Fifth little lie ♰ And you delivered me from danger then, pulled my cradle from the reedy glen

[beingdifferent]

[Five and a half days have passed. Esther checked and rechecked the dates and times, going over the posts on the network and pondering recent events. It looks like she's missed some excitement; apparently she's not the only one who's slipped into a coma lately, or indeed undergone other changes. It looks like there are some people she needs to seek out soon.

But first things first.]

It's been six days that I slept. Does everyone get sick like this on the ship? Sleeping so long is meant to be very bad for a person. And it makes you very hungry and thirsty as well! [She crosses her arms and huffs, her breath batting a curl away from her chin.] This is very strange and I don't think I like it.

But maybe it is better than waiting. Why do some inmates find their warden immediately when others take so long? How come it's so hard to get home?

Comments

[routemistress]

'Ey Esther. Barge comas - they're a thing, I'm afraid. I'll pop up with a tray if you give us a minute. Need owt else?

[beingdifferent]

Thank you. I would like that very much, whatever you bring.

Does it mean there's something wrong with me?

> spam

[routemistress]

No problem, lovey. No, it's just a thing that 'appens. I've got a sort of vague theory about it, but it's unprovable and a bit nuts; I think it's a reaction of the Barge to people who reach a kind of marking time state of mind. Maybe.

[She's knocking a couple of minutes later; she's brought a tray with a variety of snacks, nibbles, fruit, fruit juice and bottled water.]

spam

[beingdifferent]

[Esther opens the door and looks up at Iris with the grateful puppy-dog eyes of a hungry waif, reaching out to beckon her in the little bedroom.]

Oh, thank you! It all looks so good. Would you like to share?

What did you mean earlier, about the state of mind marking time?

[canfindrope]

They're called barge comas. They just... happen sometimes.

[beingdifferent]

Have you had one?

[canfindrope]

Once or twice.

They're more worrisome for everyone else.

[deadly_ned]

If I knew, I would tell you.

But I don't. So I can't.

[beingdifferent]

How long did it take for you?

[deadly_ned]

Not long for either of mine. Weeks.

Do you want a warden?

[beingdifferent]

I want to go back home. Everyone says that to do that I need a warden.

[surrenders]

How long you been waiting?

[beingdifferent]

Almost three months. It shouldn't take this long!

[godsays]

It doesn't hurt you. Not permanently.

[beingdifferent]

But it hurts you for a little while?

[godsays]

It depends on what you mean by hurt.

[beingdifferent]

What has it done to you?

[lastrat]

Hard work isn't meant to be easy.

[beingdifferent]

But I can't even try right now!

[lastrat]

You don't need a warden to try.

[beingdifferent]

But I need a warden to go home!

[Video]

[wemaketheworld]

Not everyone. Some more often than others. Some not at all.

[Frustrated; there isn't anything he can do about it, after all. Nothing but sit and wait and study the patterns and try to make sense out of it all.]

Wondered where you were.

[There's an edge of gruff relief he makes a point to stifle the best he can. It still seeps through anyway, but he made the effort at least.]

Don't know what dictates pairing decisions either. Or timing.

[Video]

[beingdifferent]

[Esther visibly relaxes at seeing him, eyes brightening as she perks up. It's the same ease she greeted Ned with, or a great facsimile thereof. The ink swirls on his face and she sees a school of fish swimming in circles, goldfish in a bowl they can't escape.]

Oh, it's you!

[He missed her. Better yet, he missed her and doesn't wish to admit it -- that's enough to make her break into a smile.]

How much do you know about the pairings?

[Video]

[wemaketheworld]

[She relaxes and he only tenses further, as if anticipating in advance that something else is bound to go awry. Good news can't be trusted for long, not in his experience. But he grunts in a more appropriate greeting, shrugging his shoulders. His version of a "hello".]

Happen at Admiral's whim. Can't be predicted. Aren't always based on personal opinions of suitability. Mostly seems at random.

[Video]

[beingdifferent]

[She not only notices that paranoia (thank you, Zane), she's curious about it. He knows the proper way to think, but how he got there is only partially clear to her. She intends to remedy that.]

That sounds horrible. What's the longest that a person can wait?