Mothers and Children

[63rd_shockwave]

1.[Up on Star Rose-it's school fieldtrip time! A bunch of kids and a few chaperones are wandering around the shopping and observation decks, getting their first views of SPACE! Actual, real life space! This isn't a particularly strange occurance, but one of the chaperones is familiar to the UG people-it's Sarah, that woman who's always trying to kill Volya. And right now, she's watching a bunch of kids stare out a window at the earth below.]

Still beautiful, huh...

Comments

[63rd_shockwave]

Watching these little scamps, that's what!

[She gestures towards the assembled children, who are all busy staring out at the earth.]

Jacob's school needed some help, so I figured I'd volunteer.

[actuallyselfish]

"And Jacob's your...son? Nephew?" Dido asks.

[63rd_shockwave]

Son. I don't go on vacations much, so I had some time off saved up.

[actuallyselfish]

"You work one of those busy jobs, then, with odd hours?" Dido says, curious. "Is it tough to balance that with family matters?"

[63rd_shockwave]

Yeah, something like that. I can usually work some extra shifts when Jacob's off with Percy, and work less when he's with me.

'course, now Percy's got me cleaning up that mess of his...
[Sarah's gaze narrows as she looks out at the earth, for just a second.]

...You have any kids of your own?

[actuallyselfish]

"Heck no!" Dido blurts out, steepling her hands together and glancing up towards space. "And thank the Gods for that. I'd be an awful mom."

She shakes her head. "Besides, the way things are going at the U.G., my kid would probably stumble into a super-prototype's cockpit, or develop psychic powers...or grow an extra head!"

[63rd_shockwave]

...Oh.

Right, there's a military base here, isn't there...

[actuallyselfish]

"Hell," Dido concurs. "This is the headquarters of the GDF! I'm surprised they used their budget to construct such a touristy place, actually..."

She glances at Sarah sideways. "Huh. You've got a funny look on your face."

[63rd_shockwave]

...Sorry, militaries and I have a history.

at least it's not the unity group...

[actuallyselfish]

"Oh...sorry." Dido says. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

She scratches the back of her head. "Could I buy you a smoothie to make up for it? There's this real-good bubble-tea stall down that way..."

[63rd_shockwave]

Sure, but I have to stay with these kids.

...Actually, if you could get me that new cheeseburger they're making, the one with like seven patties? That'd be THE BEST.

[actuallyselfish]

"Uh yeah, Sure thing!"

Dido heads off to a stall...then comes back a few minutes late with two seven-patties cheeseburgers in paper wrappings.

"Here ya go." She says, handing one over. "They looked so good I thought I'd try one myself!" She frowns. "Ah, you like pickle toppings, right?"

[63rd_shockwave]

[Sarah doesn't talk, instead messily devouring that cheeseburger.]

[actuallyselfish]

"...Wow." Dido says.

She walks about, peering at Sarah from all angles.

"You really like Cheeseburgers, huh? And...oh man, you're swallowing it in one go? And breathing, are you going to breath at all?"

[63rd_shockwave]

[Sarah holds up a hand to get Dido to wait a minute, while she finishes.]

Ah. Yeah, uh....My body's pretty crazy, so I tend to eat a lot...and I can hold my breath for a pretty long time.

[actuallyselfish]

"Your kid must love watching you show that off at parties!" Dido exclaims.

She unwraps her own burger and takes a dainty bite.

"Ishtsprttygood..."

She swallows, then extends her off-hand. "My name's Dido Sybil. And you?"