birdkiddie | First, in which Angel arrives

Entry tags:

First, in which Angel arrives

[The camera doesn't show anything but blue for a moment, then you see the mansion from above and a flash of something that looks like a giant dove. The camera is high up in the air, and the direction is clear. It comes from up and is headed down ...just that there is something in the way. A head, to be exact. Blond curls. The journal bounces off it and falls deeper, passing the face of a little girl that is stuck somewhere between fear, confusion, alertness and tiredness. Her eyes are hollow and smudged with purple rings, and one whole side of her face is a single bruise. And then there is only white cloth and the view of the mansion as the journal falls further and rotates.

It falls, and falls, and then you there are suddenly fingers around it and it is turned around to face the child from before. All you can see the arms that are full of burn marks and little wounds where needles have been inserted into her arms. There also is something that looks like an IV on her arm. If you look closer, you will see white feathers behind her back. Or maybe on her back.

She silently examines the journal, the little face tense, and after a few moments she switches on the audio.]

Max. Gazzy. Fang, Iggy, Nudge. Are you here?

Jeb. Was that you?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And there are still scientists despite all of that?

[She speaks a bit bitterly.]

There'll always be scientists. So long as there's stuff in the world that people got no business knowing, they'll always be there, poking at things they shouldn't.

And hurting others.

[She hops onto the counter next to where Max stands, holding out the marshmallows.]

How is the cocoa?

[Trying not to think about the first thing Angel said, Max takes the marshmallows from her with a grin, motioning towards a cupboard just above her.]

I think we're almost in business. I took out some glasses, but grab me a couple of mugs. Those tend to go better with warm drinks, am I right?

Sounds great!

[She laughs] I really missed hot cocoa, nearly as much as flying and the others.

Yeah? I never had much of it after the Pulse. I had a friend who could get some rare stuff sometimes, but I usually opted for pricier things than cocoa.

[She checks the kettle as she asks:]

How long's it been since your last cup?

[She thinks for a moment an then shakes her head.]

I don't know. I have no idea how long I slept, and then I never got out of the building or near a window to see night and day. But ever since they kidnapped me back to the school.

[Max looks at Angel, frowning a little. It's a long time before she says anything, finally turning to look at Angel full-on.]

It ain't like that here. Bad things happen, yeah, but I don't let bad things happen to my friends if I can help it. And I like to think that anybody I share cocoa with is a friend, right?

You're nice.

[She isn't one to trust others easily, not at all, but being a mind reader makes it easier for her than for the others to do that, and Max doesn't act as creepy as most adults do.]

[Max smirks at that. That's the good thing about kids; they were a lot more straightforward than most adults.]

You ain't so bad yourself. Now hand me a couple of mugs so we can get to dunking these marshmallows in some chocolate.

[Does as she is told, watching the woman while she's preparing the cocoa.]

I can have as many as I want, right?

[She smiles again as she pours the cocoa.]

As many as you want. Just try not to make yourself sick.

We need a lot more food than normal kids.

[Steals some marshmallow and starts chewing]

I can ride with that.

[She slides one of the mugs over to Angel, reaching over for a few marshmallows and dunking them in her own mug.]

Just make sure you get some actual food in once in a while and not just pure sugar. That can't be good for your system, unless you're fueled on junk food. Which would've been a pretty convenient and cost-effective way for Manticore to wire us, actually.

And it would have been delicious. [She grins, and then tilts her head, looking a bit longing.] But homemade cake sounds good, too.

[Starts to stuff as many marshmallows into her cup as she can without making it overflow]

[Max returns the grin, speaking a bit longingly as she hoists herself back up on the counter.]

There was a lady here who was always cooking up something in here. She left, though; kinda sad, since her kid's still here. I'm sure we could find somebody else who could rustle up some decent homemade grub, though.

There are other children in this place? How old is that kid?

Him? Oh, I dunno... ten, maybe? Maybe a little older. I don't really talk to him much.

People often think that I'm eight or nine. They never believe my real age.

[She takes a sip of her cocoa, looking down absently.]

Yeah, well... people like us, who've seen more things than they should, we always look like they've got a few extra years on us.

[Trying to look pleasant, she glances up at Angel with a smirk.]

Besides, you're pretty tall for your age.

We're all tall for our age, us birdkids, I mean. I'm not sure how tall the others are, and Ereasers just grow old really fast. Maybe because of our bones.

I'm guessing it's probably convenient to hardwire accelerated aging to get past the kiddie level as quick as possible. Sounds like they don't really care much for cultivating healthy childhoods.

They say that children are easier to control.

Figures.

[Despite the bitterness of the comment, she tries to look at Angel with a smile.]

How's the cocoa?

Good!

[More marshmallos than cocoa in it but who cares.]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]