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

[ryan leonardo matson]

"Ah, just pulled something..I'm fine." More like a nasty dog bite to the shin. He smiled at Paisley. "You're silly you know?" He teased gently, favoring one leg over the other, using his left to push himself up and down so there was no more pressure on the right.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"I know." She smiled over at him, and Clae laughed.

"She'll get you wrapped around her little finger, yeah." He said with a smile. Something inside him hoped he would be wrapped around her finger, too; an excuse to get him over. 'You really are going crazy.' He thought, and was brought out of his thoughts by Paislee slapping his leg.

"Daddy! I said I wanna go on the swings." She complained sassily and he nodded, getting off carefully.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan chuckled at that, watching them with quiet affection, and maybe longing. He had lost everything, at least Clae had Paislee to keep him somewhat sane. He got up slowly, pushing away any pain and depressing thoughts, heading to the monkey bars and climbing on top of them. He hooked his legs through the rungs, letting his body hang down, upside down, arms above his head and hair falling away from his face, shirt bunching along his upper chest to reveal his tight stomach. He smiled lazily over at them.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Paislee made grabby hands at Ryan, and Clae walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a sloppy kiss on the lips. Clae turned bright red, and Paislee giggled.

"Daddy, why we can't keep Ryan?" She asked, looking up at him.

"Because he's a big boy."

"You're a big boy too, daddy. And I get to keep you." She said seriously.

"He has his own house, Paz."

"So? I want him to watch me."

"He can watch you." He said, fixing one of her curls.

"But I wanna keep him."

"Paislee, he isn't a dog. We can't just keep people."

"But daddy.." She complained, poking out her bottom lip.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan chuckled, catching Clae's blush as well and reaching to play with her hair gently. "Apartment," He corrected absently, hadn't even stayed.in a house since his parents were killed up until last night. He smirked faintlybat the comment about being a dog. But he was exactly that, even if they didn't know it.

He shook his head, hair reacting with the action, and swung his body gently, stretching to try and touch the wood chips, wincing at the strain on his shin, unaware that it was bleeding through his Jeans, scab retorn.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"Don't you pout at me." He said, and sat her down. She reached up on her tippy toes, playing with his hair. She smiled up at him, and Clae stood there, his hands in his pockets. One of the students walked past and he raised a hand to them.

"Hey, Major." The kid said with a smile and Clae smiled back.

"Morning." He yawned, pressing his hand to his mouth. "You should tuck your shirt in." He told Ryan with a smile. He would have done it for him, had the idea of actually touching another guy's abdomen not creeped him out.

[ryan leonardo matson]

"Eh," Ryan complained. "Fine Major," He teased, reaching to tuck his shirt in, honestly unbothered. He huffed, grimacing as he pulled himself back onto the bars with ease and jumped down, stumbling as pain jolted up his leg. He caught himself with a sheepish smile, stretched again then absently untucked his shirt once more.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae made to grab him, but he had already caught himself. He picked Paislee up, sitting her on his shoulders. She made her way lazily across the monkey bars, then folded her arms on top of his head. She rested her chin on her hands, looking down at Ryan. No one could deny she was a beautiful little girl.

"You're gonna stay with us again tonight, Ryan?" She asked, her bright green eyes watching him. Clae looked over at him, holding Paislee by her ankles.

"If you want to, you can. Paislee seems to think you're the greatest thing next to sliced cheese." He said.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan chuckled, eyeing the blood spotting the right leg of his jeans. "I can, not like I can even get my car unless your daddy drives me back." He smiled faintly, rubbing at his arm. He cleared his throat, wanted a cigarette in all honestly but didn't dare smoke around Paislee. It wasn't good for him, it sure wasn't good for her.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

She giggled, wrapping her arms tight around Clae's head. "You can paint my nails and we can watch a movie and you can come play with me." Clae pried her arms from his head with a groan.

"How about we go home and get you in the bath first, you stinky thing?" He asked and she groaned. He chuckled, setting her down on her feet. "Go grab your bag." He told her, and she toddled off to the swings to get her back. "I can bring you back.." He said, eyeing the blood on his pants before he looking Ryan in the face.