Lay of the Land [John]

[John Nemo]

John gave Delilah a grin, but as Oliver stepped around her legs and said hello, his eyes would travel to the boy. His smile withered, but not into an angry look. Just one of...thought. He would slowly crouch, and hold out his hand for Oliver to shake. If the boy took it he would speak.

"Hello, Oliver. It's eh pleasure to meet yeh."

A smile that didn't reach the sadness in his eyes. He stood after releasing Olivers hand and looked back to Delilah, mirth gone from his face as he spoke.

"I'll need teh skip food, if I could. Where do i stay while in trainin'?"

[Delilah A. Black]

Tentatively, slowly (and after a reassuring nod from his mother), Oliver reached out from around Delilah's legs and put his small, little hand in the larger man's bear like paw.

"Pleased to meet you," he echoed back, staring with wide mismatched eyes at the man before slipping his hand away from his, scooting backwards a little ways. Not afraid, but certainly cautious.

Meanwhile, Delilah watched attentively, observing both Oliver's hesitation and the inexplicable sorrow that emanated from John. Her lips pursed ever so slightly and she put a reassuring hand on the little boy's head, ruffling his hair.

"...sure. I'll show you to your quarters." She bent to pick up her son and continued down the path they had been traveling for a while before turning right, down a different hallway. This hall was lined with doors and people slipping in and out of them, all of whom recognized and nodded to the First as she passed with her guest and son in tow.

On the left hand side of the hallway, at the door labeled 3-8 in what looked like sharpie, Delilah rapped on the door once as precaution before twisting the knob and throwing the door open.

When the light clicked on, they would see that the interior seemed to be a bachelor suite with one bed pushed up against the wall and a cement bathroom with a stand-up shower. A kitchen wasn't necessary; Crows ate in the mess hall.

Delilah turned to John with a small smile and Oliver buried his face in his mother's black hair, comforted. "It's not much, but I figured it would be better than sharing a room with two or four other guys."

[John Nemo]

John entered the room, looking over everything with a small smile.

"Nah, thisus moren' enough. Thank yeh kindleh."

He would remove his jacket and hang it on the bedpost, tossing his hat on the side table in front of the mirror. He would look back at Delilah, left hand playing with the ring on his right middle finger.

"What time can I be expectin' ya tomorrow? Five-ish?"

Once she gave him the time he would nod.

"Alright. I'll... Be seein' yeh then. You have a good resta yer afternoon. You too, Oliver."

He gave the child a little wink, and would wait for them to close the door. Once they did, he would step forward and lock it, then turn around and lean against it, eyes closing a moment. He reached up and grabbed a thin silver chain that was on his neck and under his shirt, removing it to reveal a locket with a Lion on the front. He popped it open, inside being the picture of a young girl, faded and a little broken at the edges. After staring at it for a few moments, He slid down the door, closing the locket and clasping it in a fist, using his other hand to cup the fist as he brought them up to his forehead, elbows resting on his knees, a silent tear making it's way down his cheek.

OOC: Last post for John. Feel free to close. +1exp, +1Draw. John Joins the Crows!

[Delilah A. Black]

"Nah, thisus moren' enough. Thank yeh kindleh."

Delilah nodded her response, No big deal the gesture said. Behind her, Oliver watched the room and the large blonde man with great interest, peering through his mother's black hair

"What time can I be expectin' ya tomorrow? Five-ish?"

"Oh, I'll show up exactly when I mean to. But yes, expect something early."

"Alright. I'll... Be seein' yeh then. You have a good resta yer afternoon. You too, Oliver."

Delilah looked down at her son as he stared wide-eyed up at the big man. "Sayonara, John-san." he muttered softly.

Stepping backwards, the raven haired woman gave him a parting smile. "Mess hall is down the corridor on your left. You can't miss it, the doors are huge.

"I would eat before the morning if I were you. Good night, John."

And with that, the mechanic would close the door and start walking back down the hallway. Once they were far enough away, Oliver muttered something incoherent into her hair. She slowed and looked down at the white shock of hair resting on her shoulder, brow's raised.

"Shitsurei shimasu ka?" <Pardon me?>

As they walked the boy was silent for a while as he struggled to find the words again before speaking in a small, hesitant voice. "That man is really really sad. He's hurting, mama."

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, "How could you tell?"

His cheek rubbed against her shoulder as let out a small sigh. "His eyes are empty."

Delilah grimaced as she thought on that. On one level, she was thrilled that her son was intuitive enough to understand people's feelings, as children often were. On the other, however...she was immensely sad that he needed to develop that instinct, and that anyone should even have empty eyes to begin with.

She lifted a hand to stroke his snow white hair comfortingly, shushing his worries. "Daijobu desu. Mama's going to try to put a little light back in his eyes."

"How?"

A small, determined smile worked its way over full, pink lips. "By teaching him the pillars of the budo, little love. And then the budo will put life back in his soul."

Rounding a corner to her small apartment like space, Delilah's mind whirled as ideas for tomorrow's lesson began to come together in her head.

/Endthread