(Untitled)

[sommer_tobi]

The date hadn't escaped Tobi's attention. He'd known the day before, too and the week before that. It wasn't exactly something someone his age could forget even in a place like this, a place that wasn't home and seemed to have a calender all its own

Comments

[little_moons]

Less than a week in the fucking snow, and I've almost forgotten what it was like to walk around not weighted down by ten fucking layers of clothes. Long-sleeved t-shirt and jeans, no shoes, and I feel about twenty pounds lighter, at least. I probably am. Max padding around at my heels, I wander into the rec room, looking for something to read or... whatever. Just to stay outta the cold for a little while.

I stand with one hand on the shelf, fingers brushing over the rows of books, and glance at the kid curled up in front of the fireplace, looking like he just watched somebody mutilate a fucking puppy or something. Seems like the first person I've seen not jumping for fucking joy about the goddamn snow.

It's almost comforting.

[sommer_tobi]

There was a breeze from somewhere behind him and Tobi shivered a little, wrapping his arms tighter around his legs, chin resting on his knees. It was an interesting contrast, his legs, arms and face warmed by the fire while his back stayed cold, but only in a way that made him realize he should've probably grabbed a blanket or something.

A moment later, he became aware that he wasn't alone anymore and he looked over, noticing a guy looking at the bookshelf and then the dog he had with him. Tobi's family had never had a dog, but he'd always liked them and his head tilted a bit, watching him curiously.

[little_moons]

As soon as he notices he's got an audience, Max trots over, sniffing at the kid's feet and wagging his tail. That fucking love me look in his eyes. So fucking easy. Hasn't figured out that he's cute enough, people'll come to him.

"Hey," I murmur, looking at the kid over my shoulder and crooking a faint smirk.

[sommer_tobi]

As the dog approached, Tobi held out one hand, letting him sniff it, legs still pressed up tight against him.

"Hallo," he replied, not catching himself in time, but not caring enough to correct it. He figured it was easy enough to figure out, even for someone who didn't know the least bit of German.

[little_moons]

I hear the accent on a word that's familiar but different enough for me to notice -- familiar 'cause I've hear it said that way -- and I pause, hand on the spine of a copy of the fucking Christmas Carol, and just... look at him.

Fucking year ago and we were taking in that fucking kid... couldn't speak a fucking word of English and so fucking lost. Jesus.

"Hello," I say again, walking over and crouching down next to Max. "You alright?" I ask, casually, arching a brow at the kid and scratching Max behind the ears.

[sommer_tobi]

A frown tugged at the corner of Tobi's mouth, or maybe it was the same one, just deeper, and he shrugged a little, his eyes on the dog. Kind of a funny looking dog, but cute.

"Miss home," was all he said and couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed by it. He was fifteen, he was too old to be missing his parents, but he couldn't help it.

[little_moons]

"Yeah," I sigh, shifting to lean one shoulder against the couch and just rolling my eyes when Max jumps up onto the couch beside the kid. "Me too, sometimes. 'Tis the fucking season."

Yeah, sometimes I do miss it. Sometimes more than others. Mostly it's the people. Mostly I miss Wendy, but maybe that's taken on a bitter sorta edge. Mostly... I miss Mom.

[sommer_tobi]

Keeping his eyes on the dog, Tobi lifted a hand, giving him room to sit beside him as he petted him, fingers getting lost in the mass of fur.

"Yes," he said, understanding most of what the guy had said and he glanced up very briefly to look at him. Familiar, but Tobi didn't know his name. There were a lot of people around that Tobi still didn't know. "You have been here long?"

[little_moons]

Tipping my head over against the couch cushions, I let out a sigh, figuring there's no point lying to him, even if he probably doesn't really want the answer.

"Year and a half, give or take."

[sommer_tobi]

His eyes widened at that and felt something large and heavy sink in his stomach. A year and a half. Tobi wasn't sure he could take being here for one more day, much less another year.

"Too long," he muttered then, holding his legs tighter against himself as he looked down at the dog again.

[little_moons]

"What about you?" I ask, feeling kinda bad for the kid. This place... it's good for people like me. People who didn't have much of a life to start with. People who wanted out. For the rest of 'em... those people who actually had something good back home, it's gotta be like a fucking prison.

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi didn't have to think about it for very long and his frown deepened as he answered. "Two months." It felt like not very long and an eon both at once. "How do you-- what do you do?" he asked, not understanding at all how anyone could be here that long. Joe had said he'd been here that long as well and it still seemed horrible to Tobi.

[little_moons]

"What do I do?" I repeat with a huff of laughter, pushing Max back down onto the cushions when she stretches over the edge and tries to lick me in the face, "I... surf. I hang around with my friends. With my husband. We live in the Hamlet, west of here. I do... boring every day shit. Just surviving, I guess."

[sommer_tobi]

Husband. Tobi knew that word and he wasn't as surprised by it as he likely would've been a month ago. As Joe had told him once, the number of gay men in this place is larger than Tobi could've imagined. Definitely not like Starberg.

"It is boring," Tobi agreed, coming dangerously close to pouting. "And cold."

[little_moons]

"What, you mean you're not one of the ones out there frolicking around in the snow like a fucking idiot?" I say, biting back a smirk at the fucking epic pout threating to break out on the kid's face.

"So, kid, you got a name, or what?"

[sommer_tobi]

If this place actually had been his home, Starnberg in the winter, Tobi definitely would've been one of those kids frolicking in the snow like an idiot. But, this wasn't home and never would be, it was just a mockery of it and Tobi couldn't say he appreciated it much.

"Tobi," he answered quietly with a nod, again reaching his hand out to pet the dog beside him. "Tobi Bauer."