002

[littlesoul]

[River is settled on the roof of the castle, her journal opened up in front of her. She's staring at it for a long time before she begins to write, her letters lacking the panic and scribbling manner they had during her other journal entry.

Tell me a story.

{It's a simple request, one that might even seem childish to anyone who isn't her. She knows what she's looking for though, knows that she needs something to block out the noise in her head.

See, it's loud today. Louder tan she'd like. The world feels like it's crashing in on her, hence why she's outside, under the sky.

It's safer under the stars than it is with a roof over your head. If she can't be in the sky, she can at least have it blanketing her.]

Comments

[nukeoleptic]

But we shouldn't, right? Predicting the future.. wouldn't that take some of the fun out of it?

[ She reaches up to pet River's hair, though, trying to soothe her. ]

[littlesoul]

[her eyes close and she doesn't say anything for a long time]

I don't know. Maybe. Maybe things would just be different if we knew. Maybe we could only predict one future.

[nukeoleptic]

Maybe one future is the only future that matters, River.

[ But she nudges her, very very gently. ]

But why don't you tell me about your past?

[littlesoul]

Maybe.

[She tenses a little, her body going stiff as she thinks about her past.] That's not a good story.

[nukeoleptic]

[ And Jade has no idea. ]

What makes it so bad, River?

[littlesoul]

[She's tensing up, curling in on herself tightly and squeezing her yes shut.] No. No, its not....It's blood and leaving and and tearing up who you are, making you something different. It's breaking her down and turning her into a weapon. She's not a girl, shes not a girl, she's not a girl. She can fight and she can kill and she can hurt you so, so well.

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade doesn't know what to say, doesn't know how to go about even beginning to comfort her. So she tries, finally: ]

Can I brush your hair?

[littlesoul]

[She nods, moving to push her hair out from behind her and offering it out to Jade

No one has brushed her hair in so long, she doesn't even remember the last tie it happened.]

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade is quick to wish up a hairbrush, moving to draw it through River's hair. ]

What's home like? You should tell me.

[littlesoul]

Home is a ship. Ship in the black. We fly true, fly away from all the things that could get us. Running all the time with the wind in our faces but it feels good to run.

[nukeoleptic]

My home is a ship, too. Have I told you that before?

[littlesoul]

I knew. [She smiled slightly.[ What kind of ship?

[nukeoleptic]

A big one. A whole battleship to ourselves.

[littlesoul]

[her eyes go wide.[ Our ship was a cargo ship. All nooks and places to hide. Did yours have plaes to hide?

[nukeoleptic]

Tons and tons! Did you hide a lot?

[littlesoul]

I liked getting to know her, find her hiding spots and hear her heartbeat there.

[nukeoleptic]

Have you found any places to hide here?

[littlesoul]

Everyone always looks straight .ahead, I can hide in all the places they don't see here.

[nukeoleptic]

Up and down and to the sides, huh?

[littlesoul]

[SHe nods.} I can hide in the shadows, in the sky, under their feet. They never know I'm there.