video: 1

[victoria_stay]

[The face peering out of the screen is confused and just a little bit wary, as if the device she's looking at may very well bite her. It's also likely, again based on the young girls expression, that she may very well bite back.

She's not terribly new, per se. She's been here for a couple days and has spent most of her time skulking around, searching hard for something and hiding from everyone that came too close. And learning about her surroundings. The cart ride only showed so much.

She's the latest resident in the Water Sector. 2C, for anyone that lives near there and would have possibly seen her, despite her best efforts to stay hidden. And she's pretty good at that.

She's also a bit dirty. Her hair's tangled with the withered, faded remnants of a wreath of flowers and there's smudges on her face. Possibly even tear tracks that are a little fresher than she'll care to admit.

There's a cautious look in her eyes, the kind of look seen only on a wild animal that isn't sure if it's been cornered or not.

When she speaks, her sentences are short. There's no young child babble from her.

New girl has a question. Listen up.]

My sister is...['Dead' is the word that goes in the pause, but she opts for something else with a bit of hope in her voice.] missing. She wasn't here when I woke up. She's six and she was wearing a white dress. Her name is Lilly.

[Another pause and a moment where she shakes her head just a bit, as if she feels stupid for asking.]

If you see her, tell her Victoria's looking for her and to stay.

[Not 'wait.' The word 'stay' is important. She knows how to speak to her sister. Stay is a word Lilly knows.

And then the device just shuts off on Victoria's end. She's only been on a few minutes and she's already had enough. For now, it's time to resume her search for Lilly.]

Comments

video

[spiderkid]

When we come here, whoever we were with stays behind. I know, it sucks, but your sister probably isn't here.

Re: video

[victoria_stay]

But she has to be here.

[Because this makes the most sense. They were almost never apart.]

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[spiderkid]

When I showed up, I mean before, I literally had my mom in my arms. And then it was just me here. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but she's not here.

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[victoria_stay]

[She's just gonna...frown at you for a moment. Because she doesn't like what she just heard.]

Where is your mom?

video;

[effective]

[oh no, tiny blond sisters, Katniss' one weakness] My sister's...missing, too.

If I see her, I'll make sure you know.

video;

[victoria_stay]

[Succumb to the creepily adorable, Katniss. It will be epic! And probably kind of odd since she's just not used to other people at all.]

Was she here?

[She doesn't feel ready to believe that other kid yet.]

video;

[effective]

[They match :'D]

I don't know. I haven't seen her personally, but I don't spend a lot of time on the network. [a pause] Can you describe her better? I know some other people who can keep an eye out for her as well.

Re: video;

[victoria_stay]

[They do.]

Lilly is six. She's smaller than me. Her hair and eyes are brown. [A pause as she thinks this over and really, this is the most natural thing for her to say. Katniss asked for a description so...]

Sometimes she runs around on her hands and feet. And she doesn't like baths.

[So basically, look for a feral kid with questionable hygiene.]

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[knewtoomuch]

[So perhaps Balthazar is not exactly qualified to answer anybody's questions just yet. It doesn't really hurt anything to respond.]

Sorry, sweetheart, but I haven't heard anything about a Lilly and I certainly have not seen a girl in a white dress.

[That sounds a little like what he would expect out of the typical human horror film.]

Re: video

[victoria_stay]

[Well, if she knew what horror films were, she'd say her life had quite a few similarities.]

Someone said she might not be here.

[She just...doesn't like that one bit. It may not be in her face, but it's in her posture. A slight slouch, a drop of her shoulders. This is really getting old.]

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[knewtoomuch]

[A few rather striking ones to be exact. He is not so much of a fan of those. Too predictable normally. All he can really do in response to the girl visibly deflating is to sigh.]

If you wait around long enough, she may even show up. I think this place just randomly grabs whoever it likes and drags them here. You could lucky.

Re: video

[victoria_stay]

How long?

[Because she has to protect Lilly. It's what she does. She takes care of her.]

video;

[demon_brat]

[Here's a boy who is only a little bit older, Victoria. He doesn't do gentle, but he gives it a heroic try, and his voice is quiet, if not exactly soft.]

If she should come here, she will be told.

[That means that he'll be making sure to actually look for the carts bringing new people in, rather than wait for them to settle. He can try to do that.]

And you will be told that she is here.

Have you been hurt? You can take a shower at your suit - in your rooms. It will probably make you feel better.

Re: video;

[victoria_stay]

[This, she likes. She doesn't smile to show she likes it but her features soften some. She's still wary because Other Kids what. She was used to Lilly and understood her.]

I'm not hurt.

[Just covered in flowers and dirt. No big deal. She reaches up and pulls one of the flowers out of her hair, leaving a wild curl of blond in it's place. The flower is looked over before it's dropped with a slight frown. No, she doesn't like those flowers at all.] I'll get a shower later.

video;

[demon_brat]

[He doesn't smile, either, but he nods at the responses.]

So long as you are aware it is an option.

Is your suite lacking in something, other than your sister? Also, if you intend to explore the city, I can accompany you.

Re: video;

[victoria_stay]

My suite is fine. [Just quiet. Lilly was so noisy and loud and always crawling in, under and around things. Just a constant presence and now it was just her.

She considers his offer, still removing flowers and even trying to tame her hair some. But she's eight and her efforts don'd do much more than move the mess from one side to the other.]

Why would you do that?

[Genuinely curious. Is this what other kids did?]

video;

[iguanasolution]

I'm sorry, I haven't met anyone with that name around here. Are you alright though? Are you on your own?

Re: video;

[victoria_stay]

No one has.

[She's getting used to the idea that Lilly just isn't here. She doesn't like it one bit. As for his next question, she tilts her head a bit before speaking.]


I'm okay.

[Alone but okay. She's good with this.]

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[iguanasolution]

You don't look okay though. You look a little scared? Can I help?

[givenanonymity]

[Corbett -

No that's a different kid.

There are kids here. Kids here all by themselves?]

What does your sister look like kiddo? What color's her hair? Eyes?

[Angelina was the parent. Not him. His movements are awkward, uncomfortable, but he tries to smile reassuringly. He pulls out his police badge and nods.] It's okay to tell me, I'm a police officer.

[victoria_stay]

Brown hair and eyes. Smaller than me. She doesn't like taking baths.

[Meaning she's dirty.] She won't let you get too close. Just tell her Victoria is looking for her and she should stay.

[givenanonymity]

[Jesus Christ. Can he do that? Can he?

He nods] Not "come home?"

...You do have a place to live right?

action;

[chiot]

[ Tap tap tap tap taptaptaptaptap. Gavroche is at the window--open up, will you? ]

Re: action;

[victoria_stay]

[Y'know, Gav. Victoria may not know much about the way People work, but Annabel got on her sister once for climbing OUT a window, so she's at least ninety nine percent certain this isn't how things are done.

But she opens the window anyway and just looks at him, stepping back enough to let him in.]

What?

action;

[chiot]

Gotcha summin', huh? [ And he climbs all the way in, not even tripping, and then pulls out a slightly crushed paper-bag from his jacket. ]

Meat buns.