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]

I can call you an overgrown nuisance.

[lawofthejungle]

Been called worse by scarier, sweetheart. Talk to me again in a few years.

[beingdifferent]

That doesn't mean it isn't true.

[lawofthejungle]

Wasn't arguin' with ya. Runt.

[beingdifferent]

[She still hasn't toned down that predatory stare, eyes sharp as she holds Creed's gaze, and there is a distinct iciness in her tone.]

Don't call me runt, please.

[lawofthejungle]

Haven't given me a reason not to yet. Just threatened to call me names.

[beingdifferent]

I asked you nicely.

[lawofthejungle]

That s'posed to be enough?

[beingdifferent]

It was a few moments ago.

[lawofthejungle]

Nah. Just felt like answerin' the question.

[beingdifferent]

You don't like people, do you.

[lawofthejungle]

[He chuckles.]

An' what gave you that impression?

[beingdifferent]

Because you look at me like entertainment, not as a person.

[lawofthejungle]

Wouldn't take it personal; look at a lotta frails that way.

Least it's like entertainment. Could be worse.

[beingdifferent]

What are frails?

[lawofthejungle]

Anybody who breaks easy. Anybody I can kill.

[beingdifferent]

Could you kill yourself?

[lawofthejungle]

The fuck would I want to do that for?

[beingdifferent]

Could you?

[lawofthejungle]

Normally got a healing factor that takes care of that shit. So doubt it. But why the fuck would I want to?

[Yes he could. It's called drowning. But that's not his thing.]

[beingdifferent]

So you're frail here too.

[lawofthejungle]

How you figure?

[beingdifferent]

If you can die, you're frail. Isn't that right?

[lawofthejungle]

[Shhh don't remind him.]

I ain't a fuckin' frail, an' you better quit that kinda talk if you don't want me to rip out your tongue for ya.

[beingdifferent]

[Esther immediately goes back into hurt-little-girl mode, her face crumpling and tears welling up in her eyes.]

Please don't say such awful things to me!