45 - Video - Steph is secretly the head of her family

[ichoosefight]

[ Video ]

[ Okay so she's figured this video thing out. And she hasn't been able to find her mother, so just in case, she has one last thing left to try. She doesn't seem scared anymore, or even very confused, just concerned and perhaps unusually serious for a five year old kid. ]

Mommy? If you can see this, I want you to know that I'm okay. Jus don tell daddy I'm missing. If he asks, just pweeaaase don tell him. Go to Revrend Nut-land's house until I get home, okay? Jus like you tell me to do.

I love you, mommy.

Comments

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[...]

Um, do you...

Do you want company?

[He smiles a little awkwardly.]

We can have some pizza. While we wait for your Mom to make contact.

Or I could make you something.

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

[ She nods, still soberly concerned for her mother's safety. ]

I'm a bit hungwy.

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

Okay. Uh.

I'm on level two--

[Oh gosh, he's not very good at this.]

Oh wait, I'll come to you. Where are you?

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

I dunno. Somebody told me it's a common room. I think there's a pool table in the other room?

Spam/assume?

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

There's a common room on each level. I'll find you eventually.

You just wait where you are.

[And off he runs!]

Spam!

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Okay!

[ She will sit there. Ever so patiently. And maybe start making a pillow fort. ]

Spam!

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

[Eddie'll locate the kitchen on his way and steal grab some pizza before he continues ascending and descending levels. Eventually he comes across the common room Stephanie is in. After about...fifteen minutes.

He breathes heavily, leaning on his knees.]

I've got pizza.

[He waves the hand holding a plate a little weakly at the toddler, eyeing her pillow fort.]

What are you making there?

Re: Spam!

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

[ She giggles. How can you not know a pillow fort when you see one? ]

It's a fort! Daddy never lets me make them, but daddy isn't here.

Thanks for the pizza! [ She goes to take the plate from him, taking a bite and staring at him, wondering why he's so tired. ]

Spam!

[puzzleprince.livejournal.com]

Phew. [Eddie puts the plate down for her, dropping to his knees, and then hesitantly approaching the pillow fort.]

My dad doesn't either. [He smiles at her while placing a stray cushion up against the fort wall.] It'll just make a bloody mess, he says-- he says a lot of things like that. [While smelling of alcohol and oil and swearing every other word, but that isn't something to share with a toddler.]

It's pretty sturdy, for being constructed out of pillows. [A puzzled expression settles over his face.] But what are you supposed to do in it?

[SPAM]

[takingacut.livejournal.com]

[Bigger's gets out the cookie dough and greases a cookie sheet in preparation for her baking session with lil' Stephanie.

She likes normal Stephanie a lot, and it hurts her to see the itty-bitty version so upset. Bigger's method for coping with emotional distress is eating, so cookies for the tyke it is.]

[SPAM]

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

[ It takes her a while to get through all the doors that were obviously meant for larger people, but Steph finally makes it down to the right floor and knocks quietly on the door. ]

Re: [SPAM]

[takingacut.livejournal.com]

[Bigger rushes to the door and answers it with a big smile on her face.]

Hi Stephanie! Come on in.

[She moves back to allow enough space for her guest to enter.]

Have you ever baked before? It can be really fun.

Re: [SPAM]

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Nuh uh. Daddy doesn't like it when I'm in the kitchen.

[ She peers into the room before entering, and smiles immediately at the signs of cookies-in-progress. ]

What do I do?

Re: [SPAM]

[takingacut.livejournal.com]

[Bigger closes the door behind her.]

Well, first we need to make balls of dough and put them on the cookie sheet. Think you can help me with that?

[She disappears around a corner momentarily and comes back, dragging a dining room chair up to the counter for the little girl to stand on.]

[SPAM]

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Uh huh! [ Steph is eager to get up there, as she's never been allowed to try cooking before. The balls of dough will be very mismatched and lumpy. ]

Re: [SPAM]

[takingacut.livejournal.com]

[Bigger reaches out her hands to help her onto the chair.] Be careful standing up here, okay? It wouldn't be good to fall off.

[SPAM]

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Okay! I won't fall, pwomise!

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Your mommy is fine, I'm sure of it! [ No you're not. ]

Do you want to read about Zorro? [ Holds up a book to the camera - it's half his size. ] He's really cool and awesome!

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

How do you know? [ She is very much concerned about this. ]

I dunno... what's he like?

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

I know because I do!

He's a hero and he saves people and he carries a sword and wears a mask and helps people when the bad men bully them!

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Oh... cool!

I dunno though, that book looks big, and I can't read grown-up stories yet.

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

How old are you?

I can read it to you!

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

I'm five! How old are you?

[ Oh yes, she is excited. ] Could you?

[fivestepsahead.livejournal.com]

Seven! You're little.

Of course I can. I'm good at reading. Where are you?

[ichoosefight.livejournal.com]

Nuh uh. Yoor just big.

I'm... where the pool tables are!