[Actively speaking Spanish more has made him speak with more fluidity. Now and then there are starts and stops. Laura repays his patience in that way. They're always learning together. Always.
Just smelling coffee and being exposed to Laura's brand of youthful enthusiasm for sitting in a stuffy office to spend time with her guardian... Matt feels old wounds in his heart threading together. It's because of her.]
Karen bought you a few things.
[He has to remember where they are. Coffee though, priorities.]
Be sure to thank her when you get a chance.
[The creamer--what do they even do to this stuff? I mean wow. The label is not in English, not that it matters any.]
[ She likes sharing things with him. When she realized that he did not care much for things that were processed and too sugary like most sodas. She ventured out and sniffed out places that had things that smelled and tasted good that did not have them. Some of them he has been to and others she used her allowance to get things for them to share. ]
Karen is here? [ She smelled her, but did not see her. Maybe she stepped out for a moment. ] I will thank her.
[ She makes a little tsk noise when Matt goes to grab the coffee items. She is up there and she brought it. She'll make it. ]
No. I will make it. You sit. [ She's being helpful. Excuse you. ]
[They thought she was a hard worker before, now that her name is on the company there's nothing stopping her.
Matt puts up both hand and steps back to let Laura take over the job as barista.]
Okay, thank you. Sitting as we speak.
[And laughing all the while. He'll get the small collection of items Karen brought for Laura. Color changing markers, some fruit scented ones though Matt did say she had "allergies" though if they amuse then everything is fine. Oh and she has a new intricate coloring book with colored pencils. He isn't able to appreciate the difference between one coloring book to the other, Karen reassured him this one was something else. With a title like Unicorns, Pegasus and More! it belongs to Laura.]
[ Karen is very kind and very stubborn and Laura likes her a lot. She also makes Matt happy, and that is good. ]
You are welcome. I will bring it over. [ She likes doing things like this. Making small things they can share. Or just things for him that he can enjoy. It is nice to do. She fusses with the electric kettle that they have there, and uses the press that Matt has there as well. It's a funny contraption, but it makes tasty things, or so he says. She does not much care for the taste of coffee. ]
[Sometimes hearing Laura's take on someone else's art is more amusing than the picture. Not that Matt is truly interested in the artist's intended meaning. Laura's interpretive skills are growing. Matt hopes it's from books and not television. Foggy insists a little TV never hurt. Mind candy with the brain food, that was his metaphor. Matt honestly thinks it's because he wanted Laura to watch Thundercats.]
Thank you, thank you.
[Always polite, always grateful. If he fails at instilling any other values, he hopes that manners are part of what sticks.]
Foggy might still have marshmallows. They'd be uh... in the small drawer hidden by napkins.
It is a picture of a horse that is jumping over things with a rider. Karen told me that they do it to win prizes, and teach the horses different things.
[ She enjoys watching tv shows with Foggy, but she will never get tired of hearing Matt read her stories. They are her favorite thing since meeting him. They make it easy to forget other things.
While the press is going, she finds the marshmallows for her hot chocolate. A lot of them end up dumped into the cup because she likes them a lot. Matt has also taught her to tell time, and she watches the watch she picked out to make sure that she doesn’t let the press go for too long. Once she has his cup finished, she climbs down off the chair to help her reach, and walks it over to him. ]
But I decided to use all the different colors. Like the pony show.
[Not that Matt knows all that much on the subject. Maybe they can visit a place. It will take research. Laura's natural affinity for animals is a healthy interest that they can tap into to encourage her to learn more. He actually had no idea how old she is. And really it is more about comprehension and maturity before education. She's still a child and deserves attention, love and understanding. The protection aspect is there though Matt knows that any person dumb enough to come across her will face serious consequences. ....and yet he still worries.]
Thank you.
[The piping hot cup makes him smile and he places a coaster down for her.]
I would like to go visit one of these places where they do this one day.
[ She doesn't know if it is possible or even safe. But Matt does not like it when she keeps things that she wants to herself. He would rather know them so that they could try at least. That is what family does. He is her family. She likes that. ]
You're welcome.
[ After he has his cup, she goes back for her own, and comes back to the table to set it on the coaster. Her backpack is next to the chair now, so it's not hard to reach her things.
She takes a sip of her hot chocolate before getting into her things. It leaves a frothy mustache on her face. ]
[Risky, sure. Though it isn't like she would be alone. No, not at all. There are plenty of places Upstate. Matt can't think of a good enough reason to refuse Laura. She's curious. And seeing her passionate about something has opened up more of her natural personality.]
Mmmm.
[It is very, very good stuff.]
Did you bring more pages to color? Or do you need more paper?
[God knows they can provide the paper around here.]
[ She sees Matt do it a lot. He has to do it for the people that he helps with his friends. The idea of looking for places that have horses they can watch learn things sounds very fun.
Sometimes, though, research is finding recipes they both agree on. If they don't agree, there have been fights. Not real ones. Flour ones. It was very messy. ]
I brought more pages. There was a new book at the bodega.
[ She used a little of her allowance. It's a little like a job. She has little jobs to help around the apartment. She earns money doing those little jobs. This one she's wanted for a while, though. It is made with special things that make the pictures feel a little raised on the paper.
[Whether or not they go to the places they look into, they're looking over the facts. Laura gets a gauge of distance, of how to make a plan in a realistic light. And even if they don't go to places they look into immediately--be it a special ice cream parlor or a new craft store, Laura sees more. That's what Matt wants to give her. More. More ideas, more stimulation, more notions, letting her life feel full.
He hopes that research never turns into a chore. It's a useful skill she will need her whole life through. Honing skills at an early age will make studying easier. One of these days Matt need to buckle down and research home education programs so that she can eventually get a degree. Because she deserves it.]
Wonderful.
[Earning money, knowing it's value and appreciating what it can do for herself has been a project. As usual, she rises to the challenge.]
And you're okay still with your colors?
[Crayons, pencils, markers... okay so yes, she has an allowance but this little firm is always finding ways to make sure her art kit is stocked.]
[ Maybe they can order in tonight. She likes ordering from new places with him. He enjoys showing her things that he likes, and then letting her find things that she likes as well.
It hasn't yet. Matt makes sure to make it enjoyable and fun. Shows her why it is important and how it can help her gain knowledge. ]
Would you like to see it? It is a special book.
[ She doesn't understand fully how he sees in other ways. She does understand when he feels things to figure them out, though. ]
I brought the markers today. The new pages only have things on the fronts, not the backs.
[Matt Murdock has lived in New York all of his life. With Laura it now feels like a whole new world to introduce her to. The flavors and establishments he's frequented shine brighter. No, she won't like everything. The willingness to try is still there. He loves it about her. Their tastes cross in more ways now. Like hot chocolate.]
Yes, please.
[He isn't sure what to expect exactly. Still he leans over to her work space.]
[ Laura loves learning new things with him. She likes trying things even if she won't like them all the time. Sometimes she even finds things that he is not familiar with and they try those things.
She opens to one of the pages in the middle. It's a whale with intricate designs, but it's all in foil so that it is up off the page a little. She scoots the book over so he can reach, and brushes her hair behind one ear. ]
I think in this one so that they do not mess up the fronts of the pages. They are special.
[The attitude for discovering dislikes has been 'well now we know' verses demonizing the thing. Okay so Matt has been reading so many more child development journals and blogs than ever before. He wants to be properly equip to take care of Laura not just with food and shelter.
How did his father do this? What would Jack Murdock have done?
Matt comes closer and reaches for the page. She said she wanted to show him and he wanted to see. Momentary confusion makes his brow furrow. There's texture he wasn't expecting. His fingers follow the lines and swirls.]
There's--a lot going on here. Wow.
[The smaller lines he could get lost in so he reroutes to find the thicker ones.]
[ Matt has always encouraged her to be vocal if she doesn't like something. He only ever asks that she try something at least once before saying she doesn't like it. Sometimes they find things they like, and other times, not so much. It is an adventure.
She watches him explore the page with his fingers. Following the thin lines and then backtracking to the bigger ones. ]
Yes, they make designs inside a picture. There is more to color!
[ That's another reason she liked it. ]
It's a whale, yes! [ This is why she wanted to get the page. She wanted Matt to be able to see what she was coloring. She reaches out to touch close to a finger. ] Here I will start with purple.
[All this growth and progress. Everything is a victory. She was living on the streets not too long ago. Matt is so proud to see her more comfortable, more curious and seeing opportunities where there was uncertainty and threats before.]
So much more to color.
[She is going to be occupied for hours. Foggy calls it a win. That means that Laura has an attention span. At least that was the point at the start. Knowing that she enjoys the artistic process as much as she likes to learn facts. It all comes together wonderfully.
Matt smiles and moves to give a little space for her marker.]
But not just one shade right?
[Going into multicolors like the horse show might be a trend.]
[ Laura is not really sure what to call it all, but she likes being able to do things that she wants. She likes being her own person, as Matt has called it. Finding out all of the things that she likes. Even what she does not like. ]
Si! [ She kicks her feet a little happily, and spreads her new markers out to take a moment organizing them a little. She likes the gradient they make. ]
[Stepping through life and looking on mundane experiences with brand new perspective has also brought new light in unexpected ways. Laura is an incredible person with a tremendous appetite for answers and experiences. How can Matt not love her?]
The whole rainbow.
[An amused laugh bubbles up.]
Do you want to know a little trick to remembering the colors in order they appear? I haven't seen them in some time but it helps.
[They can find rainbows with help. Karen or Foggy would be the most gentle and willing of participants.
Still crouched close to be able to talk to her, he holds up one whole hand and two fingers from the other hand. Seven fingers total.]
So there are seven colors in the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
[Each finger wiggles as he goes.]
Think of the first letter of each color. R for red, O for orange, Y for yellow, G for green, B for blue, I for indigo and V for violet. Together it spells out Roy G Biv. So you think, if the rainbow had a name it'd be Roy G Biv.
[He hopes to God he explained this right. Smiling still he clears his throat.]
It'd tell you in Spanish but it is only for English. I'm sorry.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Actively speaking Spanish more has made him speak with more fluidity. Now and then there are starts and stops. Laura repays his patience in that way. They're always learning together. Always.
Just smelling coffee and being exposed to Laura's brand of youthful enthusiasm for sitting in a stuffy office to spend time with her guardian... Matt feels old wounds in his heart threading together. It's because of her.]
Karen bought you a few things.
[He has to remember where they are. Coffee though, priorities.]
Be sure to thank her when you get a chance.
[The creamer--what do they even do to this stuff? I mean wow. The label is not in English, not that it matters any.]
no subject
[ She likes sharing things with him. When she realized that he did not care much for things that were processed and too sugary like most sodas. She ventured out and sniffed out places that had things that smelled and tasted good that did not have them. Some of them he has been to and others she used her allowance to get things for them to share. ]
Karen is here? [ She smelled her, but did not see her. Maybe she stepped out for a moment. ] I will thank her.
[ She makes a little tsk noise when Matt goes to grab the coffee items. She is up there and she brought it. She'll make it. ]
No. I will make it. You sit. [ She's being helpful. Excuse you. ]
no subject
[They thought she was a hard worker before, now that her name is on the company there's nothing stopping her.
Matt puts up both hand and steps back to let Laura take over the job as barista.]
Okay, thank you. Sitting as we speak.
[And laughing all the while. He'll get the small collection of items Karen brought for Laura. Color changing markers, some fruit scented ones though Matt did say she had "allergies" though if they amuse then everything is fine. Oh and she has a new intricate coloring book with colored pencils. He isn't able to appreciate the difference between one coloring book to the other, Karen reassured him this one was something else. With a title like Unicorns, Pegasus and More! it belongs to Laura.]
no subject
[ Karen is very kind and very stubborn and Laura likes her a lot. She also makes Matt happy, and that is good. ]
You are welcome. I will bring it over. [ She likes doing things like this. Making small things they can share. Or just things for him that he can enjoy. It is nice to do. She fusses with the electric kettle that they have there, and uses the press that Matt has there as well. It's a funny contraption, but it makes tasty things, or so he says. She does not much care for the taste of coffee. ]
It will be done soon.
no subject
[Sometimes hearing Laura's take on someone else's art is more amusing than the picture. Not that Matt is truly interested in the artist's intended meaning. Laura's interpretive skills are growing. Matt hopes it's from books and not television. Foggy insists a little TV never hurt. Mind candy with the brain food, that was his metaphor. Matt honestly thinks it's because he wanted Laura to watch Thundercats.]
Thank you, thank you.
[Always polite, always grateful. If he fails at instilling any other values, he hopes that manners are part of what sticks.]
Foggy might still have marshmallows. They'd be uh... in the small drawer hidden by napkins.
no subject
It is a picture of a horse that is jumping over things with a rider. Karen told me that they do it to win prizes, and teach the horses different things.
[ She enjoys watching tv shows with Foggy, but she will never get tired of hearing Matt read her stories. They are her favorite thing since meeting him. They make it easy to forget other things.
While the press is going, she finds the marshmallows for her hot chocolate. A lot of them end up dumped into the cup because she likes them a lot. Matt has also taught her to tell time, and she watches the watch she picked out to make sure that she doesn’t let the press go for too long. Once she has his cup finished, she climbs down off the chair to help her reach, and walks it over to him. ]
But I decided to use all the different colors. Like the pony show.
no subject
[Not that Matt knows all that much on the subject. Maybe they can visit a place. It will take research. Laura's natural affinity for animals is a healthy interest that they can tap into to encourage her to learn more. He actually had no idea how old she is. And really it is more about comprehension and maturity before education. She's still a child and deserves attention, love and understanding. The protection aspect is there though Matt knows that any person dumb enough to come across her will face serious consequences. ....and yet he still worries.]
Thank you.
[The piping hot cup makes him smile and he places a coaster down for her.]
The...oh that one. I'm sure it's terrific.
no subject
[ She doesn't know if it is possible or even safe. But Matt does not like it when she keeps things that she wants to herself. He would rather know them so that they could try at least. That is what family does. He is her family. She likes that. ]
You're welcome.
[ After he has his cup, she goes back for her own, and comes back to the table to set it on the coaster. Her backpack is next to the chair now, so it's not hard to reach her things.
She takes a sip of her hot chocolate before getting into her things. It leaves a frothy mustache on her face. ]
no subject
[Risky, sure. Though it isn't like she would be alone. No, not at all. There are plenty of places Upstate. Matt can't think of a good enough reason to refuse Laura. She's curious. And seeing her passionate about something has opened up more of her natural personality.]
Mmmm.
[It is very, very good stuff.]
Did you bring more pages to color? Or do you need more paper?
[God knows they can provide the paper around here.]
no subject
[ She sees Matt do it a lot. He has to do it for the people that he helps with his friends. The idea of looking for places that have horses they can watch learn things sounds very fun.
Sometimes, though, research is finding recipes they both agree on. If they don't agree, there have been fights. Not real ones. Flour ones. It was very messy. ]
I brought more pages. There was a new book at the bodega.
[ She used a little of her allowance. It's a little like a job. She has little jobs to help around the apartment. She earns money doing those little jobs. This one she's wanted for a while, though. It is made with special things that make the pictures feel a little raised on the paper.
This way she can show Matt.]
no subject
[Whether or not they go to the places they look into, they're looking over the facts. Laura gets a gauge of distance, of how to make a plan in a realistic light. And even if they don't go to places they look into immediately--be it a special ice cream parlor or a new craft store, Laura sees more. That's what Matt wants to give her. More. More ideas, more stimulation, more notions, letting her life feel full.
He hopes that research never turns into a chore. It's a useful skill she will need her whole life through. Honing skills at an early age will make studying easier. One of these days Matt need to buckle down and research home education programs so that she can eventually get a degree. Because she deserves it.]
Wonderful.
[Earning money, knowing it's value and appreciating what it can do for herself has been a project. As usual, she rises to the challenge.]
And you're okay still with your colors?
[Crayons, pencils, markers... okay so yes, she has an allowance but this little firm is always finding ways to make sure her art kit is stocked.]
no subject
[ Maybe they can order in tonight. She likes ordering from new places with him. He enjoys showing her things that he likes, and then letting her find things that she likes as well.
It hasn't yet. Matt makes sure to make it enjoyable and fun. Shows her why it is important and how it can help her gain knowledge. ]
Would you like to see it? It is a special book.
[ She doesn't understand fully how he sees in other ways. She does understand when he feels things to figure them out, though. ]
I brought the markers today. The new pages only have things on the fronts, not the backs.
no subject
Yes, please.
[He isn't sure what to expect exactly. Still he leans over to her work space.]
One sided? Are they supposed to do that?
no subject
She opens to one of the pages in the middle. It's a whale with intricate designs, but it's all in foil so that it is up off the page a little. She scoots the book over so he can reach, and brushes her hair behind one ear. ]
I think in this one so that they do not mess up the fronts of the pages. They are special.
no subject
How did his father do this? What would Jack Murdock have done?
Matt comes closer and reaches for the page. She said she wanted to show him and he wanted to see. Momentary confusion makes his brow furrow. There's texture he wasn't expecting. His fingers follow the lines and swirls.]
There's--a lot going on here. Wow.
[The smaller lines he could get lost in so he reroutes to find the thicker ones.]
Is it...it's a fish, right?
no subject
She watches him explore the page with his fingers. Following the thin lines and then backtracking to the bigger ones. ]
Yes, they make designs inside a picture. There is more to color!
[ That's another reason she liked it. ]
It's a whale, yes! [ This is why she wanted to get the page. She wanted Matt to be able to see what she was coloring. She reaches out to touch close to a finger. ] Here I will start with purple.
no subject
So much more to color.
[She is going to be occupied for hours. Foggy calls it a win. That means that Laura has an attention span. At least that was the point at the start. Knowing that she enjoys the artistic process as much as she likes to learn facts. It all comes together wonderfully.
Matt smiles and moves to give a little space for her marker.]
But not just one shade right?
[Going into multicolors like the horse show might be a trend.]
no subject
Si! [ She kicks her feet a little happily, and spreads her new markers out to take a moment organizing them a little. She likes the gradient they make. ]
No, many colors. As many as I can fit.
no subject
The whole rainbow.
[An amused laugh bubbles up.]
Do you want to know a little trick to remembering the colors in order they appear? I haven't seen them in some time but it helps.
no subject
I've seen this in shows. Not outside.
[ Not yet. She smiles when Matt laughs. It's a good sound. He didn't do it so much when they first met. He does it much more now. She likes that. ]
Yes, I would like to know a trick.
no subject
[They can find rainbows with help. Karen or Foggy would be the most gentle and willing of participants.
Still crouched close to be able to talk to her, he holds up one whole hand and two fingers from the other hand. Seven fingers total.]
So there are seven colors in the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
[Each finger wiggles as he goes.]
Think of the first letter of each color. R for red, O for orange, Y for yellow, G for green, B for blue, I for indigo and V for violet. Together it spells out Roy G Biv. So you think, if the rainbow had a name it'd be Roy G Biv.
[He hopes to God he explained this right. Smiling still he clears his throat.]
It'd tell you in Spanish but it is only for English. I'm sorry.