[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

[snowblindmods]

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[fuckingwolverine]

[She mouths the word game, and then repeats:]

Why?

[What kind of game is that? She's already looked around and found things. If it's a game, she's already played it.]

[zunesareawesome]

Cause...

...that's part of the game. I'm playin' too, see, and my job is to look at the scribbles and figure out where you are.

...and there'll be prizes!

[fuckingwolverine]

No.

[She says firmly. No way. If he wants to find her, she knows what sorts of prizes he must be talking about. They're all useless things, like baths in too-hot water and dolls with weird faces and metal sticks you're supposed to use to eat food. She doesn't want any part of that.]

[zunesareawesome]

No? It's fun, I promise!

Please, it's really, really important that we find you. There's monsters out there and we don't want nothin' bad happening to you.

[Is it such a good thing to tell kids that there are monsters out there? Probably? Not?]

[fuckingwolverine]

No!

[It's a near-shout this time. She smacks the floor with the palm of her hand.]

[zunesareawesome]

Okay! Fine, y'know what? It was a stupid game anyway.

What do you want to play?

[Please work please work]

[fuckingwolverine]

Mama. Victoria.

[She wants to play with them. She always plays with them.]

... Hide 'n seek.

[zunesareawesome]

[Ouch. Peter doesn't answer for a long moment. When he does again, his voice is a little strained. The reality of her situation hits home.

She just wanted to play with her mom.

And now she was trapped here with them. Maybe even no way for anyone to get to her.

How dare this place take this kid away from her mom and family?! He was so angry he starts pacing, holding his tablet up to his face as he gives it another try.]

Your mama and Victoria might be...somewhere else. But I can help you find 'em, we just need to know where you are. The scribbles will help.

[fuckingwolverine]

Mama-- Mama finds me.

[Mama finds her, and other people try to take her away from Mama. Even if they're nice. Even when they say they want to help.]

[zunesareawesome]

Well, I'd like to come over and meet your mama, too. I gotta tell her about some things.

[fuckingwolverine]

No.

[Hell to the no. There's no way Mama will want to meet him.]

[zunesareawesome]

[Oh man, come on Peter, think!]

Okay, cool. Uh...hey! I've got lots of music. Do you like music?

[fuckingwolverine]

[Her confused frown is probably answer enough - she has no idea what he's talking about.]

[zunesareawesome]

Uhh...hold on a sec.

[He starts to play about thirty seconds of this song.]

[fuckingwolverine]

[Ohhhhh. She scoots as close as she can to the tablet, putting her ear up to it to listen better. She's quiet until it's done - and then, she hums him a song back. It's a simple tune, with a lullaby-like quality to it.]

[zunesareawesome]

[Okay, progress again! He does his best to hum the melody back at her, as much as he can pick up from it.]

[fuckingwolverine]

[She likes that! She hums along with him, and when they're done, tries to hum his song. There are definitely mistakes, and she simplifies the melody a bit, but it's clear she'd been paying close attention when he'd played it.]

[zunesareawesome]

[Yeah! He goes back to his song, singing a few lines.]

Ooh-oo child
Things are gonna get easier
Ooh-oo child
Things'll get brighter--

[fuckingwolverine]

{She doesn't sing the words, but she hums those same lines - more accurately, this time - and then does the next few for good measure.]

[zunesareawesome]

[Good! Yeah! He turns the song on, skipping a bit ahead to the part where she's humming, and following along himself with the lyrics.]

Some day--
When the world is much brighter...

[fuckingwolverine]

[She'll hum along for as long as he sings, or plays - and if he turns it off, even if it's just to find a new song, she slaps at the tablet screen. More!]

[zunesareawesome]

[This is good, really good--Peter's about to ask her something again, but apparently slapping at the tablet screen means she wants more songs, so--]

Okay, kid, hold up--how about California Dreamin'?

[He plays the following song.]

[fuckingwolverine]

Cal'forya deemin.

[Yeah, she has no idea what that means, but she likes it. It's unlike anything she's ever heard before, and she finds herself swaying to the beat. Just a little.]

[zunesareawesome]

Yeah! California Dreamin!

[Peter bobs his head along to the beat too, letting it play as he hums.]

[fuckingwolverine]

[Nice. Her smile widens, and instead of humming along, she just listens and sways.]