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Ivy patted her bare feet across the metal hallways, as a little she hated wearing any sort of footwear as it felt weird and gross, so she preferred to go bare footed.
It was currently early morning within the ships cycle so the others were still asleep, but Ivy wanted attention! She wanted someone to read to her, preferably Jojo since he always did super cool voices but with the limited memories her little-self had available she knew he was never awake early morning.
As Ivy skipped within the corridor, one of the metal panels within the walls poked out and Ivy knew there was words on it, but she couldn't understand them.
With a huff, Ivy showed the book to the metal panel, the words then changed to something much simpler and in colourfully writing, “Arrows = Mama”. Along the floor colourful red arrows lit up, pointing forward. Ivy giggled in joy, jumping arrow to arrow, switching between hopscotch jumping and frog hopping.
Eventually Ivy got to a door and she shyly knocked on it. “Hey little mouse.” Mama answered, beaming down at Ivy. With a huff, Ivy shoved the book against Nassy's chest.
“Are words not available today?” At the shake of Ivy's head, Mama asked another question, “Are you able to show me how old you are then baby?”
Ivy rocked on her heels as she lifted up her hands, trying to figure out how to show her age on her fingers before showing three. Mama beamed at her before putting a gentle hand on her shoulder and led her into Mama’s room. Ivy giggled as she leaped onto the bed, making grabby hands at Mama who laughed as she sat on the bed and against the headrest, letting Ivy crawl onto her lap.
Ivy rested her head on Mama's collarbone whilst letting her feet kick the edge of the bed as she hugged Mama's left arm. “The story of King Cole, huh? Very good pick little mouse.” Mama kissed her forehead, making Ivy squeak in embarrassment, hiding her face within her hand she kicked her feet. Mama waited patiently for Ivy to settle herself down to start reading. Whilst Mama didn't do the silly voices like Jojo did she did have a very calming voice and made sure to trace her finger along each word so Ivy knew where she was.
Ivy felt herself go sleepy as Mama read, but the rumbles from her stomach kept her from sleeping. As the rumbling and stomach pains started to get too much, Ivy started to whine, pressing a hand against her stomach.
“Are you hungry, baby?” Mama asked, earning a whining nod from Ivy. Mama carefully closed the book, putting it on her bedside table before turning her full attention to Ivy. “Do you want to walk or-” Ivy cut Mama off by making grabby hands. “Carry it is.” Her Mama giggled.
Her caregiver laughed as she moved Ivy off her lap– making the little whine at the loss of contact, before scooping her up into a stable hold, thankfully due to Mama's height over Ivy she was able to hold Ivy no problem, letting Ivy rest her head into her shoulder as a thumb went to her mouth.
“No sucking baby, let's get you a paci.” Mama smiled, rummaging through a drawer before pulling out one of the pacifiers Ivy kept in Nassy's room, she handed the paci to Ivy who happily took it.
Ivy let herself drift off as Mama carried her through the ship to the kitchen, sitting her on the cleanest chair, one most shaped like a child's chair. Ivy traced the dents on the chair's tray with a giggle, babbling out random sounds that seemed like words to Ivy.
The door to the kitchen then suddenly opened and Ivy's head whipped up, her eyes widened with joy as she saw Jojo!
Making babbling and grabby hands at him as he ran into the kitchen with Ella running after him.
“No killing in the kitchen!” Mama yelled as she put a plate of cut up grapes onto the tray. Ivy looked up at her with big, grateful eyes as speech was such a difficult thing for the little before she started to messily shove the grapes into her mouth.
“Aww have we got a tiny little mouse on our hands?” Ella crouched down next to the chair. Ivy giggled before shoving a grape into Ella's open mouth, earning a surprise look.
She heard Jojo laugh behind her as a hand gentle combed through her hair, “Enjoying the slobbery grapes, Raphaella?” Jojo laughed as she watched Ella eat the grape, finally content when she saw Ella swallow it before going back to eating the rest.
Ivy heard the three adults talking but she didn’t bother to listen, she just wanted to eat her grapes. Eventually, she finished her plate and held the plate for Mama to take.
“Good job baby.” Mama praised, giving Ivy a kiss on her forehead, making the little giggle and kick her feet.
As Mama took the plate, Ivy turned her head around as best she could to make eye contact with Jojo.
“Yes, door mouse?” Jojo asked.
Ivy made a vague motioning of her hands to an open book, thankfully she didn't need to do it for too long as Jojo understood. “Ahhh, you want the superior caregiver to give you a story.” Jojo joked. Ivy huffed, glaring at Jojo before making grabby hands and whining towards Mama. She always liked Mama best for looking after her, but Jojo was better at doing silly voices.
“I think the baby has spoken on whose the better caregiver.” Ella laughed as Mama took off the tray and picked her up again, giving her back her paci.
Again, Ivy made a vague gesture for a story to Jojo who dramatically sighed, “Am I only good for story telling?” Ivy giggled, answering Jojo the best she could.
“Well, go on then Jonny, be useful for once.” Her Mama laughed as she started to walk Ivy to the common room opposite the kitchen, Jojo and Ella followed, Jojo complaining about her Mama the entire time.
Her and her Mama sat down first, Ivy snuggling up on her Mama's lap, but quickly changed position when Jojo sat down, Ivy let herself fall onto Jojo's lap, giggling as her head hit his stomach, earning an “oof” from him. Her Mama and Ella laughed at Jojo who glared at them, but kept his look towards Ivy soft, he put his hand back into Ivy's hair, scratching gently just behind her twitching mouse ear whilst Ella took hold of a small section of Ivy's hair, braiding it. Jojo then cleared his throat and started his story.
“There is a truth often forgotten that the end is very rarely the end…”