001 Video

[littlesoul]

[The video turns on and there's River, eyes bright and grinning. She looks happy, like she wouldn't' want to be anywhere else.

Which is untrue. She would rather be with her crew but if she had to have her crew gone to have this, this peace of mind that she'd longed for, then it's...Well, not a fair trade but she hasn't quite realized that yet.

She should probably bother with some kind of an introduction but that doesn't matter. She's more excited about the new place and people and the silence. So, instead of offering up a name, a greeting or anything else, River just smiles into the camera for a moment before speaking.]

Someone should come explore with me.

Comments

[companioning]

[It takes Inara a few moments to truly realize just who she's watching and a few more to be able to actually do anything other than stare.]

River?

[She looks around the girl, almost as though she expects to see Simon not far behind her, but... Of course he's not there.]

Mèimèi, where are you?

[littlesoul]

[River tenses when the familiar voice hits her. She didn't think she would se anyone she knows here, she assumed her crew was lost to her.

But...But...]

In the park. [She says the words slowly, uncertainly and her eyes are fixated on Inara.] Come find me?

[companioning]

[It had been entirely too long since she's seen anyone from the crew, but at the same time? It was as though no time had passed at all.

She smiles warmly as she rises to her feet, grabs her shawl and wraps it around her shoulders. She's quickly leaving her room.]

Of course, darling. I'll be there soon.

[littlesoul]

[She's not frightened, not exactly. Just...unsure now that she ha someone she knows. It makes the whole thing seem more real somehow, like it isn't just a dream or delusion or whatnot.

having Inara there is making her realize all the people she doesn't have.

She tries to push it away, tries to pretend the anxiety and the missing isn't there but when Inara finds her, she's not smiling anymore, she's confused and comfortable and a little scared at what might happen to them. She'll be curled up in a ball at the base of a tree, watching the ground before her.

There's still a part of her that' excited, even now, but most of her? Most of her is just not sure what to make of any of this.]

video.

[guidethesun]

[ Eugene tilts his head to the side, wondering why this girl seems to be smiling so...creepily? Creepily is the word bouncing upon Eugene's brain. He's tempted to ignore the video and move along, but the way she looks...so excited...reminds him of Rapunzel.

And hey. He could use more friends. ]

Do you know your way around?

[littlesoul]

[She grins more as someone responds to her and she rooks on the balls of her feet, looking quite pleased.] The park, lost in the woods.

Find me and we'll go exploring.

[Video]

[5thchild]

If you'd like, I can come.

[companioning]

[It really doesn't take Inara long to find the park River was at and even less time to locate the young girl. For a moment, Inara stands a few feet away, watching her silently. Her heart goes out to River, imagining it must be hard to be there without her brother.

She moves to her side and sinks down to her knees, her hand gently moving to rest on River's back.]

Hey you.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[There's happy and then there's... Whatever this girl is right now. Needless to say, it gives Elena a mental red flag.]

Do you know where you are?

[littlesoul]

[River moves, leaning against Inara, her eyes closed. She breaths the woman in, her scent comforting and reminiscent of home.] Dreams, thought it was all a dream. Close my eyes and be a god girl. But it's not a dream, is it? There's no one here but us.

[littlesoul]

Come [She laughs, looking quite pleased] Come and maybe we'll find something you've never seen before.

[littlesoul]

[River smiles even more, looking pleased and bouncing.[ A park. Lost in the woods in the city in the world. [She waves her words off though. Not too lost though, I can find my way back.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Are you sure?

[Not that Elena's sure that if she says she's sure she's actually...you know, sure.]

[text]

[could_be_dangerous]

For what purpose?
SH

[littlesoul]

[She nods.] I'm lost but there are breadcumbs. Find my way through the forest and into the city. I know where I am, even if I don't understand it.

[text]

[littlesoul]

To learn the layout and important points of reference through the city.

[text]

[could_be_dangerous]

The ones on the maps or the ones that matter?
SH

[text]

[littlesoul]

I can find the ones on the map without exploring. It's a matter of finding out what's useful.

[companioning]

[Inara automatically wraps her arms around River, hugging her tightly. She rests her cheek against River's head, humming softly, soothingly for a few moments.]

Duìbùqǐ mèimèi, but this is no dream. But you're safe. I promise.

[littlesoul]

[River curls up, listening to the hum coming from the woman and sudden.y, for a flash, wishing she could she inside her mind, feel the comforting thoughts that she would have emitted.

But she knows the price she would have to pay o get that back and it only lasts a moment.]

It's quiet. So quiet, I don't remember the world being so soft.

[companioning]

[Inara's never understood what River felt, all she knew was that the girl was special in many ways and not just the way the Alliance had made her. She had always felt a protective streak concerning her, had stood up to Mal for her and her brother, and she would gladly do the same in Asgard.

She would do a lot of things for her and the one thing she truly wished she could do, she just couldn't. She couldn't make it easier for her, she couldn't take away her confusion.]

I know, this place... It's strange and it does strange things to us all. I'm so sorry, River, truly I am.

[littlesoul]

River opens her eyes, looking up at Inara and smiles. Not a happy smile but one of understanding, of appreciation.] No, you shouldn't. It's not your fault. We're lost in a world not our own but you didn't do this to us, you didn't take us away.

[She moves, nuzzling her for a moments.] We've been away before, both of us wandering off on our own paths. Maybe we'll find our way back, maybe we'll learn the roads to take to get back into the sky but if not, we adapt. We have no choice. Forms twist and turn to fit the world.

We'll be a part of the world soon enough, they'll make us what they want. [Her voice isn't scared, not exactly, more resigned. She's slowly accepting her fate, accepting that she's doomed to be a plaything for someone or other, it's just a mater of whether her keepers are kind or not.]

Video;

[bluespacebabe]

[To him, this seems like a legitimate, not at all sketchy kind of idea, to go exploring with a stranger.]

Sure! My name's Gil. Where would you like to go?

[video]

[livedtwice]

Explore, huh?

[He considers that for a second.]

Explore what, exactly? Not that I mind exploring, I'm only curious.

[littlesoul]

[She fails to see what would be odd about it. It doesn't even strike her that the random ofer to go exploring could be odd or unsettling to some.]

Anywhere I've never been. [She smiles.] I'm new.