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

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Oh hey, someone younger than her. Look at that.]

She's probably not here.

[beingdifferent]

[Esther looks at the older girl with some skepticism, as if sure Arya is playing a mean practical joke, and speaks again. This time her accent (sounds like Russian if you can place it) is easily audible.]

And where is here? I was just with her playing with Max.

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.]

[versusnurture]

Probably not.

[She sounds rueful. Pitying.]

[mistconduct]

Well...fuck.

Way to go, Admiral. This is gross.

[lastrat]

You've got to be--

[But no, of course it's not a joke, there's just a girl who is clearly not even ten yet on the Barge as an inmate. Why not.]

What's your name?

[strangehistorian]

Hm?

No, I'm afraid she's not here.

[deadly_ned]

[The Piemaker is terrible with children. Doesn't do children. But he still makes an effort because...well, it's a terrible thing, a child by themselves.

He sits with Digby, concern written all over his honest face]

Uhm. No.

No, I'm. Sorry.

[routemistress]

Welcome aboard, love. Don't worry, everyone's a bit lost their first day. I'm sorry we can't get your Mum for you, but it's not so bad 'ere. Mostly.

[la_belle_rogue]

[Really? A little kid inmate?]

Hey there, darlin'. What's yer name?

[themissingpiece]

[Well this is the first thing to happen to make him question the Admiral's judgement.]

My name's Arkin. Has everybody they explained what's going on?

[silvestris]

Well, this is a first. I almost hope you're part of some breach.

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[theantiaya]

[Interesting.]

[Aya has very little experience with children, though enough to recognize that this individual appearing over the Network was, indeed, a small youth. Unlike most, she did not so much question as to why the Admiral would bring a child aboard the Barge as she wondered what this child could have possible done to warrant her presence here.]

Incorrect.

Who are you?

[gotgreenmagic]

So, am I gonna be the first to ask if you're a vampire and secretly like a billion years old? Not that I expect you to say yes even if you are, but 'vaguely creepy, doll-like pre-teen except not' is not new here.

[And if you're actually nine then she's going to have to leave and she would really like to get an Inmate and earn her deal kthx.]

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[fire_punk]

No one's moms are here. [He's young, unkempt, but definitely attractive if you can get past his lack of hygiene. He sounds both pleased and almost sad.]

What's your name? [Unsaid is what is a kid like you doing here?]