milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

[OOM: Innocence]

The door opens and an eight year old walks in. Not the cleanest eight year old, no, her bedraggled hair is tucked under a faded kerchief and her jeans have seen better and cleaner days. She's far too thin for anyone's comfort, and the split lip and bruised eye don't add to her physical charms, oh no. But they are passing things.

She's carrying a small box in her hands, giving it the same wonder and care one would the Ark of the Convenant, or perhaps a rare and precious jewel, but it's far more mundane. Half a childs milk carton, filled with deep, rich earth and a seedling valiantly sprouting. As she sits a table she lets her feet swing, just drinking in the sight of such a wonderful gift, this plant, occassionally reaching out shaking hands to touch the single leaf gently and smile.

This child though, has Wish's eyes, and for some reason she holds this form...for she just came from a strong dreamer, a fierce heart that wished so bravely, how could she not be bound to a single form for a time?

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Hank glances up, his guitar music floating around him as he smiles and at first doesn't seem to know the child. But, then there are the eyes, and he smiles in real happiness. What he is playing segues to a lighter air, something more akin to friends coming home.

Her smile, despite the injuries, is simple and sweet as any eight year olds, and meant mainly for her treasure, but asshe glances up Hank receives the same open look.

He smiles and nods to her, his playing trilling slightly as he watches. and he gestures with a smile to a chair nearby. An invitation, but not a demand.

His smile in retur has but the opennness of a friend's.

And she happily skips over, carrying her carton planter carefully, then plops down with the grace of any child by his knees.

He smiles and sings softly as he plays.

"A fair day to thee, wanderer in time, childlike and with beauty bright, slipping in in rhyme, friend welcome always, friend always true, a fair day to thee, my dear lady true."

She giggled at that, shaking her head softly "You're a silly man Hank McCoy."

he chuckles as he plays and then sings again.

"Truly you speak, child of magic and light, silliness doth exude, from me every night, it glomps, and glows, and simply shows, every single day, that my inner child, is merely mild, and never going away. What about you, Who shows up so true? With a giggle shiny as the sun, will you now deny my fun?"

He grins at her his music wiggles almost.

She pokes out her tongue, deciding that, perhaps, scolding more would lead to worse rhymes. She loves music, truly, but there are limits...

He grins and finally finishes his playing for a little while. He sets his guitar aside.

"How goes it my friend?"

She proudly holds up her small cardboard planter with the single proud seedling "Her name is Maple"

He smiles.

"And a beautiful plant she is."

He smiles at the little plant, running a finger along the planter itself.

He grins.

"Will you be taking her home with you?"

"Yes" she stated firmly, yet happily. "She'll be beautiful in the temple and I'd like someone to share the place with"

He smiles again.

"Sounds like a wonderful plan. Everyone deserves a home and everyone deserves to not be alone."

He smiles at her.

"I hope you are both happy there."

"I hope so too..." she actually wrinkles her frehead in worry for a moment. "If she doesn't like it though I'll take her someplace else,someplace safer" she nodded her head at her own decision.

He cocks his head.

"I am sure she will be happy with you. And if I can ever help, let me know. I am not a great gardener, but I have a little practice."

"Well, I'll get her settled and comfortable at the temple, and if she doesn't seem happy I'll bring you to see her first okay? I"ve had some peopel give me advice, and it's good advice...even f she does end up being a cucumber...."

He nods.

"Whatever you like."

he smiles.

"Whatever she becomes, I am sure she will do it admirably. After all you are her guardian."

She looked up, blinked slowly as she absorbed his comment then shook her head softly. "I kind of hope she's not a cucumber" she whispered, a confidential childs whisper.

"Guardians don't know about gardening..."

"Gardening is a lot like being a parent. You pay attention, you go and seek knowledge so you can do a good job, you guard and watch over the plant, you seek out the best things for it, and you do your best, as best you can."

he leans in and whispers.

"That's okay. It is always okay to hope."

She looked down at Maple, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. If Wish was meant to be a parent...wouldn't she be by now? She wasn't human enough to fill such a role...was she? She had answered so many escaping poor parents, would Maple end up another victim?

She cuddled the little planter close to heart, trying her best to promise safety and security. "I'll try" odd, how that sounds more of a grim promise than anything else.

He smiles slightly, seeing in her the fear he has felt before.

hge gently reaches out to touch her shoulder.

"No parent ever thinks they are good enough or wise enough to do right. But know this: I have faith in you my friend. And always will answer your call if you have need, or if your plant does. A friend to another."

His voice is kind and compassionate and also serious in it's gentle way.

"I don't want her to ever hurt..." and it strange that it doesn't eve enter her mind to use any of her abilities to ensure such. It was given in an almost sacred trust, to do less than treat it as such would belittle the entire wish.

"But I don't think I was ever meant to be a parent..."

"No parent ever does. it is the call in the heart to help, to protect. And why not? Why cant you be a parent?"

He looks at her.

"I think you would make a grand one, Wish, for you have the wisdom to know beynd even your nature, that everything has a price and isnt free, a child of yours would grow up knowing this and be wiser for it."

Her laughter is sudden, wild and free, intoxicating as a night of drink and as soothing as dawn light. "Wisdom...oh yes, grim wisdom for any child..."

And what of love? She knows of this, helps others find it? Is it not required for children? In her mind it is.

"You are a strange reasoner Hank McCoy. Very strange indeed."

"Many would agree with you, Wish, on both counts, But I always rememebr this. Strangeness will cast itself upon the wings of time and bring all manner of wonders to life."

And he picks up his guitar,and this time when he sings it is an ancioent ballad of hope, of dreams, and of fiendship. And his eyes shine to her with that friendship.

"What am I but an echoe of the people?" she stated quietly, a smile still on her lips and oodly, her form healed now of the bruising and bleeding.

"Fair strange indeed" she stands, taller than an eight year old now but holding the plant as gently as any precious cargo. She lays a gentle kiss on the top of Hanks fuzzy head and gives him a last sad smile.

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