Video; un: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[The feed opens to Laura looking a little uncomfortable in her own skin — you'd think she was in trouble again or something, forced to give another on-screen admission. But nope! Trouble was totally a few days ago. She's been an angel as of late (or as close to one as a stabby mutant can be). Instead, Linda motions for her to go ahead and start her video broadcast. What for, you ask? She steels herself.]

Prijata is coming up; it is a celebration to give people things. I am not very good at it.

But we had wood-carving for the end of the year art project, so I — made some... wooden dolls for people. [She pauses, looking up again at Linda. She motions for her to continue on.] I am not very good at it yet, so the painting is not perfect. Even so, I have... made... many good friends. Friends I didn't think I would make. So... Quiero agradecer a mis amigos. I want to thank my friends.

[This is clearly something she's not used to saying. At all. And her cheeks are slightly flustered by the time she stops and she's plucking at her tattered shirt sleeve — a new visual compared to the usually cool and collected child who never seems to care enough to be embarrassed. It's just, you know. It's different when it's something you've made for someone else. And it is their faces, a face she had studied in that way of hers over the last few weeks as she worked on the project. Her bed is covered in crafting materials, a sign she'd rushed to get them done in time.

She shows them in detail, don't worry about being left in suspense. Indeed, they're all carved carefully from wooden bits, with little items and clothing pieces glued together.

The kid sits in this earnest hope that she did well enough to not be teased. It's a normal thing to do, right? Something a person does, not a science project.

She hopes it's obvious who is who:]



I can bring them to you, wherever you are... if you want yours. If you do not, I can keep them on my dresser.

[Honestly, knowing how many she made is an eye-opener for her; she didn't realize she cared about so many people here.]

.... Feliz Prijata.

[... Even if it's a bit early.]

Comments

[winscenario]

[ Jim chuckles at that. ]

That's a terrible idea. [ And yet... ] Get yourself into position. I'll fly by in about ten minutes.

[shoplifter]

[This is the sound of a child's booted feet tap-tapping out of her room eagerly, and up some stairs.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED SHE'LL SEE YOU THERE, YOU AWFUL INFLUENCE.]

[winscenario]

[ HEY, it's important to encourage children to value their strengths! Laura's ability to leap off tall things is definitely a strength. Plus, the shuttle will be right there, and Jim knows she won't fall off or get hurt. It's totally fine!!

Also she will probably make it to the top of the building a lot faster than him. He still has to change into his flight suit, fit John with his rescue vest and strap him in on the shuttle, rev up the engines, then finally fly out and towards the building. She'll see the shuttle easily once it's close enough, and Jim will open the hatch at the top so she can come inside. Then he moves the shuttle so it's hovering really close to the building, so she doesn't have to jump too far. Counts as 'playing it safe', right?? ]

1/2

[shoplifter]

[WOOOOOO SHE'S FLYING SO SUDDENLY THROUGH THE AIR TOWARD THE SHIP YEEEEEET-!]

[shoplifter]

[Oop, and she's landed inside, doing one of those cool superhero landings.

It's an acquired skill. She looks toward Kirk sharply, wearing her glasses.

Casually:]

Hello.

[winscenario]

[ That was probably super cool, sadly Jim wasn't really looking. He only turns his chair around once Laura's inside and he closes the hatch again. ]

Hi, Laura.

[ He raises an eyebrow, lips quirking into a bit of a smile. John's strapped securely to one of the seats with a harness, and he's already looking at Laura curiously, stretching his neck towards her as much as he can. ]

[shoplifter]

[Sorry can't hear you making a beeline for the dog.]

Hello, John.

[#BETRAYAL.

But then she looks to Jim after she's confirmed there is a fuzzy dog underhand.]

What kind of dog is he?

[winscenario]

[ He barks out a laugh, shaking his head. ]

Well, that's rude!

[ Like seriously, he's RIGHT HERE. And unlike John, he at least said hi! All John cares about are the treats. Which he seems to be trying to sniff out of her. ]

He looks like a German Shepherd, but I don't know. Could be some alien race that looks the same.

[shoplifter]

[Yeah it's rude, what about it, sucka.

She is very pleased to dig out piece of a convenience store jerky stick to offer to the pooch.

GROW STRONG, JOHN.]

I don't know many types of dogs, so I would not be very helpful.

But there seems to be too many to count, sometimes.

[winscenario]

[ One day he will demand being gifted treats, too. This is totally unfair treatment. ]

It's alright. Doesn't really matter, does it? [ He shrugs and pats John's head with a smile. ] He's a good boy. That's all that really matters.

[ Glancing at Laura, ] So, where do you wanna go?

[shoplifter]

[She chews on her knuckle, thoughtful.]

Can we look way beyond the wall?

[winscenario]

Sure, I was planning on that anyway.

[ Jim nods to the chair right next to John's, so she can take a seat there. ]

How much way beyond the wall? [ Like a few hundred kilometers or does she want to go all the way to the other side of the moon, because he can do both. ]

[shoplifter]

[She shrugs, sitting down in the seat and pulling her knees up.]

I'd like to see how far I could go, if I felt like it... What's out there in the trees.

It's fun to see what everything looks like, out there.

[winscenario]

Alright. Let's see what we can find. [ He pauses briefly. ] Just let me know if you want to go back— or get closer to the ground.

[ Because for now, Jim's going to take the shuttle up higher, until they're flying above the clouds, and Laura can see the stars and the slightly darker sky above them. ]

[shoplifter]

[There's certainly a relaxation that wasn't as apparent before, in their prior travels; now that she knows how this whole thing works, it's just a matter of letting the captain do his thing while she pets the dog.]

Do you ever walk out there on foot? Far out in the trees.

[winscenario]

[ It's the dog, isn't it? Jim wouldn't be too surprised. Petting John can be very relaxing. ]

A lot of times, yes. But when I want to go really far, I get there with the shuttle first, then I explore by foot. I try not to go on my own very often.

[shoplifter]

[She hums.]

Safer, I guess. But I like the quiet. Being alone sometimes, far from people.

[winscenario]

[ Jim ponders that a moment, then nods. ]

I get that. Me too. Being out here on your own can be really nice.

[ He just doesn't want her getting hurt!! Which is nearly impossible for her, he knows, but still. ]