Room 238, Saturday evening

[can_be_more]

After spending time in the common room, mostly talking to and playing with weetiny teachers, Aeryn has decided she should probably just go back to the room. It's safer there.

She notices she left her phone on the table, so she picks it up and is surprised to see a message on there. She listens to it, and is left staring at it, both facepalming and repeating, "Ryn?"

[Open. Why not?]

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"If it makes them smile, yeah," he says, grinning.

[can_be_more]

"They don't always smile, you know," she says.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I know," he says. "But if I can make them smile, I will."

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"What if the child's not naturally... smiley?" She knows she hadn't been.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Then I try to make them happy," he says. "If they don't smile, that's all right. There's ways to know they're happy."

[can_be_more]

"Such as?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"If they laugh, if they don't cry a lot, if they hug you, if they sleep well," he says, naming them off.

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"Have you been around children much?" she wonders.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Some," he says. "Sisters, cousins, nephews. I babysat every once in awhile."

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"I've done nothing like that," she says, almost like a warning.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He frowns. "So?"

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"I think I'm at a disadvantage."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"For what?"

[can_be_more]

"Dealing with them," she says simply.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You learn as you go," he says. "There's no instruction manual."

[can_be_more]

"You know, by Fandom standards they'll be back to normal on Monday," she says, but she's pretty much testing for his reaction.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I know," he says. "Still doesn't mean we shouldn't have fun with them. Let them have fun."

[can_be_more]

Aeryn nods briefly. "I don't know how to deal with classes this week. Aly hugged me twice."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I gave her a horse back ride, Aeryn," he says and laughs. "Our Home Ec teacher pushed me over. We just smile and laugh at their embarrassment."

[can_be_more]

"Yes, but it's me," she says. "You're always strange."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"If they hugged you, then they felt comfortable with you," John explains.

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Aeryn frowns. "I wasn't sure anyone felt comfortable around me," she says, considering John the exception. Most days.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John makes a sound. "You underestimate yourself."

[can_be_more]

"I'm realistic," she protests.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You are," he says. "But you also underestimate yourself."