"Don't forget to eat" Derlik finally said, holding Luca close to himself as he turned to leave the home. "I doubt you want to die any time soon. I'll look into having someone from the village come take care of you." Derlik didn't bother waiting for a response, stepping out of the house onto the porch. He started walking towards the village, his lovely little doll still held close to his chest.
"Luca." The god looked down, tilting the doll's head up with his finger gently. He knew the other was awake.
She nods as she watches the god leave. She didn't answer, her eyes just turning to her son in the gods hands. "Be safe, Luca darling." She murmured softly.
Luca slowly opened his eyes and glanced up at Derlik. He leaned into the gods finger. "Is my mother okay? Her gasp startled me…" He asks after a moment, looking up at the god. "Is she going to be okay?" Luca tilts his head slightly, his blue eyes desperately searching the gods. There had to be a reason, right?
"She's going to be okay," Derlik said softly. "And so are you." The god lifted Luca up to gently kiss the top of his head, holding him there for a moment.
"You are going to go to the room one day. That doesn't mean you're going to stay there forever. I have a lot of souls, and the one who made me says not everyone can be on earth at the same time. Everyone takes turns, Luca. And you know what? I do a lot of work in that room too, and you will still be able to be with me."
It still felt as if the god were lying to him… They had talked about stars… Those were not stars. As much as he wanted to be back in his human form again, he had promised the god to keep him as a doll for the day. When he made a promise, he never broke it. Ever. He didn't say anything, just looked like he was contemplating something, processing the gods words. He nods slowly and settles back into the gods hands again. But he was still bothered, still felt as if something was wrong. He wished he had answers… But it felt like the more he saw, the more questions he was left with. Would he be used and then placed on those shelves, sitting there prettily… Just stay still and look pretty. A voice of laughter filled his mind, the voice of the men that had once abused and hurt him a few years ago. No, no. He couldn't- couldn't sit still and pretty like that. It would ruin him. A sense of fear washed over him again as he curled up in the gods hands.
Derlik watched Luca closely as he processed, coming to a stop.
"Oh, my sweet Luca," he said softly. "You're okay, you're going to be okay." He moved to sit down on the path, one finger gently rubbing Luca's back.
"You're still going to get to be a star, Luca. And you're not going to have to just sit there and look pretty. It's okay, you'll see. Can you trust me..?" The god found it… fascinating, how afraid Luca was of being put on his shelf. It might be fun, to see how he reacts to it. Perhaps he would put Luca there later, just to see how he handled it.
Luca tensed when he was touched, looking away. It was clear he was still trying to think, trying to process. He wasn't sure at this point. Everything felt odd. The way the god had drugged him, the way that everything hurt after a few days of pleasure, the way the other god had talked about him, being called doll constantly. It felt as if he was being… Used. Again. His body hurt, as if it was trying to battle itself. His chest hurt especially. Had he been lied to? Was the god just being affectionate for the hell of it? But for now, Luca simply nods his head at the gods question. He would trust Derlik for now.
Derlik let out a small breath, lowering Luca. He was pushing the man too much. If he was to make this last, he had to ease up. So, the god sat Luca down in his lap, bringing him back to full size and human once more. The god hugged Luca, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of his head.
"You're okay, Luca…"
Luca startled when he was turned human again, leaning into the god slightly. "Okay…." He murmured softly. He wasn't sure what to feel right now, so he just decided to take a breather and not worry about it right now. Maybe things would work out. Maybe he'd be able to just… Focus or something like that. He rests his head on Derlik's shoulder, thinking of the meadow his mother spoke of. It was his happy place when his mother could walk. She'd always take him there in the afternoons. Yeah… Focus on a happy memory.
Derlik hummed softly, holding Luca close and rocking them to help him calm.
"I love you, my dear Luca." The god rested his head on the man's, humming once more. Such a sweet little human…
He'd wait until he went to his temple before putting Luca on the shelf. Just to see how he reacted.
The god held Luca to himself, pressing a kiss to his head one more.
"I love you so much…"
Luca didn't reply, shutting his eyes as he leaned into Derlik. He wasn't sure what to think… Perhaps the god really did love him? Would he be able to enjoy the rest of his life like this? Carried around, given love and affection? Could he live like this? He wanted too. He wanted to believe the god loved him. But had the god said the same things to the dolls that now sat silent and cold on the shelves? At the kiss to his head, he hesitantly placed a kiss to the gods cheek. "May… May I go back to sleep?" He whispers softly.
"Of course you may," Derlik said softly. "Do you want to ride in my pocket? I have to make a trip to the village and i don't want you to get overwhelmed." The god hummed, patting Luca's back. The mortal wouldn't be wrong in thinking the god had done the same to the other dolls- but just not all of them. He would use Luca, and put him away when he was done.
Luca looks up at the god and hesitates. That could work, but at the same time- he didn't feel like being carried around right now. He just wished he could settle into a bed and sleep for a little while. That would be nice, but he didn't think the god would listen. Luca nibbled on his bottom lip in thought before he gave up on the thought and nods slowly. It would be nice to sleep on a bed for a little while, but it looks like he didn't really have a say when it came to the god. It meant he would be small again, and gods he hated being small, but at this point, he was already overwhelmed and his mind was a wreck.
"Okay, dear." Derlik pressed a kiss to Luca's head with a small smile, hand coming up to the mortal's cheek. In a moment, he was slipping Luca into his pocket, offering a handkerchief as a blanket before standing. The god was still smiling some, making his way down the path towards the village.
Luca didn't like being small, but he took the handkerchief thankfully. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes, curling up in the cloth before slowly falling asleep again. He didn't want to think too much right now, he was sure his mind would end up breaking and he'd probably start crying and that was something he didn't want to deal with. Not right now.
Derlik helped lull Luca to sleep with his influence, hands going to his skirt pockets as he made his way down to the village. He glanced around as he came to the main road, walking into it once more just as he had that fateful day when he had sealed it off from the rest of the world.
The village, unlike the last time he was here, was quieter now. It was clear that the people had been shaken by the gods last visit. There were more candles, more shrines, more everything really. A few children were playing in the square, however when they saw the god coming they quickly hurried away towards their homes.
"Hey!" Derlik called out to one of the children, making sure Luca wouldn't wake up from the noise. He jogged to catch up and grabbed one of them by the arm, pulling them to a stop.
"Take me to your parents, hm?" The god didn't let go, keeping the child at his side.
The child looks up at the god nervously before nodding silently. It was a little girl, about the age of 6. She looked on the weaker side, and very tired. She gently tugs the god along to where her home was, opening the door. "Papa…" She was shaking at this point.
An older man entered the room almost startlingly quiet. "Jessie, what did I tell you about staying out past-" He noticed the figure behind her and tensed. "You brought the god with you…" his voice was somewhere between awe and fear.
Derlik followed the girl to her home, still not letting go of her as he stood in the door.
"Yes, she did. You know the woman who lives on her own now? The one who is the mother of the soul I took. I want you to take care of her. You'll be greatly rewarded if you do." Derlik looked down at the girl in his hold before looking back up to the man.
"Then again, I don't see you having any choice as to whether you do this or not."
(Sorry about that. Work has me exhausted)
The man glanced at his daughter, then to the god. He nods slowly, bowing a bit before straightening. "Very well." He murmured softly. "I know the woman, not as well as I knew her son." He moves to the alter in the kitchen, lightning a small candle. "I'll do what I can." He glances down at his daughter. "Elise, thank the god." He murmured softly. She looked at her father nervously before whispering, "Thank you, sir."
(aha, yeah… School has me)
"Good." Derlik finally let go of the girl, patting her head as he turned to the door once more. He ran his fingers over the bottom of his robes as if to get the feeling of the mortal off of him.
"You'll find your reward waiting for you in the morning." His gods would have plenty of fun with this family then. The two and the woman wouldn't last to the end of the next day, which is just as well.
(Would you like to continue this?)
The girl quickly moved to hide behind her father, clinging to his leg as she watched the god nervously. The father bowed politely before moving towards the living room. Neither of them truly knew what the god was planning. They looked so tired and lost, talking quietly. The daughter looked scared as she gathered various things to take to Luca's mother.
Luca was still curled up peacefully in the gods pocket, sleeping soundly. He looked peaceful for the moment, but there was definitely hints of the occasional distress.
Derlik watched as the two went about getting ready, making sure they would be on their way before turning and walking out the door. They were none of his concern now after all, and he has someone else he wished to tend to. He didn't linger in the village, pulling Luca out of his pocket to lay on his palm. He watched the mortal with interest, moving one finger so as to rest it on his back. Why the distress? Wasn't he getting everything he wanted from the god? That wouldn't do at all.
