floathim:

@fishfaced cont. from here.

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       “c’mon, tell me what i taught you.” he doesn’t smile when she looks back at him, but he does feel warm at the sight of her happy face. most people look as different from that as they can get when they’re looking at him, and it makes him move his fingers more carefully in her hair to know she’s willing to look at him like that. he doesn’t want to hurt her.

       “ai laik ponyo. swima gada.” he puts tiny braids into her curly hair, not bothering to tie them off. they’re just going to come undone anyway. at least if he’s playing with her hair, she’s sitting still and not trying to chase mutated butterflies.

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              ponyo is patient exactly long enough for about three braids before she can no longer sit still.  she squirms her way out of murphy’s lap and turns to face him, braids already coming unraveled.

            “ i like ponyo ! “ she answers proudly.   “ i like john, too ! “

              she hasn’t figured out the purpose behind this little exercise yet, but she is happy enough to play along. 

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