selkiesaoirse | (no subject)

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people: gabriel harkin

(no subject)

There's a toy store in the mall that has a play center in it. It's something that Saoirse loves to visit, and since winter doesn't want to let go, it's especially good to visit. It isn't very large, but it's certainly big enough. There's a slide, and a climbing gym with tunnels in it that reminds her of a big plastic anthill.

The flooring in this corner is rubberized, so it doesn't hurt as much to land on, and painted green — to look like grass, she thinks, although it doesn't, really.

Saoirse had managed to convey to Gabriel that she wanted to go there today. She has a little money to buy a toy or book with, but she mostly just wants to play in the climbing gym. She giggles her silent giggle when she notices her hair starting to stand out in every direction, from the static electricity. She probably looks very funny!

She runs up to Gabriel, careful not to shock him, and points at her hair. They should take a picture for Greta!

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Gabriel smiles when Saoirse runs over to him. "Here, hold on, let me match."

He pulls his gloves out of his pocket - soft, knit things - and rubbed them over his hair to generate the same kind of static that Saoirse has going. Then he crouches down and uses his phone to take a picture of the both of them. He'll send it to Greta in a moment.

He's more than happy to babysit Saoirse; she reminds him of Nuala, and he misses his siblings dearly, even if they aren't as closely related as he once thought.

With a tap, he opens the photo so Saoirse can see. "What do you think?"

Saoirse giggles, and she reaches up to try to smooth her hair back down, but she nods her approval. She's making a funny face in the picture, which is appropriate, since her hair is also very funny. She leans against his side, looking for another photo op.

Gabriel smooths his hair back down, combing his fingers through it. "I'll send that to Greta so she knows I did't take you out drag racing or to a fight club," he teases Saoirse. He takes another picture of them together once their hair is mostly straight again, since she's leaning on him like she wants another.

"Do you want to stay here or should we walk around a bit?"

She looks around, taking in the sights and looking for anything she hasn't done yet. She decides there's nothing extra special here, so she nods and offers her elbow. It wasn't a yes or no question, but perhaps since she's not pointing directly at the ground, Gabriel will understand.

He smiles and gently holds onto her so they could do a little walk around. "Tug if you see somewhere you want to go, okay? Maybe we can find a little something nice to bring home for Greta."

Gabriel's quiet for just a moment before he asks, "Saoirse, do you understand any Irish?"

The question surprises her, and it shows on her face. But she nods, watching him with open curiosity. Is he going to tell her a spell? Or perhaps sing her a song?

"I learned it as a boy, and they kept us on it through school, so it could be a secret between us," he says with a sly little smile. "Just for us."

He's certain Sweeney would understand all of it, but he's not here. "I know you don't talk, but even if you wanted to write little notes back and forth."

She nods, interested and pleased at once by this idea. She's not good at spelling in Irish, but she can try! And if Gabriel is going to do it, too, then she'll learn even faster.

"Were there ah-- were there things you liked to you with your brother? I'm not him, I know." But he wants to offer it to her. They're both here without their siblings and Gabriel knows he aches for his own, even if they aren't as closely related as he thought they were. Saoirse reminds him so much of Nuala sometimes, except she's so quiet whereas Nuala never stops talking, if she gets going.

She considers for a moment, then lifts her shoulders in a shrug. He'd read to her sometimes, but mostly she'd followed him around while he did things with Cu. They weren't friends, she realizes now. She pantomimes opening a book, though, because that had been her favorite part. Ben was a poophead, but he'd been a good storyteller.

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