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[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

[littlesoul]

[She looks away, feeling guilty at the thoughts that come rushing in.] Sorry. Sorry can't...I can't stop it. Don't know how Everything comes in and nothing asks permission.

[She backs away, taking careful steps back towards the door.] I can go...

[originalcopy]

No, that's alright. I... sorry.

[He sighs inwardly and tries to just chill the fuck out. He's making this worse and he feels like an ass for it.]

It's ok.

[He nods and motions for her to come back.]

Besides, if one of us should leave it's me.

[littlesoul]

[She smiles, moving to stand next to him.] It's okay, no one has to go. The roof is for everyone.

[She spreads her hands out as she talks, indicating the roof itself.] We can both stay.

[originalcopy]

So, River...

Shall we try this conversation thing again?

[He manages a slight smile behind his visor, not that she could see it.]

[littlesoul]

[She smiles back.]

Never been good at conversation. We can try though.

[originalcopy]

[He chuckles]

Can't say it's my strong suit either.

[now that his initial surprise, and he's embarrassed to admit; panic, has worn off... he's kind of curious about her. But he doesn't want to be rude either.]

[littlesoul]

[She grins a little.] We are terrible.

[She then studies him, tilting her head a little] You're not a cat, it's safe for you.

[originalcopy]

Uh... ok.

[he considers for a moment. He can't think of a non-awkward way to phrase this.]

Are there a lot of people... like you... where you're from?

[littlesoul]

No.

[She looks away from him now, staring out onto the land.] She was made. Created. People went into her brain and played around in there, moved pieces, took things out. [Her tone is soft, a little scared even.[ They broke her down and rebuilt her into something different.

She wasn't the only one but she was the best.

[originalcopy]

Oh, shit... I... sorry.

[He has a brief sharp pang of guilt for asking, for bringing up something so obviously traumatic.]

I shouldn't have asked.

[littlesoul]

[She doesn't say anything for a long time, her eyes concentrated on the world beyond them.[ She's safe now. Supposed to be. She was with a crew, with people who kept her safe. Now she's...here.

[originalcopy]

This place is safe for a lot of people. Minus the castle bullshit of course.

[How many people did he know now that came from terrible situations or were facing imminent death for one reason or another. Too many. What did that mean for him? He was pretty sure he didn't want to know.]

I'm sure you'll find people you can trust here, that will help you.

[He'd never offer to be one of those people. But that doesn't mean he couldn't be one.]

[littlesoul]

I've got people.. People who are, people who are family without being family. I trust them.

[She smiles a little at that thought. She's been building up a family since she got back, replacing her crew and the other children at the Academy before that. People she can trust when she thinks no one is trustworthy, people she can lean on.]

[originalcopy]

[He nods. Good. He tells himself that means he doesn't have to bother worrying about her crazy ass. (the lies he tells himself to protect against emotional loss. If he doesn't care he can't be hurt.)]