Le Cirque Des Cassés

Chapter Eighteen: Child

"Other Specified Dissociative Disorder-1a (OSDD-1a); individuals who have dissociative parts that are not sufficiently differentiated to qualify as alters, leading to an OSDD diagnosis rather than a DID one."

Child was sitting next to Snake in the main tent, everyone except Ringmaster, Whisper, Wolf, Lion, and Voice were there. Whisper was, but rushed out suddenly. Child could guess why. She looked around the room, people were talking and just enjoying time around each other. She looked at Snake, she knew that she saw everyone differently. When Child looked up at Snake, she saw snake-like eyes look back towards her, snake-like eyes with scales around them. Child saw them all how they were supposed to look, despite Ringmaster trying his hardest to keep her from doing so.

"What are you thinking about Child?" Snake asked, Child shrugged. She knew it wasn't her job to tell them yet, that happens later. Snake kissed Child's head gently before turning to talk to Doll and Blind about something. Child looked at the two, Doll's appearance definitely fit her name. Pink circular blush adorned her cheeks, and long lashes. Accompanied with eyes that looked like black dots. Blind's hair was as silver as the blade Cut was playing with while talking to Bite. Child thought that despite everyone else's appearances fitting pretty well, Blind's silver hair was odd.

She looked around the room, so many odd appearances. Odd eye colors, odd hair colors, but the strangest was Target with her ashy grey skin. Or maybe it was the twins. Girl having floating black wings behind her, and Boy having a matching tail with a sharp point on the end. Child supposed she looked the most out of place. She looked at her own arms, the bolts holding her wrist to her arm. She knew none of them could see her like this, they all thought she was a human just like they thought they were. 

Child knew that there was something here to keep them from seeing how they really looked, when she realized it was Ringmaster she was simply amused. Child knew Snake's name before seeing the appearance, and Snake fitted her name quite well. Her gaze shifted to Dancer, who looked almost uncomfortable without Whisper, Child didn't know that Dancer had become codependent, that's definitely something to report. Child rubbed her eyes gently, she had to appear tired. It was late, almost completely black outside, usually Child had fallen asleep by now. 

"Are you tired, Child?" Snake asked. Child nodded, yawning and stretching some, she could hear the grinding of metal as she moved her elbows. No one else heard though. "You can sleep in my trailer with me tonight then, okay?" Again, Child nodded and carefully climbed onto Snake's right side. Snake stood and began walking towards her trailer. Child laid her head on Snake's shoulder. Child thought a lot about what had happened. Child couldn't imagine how confused and disorientated everyone must be right now. They had told her that once she got here things would happen fast, but one day? She supposes that's why they chose a cyborg over a full inhuman this time. Sure, Ringmaster managed to start the process way back in 1950, but even in that time all he has managed to do was start their processes of awakening, mostly due to his own hesitance and forgotten memories. Child didn't know what they planned to do about that. 

Sending Child back to be a catalyst in the situation was smart, she agreed, but making this much happen in a day, what would they be able to do at the end of the week? Would they be able to complete their task by then? Everyone here was all organic, except for Doll, they cannot simply be coded to adjust to change, and they all fight against change actively, what would the end of this week look like? 

Child wondered if Ringmaster had figured it out. He came from the same time as her way in the future. But he may have forgotten all the changes in technology he originally grew up with. Child knew he would eventually be forced to let them see their appearances. They would all know then. They all come from times where someone being half organic half robotic would never be trusted. Would Snake no longer like her? Child hoped that it wouldn't change anything. She is half organic, she had emotions and thoughts, and could feel love. She viewed Snake as her mother. Snake was the first person to show anything similar to parental feelings to her. There was another person, but they were much more like a sister. Back in the lab Child wasn't really nurtured. There wasn't time for that. She needed to be coded quickly and sent here to handle this mess. Child forgave them for rushing though.

Of course, now that she was here things would happen quickly, much quicker than Child originally thought it would. Child was expecting it to take a week before she even had an effect, but since she is already affecting everything, soon Phase Two would be sent in. Phase Two is amazing, honestly. She was so kind, but 100 percent organic, Child couldn't wait to see her again. Child hoped that her friend would properly follow orders, but Child knew that she would bend the rules some. She always did, she enjoyed chaos too much to obey always. Child knew that as soon as her friend got there, Ringmaster would be stressed due to-

Snake opened the door to her trailer, snapping Child out of her thoughts. "I care about you a lot Child." Child was set down on the bed. "I don't know why, but nothing is going to change that. I don't know what you've been through, or what you've seen. But I can tell you're smarter than you look, smarter than your age suggests." 

'Oh Snake, if only you knew.' Child thought, she smiled at Snake. Snake carefully laid Child down and tucked Child in, Child sighed in contentment. She has never had such care. She hopes to always have it. "Sleep well Child."

Child grabbed her notepad and wrote, You too Snake, don't get too cold. Snake chuckled and kissed Child head before leaving the trailer. 

Phase One complete, good job Chloe. Luna will be there soon. Be there to greet her. She misses you. Child smiled at the message from her bosses.