video;

[nofluffybunny]

[ Because she's reminded of the technology back home, this should be easy. It's not her first time she's had to make a call using Skype, or something similar. Video is the option Chloe opts for. ]

My name's Chloe― Chloe Decker. [ She doesn't notice it, the self-conscious gesture of tucking her hair behind her ear, but she sets her jaw as she pushes on, voice unwavering. Completely the opposite to how she feels on the inside. ] I guess you could say I arrived here just the same as a lot of you have, as crazy as it seems. If no one minds answering a few questions, I'd really appreciate it.

Are there any parents on this ship, mothers and/or fathers? Did you... Are there any children on-board?

[ 'What happens to them when you agree to the contract? Where do they go?' ― extra questions she bites her tongue on. Instead Chloe gives a smile that's barely a twitch of her lips. ]

Again― thanks.

[ Obviously she's not ready to end the face-time just yet as she pauses. ]

...I had a gun and a pair of handcuffs with me. Someone please tell me this place comes with a 'lost and found'?

Comments

text

[prorenataa]

Not touching the children question, mostly because anyone on this ship who falls into that category would kick my ass.

No lost and found. It stole one of my guns the first time I arrived and has yet to ever cough it up.

[ Yep, he's just a little bundle of happy good news man. ]

text

[nofluffybunny]

If you're referring to the fact that some adults act like children then I'll agree to that.

Great. So what am I supposed to do? How do I get a gun around here? Who do I ask?

text

[prorenataa]

Actually, I was inferring that most of the children act like adults but your definition is oddly accurate as well.

[ Sorry Chloe. ]

There is no official quartermaster or armory on this ship, but sometimes extra items come in to the cargo hold or the Ingress spits a thing out.

Fastest option is to ask if anyone has an extra.

[ Personally he can't think of anyone who has a gun and would be willing to part with it but she might get lucky. ]

audio;

[brokeassgoing]

Oh you're that lady. Still ain't found 'em yet huh. I hear there's this...sheep? lady that takes care of the kids. I've got a friend from home who's young so I doubt I'm gonna be sending her to her any time soon.

If you find any cigarettes, lemme know. I'm desperate here!

audio;

[nofluffybunny]

[ A semi-familiar voice. Only from bumping into him in the medbay. ]

Sheep... lady? I'm not sure I follow.

I don't smoke. But maybe you could take this as a sign.

audio;

[brokeassgoing]

I don't just mean she's got a flock of kids-- she's literally a sheep. Not so different from home, actually.

Why's everyone keep buttin' their noses in!? I need em! Sign my ass....

text //

[diamondhack]

asking for children, then asking for your gun and handcuffs comes with a series of strange implications, love

text //

[nofluffybunny]

I'm asking for my daughter for one. The gun and handcuffs come with the occupation.

[audio]

[warandpeace]

Some items are lost in the ingress. And there are children and have been more. Only one with an actual parent that I know of, but there are custodial positions assigned.

Are you a police officer?

[audio]

[nofluffybunny]

I am. [ Was. ] I'm a homicide detective for the LAPD.

[ Not that any of that matters here right now. ]

Who decides these positions?

video;

[sketchycharacter]

Technically I'm some kind of foster parent now, but if you're hoping to get some kids to look after, we can probably work out a deal.

Video - threadjack

[prorenataa]

Nate ... Nate. No.

[ As much of a trainwreck as he is, even he knows this is going to end badly. ]

video;

[nofluffybunny]

I get the feeling you aren't referring to a babysitting deal.

video

[knaval]

Okay. Quick question. I'm not seeing how mothers and fathers are related to parents. What are parents?

[something's been lost in translation. also, riptide doesn't have the best grasp of familial relationships.]

video

[nofluffybunny]

A mother and a father, that's what parents are. They raise you, take care of you.

[ If this girl had none... Chloe doesn't want to assume. ]

video

[democratically]

I was a parent. [Although she died before coming here.] But, time is not linear here. My daughter did arrive, or rather was here before my own arrival, but she was grown. Close in age to myself.

I suppose you mean younger children in this instance though.

video

[nofluffybunny]

[ Chloe squints down at her MID when the woman appears. Natalie... Portman...? Her squint gets squintier. She's pretty in character― they are on a ship after all. In space.

Should she play along? Are they being filmed here?

This can't be real. ]

You mean you still are. [ Dead or not. ] But yeah, I'm talking about younger. Younger as in between the ages six and nine.

[ A small pause. ]

Is she gone...? I'm sorry.

audio

[carltoaction]

[The audio he opts for is for a personal reason. But his voice still very much gives away that he is young.]

There are kids, yeah. Why do you ask?

[He can only assume she has a kid, to be honest. Which concerns him only because he gets what it is like to be parted from a parent. There's a brief pause to if he could answer her about parents coming here, also, but in the end he decides to skip over giving that particular answer. Instead he moves right on her last question.]

You probably lost those things through the portal. [There was a special name for what he is referring to, he knows, but he forgets what it is and is certain enough she'll understand what he means.]

audio

[nofluffybunny]

I'm looking for one. My daughter.

[ This kid assumes right. ]

You aren't the first to tell me this. I would've been okay with losing just the handcuffs. The gun, however, I would've preferred to keep it. Who knows what we'll encounter in space.

[ Not that she thinks a simple handgun is going to protect her or anyone on this tin can from an alien. ]

text;

[procedures]

Welcome aboard, Ms. Decker.

[ He smiles, if wryly, at the question about kids. He has his own; thankfully, they're not here. ]

Father of two here. If it interests you, I haven't seen anyone younger than ten on board.

text;

[nofluffybunny]

Thanks. And you are?

[ Reading that as it comes through on her MID isn't all that reassuring. That can only mean Trixie is back home. ]

That does interest me, my daughter's seven. Are your children here?

video;

[ex_forcechoke292]

It depends on the context of children, but--

[He pauses with a grimace. It's not really a secret, the relationship or what it led to, but it still comes with a sharp sting when considered bluntly.]

Mine have been on board, yes.

[Note: he looks barely into his twenties and in no shape to be talking about kids in a past tense. And YET.]

video;

[nofluffybunny]

[ He definitely looks younger than her. ]

And now they're gone.

[ Which is...sad. That's why Chloe pauses, it could be a sensitive topic, she doesn't know the guy. ]

...home? I hope?

text; private

[arcreact]

[ Well, well, well. ]

a little birdy told me you might be in need of some alcoholic guidance

text; private

[nofluffybunny]

What? This little birdy have a name?