Entry Seventy-Five

[dreamermoa]

....

You didn't - do it on purpose. I - I know that. You're...going to come back for me.....after everything...

[her voice cracks.]

It's okay. I'm not - angry. I'll be okay.

[she's trying not to cry, not until she gets the communicator out of her hands at least...]

H-Hawkeye, can I...come stay with you? F-for a little bit. Just....

[mission fail. The tears are falling.]

Feel kind of lonely.

Comments

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

[Enter one unassuming-looking middle-aged man, dressed in a sweater and trousers, both garments worse for wear since he fished them out of god-knows-where.]

"Moa?" [He approaches, adjusting his glasses; he's got a plain, open face - one where it's easy to read his expression.]

S'OKAY ALL MY TAGS ARE LATE TOO

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

[Actually, he looks just like she pictured. Kind, open - maybe a little older than she thought. Oh, and he's calling her name. Yup that's him.]

Hi.

[...she really does look awful, doesn't she. Too late to do anything about it now, but she tries to get some of the hair out of her face at least.]

....How're you?

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

"I'm fine." [He says, and puts a hand on her shoulder.]

"How are you holding up?" [Dan's hardly an expert on teenagers, but he hopes that he'll do okay, if he just listens and offers support.]

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

[she worries at her blanket.]

Okay.

[Except Ness is gone. The waterworks are threatening again.]

I'll - be okay. Because he...

[didn't mean it? What does it matter what he meant? He's gone. And he'll never be back.]

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

[Dan hesitates a moment, and then puts his arms around her. Because she's a sweet girl and she really deserves better than this place.]

"It's better if you let it out. Don't hold it all in, Moa."

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

[Moa loves hugs. She needs quite a few right now, so this'll do for a start, Daniel. She clings a little, unabashed at least towards physical contact.]

I just....

[he's probably right, but she's not quite ready yet. Hides her face.]

He was my first boyfriend...

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

[Dan just holds her, rubbing her back in slow circles with one hand.]

What was he like? I don't think I ever met him.

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

[his sweater might be getting a little damp. Sorry.]

He...he was a hero, and he saved people back home...

[the prospect of people with superpowers astounds and delights her, and thinking of Ness's positive attributes is a little comforting.]

He was kind and smart and brave...

[and someone was head-over-heels for him, in case you didn't notice.]

[ooc: ALSO I HAVE THIS (http://i39.tinypic.com/2uskgm9.jpg) FOR YOU.]

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

Where was he from?

[Dan asked, the gentle conversation continued in hopes of easing her troubled mind. It was good to think about those who had left - keep their memory alive. He thought of his old teammates back home a lot. He had his moments of private sorrow, too.]

I wish I could have met him. [He hugs her a bit tighter.]

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

Onett. Eagleland.

[Not that she knows where that is. Only that it sounded wonderful. Anything was better than Orokos.]

You would've liked him. Everybody liked him. He was gonna....teach me how to play baseball...

[snuggle. ;~;]

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

[Dan is silent for a time, just holding her; he feels like she might crumble if he doesn't.]

If you want, I could teach you a bit. Just until Ness gets back, and then you can show him how skilled you are.

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

You know how to play too? It must be...a big thing...

[slowly, she opens her eyes, gives him a squeeze, is ready to wipe her eyes. No smiles, not just yet; but the offer is appreciated nonetheless.]

That...I'd like that.

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

I used to play when I was younger. In college, I played casually with a group of friends. [Dan nods.]

Want to walk a bit? [He offers a hand.]

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

[takes his hand, vaguely.]

What's college?

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

It's a system of higher education. Haven't you ever gone to school? [He looks over at her; she seemed normal enough - but then again, so did most, until one got to know them.]

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[school?]

Oh.

[a little embarassed.]

...No.

[she fidgets. Aware of the fact that most places seemed to have a solid system of education, and that most people had gone to school, and expected that everyone else had too.]

There were no schools in the ghettos. My neighbor used to try to teach us writing and science and math, but...

[d-dreiberg.livejournal.com]

[Dan frowns a little.] Do you attend the school here, with the others?

If you don't, I -- I mean, I don't know how good a teacher I am, but if you wanted to learn something, I could help you. [He falters - he's good with kids, but Moa confuses him. She seems so delicate and different from who he's known.]

[dreamermoa.livejournal.com]

The others? They all look so young...

[he sounds awkward. Maybe he thinks she's stupid. Maybe she is. Still, though. She's not going to waste an opportunity.]

That'd be nice. I can write a little already.