First little lie ♰ Keep me breathing as the water rises up again

[beingdifferent]

[The first image the camera captures is a pair of large brown eyes, blinking sleepily before widening. They dart back and forth as their owner pulls the communicator back, showing a small pale face framed by dark curls, mouth curled into a frown. Zoom back a little more and the starry expanse from the deck is visible in the background.

The girl in the foreground bites at her bottom lip, licks it, looks around again before frowning at the communicator. She pulls it up closer, staring at the screen, and speaks one word with a distinct note of fear in her voice.]

...Mommy?

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[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Oh hey, someone younger than her. Look at that.]

She's probably not here.

[beingdifferent]

[Esther looks at the older girl with some skepticism, as if sure Arya is playing a mean practical joke, and speaks again. This time her accent (sounds like Russian if you can place it) is easily audible.]

And where is here? I was just with her playing with Max.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[She's heard plenty of accents by now, but she couldn't place any of them if she tried. It's not Westerosi, that's enough for her.]

You're an inmate. So you're probably dead. [Arya Stark, master of easing 'em into it.]

PROBABLY CW FOREVER because Creed and Esther both require them.

[lawofthejungle]

[There's a Creed smirking at you toothily from his cell in Zero, Esther. This is never a good sign.]

Gonna go out on a limb an' say mommy ain't here, girlie.

[Why is there a little girl that's just....weird. And not close to expected.

Whatever. He's just going to roll with it, it makes about as much sense as the rest of this place.]

Yeah this is probably going to get real weird real fast

[beingdifferent]

[Esther is far less taken aback by this than she should be. In fact, she's got a thousand-mile stare of her own and holds his gaze easily as if daring him to look away.]

And where is "here"? Please, tell me honestly.

[versusnurture]

Probably not.

[She sounds rueful. Pitying.]

[beingdifferent]

Can you help me find her, please?

[mistconduct]

Well...fuck.

Way to go, Admiral. This is gross.

[beingdifferent]

Who's Admiral?

Did I do something wrong?

[lastrat]

You've got to be--

[But no, of course it's not a joke, there's just a girl who is clearly not even ten yet on the Barge as an inmate. Why not.]

What's your name?

[beingdifferent]

[Well hello Mr. Bond. You're a sight for sore eyes. She answers shyly, pulling back into herself a little.]

My name is Esther, sir. What's yours?

[strangehistorian]

Hm?

No, I'm afraid she's not here.

[beingdifferent]

When is she coming?

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker is terrible with children. Doesn't do children. But he still makes an effort because...well, it's a terrible thing, a child by themselves.

He sits with Digby, concern written all over his honest face]

Uhm. No.

No, I'm. Sorry.

[beingdifferent]

[There's something different about this one. Esther looks at the man, scrutinizing, but her face brightens when she sees Digby.] Oh! You have a dog here?

[routemistress]

Welcome aboard, love. Don't worry, everyone's a bit lost their first day. I'm sorry we can't get your Mum for you, but it's not so bad 'ere. Mostly.

[beingdifferent]

Everybody's said it's bad here.

[la_belle_rogue]

[Really? A little kid inmate?]

Hey there, darlin'. What's yer name?

[beingdifferent]

[Who knows what's going through that Admiral's head?]

Esther. What's yours?

[themissingpiece]

[Well this is the first thing to happen to make him question the Admiral's judgement.]

My name's Arkin. Has everybody they explained what's going on?

[beingdifferent]

Hello, Arkin. My name is Esther.

People have explained a few things but I'm not quite sure I understand. Can you tell me what they mean by "breach"? Did I break something?

[silvestris]

Well, this is a first. I almost hope you're part of some breach.

[beingdifferent]

I don't know what you mean by that. Did I breach anything getting here?

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[theantiaya]

[Interesting.]

[Aya has very little experience with children, though enough to recognize that this individual appearing over the Network was, indeed, a small youth. Unlike most, she did not so much question as to why the Admiral would bring a child aboard the Barge as she wondered what this child could have possible done to warrant her presence here.]

Incorrect.

Who are you?

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[beingdifferent]

[Esther is, indeed, the poster girl for the lost little fairytale daughter, and Aya is clever to wonder whether she is as innocent as she looks. So far everyone else has been so... trusting.

She stares in wonder at Aya, startled by this exceptionally humanoid mechanical being, unlike anything that's yet been developed in her world.]

My name is Esther Coleman. I did realize you weren't my mother, ma'am.

[gotgreenmagic]

So, am I gonna be the first to ask if you're a vampire and secretly like a billion years old? Not that I expect you to say yes even if you are, but 'vaguely creepy, doll-like pre-teen except not' is not new here.

[And if you're actually nine then she's going to have to leave and she would really like to get an Inmate and earn her deal kthx.]

[beingdifferent]

[Ouch. Way to hit right in the soft spot, Shego. Luckily Esther just giggles, because the idea of her being an ancient killer is, let's face it, just plain silly, isn't it?]

Of course I'm not a vampire. Those are just stories to scare people.

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[fire_punk]

No one's moms are here. [He's young, unkempt, but definitely attractive if you can get past his lack of hygiene. He sounds both pleased and almost sad.]

What's your name? [Unsaid is what is a kid like you doing here?]

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[beingdifferent]

Yours isn't either? [Oh, he is cute. Reminds her of a few of the older boys at the orphanage in Estonia. That sympathetic undertone to his voice does not go unnoticed either.]

Esther. What's yours?