Dorian Sloan (nullumpotentia) wrote in destructionisle, @ 2019-08-04 14:30:00 |
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Entry tags: | !august ac, !complete, !thread, dorian sloan |
Who: April and Dorian
What: Cleaning up the Finn residence yard, going to the Marketplace and diner, talking
When: July 26, 2019 [backdated]
Where: Outside the Finn residence, then the Marketplace
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
Despite her initial curiosity about it, April was really glad the storm was over and things were being fixed. She didn’t like how it felt when people around her were upset, and it was much nicer now that everyone was calm again. Now, the petite blonde just wanted to be able to help get things back in order again. She wasn’t as strong as others, so doing a lot of the manual labor was difficult for her. But after a lot of thinking, and trying, April did find something she was good at. Since they had been so nice to her, she decided to start with the Finn’s house, and work outward from there.
So currently, April was in the yard of 401 Justice Drive, trying her best to fix the little flowers and small trees that had been planted in the original landscaping. Seating in the grass near a bunch of mangled foliage, April was concentrating very hard on something. What that was remained to be seen.
---
The big tree branches were chopped down to a manageable size and put in a pile closer to the roadway for pickup. Dorian had worked ont hat part while waiting to see what he could do to repair the house itself.
He carried two bottles of water out of the house, ready to work a bit more on exterior of the house when he saw April sitting in the grass. Dorian walked over and sat down a couple of feet away from her. Setting down the bottles, he tied his hair back and smile softly.
“Hi April.”
--
In her hand, she held the bloom of a crushed flower. The poor thing was dying, too damaged from the storm to cling to life much longer. But the more April concentrated on it, the better it seemed to look. In the passage of a few minutes the flower looked like a little bud again, bright and strong and ready to grow toward the sun once again.
Happy with the result, April smiled to herself. She hadn’t been paying attention, and so when she heard the voice she jumped with a little squeak. Looking to Dorian, she blinked and then smiled brightly in greeting, offering a little wave. “Hi Dorian! How are you today?”
---
With his height even sitting down, Dorian looked over to see the flower become a little bud. So beautiful. He hadn’t seen an ability like that.
“Oops, sorry,” Dorian winced at April’s jumping with a squeak. “I’m doing okay. How are you?” he waved back with his free hand and then offered her a bottle of water. “Thirsty?”
---
“I’m good! What are you up to?” April turned in the grass to face him and took the offered bottle with a nod. “Thanks, that’s so nice of you.” April was always hungry and always thirsty, but she tried not to take advantage. Everyone was being so nice by letting her stay with them, she didn’t want to eat and drink them out of house and home.
---
“I’m seeing what else I can do to clean up out here.” Dorian smiled and nodded. “You’re welcome.” He opened up his bottle and took a sip. He was hoping April was doing okay. Being new on the island could be disorienting.
“That was pretty what you did there with the flower.” He offered as a compliment.
---
April was always disoriented, so whether it was the island or not she couldn’t say. But she tried not to let it bother her too much. There was no point in negativity. She took a drink from her own bottle and looked around a little. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Looking to the flower again, she smiled. “Thanks. I thought it might be nice to let the flower try again. So it’s a baby now.”
--
The tall man was amazed by April. He smiled, touched by how she described what she did. “You’re welcome. It’s good that you gave it a new start. Uhm, can you see if that tree here,” he pointed to the tall pine that had lost a few big limbs during the storm, “Do you think you can help it just a little bit?”
---
“I can try!” Eager, April hopped up from the ground. She carefully set her water aside and skipped over to the tree Dorian had pointed out. Circling it slowly, she gently placed her hands on its trunk and concentrated. But nothing happened. April wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because the tree was much larger, and therefore much older, than the little flower. Or maybe it was just because she really had no idea how she did what she did. It just happened.
Frowning, she took a step back and looked up to the tree before turning back to Dorian. “I don’t know if he wants to be a baby. I think he’s pretty happy being a big boy tree, even missing a few arms.”
--
“Okay,” Dorian nodded and then took another sip of water. He turned to watch her, curious about what she could do. Then frowned a little, fearing the tree may require too much energy.
“Okay. As long as he’s okay missing a few arms.” He replied, liking how it seemed the young woman could speak to the tree.
—-
April couldn’t really speak to trees, she could barely speak to people without getting confused or them getting annoyed with her. But since she couldn’t change the tree back to a younger, healthier form, she figured it just wasn’t what was meant to be.
Bounding back over to Dorian, April dropped down in the grass beside him. “Are you Caitlyn’s brother?” She knew the girl’s parents but hadn’t quite figured out how he fit in to the family. But Caitlyn spoke so highly of him that April was sure he must be related in some way.
—
Dorian was silent for a moment at April’s question. He couldn’t remember if or when someone had asked him that question. Instead of frowning, he smiled. “No, I’m not Caitlyn’s brother. I’m more of a family friend.”
—
“Isn’t that the same? Can’t a friend be like a brother and a brother like a friend?” April tilted her head to the side, watching him curiously.
—
“Mmm, yes, now that I think about it. I didn’t have a sister or brother before joining Caitlyn’s family.” Dorian replied and then sipped his water. He was patient, especially with a new resident of the house.
---
“You did? What was it like, are they here too?” April shifted to tuck her knees beneath her small grand and sat up straighter with interest.
—
He blinked, now a tiny bit confused by April’s question. “Uhm, my family before the Finns is not here.”
---
April nodded slowly, noticing his confusion. But she was confused too, as usual, so it took her a moment to catch up. “Do you miss them? Do they know you’re here? I don’t know if I have a family anywhere, I don’t remember.”
—
“No, I don’t. I don’t think they do.” Dorian frowned. He looked down at his hands for a moment and then lifted his head to look over at April. “Mmm, you have the Finns now. They are good people.”
---
April noticed the frown and did the same. “Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to make you sad. I’m sorry.”
—
“No, no” Dorian spoke, blinking and holding up a hand. “You didn’t say anything wrong. I’m not sad. There’s no need to be sorry.”
---
April studied him for a moment longer and then just smiled, taking his word for it. “Okay, if you’re sure.” She took another sip of her water and then hopped up again. It was clear April liked to be active. “What should we do now?”
---
Smiling, Dorian nodded. He finished his water and slowly got up to his feet. “How about we clear any leaves, twigs, branches, debris from around the house and pile it close to the road?”
---
“Okay!” That seemed easy enough, definitely something April felt like she could do with minimal direction. She just liked to be able to help out, and feel competent. She wasn’t sure why, but it felt like she never had that feeling much before. At least not by doing things like this. Gathering up handfuls of things, she started darting back and forth to put all the unwanted things near the street.
“What kind of things did you do before you came here? Did you go to school or have a job?’ April wasn’t a good judge of age, which was just a little ironic.
--
Closing his water bottle and setting it down, he went along and picked up the larger branches and carried them over to the pile ahead of April. It was good to work with someone with so much energy. She seemed like a good person, different, but good.
“I had a job - mostly doing errands and that sort of stuff. What did you do before coming here?” he asked.
---
April felt like she always needed to be moving, there was this boundless energy inside just begging to get out. It was hard for her to sit still, even when she needed to.
Listening as Dorian spoke, April looked to him. “Was it fun, did you like it?” At his question, she just shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t remember much about anything before coming here. I was at this place, kind of like a hospital but not? I didn’t like it there at all. But even that I only remember for a little while.”
--
“I liked it.” Dorian nodded with a smile. He always minimized or concealed the real intent of what he did for Caspian when he replied to a question of his job. He was ever thankful for Caspian and Laura’s taking him in. “Oh…” he breathed. “Hospital-like places have never been fun for me.” Perhaps it was good April didn’t remember her unpleasant experience in a hospital-like place.
---
April nodded in agreement. “I’m glad I got to come here though, and meet you and Caitlyn and Mr. Caspian and Ms. Laura. You guys are so nice. I can’t wait to meet other people here. Maybe someone here will remember me and help me remember myself.” April was forever hopeful, even when things looked their bleakest.
--
April’s optimism was both heartwarming and heartbreaking to Dorian. She seemed to not know yet about the horrible parts of being here yet. “Thanks. You have a home with the best people I know. Maybe there are some people here that can help you remember.” He nodded.
---
“I hope so! It’s nice staying here with you guys, I think I would be lonely if I stayed by myself.” April didn’t really know, or remember, the first thing about taking care of herself. If it wasn’t for the guidance of Dorian and the Finns, April would be lost with even just the day to day activities. She was not equipped for independence.
--
“It’ll be okay.” Dorian nodded. If Caspian and Laura had brought April into their household, then it would be okay. “When we’re finished out here, what would you like to do?”
---
“We should do something fun! What do you like to do for fun?” April worked a bit faster, eager to get the work done to leave room for some play afterward. But as far as what they did, she was open to suggestion.
--
“I like to read,” Dorian offered as he moved a bit faster as well, taking longer strides to clear the exterior of the house of any debris or big limbs that were left from his work cutting and moving stuff with Logan. “But I think there should be something more fun to do. What would you like to do?”
---
April bit her lip, unsure. “I’m not so good at reading.” April knew she wasn’t very smart, she didn’t need anyone to tell her that. But she also didn’t let it get in her way of doing things. “Maybe we could go for a walk? I didn’t get to explore too much yet, I want to see all the things and meet lots of new people.”
--
“That’s okay,” Dorian smiled softly, bowing his head a little. He wasn’t sure how April would take an offer to help her read. Maybe later. “We can do that. There’s a lot to see and a lot of people.” He nodded.
---
Smiling brightly, April looked around, picking up anything else they’d miss so they could go off on a little adventure. “Where is your favorite place to go? Have you met a lot of people here?”
--
Dorian rubbed his hands together, ridding himself of any dirt or bits of bark left on his hands. He moved to pick up his water bottle and smiled. “I like to go to the Marketplace. There are usually a lot of people there.”
---
“Okay! Let’s go there, then!” April would basically go anywhere and do anything. She really didn’t see anything wrong with going out to explore the world, even if she had no idea who or what she could encounter.
--
“Okay!” Dorian smiled. He opened his bottle and drank the rest of the water. “Let’s go.” The tall man motioned towards the road.
---
Once everything was put where it belonged, April grabbed her water and finished it off as well. Tossing the bottle away, she did a little excited jump before trotting after him. “There’s lots of places in the market, right? Like food and shops and things?”
---
Tossing his bottle in a recycle container, he slowed his pace for April. “Yes, that’s right. There’s food, shops, all things. Even a movie theater nearby.”
---
April’s already large eyes widened in surprise. “Really? I’ve never seen a movie, just heard about them. And I love food. All food. Well, all food I’ve tried anyway. I’ve never been shopping.” Having no memory of her former life, everything felt like a brand new experience to April, and she savored it.
--
“Yeah,” Dorian smiled. “Then we should get some food and do a little bit of shopping. I have some money.” He really liked April’s optimism and the excitement of her experiencing new things. He wondered what had happened to her to seem like she had no memory of her life before the island.
---
She skipped along happily as they headed toward the Marketplace. She turned her face to the sky, smiling at the feel of the sun on her skin. “Okay! What kind of food do you like? And what do you need to shop for?”
--
The cheerfulness was contagious. Dorian smiled. “Pretty much anything but pizza.” He answered honestly as they closed in on the Marketplace. “I think I need another shirt or two.”
—
April had never had pizza before but she knew that it would be rude to say that when he didn’t like pizza. Looking up ahead eagerly, she kept pace at his side. “This is where people get their clothes? I only have the clothes they gave me.” Laura had made sure April had something to wear each day, even if it meant borrowing her own clothes.
—
“I believe so,” Dorian answered. “Clothes, snacks, drinks, books. I don’t know what else.” He definitely thought April was curious. “What would you like to do?”
---
When they entered the Marketplace, April was in awe. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen so many places. At least, she didn’t remember anything like this. But then again, she didn’t remember anything at all. “You need shirts, so we should do that first.”
--
The tall man smiled as he watched April. That awe was heartwarming. “Okay,” he nodded. “Let’s go find a couple of shirts.” Dorian grinned and led the woman towards the clothing shop he’d gone to before.
---
April followed along happily. Once inside the store, April was surprised by all of the options. But they were shopping for Dorian, and she was curious as to what he would choose for himself. “How do you know what you like?”
---
Dorian moved in the same direction he usually did, going more for comfort and color. “Hmm?” he looked down at April as she asked the question. “I usually see if it fits, then if it is comfortable like soft cotton, and then color. I don’t want to wear something too bright. But other people may like bright colors.”
---
April nodded, reaching out to touch a random shirt to feel the material. She hadn’t paid much attention to things like that, but so far, her clothing choices had been limited. She’d never thought much about it and just went with what was given. “Why don’t you like bright things?”
---
He shrugged as he reached out for a dark green t-shirt in his size. “I guess I don't like getting distracted.” His answer wasn’t entirely true. Standing out wasn’t something he did, especially when worked alongside Caspian.
---
April laughed and shrugged. “I get distracted by everything. Bright colors, dark colors, sounds, other things, any thing!” It obviously didn’t bother her though. April moved around nearby, checking out the clothes curiously.
---
A smile tugged at his lips with April laugh and reply. It was so sweet! He missed being that innocent. Grabbing a hand basket, Dorian placed the dark green t-shirt in it and placed a pale green t-shirt in the basket as well before following after April. “Is there anything you like?”
---
April turned back to Dorian, taking a peek at what he had chosen. At the question, she shook her head with a smile. “I like all the things, but we’re here for you to get shirts. Do you need anything else?”
--
“Okay,” he nodded. “Nope, just a couple shirts here. Let me pay for these and we can get something good to eat.” Dorian smiled. Perhaps later, he’d buy her something.
---
April wasn’t one to want for anything, that was one thing that was consistent from her old life to the present. So when she didn’t indicate needing or wanting anything, it was honest to the core. Then again, April probably wouldn’t be able to get away with lying even if she tried. “Okay! What is good to eat around here?”
---
“There’s a bakery, coffee shop, diner,” Dorian rattled off. He was good at lying, but his kind nature often shone through. And it was often to his detriment. The tall man walked over to the cashier, paid for his shirts, and packed them in a grocery bag.
---
Considering the options, April shrugged. “I don’t think I like coffee. Where would you like to go? Do you like coffee? Do they have not-coffee things there?”
---
“I think the coffee shop also has tea. The diner has more than that. Coffee is okay. I don’t drink it all the time.” Dorian replied as they exited the shop.
—
April followed at Dorian’s heels like a faithful puppy. “We can go somewhere with things that you like. I like to try new things.” As they left the shop, she looked around curiously, trying to make a note of places she’d like to visit again soon. But April also knew it was unlikely she’d remember later on. Whether it was her memory or her constant distraction, she didn’t know what was to blame. But she did not mind either way.
---
“Okay,” he nodded. Dorian looked down to watch her, liking her energy, her wonder. The tall man led April into the diner where they got a booth to sit in. He had been as energetic and full of wonder once. But now he was a bit more closed off, wary.
---
Sliding into the booth across from him, April looked around the diner curiously. Her attention finally found its way back to him and she asked the first thing that popped into her head. “What can you do? Mr. Caspian told me everyone here has special abilities.”
---
Sitting down, Dorian sighed. He liked the diner - it was similar to a few he had visited in NYC. He pulled a menu from behind the napkin holder when April asked the question. He stopped and looked down at her. “Uhm, I can block people from using their abilities.” He whispered in response.
---
She took a menu as well, but focused mostly on the pictures.”Do people like that? Do they ask you to do it for them? Or does it bother them?” April didn’t know how she felt about it either way, then again, she hardly had a good read on her own abilities, let alone anyone else’s.
----
Opening the menu, he looked at the main entree section. Dorian looked up from the menu and shrugged. “Some like it, some don’t. A few people have asked in the past. Thankfully I can turn it off when I don’t want to use it.” He explained in a whisper. The tall man often felt his ability was useless. But there were times when it was a help but later a target on his back.
----
April looked around, her attention span too short to bother trying to read the menu and struggle with it. Fiddling with the paper instead, she looked back to him with a smile. “That’s good, right? I don’t know how to work my abilities. Sometimes I think about it and I can control it and then other times it just happens and sometimes I don’t even realize it’s happening.”
---
“Yes, it’s good. I’m glad I can turn it off.” He nodded. “You’ll figure it out. Maybe Caspian can help. He’s good that way.” Dorian smiled softly. When the waitress came over to their booth, he ordered chicken and waffles with a cherry cola.
---
“How do you think he could help me?” April liked the Finn family, they were nice to her, nicer than they needed to be. Despite seeming so juvenile, April knew that not everyone gave their kindness so freely. When the waitress came, she gave the woman a bright smile and pointed to a picture of an ice cream sundae on the back of the menu. “Can I have that, please?”
--
“Caspian’s helped me. He’s good at helping one focus their mind.” Dorian replied. He was speaking from experience. Caspian had a way about him and he hoped he could help April. The waitress nodded, jotting down each of their orders and left.
---
When the waitress left, April could hardly contain her sudden excitement. “I’ve never had ice cream before!” She hoped she would like it, but even if she did it, she would eat it. It would be terrible to waste food. It took her a minute or two to be able to refocus on the conversation. “I don’t know if I could ask Mr. Caspian to help me, he’s already done so much, I don’t want to take advantage.”
---
April’s excitement was heartwarming to Dorian, a spark of normalcy. “I think you’ll like it.” he smiled. If she didn’t like it, he’d help her eat it. “I don’t think you’d be taking advantage. You’re not just sitting around waiting for things to happen. You’ve helped me clean up the area around the house.”
---
“But don’t you think I should do more? Like….” April couldn’t think of the right word to explain what she was thinking. “To give more back? Do you have a job here? Maybe I could find a job and give Mr. Caspian some money for letting me stay.”
---
“I don’t have a job here,” Dorian shook his head. “But there are a lot of places where you could get one. Here, the coffee shop, the book shop, the place where I bought my shirts.” Then he breathed. “You know...people like us really need to stick together. Strength in numbers.”
---
Tilting her head to the side, April didn’t follow. “What do you mean?”
---
“Uhm,” Dorian sighed. “If you were to live alone on the island - you could get lonely, sad. But living close to others like us - it isn’t as lonely. We can look out for each other. Does that make sense?”
---
April thought about it and nodded a little. “I think so. But… isn’t everyone here like us? I haven’t met too many other people yet, but everyone seems to be nice.’ And even if they hadn’t, April tended to give people the benefit of the doubt.
---
“No, not everyone. A lot of the guards, a lot of the people in the government building - they don’t have abilities. I’m sorry, April,” Dorian frowned a little. “There are some people here that are not nice. But if you stick with the Finns and me, you’ll be okay.”
---
April listened carefully to Dorian’s words and then nodded. “I wish I met you guys sooner. But I guess that’s impossible since you’re all the first people I met when I came here. I wish you were at that other place, but it was bad there so I wouldn’t want nice people to be stuck there.” April shrugged it off and gave him a smile.
---
“Best to focus on the present,” Dorian smiled back. He hoped he hadn’t confused her or made the situation worse.
---
April nodded in agreement and smiled even more brightly. She looked around the diner again, watching the others while they waited for their food.
---
Nodding in return, Dorian put his menu back where he got it and looked around the diner too. Soon the waitress returned with their food and was gone again. “This looks good.”