(Untitled)

[pinfold]

[ small Gino does indeed know what day it is. he's dutifully celebrated it for six of his nine years of age. and today he has gathered a bouquet just for this purpose (hand-picked from outside all by himself, many of them not flowers but weeds, with clumps of dirt hanging from the roots), stuck them in a wine glass (he couldn't find a vase) and

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[fckingloyalty]

[You know, he'd always hoped the day would come when Gino would just magically no longer be so much larger than him, but he hadn't ever expected it to happen, and if it did, it wouldn't have been like this. Even with all the things possible here...

Admittedly, he isn't quite sure what he's doing, doesn't realize the purpose of the murky glass full of plants, but he approaches the small boy anyway.]

Are you lost?

[pinfold]

[ he has no idea that he'll grow up to be taller than this incredibly tall guy talking to him right now, scrutinizing with a pretty dull expression for a long moment before he shakes his head. ]

No, sir. I'm looking for Mother.

[fckingloyalty]

[This child before him is so vastly unlike the older version he knows, it really just makes it all the more unsettling. He's so calm and quiet and... blank. No smile, no laugh, no attempt at draping all over him. He's not sure he likes it at all.]

Do you know if she's here? [Because Jeremiah certainly hasn't seen her, but he's not going to say that right off the bat.]

[pinfold]

[ opens his mouth, but doesn't immediately answer, looking unsure. which is probably enough of an answer in itself. then he shakes his head again. ]

I'm not certain.

[ ... 8( looks down at his muddy flowers cramped in their wine glass. ]

I want to give these to her.

[fckingloyalty]

[Oh. Oh, awww. Gino...]

That's right, it's Mother's Day, isn't it?

[It's not like he gave much thought to it. His thought he was dead until rather recently, and then he went and rather publicly helped Lelouch strip the rest of the country's nobility of their titles, staining his hands with the blood of many who resisted. A class traitor, indeed.

They haven't talked since.]

[pinfold]

Yes.

[ very solemn, as if this is more of a ritual or a duty than something he really wants to do, if only because he's not about to make it obvious how much of a mommy's boy he is. ]

I haven't seen her since I arrived here. But I haven't searched exten--extensively, either.

[ BIG WORD ]

[fckingloyalty]

It's a sizable place; it wouldn't be hard to lose someone.

[He pauses, then. He should probably leave Gino be, but... on the other hand, he's not sure he likes the idea of leaving and letting the boy wander about alone. So before long, he manages a small smile.]

Would you like assistance in locating her?

[pinfold]

[ he's sort of suspicious, even if this person seems acceptable (that is, Britannian, and well-spoken). but then again, if he's being offered something, he's entitled enough to take it. :| ]

Yes, please. Do you know what Mother looks like? I have a picture.

[fckingloyalty]

I do believe I've met Lady Weinberg before, though it was a while ago.

[Glancing to you again, he tilts his head.] Perhaps it would be good to refresh my memory, though.

[pinfold]

[ seems interested with this response but then he remembers that lots of people have met mommy so maybe it's not so interesting after all. B| fumbles into his pocket and pulls out a folded-up piece of paper, holding it out. ]

I drew it.

[fckingloyalty]

[Looking a little surprised, Jeremiah leans over and takes the paper, looking at it rather questioningly and then carefully unfolds it. He hasn't the faintest clue what lies inside, but...]

[pinfold]

[ it's this:

[fckingloyalty]

[Nope, not really. He just stares at it for a moment, and sure enough, it matches his memory well. That aside, the skill level here is remarkable to say the least.]

Did you... truly draw this?

[pinfold]

[ is that a faint hint of smug............ see, he can be similar to his older self after all. sort of. a little. faintly, if you squint. ]

Yes. The Knight of Seven asked me to draw my favorite thing.

[fckingloyalty]

[Well he should be smug, because Jeremiah's genuinely impressed right now.]

You've got quite some talent. [After a moment, he leans back down, handing the paper back to the little blond.] Have you considered pursuing it as a career, once you're older?

[pinfold]

No, sir.

[ takes the drawing back and carefully folds it back up, stowing it back in his pocket and smoothing it down. and then it's back to looking very...... 8| ]

I can't be an artist or a knight. I'm going to marry a princess and bring my family a better status.