beingdifferent | Twelfth little lie ♰ And though it was long ago, it seems I still search for you

Hello! And Happy New Year, and Merry Christmas if you are Russian.

Thank you all so much for the lovely gifts [she takes a slight pause here, her smile wry for half a second; even yours, Bond it says, to only one person on board], I am enjoying them very much. But there is one thing I'd like to ask for, if it's not too much.

Many people on board have pets, and I know there are a few who have come as presents. If it's not a bother, may I have one? A small one, that is friendly but not fussy. Perhaps a lizard. There are some called geckos, and others called i-gu-a-nas. There are more called bearded dragons, but they aren't real dragons. All of those are very nice.

If I cannot have one, that's all right. But I thought I might ask.

[Spam for Bond]

[He frequents the gym, that much she knows. Esther is by no means interested in keeping her own physique, nor is she curious about fitness and developing strength. She watches Bond for a few minutes as he runs through his routine, exercising while he focuses on one group of muscles over another.]

Aren't you skilled.

[Of course he is. Neither of then has any reason to hide the recognition, although Esther acknowledges it with a raised brow and a very slight, almost unnoticeable, smirk.]

♰

[Open lunch spam]
[Some days, Esther preps ingredients; sometime she adds seasoning and herbs to the lunch dishes; sometimes she merely makes sure everything is presented appetizingly. Today she is picking up plates from empty tables, building up a small tower of them before she negotiates her way back through the kitchen.

She gives little smiles to anyone left at the places she clears, making sure to ask them:]

Are you finished? All right, thank you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

An unusual pet, for a human.

[hi esther happy to be here giving u nightmares]

Do you enjoy holding power over smaller creatures?

[Nightmares are just fine when they come with something interesting to ponder.]

Do you?

Only when I have something to gain.

I am Scorpius.

So what is it you want? [They may as well skip straight to the point. If his response satisfies her, there will be time for niceties later.]

To leave here. As I suspect most inmates want.

But several things beyond that. Things I won't find here, and I will lose if I submit to graduation.

And what is it you want from me?

Do I need to want something in order to contact a fellow prisoner?

Do you have any other reason to?

...It is a very curious thing, that such a young human is dropped in among murderers and torturers.

You're a very deceptive creature.

I guess I'm just a little different.

You're very leading.

I'm curious as to what you're hiding.

What are you afraid of?

What makes you think I'm afraid?

You're hiding something. Something about yourself. Something...you don't want anyone to know.

It's not a very harmful secret or your warden, if you have one, will have made precautions against you.

So it must be something innate.

You haven't answered my question.

If you were not afraid, what would be the point in hiding it? When inmates are known for their worst qualities and when a warden can view your file all he likes?

So you believe fear is the only reason to hide anything.

That wasn't the question to which I was referring.

I admit, this is true.

Do you derive power from your secret?

Answer my question.

....Rejection.

And you find me curious?

I do. Primarily for the depth of your deception, but also because humans are fast becoming a fascinating species to me.

You've been carrying a secret a long time.

What leads you to believe all this?

I have an innate ability to sense deception in others. A fluctuation of your energy signature tells me all I need to know.

Don't worry; I know no other creatures capable of the same. I am quite...unique.

I can see you are.

[What follows is a brief silence during which Esther makes steady eye contact through the camera, practically unblinking, before she arches an eyebrow as if to prompt him.]

...And the rest was deduction. I served some time as an interrogator.

Does this satisfy you?

Not yet. I'm still curious what you plan to do.

Why would I plan to do anything?

I only know you hold a secret most likely only linked and only in concurrence to yourself. I don't even have the faintest idea what it is.

My goals are separate. I only found you curious: a passing mystery. But I have better things on which to focus my attention.

[He notices her, when he moves from one exercise to the next. Doesn't try to hide that he notices, either - but he ignores her with magnificent ease.

He avoids lifting weights above his head, though. Avoids anything where he'll have to lie down. James won't give her the opportunity.

Bent forward, he lifts a dumbbell, eyes on the weight and the flex of his muscle. He doesn't even glance at her when she finally speaks.]

Truth, from your mouth. There's a shock.

And impoliteness from yours. I'm surprised as well.

[Her body language, from the tips of her toes to her bright innocent eyes, is childlike and light; anyone glancing over would see nothing to indicate her seriousness, or the adult sharpness to her tone.]

[His lips pull back in a soundless laugh.]

Careful. Wouldn't want anyone hearing you being so smart. [He finally glances up at her, smile that doesn't reach his eyes still in place.]

Twelfth little lie ♰ And though it was long ago, it seems I still search for you

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