[14: video]

[paper_knight]

The second floor hall camera shows a feed of Mark, bundled up in coat and hat and gloves like a responsible kid should be, with a snazzy red runner sled under one arm.

An idle thought about Christmas and an open closet door had yielded the sled, and he's off to make good use of it.

Comments

Guess who's never been sledding!

[timisnotme]

What is?

*He points at the sled.*

Re: Guess who's never been sledding!

[paper_knight]

"Oh! Hi."

Masked kid. That's a little weird, but far less creepy than the full sized version.

"It's a sled!"

[timisnotme]

What's it for?

[paper_knight]

"You ride it in the snow. Haven't you seen one before?"

[timisnotme]

*Little masked headshake. He doesn't know what it is.*

How does it work?

parenting. at. nine.

[paper_knight]

"How about I show you outside? Do you have a coat you can wear?"

Well Maskers is 7 sooo... XD

[timisnotme]

I'll be right back!

*And with the energy of a seen year old he bounds away to one of the closets and comes back with a black hoodies, he tugs his scarf closer around his neck.*

Ready!

It's a vortex. A parenthood vortex.

[paper_knight]

"All right."

Once they're outside, he tips the sled down into the snow and demonstrates how it glides across the surface.

"It sits on the runners, see? And then you ride it."

Re: It's a vortex. A parenthood vortex.

[timisnotme]

Why doesn't it sink?

[paper_knight]

"I dunno. Sometimes it does, if the snow's not right."

But Wonderland has been obliging! The snow is deep in places, but enough of it is packed down that the sled rides on top of it.

"I'll pull you, if you want to ride for a little. Until we find a hill to go down."

[timisnotme]

But it's your sled. Shouldn't I pull you?

[paper_knight]

"Nah, you're smaller than me. Hop on."

[timisnotme]

*He won't argue the fact that he's probably stronger. He sits on the sled and tosses the end of his scarf behind him*

[paper_knight]

Mark tugs him along towards what looks like a promising dip in the terrain.

"I'm Mark, by the way. What's your name?"

[timisnotme]

Markus.

*He's having so much fun! He puts his hand off the side of the sled and leaves little trails in the snow.*

[paper_knight]

He smiles a little at the almost-match.

The little dip turns out to be a hill just steep enough to ride. A good way to start, by his judgment.

"All right, Markus. Hold on to the rope, here. You pull it to one side or the other to steer. I'm gonna give you a push."