video. username: ilikehorses

[shoplifter]

[There is a mildly anxious child on the feed, sitting on the edge of the community building roof as she munches down on some potato chips; this child's diet is 1000% on point. But more importantly, she flashes the video feed several stories below toward some of the trees. The little accent is full of confusion:]

They are dying. What are they sick with?

Shouldn't someone do something to save them? ¿Dónde está el jardinero?

[Seriously, nobody seems concerned about the leaves all falling off. Or them turning odd colors.]

Comments

[video]

[shoplifter]

... I think I already have.

[But that wasn't really her choice. Unfortunately.]

I can try to be a kid, though. A normal one. It seems... nice.

... Quieter.

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

Going to the zoo's a good start. [Perfectly normal kid thing.]

What else you want to do?

[video]

[shoplifter]

I'm not sure. What other things do kids do?

[She knows a few, but it never hurts to investigate, right?

Especially after learning children aren't usually in cells all their lives, being trained to kill.]

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

Shit. My kids did all sorts of stuff. Watch cartoons. Eat damn rainbow colored cereal. Play video games. Play tag. Make me read bedtime stories.

That sort of shit.

[Notably missing: go to Central Park for picnics.]

[video]

[shoplifter]

[He has kids, then? That's strange for her to envision; he didn't seem like a family man.]

What is tag? Or -- 'video games'?

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

[He'd wanted to be a family man, but that dream was snatched from him before he could even get more than a hint of it.]

Tag's a game you play with other kids. [How the heck do you explain tag?] Someone is 'it' and that person chases everyone else, trying to tag someone else. If they get you, you're it, and then you go and chase people.

It's more fun than it sounds. [When kids played it, it sounded fun--screaming and laughter in the street.] Video games you play on a TV. Someone's got to have something like that around here.

[video]

[shoplifter]

I think most people would not appreciate me chasing them.

[So plainly said, but true.]

I am not 'popular' in school.

[AKA they don't really enjoy her company. She's... the weird kid.]

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

Well, most people suck.

[Not the guy who curses in front of kids though.]

And that's their fucking loss.

[video]

[shoplifter]

Language.

[.... She says it with a slight smirk, however.]

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

Jesus. Not you, too!

[They've all been kidnapped to some, what? Interdimensional space moon. Surely a few salty words are not the worst thing here.]

[video]

[shoplifter]

[She can't help but grin, genuine. Congratulations, potty mouth.]

Re: [video]

[scoutsniper]

Just wait. I'll get you back for that.

[He tries to sound stern, but he's laughing. Because, goddam, getting taken by a little kid like that.]