Drabbly Thing
Who: Free (Niklaus), Schuldich (Erich) and Chloe (Edward)
When/Where: A long time ago, in a psychic training academy far, far away.
What: A little bit of background for the aforementioned men, all from Free's point of view.
Niklaus didn’t mind Rosenkreuz for the sole reason that he rarely minded anything in his life.
He’d been there as long as he could remember and he’d seen numerous Talents come and go. He did as they asked almost dutifully, because what else was there to do? Niklaus didn’t particularly like being punished nor was it, as he had learned long ago, wise to provoke them with disobedience.
He had, in fact, been there most of his life. Too long, actually, but they’d not found a suitable placement for him yet. What team wanted a psychic who couldn’t predict the future without the use of cards?
So he watched and waited and learned, biding his time until the future he knew was almost certain would come to pass.
Erich had been there nearly as long as Niklaus and the older teen found him fascinating. It wasn’t too often you saw hair that color, or experienced a mind like that. Erich was powerful; all of the students knew it. He reminded them often enough.
Still, Niklaus couldn’t bring himself to be scared of the brash redhead. Possibly because he recalled the way Erich had been when they brought him in, small and frightened, beaten into temporary submission. Or, more likely, because he knew the role Erich would play in the grand scheme of things.
Niklaus flipped another card, pleased with what he saw. The Lovers. How perfect…His solemn expression didn’t change, however -- It rarely did. He laid the card beside the others spread before him. As uncertain and ever-changing as the future could be, the outcome had not changed in regards to this particular reading.
Erich had been beaten again that day, punished for being insubordinate, no doubt. It hadn’t taken a precog to see that coming; he was punished often enough. But Niklaus had suspected there would be something different about it this time.
Those suspicions were confirmed when Niklaus lifted his head just in time to see Edward pass by.
Edward was a curiosity: A person with a Talent so unorthodox that they hadn’t caught him until he was nearly too old for “training.” He had been the source of hushed gossip for the first year and he’d caught Erich’s attention almost instantly.
Unfortunately for Edward, Erich had unusual ways of showing his interest. He teased. He tormented. He bullied. To all outward appearances, it seemed the two redheads hated one another, but Niklaus knew better.
He watched impassively as Edward wandered by, hands once again bandaged, a result of the samples they continuously demanded he produce.
Niklaus blinked once and shuffled his cards. Edward approached Erich; Niklaus blinked again. Erich would be particularly volatile today; he was always more unbearable after he’d gotten in trouble.
Edward placed a bandaged hand on Erich’s shoulder, leaning in to speak to him softly. Niklaus winced, waiting for Erich’s fist to land in the other boy’s face. He was never quite sure what they would do to each other.
Sure enough, Erich’s hand flashed out. But he didn’t strike Edward; he snatched him by the collar instead, dragging him closer and claiming his mouth in a rough, clumsy kiss. Edward froze for a moment, startled, then melted into it a little, one hand rising to wind through unruly flaming hair.
Neither boy had noticed Niklaus’ presence in the room.
Niklaus watched in fascination as Erich seemed to regain his senses, shoving Edward away. The copper-haired boy stumbled backwards, landing on the cement floor, head snapping back and whacking against the wall with a sickening thud. He whimpered, rubbing the back of his head, and Erich turned away, face flushed.
There was no way of knowing what Erich said to Edward that afternoon; it was all spoken directly in his mind. But Edward had risen on shaky legs and ran off, scrubbing away tears he was determined not to cry. Erich was facing the wall, arms around his knees, drawing them to his chest.
Another card flipped. The Hanged Man.
Niklaus suspected they needed to hurt one another to remind themselves they were still alive.
((Note - Tarot explanations:
The Lovers: Choices to be made using intuition. Some form of test and consideration about commitments. Abstract thought, internal harmony and union. Possibly a struggle between two paths.
The Hanged Man: Sacrifice in the present to reap benefit in the future. A waiting period.))
When/Where: A long time ago, in a psychic training academy far, far away.
What: A little bit of background for the aforementioned men, all from Free's point of view.
Niklaus didn’t mind Rosenkreuz for the sole reason that he rarely minded anything in his life.
He’d been there as long as he could remember and he’d seen numerous Talents come and go. He did as they asked almost dutifully, because what else was there to do? Niklaus didn’t particularly like being punished nor was it, as he had learned long ago, wise to provoke them with disobedience.
He had, in fact, been there most of his life. Too long, actually, but they’d not found a suitable placement for him yet. What team wanted a psychic who couldn’t predict the future without the use of cards?
So he watched and waited and learned, biding his time until the future he knew was almost certain would come to pass.
Erich had been there nearly as long as Niklaus and the older teen found him fascinating. It wasn’t too often you saw hair that color, or experienced a mind like that. Erich was powerful; all of the students knew it. He reminded them often enough.
Still, Niklaus couldn’t bring himself to be scared of the brash redhead. Possibly because he recalled the way Erich had been when they brought him in, small and frightened, beaten into temporary submission. Or, more likely, because he knew the role Erich would play in the grand scheme of things.
Niklaus flipped another card, pleased with what he saw. The Lovers. How perfect…His solemn expression didn’t change, however -- It rarely did. He laid the card beside the others spread before him. As uncertain and ever-changing as the future could be, the outcome had not changed in regards to this particular reading.
Erich had been beaten again that day, punished for being insubordinate, no doubt. It hadn’t taken a precog to see that coming; he was punished often enough. But Niklaus had suspected there would be something different about it this time.
Those suspicions were confirmed when Niklaus lifted his head just in time to see Edward pass by.
Edward was a curiosity: A person with a Talent so unorthodox that they hadn’t caught him until he was nearly too old for “training.” He had been the source of hushed gossip for the first year and he’d caught Erich’s attention almost instantly.
Unfortunately for Edward, Erich had unusual ways of showing his interest. He teased. He tormented. He bullied. To all outward appearances, it seemed the two redheads hated one another, but Niklaus knew better.
He watched impassively as Edward wandered by, hands once again bandaged, a result of the samples they continuously demanded he produce.
Niklaus blinked once and shuffled his cards. Edward approached Erich; Niklaus blinked again. Erich would be particularly volatile today; he was always more unbearable after he’d gotten in trouble.
Edward placed a bandaged hand on Erich’s shoulder, leaning in to speak to him softly. Niklaus winced, waiting for Erich’s fist to land in the other boy’s face. He was never quite sure what they would do to each other.
Sure enough, Erich’s hand flashed out. But he didn’t strike Edward; he snatched him by the collar instead, dragging him closer and claiming his mouth in a rough, clumsy kiss. Edward froze for a moment, startled, then melted into it a little, one hand rising to wind through unruly flaming hair.
Neither boy had noticed Niklaus’ presence in the room.
Niklaus watched in fascination as Erich seemed to regain his senses, shoving Edward away. The copper-haired boy stumbled backwards, landing on the cement floor, head snapping back and whacking against the wall with a sickening thud. He whimpered, rubbing the back of his head, and Erich turned away, face flushed.
There was no way of knowing what Erich said to Edward that afternoon; it was all spoken directly in his mind. But Edward had risen on shaky legs and ran off, scrubbing away tears he was determined not to cry. Erich was facing the wall, arms around his knees, drawing them to his chest.
Another card flipped. The Hanged Man.
Niklaus suspected they needed to hurt one another to remind themselves they were still alive.
((Note - Tarot explanations:
The Lovers: Choices to be made using intuition. Some form of test and consideration about commitments. Abstract thought, internal harmony and union. Possibly a struggle between two paths.
The Hanged Man: Sacrifice in the present to reap benefit in the future. A waiting period.))