They hadn’t noticed their shadow, following behind on silent feet. Not until she took the sheet from May and spun around with it, making it open and flutter around her before she placed it carefully on the ground.
“Sun and shade and ground and green. All you need in one place. Ants not invited, but spiders welcomed.” River stood there in her bare feet a small half smile on her lips.
“River, you have to make a bit more noise when you’re about.” Rose didn’t want to admit she’d jumped a bit at the sudden, unexpected movement.
“Once taught hard to unlearn. Pounded in like nails till it hurt.” River sat down almost primly. “Needed out, like you did. Needles and pain, cut to see you bleed, clings to the walls. You think their hands are red with blood, but they’re not, they’re blue. Play with little girls with their sharp bright toys.”
Rose looked to May, who had likely not yet met River, to see what she thought of the strange young woman.
“May, this is River. River, this is May. She helped the rest come and get us.” Rose tried polite introductions.
“Always helping. Can’t not. She has daddy issues.” River looked at Rose. Then her dark eyes fell on May. “She’s not quite right. Not all there. They took out pieces and tried to fit in the wrong shapes. The River doesn’t flow smooth, but has hidden depths and dangerous tides.”
Rose suddenly remembered that apparently Doctor Crane had been one of those killed on the beach. “Oh, River, I’m sorry. About Doctor Crane.”
“Don’t be. He wasn’t one of the good ones.” River patted the sheet. “Shall the teddy bears have their picnic then?”
[River-NPC]
Date: 2006-10-12 10:29 pm (UTC)“Sun and shade and ground and green. All you need in one place. Ants not invited, but spiders welcomed.” River stood there in her bare feet a small half smile on her lips.
“River, you have to make a bit more noise when you’re about.” Rose didn’t want to admit she’d jumped a bit at the sudden, unexpected movement.
“Once taught hard to unlearn. Pounded in like nails till it hurt.” River sat down almost primly. “Needed out, like you did. Needles and pain, cut to see you bleed, clings to the walls. You think their hands are red with blood, but they’re not, they’re blue. Play with little girls with their sharp bright toys.”
Rose looked to May, who had likely not yet met River, to see what she thought of the strange young woman.
“May, this is River. River, this is May. She helped the rest come and get us.” Rose tried polite introductions.
“Always helping. Can’t not. She has daddy issues.” River looked at Rose. Then her dark eyes fell on May. “She’s not quite right. Not all there. They took out pieces and tried to fit in the wrong shapes. The River doesn’t flow smooth, but has hidden depths and dangerous tides.”
Rose suddenly remembered that apparently Doctor Crane had been one of those killed on the beach. “Oh, River, I’m sorry. About Doctor Crane.”
“Don’t be. He wasn’t one of the good ones.” River patted the sheet. “Shall the teddy bears have their picnic then?”
{I just love playing with her...)