Worlds Apart

Objectivity

"Alright, Maaike, it's time to get settled." I tell her as soon as the lights automatically dim throughout the layout of the entire room, signalling the curfew.

She sighs but nevertheless looks to Eadric just beside her as he finishes lacing off the last braid he has nearly finished weaving into her ebony hair, still damp from having finally washed it earlier. The ratted up length took some effort to brush through, practically half of the knotted strands falling out as I had done so, but eventually the thinned out length no longer fought the brush I tried to run through it, thus making it much easier for me so scrub some soap into it to get all the dirt and grime out before rubbing some oil through the ends for her to leave in to condition and smooth it out as it dried. The slightly wavy length is now out of her face with a small braid framing the front of it, others woven throughout to match a couple of mine that splay all over her hair as Eadric nods to her once completely finished, permitting her to rise. She does so from where she had been sat around the small, metal table in the kitchen space, changed into a black tee of mine that I lent her to rest in that looks more like a night gown of sorts due to her size as it flows elegantly with each hop she makes over to the couch I have just finished setting up for her.

Maaike jumps on it before I have a chance to completely pull back, resulting in me practically catching her in my arms as I am forced to my knees beside the bland grey structure in order to do so properly. Her laughter halts as soon as she has seen my face.

"Maaike." I warn, already irritable.

"Sorry." She mutters with an evident pout, but sits up regardless so I can pull my hands away and finish fluffing the pillow just behind her.

I sense Eadric's eyes on us as he rises to take a couple steps towards us before leaning against the counter just beside him, crossing his arms over his barreled chest. He remains a couple paces back though, likely wanting to stay out of the way as the little girl tends to get excitable whenever he comes around.

"Alright," I state after having finished tucking in the blanket around her legs as my father used to do for me, "you're officially ready to get some sleep tonight."

"I'm not even tired." She tries, only for a yawn to emerge almost immediately after her declaration.

"Right." I mock with a pointed raise of my eyebrows. "Regardless, you should get some rest before your riding lessons tomorrow. You'll also be attending school with some of Superior's little one's so I'll be sure to walk you over there and pick you up once you guys are finished for the day." I tell her as I set a hand over her shoulder, my other resting over her abdomen.

"School?" Maaike questions, her wide eyes now narrowed confusedly.

"Yeah. It's basically an older person who teaches you about basic subjects that apply to the jobs around here, activities to do around the ship, stuff like that. It'll give your something to do throughout the day and the lessons are going to be held outside until the wave of radiation comes so you have that to look forward to." I inform her with a squeeze over her shoulder.

She looks hesitant as nothing but silence follows my explanation.

I sigh, reflecting on how independent this child always seems to be around others her age. "Maaike, please, I ask that you just try it out for a day. I promise they'll take it easy on you and you can have all the time in the world to catch up to the other students around you. Consider it an opportunity to meet some children from Superior and make some friends."

Maaike chews her lower lip for a bit as she considers my insistence, but even then, her final answer is not all that committal in the end. "Fine, I'll go." She eventually relents. "But don't expect me to like it."