Post by Viktor Croswell on Apr 9, 2014 1:12:23 GMT
Open to all
Rain seemed to be plaguing Lodan lately as countless days water fell from the sky without warning. Sometimes the showers lasted a few minutes, sometimes for days. Occasionally lightning would streak the sky or thunder would roar through the night but it was still all so pleasant. Sometimes Viktor found himself yearning for the sun’s rays and the warmth to wash over the city. He loved rain but not when it lingered for long. Luckily, the downpour had run its course as he was beginning to approach his new shop, the sky ceased to cry. It was perhaps close to evening now, the sun threatening to set any moment, and if it were not for his father’s request, Viktor would have been home by now. Earlier he had worked on setting up the shop or getting the basics set in with his father until his mother had invited him out to dinner while his father ate in the shop and worked. He had not wanted to leave his father behind but Luke had insisted and so now as he returned with his mother’s arm hooked with his, he wondered what sort of surprise his father had planned for him.
Inside the shop the lights were lit and his father sat putting in the last bits of equipment into place in the workshop towards the back. The showroom displayed several motorized bikes and scooters, simple things that Viktor was capable of repairing or building with proper funds and time. As of yet, he was incapable of creating such beauties like the motorized bike his father crafted for him. “You know, there’s living quarters upstairs right,” his father's booming voice rang loudly in the near empty area as he came out from back wiping his hands on a towel. “I know,” came Viktor’s reply as his mother released his arm to embrace her husband. There was a sort of sadness in her hazel eyes. “Your mother and I think its best that maybe you use that living space to move out and truly make it on your own. I mean, your Mom and Pop won’t be too far off and we can always visit one another so it wouldn't be any trouble.” Truthfully, the thought of moving out even if they did live near made Viktor feel sick. He didn’t like being away from his support… worst of all it meant he wouldn’t get his mother’s cooking! Much talking was done after that and then it was agreed. He would stay in the shop today as Luke and Gayle, his mother, already set his room up for him.
When they left, the sun was setting and Viktor thought to look upstairs. His father was never subtle with gifts and he’d suspected he would live here even without their talk so why did they urge him about the living space? As soon as he was in his room a grin broke out on his face. There was his piano and alongside it the guitar. In one corner was his fiddle but if truth be told he played that the worst of the three instruments and so only practiced it once in awhile. In the center of the room was the most interesting of pieces however. There stood a clockwork doll but you would never have guessed it. This model was not one anyone would have seen before and Viktor only felt so comfortable with it because over the past twenty-two years he was alive, he had seen this model multiple times. Over the course of two decades it slowly became assembled though he knew it never worked nor did his father ever express desires to finish it but his father knew how he adored the machinery.
It made him happy to know his father trusted him with his most prized possession and as it stood there unmoving, unliving, Viktor stepped up to it. The mechanized gas mask and tubes were removable, he knew that, and beneath it was a more humanistic face but Viktor’s eyes were set on the chestpiece that protected the soldier clockwork doll’s internal organs. Gingerly, he slid his fingers over the chest before dipping his fingertips into the crevice to unhook the latch in order to open up the chest so he could see the empty spot behind the clock located in the typical fashion of one’s heart where the doll’s core would be. As he went to grab the clock, the clockwork doll’s hand shot up to grasp his wrist, threatening to crush it. “Please do not touch that. You will kill me if you remove my core,” the robot’s voice said almost unnaturally but close enough to pass for human.
Viktor’s skin went ashen and he almost screamed. When he opened his mouth to do so, the robot spoke up again. “That would not be wise, big brother. You’ll attract attention.” The scream died in Viktor’s throat and all he did was stare horrified for a second. “H-how… y-you,” he could only get out above a whisper. “How am I functioning?” To the robot’s question, Viktor nodded slowly. “Father finished me today. He said you are really weak and that if you had a little sister she could beat you up so he wants me to protect you. He called me NK-5 but you may call me Nikolai. I am also to warn you that I am weak at first so try not to get yourself killed too soon before I can be upgraded in order to protect you sufficiently. One more thing is that he said to only trust me with other Mingo’s Merchanics, that you were to show me to your commander. Father said it is vital to allow me to be upgraded by all members and to protect them all as they would have knowledge on how to repair me.” Viktor digested the information as best as he could then realized that sometime while NK-5 had been speaking, he had let go of his wrist.
Oh no… no, no, no. This was too much to take in. Was it wrong to feel excited, scared, and having the feeling to piss yourself all at the same time? He needed fresh air. “I gotta walk around. I just got to get some air,” he said absently as he turned to exit his room. He heard his new companion walking behind him and turned to stop him. “What are you doing? You can’t go out there with me? You’re… you’re…”
“I am what, big brother?”
With a groan, Viktor shoved passed the clockwork soldier and went into his room to find the spare clothing his mother gave him then threw them at NK-5. “Put those on,” he commanded.
“But why?”
“Just do it.”
Eventually it was done and without the gasmask plating, with a trench coat on, and a scarf, the clockwork doll almost seemed presentable enough to pass for human...who might be a bit sickly. Outside on the streets the sky was a dark blue now and the street lamps were on. Luckily it was still cold out so NK-5’s choice of wear would not be too questioned. Quietly they walked along, Viktor’s destination being the clocktower.
Rain seemed to be plaguing Lodan lately as countless days water fell from the sky without warning. Sometimes the showers lasted a few minutes, sometimes for days. Occasionally lightning would streak the sky or thunder would roar through the night but it was still all so pleasant. Sometimes Viktor found himself yearning for the sun’s rays and the warmth to wash over the city. He loved rain but not when it lingered for long. Luckily, the downpour had run its course as he was beginning to approach his new shop, the sky ceased to cry. It was perhaps close to evening now, the sun threatening to set any moment, and if it were not for his father’s request, Viktor would have been home by now. Earlier he had worked on setting up the shop or getting the basics set in with his father until his mother had invited him out to dinner while his father ate in the shop and worked. He had not wanted to leave his father behind but Luke had insisted and so now as he returned with his mother’s arm hooked with his, he wondered what sort of surprise his father had planned for him.
Inside the shop the lights were lit and his father sat putting in the last bits of equipment into place in the workshop towards the back. The showroom displayed several motorized bikes and scooters, simple things that Viktor was capable of repairing or building with proper funds and time. As of yet, he was incapable of creating such beauties like the motorized bike his father crafted for him. “You know, there’s living quarters upstairs right,” his father's booming voice rang loudly in the near empty area as he came out from back wiping his hands on a towel. “I know,” came Viktor’s reply as his mother released his arm to embrace her husband. There was a sort of sadness in her hazel eyes. “Your mother and I think its best that maybe you use that living space to move out and truly make it on your own. I mean, your Mom and Pop won’t be too far off and we can always visit one another so it wouldn't be any trouble.” Truthfully, the thought of moving out even if they did live near made Viktor feel sick. He didn’t like being away from his support… worst of all it meant he wouldn’t get his mother’s cooking! Much talking was done after that and then it was agreed. He would stay in the shop today as Luke and Gayle, his mother, already set his room up for him.
When they left, the sun was setting and Viktor thought to look upstairs. His father was never subtle with gifts and he’d suspected he would live here even without their talk so why did they urge him about the living space? As soon as he was in his room a grin broke out on his face. There was his piano and alongside it the guitar. In one corner was his fiddle but if truth be told he played that the worst of the three instruments and so only practiced it once in awhile. In the center of the room was the most interesting of pieces however. There stood a clockwork doll but you would never have guessed it. This model was not one anyone would have seen before and Viktor only felt so comfortable with it because over the past twenty-two years he was alive, he had seen this model multiple times. Over the course of two decades it slowly became assembled though he knew it never worked nor did his father ever express desires to finish it but his father knew how he adored the machinery.
It made him happy to know his father trusted him with his most prized possession and as it stood there unmoving, unliving, Viktor stepped up to it. The mechanized gas mask and tubes were removable, he knew that, and beneath it was a more humanistic face but Viktor’s eyes were set on the chestpiece that protected the soldier clockwork doll’s internal organs. Gingerly, he slid his fingers over the chest before dipping his fingertips into the crevice to unhook the latch in order to open up the chest so he could see the empty spot behind the clock located in the typical fashion of one’s heart where the doll’s core would be. As he went to grab the clock, the clockwork doll’s hand shot up to grasp his wrist, threatening to crush it. “Please do not touch that. You will kill me if you remove my core,” the robot’s voice said almost unnaturally but close enough to pass for human.
Viktor’s skin went ashen and he almost screamed. When he opened his mouth to do so, the robot spoke up again. “That would not be wise, big brother. You’ll attract attention.” The scream died in Viktor’s throat and all he did was stare horrified for a second. “H-how… y-you,” he could only get out above a whisper. “How am I functioning?” To the robot’s question, Viktor nodded slowly. “Father finished me today. He said you are really weak and that if you had a little sister she could beat you up so he wants me to protect you. He called me NK-5 but you may call me Nikolai. I am also to warn you that I am weak at first so try not to get yourself killed too soon before I can be upgraded in order to protect you sufficiently. One more thing is that he said to only trust me with other Mingo’s Merchanics, that you were to show me to your commander. Father said it is vital to allow me to be upgraded by all members and to protect them all as they would have knowledge on how to repair me.” Viktor digested the information as best as he could then realized that sometime while NK-5 had been speaking, he had let go of his wrist.
Oh no… no, no, no. This was too much to take in. Was it wrong to feel excited, scared, and having the feeling to piss yourself all at the same time? He needed fresh air. “I gotta walk around. I just got to get some air,” he said absently as he turned to exit his room. He heard his new companion walking behind him and turned to stop him. “What are you doing? You can’t go out there with me? You’re… you’re…”
“I am what, big brother?”
With a groan, Viktor shoved passed the clockwork soldier and went into his room to find the spare clothing his mother gave him then threw them at NK-5. “Put those on,” he commanded.
“But why?”
“Just do it.”
Eventually it was done and without the gasmask plating, with a trench coat on, and a scarf, the clockwork doll almost seemed presentable enough to pass for human...who might be a bit sickly. Outside on the streets the sky was a dark blue now and the street lamps were on. Luckily it was still cold out so NK-5’s choice of wear would not be too questioned. Quietly they walked along, Viktor’s destination being the clocktower.