livingmyths | 037: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was always kind of the best holiday. The soup kitchens had the best food then and the store owners would sometimes sneak the kids a little something and people were a little nicer - you could sometimes even get someone to let you sleep in a warmish warehouse that weekend. For nothing, even.

Long as you were smart enough to be gone before things started up again that Monday.

Christmas was never so good because everyone was too busy with their own things and they'd already spent tons of money. And 'cause Dad always started drinking mid-December and usually ended up locked up somewhere off and on which meant I couldn't even try and stay at a shelter. Too many questions and it wasn't safe to be little and there alone.

No matter where we ended up though, there were always a handful of kids in the same boat. And you know, for a price you could usually get somebody to look the other way so you all could be a little bit out of the cold. Luckily, Dad never really went anywhere that was super cold. Snow... that would have been really bad.

But Thanksgiving... Thanksgiving could be pretty good.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, if you ever want to celebrate any of them I'd be glad to help.

I'm glad. Is there anything I can do to help?

[ooc: Aw... for sleeping puppy!]

I'll have to see if I can figure out when they are here. Our dates are different.

You could come visit sometime. I'm not supposed to be able to get others sick now.

[ooc: She's my baby~]

You can always make up a date. No one would know.

I'll come whenever you want.

Heh. That's the bloody truth there.

Come by anytime. I'm too tired to get up much.

Well, I'm a bad one to talk about holidays, but I know lots of people think they're really really important and special, so you should be able to have them if you want.

Do you want me to come by now? I could bring you food or something.

The truth was that I went to holiday celebrations for the parties.

I'd like that.

And we just liked that there was usually more food.

Okay. Anything else you want me to bring?

I was usually too busy dancing for much food.

Just yourself will be fine.

Well, you know I never danced before. Nobody would have wanted us at any parties anyway!

Okay. It's the big blue box thing, right?

I would have.

That's right. Just come on in.

You didn't know me then. I... it was different. I was usually dirty and ragged and... we were just street kids.

Okay. I'll be right there.

Dirty...ragged...street kids...I still would have wanted you at one of the parties.

Thank you.

Why? We were nothing.

[Action]

A short time later, Rain found her way to the Tardis and nervously slipped inside. "Mat?"

Mat's near the door. The evidence of the chicken pox still clear but they are also scabbing over. "Here. Follow me."

He smiles and leads her to his room. He'll answer her question there.

She followed him, looking around wide-eyed. "But it's so small outside!"

"I know. That bloody well surprised me too." He gave her another smile then held the door open for her that led to his room.

She slipped in, staying close by the wall, looking around curiously. "This is your home?"

"It is for now anyways." Going over to the bed, he sat down with a tired sigh. "I like it well enough."

She smiled at him, but still looked concerned. "You're so tired. What can I do to help?"

He shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair. He'd finally been able to comb it. "I'm not sure. From what Anita said, this is normal."

"For chicken pox," Rain said. "I had it when I was little."

She hesitated, biting her lips. "When the small kids got sick, sometimes there was this thing I did. Sort of a soothing touch thing. I could maybe - if you wanted -"

Mat smiled at her then nodded to let her know to come closer.

"I'd like that. Go ahead."

She hesitated another moment then slipped up on the bed, positioning herself behind him with her back supported against the head of the bed. "Just rest back against me," she said quietly.

Moving around, he did what he was told and settled with his back against her.

Rain gently ran her hands over his shoulders and down his arms - an incredibly gentle touch, firm enough not to tickle, but still barely there. "Sometimes it hurt the little ones too much to really touch them, but this didn't hurt."

Her hands continued to move, letting her instincts show her where and how to soothe him, her eyes closed to better let her senses guide her. After a moment she began singing a quiet song that sounded vaguely lullabyish in a soft clear voice.