did you see the words you know

[handelaar]

CHARACTERS: Netherlands handelaar and Takeshi throwsdown
LOCATION: Takeshi's room (002 » 030)
WARNINGS: Cute stuff.
SUMMARY: No really Mr. Ned is reading a book about bunnies to a kid it should be some cute shit.


His knock on the door is softer than usual and he huffs to himself, shifting his weight. Stupid, to be worried about whether a five year old will like the children's book tucked against his side, but even after discussing it with Heather and telling himself there's no need for it - Takeshi will like it and he knows it, on a logical level - well. He'd still like to smoke and that's a pretty clear indicator. Nervous about showing off part of himself to a child a hundredth of his age or something, Christ he's in deep.

But he can't even pretend that he won't be a little crushed if the kid gets bored halfway through and decides he'd rather play heroes and dragons and giant robots. Compared to that a simple little tale about two rabbits and their daughter isn't very exciting.

His own rabbit is at his feet, insistently tugging on his trouser leg like ruining the hem will make Takeshi's door magically open. After a moment to shush the little guy he clears his throat and calls out. "Hey, kiddo. It's Mister …Ned."

Maybe he should've called first, or something. Penciled it in.

Comments

[throwsdown]

"Ned??" Excitedly, he opens the door right on up--where've you been, bro? He's been missing your company! Even if it was probably not that long ago at all. He's recuperated enough from that heart-to-heart with Heather that now he's all smiles as he leans in for the obligatory 'hey how's it going' hug. "Ned, whatcha' doing here? Whatcha' got??"

(It's not pudding. Crisis averted.)

[handelaar]

The hug gets followed up with kisses, him moving into a crouch rather than picking Takeshi up. If he does that it's not likely he'll want to set the kid down, and at this point it's kind of routine anyway. Routine's good. Comforting. Lodewijk bounds in and waits for the greetings to stop, and they do, Netherlands standing and trying not to grin through all the questioning.

"Hn. And who says I got somethin'."

Yeah, it's obvious he does - not like he's hiding it - but he's trying to play along here, shooting Lodewijk a look like you fucker you told on me as he moves in and sits on the bed.

[throwsdown]

He actually stops to really heavily consider that--oh, maybe he doesn't... like, maybe it's not for him. He never really put much thought into that; after all, Takeshi's not much used to getting things, so maybe he's just getting used it it lately. Still, he stares up with wide, hopeful eyes.

Because getting stuff from Ned was always awesome.

"Um--because... I've been... good?"

... Smiiiile. c:

[handelaar]

Oh, oops. His attempt at being playful didn't... really work there. But at least he gets a smile. So his demeanor stays soft even as he steers them into something more businesslike, pats the bed beside him and flashes the book.

"Pretty good. Get a story," he says, scooting back to give them both room. "Can't keep the book..."

Yet. He doesn't say yet, though, because he's not sure if he'll ever be ready to give it up or not when home is so far away.
He'll write it into his will here, though.

[throwsdown]

"A story??" Lucky, lucky, Ned, he sounds excited about that! And on par the course with a child, he drags himself up on the bed until his back is against the wall, waiting with the full faith that Netherlands knows that he wants him to join alongside the boy. "I'd like to hear it! Is it a good one?"

tags back so slowly until it gets here...

[handelaar]

Of course he wants Takeshi to sit beside him. Really he'd like to pull the kid into his lap, put his chin on his hair as they read, but for now he's content being thigh-to-tiny-thigh and their backs against the wall. One arm does snake its way over Takeshi's shoulders, other pulling out the book.

"One-a my favorites," he murmurs, and switches to Dutch. It's what he'll be reading, anyway. "From where I live."

With that he lays the book on his lap, cover exposed -

"Nijntje." Which is probably translated as "bunny", but whatever. Maybe not.

oh baby

[throwsdown]

"It's cute!" He leans in on Netherlands to get the best look. "It's about bunnies? That's your favorite! You have a bunny, too." Basically, Ned, he's noticed your love of the fuzzy hoppy critters.

makes a joke about slamming

[handelaar]

"It's about bunnies," he murmurs, tone almost drunk with how pleased he is. Takeshi doesn't think it's dumb just because it's not about robots or monsters or heroes. Good shit.

With that he flips open the cover - This book belongs to Nederland right there, filled out on the inside - quickly flips to the first page and begins reading.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny lived
in a farmhouse all alone.
The house had two nice shutters
and a garden of its own.

The facing page with its simple illustration of a house and daisies is so classic that he forgets to comment on it.

tsk tsk

[throwsdown]

Takeshi just leans his head against Netherland's arm, looking intently at the pictures. Immediately, he has two thoughts: did they have farm animals? And most importantly, what sorts of things did they grow? As Ned reads, he chews his finger and tries to see the words in the black lines written across the page. It's a good thing Mr. Ned can read, he thinks. It's a good thing. He can't help himself from prying, questions abound:

"Are there pretty flowers in their garden?"

[handelaar]

That question immediately has him laughing, low and warm, the type of laugh that would come with a wink if it was coming from most anyone else. As it is he simply quirks his lips up and shifts to wrap an arm around the kid.

"Flip the page an' tell me."

Because the next page? This.

[throwsdown]

... Cuuuuuuuuuuute.

And not to mention, hearing Netherlands in such a good mood makes him instantly content.

"What kind are they? What kind?? I don't know flower names very good...!"

Wait--is that bunny wearing clothes? How'd he put on clothes without any fingers??

No, no, Takeshi, focus on one question.

[handelaar]

"They're," and then he halts because, uh. It's not a thing he's ever thought about so he tilts his head and squints at them. "Prob'ly daisies."

That determined, he nudges Takeshi and glances down, good-natured.

"Can y'read any of that, kiddo?"

[throwsdown]

Oh, gosh. He flusters.

"I... some words... I'm not very good at reading. But I--I can try to!"

He doesn't think he's too smart, though. He's not so sure he's a good learner.

[handelaar]

"Oh." He tries not to sound too surprised, but frankly, he didn't expect for Takeshi to be able to read any of it.

"S'fine. Show me the ones you know."

[throwsdown]

He appears to be straining his eyes quite carefully at each word, biting his lip; truth be told, reading frustrated him very easily. He didn't like words. Words were hard. Words took more time with him than adults, and it made him feel bad. But he'd try--for Netherlands, he'd try!

"... the--this is 'the'."

An easy word. He learned that one quick.

He skips around with his finger.

"He... wuh... wehded duhg... and--"

Blink. Pout.

"You're better--you should read it."

[handelaar]

As Takeshi points out each word - and gets them right for the most part - he nods along, tiny grin on his face and with each one gives a little squeeze to a little shoulder.

"I will. But it's good to know words. In case someone isn't around to read them for ya, any- " Uh. Clearing his throat. He points at weeded and mutters it.

"Took me a long time to read. You're better than I was."

Of course, he never had someone around to teach him, but even so. He'll just leave that part out.

[throwsdown]

He seems surprised by that fact; Netherlands, not being a good reader at some point? It's hard for him to wrap his mind around it, and it's very very easy to forget everyone was small like him at some point. "How'd... you learn?"

Maybe it'll be a way for him to get better, too. A tip!

"Did you go to school?"

[handelaar]

That gets yet another huff of humor out of him, and he shakes his head as he reaches over to tap at the corner of the page a few times. The intention is to let Takeshi know he can turn the page, but whether that'll get across - well, first thing is to answer the questions.

"No. There weren't any schools when I was a kid. Guess I learned..."

Goddamn, it's hard to remember let alone explain, so he taps again and murmurs that Takeshi can control the pages while he thinks. "Mm. From maps, first. What the sounds were - didn't know about the alphabet. Learned some from the Church, too."

[throwsdown]

Without even missing a bet, Takeshi knows what Netherlands is getting at; he turns the page without taking his attention off what the man was saying. He stops, because he doesn't want to ruin the story — it's important to read it all. "Chuch? Like — Murphy's church. Like in the garden With the bees and butterflies."

[handelaar]

"No. Wasn't like that. Didn't teach ya like they do in - Murphy's church."

It sounds weird to his ears, because he's always thought of it as Nathan's church, or maybe Mattie's. But if Takeshi wants to call it Murphy's church then why not. He clears his throat - anyway.

"So you'll learn hell of a lot faster than I did. Uh," and a nod down to the page, "howbout - you point at words an' I'll read 'em. That way if you know a word you say it with me."

Is that a good idea? It seems like a good idea. Interactive.

[throwsdown]

He presses one finger to the second word, smiling a little bit. He knows what it says, but hearing Netherlands say it would make him feel happy; he's not sure why, it just would. And all the while, there's some hesitation in the way he speaks up, though his face shows nothing but contentment.

"Mama Bunny?"

[handelaar]

"Mrs," he corrects, trying to sound neutral about it. Doesn't want to shoot down the kid's efforts immediately, or anything, especially if he's not sure about reading aloud in the first place.

"Not a - uh. Mama Bunny, yet."

That comes later in the story.

[throwsdown]

"Oh." Well, he doesn't seem too disappointed in that; facts are facts! He just looks at the page and starts reading each word slow and steady that he knows — to, and, plan — looks up, something hopeful in the way he leans close, because he can only hope he's doing a decent enough job that Ned will be proud of him — her, was —

He manages to pronounce basket with a little urgency, like it was the final level of a video game he just had to beat.

"Eh...aht."

Eat. It was supposed to be 'eat'.

Letters confuse him. puh-lan was easy.