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

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

[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?

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Aye. Every god I ever met 'ad a dodgy sense of humour and all. One of their few redeeming features, in my book.

[Iris is nearly always smiling by default, but when something touches her hearts it becomes luminous with joy; this happens now.]

Yes, thank goodness. Large as life and twice as ...something. Babs is still down, but one out of two makes all the difference to me not going loopy. And it's easier with Babs; she disappears at least I know she'll be all right.

Edited 2013-10-06 14:36 (UTC)

[The plural affronts her. Esther does not have good understanding of the Bible but she has faith in what it does say.] There's only one.

[Still, it's hard to be mad when Iris is radiating happiness like the proverbial bluebird. It doesn't entirely win her over but she tilts her head, more curious now than offended.]

What happens when she disappears? How does that happen?

That's what most of 'em say.

[She wasn't going to mention disappearances. Oops.]

...Sometimes people disappear from the boat. Wasp did some data analysis and noticed that people who've 'ad more than one coma are more likely to disappear. Far as we can tell, they get dropped back to where they come from; but as you might guess, that's bad news for a lot of passengers. I've tried tracking people back after they disappear and I've not always been able to find 'em. So I worried a bit, while 'e was down.

Then, which ones have you met?

[Esther's brow furrows in thought, nodding along with Iris' explanation. None of it is welcome information, and the idea of being dropped back where she came from, right into that frozen pond on the Colemans' property, makes her gut wrench. But she keeps up appearances, thoughtfully adding just one question.] How can you track people down once they leave?

There's one on board: you've seen that Loki? 'E's from your world, or a variation of it. Not the first version of 'im I've met, either. And Anubis, once; nice bloke, actually, if you overlook 'is table manners. Horus counts, too, technically, though she - he - well, that's a long story and I'm not sure it actually 'appened any more. I suppose you were thinking of the Judeo-Christian one? We 'ad one of 'is angels as a warden for a while.

Oh, I've got a timeship. Actually, she's a bit more than that, these days.

But they're not meant to be real. Not real like God, that is. None of them are meant to be true. [Her reasoning sounds all the more childlike when she says it aloud. She's not sure if that makes it more or less correct.] When did the angel leave? Did he say why?

You have your own Barge, and you stay on this one?

Well, yes, that's in the nature of gods. Castiel just up and left; said 'is dad wanted 'im elsewhere. That's all the reason 'e needed; you know 'ow angels are.
This ship's a lot bigger'n mine; she's on a scale I can't even really see. Running an operation like this from me own ship ...I won't say impossible, but it's not a job I'd much like to tackle, 'specially when this one's already going.

I like it 'ere. I like the people, and the adventures, and the work suits me.

Edited 2013-10-06 15:50 (UTC)

He wouldn't stay? [She doesn't know how angels are, personally, and isn't sure what it says that he left -- or that he was there in the first place.] Can you take people home on your ship?

They're not built to disobey orders.

[Iris knows what Esther really means with that question, and it's with real regret she looks the girl in the eye.]

Not inmates, no. The barge won't let me.

But he could have helped here.

[Esther turns her face downward, dropping eye contact, and nods glumly.]

I just want to see Max again.

'E did 'elp. Then 'e went. I expect 'e's 'elping somewhere or other.

Who's Max?

[Esther looks sorely disappointed. But then, perhaps she shouldn't be so proud as to expect to meet an angel.] I hope so.

Max is my little sister.

[She nods.]

Right. I'm making no promises. I can't take you out of 'ere, nor I can't bring anyone aboard that isn't 'ere already. But you can go anywhere - or when - you like when you graduate.

The other thing I can try is to check up on 'er for you. I can't always do that; once or twice I've tried and the Barge stopped me. But sometimes I can; and I'm 'appy to take the chance.

Max wouldn't be safe on board anyway. She's too little, she's only four. [That when business catches her attention, and she looks up keenly.] The way you do, you mean?

If you want to! I hope she's all right.

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

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