[CLOSED] the ghost of what we used to be.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled, nodding. He got out and unbuckled her, plucking Clae's keys from his pocket without second thought. "C'mon crazy girl," He teased, leading her to the house.

Dyson jumoed, whimpering and pulling away before opening his eyes. He eased up when he realized who it was, sitting up uncertainly.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae realized he didn't like that he liked feeling Ryan's hand on him. It scared him to think it all felt okay to have another guy touch him. "Come on. Let's get you some coffee and a shower, okay? And then you can crash on my couch." He said, offering him a gentle smile.

Paislee bounced into her room, and started rummaging through one of her drawers. She pulled out a little bikini, and toddled off to the bathroom to put it on. She came back out with a little pink bottom on with ruffles on the back, her arms holding the top onto her chest. "You tie it?" She asked Ryan.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Dyson mumbled something, managing a faint nod but whispering something uneasily under his breath. "Maybelle wake up..." He slurred, clearly only half awake.

Ryan sat down, looking around as he waited. He smiled when she came back.and.made a turn.around motion with his finger before tying the back in a bow and double knotting it. "There you go."

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"Thank you!" She exclaimed, then took his hand. She skipped to the backyard, pushing open the gate. She walked over to the edge of the pool and slipped out of her bottoms before she jumped in, her legs turning into a bright yellow fin. She peeked over the edge of the pool, her green eyes watching Ryan. "Look. I'm a fish."

Clae scooped him into his arms again, and carried him inside. He laid him down carefully on the couch, draping a blanket over him before he made his way out into the back yard. "Hey, pretty lady." He said with a smile, and she waved.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Dyson whimpered, curling up beneath the blankets and closing his eyes.

Ryan smiled. "You sure are," He breathed, looking up as Clae came outside. He sat down at the edge of the pool, smiled up at him then turned his attention back to her in amusement.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae kicked off his shoes and pulled up his pants legs a bit. He sat down at the edge of the pool near Ryan, and stuck his feet in. But unlike Paislee, he stayed human. He leaned back on his hands, watching her swim around with the aid of her tail. "After she swims, we always go to the store and get chocolate covered raisins and watch movies in her room after she showers." He said, glancing over at Ryan. His stomach flipped and he mentally groaned. He looked back to Paislee.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan nodded faintly, not bothering stick his own feet in because it would mean revealing the nasty bite on his leg. He sat criss cross, elbows resting on his knees. He realized for the most part, today had actually been good, and he hadn't once premeditated how to off himself.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"Daddy." She swam over to Clae, pulling herself up on his legs. He brushed her hair back, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, princess?" He asked, making ringlets in her hair with his finger.

"What's love?" She asked, folding her arms across his legs.

"I really don't know, baby. I love you. And I loved my family. But I don't know what it's like to love anyone other than family." He said, still playing with her hair.

"So then how do you know you don't love boys?"

"I.. just don't like boys."

She swam over to Ryan, tugging on his jeans. "Do you love boys?"

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan looked down at her. "I...thought I loved a boy once..." He murmured. "I've liked plenty of boys and girls, but I don't think I've ever really loved anybody but my parets and sister." He bit his lip, dusted his jeans off and got up. "I don't...really want to love anymore, maybe it's only meant for certain people. Like you." He managed to force a smile, sticking his hands in his pockets and wandering slowly across the yard with a slight limp. He paused once he was on the other side, staring distantly out across the horizon.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae walked over a few seconds later, wrapping his arms hesitantly around Ryan's waist. It seemed strange to be hugging another grown man.

"Paislee told me I had to come hug you." He said, pulling away after a second. He didn't want to acknowledge his pounding heart. It confused him, and he put it off as he was just used to Ryan, is all.

"I'm sorry about your family.. But I'm really proud you haven't drank today.." He said, digging his toe in the grass. "I'm sorry all this happened over a little.. premature baby that no one said was going to make it. But I can't give my sister for yours.. That's not how it works. You're gonna love again one day.. Just not the same way you loved them."