Chapter Text
The sun began to set at the train station, the orphan Jabber sat alone on a bench waiting to be found by his new home. All his life Jabber had been passed around from orphanage to orphanage, being only 12 now he couldn't help but feel all sorts of emotions.
It was his first time in the country after all, well his first time in a home….He breathed a deep breath as thoughts filled him ‘Is it just me? Maybe they have other children? WIll they even like me?’
Just as he began to daydream a man approached him, a tall man with gray turning white hair and a wooden arm….. “You Jabber Wonger?”
Jabber quickly nodded too star struck to speak, “Alright, im Bundus Begalkeit the one that sent for you. Come along now”
The two walked in silence as Bundus led Jabber to his cart, a beautiful silver horse waiting for them. The cart itself was a bit busted but in good enough shape to still use, Jabber eagerly got on as Bundus grabbed the reins. “Ever work on a farm before?”
Jabber shook his head “No sir”
Bundus nodded “Well then i’ll teach you” as the horse began its trot Bundus kept talking “We’ve adopted you to help me out, as im getting older it’d be better to have a boy around”
Jabber listened curiously “we?” Jabber had assumed it was just Bundus
“Yes, I share the house with a close friend, his daughters and their caretaker. His named Zodyl, he's gone most the time so the girls are looked after Cthoni” Bundus hummed
“Girls?” Jabber scowled a bit, at the orphanage the girls were always an annoying bunch. Jabber had been hopping to meet fellow boys not a bunch of prissy girls.
Bundus chuckled at Jabbers face “Don’t worry there’s only two, they're good young ladies im sure you’ll all get along”
“Are there any boys?”
Bundus thought for a moment “We have a few neighbors just a mile away, theres a couple that have boys your age”
Jabber grinned satisfied with that, at least there are potential friends nearby…
“Did you go to school?” Bundus has always been a curious man
“A little, some orphanage had it some didnt” Jabber shrugged, he always found school too easy and preferred more physical activities.
“Ah I see, can you read atleast?”
“Yeah i can read” Jabber answered not really listening anymore as the crossed over a bridge
Soon they arrived at the house, it was a decent place with a second smaller floor and a nice barn off to its left, plenty of land and animals from what Jabber could see. On the front porch sat two girls and a short woman.
The girls were reading allowed as the woman sewed a button onto a torn shirt “Cthoni, Momoa, Noerde, come meet Jabber. He’ll be staying with us and helping me in the paster”
The girl with long blonde hair and purple eyes came first clearly willing to set down the book, she looked to be about 14. “He’s quite small, are you sure he’ll be much help?”
Jabber scowled, this was one of many things he didn't like about girls. Too prissy. “Im not small! Im still growing!”
The dark haired girl quietly followed behind her sister “How old is he?” she looked to be younger than Jabber probably just a year or so.
“Im 12” Jabber answered for himself before Bundus could
“Dont you have a bag of some sorts?” Cthoni approached noticing the lag of luggage
“Didnt have anything to bring” Jabber grumbled a bit embarrassed
“Not even clothes or books?” Cthoni crossed her arms questioning the boy
“Belongs to the Orphanage" Jabber couldn't keep eye contact
“We don't have any clothes here for little boys, Noerde take him to the neighbors, they may have some things” Cthoni handed her a couple coins in case it was needed.
Noerde quickly agreed, not wanting to go back to her reading she quickly led Jabber out the front gate and began to talk. “We have many neighbors, everyone lives on these three roads since they’re so long”
Jabber listened while watching some birds “Are there any boys?”
Noerde nodded “Many, I'm sure when you go to school you’ll meet them. Unless Bundus keeps you home to work instead”
“What house are we going to for clothes?”
Noerde thought for a moment then smiled making her choice “Let’s go visit The Rubion’s my friend Tomme lives there, she has a brother just a year older than you”
Jabber liked that and began thinking of what he would do with a friend, play games obviously but what type of games? With so much space out here anything could happen.
Arriving at the house Noerde rung the door and soon a young girl answered similar age to Nerde, she was very pretty with long dark hair and dark oak eyes “Noerde? Why have you come so late? And who’s that?”
When she looked at Jabber he suddenly felt the same nervousness he had when waiting at the train stop. “This is Jabber, Bundus got him to help with the paster. Cthoni sent us to ask Mr.Gris if we could borrow some clothes for him”
Tomme smiled in understanding, after all she is a very nice girl “Sure come into the waiting room ill go get him and Follo”
Tomme showed them both to the waiting room and then left to get the others, Noerde sighed "Isn't she so lady like? Cthoni says I should act more like Tomme, she thinks I like too many un-lady-like things! I just can't help it, I want to be lady-like but I don't want to sit around and read all day!”
Jabber found the topic rather boring “Who cares if you're lady like? Guy’s are obviously better anyway its no wonder you don't want to act like a girl”
Noerde rolled her eyes “Men always assume they're better.”
Just as Noerde spoke a tall man walked in with light hair and striking blue eyes “Good evening Tomme told me about your situation, you want to come upstairs so we can find something for you?”
Jabber hesitated before nodding, the man seemed awfully nice after all. Noerde stayed downstairs to chat with Tomme as Jabber followed Gris.
“Whats your name again?”
“Im Jabber Wonger”
Gris nodded “Its a pleasure to meet you, where you from?”
“No where”
“No where?” Gris looked back at Jabber a bit confused
“Just a couple orphanages, not anything special” Jabber didnt consider himself to be from an orphanage, the statement made him feel empty. So he decided long ago hed prefer to be from nowhere at all.
Gris hummed in understanding as the crossed the hall to a door, a quick knock and it opened. A boy with messy brown hair and orange amber eyes had opened it curiously “Yes?”
“Follo, this is Jabber he’s helping out at old Bundus’ place. We’re gonna give him some clothes you don't wear anymore” Despite only being a year older Follo was already quiet taller than Jabber.
Jabber wondered quickly if Follo wouldn't like him taking his stuff or even just being here, but to his surprise Follo just gave a small smile and nodded “Sure most of its on the closet floor”
Gris gave him a look and Follo knew he’d be cleaning later, as Gris searched the closet for clothes Follo turned his attention to Jabber “How old are you?”
“12, you?”
Follo smirked, happy to be the older one “13. Ever lived in the country before?”
Jabber shook his head and Follo grinned more “Guess someone will have to show you around”
“Who?” Jabber had assumed Noerde would show him everywhere
Follo shrugged “I could, most other kids live a couple miles down plus we have the creek”
Jabber was quickly interested and was about to speak before Follo interrupted, “Do you have a bike?”
“No”
“You should get one, Akuta’s house is just a bike ride up”
“Akuta’s?”
Follo nodded remembering how new Jabber truly is “You’ll like them, they have a couple kids”
Gris walked over with a box “These should do you some good till you buy your own”
“Thanks” Jabber couldn't help but smile seeing the clothes for him and just him.