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

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.

[lawofthejungle]

[....Interesting. The challenge is obvious enough though, pricks at instinct quickly, so he just continues to look right back. Like hell he's going to show his throat to a runt like that.]

Called the Barge. Cruise ship in space, apparently. Filled with a buncha dead criminals and the wardens supposedly lookin' after 'em.

[beingdifferent]

[Age, size, and strength might be on Creed's side, but Esther has a sense of stubborn fearlessness that has served her well in the past. She can keep staring him down for as long as he likes.]

You must think I'm very gullible if you expect me to believe that.

[lawofthejungle]

Oh, you can believe whatever you want, runt. I'm just sharin' what I know 'cause you asked so nice.

[beingdifferent]

[Her eyes narrow.] Do not call me runt.

[lawofthejungle]

[Aaaaand that gets a chuckle out of him. Sorry except he isn't really.]

Why. Gonna glare some more if I do?

[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.

[Private]

[la_belle_rogue]

Don't.

[Private]

[lawofthejungle]

Well hey there, princess. You gonna intervene every time I try to talk to somebody? I'm playin' nice.

[Private]

[la_belle_rogue]

She's a kid. Leave her alone.

[Private]

[lawofthejungle]

Noticed that when she was cryin' for her mother. Ain't doin' anything. Just talkin'. Still got that right I think.

[Private]

[la_belle_rogue]

Ya don't gotta right ta scare or threaten children, Inmate or not. Back. Off.

[Private]

[lawofthejungle]

The fuck kinda kid asks a guy if he could kill himself as conversation? I ain't sayin' anything she don't deserve.

[Private]

[la_belle_rogue]

[Okay yeah, that's a little pointed and creepy, but not at all the point.]

She's a kid. She doesn't deserve anythin' ya've got ta say.

[Private]

[lawofthejungle]

[But she's pointing out he's mortal, Rogue. It's problematic.]

Yeah, we'll see about that.

[Private]

[la_belle_rogue]

Creed, Ah'm gonna make this real clear. Ya so much as scare that little girl, and Ah will make it mah goal ta see ya regret it.

[When it comes to kids, Rogue does not fuck around.]