spandexisyouth | Seventeenth Lotus

[Stoneface shrugged.]

It's not my favorite, [he admitted.] I prefer roads.

[He jerked his head in Youth's direction, motioning him to follow him as he began to walk. It immediately calmed him; doing old beats always did. He soon settled into the copper's walk, a certain swing of the foot and tilt of the body ensuring that he could be comfortable walking all day--even on grass.]

But our beat's the entire city, so we've got to give every one a try, [he added. He allowed Youth a couple minutes of silence, to give him time to let him settle his thoughts before plunging into the topic at hand. They had all evening, anyway. There was only the sound of their footsteps and the fading racket of truly dedicated joggers as the sun began to go down. Stoneface liked the dark. It made him feel safe, even with all the shadows of the trees impeding his ability to see people at night.

When he thought that he'd give Youth time enough, he spoke.] So, Youth. Why d'you need time off? You're usually the one asking for extra shifts. [Even if you're the one with a family, an entire network of friends and a second job, he added mentally.]

Ah. I like nature! It is very natural. And springlike. And this is a very healthy thing.

[With a nod Youth joined him, meeting the same pace. It was definitely slower than his normal speed, but that was fine. Stoneface was older than him and this was probably a Professional Walk.]

That is true! I enjoy exploring and seeing new areas. I have not explored everywhere yet, but I am slowly getting there. I like the lighthouse area. [As long as there weren't bright lights, Youth enjoyed looking around in the dark too. He had very good night vision and it was fun to use it.]

[Youth frowned. The honest answer was always the best bet. He just didn't like the honest answer. Oh well. There was no point in lying.] I am the laughingstock of the Sphere right now. Everyone knows about what is supposed to be private, and that I have disappointed my son and he does not respect when I ask him not to do something again. I do not know what I am doing and I do not want to see a lot of people right now.

And I need to think something out. [Being a 'faggot', realizing through Lotus' questions that he did seriously care for Bell, etcetera.]

Somehow, I thought you would. [He did seem the type to call this sort of thing an invigorating walk amongst mother nature, or something like that. Stoneface called it mucking around with a bunch of dirt and rocks where somebody really ought to make a road.]

Everybody knew about it already, anyway. It wasn't exactly... well, anybody with a head on their shoulders could tell, [he said, and immediately regretted it. The man felt awful, and he was probably making things worse. He endeavored to amend things.]

What I mean to say is, Youth, is that your son oughtn't be disappointed in that. All he's got to do is learn a little restraint and how to go to you before going and running his mouth off to the entire city.

[He put two fingers to his lips. Was that better? Probably not. If you asked him anything about crime scene investigation, he'd know precisely what he was talking about, but he'd never been good at these sorts of talks. Still, he felt a sort of responsibility for Youth, as a young man, a copper, and as a father. Gods knew he wasn't fit for giving advice in this particular area, but you did the job that was in front of you.]

I think best when I'm on a beat. Everything goes a little clearer when there's ground beneath your feet. Thing is, Youth, we're too short-handed to spare any men. Handmaiden and I are doubleshifting as it is, and Sky's... [His voice trailed off before he got back on track.] If you're serious about it, then I can't stop you, but we need your help right now. If Bridge lets you off, you won't have to do any more shifts than you would usually.

Then you assigned this one to me for a reason! That is splendid! [Roads plowed over perfectly good nature, and nature was the best thing to be among. Walls and roofs were all well and nice, especially when it was raining or snowing, but nothing could beat flowers and trees when it was warm and sunny out. Or dark.]

Everyone. [He'd hoped that maybe some people had figured Bell was just teasing the way that he teased around. Apparently not. This was a private matter and it had pretty much been pushed on everyone. That bothered Youth a good bit.]

Yes. But I asked him before not to mention things along those lines on the journals again, and he did not listen. That... I expected to be listened to but I have not earned it, and I do not know what to do to earn it.

[Youth shook his head. This was a learning process, and it was goingg to take a lot of work. At least he wasn't against work. At least Stoneface didn't seem to object to his choice of partner. He was not sure why such a thing was a problem, why it mattered that Bell was male. But apparently it caused more insults for Apostle.]

I understand. [He nodded and gave Stoneface a thumbs-up. It wasn't as enthusiastic as usual, but he was not going to let Stoneface down when so much was going on.] I will keep up with my shifts. You are busy and I will not add to that. I am sorry that I have added to your stress.

[ooc; sorry for the wait! My modem conked out on me.]

[Stoneface examined Youth's expression out of the corner of his eye. He shrugged.] If you don't want it to be so obvious, then ask Bell to stop flirting over the journals. It's not as if it's unheard of. [The corner of his lip tilted upwards.] Gods know Sky and Inara do it often enough.

[He wondered, though, about Lotus' mother. He wasn't fully convinced that Lotus was truly Youth's son. He acted the same, certainly, but he wasn't so sure about this whole time travel business. If Youth was Lotus' father, though, then what about the mother? Stoneface wasn't much for romance at all, so it wasn't a problem, but even the thought of turning to one of the ladies of the night for purely logical purposes was enough to make him cringe. He just had to think of the small child of his memory, and the gentle woman of his dream, and that would dissuade him even if anybody got it into their mind to pursue anything.

Had Youth even considered that? It seemed almost... dishonest. Was it still cheating if you couldn't remember your own wife?]

The kid idolizes you, Youth. I've never met the lad, but even I can tell that. It's not so much a lack of respect as it is a lack of... boundaries, let's say. He's a teenager, isn't he? That's about the time when they start getting, y'know... ideas.

[He wasn't well acquainted with teenagers beyond Cara, full of unusual good will and Rosalind, a keen eyed scientist. He wasn't too sure about boys, although he had a vague idea that they were probably slightly more difficult. It would, he thought, be easier to give advice if he just remembered everything. He had an inkling that the sex ed of many young males was not entirely correct. Recovering, he said,]

I can't say I've got any more experience with this sort of thing than you, Youth, but if I were you, I'd sit him down, and lay down the law. Explain exactly how things work so he doesn't go around getting funny ideas, and make sure he asks you what he needs to know instead of going out there and getting the wrong information. [And if he didn't follow the law, well... if it were Stoneface, Lotus would feel the back of his hand and no mistake. Somehow, he doubted Youth had a similar thought process.]

[ooc: No worries! I figured you'd get to it. And sorry about the HTML fail.]

Bell flirts with everyone. That is why I thought people might not realize. [He glanced at Stoneface and amended his statement.] Almost everyone. I think he knows who would not be amused by it or react to it and does not try.

[Youth almost wanted to say that Sky and Inara were different, that in all the time he'd known them they'd been together, but it wasn't like they would have shown up like that. Maybe he would have to talk to Sky. Or Inara. Find out if they'd had any difficulties in the beginning.]

[The question of a wife had troubled Youth quite a bit at first. Someone had been that important to him, and he didn't remember her, at all. Neither Lotus had seemed to know anything about her either. He had nothing. She could be here, for all he knew. One of the women with a journal who he hadn't met, so there was no way to see if she was familiar. She could have been here and gone. But there were two things that said Youth at least could not have been with her yet. The first was the most obvious - he'd had a unicorn. The meaning of that had been explained. Then there was a simpler, more subtle sign. Youth tanned quickly. There hadn't been a tan line on his ring finger on arrival; he'd noted everything he could about himself right away.]

[It might still be cheating. He didn't have everything figured out.]

Ideas? You are talking about trying for independance and being his own person? [Youth had vague notions about that. Very vague. They weren't any help. Training someone seemed a very different thing from fathering.]

I have started. We have had a first talk. But I think it is likely we will need to have more. I am not all that good at talking, but it is my son. [Youth shrugged. That meant that he would do what he could. However, if Lotus persisted in doing things after being told not to, there was a part of Youth that thought something physical could knock a point into his head. It should then be followed by an embrace, that much he knew, but... it seemed like something that could work if it had to. It was practical and the body learned.]

Edited 2010-04-03 01:53 (UTC)

At least it's all in the open now.

[Stoneface listened to Youth's ideas about... well, ideas, and had to keep himself from cringing. He didn't fancy having this discussion with Youth, but he was the one who brought it up. Gods, no wonder the man was having troubles raising a teenager. He was hardly out of his teenage years himself! He shifted uncomfortably.] Something like that. And about... er... relationships. [He looked off into the darkness of bushes and continued, uneasily.] So setting a good example to the lad is, ah, a good idea.

[That was pretty basic advice. You couldn't go wrong with that.

Maybe Youth could. When the other man spoke about having more talks with his son, Stoneface nodded, and counted the conversation as over. Which meant a well-deserved subject change.]

What was it that you were saying about doing something for those who've disappeared, anyway?

That is a relief? I thought it was a private thing. But if it is better that it is, then that is good.

[Youth nodded, listening to what Stoneface was saying.] In case he finds someone that becomes important to him. I have to provide more guidance than I have. I knew that much, that I was not doing enough. But is he old enough for... thinking about those things? Samehada said he was. I do not agree. But I do not know for sure.

[Unfortunately, Youth could go wrong with basic advice. But he'd try the best he could, and sometimes it worked out after all.

He welcomed the new topic, though. It was a lot easier. Youth glanced up, checking how far they were from the center. Crow had said that was important, after all. He judged that they were far enough out to talk.]

There is no known pattern to who goes away and who stays, or when they go. But that is because no one has tried to keep track of it. No one has written down that on the last day of the third month a man disappeared who had dark hair and eyes, was athletic, was on the Watch, and details like that, so no one knows if there is a pattern.

Simon and I are going to begin working on that! I have some ordinary paper from the Mall. There is not much left. But it is for a good cause! And we do not want it to write onto the journals. I do not know why it would be threatening, having that knowledge, but I could see it being dangerous. I do not want other people suddenly being exposed to risk when they did not choose it.

It might not lead us to anything. But it might! And so therefore we will try! And even if it does not lead, it can be comforting. To know that someone that mattered to you and who will be forgotten by so many in time is still on paper and not completely gone is a better feeling.

Well, what you do behind locked doors is certainly private. [Stoneface amended, then murmured,] Despite what some people may think. But the fact that you two happen to be together? Don't see why it ought to be hush hush.

[At the mention of Samehada, however, Stoneface's brows shot skywards for just a moment. Oh, he had really hoped that this patrol wouldn't involve speaking about a twelve year old's sex life. He had a small understanding that his ears were probably going to drift to the red side of the colour spectrum sometime soon.] He's not old enough to do what Samehada was talking about, and that's final, [he said sharply.] He can think about it, and probably will, and ought to understand the basics, but not... well, that sort of thing is just out of the question. I doubt you'd find many ladies of the night willing, anyway.

[He stroked his chin as Youth described his plan, thinking about it. There were no patterns, were there? No, there were. People left when others came. What did that mean?] That's a good idea, [he said.] I'm not so sure about being comforted by descriptions of those lost being kept on record, but it'll be good for plenty of other things.

[He could see how some would be comforted by that, though. It was the sort who appreciated finery and flashy funerals, and keepsakes. Stoneface had been worn down for far too long and had built up a wall of cynicism too strong to even consider seeing it as a comfort. If they were gone, they were gone. Nothing would change that and nothing would make it better, save for time. Still, the treacherous part of him that paid far more attention to logic than emotion, the part that mourned Wolverine's loss not for only the man, but for his nose, whispered that it would almost undoubtedly become useful somewhere along the line.]

Simon... he's one of the medics, isn't he? I've heard good things about him. It's best to be careful with what you do, but it seems like a worthy enough cause nonetheless. [He crossed his arms against a particularly fierce gust of wind, tucking his chin further into his chest.] I hope it leads somewhere.

Ah! I believe I see. [Though Youth did still think that many more details about his relationship with Bell could stand to be private. There really was no reason to declare to everyone what was going on there.]

[So it was normal to think about things at such a young age. Youth frowned.] I will train with him. He will have no time for thoughts like that or desires like that if he is spending his time as he should be, working and training. Ladies of the-- oh. I would hope they would not be willing! But I am glad to know that he is wrong.

[Youth shrugged.] It could still be a little comforting. To know that in some way the person will never be fully forgotten. Or to know that if you vanish you will never be fully forgotten. My son was here before. Did you know that? But there were only two people left who remembered him. If they were gone, I would not have even known he existed, not until I met him. Bell and I only went out to meet Lotus because we knew that was the name he had the last time. So there are other benefits too. There is no way to know what all the list could do. Which is also why I will not write about it now that Simon and I have the idea.

He is. [Youth nodded.] He is also one of the first people who said hello to me on the journals. And I will be as careful as possible! I do not want things to happen. [Things. Giant acorns, snakes, who knew what else. How many disappearances had been because someone had learned too much, and no one ever knew?] Thank you! I hope so as well!

[It was a little chilly. Youth saw Stoneface's reaction to the wind and looked around.] It will be warmer soon. Spring is here! Now it must only become full and the weather will be very pleasant!

[Stoneface had to smile at Youth's proclamation that he'd keep Lotus too busy to think about things - something that Stoneface knew for a fact would not work - but the smile was a crooked one.] I don't think it works quite like that, [he said pointedly.] Right now he seems to think that relationships are bad, period. You kicking the wind out of him so he doesn't even think about it doesn't seem like the best way to convince him otherwise.

[He thought about the record keeping of those lost for a moment, wondering what he could tell Youth. Nothing about his adventures to other islands, not for now. He trusted the man, but he was a reckless, well meaning sort with an extended circle of friends. Not the sort who needed to be burdened with the knowledge that he had. Besides, it was best to keep current records--if he went through the entire library, it'd be difficult to see any discerning pattern. It was good for other things, gathering other information. Like Free's suspiciously familiar handwriting.

But that wasn't what he was going to talk about now.] Wellspring's got patient records, doesn't it? Simon ought to have mentioned it. Could be a good place to start.

[He watched the light rain running off his helmet, and around the deserted area.] Oh, this weather isn't so bad, [he said, cheerfully.] So long as it's not raining ice, I don't mind. [Which was his way of saying that he rather liked the rain. People stayed inside and gave him some privacy on his patrols, and there was something special of tucking up in a little corner and having a quiet smoke, listening to the rain gently pattering against his helmet. It was comfortable.]

[It had worked for Youth, for the most part, here. For a while. And then things had gotten strange and staying too busy wasn't practical.] I do not think it is relationships that he is against. I think it is Bell. And Bell makes a lot of comments, so I can see why Lotus is upset. But... I will see what I can do with talking.

[Youth nodded.] I had not thought of those. That could add to the project and make things easier. I will talk to Simon about those.

That is a good attitude to have about weather! [Youth went to give Stoneface an approving thumbs-up but then stopped, remembering exactly who he was talking to. Stoneface did not need his approval.] Yes, good. [His finish was weak, but he wasn't sure what else to say.] There have been some fun rains here.

[Stoneface frowned.] Well, Bell could stand to tone it down a bit. Some stuff he says is a bit racy, especially when it's Lotus' Dad he's talking about. No lad wants to hear that sort of thing. [He paused.] Good luck.

[Somehow, he felt that Youth had had enough chastising, and needed a little comfort, which Stoneface wasn't comfortable with. He did what he could, though.] It'll turn out fine. You're around, which is more than most kids can say for their parents around here. He's lucky.

Tell me if you figure anything out from your list, will you? [He asked.] It might be... enlightening.

[Youth nodded.] He could. I have told him, and I believe others have as well. It is something he does, and... [There was a pause before Youth shook his head.] He is from my world. I think this is something he did there too. It feels like him. When we do not have much of us left, it is hard to ask him to lose what he has, part of what he is.

[Stoneface got an appreciative glance.] Thank you! It is very nice to hear you say that.

Of course! You will be one of the people I will tell! It would make sense that you could use the information, too.

We are who we are now, [Stoneface said, firmly.] What we did back then doesn't change that. That's why we don't go around persecuting folks like Black. Not to say he can't do it, it just should be kept off journals. I don't fancy Blood asking me what all the doubletalk is about one day, is all.

I know that. But I believe that for the most part we would like to know who we were and be ourselves. Telling someone not to be what they are when it is not on the criminal side does not seem right. But you should not have to explain it to Blood, so I understand. It is hard enough when Lotus asks what Bell is talking about. I will see if he will use it less on the journal.

I understand, [he said, nodding.] All I'm saying is that he says those things 'cos that's the sort of person he is, not because of his past. [He tapped his nose.] There's a difference. Although, [he added, sounding cheerful,] I'm sure that sort of language is probably illegal in a few countries. Wouldn't be surprised.

[And with that, he decided, the conversation was over. He steered it towards more inconsequential things, the sort of things watchmen ought to be talking about on patrol--stuff that didn't really matter, so you could let your mouth go while your brain worked. And eventually, he slipped into his own sort of comfortable silence.

He didn't like trees and grass much. He knew that. But somehow, in the dark of night, walking alongside another officer with the rain beating down it, he had to admit it wasn't that bad.]

Seventeenth Lotus

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