AN: I have a tendency to lose control of my writing and go on and on, so I wanted to see if I could restrain myself and write a drabble. This is the result. Reviews would be wonderful. As per usual, I own nothing but a deep love for the character Elle. Title is from "Cabaret."
-
Elle doesn't have a mother. She used to wish she did, but when she said that to Daddy, he made his 'disappointed' face.
She doesn't wish she had a mom anymore.
The kids at school laugh at her, because Tommie tells them that his mom said that Elle's mom ran off with a plumber. She gives him a black eye.
When she tells Daddy, he doesn't look disappointed like she'd feared.
Next time Tommie calls her mom a dirty name, she breaks his arm. The other kids don't laugh at her anymore.
Having no mother isn't so bad, after all.
-
Elle's scared of the building, and she doesn't know why. Sure, it's bland and stuffy, and smells a little funny, but that doesn't explain why every time Daddy takes her there, her heart races. Sometimes she dreams about walking through those long hallways and there's something waiting in the testing room, and she doesn't know what it is but she doesn't want to open the door.
It's silly of her, so she never tells Daddy about it. She's too old for nightmares. It's not like her Daddy would let anything bad happen to her.
The testing isn't so bad, really.
-
Elle's favorite color is blue, and she knows it's because of this burning light she's holding. If she was ever once timid with her lightning, she doesn't remember it. Now she stays up at night for hours, admiring the way it flickers in her hands, making the room an eerie, icy blue. When she's ready to sleep, she looks out the window. They don't let her outside much, but she can see trees and cars and sometimes cats. She picks a good target and sends the lightning toward it. If she's lucky, it'll catch fire.
It's not bad, having powers.
-
Elle isn't fond of taking orders, but they figure that out after she shocks the third guy who tries to boss her around. The Company decides that Daddy should be in charge of her.
She listens to Daddy.
He tells her not to do things. Not to shock people, not to get mad, not to burn down HQ. She tries to obey, but it's hard. She likes it better when he tells her to use her powers. It doesn't happen often, but it makes up for the rest.
Working for the Company isn't too bad, once they're used to her.
-
Elle can't go out without permission, and lately they've been more and more reluctant to give it to her.
If she does anything bad, she has to face Daddy's displeasure, which always makes her feel small and ugly. She can handle anything better than she can handle that creeping feeling of inadequacy.
She can't make decisions the same way everyone else does. She can't draw a chart of the pros and cons or the possible consequences and do the thing that seems smartest. She is bound by her whims and moods.
That's alright, though. She's used to being a prisoner.