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]

[One of the benefits of being a small child: people are automatically kinder to you, even those who don't like children.]

Daddy's new wife grabbed me.

[lastrat]

[Well that's a topic he doesn't reeeaaally want to get into. Awkward.]

There's an infirmary. A-- [the fuck do they even call it as kids--] Nurse's office. [Right? Right?????] If it starts to hurt.

[beingdifferent]

Thank you. The doctor said it wouldn't but it gets tingly.

[lastrat]

It's on level two. There are stairs on either end of the hall. Lifts, too.

[beingdifferent]

Lifts?

Oh, you mean elevators.

[lastrat]

That's right.

If someone bothers you, say something on the network. [He'd like to think that there aren't any child beaters around, but given Cassel's recent attack, he doesn't fucking trust anyone. B(] Someone will come to help.

[beingdifferent]

This network? [With Esther around, eventually there will be.] Thank you again, James.

[lastrat]

This network. [He needs to never be James Dad again.] You're welcome, Esther. When you're assigned, your warden will have more answers.

[like wtf a child from a seemingly modern society is doing here.

[beingdifferent]

How long does that take? Do I get to meet them now?

[lastrat]

It could take months. The Admiral will make an announcement. [He usually avoids all this introductory shit but hnnnng when all you've got is like. Chris and fucking Sabertooth and another baby SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT.]

Until then, you're stuck here with the rest of us.

[beingdifferent]

Is there anything I'm meant to do until then? [If she's just supposed to sit alone, like before, she will not stay placid long.]

[lastrat]

I'm afraid it's something of a waiting game.

[beingdifferent]

How long have people waited? [It sounds like waiting to be adopted all over again.]

[lastrat]

Sometimes months. [Hnnn he is telling a little girl - who is probably guilty of something awful, he reminds himself - to just. sit tight in a prison. He doesn't like it.]

Have you seen the rest of the ship yet?

[beingdifferent]

Months? [Her eyes widen and shakes her head, as if she can refuse the option at this point.] No, I can't be away for so long. Who do I talk to in order to leave early?

Not yet, although a boy named Chris is going to show me around. I'm sure it's very nice but I would rather go home.

[lastrat]

[He frowns a little, scratches his jaw. He down's know how to deal with kids, he barely knows how to deal with teens.] I'm afraid you can't, Esther. That's part of how the Barge works.

[But he nods at that, because Chris may be absurd and ridiculous, but Bond thinks he's all right. Not exactly someone he'd have protecting - well, anyone, but it's good enough.]

Chris will show you everything. I'm in cabin 609, if you need me.