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]

May I play with him sometime?

[deadly_ned]

Of course. He's my dog but he's also...everyone's dog. Anyone's dog.

He likes new people.

[beingdifferent]

Thank you!

Hello, Digby. Would you like to be friends?

[deadly_ned]

[Digby would, in fact, like to be friends with the dark-haired girl in the dress with the cast. He wags his tail, slowly; he's an old dog, but still spry]

I think he likes you.

[beingdifferent]

[Esther beams, her predicament quite forgotten now that she's found such an appealing friend.]

I can't wait to meet him!

[deadly_ned]

[Oh, okay. The Piemaker was initially worried about being able to calm down a frightened, upset child...but this seems to be working? He grins down at his hands in his lap]

He's around. Usually in the kitchens, when he's with me. I know it's not entirely hygienic, a dog in the kitchen, but Digby's very clean.

[beingdifferent]

I'm going to see the kitchen later! [She thinks she is, anyway. If it's not one of the places Chris takes her she'll ferret it out on her own.]

[deadly_ned]

I'll...see you when you come, then.

We. Me and Digby will see you.

[beingdifferent]

Thank you!

Oh! Sorry for forgetting. What should I call you?

[deadly_ned]

That was my fault. I should've...said it first.

My name is Ned.

[beingdifferent]

Don't apologize! I should have asked first.

It's nice to meet you, Ned. Please call me Esther.

[deadly_ned]

I'm the adult. It was my responsibility.

Esther. It's nice to meet you.

[beingdifferent]

It's all right now either way, isn't it?

My pleasure. And pleased to meet you too, Digby.

[deadly_ned]

Digby says it's a pleasure to meet you as well.

[beingdifferent]

Please tell him thank you very much.

[deadly_ned]

I'll be sure to.

Esther, um. We're going to be making port soon. I'm taking my inmate out, and I don't know if you'd...like to come with us?

[beingdifferent]

We're going to visit somewhere soon? I would love to! Will Digby come as well?

[deadly_ned]

Yes. Every thirty-three days or so - that's an approximation - we make port.

Digby can come too.

[beingdifferent]

Thank you! Where are we going this time?

[deadly_ned]

I don't actually know yet. Usually the Admiral doesn't say until the day of.

[beingdifferent]

Then how can you know whether to bring a jacket?

[deadly_ned]

[This makes the Piemaker grin. Esther, why is this the thing you are most concerned about?]

I'd...prepare for anything, really. But usually we have an hour or so to prepare.

[beingdifferent]

[Because nobody wants to be cold, obviously!]

What kind of anything do you prepare for?

[deadly_ned]

Oh, just...it depends. It really can be.


Anything.

[beingdifferent]

Dinosaurs?