ℓιfє • ¢συℓ∂ • вє • ѕιмρℓє [Light]

[CrimsonMoon]

" I told you not to call me Baba, boy- your mother taught you wrong, just call me 'Papa'," The man chortles, gently placing his huge palm upon the boy's head, messing up his red hair.

Kakumei just beams innocently and chirps," This is my new friend, Masumi. He was being attacked by-"

The man gently cooes," Hush, if he wished me to know his situation then he will tell me in his own time," he glances at Masumi, gently pulling Kakumei close to him and placing a straw blanket about the child's shoulders," Come closer to the fire, Masumi, you must be freezing."

[Light]

A faint smirk graced his face before it shut down, realizing that he was being addressed. "Mm...." he slowly walks over, his steps light and wary as he made his way over. He didn't stop looking at 'Papa' as he sat down and crossed his legs, holding his knees.

[CrimsonMoon]

'Papa' looks at Masumi, his face was scarred with tiny cuts, thin stubble splashed across his cheeks,"... I hope those dogs didn't tear at you too much that you lost your appetite," he rumbles, his voice oddly comforting.

Kakumei kept playing with his small braid, sniffing and sneezing

[Light]

"No..." he slowly answered, his eyes darting back to the bites before back up at the man, "...they didn't... sir..."

[CrimsonMoon]

" Call me Papa, maybe then this numb skull'll learn from you," he chuckles softly, gently urging the Kakumei.

Kakumei scurries away and comes back with three clay bowls, holding one out to Masumi," You can use Mama's bowl- she's living with little sister in an estate." He smiles faintly, he seemed to be drying

[Light]

Masumi mulled over his options; he could decline and call the man sir, but he was hosting him. That, and he didn't know how dangerous he was. "Sure... P... papa..." It was so awkward coming from his mouth that he winced. Masumi watched Kakumei as he brought back the bowl, his mind echoing with the question of 'Estate?'

He took one and nodded his head faintly. "Thank you..."

[CrimsonMoon]

Kakumei smiles and wrinkles his nose, rubbing it with the back of his hand," Sorry Papa..." He mumbles, holding iut Mama's bowl as his father filled it with broth before holding it out to Masumi. His smile was infinitely childish but with an unusual amount of- wisdom? No... Grace? Maybe.

Papa smiles and quietly fills the other two bowls, murmuring," Kaku- I hope you were training a bit, We'll be sparring in a bit-"

Kakumei's eyes widen," Bu-but it's cold and raining!" He protests

" Doesn't matter, boy," Papa replies simply, filling each bowl and quietly seeming to fall into a graceful movement, each motion seemed measured in speed and posture- like a dance

[Light]

Masumi watched over the rim of the bowl as he silently ate. Training--and sparring? He'd heard those words before, in passing. So, they fought or something? His toes curled and he stopped his observations.

Not his business. He'd leave early in the morning, or late at night and continue on his way. The bowl that he emptied into his stomach was slowly let down, and he rested it on his knee while mumbling, "Thank you,"

(Soooooo sorry x.x)

[CrimsonMoon]

(S'ok! I still love ya! XD)

Papa looks over at Masumi and smiles faintly, his gaze softening,"... Tell me, Masumi- do you want to leave?" He asks gently.

Kakumei looks up from where he was gobbling down his food, little rice flecks decorating the sides of his nose and mouth. He looked disappointed- like he didn't want Masumi to go

[Light]

He looked slightly startled by the question, his shoulders freezing for a moment before he turned his head away. "I might," He said, his eyes avoiding Kakumei, so he didn't have to see the look on his face that he had glimpsed a few seconds before. "Not like there's a place for me to stay here, right?"

He dared to glance at Kaku again before he frowned, his eye twitching a fraction. There was food on his face--Masumi held back a tsk that had been about to come out, and resisted the urge to reach over and pluck the rice off of Kaku's face. He couldn't be a clean and orderly freak in front of these people, no matter how strong the urge was.

[CrimsonMoon]

Kaku smiles, suddenly looking embarassed. He wiped his mouth and nose, placing his bowl on the floor. He began rubbing his cold feet, sniffling

" You could stay here- we have room," Papa hums and tilts his head

[Light]

Masumi looked from the son back o the father and gave him a suspicious look. "... for how much?"

[CrimsonMoon]

Papa chortles softly, folding his large hands calmly in his lap," How much what, Masumi?" He asks soothingly, making direct eye contact with the boy

[Light]

Masumi sort of braces himself, and maintains the stare he was giving the older man. "For the room. You want somethin' for it, don't you?" Like a skittish animal, he gripped the hem of what he wore in a white-knuckle grip.

[CrimsonMoon]

" Well-" Papa looks thoughtful and rubs his stubbly chin, eyes narrowing in thought," You would have to help with basic chores- you could help us in the forest if you wanted... But that's about all," He smiles as if satisified then looks back at Masumei

kakumei scooped up the bowls, humming nonchalantly

[Light]

Still uneasy, Masumi shrugged a bit, "I'll... think about it," it sounded too good to be true; the boy didn't seem to keen on trusting them right away. Even if Kakumei seemed to be around his age, Masumi had met his fair share of bad people to know that anyone could hurt another.

[CrimsonMoon]

Papa crosses his long legs and closes his eyes, sighing deeply before murmuring," There are bad people in the world, Masumi- but there are only good ones here." He cracked open one eyes, that glittered faintly in the dying light," You should rest, boy... kaku will join you soon,"

[Light]

"Just 'cause you call yourself a good person doesn't mean I'm gonna believe it," He said in a guarded tone, one foot sliding under him as he pushed himself up to slowly stand. "Lotta 'good' people do bad things they say are good." He glanced at Kakumei and then back at the old man once or twice, not knowing where the room was. He didn't want to stay any longer around them than he had to, they were starting to make him even more nervous with all the talk of people and whatnot.

[CrimsonMoon]

" I never said I was a good person- Though Kaku might be your best bet of a 'good' person," He chortles, pointing toward a low doorway. A small candle burned inside the small room, Kaku seemed to be settling under a hay mat, his bare feet poking out. He smiled lazily back at Masumi

[Light]

"Hm..." he silently turns away and starts down towards the room. He looks around it as he enters, and finds a place to sit and lay down on his side. He looked over at Kakumei, his eyes rolling briefly at the look on his face.