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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[Annie bites her bottom lip before responding.]

Only sometimes.

[ River just ... looks at her, for a second, before looking away. They don't understand, but ... maybe that's okay. Maybe that's a good thing.

She rests her head on her knees. ]

Take it while you got it, kid.

[Of all the people to understand, it was probably Annie.

She sighs softly, her fingers knotting the fabric of her dress.]

Yes, basically. Nothing... makes sense here.

Does it make sense anywhere else? Perspective is narrow.

[Annie's gaze drops and she shrugs.] I don't know anymore. [Really, she doesn't.] It's... Hard to know.. [She shakes her head and draws in a deep breath and focuses.] You're new, yes?

[ She nods silent confirmation. ]

Things... happen here. Not all good. [BUT she's going to change the topic now, okay?]

I'm Annie.

[ She smiles a little. ]

River.

[Annie's smile is big, okay?]

Oh, I like your name. It's very pretty.

[ lmflksadjf oh no. It's been said before, but usually in a way that's meant to placate her or trick her into feeling secure. Demeaning and false, but this is just ... sweet. Sincere. River flushes just a little, and ducks her head. ]

Hé.

[ She traces the character in the air with her finger, then brushes her hair behind her ear. ]

Thank you.

You're welcome.

[She really does like the name. River... It would be a good name for someone from District 4.]

Did you just speak a different language? [She might be a little excited about that.]

Xīn Zhōngwén. New Chinese. Everyone speaks it, same as English.

[ River just ... uses precise words. Her speech is clipped because she doesn't say things she doesn't feel are important. Or maybe she just can't find them. It can go either way. ]

Oh wow. [Annie looks amazed.] We only speak... Well this language, English I guess?

[ She wonders! Not everyone can speak English, yet everyone here can understand each other. ]

Might be magic.

[ A translator, maybe, in the bracelets. She starts fiddling with hers to look for it, and continues to address Annie while she does. ]

But I can hear you, and you can hear me. Practical.

[That is until they speak a different language, like River's New Chinese.]

Maybe... I'd never thought about it. [Because everyone speaks the same language where she's from.]

Yes. It is. And it helps when one's lost. [Her's helped with that at least. Finnick had been able to find her because she'd used it. Most practical indeed.]

We're all lost.

[ But she says it with a smile, like it's the most brilliant thing ever. ]

But some more than others.

[It's the truth. She gets lost all the time - mainly in her own mind, but whatever.

Part of the game. Try to be found.

[ River can relate. ]

[She nods.]

Will anyone be looking for you here?

Inara's already trying to get me into shoes.

[ This is distressing. 8( ]

You don't like shoes?

Too restricting. Can't move your toes, so how do you know they're still there?

[ oh, but that sounds crazy. ]

Heavy too, make it harder to dance.

[No worries, River, Annie gets it.]

I don't wear shoes much back home. But I spend a lot of time on the beach.

Oh you dance?

[ Oh, she takes a second to marvel a little. ]

Haven't seen a beach in -

[ Well, since before the Academy. She doesn't want to think about that. Track skips to something different. ]

Sand between your toes. Simon doesn't like it. Get to take it home with you, or - shells. Seashells. They'll break if you keep them in your pocket.

[ How she'd like to go to the beach again. She tucks her hair back behind her ear, then smiles quietly. ]

She likes to dance.

There's no beach here... But there is a lake. It's not the same, but it's close enough.

And there's no shells. [Which is sad because she loves seashells.

She's quiet for a moment and then she's smiling again.]

You should come to the wedding then, there's going to be lots of dancing.

video;

thoughts - 2012-09-25 20:59 (UTC) - Expand

brokennotmad - 2012-09-26 00:56 (UTC) - Expand

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