Polo and Abba-dabba-doo! :3 (Mature content)

((Decided to put the warning in the title, just in case. I don't trust my antagonist characters. O.o ))


Thanks so much to Arby for the plot ideas! XD


My character:

Laiko
Age 17
Appearance Quite the handsome little guy. Very fluffy hair, and generally has a bright, friendly and innocent expression - like a kiddiewinkel. ^_^ He's also relatively tall - just a little above average.
Everything else is pretty much to be RPed, which it will be.

He has 2 roommates - Mike and Kevin (Prop characters)
Volunteers at ETU (Emotional Trauma Unit) - an organization for helping victims of traumatic crimes to learn to live normally again. (No commenting on Polo's naming skills unless you have a better suggestion. XD Haha!) He is currently assigned to help Ria.

((Please do. XD It's after 1AM here.
Epic character! ^_^ ))

((Not going to be able to keep up long posts, I’m afraid. I’m already in one long RP, and lots of short ones – I’m not going to have time to consistently type over a thousand words… ))

Laiko awoke with a groan, his eyelids sliding slowly upwards to reveal just a sliver of his bright, emerald green eyes. Already, he could feel the stiffness in his neck from sleeping on a couch for the past… Oh shoot, how many days had it been?!
Laiko’s eyes sprung open completely in alarm – so bright and wide that they looked like a pair of tennis balls. He scrambled off the two-seater couch – tripping over his blanket in the process and managing to fall flat on his face. “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” He complained bitterly, slowly pushing himself up with arms that seemed strangely well adapted to this sort of thing, considering how seldom he actually worked out.
“What day is is?!” He called in distress while he struggled to disentangle himself from the blanket, which seemed determined to cling to him like a sticky spider’s web.
There was no response to his question, aside from his own desperate voice echoing back to him – so Laiko took matters into his own hands.
Finally, he managed to escape the blanket’s tenacious clutches – though it tripped him one last time as he tried to dash away.
He hit the ground face-first, and simply lay there a while. “Ouch.” He repeated, though his voice came out as nothing more than a muffled grunt, since his face was pressed against the hard wood floor.
Finally, he managed to scramble to his feet – rubbing his bruised forehead tenderly.
Once he had found his balance, he hurried into the next room. This room was a typical office, with a messy desk, a couple of pot plants and some bookshelves. The ETU really didn’t need any of this. In fact, they didn’t really even need a headquarters – but as it were, their enthusiastic leader had secured the premises for them, so this was now where they met regularly.
One other perk of the office, of course, was that people could actually come in to inform them of persons requiring assistance – though admittedly that seldom happened. One was more likely to find a group of the ETU volunteers screaming madly and jumping up and down while they played video games in the ‘recreation room’ – which was where Laiko had been sleeping for the past-
GAH!, how many days?! Refocus!
With panic striking him again, Laiko darted forward like a racehorse out of a starting gate – almost crashing into the desk in his haste. But, thankfully, he stopped just in time, and snatched the little desktop calendar from amongst the mess of books and papers.
His eyes quickly darted over the days he had already crossed off, and came to rest on the one right after the final cross. This block had been circled very enthusiastically in many colours, as though somebody had let a hyperactive toddler get hold of it.
Laiko stared at the colours, and his lips pulled upwards into a beam that simply sparkled with innocence.
That had been fun.
But wait… That meant today was…
Jumping in shock, Laiko began diving wildly around the room, trying to gather everything he needed. He couldn’t be late for school – that was against the rules! He couldn’t break the rules, or the Principal would be angry – and he didn’t want to make the Principal angry…
Besides, Maricia Chastmen was starting today, and she was his current mission. He had to be there.
Practically whimpering in nervous excitement – Laiko bounced on one foot to the door while he tugged on his shoe.
He finally got it on just as he reached the door – but as he was about to pull the door open, it swung in toward him.
Laiko leaped back with cat-like reflexes, only just managing to avoid taking yet another hard, wooden object to the face.
In the doorway stood a plump middle-aged man with a cap and a prickly black moustache, and he stared at Laiko is mild surprise.
“Laiko, shouldn’t you be at school?” He questioned curiously, “I didn’t take you as the type to bunk.” ((Not sure what word you guys use… Skip, Skive, I dunno. We use bunk. ))
Laiko’s eyes widened in horror, and he shook his head rapidly. “No, Sir! I’d never-“
“Relax, Laiko, I’m not the school police.” The man laughed, ruffling Laiko’s fluffy blond hair affectionately, then glancing toward his watch. “It’s only 6:30AM, so you still have plenty of time.”
Breathing a relieved sigh, Laiko collapsed against the wall, a silly smile scampering across his face. “Thanks, Mister Stewart.” He said, beaming gratefully up at the man.
“For the last time, Laiko.” He replied with a frown, “We’re co-workers, so call me Frank.”
“Yes sir!”
“No, Laiko, you’re missing the point…”
“Sorry Mister Frank, but I still have to shower when I get to school, so I’m going to be really late if I don’t go right now!”
“Laiko, wait-“
“Bye Mister Frank, sir!”
“Laiko!”
Clang.
The door slammed shut, and Laiko was gone, leaving Frank Stewart staring incredulously after him as he sprinted down the street, humming cheerfully. “What a strange boy…” He murmured to himself, shaking his head. He sighed, then ambled over to the desk and sat down. His eyes soon came to rest on a half-eaten bar of chocolate that had been left there. He picked it up, and his upper-lip curled in a disgusted sneer, but then he shrugged and popped it into his mouth anyway, munching merrily as he began sorting through the papers on the desk. Somehow, Laiko’s cheerful attitude was always infectious.

After a 10 minute run to the school, Laiko charged full-speed into his dorm. Everybody had been forced to go home for the holidays – which was, of course, the reason he had been staying at headquarters. His neck was still sore, but he didn’t really mind. All the same, he was glad to be home!
With a grin as bright as the sun, he skipped into the familiar room, then dumped his few belongings on the middle bed (Between Mike’s and Kevin’s) and dashed into the little en-suite bathroom for a shower.
He emerged not long later with his long blond hair plastered down over his eyes by wetness. He wore a pair of slightly tatty old jeans, and a lovely pink shirt that had been a gift from Mike. Laiko was extremely fond of this shirt – mostly because Mike had given it to him, but also because he had seldom owned something ‘new’ before. As it turned out, the shirt looked surprisingly good on him. Most clothes seemed to, no matter how ridiculous. Mike, of course, had not anticipated this.
Thus, pink-clad and handsome, Laiko left the dorm with his school bag flung over his shoulder, and skipped out toward the school yard, whistling cheerfully. It was 7:30AM now, so he still had a bit of time before school started.
Hopefully he would find Mike and Kevin somewhere… Or even get to meet Ria! He was very excited about that…

Laiko tottered merrily around the school grounds, smiling happily at everybody he met – and getting some extremely odd looks in return. One girl waved as he walked past – so Laiko waved back, then continued walking with a chorus of whispering and giggling following him.
Strange – girls often did that when he greeted them. He didn’t fully understand it, but Mike seemed to think that it was a bad thing, so it always made him somewhat nervous…
Speaking of which – where was Mike, anyway?
Laiko stopped walking, and turned slowly in a circle – eyes darting curiously in every direction.
“Mike?!” He shouted innocently – receiving glares from the group of students sitting nearby who were either reading or finishing last minute homework.
“You’re noisy, Laiko.” Came a familiar voice from amongst them.
“Kevin!” Laiko squeaked gleefully, bouncing toward his friend like an excited puppy.
“Hey!” He greeted his friend, diving forward and wrapping his arms around the pudgy boy in an affectionate hug.
“Laiko, get off me.” Kevin ordered wearily, but Laiko wasn’t listening – he was talking. Talking, as it were, extremely fast.
If he’d had a tail, it would most likely have been wagging enough to turn him into a human helicopter at that point.
“Kevin! I missed you! How’ve you been? How was your holiday? Mine was great! Well, not as great as being at school – but great anyway! Great’s a funny word isn’t it? Speaking of words, did you hear about the vocabulary test that Mrs. Whitler is planning? I hear it’s going to be a killer! First week back, too?! I’m really excited! It’s going to be fun, don’t you think? I do love vocabulary. In fact, I love all English, and Maths, and Science, and-“
“LAIKO!”
His friend’s voice finally broke through his babble, and Laiko stopped abruptly – blinking in wide-eyed surprise, with an expression like an innocent toddler.
“Get. Off. Me.” Kevin ordered, speaking very loudly and clearly.
People nearby were starting to snicker, and Laiko cocked his head curiously at them before getting off Kevin’s lap and beaming cheerfully at his friend.
“It’s good to see you, too, Laiko.” Kevin admitted finally, glancing up from behind the book he was reading – his big round glasses glinting in the early morning sunlight.
“Why don’t you go find Mike before he gets into trouble?” Kevin suggested through a wide yawn.
Laiko nodded eagerly in response – then set off with alacrity to search for Mike.

Mike, meanwhile, was on a mission all his own. A never-ending, never-changing mission: to gain the affections of as many girls as was humanly possible. He tended to string at least five along at any one time. Had Laiko known the possible implications this might have for the poor girls, he would probably have stopped his friend – but as always, ignorance was bliss.
Today, Mike had a very special victim. There was a new girl, who did not yet know about the ‘Hansel and Gretel’ rumour circulating about him – that his good looks lured girls in like candy, but that once he had them – he locked them up and plotted to destroy them. Figuratively, of course. Naturally, that rumour meant that getting girls at his own school had become exceedingly difficult.
Right at that moment, Mike was crouched in the low branches of a tree – watching his target. She appeared to be drawing something, but from his position, he couldn’t quite work out what it was.
Well… He supposed it was time to make his move.
Mike dropped from the tree with cat-like precision – landing beside the girl and greeting her with a grin.
“Hey beautiful.” He purred flirtatiously, “What’s your name?”
“MIKE!”
Mike’s head jerked up, and he jumped away from the girl as he saw Laiko sprinting toward him – an uncharacteristic frown on his face.
“Oh, shoot!” Mike muttered, spinning on his heel to make a getaway. Too late.
“What are you playing at?” Laiko demanded, tackling his friend to the ground, and jerking Mike’s arm up instinctively.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!” Mike whimpered, squirming away from Laiko’re grip. “You’re hurting me!”
“I am?!” Laiko exclaimed, aghast. “Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry!!!” He hurriedly released Mike’s arm, jumped off him, and bowed his head in shame.
“Dude, what have I told you about getting all up in my grill when I’ve got company?” He jerked his thumb toward the girl beneath the tree. Laiko glanced briefly at her, then turned back to Mike with a frown. “She doesn’t want your company. Besides, Kevin would be mad if he caught you hitting on a girl again. Remember how mad he was with Emily?”
Mike blinked blankly for a moment, before replying. “Laiko, this is different.”
“How?”
“Emily was his girlfriend.”
Laiko tilted his head curiously to one side. “Does that make a difference?”
Mike goggled at Laiko for a while as though he had grown a second head, then finally laughed and ruffled his friend’s fluffy hair.
“Gosh, Kid, you’re like a flipping alien. I can’t stay angry with something as pathetic as you.”
He laughed, punching Laiko playfully on the shoulder, then walked off – leaving Laiko staring after him in utter confusion.
“Does it make a difference?” He asked uncertainly, turning toward the girl. He stared at her a moment, then a lightbulb seemed to go off in his head.
“Oh, right! You’re Ria!” He exclaimed, plonking down cross-legged in front of her like a kid preparing for story time, and beaming brightly. “I’m Laiko – from the ETU. I’m going to be looking out for you.”
He grinned cheerfully at her from where he sat a short distance away, but he didn’t offer his hand as he usually would have. Mister Stewart- Well… Mister Frank, seeing as he had decided to change his name that morning, had warned him that Ria might not be too fond of physical contact… Especially with the opposite sex. Thus, he was supposed to be very careful around her. Of course, she was supposed to trust him – so he couldn’t do anything to intimidate her…
He doubted he’d manage that. Although he meant well, he still didn’t understand society much.
Ever since that incident two years ago…

“Ah, so it does…” Laiko murmured in wonderment – making a mental note to commit this to memory.
So that was why Kevin had been so much more upset about Emily than the others. Come to think of it, at the time, Laiko had been rather worried he might actually kill Mike.
It had been terrifying. He hadn’t seen Kevin move even half that much until that day…
He frowned thoughtfully at the memory, then shrugged it off and turned his attention back to Ria, smiling mildly.
When she spoke, he tilted his head innocently to one side – clearly oblivious to her irritation.
“Your name… Well, they told me – because I was assigned to you.” He explained simply.
“That’s all I know, though. Just your name…” His eyes traveled to the scars dashing Ria’s arm, and Laiko’s expression darkened slightly – showing some seriousness for the first time. “And your case.” He finished quietly.
“That’s all I need to know for my mission. The rest isn’t my business, so naturally, I don’t know anything else…” He trailed off, shrugging vaguely.
Laiko watched Ria for a while, blinking placidly, but he soon grew bored, and decided to start talking again.
“Sorry about Mike.” He piped up innocently. “He’s a little over-the-top at times, but he’s harmless, really.” He offered a slight smile – then fell silent again, twiddling his thumbs to amuse himself.
He didn’t like sitting still for long. He tended to have too much energy… But he didn’t like running around too much, either. Mike was always dragging him out early in the morning to run – being the jock that he was.
If there was one thing in the world Laiko hated with pure passion – it was getting up early.
He would if he had to…
But he liked to sleep.
“Sorry, Ria…” Laiko mumbled suddenly as a thought occurred to him. “I wasn’t aware that you hadn’t agreed to this…” He scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. “I can cancel the mission, if you’d prefer.” His wide green eyes shone with honesty as he fixed them directly on her. Laiko was strange like that. Everything important that he said, was spoken like a pledge from the soul.
“If you want me to leave you alone, just say the word.”

Laiko disregarded Ria’s comment about Mike. He didn’t know what Mike was doing to the girls – but he did know that he trusted his friend, and that Mike would never hurt anybody. Well, perhaps hurt them emotionally, but as Mike would say ‘Don’t hate the player, hate the game’. Laiko didn’t understand this, but since Mike seemed to swear by it – he assumed it had some sort of deep, relevant meaning.
He shrugged off his thoughts, glancing toward Ria as she spoke again.
"You seem to be of no harm, so I don't mind too much."
These words caused Laiko’s smile to broaden considerably, until he was grinning with shiny-eyed innocence at Ria’s words – which he recognised as acceptance. And thus, the beginning of his mission.
It seemed Laiko had never fully comprehended the aims of the ETU. What he was supposed to do was befriend Ria, and gently council her until she felt comfortable in society once more.
But what Laiko instinctively understood about the mission was one thing, and one thing only:
No harm must come to Ria.
No matter what the situation, no matter what the cost, he would not let anybody lay a finger on her. If it meant jumping in front of a moving train to save her, then he would do it in a heartbeat – because that was his mission. And Laiko never backed out on a mission…
"You know, you might wanna learn how to not talk though. I'm not much company."
Ria’s words jerked him back to the present, and Laiko nodded in understanding.
“I will learn.” He promised solemnly, nodding politely, then falling obediently silent – watching Ria like a puppy watching its master.
But he didn’t say anything, not even a word, because that that was his order.
And Laiko never disobeyed orders.

((Sorry, this one really is too short, but my muse just went... Poof. XD ))

Laiko froze for a moment, panic gripping him.
What did he do when given a contradicting order? She had asked a question, so naturally he felt obliged to answer, but did her earlier demand for silence still stand, or did this question negate it? Was this a test? Biting his lip uncertainly, Laiko struggled to find a solution.
”You never answered my question.”
Well, technically that was a statement, not a question. As such, it didn’t require an answer – but it surely implied that he ought to give one.
So complicated, so confusing! What was he supposed to do?!
Finally, he took a deep breath, then whispered softly, “Um…” He licked his lips nervously – glancing uncertainly from side to side. Right. He thought to himself determinedly, I’ll just answer, and hope it’s the right thing to do!
“You were kidnapped two years ago and held captive for two months.” He recited, speaking as though he was reading directly from a page. “During that time, you were brutally treated, and raped multiple times.”
When he had finished, he fell silent abruptly – then shifted uncomfortably and added in a small voice, “I’m sorry for speaking.”
Never go back on an order, huh?
He bit his lip, feeling terribly guilty all of a sudden for his failure.

((Haha! Oh well. at least we're in the same boat.))

“You’re not…?” He trailed off uncertainly – then simply accepted her words as permission to speak, since she was obviously talking about something far more important, now. A frown of concentration crossed his face as he listened closely. "Look. The only thing I care about right now is that no one and I do mean no one else knows about what happened."
Laiko blinked at Ria in complete surprise. Did she even need to place that order? He was already aware of that, of course. Didn’t she know? How absurd…
“Even under torture, I’d sooner bite off my own tongue and bleed to death than speak a word.” Laiko promised mildly – a placid smile on his innocent face.
When the bell rang, and Laiko saw Ria jump, he instinctively calmed himself – hoping that she would find his confidence somewhat reassuring. People’s minds generally worked that way – they subconsciously adopted the moods or traits of the people around them.
“What do I have first?” He repeated innocently, “Well, whatever you have – I suppose. I adjusted my classes to fit in with your schedule.” He explained brightly, trotting cheerfully along at Ria’s side as they headed toward the school.
“I think we have English first, right? I don’t quite remember…”

((But of course. Scary hidden spiders do that to me. o_0 *Glances around room nervously* ))

A puppy? Laiko thought to himself, confused. A… Puppy? How is that possible – I was certain I’m human… I look human, I can communicate with humans… A puppy? Oh well, I’ll just have to ask Kevin what it means later…
Shaking aside his thoughts, he returned his attention to Ria – watching her curiously. She really said the strangest things sometimes.
She muttered something about his shirt as a bunch of laughing people walked past, and Laiko considered the shirt thoughtfully.
He was rather fond of it…
Shrugging vaguely, he answered, “They usually laugh at me.” He paused a moment, then beamed brightly and added, “It’s good to see them happy.”
He hummed cheerfully to himself for a while, then stopped as Ria spoke again – this time questioning him directly.
“Me?” He asked, somewhat surprised. “Well, there’s not much I can tell you. I got hurt two years ago. Quite badly, so I hear. The doctors expected me to die, but I guess I survived, somehow.” He smiled and shrugged, then continued. “I had terrible amnesia when I finally awoke from the coma. I didn’t know where I was, how I’d got there… Not even my own name. The doctors told me that my memories would come back, but…” He trailed off and shrugged again. “They never did. So I rebuilt my life from scratch, with the help of Principal Hayden (my naming skills…), Mike and Kevin… And here I am now.” He gestured vaguely, finishing with a grin.
“We’re here.” He added, opening the door of the English class for Ria to step through.

“It’s not.” Laiko replied unconcernedly, “It’s just what they called me, and it stuck.” Smiling mildly, he followed Ria to the back, and sat down at the desk beside hers – his eyes automatically darting around to scan the room for threats.
Since he had met Ria, and started his mission, Laiko had felt a change in himself. New instincts were awakening in him, and he knew things he didn’t think he should…
When he looked around a room, he no longer saw the room – but rather every possible entrance for a threat, and every possible escape route. The objects in the room were no longer simply ‘school property’ – but potential weapons of self defense, if a fight should break out.
These new instincts made him wonder, not for the first time, just who had he been before…? What had he been?

((*Huggles* Poor Abba! Polo is sorry… *Offers earplugs*
My muse just died completely. I think that means it’s bed time for Polo. *Nods sadly* ))



Laiko glanced briefly toward Ria as he sat there, and he unintentionally caught a glimpse of her drawing. She was talented – that was for sure – but this was not Laiko’s first thought. His first thought was of how shockingly nostalgic the picture seemed to him.
He could still hear the stubborn rhythmic beating of the heart monitor, when the doctors crowding around him were only waiting for it stop. He could still smell the disinfectant – see the bright whiteness all around him…
And the pain.
The intense, mindboggling pain that had gripped every inch of his body…
”Laiko.”
Throbbing, pulsing, aching…
”Laiko!”
He jumped when the voice finally registered in his head, and Laiko realised that the teacher was speaking to him.
“Yes, Miss?” He replied politely, standing to address the teacher.
“Won’t you tell us what Shakespeare meant by this quote?”
The teacher pointed to the quote on the board, and Laiko began rattling off the meaning as though he had taken it word for word from a textbook – though all the while, he sounded as cheerful as ever. It was just as well, really, that the teacher had interrupted his thoughts. He tended to be happy most of the time, and he liked most things…
But hospitals upset him greatly. Even more than waking up early – and that was saying a lot.

"It makes more sense the way you explain it." Laiko commented with a chuckle, sitting back down in his seat and smiling slightly at Ria. As the teacher had said, she seemed bright. Laiko was glad - it would be nice to have somebody intelligent to talk to. He had Kevin, but Kevin was not really the 'talking' type - and as for Mike, if Laiko used any word longer than about 6 letters, Mike was certain to stop listening. He smiled vaguely at the thought - tapping his pen thoughtfully against his desk.

((Absolutely. Zero. Muse. o_0 We seriously need an idea soon, or I'm going to die. XD ))

When the school day ended, Laiko set off in search of Ria. He had not wanted to leave her – not in the slightest – but even Principal Hayden had been unwilling to let him transfer to her art class. And no wonder – art was the one subject he utterly failed at. He just didn’t have an artistic personality, no matter how hard he tried. The only aspect of art he could manage was making accurate sketches of objects right in front of him. Aside from that, his mind failed to grasp the concept. He was more academic, so the teachers said.
When he first exited the school building, Laiko could find Ria. This, of course, alarmed him greatly.
She was his responsibility! If anything had happened to her…

Meanwhile, Dean Kingsley – a young man by age, but a boy by nature – watched Ria’s progress from inside his car. His slit-like brown eyes tracked her greedily, and there was a faint sneer on his lip as he watched her.
She was pretty… Very pretty.
He glanced down, fingering the tattered piece of card that he held in his hand. As he raised it to his face, the light struck the photograph, and Ria’s pretty eyes stared back at him. He wondered what they would look like when glistening with tears…

As Ria came gradually nearer, Dean slipped the photo into his pocket, then got out of his car and jogged over to meet her.
“Hey.” He greeted her with a friendly smile. “My name’s Dean Kingsley – I’m with the ETU.” He took out his wallet, flipping it open to find his ETU identity card, and showing it to Ria. “I’m supposed to escort you home.” He explained, a gentle, kindly smile on his fox-like face.