concoursec | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Character(s): Tobias, Espio, and Marco.
Location: A105.
Rating: G for GRAHAM CRACKERS.
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed.
Summary: A little bit of a surprise.

Espio may not have been in the same dorm as him very long at all, but Tobias had already become comfortable with the chameleon's presence nearby. It was nice, actually being around someone who seemed to care for him, especially considering he couldn't stay near Marco or Grell.

So Tobias did what he tended to do to show appreciation: draw. He took careful time to draw a picture of Espio himself, then placed it carefully on the lizard's bed before retreating back to his own room, door open.

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'Oh?' Was that it? Just 'oh'? Espio frowned, but then shrugged. It seemed that he was at least thinking about it. "So keep that in mind! Keep yourself safe."

"I... I guess so."

Amazement of amazements, Espio had actually gotten through to Tobias with logic. Such a rare achievement should be made a holiday of or something.

"I just... don't like doing anything because I always hurt people whenever I did."

Espio shook his head. He knew what Tobias meant, and could perfectly understand where he was coming from, but... "Sometimes, you have to hurt people. Fighting is my life, but it's not because I like hurting people - it's because if I don't take out the bad guys, more people will get hurt! Do you see?"

He waved a hand, dismissively. "Of course, you can always specialise in support magic and whatever, but you at least should know how to protect yourself in worst-case scenario."

Marco hesitantly knocked on the open door to the dorm room. "I hope I'm not interrupting." His face was a mask as usual, but he'd been pacing about the dorms, hesitant to truly check in on the kid again in case he was smothering him. Even if Tobias did seem relieved by the attention. "Espio," he nodded his head around Toby. Having caught at least the tail end of the conversation he could only agree with the chameleon.

He swallowed his shock at seeing Toby's back, frowning briefly only to instantly cover it, some of the earlier conversation he'd had with Tobias making more sense now. "O-oi," he hesitated, looking up and down the mass of scarred welts. It was the exact opposite of his father's back. Whitebeard had been scarred everywhere except his back. "Do those hurt any?" unlike with Sokka, Marco was hesitant to drag Toby to the nurses' given the kid's commonly scared reaction.

Edited 2010-09-12 21:59 (UTC)

"I..."

Tobias silenced at the hand wave, looking at Espio confusedly as he talked a bit more. It was true; once he had figured out what each class was about and what certain spells did, roughly, he had immediately latched onto the support types.

Any reply he would've managed to come up with, however, was forgotten at the familiar voice from the front of the room, Tobias looking back and brightening up immediately at seeing Marco. The boy was, as per usual, soon over and hugging his surrogate father tightly. He blinked a little, looking up curiously at Marco.

"Do what hurt?"

"Hey," Espio said, offering Marco a casual wave of the hand in greeting. He was about to complain about being interrupted, when Tobias decided that hugs were in order and he changed his mind - he'd said what he needed to say anyway.

However, upon seeing the scarring, Espio seemed to flinch. What a mess! He knew that Tobias was used to getting hurt, but geez. That much in one place? "Uh... I think he means your back, Tobias." Espio hadn't yet switched to calling him simply 'Toby', it seemed.

"Yeah, I do," Marco nodded, still reassured that Espio seemed to looking out for the kid as well. The pirate sighed and dragged a palm down his face. "Look this is why you have to at least learn to dodge. Or move out of the way. Don't just roll over and let them do whatever they want to you."

"Oh."

There was a pause, Tobias shaking his head a little and releasing Marco, looking back down at the ground.

"It doesn't hurt, and I still don't mind it..."

Another pause.

"...but... I can try to learn how..."

A small sigh that may have been of relief, and Espio perched himself on the one part of his bed that wasn't covered in junk.

"'Try to learn'?" he repeated, balling a fist and grinning. "Just try? Hah! Kid, you've got me on your side. I'll drag you straight past trying and into actually getting there."

He glanced again at Marco, before making a half-hearted gesture in his direction. "And I suppose this guy could be useful, too."

Marco grinned, thoroughly pleased that Espio seemed to be saying exactly the same things he'd already told Toby himself. "Just a little bit, eh," he deadpanned. "Even if you still want to focus on healing and things, at least learn enough that no one has to get hurt trying to keep you safe, eh?" he ruffled Toby's head again.

"Yeah," Espio agreed, looking to the side. "I mean, take Mighty - the amount of times I get hurt saving that idiot is ridiculous!"

Which was funny, really, considering how many times Mighty needed to bail Espio out. Really, the chameleon was just as bad for throwing himself in harm's way.

With both of them urging it, Tobias wasn't exactly inclined to argue against it, much as he might've wanted to. Sometimes, actual logic could be his worst enemy.

"...Okay. I'll learn how."

"Then that's that sorted!" Espio said, with a stretch. "Slack off, and you face some personal one-on-one training."

He looked to Marco, who - though Espio had always found him friendly enough - seemed to be more of a nice guy than his original estimation. He briefly considered apologising for the earlier misunderstanding, but quickly tossed that idea out of the window - it probably went without saying. "Assuming your 'Dad' here won't threaten to beat me up for it."

Marco shrugged. So long as Toby learned to defend himself in the long run, Marco was happy with it. Still, he coolly arched an eyebrow and smirked slightly, in a gesture most people on the Grand Line had learned to be terrified of. "Nope, but go too far and you'll find out just how far I can kick you, got it?"

Espio's initial response was to take it as a direct threat, make a fist and snap "just try it!"

Upon realising otherwise, however, he quickly backtracked and raised his hands in mock surrender. "But yes, sir. And..." now looking directly at Marco, "I'll want a word in a minute, you. Nothing big."

Another arched eyebrow and an even shrug, "Sure thing." He glanced down at Tobias again, trying to make sure none of the scars or cuts were new and from this world. "Hey kid, you want ointment for that or anything?"

Tobias shifted a little, glancing up at Marco curiously. From what the blonde man could see, a few of the lesser cuts on Tobias's body were 'new,' likely having been given to him before he ever arrived. The actual scars and burns, and the worst of the cuts, however, were all obviously at least a year or so old.

"Sure, okay."

"Do you want me to come down to the nurse's office with you or do you think we can just catch up?" Marco pat his head affectionately.

"I can go alone if you want me to."

Not that Tobias really liked that idea, but...

"Five minutes. Time me," Marco ruffled Toby's hair again, idly wondering if Tobias had an attachment to his hat the way Ace and Shanks did.

"...Okay. But you promised."

The boy gave Marco a final hug, before heading out the door... still just in his pants, shirt and shoes forgotten.

Despite having seen many pirates wear less -- Ace included -- Marco arched an eyebrow. "You planning to walk all the way there like that?"

"...is that bad?"

He blinked a little at Marco confusedly. Even here, he was still not entirely used to having more of... well, everything than he could use at once.

"Not exactly. But you should probably at least wear sandals or something in the hallway." Marco shrugged, "People get huffy about it here, eh. They get annoyed that I don't even like to button my shirt and at least I'm wearing one."

"As you probably guessed, I don't have that problem," interrupted the mostly-naked lizard. "And I don't see why clothing is such a big deal, but..." he looked to Tobias, "he's right. Get something on your feet, before you step on something and rip them open."

Yes, everything was a bit 'serious business' to him. One day, he may develop a sense of humour.

"Anyway, I don't think you need two people going with you. Besides, if I want to sleep tonight, I need to clear my bed - I'll be here when you get back."

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ooc: lalala edit, CC totally gets spatial relations

We love you anyway CC.

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