Another noemata I want to share...
tw child abuse
'Playtime' wasn't allowed for the Gatherers.
As much as they tried to humanise what they'd done by calling them Little Sisters and having them all dress alike they very much did not see these children as children or even human any more.
'Playtime' was verboten. Downtime was being locked in their rooms so those in charge could take stock of the days ADAM gathering.
This is something we knew was happening to them, but we couldn't exactly stop it either. We were as much under their thumb as the girls - they'd learnt to manipulate us all.
But...sometimes when I was with a little one and there was nobody around we'd find a corner and I'd draw her a hopscoth with stolen chalk and we'd use loose rivets as stones and play. I was bad at it, of course, couldn't really hop around that well, but it was fun. And she'd draw on floor and we'd wash it away when we were done.
It wasn't always possible to hide it though and I know they would beat the girl they caught - black eyes and bruises mysteriously having appeared the next time we saw each other - but I couldn't prove it or prove who and they were too scared to tell me even when I showed concern about the injuries. Didn't they know I would have dealt with it? I guess they feared further punishment more...
When Rapture went to shit we actually played a lot more. Most of the day was play followed by gathering enough ADAM to keep us both going. It's weird how it was almost better.
And of course, Tenenbaum, once she realised what she'd done became a good nurturer for them. I don't think I can ever fully forgive her, but she had a good heart and was right to trust the little ones to Jack's care.
Suchong can rot though, making them call him 'papa' and then treating them like that...I'm only sorry it wasn't me who plugged him.
