[Event]

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko is sat either in the courtyard in Sakana, or on a bench in the park. She's holding a sketchpad which she was drawing a picture in, a picture of her and her mother, but beside them is a figure that Tomoko hasn't finished drawing yet and by the way she's sadly looking at the picture, it doesn't seem like she's going to finish it.

She seems a bit down. Maybe you want to talk to her and see what the matter is?*

Comments

[sketchthefuture]

I'm fine.

*She doesn't even look up at you when she says that. She very obviously is not "fine".*

[isdragonlady]

Yeah right. And Unicorns aren't child abductors and trees are made of candy. What's up.

::Sits down next to you.::

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko stays quiet at first, but eventually looks up at Niyo*

Ms. Mikata, when people die, do you eventually forget them?

[isdragonlady]

If you want it to be honest... ::Takes a deep breath and sighs.:: ... Yes. There's a tendency too. Especially if you live a long time, that only the really important ones last. And even then...

[sketchthefuture]

I see...

*Tomoko seems saddened by the answer, but she seems to accept it. She then goes back to looking at her picture quietly*.

[isdragonlady]

So why's this come up? ::Looks over your picture.::

[sketchthefuture]

...I was trying to draw my dad, but I don't remember what he looks like. Even though we have photos and things like that, I still can't really remember. I can't remember playing with him or anything like that either...

*She idly gets a green crayon and works on the grass in the picture*

A few months ago, when it was near father's day, my class was asked to write about our dads and about nice things we've done with them... but I couldn't.

[isdragonlady]

... How old were you when he died? ::Sighs, watching.::

[sketchthefuture]

Mom says I'd just turned three...

[isdragonlady]

mMmmmm. That's pretty young, even for humans on Earth. It's not your fault you don't remember much about him, Tomoko.

[sketchthefuture]

...I guess.

*She still doesn't seem to happy*

[isdragonlady]

So don't remember. Imagine it. Take what you can from what Sayu... er, your mom's told you, and what you glean of the pictures of him. And make it up, a bit.

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko looks up at Niyo*

Is it okay to do that...?

[isdragonlady]

Hey, I reconstruct hypothetical scenarios all the time for my job. I don't see the problem.

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko looks down at her picture and slowly picks up another colour. She's still a bit unsure, but she tries to think of what her mom has told her about her dad.*

Mom says he worked in an office with computers so... I guess he'd wear something smart, like a suit...

*She draws in the details on the figures body, making it look like he's wearing a suit and a tie.*

Aaaand... mom says that I look a lot like him so... he'd have brown hair and green eyes, right?

*She grabs a brown and green crayon and also fills those details in.*

Mom also said that he was always happy and loved us loads, so he'd be smiling!

*She draws in a smile on his face.*

[isdragonlady]

That makes a lot of sense, Tomoko. It's probably accurate. ::Gives a brief, rare smile to the young girl.::

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko looks up at Niyo and smiles. She then throws her arms around her in a hug.*

Thank you, Ms. Mikata!

[isdragonlady]

::Blushes a bit, looking down at the younger girl, doing nothing to stop her from hugging.::

No problem, kiddo. I guess?

[sketchthefuture]

*Tomoko pulls away eventually with a big beaming smile on her face. Whatever you did Niyo, seems she really appreciates it!

And then she goes back to her drawing!*

[isdragonlady]

::If you don't mind, I'm just going to sit here and watch.::