Sunset

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck had become more active at the mansion since he got there. He had begun swimming with the help of his powers and trusted friends, and had worked on his sewing when he had time to himself. There were so many possibilities at this mansion, many he never thought possible. It was like the world was now his oyster.

That said, Dolemeck decided to take the time to watch the sun set over the lake on the mansion grounds. His leg braces were off to the side, resting up against the boat house, while his feet dangled off the dock. He took in the sight of the sky starting to change from light blue, to a darker blue, and then a fiery mix of orange and pink.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone walking up to the dock he sat on. He turned his head and just smiled to the person, giving a small wave, before going back to looking up at the sky.

Comments

[dolemeck]

"Some travelers may mourn, but others like to take in the beauty of the sky." He said, his voice cheerful as always. "What brings you out this way, Aramis? I mean, I am just curious..."

Especially since Dolemeck thought that the last time he spoke to Pete was a disaster, and ALL of them would be avoiding him.

[fourshelled]

"The caged bird yearns for the forest." He shook his staff slightly so the rings on it jingled. The turtle glanced at Dolemeck before returning to watching the sky by its reflection.

"Sitting on the dock of the cove?" That did not have the right musical ring to it. Aramis shrugged to himself.

[dolemeck]

"More like sitting at the edge of the world." He grinned before looking back up at the sky. "Aramis, you said Pete can hear what we talk about, aye?"

[fourshelled]

The turtle raised a brow ridge. Not that it was easily seen with the angle and the hat he always wore.

"Watch your words and your deeds, for your words shall be spoken and your deeds shall be copied." He moved closer to the edge of the dock. The turtle dipped the end of the staff in and swirled it around slightly.

[dolemeck]

"I just... Well, I wanted to apologize to him, Aramis." He gave off a sigh, letting his shoulders slump a little. "I asked him to be my friend, and well... he said I should try and be friends with someone else. I never got to tell Pete that I wanted to be his friend, because I think we are alike in a way. More so than the other students here."

He moved to the side a bit, so Aramis could stir the waters if he wanted to. Or take a seat if needed. Either or, the turtle had room.

"So, aye. I am sorry if I gave a bad first impression."

[fourshelled]

Aramis's eyes narrowed. He withdrew the staff, and the water continued to swirl. Though it started to take a larger loop from where the staff had been.

"A gentleman does not bear a grudge," he advised as he leaned on the staff once more. He pushed the current he had made around the surface of the lake to make more ripples.

[dolemeck]

Dolemeck was tempted to try and dip his foot in the swirling current that had been created, but he knew he lacked the motor-skills in his legs for that. Instead, he just watched the swirling water.

"Well, I am glad he does not hold a grudge or is mad at me." Dolemeck reached his hand out, like he was scooping up air. Instead, he lifted a ball of water out of the lake. He concentrated, holding it up to the sun that was setting. It looked beautiful, like a bunch of swirling colors just floating in the air.

"I was worried that my words caused him to disappear, again."

[fourshelled]

"Ten men cannot defeat a thousand tigers." The turtle gestured with his free hand and the ripples in the water followed his motion.

"He is his own person. As are we all." While he had the ripples in motion, he swung the current by the dock again. Two spots near the dock bubbled up as the ripple moved on.

[dolemeck]

"Aye, of course. I have tried to treat you all as my friends. Because well, you all are." Dolemeck tried to lower the ball of water back into the lake, but it fell apart as his concentration waned. He figured he would need to try harder next time, and turned back to the ripple of water that moved about.

"Oh, did you like the blanket I made for all of you? I figured since it would be getting colder soon, that you would all need something warm." He gave a proud smile. "I could also make you coats if you need them. One for each of you."

[fourshelled]

"In wisdom desire roundness, and in conduct, desire squareness." He waved his hand, the ripple surged and died down. Aramis leaned over the edge of the dock to peer at the two bubbling spots. He nodded to the side Dolemeck was not sitting on. The bubbling areas moved to more in front of Aramis.

"Not all of us would need one."

[dolemeck]

Sometimes, he just wished he spoke Aramis. It was so cryptic, that he could not get a simple "yes" or "no" answer. He was thankful for the simple answer that no one needed a coat. That was good.

"I thought I would be polite and ask." He continued to smile. "But if any of you need anything, just ask. It would be no problem for me to make you things. In fact, I would be honored!"

He began to rub his arm, as the sky started to grow darker. The moon could finally be seen, along with a few stars. Slowly, more stars would show themselves to the two of them.

"Aramis? Do you and the others think I am a freak?" He realized he asked that out loud and now wished he had a turtle shell he could climb into.

[fourshelled]

Aramis looked down at the teen sitting on the dock. He blinked and scratched his cheek as he considered his response.

"Tiger, leopard, dog, and sheep. They all look the same without their hair." He gently patted Dolemeck's shoulder.

[dolemeck]

"Aye, you have told me such before." He remembered those words from when they played a game of Go, not too long ago. He did not flinch at the pat to his shoulder. "Do you know why I am so happy here, Aramis?"

[fourshelled]

The turtle liked that saying. It was a nice one to remind people of the commonality of being.

"Floating clouds have no place to rest." He used his powers to boost up the bubbling spots in the lake just a bit. He remained dock-bound for the moment.

[dolemeck]

"This place is the only home I have that has been stable." He smiled. "I actually made friends here. I did not have that at home. Just... people who used me to get concert tickets or autographs. Me oldest brother tried to raise me, and he did a good job I think. But he also has a life of his own, and should not have had to raise me to begin with."

He blinked, watching the bubbling spots start to pick up once more.

"I've never had so much stability before, nor did I ever feel like I fit in anywhere. At this school, I have that... and so does Pete and all of you."

[fourshelled]

"Good invites a pleasant reward, while evil brings about suffering as a result." Aramis smiled pleasantly. He nodded once and then took a step right off the dock.

[dolemeck]

"Surely you do not believe it is so black and white?" he blinked, watching as Aramis was going to go for a swim. He shook his head, taking off his shirt and using his powers to remove his shoes, socks, and jeans.

Now down in his boxers, Dolemeck took a deep breath and fell off the dock into the water. He surfaced, using his powers to allow him to float about.

"No one here wants to hurt any of you. I know what it's like to have someone close just... betray you and your trust. To have someone just throw you to the wolves." He sighed, trying to relax in the water. It was colder than he expected.

"Yes, they were horrible for doing that to me. But I will not allow them to make me view every person around me as an enemy or someone who will just betray or hurt me! If I do that, the more I shut people out because of fear, the more isolated and alone I will be. Instead of protecting myself, I would be doing the opposite."

[fourshelled]

Aramis had not sunk into the water. His sandaled feet were on the bubbling sections of lake. He stood on top of the water there.

He looked down at the young man floating in the lake. "The creature born is the creature dying."

He rested the end of his staff on the top of his foot. "Your opinions may work for you, but the experiences of others do not have to fall in line with your thoughts, young one. Nor do others thoughts have to have any sway on your experiences."

[dolemeck]

"But how am I supposed to know what experiences all of you had, if you do not share?" He raised an eyebrow, still floating about in the water. "Without communication, no knowledge can be gained. Without knowledge, there is darkness."

Now he was starting to sound like Aramis.

"I want to help, but I do not know how. I have nothing to gain, besides a friendship. Nor do I harbor any evil intent towards any of you." His green eyes looked up at Aramis as he stopped floating about and was still in the water. "Tell me your experiences, and I will tell you mine. Nothing leaves this lake that is spoken tonight, aye?"

[fourshelled]

"Grab, and something will slip through your fingers." Aramis stood still, but the two bubbling currents he created moved him away from the dock.

"I can tell you of my experiences, but they are mine alone. For as much help as you want to offer, I personally do not need it. I speak for only myself and no other."

[dolemeck]

"The one person I wish to help will not come out for me to offer it properly." He shook his head and began to float, following Aramis. "I suppose my pleas lay on deaf ears. Well, if any of you wish to talk to me, you know my room is next to yours."

His eyes soon turned back to the sky above. the moon was starting to become visible now, along with more stars. He reached his hand up, as though he wanted to just pluck one down from the sky.

[fourshelled]

"A cold man cannot be choosy about clothes." Aramis started strolling on top of the lake. The bubbling currently moving with his feet. He moved in small loops on the darkening water. Mostly to keep testing his powers before he tried strolling out into the middle of the lake.

[dolemeck]

"No, I suppose not."

Dolemeck tried to follow Aramis, but his concentrating suddenly came to a halt. It was like his he hit a wall with his control of his powers, and sunk into the dark water he had been floating on. He tried not to panic, despite the fact he could not tell up from down or left from right. Extending his hand, he focused on what he thought was the bottom of the lake, hoping to pull off the same trick he had done when he was swimming with Topher and Kayla.

However, his hand was pointed upward, and he ended up pushing himself down to the bottom of the lake at an incredibly fast speed. He tried to correct himself, but his head bashed up against something on the bottom of the lake, knocking him out cold. Aramis would notice the huge splash of water that came up, and the fact the Brit was no longer floating about the lake.

[fourshelled]

Aramis had kept an eye on the teen who needed leg braces. It would have been foolish not to be aware. He stopped looping his paths when Dolemeck disappeared under water.

When the splash that came up, the turtle stopped the currents beneath his feet. He sent them to where Dolemeck sank. The twin currents raced across the bottom of the lake to pick up the unconscious body and send it to the dock by the boathouse. The force of the water deposited Dolemeck and splashed all over the docks.

Aramis' hat floated on top of the lake while the full-clothed turtle sank placidly down.

[dolemeck]

The force of that splash was enough to knock everything that Dolemeck had put on the dock, into the water. His clothes, shoes, and leg braces were all now in the lake. And the Brit? He was out cold with a gash on the left side of his forehead.

Now the question was: Where had Aramis gone?