is wrong with you?" His tone was calm yet it lacked the compassion that one might find elsewhere. Lhavit did not have beggars. Everyone worked. If this boy did not, he soon would.

[Dominique]

Dominique's expression wavered at the cold tone that this monk had. It slipped from the pathetic and miserable expression he had worn to that of shock and disapointment. What was wrong with this man, he didn't react at all like he should. What type of adult saw a kid in his condition and start questioning the kid? Maybe he should have spent more time studying the monks that patrolled Lhavit, take the time to learn about them, it might have helped. He had gotten himself in this mess and it looked like it would be a big one. "Petch" he uttered under his breath as he changed his expression back to that of misery. "sir...sir...he hurt me...Took me, and" He would take a breath at that, looking down at the ground to hide his mouth which he struggles to keep in the same expression of grief, "And i just want my daddy." It wasn't a lie, he did want his dad. But he was obviously omitting a lot of information as he shakes his head slightly, continueing to stare down at the ground. His hands would reach forward and clutch at Lu's garments, as if for support. His index and pinky fingers would move as subtly as he could make them while doing so, trying to feel for any possessions hidden underneath the garments. if he is able to grab the garments he would let his knee's buckle and start to sag down, clutching tighter to the garments and letting small pathetic sobs come out of his mouth to try to distract the monk from noticing the small feelings or his fingers moving along his garments.

[Lu Gavima]

Stern speech seemed to cut to the core of the little man before Lu. He observed the boy closely as the latter seemed to grope at his uniform. Not looking into a Shinya's eyes when questioned was slight enough, but fortunately the boy had his youth to fall back on.He swore that he heard a slight curse and a shifting of eyes, which only made the Acolyte more severe in his stance. He was not sure what the kid was up to, but he didn't care for it.

As Lu's patience wore thinner, it seemed the act had merely begun.

"sir...sir...he hurt me...Took me, and.. and i just want my daddy."

With this statement, the monk was equally divided. While the possibility was slight, he could not tolerate the harming of a child, whatever the reason. Harming in a sense that the child was alluding to, anyway. Violation. Punishment and discipline were hardly sins, rather tools in which to help a boy grow into a man. "Tell me, who is this man you speak of? Is he here in the City?" Further questioning became irrelevant as the boy began simpering and crawling. It was really strange behavior to the Acolyte, who responded as any Lhavitian would.

He pushed the boy back to the ground. "That's enough of that. If you have been wronged or violated by someone here, we will get to the bottom of it. Where is your father? You are clearly foreigners and he is responsible for you." Crouching and instinctively glancing to insure his arm didn't bump anything, he looked squarely at the boy, adding, "Think about your answers carefully." Children needed the most discipline. Especially foreign children. They had no idea of the balance of Lhavit and the importance of its citizenry and their work ethic. He would escort the child to the monastery as they spoke.

[Dominique]

Dominique would give out another soft sob, glancing up at the monk. Who was this man that was barely perturbed by his act and had nothing but that sword on his hip. He knew that this was a complete loss and if he kept going with it, he'd be the one in trouble not his imaginary man. Wait, what was that? Dominique shook his head, having not heard what the man had said. Something about the city. He would shake a little as he said, "I...i dont know. I just want to go home." Glancing around he would continue to make small sobbing noises. Wait, the monk had glanced at his injured arm. So perhaps it was bothering him more the he had let on. It was now or never, the man was talking to him again and starting to lead him off. If he went to the final destination with this man it was definetly going to bite him in the butt. Yet, he didn't want to hurt this man who despite his cold voice, was trying to help him. At that moment his face firmed in a grimace, more than likely betraying his troubled thoughts. He would turn his head say something towards the monk, motioning for the monk to come closer to hear. No matter what the monk did Dominique would aim a sloppy punch towards the monks injured arm, while simultaneously twisting and diving forward trying to come out of the monks grip, relying on the element of suprise more then anything to get him free. Should he get out of the monks grip he would instantly start running into the crowd.

OOCi'll let you decide if he's successful or not

[Lu Gavima]

If this boy was truly in the danger that he professed himself to be, Lu thought that surely he would actually listen to authority figures. The more he did not and continued on with the crying, it only wore deeper on the Acolyte's nerves.If only the boy knew where he was. Any of the citizens milling about or the several hundred full Shinya posted everywhere, on every peak, could quite easily honor his request to go home. Wherever it was, it would be a long, treacherous walk. Whether the kid knew it or not, Lu was trying to help him by straightening his spine a little.

"Come on, then. It's time that we go to the monastery. You can be put to work there for the winter to earn your kee...what are you doing?" The sudden change in Lu's attention coincided with an odd occurrence by the boy. His sobbing stopped as if a rock was placed in the water's flow and a brief face scrunch. Perhaps he was ready to stop playing little games. It would be a wise decision and somewhat of an improvement in his character.With a motion of his head and hand, he signaled the monk to come closer.

Once Lu knelt down to hear what the boy had to say, he got hit. He saw the kid's arm snap out, but it was so weak and sloppy that it did not register to his reflexes as an attack. Besides, once he was punched in his broken arm, his vision went blurry. Sweat flushed over his forehead and the nausea returned, his arm throbbing madly. It was so hard to remember his training, but that was what he had to do. Otherwise, he might have reached out and snapped the boy's neck.

Anger did have its say, though, as his splinted arm became quiet as the astral counterpart ripped free. He knew he would pay for it. But this kid would pay first. He watched him run through the street, his eyes meeting those of posted Shinya along the way. Only a shake of his head and his legs pushing him to chase kep any number of bad things from happening to the boy.