7 years in the past.
A beautiful, ornately carved wooden mansion abides in the abyss of a large orange leaved forest. A stone driveway surrounds its courtyard of overgrown wild flowers, with spouting waters trickling from the mouths of a large fountain. In need of trim bushes and green vines climb the walls of the mansion, decorating it in mother nature's glory; along with colorful stained glass windows that reflect the images of whatever the imagination may hold. And the sun rising high as ever it tells the time of a clear afternoon.62Please respect copyright.PENANArDLLMKdiQE
Chirping of birds and scurrying of small creatures, seem to give the feeling of a heavenly peace caressed by the sweet scent traveling in the winds; not long after the sound of man interrupts the cycle of things, with the rumbling of a station-wagon making its way along the mansions tricky roads. Until it stops bringing along a tall man wearing a brown suit, waving goodbye to his driver as he walks up onto the doorstep, to then knock on the large church like doors.
"Coming! Just a moment!" A shout can be heard from the other side of the door, as the twisting of its knobs swing it open; "Ah! Old Friend! It's a blessing to see you again!" says Mr.Robin as he welcomes the man inside, closing the doors behind them.
The man laughs slightly at Mr.Robin's remark, "Likewise friend, how're things going on about here? I hope you've been managing well since my last visit."
"Very well actually. Only 5 runny noses this month, it's a miracle!" He clasps his hands together looking up to heaven, then pushing up his glasses he gestures to his friend. Who then follows him through a long hallway decorated with random trinkets placed here and there.
"Haha, a miracle? That's great to hear, means less work for me then." says the man.
"Less work means less stress, and heaven knows we rely on such miracles to sleep nowadays." replys Mr.Robin, rolling his eyes.
Smirking the man sighs to then say, "Heaven knows, yet we still don't get enough." And nodding in agreement Mr.Robin chuckles.
Arriving at large french doors that exit to the outside porch of the mansion, Mr.Robin opens the door for his friend, "I've gathered the boys out on the porch today. Hope you don't mind!"
"No no, not at all. It's a beautiful day,62Please respect copyright.PENANALjMRVDOmJB
be a shame to waste it."
"My thoughts exactly! And how're your boys doing? Is... Ren doing any better?" The two stand on the porch, looking out at young boys running around in the forest yard.
The man pauses, and in a solemn tone... "It's... hard to tell with that one, even if he is in tremendous amounts of pain... he somehow still smiles making you believe that everything is perfectly blissful in his life. Even though I'm thankful for it..." the man sighs, "We're all kind of just taking it day by day."
Mr.Robin looks at his friend who displays an anxious expression, "I see... well if you ever need anything, you may call my name. I'll help you wherever there is need, even if it's just an open ear and shut mouth." Mr.Robin smiles patting his friend on the back, and the man looks back at him with his twinkling blue eyes smiling gently, "Thank you, I truly appreciate it friend."
A couple of hours slowly pass with the melting of the sun shining its orange rays into the vast orange forest, making everything blanketed in the hue of warmth. The man checks the orphaned boys health one by one, using all the regular tools a doctor may need; that including the tasty lollipops he hands out to the boys after their monthly check-up.62Please respect copyright.PENANA232rZxpHHs
Dominic when he was a child, sits in front of the doctor man, swaying his legs over the edges of the tall chair. "Okay!" the doctor says to Dominic with a fatherly smile, "That just about does it son."
"Don' call me that, you're not my father." The doctor pats Dominic's head, then walking over to his bag of supplies he begins to pack up saying to the young kid, "Still stubborn as ever hm? Heh, that's fine. Maybe next time then hm?" The young Dominic shrugs his shoulders as he jumps off of the tall chair and runs away into the mansion.
Winds blow slowly, flying fallen leaves across the floor-boards, as a pat on the back indicates a job done well.62Please respect copyright.PENANAILKOdAjxW8
"Well that took sometime." Says Mr.Robin.
"Yes, however Dominic still doesn't seem to like me."
"He used to not like me either, but you can't blame the poor boy. Just give him time, like I did-- now he likes me! Well... At least I think he does."62Please respect copyright.PENANAlU9eMTc7Qy
The doctor laughs slightly, as Mr.Robin continues to say, "Well anyways! I seriously can't thank you enough for your kindness Itsuki!"
"Oh no, quite on the contrary, I should be thanking you for letting me be apart of these sons lives." Itsuki pats his friend on the shoulder with a generous smile.
"I suppose that's what friends are for!" Mr.Robin nods to himself. 62Please respect copyright.PENANAElz7hgSwmL
The sun humbles itself to the earth as it welcomes it's comrade the moon into the sky, with sunsetting. The two friends say their goodbyes at the end of a good work day, Itsuki rummaging into a taxi halts for a moment saying, "See you next time old friend! And do ring me if Dominic ever tries to... harm himself again, alright?"
Mr.Robin sighs, replying, "I beg you not to perplex yourself so much about my sons. After all you have your own sons to take care of at home, which is where you should be before too late!"
"I know I know! But as his doctor, it's only natural no?"
"Yes yes, as his doctor of course. You just take it too far! But I suppose it's out of my hands to keep you from caring so much." Mr.Robin says with a smile.
"I just know what it's like.. that's all." Itsuki shrugs slightly.
"And that's why you're their doctor."62Please respect copyright.PENANAePtG3ikPOh
Itsuki smiles, nodding at his friend saying, "Till next time." And getting into the car he begins to drive slowly away down the road, while Mr.Robin smiles brightly not long before a loud gasps escapes from his mouth—making him run quickly to the side of the moving mobile, yelling-- "Aah! Forgive me!" The car abruptly comes to a halt, as Itsuki hurryingly exits shouting back at his friend, "Goodness Mr.Robin! What's the sudden shriek for!?"
"A son. Heh..." falling to his knees with ragged breath, Mr.Robin seems to have used up all his stamina in the swift 10 seconds of sloppy running. "There's one more boy for you to see, He's rather... in need of your aid. Please, I know it's late--"
"Say no more, lead the way friend." Itsuki helps Mr.Robin back on his feet. And he smiles back at him with a nod.
Stillness... silence... the gentle moonlight shining through the skylight window that opens the ceiling to the heavens above. The flickering of a candle lit on the small bed-side table warms the face of a young boy with platinum blonde hair and black eyes, who lays on a small bed in this quaint room. Without motion he stares up into the twinkling skies. The floor creaks softly as Itsuki slowly walks over towards the boy, kneeling down by his bed side speaking in gentle tones, "Hello there... I've yet to meet you. Tell me, what's your name son?" The boy, no older than 9 years old, just continues to stare ahead without even a mumbling or quivering of lips.62Please respect copyright.PENANA3rjSoG7QiK
Speaking up for him, Mr.Robin swishes his hair back, leaning against the wall, "His name is Charley. He's fairly new here, arrived just last month to be exact."
"I see... has he always been this unresponsive?"
" 'fraid so. I know this sounds awfully terrible, but that's why I nearly forgot about him. As you know all the boys here are pretty outgoing after some time... rowdy would be a good word to describe them. I'm used to that so Charley here, he goes easily unnoticed."
"Well that's a problem... can't he walk? Can you just move him into a more populated area?"
"We've tried that of course... only to end up in disaster, the son suddenly passed out from the excitement of the other boys."
"Passed out!?" Itsuki slightly raises his voice as Mr.Robin quickly shushes him, "Shhh..! It's because of the loud noises. The boy seems to have become hypersensitive to such things ever since coming out of a coma--"
"Coma..? What happened to make this boy fall into such a serious state?"
"No one really knows much about it... as far as we know, Charley was being sailed over here to Fatum Isle, along with his brother."
"Brother? I didn't notice any other new son during my checkups. Don't tell me you forgot about him--"
"No no..! Though I much rather that be the case... his brother sadly passed in a boat wreck along with 30 other orphans. Charley here, is the only survivor."
"You're telling me that this frail boy-- is the only survivor of a boat wreck?"
"Hard to believe isn't it? You could say Charley is some sort of chosen one. That's what the fishermen who found him call him, the chosen one. They've already created crazy stories on the 'righteous path' he is to plow."
Mr.Robin chuckles slightly with furrowed brows. Itsuki sets his eyes on the child, staring for a moment with a worried expression before saying, "He hasn't even seen his first pair of double digits yet, and he has already experienced such tragedy."
"As have all the other poor sons here, which makes it strange. In my time I've met children who've gone through terrible things... perhaps even worse, but they were never as lifeless as Charley. It makes me worry."
"As it ought. That just goes to show we're all different hm? Besides, we only know how he got here. It's the unknown we've have to be searching for in order to help him."
"You're right. Heh.. sometimes I wonder if the world will ever be so kind enough." Mr.Robin says while pushing up his round glasses.
"Well as adults it's our job to lessen the burden of the world, till they're strong enough to fend without us."
"What a thing to say. Makes me nervous!"
"The truth is heavy... say, do me a favor would you?" Itsuki stands up from the bed side and faces Mr.Robin. "All you must do it ask." Says his friend.
Smiling slightly he continues, "Whenever you are able, it'd be a good thing to come and talk to Charley at least once a day."
"Hmm... I don know... my duties bury me in a hole even through the night. And my few helpers leave to their own homes once the moon is nigh..." He ponders for a moment before saying, "Perhaps I could get one of the boys to take up the task?"
"Yes I suppose that's better... might be nicer to have a more interesting character to talk to. Who would be good... Ah! Dominic, he would be the perfect lad."
"D-Dominic? Are you sure that's a good idea Itsuki? I mean Dominic is rather troubled himself."
"And that's why I believe he should take up the task. The poor boy needs something to give him purpose, perhaps by helping out this son here, it might help bring him towards a better light."
"Mmm... I understand your thinking, but it could really go either way."
Placing his hands on his friends shoulders, Itsuki looks into his friends chocolate eyes saying, "Everyone deserves a chance, so let's be the ones to give it. Isn't that why you opened this orphanage in the first place Quincy?"
Furrowing his brows and pushing his friend away, Quincy waves his hands frantically and says with a smile, "Aah... you guilt tripper. Okay okay, I'll arrange them as roommates by the start of tomorrow,"
Wrapping his arm around the shoulder of Quincy, Itsuki smiles as the two begin to leave the room, "Post haste old friend! By the start of tonight!"
"You've always been the one to rush things. Ever since elementary."62Please respect copyright.PENANAfCcyP7mynC
"And you've always been far too cautious. So it's settled then." Itsuki glances back at Charley who remains in the same position as before, thinking to himself, "Don't give up so soon son."
The door shuts close, leaving Charley alone in the room once again.
The candle suddenly burns out letting the moon fully embrace the small room in it's light. Charley then closes his black eyes, and falls into a slumber. As a lonesome ghostly figurine of a young boy, sits on the window seal staring at Charley, whispering the words... "Post haste, no time to waste." And Charley mumbles quietly as all falls quiet, seeming to listen to his sweet voice saying... "Goodnight... brother."62Please respect copyright.PENANAcMsdwjM8SX
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End of Episode #2 — The Doctor.62Please respect copyright.PENANAqxqOmZcrSx
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First written, 8/22/202162Please respect copyright.PENANAOqnpOHSD6b
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Revised edition, 2/4/202262Please respect copyright.PENANA2mnOHMaWwT
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Author — a.t.e
Note: Thanks for making it this far :))
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