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?

Comments

[beingdifferent]

Has it? What's happened?

Do they really say that about inmates? I thought they were here to help us.

Yes! And I used to have a daddy too.

[mistconduct]

My boyfriend got his ass beat because of some shit I said to the wrong guy.

Some of them. Not all. Most of the new wardens do, until they get with the program.

Used to? What happened to him?

[beingdifferent]

How terrible! [This time, she's the one to squeeze his hand.] What on earth could you say to make him do that?

The more I hear, the less friendly this place sounds.

He and Mommy fought a lot, and he found another lady he liked better.

[mistconduct]

[The squeeze helps, a little. Breaking up with Cassel still hurts]

People don't need an excuse to kick the crap out of each other. I just woke him up on the wrong side of the bed.

Yeah. It's a redemption ship. It's not supposed to be friendly.

That's fucked. I'm sorry.

[beingdifferent]

But they should. No one should hurt anyone, but hurting people for no reason is what only the worst people do. [She parrots it as if it's a Sunday school lesson she's been made to memorize.]

But how can you get better if everyone is so awful?

I didn't like her and neither did Max. Now we get to live with Mommy all the time.

[mistconduct]

Yeah, well, you know how it is. You're this big tough guy who's used to being in charge of the pack, then you die and get kicked down to being a goddamn inmate, and then you're just looking to lash out at anyone who wants to fuck with you. I should've just steered clear.

Seriously, I don't even know.

That's cool. You like your Mommy?

[beingdifferent]

No. Is that how it is?

Yes. She's very nice and she taught me to play the piano. Do you have a piano here? Maybe I could play when my cast is off.

[mistconduct]

Usually. Yeah.


Nah, but maybe Megamind does, or maybe the rec room or whatever has one.

When's the cast coming off?

[beingdifferent]

The rec room, is that where you're taking me first?

The doctor said in eight weeks.

[mistconduct]

Yeah, is that cool?

Merlin can speed that shit right up for you. I once got almost beaten to death, I was up and walking around no problem after three days.

[beingdifferent]

Yes. Is that your favorite place to go when you're here?

Are you sure? Three days is not a very long time for a big problem.

[mistconduct]

Nah. I like my room, and my neighbor's room, and the deck and the gym way more.

Merlin's magic. He can get you healed in like two days. If that.

[beingdifferent]

Will I get to see those places too?

Then I want to meet him! I don't like my cast much.

[mistconduct]

I mean, sure, if you want. Nothing really to see, they're just bedrooms. The gym's nothing to write home about either.

Yeah, who does? I'll introduce you.

[beingdifferent]

Are there exciting places besides the deck? And where there are pets?

[mistconduct]

Well, it's like, some people bring their own pets, or if you're an inmate, sometimes a warden'll give you one. Usually it's wardens who have, like, dogs and things.

And I don't know, I think the CES and the CTS are pretty fucking awesome. You ever watch Star Trek? It's like the holodeck in Star Trek, I'm dead serious.

[beingdifferent]

Do you have one?

That old show? Yes, Daddy watched it sometimes. Does it let you go anywhere?

[mistconduct]

Nah. My dad never let me have pets and my warden has this bad history with dogs. I hang with my neighbor's dog, though.

You're still technically on the Barge, but it doesn't really feel like that at all.

[beingdifferent]

What's the difference between CTS and CES?

[mistconduct]

One's a fight simulation and the other's an environment simulation. I think.

[beingdifferent]

A fight simulation? Is there much call for that?

[mistconduct]

Uh, yeah. Lots of us are like. Assassins and ninjas and warriors and shit.