001

[littlesoul]

[She's perched on the highest spot she can find in the lobby, her journal clutched against her chest. This isn't anything like she's used to, nothing feels familiar. Her heart is beating hard in her chest and her hands want to start shaking.

Her mind is racing, filled with the thoughts of so many people around her. The night before, she had achieved some kind of calm, she remembered that, but now, with this new, strange turn of events, she's falling again, lost amidst the sea of thoughts around her.

She scribbles in her journal at a feverish pace, the words small and pushed together as she tries to hold back panic.]

Lost.

Lost, lost, lost, lost.

Fell into the black and landed here. Fell and fell and fell until I hit the ground. I can't remember how to get back, too lost to see clearly.

Can someone pick her up again? Can someone put her back where she belongs?

Too loud.

Can't go high enough, can't find a way out, can't find anything that I want.

Ship, she needs a ship again. She needs the sky.

Comments

[nukeoleptic]

the stars are different here

[ It's written carefully, slowly. ]

different, but not bad
sometimes different is really nice!

[littlesoul]

Maybe.

[She takes a few minutes to say anything after that, uncertain of what she should actually put into words versus what's racing through her mind.]

Who is this?

[nukeoleptic]

my name is jade
like the stone :)
and you are.... river?

[littlesoul]

Like the stone.

Jade: A hard, typically green stone used for ornaments and implements and consisting of the minerals jadeite or nephrite.

[nukeoleptic]

yep, that is right!! :)
but i am a girl
not a rock :p

[littlesoul]

Jade: A hard, typically green stone used for ornaments and implements and consisting of the minerals jadeite or nephrite.

Also, a nice girl.

[nukeoleptic]

hehehehe :)
i am sorry that you are lost, river!
we are all a little lost here
but it is okay
we have each other!
there are a lot of fun things to do
think of it like.. a detour

[littlesoul]

Detour.

Detours happen. You have to take the course that keeps you safe, sometimes detours have to happen.

[She smiles, even though Jade can't see it, touching the words and nodding to herself]

Come travel with me.

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade has been traveling for a long time now-- this little detour? It's a respite, in a way.

But she'll doodle a little smiley face on the journal page anyway. ]

where do you want to go?

[littlesoul]

[And River will respond in kind, drawing her own smiling face.]

Anywhere. Where do you want to go?

[nukeoleptic]

everywhere!
have you been to the roof yet?

[littlesoul]

No.

Let's see the stars.

[nukeoleptic]

where are you?
i can come get you :D
we can look at all of the stars

[littlesoul]

In the lobby. Lost in the ceiling. Look up and you'll find me

[nukeoleptic]

[ And it won't be long before Jade is there, peeking into the lobby, head up. ]

River? Are you still here?

[littlesoul]

[She is spotted as soon as she walks into the room, River having felt the shift when someone knew enters.

Dropping down and landing silently from her spot, she smiles at Jade, offering out a hand]

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade smiles widely back at her, fluffy white ears perked. She reaches forward, catching River's hands with her own, squeezing her fingers. ]

It's nice to meet you in person!

[littlesoul]

[She nods, grinning happily and moving to spin Jade around the room before tugging her towards the door.]

Stars are calling. [It comes out in a sing song tone.] We can't be rude.

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade laughs out loud, shaking her head in amusement- something is off here, not quite usual, but that's not necessarily bad. So she'll just follow behind, moving to take the lead. ]

Hehe, yes! I know the fastest way up.

[littlesoul]

[There's always something a little off with her, always something cracked and broken but if Jade is willing to look past it,, she might have found a friend.

Moving behind Jade, she still holds onto one hand,, letting the other girl lead the way and looking expectantly at her, a mixture of that and eagerness i her gaze.]

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade is okay with that. She's made friends here, but has depended so much on her friends from home; this is nice, too, even as she heads up the stairs. ]

You're brand new here, huh?

[littlesoul]

[She nods her head, looking up at the stairs ad the real possibility of seeing stars.] Just arrived.

[She knows that Jade may not like her when she sees all of River,, when she's completely exposed and honest and broken with her but for now, she's hoping that she can become enough of a friend that she won't run away that quickly.]

[nukeoleptic]

[ It, fortunately or unfortunately, takes a hell of a lot more than that to frighten Jade Harley. ]

This place is really confusing at first.

[ But she squeezes her fingers, even if she doesn't look back. ]

It's okay to have a lot of questions.

[littlesoul]

[She nods her head, studying the back of Jade's head as they move.] I'll learn, I'm excellent at that.

{There's a soft hummig coming from her after a short time. Just a song from home, a happy one, one they could dance to if the time provided. She's waiting until they reach the roof though. Then they'll dance under stars.]

[nukeoleptic]

What do you like to learn about?

[ She's being curious, not pedantic, even as she finally pushes through the door to the roof. ]