InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Be just and fear not."

Dora Tonks is (polymorphic) wrote in vas_captio_rpg,
@ 2009-08-20 11:28:00

Entry tags:

!shelved, day 19, james t. kirk, location: gym, nymphadora tonks, open

Who: Dora and anyone in the gym at nite
What: Dora wants Mummy and Daddy. For reals.
Where: The Gym
When: 1015-ish pm, Day 19
Status: Active
Rating: G

Dora had a great day, really. She had met all sorts of new people and played all sorts of games! The little girl really couldn't have asked for a better Dream Weaver than Rose, who totally got her. And Andy,Connor,Sigma,Sam, Yana, and Chris were all great too. Dora didn't even mind being told to get some sleep! She had actually been able to settle down and lay down on her cot, eyes drooping closed somewhere around nine or nine-thirty.

But an hour later, Dora woke up because she was thirsty. It was such a weird and fun dream that she had! She couldn't wait to til her parents all about it and ask to go to London and people watch to see if maybe Rose was on vacation. When Dora woke up this time though, she still wasn't in her brightly coloured room. Grover was still missing, and she was still on the cot.

Which was weird because she went to sleep in her dream..so she should have really woken up, right? No. Not right at all. Glancing around, she saw the other kids and furrowed her eyebrows a little bit, tugging on piece of hair nervously. Slipping off the cot, Dora shuffled into her too-big boots and hesitantly started walking around the area. She was a big girl though, and was trying very hard not to cry.

Too bad that even big girls wanted their mommies. "Mummy? Daddy?" Whispered. "I wanna wake up now."

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illdoitinthree
2009-08-22 03:44 am UTC (link)

After a bit of investigating -- if simply reading journal entries constituted as investigating in someone's mind other than Jim's -- the Captain deduced that most of the supplies that were present in the Gas Station at the start of the day were more likely than not currently located in the Gym. He really didn't have any use for juice boxes or fruit roll-ups, but he was worried about the Little Vulcan's intake and he figured that a trek to the gym was well worth the effort. He hoped that by the time he returned, Spock would be fast asleep. It seemed that no matter the race, children didn't sleep on command. Jim tried arguing his cause with logic. Alas, even at the tender age of six, Spock had the advantage of being Vulcan and bred with logic, and used it to his full power. Which meant that Jim was so caught up in trying not to argue with the little one, watch his language, and simultaneously, watch the topic of conversation (didn't want to explain to the kid why he referred to Vulcan in past-tense, did he?) that he could only stall as best he could, and eventually allow the smaller Spock to talk circles around him.

Despite being a father, Bones wasn't much help although Jim liked to believe the doctor had a better grasp of the situation at hand than he did. The sight of his First Officer as a small tyke unnerved him. It was.. it just felt wrong to see his usually composed and in-control officer looking so small and fragile. Pliant. Jim was never meant to see his first officer like that. Spock was rigid. Spock was resolute. Spock was unyielding. Spock was tough. Spock was his backbone. And Spock.. couldn't do those things when he was just a child.

He entered the gym by the light of the moon, and was pleased to find a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich and two solitary juices boxes surrounded by empty wrappers. Probably the fruit roll-up wrappers. Not surprising, they were kids after all.

Jim was on his way out with his newly-acquired food at hand, when he spotted the small girl walking around, her boots making her conspicuous. She seemed to be trudging along aimlessly and he only hesitated a second before walking in her direction, "Hey.." he tried to use his best 'Yes I know your parents told you not to talk to strangers but I promise I'm not a bad guy and I won't whisk you away in a white van with empty promises of candy' voice. Which ended up coming out quiet and somewhat soothing, "shouldn't you be in bed? I think it's past any kid's bedtime." Jim tried for a disarming smile.

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polymorphic
2009-08-22 09:12 pm UTC (link)

Hearing the voice, and remembering what Rose said about most people being nice here, Dora eyeballed the man in mild suspicion for only a minute. And when he asked whether she should be in bed, her forehead crinkled in worry. "I'm s'pposed to be awake now." Because she had gone to bed in her dream! It was supposed to be done by now! Dora turned around fully then. It was the smile that did her in. He looked very nice and maybe he could help her go home.

She was sniffling, looking down at the ground and shuffling her feet again. "..I've been dreaming all day and you're s'pposed to wake up when you sleep in your dream and I went to sleep but I didn't wake up at home." Oh dear, the little girl was starting to cry. "..I want my mummy."

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Sorry for the lateness, love! D:

illdoitinthree
2009-08-26 03:16 am UTC (link)

He listened attentively, nodding at intervals to show he was listening. He wondered how many people had been turned into kids; he hadn't seen any besides this girl and Spock. When she started sniffling, however, his attention honed back on her with an almost edgy desperation.

Oh no. Oh no. He straightened up immediately at the sound and quickly bent to a knee. He didn't deal with little girls, especially not crying ones. He was the captain of a starship, not a prospective father! Okay, don't panic, Jim. Calm, relax. You can do this, it's just a kid. Even so, his smile wavered as she continued speaking. "Well maybe it's a special kind of dream..." and he was really grasping at air here. What do you say to a distressed child!? "You know.. like a mission! I'm sure after you complete it, you'll wake up!"

And could you tell he didn't know where he was going with this?

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Quite alright! Sorry for my return lateness!

polymorphic
2009-08-28 06:30 pm UTC (link)

Dora couldn't help herself. This wasn't like sleeping over at her cousin's house or at the Weasleys. This was different and she wanted her parents. "I don't wanna dream anymore. I just wanna go home." Before she knew it, Dora was sniffling more and tears were falling.

"I finished my missions, though!" Now this just wasn't fair! She had enjoyed her dream and now it was time to wake up! Twisting the hem of her shirt, she took a step closer to the kneeling man and threw her arms around him in a hug. She burrowed her face against him, snuffling quietly there.

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illdoitinthree
2009-08-30 11:08 am UTC (link)

Judging by the start of the waterworks, Jim had obviously said the wrong thing. Well, maybe not the wrong thing per se, but definitely not the right thing because she wasn't just sniffling now, it was full-on tears and snot. He grimaced. He was kneeling in front of a little girl, painfully aware of the utter lack of experience he had with kids. Weren't these basic life skills or something?? Or was that just for women? Weren't men entitled to some basic nurturing skill? Shit, he was in over his head. He might as well do a little tap-dance and beam the fuck out of there or something. Or just sprint.

...

No, he did not just entertain the idea of running away from a defenseless, miserable child. Didn't.

Oh God, he was clueless.

His frown became more pronounced when she hugged him, and she felt like a fragile thing in his grasp. And she was sniffling still. If nothing else, he would be the responsible adult and watch over her until she fell back asleep. It wasn't a good time to be awake anyway, the dark night made bad thoughts worse. "Okay, fair enough.. I'll tell you what, if you go back to sleep, I'll.." he faltered for a second, "tell the Dream Maker that you're all done in this dream so you can wake up. He's in charge of this whole business, you know." Jim nodded so she could feel the motion. He hoped he sounded as convincing as he thought.

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ARGH. I'm sorry! It helps if I...you know..hit send?

polymorphic
2009-09-03 01:28 am UTC (link)

If Jim did try to beam out of there, he might have a wee tag-along. She was clinging tightly and gave a hiccup, trying not to cry anymore. Dora didn't want her nose to change or skin to change colour or anything. It happened when the little shapeshifter got over emotional. She just curled there for a minute and then looked up, hopeful that the man was right but also just very sad and tired.

She stared for a minute and then nodded too. "Kay. Will you tell me a story though?" Requested of him as she rubbed her eyes. "I'm Dora.." Though she had been so bouncy and eager to introduce herself earlier in the day, the little witch was only just now getting to it. She only just now remembered that she didn't know the man.

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illdoitinthree
2009-09-04 09:12 am UTC (link)

He took the acquiescence as small victory, and smiled at her brightly, "It's nice to meet you, Dora. I'm Jim." He wiped some of the stray tears off her cheeks with the sleeve of his yellow shirt before righting himself again. Jim tried to call upon what little knowledge he had about kids (he had been a rather rebellious child so he couldn't really rely on his own experiences either), before finally offering Dora his hand to hold. He'd walk her back to her cot, and half-ass a bedtime story. Come to think of it.. what constituted a bedtime story? He mulled quietly over the question as they walked, before finally the proverbial lightbulb turned on above his head.

"A story, sure," he nodded a consent and waited until she got comfortable in her make-shift bed. He sat down cross-legged beside her.
"I'm not a great storyteller but I'll give it a shot."

Now, if only he could remember the details..

"Let's see.. there once was a girl named Dorothy, but her friends called her Dora for short," he winked, "and she lived in a place far, far away called Kansas. Now one day, a huge tornado struck Dora's home and it was lifted right out of the ground! Up, up into the tornado, swept away into a strange, new land.." Jim started, motioning with his hands the trajectory of the windswept house.

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polymorphic
2009-09-05 02:15 am UTC (link)

The little girl smiled a bit and took his hand, walking quietly back toward the cots. The other kids were there, still asleep, and Dora settled on her cot. She was sitting up right first, getting under what blanket there was and playing with the edge of it before scooting up so Jim could sit beside her. And then nodded in acceptance. "It's okay, Jim." Dora thought anyone who would tell a story was a great storyteller. Then she was listening, and giggled quietly when he said that Dorothy had been called Dora too. She knew that wasn't true, since she had heard this story before, but it was fun to think about. The ends of mousy hair turned just a little pink with the slow brightening of her mood.

"I love this story." She said quietly, but then fell silent again so that he could continue. The only problem with her knowing the story was that she'd know if he tried to skip any parts. So the poor captain-turned-babysitter was stuck for the long haul! Or until she fell asleep, whichever came first.

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illdoitinthree
2009-09-05 02:56 am UTC (link)

So far, so good, Jim. "The house dropped down from the twister, and everything was bright and colorful in the new land. Dora had no idea where she was.. it certainly didn't look like Kansas." Let's see.. let's see.. what came next? Jim opened his mouth, and faltered for a second; the details of the story were sketchy, but he tried to recall the plot as best he could. If he had to make up things as he went along.. well, hopefully, she'd allow the creative, alternative interpretation.

Ahh.

"Then.. um, a witch! Yeah, a pink witch appeared in a bubble to little Dora. It was the Good Witch of the North.. uhh..." what was her name? "Ro...salinda?" Blink. "She told Dora that she was in the Land of Oz, and when Dora turned to look at her house, she noticed a pair of legs with red boots sticking out from underneath! The Good Witch Rosalinda told her it was the Wicked Witch of the East, killed by Dora's fallen house." He paused and narrowed an eye in thought. Death was.. kid-friendly, right? Well, he didn't go into detail, so Jim assumed it was okay to continue.

"Suddenly!" he widened his eyes, "The Wicked Witch of the West appeared to take the red boots from the dead witch! But the Good Witch Rosali--Rose, acted quick and with her magic, she put the red boots on little Dora."

So far, so good still. Mental pat on the back, Jim.

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polymorphic
2009-09-07 01:55 am UTC (link)

Dora listened, but was starting to giggle here and there. "Glinda." Dora stage-whispered, being all helpful for her storyteller. "She's the Good Witch." But then Dora thought about it.

"And they're slippers, not boots." Also helpfully stage-whispered from the first grader. Smoothing out the blanket, Dora flopped back onto the cart so she was laying down but then turned on her side to listen still. "How come the Wicked Witch never got a name? And is she really wicked? I'd be very sad and mad if someone's house dropped on my sister." She looked at Jim expectantly, waiting for his thoughts on the matter.

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illdoitinthree
2009-09-08 07:32 am UTC (link)

Oh, yeah.

Okay so he was a little dodgy at best with the details but in his defense, he hadn't heard this story since he was a kid! And he'd never met anyone else who knew it - then again, he didn't exactly play storyteller often. "Nope, they're boots in my version," he supplied with a nod. His version. You know that's just his safeguard for any future discrepancies. Ah Jim, finally using your head.

"Well I'd be very sad and mad too," he agreed and tapped his chin in a show of consideration for her earlier questions. "And the Wicked Witch of the East never got a name because she dies early in the story, and she's not really important," yes, he's making that up, "unlike the Wicked Witch of the West. She should have a name.. let's see." After a second of consideration, he shrugged and looked to Dora, "I can't think of any names for Wicked Witches, what about you?" If he was going to play along as it being a different version, then he'd have to continue straying from the original story. For once, that was easier done than said. Jim was already doing a fine job of skewering the story.

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