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 ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, I'm sure. Perhaps we can make this place a little [ deliberate pause. ] less quiet for you in the future. What's been taken can always be returned, can it not?

No.

[ Said quickly, almost panicked, but she stops herself and ducks her head. ]

I mean, I would - it's ... That won't be necessary.

[ there's a quick flash of genuine interest at that response, the corners of his lips quirking upwards involuntarily. ]

You don't like it. [ softly and whilst it lacks the intonation of a question, it's meant as one. ]

[ She wilts a little, entire frame going slack in resignation, and shakes her head. ]

It's too loud. It - hurts. Made it hurt.

[ a moment's pause — not innate, perhaps, not something she'd chosen, an experiment (banner), or simply poor evolution— ]

Was that a gift too, River? Not from gods, of course, but—. [ the barest of shrugs. ] Man has a tendency to reach for power beyond its grasp and control.

Man is meddlesome. They take - break things, weren't theirs to break.

[ Heated, maybe, bitter. She softens. ]

Simon said I was born with a third eye. See better than most. [ No, that's not right. Anymore. She frowns. ] Saw.

Man is blind as to its own place in the universe.

What is it you say?

[ Her mouth works soundlessly with an unformed answer before she shuts it and shakes her head. ]

Don't know. I don't - don't want to see it, didn't want to see it. Not mine to see, they made me.

And now you've got your want, although it has been replaced with something else. For better or worse.

Magic. Not ours.

Do you use it?

[ he glances down and away from the feed for a moment, amusement playing at his features. ]

Do I? [ a quiet, entertained repetition of the question. ] Would you believe any answer but 'yes'?

Not many answers but 'yes.'

[ A beat. Quieter: ]

Not many reasons to believe either way.

No. [ a quiet murmur. ] But knowledge is power, is it not? And much of their magic deals with physicality — there's little to be gained from use, not when the toys want not to play along with the drafted roles.

[ a lie of sorts; he's used it, for it has use, but it's nothing he's going to place much lasting stock or hope in. for as long as he has it, he'll use it to his advantage, but if he loses it, it won't be any great disadvantage. ]

[ She shifts, tilts her head with her eyes down, like listening closely for something that's not there. ]

You don't want to play, but you play smart. Strategic. You ... strategize.

[ She purses her lips and straightens out. ]

Do you play checkers?

[ a quick flash of a smile, appreciative and amused; it's not that he doesn't like to play, it's that he likes to have a bit of fun, and this very much is not. but strategy? that is something he's fond of. ]

Not habitually. I find I prefer something a little— [ he stops, tongue resting on his lower lip as if he's taking a moment to choose his words.] A little more fun, I think you'd say. Grander, perhaps.

[ 'More fun,' and what exactly would the god of mischief consider fun? ]

Bigger pieces?

Less restricted pieces.

[ Her eyes widen. ]

Bigger moves. How do you win?

[ his eyes narrow and the corners of his lips curling upwards momentarily— ]

Think of it more like chess.

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