Luna! @the-baby-drone - Tumblr Blog

[Mark is at physical therapy yet again. The doctor had left him to attend to another person, leaving him to do the same repetitive action of slowly extending his legs from the sitting position he's in.]

[He reaches over to grab his cup of water, missing the blur just outside the window. But then he catches it. Outside the room, there's a kid running out in the hall. A small, brown haired girl with short hair running aimlessly. He pauses his exercise, watching the child run around the foyer. Had there been a kid here this whole time? He doesn't remember seeing the kid during any of his little walks around the hospital. Before he can ask someone about it, the girl has disappeared.]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

[Luna blinks, stumbling back as she tries to regain her footing. The tall man had startled her. She looks up at him, tilting her head in curiosity as she studied his face. She didn’t know him, was he new? Was he a robot? What were those thingies on his arms?]

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

[Mark smiles again, watching the girl tell the story. When she points at his crutches with question, he nods playfully as he stiffens up a little, doing a little shuffle. He talks with a 90's movie robot voice]

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

[Mark smiles and listens to her rambling. He is unfamiliar with "May", it's true. He starts to wonder who she is, but the thought is cut off before it gets too far. Luna takes a breath, still looking up at him. A doctor passes them. Mark is once again aware of their surroundings. This isn't quite a normal place for kids to be running around.]

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

[Mark likes this already. The no-pressure conversation that he can react off of. It doesn't feel forced, like the occasional phonecall with Amy or the slightly-too-invasive talks with anons. He lets Luna lead and falls into an walk/stagger pace with her]

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

[Mark continues to let her guide him. When they wind up in the mindfulness gardens on the first floor, he can't complain at the view of the trees and cleanly kept bushes. He does feel it in his arms, however. The crutches are better than the ones under the armpit, but his forearms have started to get a bit sore.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

[Mark slowly sinks to sitting on a bench, putting his crutches to the side of him. He keeps an eye on Luna as she digs through shrubbery. She asks him if he likes bugs. He thinks about it. He doesn't really know anything about bugs. He did kill some in the house he remembers. But he doesn't know anything beyond that to have an opinion on them]

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

[Oh, she's upset. Mark swallows before he responds]

"Hey it's- it's okay. The ladybug can be in a better place now. With its grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.... where they can eat all the leaves they want. How does that sound?"

[Luna sniffles, wiping her face with her grubby fist.]

“Y-yeah. Lots n’ lots of leaves. Where they-” [Luna is interrupted by a yawn.] “-they never get hungry and have lots of friends like butterflies an’ bees. Except the bees don’t sting.”

"All... friends." Mark agrees. When Luna yawns, he realizes how late it is. If it were just him, he'd be out until someone had him come in. But with a kid? No, that wouldn't be good.

"Alright kiddo. I think it might be time to go back inside." A small suggestion. He's unsure how much persuasion it'll take to convince this child.

“Mm. Mkay mister Mark.” [That, surprisingly, took not a lot of convincing. Luna was tired, the day’s events of the “oh so hard work” she had to do and the brief sadness of the ladybug incident had taken a lot out of her.]

[She picks herself off and brushes off the tiny pebbles and dirt from her knees before toddling over to Mark, blinking up at him with her big eyes.]

“I ready.”

Mark is suprised that worked so easily. Relieved, really. Luna just stood up, dusted herself off, and walked over to him. He remembers how he used to go through hoops to even convince-

He shakes his head. Nope, focus on Luna. Think about that later. Luna needs to get inside. He stands, grabbing his crutches and finding his balance on them.

"Alright kiddo, let's go."

He starts making his way to the enterance, making sure to keep it slow for Luna to catch up and stay near him. The hospital could get busy this time of night and there's no telling how busy it would be now. Keeping her close and around is the biggest goal.

[Luna stays in tow behind Mark like a little duckling, even making little quack noises as she remembers the image of ducks in a row she remembers seeing in a picture book.]

“Quack, quack, quack….” [She mutters. It sounds more like she’s saying ‘cack’ than anything.] “Thank you for taking me back to my room, mister Mark. You are very nice.”

Mark looks down at Luna with a goofy smile when he hears her quacking. It took a minute to determine what the sound was other than a repetitive "cack." He looks back up to where they were walking, making sure not to run into anyone crossing the lobby. The elevator is right across the way, if they went far enough.

He decides to quack back at her a couple times at her before she thanks him. When she does, he looks back down at her and nods.

"Of course. Gotta make sure you get to your room safe, right?"

[Luna yawns, yawning widely as she does so.]

“Mhm! Gotta…gotta watch out for the bad people who try to take me. N’ monsters. They are just as scary.”

[A few more quacks lead them to the elevator. When they get in, Luna sits on the floor by where Mark is standing. She was tired.]

[Mark does not put much weight into what Luna says. Bad people who try to take me. Well, kids say silly things sometimes, right? As they do. They make things up.he half wonders if there's weight to it. All things considered, she IS in a hospital without an adult supervisor.]

[The elevator ride consists of him watching the numbers rise, other patients exiting and entering the elevator at what seems to be every elevation, and the child on the floor. When they get back to the floor they met on, he calls to her gently.]

"C'mon Luna. Don't want to miss our floor."

[The two walk from the elevator to the hallway. After being encouraged by mark to go on, they wind up in Luna's room. He makes sure she gets into bed alright. He seems hesitant to leave the child alone despite only knowing her for the evening.]

#genlosers do rp #talking with the stars #and scene

[Luna is pretty pooped at this point. She gathers all her strength and kicks her little legs up onto the bed, grabbing the blankets and snuggling in like a little worm burrowing in dirt. She lets out a big yawn, turning towards Mark as he’s departing.]

“Thank you for playing with me, Mister Mark. You’re a very nice person. You would make a good papa one day.” [She mumbles, eyes blinking out of sync as she tries to keep them open.]

[Eventually, Luna loses the battle against herself, falling into the most peaceful sleep of her life.]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

[Oh, she's upset. Mark swallows before he responds]

"Hey it's- it's okay. The ladybug can be in a better place now. With its grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.... where they can eat all the leaves they want. How does that sound?"

[Luna sniffles, wiping her face with her grubby fist.]

“Y-yeah. Lots n’ lots of leaves. Where they-” [Luna is interrupted by a yawn.] “-they never get hungry and have lots of friends like butterflies an’ bees. Except the bees don’t sting.”

"All... friends." Mark agrees. When Luna yawns, he realizes how late it is. If it were just him, he'd be out until someone had him come in. But with a kid? No, that wouldn't be good.

"Alright kiddo. I think it might be time to go back inside." A small suggestion. He's unsure how much persuasion it'll take to convince this child.

[She picks herself off and brushes off the tiny pebbles and dirt from her knees before toddling over to Mark, blinking up at him with her big eyes.]

“I ready.”

Mark is suprised that worked so easily. Relieved, really. Luna just stood up, dusted herself off, and walked over to him. He remembers how he used to go through hoops to even convince-

He shakes his head. Nope, focus on Luna. Think about that later. Luna needs to get inside. He stands, grabbing his crutches and finding his balance on them.

"Alright kiddo, let's go."

[Luna stays in tow behind Mark like a little duckling, even making little quack noises as she remembers the image of ducks in a row she remembers seeing in a picture book.]

“Quack, quack, quack….” [She mutters. It sounds more like she’s saying ‘cack’ than anything.] “Thank you for taking me back to my room, mister Mark. You are very nice.”

He decides to quack back at her a couple times at her before she thanks him. When she does, he looks back down at her and nods.

"Of course. Gotta make sure you get to your room safe, right?"

[Luna yawns, yawning widely as she does so.]

“Mhm! Gotta…gotta watch out for the bad people who try to take me. N’ monsters. They are just as scary.”

[A few more quacks lead them to the elevator. When they get in, Luna sits on the floor by where Mark is standing. She was tired.]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

[Oh, she's upset. Mark swallows before he responds]

"Hey it's- it's okay. The ladybug can be in a better place now. With its grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.... where they can eat all the leaves they want. How does that sound?"

[Luna sniffles, wiping her face with her grubby fist.]

“Y-yeah. Lots n’ lots of leaves. Where they-” [Luna is interrupted by a yawn.] “-they never get hungry and have lots of friends like butterflies an’ bees. Except the bees don’t sting.”

"All... friends." Mark agrees. When Luna yawns, he realizes how late it is. If it were just him, he'd be out until someone had him come in. But with a kid? No, that wouldn't be good.

"Alright kiddo. I think it might be time to go back inside." A small suggestion. He's unsure how much persuasion it'll take to convince this child.

[She picks herself off and brushes off the tiny pebbles and dirt from her knees before toddling over to Mark, blinking up at him with her big eyes.]

“I ready.”

Mark is suprised that worked so easily. Relieved, really. Luna just stood up, dusted herself off, and walked over to him. He remembers how he used to go through hoops to even convince-

He shakes his head. Nope, focus on Luna. Think about that later. Luna needs to get inside. He stands, grabbing his crutches and finding his balance on them.

"Alright kiddo, let's go."

[Luna stays in tow behind Mark like a little duckling, even making little quack noises as she remembers the image of ducks in a row she remembers seeing in a picture book.]

“Quack, quack, quack….” [She mutters. It sounds more like she’s saying ‘cack’ than anything.] “Thank you for taking me back to my room, mister Mark. You are very nice.”

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

[Oh, she's upset. Mark swallows before he responds]

"Hey it's- it's okay. The ladybug can be in a better place now. With its grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.... where they can eat all the leaves they want. How does that sound?"

[Luna sniffles, wiping her face with her grubby fist.]

“Y-yeah. Lots n’ lots of leaves. Where they-” [Luna is interrupted by a yawn.] “-they never get hungry and have lots of friends like butterflies an’ bees. Except the bees don’t sting.”

"All... friends." Mark agrees. When Luna yawns, he realizes how late it is. If it were just him, he'd be out until someone had him come in. But with a kid? No, that wouldn't be good.

"Alright kiddo. I think it might be time to go back inside." A small suggestion. He's unsure how much persuasion it'll take to convince this child.

[She picks herself off and brushes off the tiny pebbles and dirt from her knees before toddling over to Mark, blinking up at him with her big eyes.]

“I ready.”

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

[Oh, she's upset. Mark swallows before he responds]

"Hey it's- it's okay. The ladybug can be in a better place now. With its grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles.... where they can eat all the leaves they want. How does that sound?"

[Luna sniffles, wiping her face with her grubby fist.]

“Y-yeah. Lots n’ lots of leaves. Where they-” [Luna is interrupted by a yawn.] “-they never get hungry and have lots of friends like butterflies an’ bees. Except the bees don’t sting.”

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

"Bugs are cool. I think. Though-"

[Mark starts, but observes how her face changes suddenly. He hadn't been paying attention to what she had been doing with her feet.]

"What's wrong Luna?"

[Luna turns to look at Mark with big, wet eyes and a pout on her face. She lifts her foot up to show the ladybug remains on her shoe.]

“I smushed it..! It-it probably had a mama an’ a dad an’ I smushed the buggy!]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

"Hey Luna, I gotta sit down for a minute. Is that okay with you?"

[Mark asks, already feeling bad for cutting their walk time down]

“That’s okay, I can look for bugs while you sit.”

[Luna looks in the bushes for bugs, which kinda backfires once she gets startled by a spider.]

“I like bugs, just not the spidery kind. Do you like bugs? I like bugs. My mama used to call me bug.”

[Luna continues looking, accidentally stepping on a ladybug in her excitement.]

“Mark..oh no…”

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

"Wow, 26/7? Must be awful busy. What would they ever do without you?"

"Where are we walkin' to, miss?"

“Ummm, around! And I can show you my super secret office.”

[Luna has no idea where she’s gonna take Mark, she’s just happy to have a friend. He reminded her of her dad before he started being mean.]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

[Mark has to fight a laugh as she makes her claim]

"Oh, really? Very important, aren't you?"

[Mark says "important" lightly, not to tease but to help her with the word. He straightens up a little bit]

"Well, hospital worker Luna, would you want to walk with me a little?"

[Ohhh, important! Thats the word. Whatever, intortant sounds way better because it’s a Luna Word and Luna Words are the best. She nods enthusiastically at the mention of walking with Mark.]

“Mhm mhm! I’m sure the big people won’t mind if I take a little bitty break. Besides, I work reeeeaaally heard all the time. 26/7.”

[Luna is very interested in keeping this little make believe thing going.]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

Hi Luna.

Are you... supposed to be out here, Luna? I don't want you in trouble.

[Luna looks down at her feet. The answer was no, she wasn’t. She was supposed to stay in her room all the time. But that was so so boring! Mark wouldnt know if she said a small fib, would he?]

“Um…yes! I work here, mhm. I’m im…in…intortant to the doctors, yup.”

[….intortant was the word she wanted to use, right?]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

"Awh man. Well I'm glad you are not splatted anymore."

"Beep boop. These are my ro-bot parts. Oh no. You have dis-cov-ered me. Beep boop."

[Mark shakes his head with a small laugh, slouching a little again]

"Nah. I wish I were cool enough to be a robot. My name's Mark and I am just a guy."

[Luna giggles brightly at Mark’s robotic display, mirroring his movements the best she could.]

“You’re just like me! I’m kinda a robot too! Also hi guy Mark, m’ Luna. But Maymay calls me Lulu. I don’t think you know my Maymay, but she’s real nice.”

[Luna rambles, having to stop in the middle of her sentence to catch her breath. She never had the chance to talk to someone! This was so exciting!]

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]

[Mark looks down at her softly as she looks up at him. She can't be older than 5? 6? He tilts his head as she speaks then replies in a thoughtful manner]

Going splat wouldn't be fun, would it?

[He straightens his head out, leaning back on his crutches a little as he watches her]

You were running pretty fast. Almost couldn't see you, even.

[Luna shakes her head, shuffling in place.]

“No. Splats are no fun. I went splat once when I fell outta the bed and it hurted a lot. Big owies.”

[Luna points to his crutches.]

“Are those your robot parts?”

___

[After physical therapy ends, Mark decides just to return back to his room and get sleep. His plan to do so is cut short when the kid comes around the corner and he almost bumps into her]

"Oh! 'M sorry. Are you alright?"

@the-baby-drone

“M’ okay, yeah. I went super fast an’ almost splatted.”

[Luna says, almost in a prideful way. She needs to remember to slow down sometimes, she could get hurt!]