asgardeventide | oo1 ∞ video / open action

[ River can be seen wandering around the common area of Odin's Welcome Hall almost as though in a trancelike state. Her steps are light and even, ball to toe on bare feet, and her fingers trail over every object she passes even though her eyes are wandering curiously around the ceiling and the walls and the rest of the room - never to what she's touching. It might seem like she's looking for something, or even listening for something, but she doesn't seem to find it, and never once ceases her calculated footsteps. Eventually the video times out. ]

[ Some time later, the video clicks back on and River's face fills the entire feed, far too close as she tries to peer into the little jewel of her bracelet. She eventually gives up and pulls back to show brown eyes wide and curious, dark hair framing pallid skin that's ... almost gold in the scant lighting.

She's sitting in the middle of the slide, feet tucked underneath her to stop her from going down any further. Her eyes skitter around the confined space before settling back on the bracelet. She says only two words as a whisper, like if she says it any louder, it might break the spell. ]

It's quiet.

[ ooc; for those of you in Odin, feel free to run into River in either part of the post - and I do mean literally, someone should run into her in the slide. 8) edit: I totally forgot! hover for Chinese translations! thanks to Holly for teaching me that trick and Google for my butchered Chinese. |Db ]

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[ Oh no. Oh no no no. He's heard of what happens here, of the disasters the gods send, and all he can think of is not here. Not his sister. ]

[ And then he realises that he should probably say something. He tries to keep his voice calm - for her sake - but, on the inside, he's anything but. ]

Mei mei, are you all right? You're not hurt, are you?

Edited 2012-09-11 19:55 (UTC)

Simon.

[ It's more of a breath exhaled than his name. This place doesn't make sense, but Simon - he makes sense. He's right. ]

There's a slide.

[ He smiles because it's River and, while he'd rather she not be here, he's missed her. ]

So I see.

[ A beat while he tries to look behind her, to see if he recognises where she is, and then slight frown when he realises he doesn't. ]

Where are you?

[ She pauses to think - Odin. Asgard. Yggrasil. ]

You're afraid of heights.

[ A small frown. ]

What happens if we fall out of the tree?

We-- We won't, mei mei. I'll make sure of it.

[ He wants to see her, make sure she's all right. He proceeds slowly, choosing his words carefully so as not to confuse her further. ]

River, do you remember what the-- the maid told you? When you first arrived?

[ She doesn't think that's right, Simon doesn't climb trees. He waits at the bottom to catch her, even though she never slips. Slipped. Her brows furrow. ]

She didn't have a face, Simon. You can't talk without a face, and I couldn't - hear her.

Did she-- She didn't tell you which house you were in?

She told. It's gold - Odin's house.

[ Odin. Right. ]

I'm in Sigyn but, River, just-- just stay where you are, OK? I'm coming there now.

I'm in the slide. Not going anywhere.

I'll see you soon.

[ He moves as fast as he can but it still takes him awhile before he finds the Odin house. Asgard is a big place, after all, and he gets turned around more than once, even with the aid of a map.

When he does reach the house, he walks straight towards the slide. He crouches down, peering up into the confined space before he calls for her. ]

River?

[ River has spent the entire time making herself comfortable, twisting and turning and wrapping her skirt around her waist until she's essentially got a nest going inside the slide. Talking to people, exploring the functions of the bracelet; it seems like she doesn't have any plans on leaving.

At the sound of his voice, too far down the twisting slide to see him, she flinches just a little. A voice without a face - and she couldn't hear him before --

It's quiet. She curls into herself a little more. ]

I'm here.

Edited 2012-09-11 23:36 (UTC)

Are you-- Are you coming down?

[ Because the only other option is that he climbs up and, looking up into the cramped space, it's not really one he fancies. ]

I don't -

[ Know. She doesn't know. There are people without faces that speak to her, and people with faces that she can't hear, and she doesn't know. It doesn't make sense. ]

Safer inside. It's - quiet.

[ If she can't see them and she can't hear them, then it's better. It's logical. Safe. ]

Do you--

[ He falters because he really doesn't want to, but he will if he must. Brotherly duties and all that. He steels himself, preparing to climb the slide. ]

Do you want me to come up?

[ For a moment, there's no response as she considers her options but - it all seems too complicated, there's too many variables, things she doesn't understand and doesn't have enough information to compute.

Silence a second longer, and then there's just a noncommittal hum of sorts as she hugs her knees closer and curls her toes. ]

... River? River, I'm coming up. OK?

[ He braces his hands against the sleek sides of the slide and wedges his feet into the corners, inching his way up s l o w l y. His breathing is heavy as he tries to focus on not falling.

Which is precisely what does happen after only managing a few steps. There's a loud thump as he loses his footing and slides right back down to the bottom. ]

...

Ow.

Simon?

[ She'll lean up on her toes to try and see if he's okay, but she won't slide down after him unless she's sure he's out of it. ]

[ He's out of the slide now, standing up and brushing the dust off his clothes. His shin's bruised, but other than that, he's unharmed. ]

I'm-- I'm fine.

[ She hesitates a moment - it'd be so much easier if she could just see him, but she'll have to settle for sliding down to bring him into view.

She stays sitting at the foot of the slide and looks up at him, smiles when she's sure he isn't hurt. ]

Clumsy.

[ He smiles down at her. ]

You always were the graceful one, mei mei. [ A beat in which he holds out a hand to help her up. ] And I always had two left feet.

Lost cause, gēgē.

[ She says playfully, taking his hand and pulling herself straight from the slide into a hug, arms wrapped around his middle tightly.

Doesn't say anything; just clings, trembles a little. It's been a frightening day, for all that it's been new and exciting as well. ]

[ He returns the hug, clinging to her in return. When he feels her trembling, though, he pulls back to look at her, cupping her face gently in his hands. His voice is soft, almost a whisper, as he tries to reassure her. ]

Shh. River? It's going to be OK. Everything is going to be OK.

[ action ]

thoughts - 2012-09-16 16:24 (UTC) - Expand

takes_careofher - 2012-09-16 22:00 (UTC) - Expand

thoughts - 2012-09-17 07:20 (UTC) - Expand

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