Still Doll [Naelona]

[Kristopher Roberts]

He honestly had no idea what he was doing back in his old mistress' room. But his feet had carried him here, into the North Wing. Perhaps he was seeking out some kind of closure. Something that would be familiar to him in order to surivive? True, he was alone now, he did not have Augusta attached to his hip, his sister was ruining the family and he had no urge to see her, ever. Then poor Kyle...it was so hard to try and keep him here with him. Watching over him, caring and making sure he wouldn't do something retarded.

Everything was so out of wack. Maybe he really should of just remained the silent little still doll that he once was with his old master. She, afterall, was the first to care about him. The first to find some kind of worth in him. She appericated him, even if she sometimes yelled at him, abused his body or soul. Still, she always took him back, always wanted him near no matter what. She would never throw him away into a corner like a busted toy.

Yes, these where the reasons why he was standing here, within the ever dark room being surrounded by the shadows he feared and yet loved, for the took away his feelings and lose. The shadows replaced the whole in his heart with familiarity. The blond embraced it, shivering in fear from it as well as the silence took over.

He stood there, in the dark room still, his green eyes averted to the ground. His pale and overly tattooed arms seemed to stick out like a swore thumb with the black wife beater he wore and his normal ripped jeans. Slowly, he licked his lips and raised a hand to brush away the untamed curls behind his right ear, his poor ponytail was falling out. But that was fine, it helped hide the bruise on the side of his face that he gained from Jou not long ago in the garden. Was it only a day or two?

The blond slid his hands in his pockets, to hid them in the same manner he normally would do with long sleeves. Then finally, he spoke out into the room with his old voice; dull and as gentle as silk.

"Madam Naelona," he pressed his lips together as he bowed his head. "Please, take me back..." Yes, it was now the fifteenth time he had come to her, begging, she would probably send him away. But he wanted to try again...to find some normality in his life.

Something stable.

"Please."

[Naelona Ezel]

The footsteps came softly at first, soft, quiet, gentle. One shoe-worn foot fluttering from the soft darkness, followed by another with the subtle rippling of an old dress. The gray hues remained, but only grays could be found in it. It wrapped up her form simply, twisting about her waist and securing behind her and over one shoulder. Her arms were as pale as the day she was born, and to her shoulders - just as bare.

Mar was no-where to be seen, but it was probably just as well. Perhaps the familiar was lurking somewhere back in the darkness, it didn't matter. Merely a boogie stood in the dull light before him now. She looked at the boy who was once her slave with quiet eyes, his solemn plea meeting her ears and drawing her coal eyes to the shadows that strayed from his form. For a moment the creature said nothing. The devourer that taught fear to children in the night, that haunted their sleeping hours, stood solemn, quiet, observant of this now lost child.

Even as he added a please, the creature merely watched him with quiet unspeaking orbs. "Child.." She said at length, in a tongue few slaves heard yet lived to speak of. An old tongue even now - many younger boogies failed to learn. But with that single unknown word her fingers brushed upon the skin of his cheek. And old yet familiar motion, brushing lightly upon his golden locks but barely disturbing a strange as though it might shatter the boy. As though he were a being of porcelain in the presence of golems.

Withdrawing her hand from his side she instead turned it over, palm up, as some offering to him. What had he to offer he? He who had rejected her? Or better - what desire drove him back to wish to be back within her arms. The buise didn't escape her, but for the moment didn't evoke any outward emotion. The creature merely watched him, suspending her hand in front of him, and waited for an answer. If anything - this hardly seemed the same Mistress he'd left.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher did not know what his old master meant by the word she had spoken. It was a word he did not catch nor understand and so he remained where he was, feeling as if the shadows where mocking him. Comforting and disturbing all together. The room had an air of oddness that he was confused by, or maybe it was just him. Who could tell?

However the blond kept his eyes down cast as she approached him at her own slow, painful, deliberate pace. He left the hand resting near his face, moving his hair idly as she had once done so in the past. But it wasn't the same, a lot of things where no longer the same for him. "I'm sorry." He muttered to her just barely loud enough for her to hear, speaking as he did when he was a child. "I didn't listen to you, I did what I wanted and when I shouldn't of..." he went on as her hand moved back from him and instead suspended her hand in front of him.

He wondered if she intended to leave a mark on him like the other boogie did. But his green eyes rested on that pale hand like it was a life link. "I never should of wondered off...I should of stayed with you. It feels like I am back at the small house...where no one cared. Alone in a bedroom, with nothing but myself and a stuffed bear. " Should he reach for that small pale hand? Or should he walk away before she rejected him again.

But as much as he wished to pull away, he couldn't. His pale hands reached out, the tattoo's bright and livid as ever, his two weak hands captured her hand. "Please, take me back and out of that room that I found myself in for a second time in my life." Yes, trapped in a room. Being ignored, abused, and unwanted. Augusta had left him and even hated him now. Sarah was outside that door being her self once again and Kyle beyond the old door of his tiny childhood bedroom, surviving just barely. Yet immune to his bothers silent pleas. However, Kris deserved to be in this position, he knew he was and he had friends here...but it wasn't the same. They couldn't do certain things for him, couldn't help repair the void he felt inside.

It took a special person to do that. And he did not want him, but Naelona was another that could fix the whole. Someone precious to him, even if he would never admit it. "I've made so many mistakes." His voice quivered, his hands shook and those green orbs of his looked so lost as he gazed at the two watches on his right wrist. A sign he had no lover, no husband, no other soul attached to him. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and the siblings that where destroying each other...he so badly wanted to fix it all, but knew no medicine in the world could cure the destruction that took place.

"I wanna come home..." was the last thing he muttered when silent tears went down his face. Tears that he never cried unless he was truly lost and found everything so hopeless. It was a rare sight, even for Naelona to see. Although he knew, tears would get him no were with Naelona. But he couldn't stop them from coming, they where like a waterfall, however silent and powerful.

[Naelona Ezel]

The soft whisper, that quivering voice met her ears, along with the babbled excuse for his behavior, and outpouring of his situation - if only how he felt. Trapped, discarded, ignored, refuted.. it didn't require thought to recall the young child in bed, clinging with a sickly grasp to the old worn tattered toy, watching with the sad large eyes.. Some children fought and screamed murder then you took them, some watched ignorantly as they were swept away from their homes. Others - a rare hopeless few - watched with dead eyes while they were scooped from their beds. The odds of their survival were even less than most.. but her Kristopher had always been a survivor.

When he took her hand, as though it decided life or death (which in ways it did), the boogie didn't hesitate, didn't tense nor retract the proffered limb. The creature who'd hidden herself away for the past two months. Strange to think that this boy was the being who'd tipped the scales to that path.. and now the one returning to her, and in her mind, almost begging her to return from it.

"I wanna come home..." Her pale face neither frowned nor glared, but merely watched and almost looked a bit discontent. The light that the tears captured drew her attention as they traced down his fair cheeks and dropped to the floor. Little falling diamonds that became but dark puddles on a still scorched floor. What should she do? Perhaps throw him to the ground, tell the boy he was being stupid, that he'd passed up his chance long ago. Some weeks ago she might have, but now didn't even have the strength.

Instead the being curled her pale hand, catching his frail ones with it and drawing them near to her. She wrapped him into a close embrace, letting go of his hands only to cradle his head, tucking a chin over his shoulder and wrapping both arms about him, holding the poor child close. Did this mean she was 'home'? Nuzzling her nose into his hair and hiding her face there, the boogie held onto him tight, cradling the boy to herself much like the first time she'd ever taken him into her arms.

"I'll take you." Came the whispered words, fragmented and accented as though she hadn't bothered with the slave tongue for some time. "If you'll follow me." The old clause.. unabated, unquestioning, unwavering loyalty. But even if he refused.. Naelona's fingers dug into his sides lightly.. she wasn't sure she could turn him away.

[Kristopher Roberts]

The nineteen year old boy stood forzen and it seemed forever before Naelona had even answered him. He honestly thought she was going to throw him out the door and never have anythign to do with him again. Leaving him to Sin. He wasn't sure if he could take taht well, not right now.

But when she did not through him and instead pulled him close to her in a tight embrace. Kristopher wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his forehead against her neck. Even if she was doing this for her own good, he didn't care. He wouldn't let go of her and any words he wanted to speak where stuck within his throat, unable to find their way out as he choked on his tears. It felt nice to be in her embrace again, it felt as wonderful as a lost puppy being lifted up and taken home from a pin. It was such a nice feeling.

"I'll take you. If you'll follow me."

Fianlly, the words he wanted to hear! He never thought he would hear them again in his life time. It was a sign of hope to him and he nodded into her neck softly. "Yes. Yes, I will." He told her, wanting nothing more then to be with his old master and away from everyone else. At least here, he wouldn't be lost. He would have some kind of purpose with Naelona. She would stay with him through the good and the bad.

"Thank you." He managed to murder out, sounding a little better then he was moments ago, but still his tears kissed her skin and left small trails down the pale skin.

[Naelona Ezel]

Naelona remained and merely held the boy tight, petting his back soothingly, rocking gently though her eyes were solidly shut. Even as he cried the boogie couldn't hide that it affected her being to some point. Even as her eyes blinked and fluttered in the dim light, looking to the door from whence he'd come, a damp line crossed her skin.

"Yes. Yes, I will." She held onto him tight, as though letting go would let the slave boy vanish into nothing. She swore were this some trick by some boogie - a painful torturous death would be awaiting the culprit - and were it only her mind - it too. "Kristopher.." His name was strained upon her lips, once again foreign and strange. "I don't care.. what Sin does." He was hers. Always had been hers, always would be. She had the capabilities, she could rig things to her will..

"Stay.." Enough of the tricks, and the gambles. Enough of the betting. The wandering. But was it even enough? This wasn't the same being he'd left behind, but something else. Something fragmented, without the wrappings that'd held it together since the early years after it's creation. "Please.. take care.." ..of me. Her voice sounded weak and small, drifting while her thoughts finished the line her tongue had failed to follow.

"I'm sorry." Naelona started again, unknowingly slipping into the old tongue, save the tone might have given the meaning away. At that point her legs began to give out and she held onto the boy more for support than to comfort. She knew he wasn't strong, and she would probably sink to the floor regardless. Her hands felt numb and lost the strength in their grasp of his clothing while gravity worked its magic - bringing the proud Ezel to her knees.

[Kristopher Roberts]

He was going to stay, stay with his mistress and do whatever she needed of him. It was pure and simple, he was hers to command and he would do it. Everything was going back to normal before all of this wicked chaos started and rattle the foundations of everything. He nodded again as he held her but did not say a word. He liked where he was, he was back with Naelona. His Master. He felt at home, in an awkward sense.

He held on to her, even when weight was suddenly being brought down on him. The blond was startled then and stumbled slightly. He was never an overly strong lad and it was a good thing Naelona remembered that. But he took care to lower his master to the ground and held her, supporting.

"Madam?" He asked, startled and unsure what was now going on. "What's wrong?" Oh hell, what was going to happen now? This would just be his luck, he gets something back and it falls apart in some form! "Are you alright?" Maybe she was just tired? He hoped that was the case but he was unsure. His mind started buzzing on things to do. How to handle the situation and more.

[Naelona Ezel]

"Madam?" The word seemed distant for a few moments while her mind became noisy with thoughts and recollections. For a moment all the chaos she'd left earlier that Winter came back to mind, just as bright and lively as the day it occurred. "What's wrong?" Her head hung slightly forward, the dark hair with its white strip hanging in front of her eyes. Naelona raised her hand briefly towards his face, and hesitated, creating a weak fist and resting it in her lap instead.

"I-.." She started. "I.." the attempts cut short just as quickly at they'd began. There had been reasons she'd cut herself away from the rest of Wonderland. Kristopher was also a part of 'the rest of Wonderland'. Kristopher, Tristan, Augusta, Sin, Jou.. Garland, Luther, Shae.. the list ran on. Save for Anolean, Elric and Kyle.. everyone else had been shut out. And even that select trio was frequently ignored. "Are you alright?"

Naelona lifted her eyes to the child, a version of what might have been some weak smile, but coated with a bothered, worried look as she shook her head. Damp lines ran past both sides of her face, outlining from her eyes to her neck like a mask as the words came whispered, shaky. "I wanted to kill you." Taking his hand weakly she held it, and for the moment it was all she could do as she recalled the old scene. They'd been fortunate Jou had been along or she probably would have, no, she knew she would have. Even if in the end she felt that he too had betrayed a fellow kin by advising the slave otherwise. It was as if the man found it some sick game.

"That night.. there wouldn't have been a.." Her voice cut out and even her lips failed to convey what the final words were supposed to have been. "..and here you are, back again." The bewildered boogie looked to the blond slave, damp eyes looking upon his tear-streaked face. "I don't understand."

[Kristopher Roberts]

"I wanted to kill you."

Oh, how many times he had heard that in his nineteen years of life. That single phrase seemed to follow him everywhere from his orginial world to this one. It was a tag along phrase that was attached to his hips. Slowly, the blond let out a small sigh and put his arms around her. Hell, he wouldn't surprised if she suddenly did kill him. Wouldn't be surpising. But it seemed she was being honest and not going to suddenly stab him in the eye. Not today at least.

He lowered his green eyes and said nothing for a long moment and then slowly shook his head. "You won't have to see that again." Yes, she would never see that again. He had no one by his side anymore even thought he told himself that if he must, he would take care of Augusta even if he wasn't with him. Augusta needed someone to look after him, or he would simply fall apart, like a child. For that is what he was, even if Kristopher was much younger then him.

"Somethings are impossible to understand, that is simply how life goes, Madam." Kristopher stated, holding her still and trying to find the right words for the two to share. But he couldn't think of any, none at all.

"I apologize, for my past errors though...if it helps any at all."

[Naelona Ezel]

For the first in a while she actually stiffened when he touched her, actually tense within his arms until she realized he was going to make no other motion, and wrapped her arms around him and hugged tight. In ways it was a bit of a reverse of what had happened just moments before, and considering this was the creature called Naelona would confuse most. For the moment, she could care less.

Something about that moment, having seen him cry, the emotions the the meeting stirred up, the ones brought by memories.. Naelona buried her face and clung to the boy, the warm saltwater still an unfamiliar sensation, coupled with being held. She felt like a child. Boogies didn't cry over affairs involving slaves, let alone cry to one.

"Somethings are impossible to understand, that is simply how life goes, Madam." Naelona shook her head against his skin, and chuckled weakly while her breath remained uneven. "You're wiser than you know, Kristopher." She murmured quietly, staring blurrily at his dampened clothing. "I apologize, for my past errors though...if it helps any at all." Once again the colorless boogie shook her head. "Thank you for coming back." Hugging she kissed his temple and held him in return.

For a while she was content just to hold him and be held, watching the silent room room and its shadows for whatever may be harbored within them. "Just be careful." She requested, petting his hair and finally looking at him as messed as their faces must be. "I've been staying with my brother since the fire, but you'll be with me." She smiled slightly.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"You're wiser than you know, Kristopher."

Kris only chuckled at her words and shook his head. Wise, indeed. If he was so wise then wouldn'the be able to keep his own matters together and not lose his fiance? Let alone being caught last winter being a very---bad slave, shall we say.

Slowly, he stood and carefully lifted Naelona to stand with him. She looked odd sitting on the ground like that. But with her warnings he tilted his head to the side slowly for a moment, "Your brother? Then I shall watch my back a bit more closely if that makes you happy." Yeah, not like he wanted to find a cane sword through it anytime soon.

He had enough of backstabbing to last a life time and other events. Raising a hand, leaving one to keep her steady, he used the second to brush the tear trail away and smooth out her hair, to allow her to see better as a good portion of her hair was in the face of her ungodly pale face.

"But I wouldn't worry to much. I have done little to cause him to want to do anything to me. But anyways, maybe you should rest some? You look very tired." More so then he felt.

[Naelona Ezel]

"Watch it closely." Getting lightly to her feet, Naelona steadied herself upon her slave's arm first before trusting her own limbs more. Anolean was fine by himself, but slaves had to watch their own skin twice about him, maybe even thrice. And to think they were twins.. something not always said.. but it was still known.

Something about the boy's touch, the simple motions of taking care of her was calming even to the soul - if they even had one. Poor boy.. he didn't seem to realize her brother didn't need motive. Whim was enough for him, unlike his sister who was known for running by a set of rules, requirements, protocols.

The boogie teetered a little, resting her arm upon him. The boy seemed just as pale as before, not much had changed in some respects.. had they? Lightly biting her lip she made motion to move away from her old room towards the hall. And she felt tired, more than she wanted to. "Would it be a bit much to ask.." Funny to think of her, Naelona, thinking twice of such a question. It drifted into silence, only to return as a gentle request "..if you'd rest with me."

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher smiled softly at her, a very tender smile, one that he had not used very often in weeks past. Or perhaps it was much longer then that, for when he smiled for his Master it was a smile just for her and her alone. He rested a hand upon hers as he walked slowly, allowing Naelona to lead them to their destination.

It was so strange to be one of hers again, he had dreamed and hoped for this day and finally it came. He was being saved from his own inner torture and the comfort of Sin. He was far more willing to do anything for Naelona right now, not wanting to leave her side at all. If she had him wear pure black, he would do it, he would do anything for her right now.

So when she requested, no asked him to rested with her he let out a small laugh. Not laughing at her or anything like that, but a fond chuckle. "My Lady, I would be more then happy to be you're human body pillow for as much time as you need. As well as anything else you might require."