SIM:Reinard Sims/No Matter What

No Matter What was written by Greir Reinard and submitted to the 2013 Writers Challenge in February.

((Reinard Household, Bondi, Til’Ahn))

:: Screaming and chaos reigned in the Reinard household. The intense, ceaseless shrieking of three year old Greir could be heard above the dull roar of the Futbash game Gjord was trying to watch. It could be heard over the clinking and bashing of five year old Loffe trying to play music in his room, over the clattering of pots and utensils and the nagging buzz of an incoming call. ::

Edla: ::A shrill screech:: Gjord! Will you answer the call!?

::She could just barely hear the grunt as Gjord got up.::

Gjord: ::Bellowing back:: Will you shut him up!? You can’t even think for him! Put him in the insulator.

Edla: ::Getting annoyed:: He hates it in there, it only makes him worse.

Gjord: Tough! He can get used to it!

:: Edla could no longer remember a time when things had been quiet and peaceful, and sometimes wished she’d stopped with the first son. She slammed the pot down so hard it sent the boiling hot contents sloshing up and over the side and onto the work surface. She could take no more and stormed through to the nursery. ::

:: She looked down into the crib with a murderous glare. Edla was so stressed out she had very little sympathy left for him. She knew he was in pain but he was making it so much worse for himself by working himself up like this. He was certainly sharing the pain because everyone else in the house had headaches now too, yet none of them were screaming tirelessly about it.::

::Greir wouldn’t eat or drink when he was like this and the painkillers didn’t seem to help. Even holding him didn’t help either, he was inconsolable and the worst thing was the feeling of helplessness and inadequacy that she couldn’t help her own son. The health visitors were more infuriating than helpful. If they had to hold him for hours on end like she did they wouldn’t sit there with smug faces patronising her and telling her to just do this and that and it’ll work out fine.::

::They knew Greir’s intense headaches and problems were caused because of his fielding ability. He wasn’t able to cope with all the sensory information he was picking up. The ‘expert’ had not been very helpful but had suggested it was causing his nervous system to overload and that’s why he was experiencing these symptoms. Greir had a much greater than average ability and usually children with that level of ability also learned control quicker than normal. Edla had thrown the fielding ‘expert’ out when he’d suggested Greir’s slowness in grasping control was due to having lower than average intelligence.::

:: It didn’t work out fine and sometimes she felt like giving him up or abandoning him someplace safe. If it hadn’t been for poor, sweet Loffe, her eldest son she’d have run away and left it all behind. Edla often wondered how long he could go on like this before exhausting himself but he never seemed to tire of screaming. Greir’s body was completely rigid and he didn’t move a muscle as he was picked up. As she tried once more to soothe her shrieking rock she could hear the rumbling, angry voice of Gjord getting closer. ::

Gjord: ::Still trying to talk on the phone:: Can’t you take him outside or something, I’m trying to talk to my brother!

Edla: I’m trying to cook your dinner!

::She stepped towards Gjord as a funny smell caught her nose.::

::Before she could get to the door another pained cry filled the air. Gjord cursed and abruptly closed the comm. He and Edla both raced towards the sound, which was coming from the kitchen. The smell was much stronger here, Loffe was lying curled up on the kitchen floor clutching his hand. The smoking dinner pan was spilled all over the floor.::

::They quickly established what had happened and rushed Loffe into the restroom so they could treat his burns with their first aid supplies and began by cooling the affected areas. Greir’s screaming never ceased or paused through it all. By now Edla was thoroughly losing it, she was furious. If Greir hadn’t been screaming like an angry Monkat none of this would have happened. She left Gjord to finish healing Loffe who’d just been trying to help save the burning dinner.::

::Things were still as crazy and tense in the household when Rori unexpectedly arrived at the front door. Having heard how bad the situation had become he knew they were both at breaking point and had come right over after being cut off the comm. Gjord had been visibly surprised to see Rori but had shown him right in. He was reluctant to accept help which was typical for him. He was always so stubborn and had to take everything on his own.::

::Rori was horrified to find Elda crying and shaking Greir furiously when they entered the nursery.::

Rori: ::Urgently:: Stop!

::Edla stopped what she was doing as abruptly as she’d started it and looked shocked and ashamed all at once.::

Edla: Rori!? We… we weren’t expecting you!?

Rori: ::Holding his arms out:: Give him to me. ::Demanding but completely calm::

Elda: No it’s okay. I just need to calm down. ::Holding Greir tighter.::

Rori: It’s okay Elda. Let me take him. I’ll take him out for a few hours. Give you a break…

Gjord: ::Coarsely:: He’ll cry the whole time. He just needs to spend some time in the insulator.

::That was what they called the special unit that was fitted to cover Greir’s crib for quickness and simplicity. It’s actual name read like a pharmacy shelf. Greir hated the device, which was essentially like a big black box. Once fitted over the crib it blotted out more than just the light. It dampened energy fields so the little tot inside could get some relief, it was supposed to create a calm, soothing environment. Instead it just made Greir’s shrieks hit all whole new levels of panic. Edla wished Gjord would stop trying to force Greir into the box all the time when it clearly didn’t calm him.::

::Rather than have Greir shoved in the insulator by Gjord she handed him over to Rori reluctantly. He took Greir and held him gently, though he was so tense and rigid that it was quite an unnatural position. He was deep crimson in colour, his normally blue band looked purple and his little tongue wavered with every shriek.::

Rori: Give me some food and blankets for him please.

::Edla went to the linen closet and returned with some blankets, then she went and got a loose robe for Greir and helped slip it on him. Gjord went and put together a small sack with some of Greir’s favourite foods and a drink of water. If he ever calmed down he was bound to be hungry, thirsty and exhausted. They handed over the packed supplies, Edla kissed Greir on the forehead and ruffled his hair. Gjord put his hand on Edla’s shoulder.::

Gjord: He’ll be fine Elda. Rori will look after him.

Rori: ::With a reassuring smile:: I’ll bring him back tomorrow morning.

Edla: Tomorrow! I thought you said a few hours.

Rori: This way you can all get a good night’s rest. You look shattered, both of you.

::Edla wasn’t too comfortable about the idea and put up some resistance. As angry, frustrated and stressed as she was, he was still her baby. She trusted and liked Rori but she preferred to have Greir where she could keep an eye on him. Gjord and Rori persuaded her to let him go and with Loffe complaining of being hungry in the background she let them go.::

::Rori took Greir to his transport. He hated to subject the boy to more energy fields but while the trip they were taking wasn’t terribly far, it was too far to walk. It was difficult getting Greir into the little child seat and safely secured due to how tense his muscles were. He didn’t want to use too much force on the youngster and was afraid of hurting him or breaking his little bones. Through it all the screaming never let up.::

::They hadn’t even begun the journey but Rori was already getting a headache. He thought about what it must be like for Gjord and his family dealing with this on an almost daily basis.::

Rori: oO It must be soul destroying for them. Oo

::It was a clear night and there was a bit of a cool breeze. Rori glanced up to the stars before getting into his seat and starting the transport. He looked and and considered Greir for a moment before slowly moving out and starting their journey towards the edge of town.::

Rori: Be strong little Greir, I know it’s hard now but you’ll get through this. We’ll get you there.

::He didn’t expect the child to understand. He was only three but he hoped his calm voice and presence would be of some small comfort to him. Other transports passed them, some bigger and more powerful, some faster but Rori just took it slow and smooth. Lights and music spilled from well lit pubs, clubs and entertainment facilities. People enjoying the nightlife bustled around. They called Bondi the seaside city that never sleeps.::

::Rori continued to talk to the child as they headed into the less densely populated area of the city nearer the outskirts. There wasn’t much else he could do while controlling the transport but at least Greir could hear his voice. Things were a lot quieter here and Greir’s cries seemed less urgent. Then again perhaps he was just imagining or becoming accustomed to it. ::

::The buildings here were smaller and less densely packed, there were more parks and people had gardens. There was less traffic and noise, everything was so much more quiet and peaceful. The sun was starting to go down and there were beautiful warm colours in the sky. It seemed to be having the desired effect as Greir was calming down a lot. His crying was just more than a sniffle and he was starting to take an interest in their surroundings, peeking at things through puffy eyes.::

::Rori could tell by the continued stiffness and the boy’s expression that he was still in a lot of pain. At least his curiosity was helping keep his mind off it as he looked about and took it all in. Rori went slowly, pointing to things and telling Greir what they were. He didn’t have children of his own, so he wasn’t too sure where Greir should be at in terms of development. If he remembered correctly, Gjord had indicated the boy was behind where he was supposed to be and a lot of it was probably down to these problems.::

::They passed some older children playing games in one of the gardens and it made him think of another recent conversation with Gjord. Seemingly Greir had recently started nursery and it wasn’t going well. He wouldn’t play with the other children and would disappear off into a corner to play on his own. Sometimes the teachers would find him just sitting there staring off into space. It was somewhat unusual and the reason he’d recommended a friend from the fielding league see Greir. Rori had been moderately angry to hear Edla and Gjord had expelled him from their home and turned away his help. Larskin had been very angry and Rori had taken the brunt of it::

::Rori had been so deep in his own thoughts for a while that he hadn’t noticed the crying had finally stopped. When he looked over Greir was asleep, although he didn’t look at all comfortable. He continued to take them out of Bondi and along the coast until the city was far behind. He found a good, sheltered place by the coast and took Greir and the various packed items down to the beach. There was still a little warmth left in the sand.::

::Rori set everything down in easy reach then sat down with Greir in his arms. He still felt very tense but at least his limbs had some mobility back. Rori watched the sun go down and absently trailed a finger over the blue band on Greir’s forehead. He took a little lamp out and lit it, placing it at arm’s reach to the side. Out here there was only nature. The relaxing sound of the waves, the gentle wind in the grass and leaves. Occasionally there was the rustle or call of wildlife. ::

::They’d left all the overpowering energy fields of Bondi far behind them and Rori was prepared to bring Greir any time he needed it until he started the achieve the level of control he needed. He was just nodding off when Greir started to stir. Bright, curious eyes peered at him in the soft light of the lamp.::

Rori: I bet you’re hungry little man. ::Rummaging in the bag and pulling out some of the food and the drink.::

::There were some slices of Guyver in there with the thick leathery skins cut off. The fruit was similar to a mango, only with pale flesh. Rori sat Greir up and found he was happy to accept a slice and started chewing away on it immediately. Rori took a slice for himself and for the next while they quietly enjoyed their snacks and water together.::

::Greir was a very calm and quiet soul when he wasn’t screaming like someone was trying to murder him. The little one had picked up a shell, was lying on his back and quite happily turning it over in his hands. Rori took a hold of one of Greir’s feet and gave it a little rub. Greir must have found this ticklish because he chuckled, pulled his foot back and kicked Rori gently with it.::

Rori: ::Smiling at Greir and catching his foot again:: Come here you wriggly wurmple.

::Rori felt a surge of happiness and relief as he looked upon the happy, mischievous face of his nephew. It was nice to see him so happy, relaxed and wanting to play. Greir giggled and wriggled as Rori tickled him. It made him chuckle to see Greir having so much fun after such a hard night. As their eyes connected Rori felt a lot of love for the boy and made a vow to himself that he would always be there for Greir no matter what.