021 ☣ Open floodspam + stuff for Erik

[fridgetothefire]

[She wakes up early, even though there's no sunrise coming through her window, no harsh, glittering mountain vista, and no chickens to feed for the last two years. She spends a few minutes - three, maybe - excitedly exploring her room, treasuring the weird feeling of belonging and safety and freedom it gives her. But that doesn't last long, so she pushes out the painted door and immediately goes next door.

He's not her father, but he is, and it's weird. But she knows how she feels, and she trusts herself, trusts her instincts. She knocks on the door, excited pounding with all the strength in her little fist.]

Daaaaaaddy! Daddy wake up!


Hallways

[Anya is six, though she looks closer to five to anyone used to children raised on modern nutrition. Her hair is in little pigtail braids, a little less neatly pleated on one side, because she did them herself and she's not ambidextrous. She wears skirts with the hems let out, and stockings, and a blouse whose sleeves don't quite cover the ridged, shiny burn scars that skate up the outside edges of her arms like defensive wounds.

She roams the halls looking for her friends - because she has friends now, she's sure of it, a steady warmth in her chest even if she can't remember the details, eager to investigate everyone she comes across in case they make the little compass needle resting there twitch. She runs in short bursts, short braids trailing behind her, then pauses to bend over and gasp for a minute, still not used to the new limits on her lungs, or simply living in hope that if she pushes them enough, they'll eventually give.]

Wait up!


Library

[She flits around, stares at the shark in fascination for ten minutes at a stretch. She climbs one of the wheeled ladders and tries surreptitiously to ride it, almost - but not quite - falling off. She trails through the shelves, staring in glee at the bewildering array, even more impressive than the one in the fortress. She might end up falling asleep over a very large illustrated compendium of Oz, dwarfed by the large armchair she's nestled in.]


Deck

[She's sitting on the railing, ankles tucked around the lower bar, perfectly steady in her perch, head tipped back, staring at the stars as they go by. It's strange and beautiful and endless. She loves it.]


Common room

[The plastic knitting needles are almost as long as her forearms, and her lip is trembling a little. The hat she had half-started is a bit beyond her current capabilities, and the more she tries to fix what she's done, the more it becomes snarled. She can do it, though. She's not going to cry.]

[OOC: replies will come from flatscamp.]

Comments

Hallways

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean is roaming the halls looking for straggling children. She loves and hates this flood; loves, because she really does like kids, and it's not like she gets to see them here. Hates because it's dangerous.

She doesn't recognise Anya's voice, but she does stop and turn her head, smiling softly.]

Hey there.

Re: Hallways

[flatscamp]

Hi.

[She ducks her head, suddenly a bit shy, because she doesn't remember details. But she takes Jean's hand anyway. If she doesn't mind, Anya thinks she doesn't have to worry.]

Okay, we can go now.

Hallways

[burnmythoughts]

[Her eyebrows arch, but her smile widens.]

Sure thing.

[Her fingers curl in Anya's, and she starts moving.] Where to?

Re: Hallways

[flatscamp]

Wherever you were going is fine.

Hallways

[burnmythoughts]

I'm just wandering, really. Trying to keep an eye on everyone.

Re: Hallways

[flatscamp]

That sounds fun!

Hallways

[burnmythoughts]

I hope so! [It'd be really, really great if no one is in actual danger.] It'll be up to us to keep people out of trouble.

[flatscamp]

Do they get in trouble a lot?

[burnmythoughts]

Oh, yeah. [Her voice is light - she doesn't want to worry her, but she doesn't want to lie, either.] That's why they need responsible people, like us.

[flatscamp]

[she looks down. oh right yes responsibilities.]

Have you seen any babies? Just this big? One of them's got hair like you and cries a lot, and one of them is all white-haired and crawls everywhere.

He gets in trouble a lot if I don't watch him. But I can't find them anywhere!

[burnmythoughts]

[Oh.

Jean just looks at her for a moment, and for the first time, her gaze catches on her scars. But a second later she's smiling, warm and assuring.] They're probably safe at home.

[flatscamp]

They aren't! No one else looks after them! And they're too little to be on their own.

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean squeezes her hand.] This place is special. Once you go back, it'll be like you were never gone. [And it hurts, saying that, because she knows Anya doesn't want to, figures there's nothing left to return to, but - how can she say that?]

[flatscamp]

Oh. Okay.

[She doesn't hate it yet - it has not yet become apparent that she will never manifest. She's just sort of lonely.]

How long can I stay?

[burnmythoughts]

Probably a few days. [Jean musters a new smile.] So we should make the most of them. What haven't you seen yet?

[flatscamp]

How would I know the things I haven't seen?

[That makes no sense!]

[burnmythoughts]

...That's a good point. [A rueful smile, a slight shrug.] Okay, what have you seen?

[flatscamp]

The kitchen and the art room and the deck and the library and Felix took me to the room that's outside, only it wasn't the ocean anymore.

[8c]

[burnmythoughts]

[D:] Well, I know it's not the same, but we do have a pool.

[flatscamp]

Oh! Miss Lua took me there too. It was really fun!

[Not the ocean. But still fun!]

[burnmythoughts]

[That draws a smile.] Lua is really nice, isn't she?

[flatscamp]

[She nods enthusiastically.]

[burnmythoughts]

Are you - I mean, you're not alone, right? You're staying with someone?

[flatscamp]

We're all staying together, silly.

[burnmythoughts]

All of us? [That would be - ] Charles and Alex and - your dad?