Red crayons and meat

In any case, those thoughts were quickly stopped as the boy faltered. A gentle pat against his back, a smile and a nod. Dipping his own finger into the paint, the tip of his clawed nails made a good mock-fountain pen. 

The boy fell silent for a bit, he was feeling rather guilty and dreadful inside, even forming a single sentence in his mind was unfortunately a challenge. His red hues averted every gazing chance that was given, he felt too ashamed, he wanted to disappear. Though, that reassuring smile from his alternate did make him reconsider lying.

"Th-- Thank you big bro...you are so kind to me...I feel so unworthy...." He shyly admitted. "M- My cuts...They are on my...m...my feet....back...an...and....hhh..." Lastly pointed to his chest. He was hiding them with clothing, hoping nobody would ever find out, but keeping this from Hugo felt so wrong. Some relief came after telling him of course, he exhaled slowly. 

Hugo wanted to learn how to swim? More confusion. It did not understand how random acts of fortune had an effect knowing how to navigate the plastic. But Levi did let the enthusiastic child pet it’s snout, that was at least a recognized gesture.

Hugo hugged the creatures muzzle and nuzzled against it. Nothing seemed odd in the slightest, due to his mother, The Queen, has told him in the past that everything belonged to him.

He had managed to find a ratty ball of string-on closer inspection it was a composition of various fibres, ranging from hemp to plastic- and entered the library.

Hugo kept his red hues wandering, searching, observing everything around them, not letting his guard down for a second. The ball of string seemed like it would be fun to play with, he wasn't sure what the merchant would use it for, but he'd wait and find out. 

{ ✖ } “…Curses.                         —Oh woe is me!                                         I am to no longer wander the zones! For I am locked in the arms of                                                 Hugo!” { ✖ }

"Hm—" He froze up at feeling someone’s hand touch him, eyes becoming wide in a mix of fear and surprise. At first he assumed it was a Spectre, and spun himself around to look at who in the world touched him. Letting out a sigh of relief, it seemed it was… um… wait, who was this?

"It’s fine, I guess… just please let me know when you’re going to touch me."

Soft? That wasn’t a word Deon felt fit him. However, perhaps this… person of some kind was merely trying to be nice.

Hugo was shown his palm. It was smooth, the thin cut having already vanished.

He then dipped a scarred digit into the cradled 'paint' and began scribbling. "Its really easy! See!" Hugo made what seemed to be a flower. "Whatever pops into your head, go for it! Hhh." He was getting a bit too excited, and the child didn't have strong heart, so he wheezed occasionally.

So much red. So… a cooler colour. 

Carefully he dragged his nail across his palm, blood springing to the surface and pooling there… but a lighter hue infected it until it was a baby blue. 

"I can make any colour you wish, but we must use it sparingly." He regarded a blanker patch in the wall, before motioning the other over with a tilt of his head. 

It was...cool, but also strange and worrying. Did that hurt him?! 

"That color is so beautiful! Um, Batter, does that hurt you?" 

It brought memories of the hellish landscapes he travelled within his son’s own mind, of course, but to see them in such context was so much better. It didn’t really bother him, the likeness. 

"We can paint on all the walls! Whatever we want!" He said with eagerness to begin, he cherished every color in possession. "I hope to make many memories with you!"

The boy’s hands were a bit cold. Strangely soft. Like the feeling of his own son’s hand, as small as it was… so tiny. Fragile. 

Cold.

He was happy in giving over the warmth, however rough his own palms were with calluses. 

The other did not have to stay, but he did, and that made such a genuine impression on the child. There was a part of of him saying to be more suspicious, but the majority was comfortable.