twenty-three ♢ spam & video

[versusnurture]

spam } everywhere!

[When Abigail wakes up, she isn't afraid. She isn't even concerned. She knows that this isn't the room she's used to, but she knows, too, that it's sort of hers and she has a right to it. So she springs out of bed, inspects it from top to bottom, and then heads out to explore the Barge.]

[There's a confidence in her that might surprise those who know her well as an adult. She investigates everything as if it belongs to her, spending a while on the deck looking at the stars and (loudly, incorrectly) identifying constellations. When she's done there, she curls up in the library with a stack of books almost taller than her, some on space (since that seems to be today's theme), some on anatomy, and some science fiction books, because that's basically the same as space.]

[In the end she gravitates towards the kitchens, where she inexplicably feels the most comfortable. She stays through lunch shift and well into the afternoon, investigating, tidying, wiping down surfaces.]

[Soon enough, she has a question.]

voice

I've been paying attention to the kitchens, [she says in a lofty voice, commanding attention in the way that only children often do.] And I need to know something.

Where does the food come from? It has to come from somewhere.

private } admiral

Excuse me, Admiral. I need to know where the food in the kitchens comes from, please.


( ooc; replies will come from naturalizing! )

Comments

[ Kitchen Spam ]

[warisart]

[Ben is aware of Abigail, of course, and would be even if he didn't have his warden item telling him which of the newly immature passengers is her. He'd been confused at first with the sheer amount of movement he'd registered but once he found her, he'd understood.

He hadn't tried to say anything. Just followed her until his shift began in the kitchens, and then greeted her when she showed up anyway, to his surprise. There are far too many children, all extremely ill-behaved, making him feel anxious both because of and for them - so he keeps an eye on her while he goes about Rhade-learned methods for feeding them all, until there's a lull.

He's uncertain, visibly so, like a domestic creature approaching something he should recognize but doesn't entirely when he puts down the towel he's just finished using to wipe down his working area of the counter, nervously wiping each of his fingers long after they're clean.]

Abigail. Do you require anything?

[ Kitchen Spam ]

[naturalizing]

[She doesn't understand why he's so nervous. He's hers and she's his. It's not hard to comprehend, even though she knows that something's not how it's supposed to be like she knows when it's about to rain.]

[Taking the towel from him, she folds it neatly even though it's dirty, then reaches for his hand and gives him a serious look.]

No. I'm helping. Do you require anything?

[ Kitchen Spam ]

[warisart]

[It feels a little like when he first arrived on board the Barge, being nervous by the way others were so casually, so easily forward with him in all things. Speaking to him, touching him, drawing near him, being assertive.

She's so small. Part of Ben worries that she'll draw the wrong sort of attention and be deco-...]

Yes, you have been helping. There will be another meal period in four hours, but for now, our service is completed.

I don't... [Her age doesn't confound him as much as it might others, nor does it adjust his opinion of her much; as a child her age, Ben was already capable of the majority of things he was by adulthood before the Barge. All he lacked was strength due to developing musculature, and experience which could not be fabricated. However, she is still his responsibility, and he has even less idea how to communicate with her now than ever.]

Would you speak with me? For a while?

[heavenlymisandrist]

[ Ceres finds her way to the entrance to the kitchens, but she can't get in. Instead she stands at the door and stares at anyone who comes by.

She's hungry. ]

[naturalizing]

[After a few minutes of this staring, Abigail feels a prickling at the back of her neck and turns around to see who it is. She smiles at Ceres when she sees her, coming over to the entrance and holding it open.]

Do you need a snack?

[heavenlymisandrist]

Please excuse me.

[ She bows politely before stepping inside the door. She sticks to the walls, almost like a child trying to hide behind her mother's leg when she isn't there. ]

If it isn't too much trouble, I would like something to eat.

[spam]

[themissingpiece]

[And there's this boy who has this weird feeling he needs to keep an eye on her after he sees her. It's weird feeling. Like she's his baby sister or something but he doesn't have a baby sister. He should talk to her. He has no idea why. He wanders over.]

Hi.

[spam]

[naturalizing]

[Normally she'd walk away from someone who's following her. She knows that much. But she knows enough to follow her instincts, too, and her instincts are telling her that this boy is safe.]

[She eyes him a little warily all the same, folding her arms protectively across her chest.]

Who are you?

[spam]

[themissingpiece]

[He puffs out his chest and crosses his arms, trying to look important.]

I'm Arkin. Who are you?

[strangehistorian]

The Admiral provides it for us. Where he gets it - you'd have to ask him that yourself.

[naturalizing]

Okay. Where is he? I want to ask him.

[strangehistorian]

We don't know, but the communications network reaches him! That's how we usually talk to him.

[whatthewrackspurt]

It comes from space.

[naturalizing]

It does not. You can't grow plants in space.

[whatthewrackspurt]

Of course you can! Where else would you grow them?

[broughtapplejuice]

[Philip had taken a break from pelting snowballs at everyone. There aren't really any grown-ups around that are telling him what to do like his parents would, so he gets to decide when he wants to eat and when he doesn't, thank you very much. But he does stop long enough to get something in his belly before he's racing back up to the deck.]

[That's when he finds Abigail staring up at the stars. Frankly, he's not a fan of the stars. Looking into space is cool and everything, but. Well, it's also a little scary, too. So, he's not interested in spending a lot of time staring at it.]

[For a moment, he chooses to ignore her and goes behind his fort. He makes sure all of his ammunition is still accounted for first. Nobody seems to have touched anything. He looks back over at Abigail, grinning crookedly before hurling a snowball in her direction.]

[naturalizing]

[She hadn't really registered the snow fort. She doesn't like snow much, so she's choosing to ignore it.]

[But it's really hard to ignore a snowball thrown right at the back of your neck. She yelps and whirls to look at the offending snowball tosser, scrabbling at her neck to get the icy stuff away from her skin.]

Hey! Cut that out!

[broughtapplejuice]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Although that shit-eating grin would suggest otherwise. Especially as he's bending down to grab another one.]

library spam }

[mostlynormal]

[Hey Abigail. Someone is peeking down at her from atop a smaller bookshelf. Spoilers: it's Scott. He grins down at her, waiting for her to see him until his patience evaporates. It takes like five seconds.]

Hi!

[He is waving very enthusiastically.]

library spam }

[naturalizing]

[Glances up at him, she gives him a funny look and closes her book. Why are you waving like a loon, Scott?]

Hi. Why are you up there? You're not supposed to be. Get down.

library spam }

[mostlynormal]

[Because it's fun, obvs. Scott just grins down at her.]

It's okay! There's a slide I think....hang on!]

[His head vanishes as he crawls back along the top of the shelf; there's silence, then a muted whoooo! and he tumbles out of a well hidden hidey hole just beyond the book case.]

[ Private ]

[bargemods]

Is that a fact, Miss Hobbs?

[ Private ]

[naturalizing]

Oh. You answered.

Yes. It's important. I have to make sure it's safe.

[flawedgem]

[Of course Barbara got to the library eventually. She's currently carrying a towering stack of books, moving as carefully as she can.

It's not enough. The moment she stumbles, all the books come tumbling down on top of her.]

Mmmph.

[naturalizing]

[Abigail drops her books on the side table and runs to Barbara, but not quickly enough to catch any of the books. Her shoulders droop, disappointed at not having been able to help, and kneels to start stacking books beside her on the floor.]

Did you get hurt?