(no subject)

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ it's after his meet-up with his supervisor that he gets a call from robin to babysit alice. of course he says 'yes' -- he has nothing planned for the day & would never consciously turn down time with his niece. & like he told robin before, more free air should do him some good; who knows, if he's feeling better in mind, the body might follow. (he didn't really believe that since the damage from the accident has been said to be absolute, but a little bit of feigned hope wasn't too heavy to carry around.)

that's the context to their current scenario: at the park with alice, doing whatever she wants until it's time for lunch & ice cream. time with uncle nick is the time to get spoiled, so he doesn't worry too much about feeding her nutritional things; he's pretty sure his mom sis has that covered anyway. ]

Comments

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ and she's happy to be spoiled, even if she's not very aware of it at this moment in time. in fact, she's so focused on a butterfly that landed on the swing next to her that she forgets about being hungry and wanting to tug uncle nick to play with her. it's a pretty butterfly. nice butterfly. she should draw it...

when it flutters away five minutes later her attention is focused on the (smaller) jungle gym, scurrying on over to it to begin climbing it while humming a song about her butterfly friend. gets to the top after a few struggles, planting herself there while looking straight at nick.

raises her arms up in a victory fashion, trying to get his full attention. ]

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ strolls on over to her when she lifts her hands, looking amused while keeping himself close enough so that he can catch her if she looks off-balance. ]

Now you're almost as tall as I am.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ raises her arms up more to show her delight. ]

Good! I want to be just like uncle.

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ reaches over to carefully give her a pat on the head. ]

Yeah? I think you're pretty close already.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ wiggles her fingers at him, trying to stretch out so he can help her down. ]

So I can be an archi-- arcee-- [ stops wiggling her fingers, thinking. when she thinks she's got it: ] Arch-ee-tectur?

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

Very good. [ loops his arms around her so he can tuck her close to his chest (not really trust his hands to carry someone so precious properly--) so that he can get her down as requested. bends down to a knee so that he can set her down properly. ]

And sure. If that's what you want to do when you grow up.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

I want to be just like uncle! But I am only five years old! [ pauses. thinks about it... ] When can I be an arch-ee-tectur?

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ gives her hair a ruffle & then pulls away to look like he's thinking. ]

Hm. Probably when you're as old as your uncle is. So you have a long time to prepare.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ reaches for his hand. ]

How old is uncle?

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ takes it, curling his fingers around hers as best as he can. ]

Hm. How about you guess first?

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ lifts their hands up enough so she can (awkwardly) try to twirl around. (it's more like shuffling, but--) ]

More than ten.

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ quirks a smile at her antics & tries to help her along, guiding her movement with his arm's. ]

Exactly right.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ skips a little here and there, yammering absently as she goes along: ]

Okay. I can't count more than ten. So uncle is ten plus another number...

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ raises a brow. ]

Can my doodlebug add already?

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ nod nod nod. ]

One plus one is two. One plus two is three. One plus three is four...

[ stops her skipping, squinting a little as she tries to rack her brain for the next number. ] Uh...

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ waits for a moment before deciding to help out (lest he have a heart attack from the cuteness): ]

One plus four is?

1/2

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ looks down at her free hand, counting on her fingers. ]

Four is one and one and one and one... so one more one would be...

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ lightbulb goes off, jerking her head upward. ]

Five!

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ huffs out an amused breath of laughter. ]

Perfect. So what would you like for your prize?

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ bounces a little in place, clearly pleased. ]

Ice cream, please!

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ raises an eyebrow. ]

We're getting ice cream after lunch. Are you sure you want more?

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ contemplates her options. and then: ]

Can I have a hug instead?

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ stops to blink down at her briefly & then gently pries his hand from hers. squats down & opens his arms, gesturing. ]

How about I give you two? One for now, and another for later.

[butterflydoodle.livejournal.com]

[ automatically waddles into his hug, wrapping her arms around him as best as possible. her words are a little muffled as her face plants itself into his chest. ]

Yes please!

[cityblocks.livejournal.com]

[ hugs back gently, giving her a little squeeze at the end. ]

You can pick when you want the next one, okay?