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Jul. 18th, 2005 11:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The room is comfortable, quiet and peaceful. Airy, with no mustiness, for all that it doesn't feel lived-in.
Mostly what it's been used for, these last few months, hasn't involved much of peace and comfort.
Simon unlocks the door, one arm around River in his habitual soothing guidance, and the group files in. Roland gestures to the round sofa with a jerk of his chin; the younger Tams are already settling into place there. The others follow suit.
Mostly what it's been used for, these last few months, hasn't involved much of peace and comfort.
Simon unlocks the door, one arm around River in his habitual soothing guidance, and the group files in. Roland gestures to the round sofa with a jerk of his chin; the younger Tams are already settling into place there. The others follow suit.
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Date: 2005-07-19 03:43 am (UTC)But the fact of the matter is that something has to be done. Gabriel Tam knows perfectly well that the Alliance isn't going to let this go. I can't let them, Gabriel thinks in bitter desperation.
Now in the room, he turns to face the others, standing tall and very proud, but silent. Waiting.
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Date: 2005-07-19 03:55 am (UTC)Zoe remains standing, her arms folded, and turns to Simon.
"Seems to me like the best way to stop the Alliance diggin' any deeper is to convince 'em you and River are dead, somehow." Then, to Roland, "Don't have much experience with hypnotism outside of fakers at street fairs--could you put a convincing story 'bout that in his mind?"
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-19 04:06 am (UTC)He's looking from Zoe to Roland, still avoiding
(you've forgotten)
the face of his father.
"They want to know how he knows about gunslingers. And whether he knows where we are. Whatever story we spin has to cover both of those. Believably."
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:13 am (UTC)After a moment, he looks up. "All right. They know he's been doing research. Say somebody contacted him. Away from your Cortex, mayhap. Told him that if he wants to know where the two of you are, he ought to research gunslingers. And naturally...he would."
Roland never looks away from Simon.
"The way they spun it, the two of you are murderers. He's a man who doesn't need to cross the Alliance. How better to get himself back in their good graces than by turning his children in?" Dry. Cold. "That's why the searching. Man in his position doesn't need two crazy children haunting your 'verse, exacting revenge from the ones who have done them a perceived slight."
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:23 am (UTC)Simon's lips are numb.
"Maybe he even thought he could get us to turn ourselves in. If he could just talk to us." Another of those darting glances at where Gabriel sits. "Explain how River needs the treatment they can only give her at the Academy."
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:26 am (UTC)Clipped and painful, and he doesn't look at any of them. Gabriel studies his hands, focusing on his wedding ring. "She's sick, Mr. Tam. She's sick, and she needs help...would she have committed murder before Simon kidnapped her?"
"It's what they think they convinced me of, after all."
And now he does look up, and at Simon. His son. He won't plead, he's too proud for that, but he can't look away. "I know better... but they don't know that."
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:29 am (UTC)She stares down at her knees, hair hanging.
She doesn't say anything. She doesn't look up.
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:40 am (UTC)But...Gilead's long gone.
His face twists in a mockery of a smile. "Blood-and-thunder tales of pretend."
I am not.
And Roland inclines his head, the expression gone. "So. We plant this story. Make him believe it. Any holes you can see?"
He turns to include Zoe as well.
Not Gabriel Tam.
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:49 am (UTC)There's still a note of dubiousness in Zoe's voice.
From where he's been silently watching near the door, Cuthbert speaks up. "He'll believe it as surely as he's ever believed anything, sai."
His tone is one of quiet confidence in Roland, and Zoe considers a moment, then nods.
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Date: 2005-07-19 04:57 am (UTC)"It should hold together."
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:00 am (UTC)And then walk away.
His voice doesn't sound like his own, but is coolly professional when he says, "Fine, then. Let's get it done."
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:09 am (UTC)And it dances.
Roland puts him under. The questions are asked -- what is your name, where are you -- and the instructions are given.
It's then that Simon, standing behind Roland, looks up to see his father's face. River, though, doesn't move.
Gabriel Tam will tell the Alliance that he received a letter, and destroyed it. That he wanted to help the investigation, for everybody's own good -- the good of the Alliance, the good of his children. Roland gives him permission to add details that might help...that maybe Simon taking River away harmed her, and now Simon can't fix it. That Gabriel has no idea where River and Simon are, despite looking. That he only wants to find them, for everybody's safety. That he hasn't had any luck.
"You will forget that you ever heard of Serenity, or anybody on board. And you will forget your time here, in Milliways."
River looks up sharply at that -- to her father's face.
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:16 am (UTC)But at this, something twists in his face, and he half-raises a hand as though in instinct to shield himself, then lowers it slowly, with reluctance.
"Must I?" Half-dreaming, not awake, there's an sense of sorrow and a strange, simple dignity in the single question.
"For your friend spoke the truth, before: I had forgotten the faces of my children. And I would not do so again."
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-19 05:28 am (UTC)She turns, too abruptly, and curls against Simon as if to bury her face in his neck. But she rests her cheek against her brother's shoulder instead, and keeps her eyes on her father's face, even as the silent tears start to spill over.
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:34 am (UTC)He winces slightly at the Tam's reactions, then stares hard at their father.
Like Roland, like Zoe, like Mal, he'd thought Gabriel Tam only worth killing, if not for the bar's rules and the will of his children. Now, under hypnosis, he says this.
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:44 am (UTC)Jake had forgiven him. Now River's father is asking for the same chance.
It won't make any difference, in the end. When Roland had read that the deepest level of hell was reserved for traitors, he'd nodded without flinching. Sounded right.
In the end Gabriel Tam is just as damned as Roland.
Roland might as well give him his chance.
And -- how had Will Stanton done it, months ago?
"You'll remember when it's safe to do so. When they've left you alone for long enough. Your undermind will know when. And you won't forget until you set foot out the front door."
Give him that much.
"Count to thirty, and wake, slowly, when you're through."
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Date: 2005-07-19 05:51 am (UTC)It's a familiar span of time, by now, to some in the room.
On the twenty-ninth, River pulls away from her brother.
As Gabriel Tam's eyes open, she curls up at his feet, back resting against the couch, and rests her head against her father's knee. Her eyes are closed. Her face is wet with tears; it's hard to tell whether she's still crying or not.
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:05 am (UTC)As River leans her head against his knee in the very moment that his eyes open, his hand moves.
Wouldn't he be proud of her?
Automatically, unthinkingly, with the instinct of years-long habit, it comes to rest on her head.
Did you wonder if your father's heart would break?
He remembers her doing this before, when she was just a little girl-- she'd come to sit by him in the evening in the study, watching the fire dance and chattering brightly to him about her day-- and her brother's day as well, often as not.
Oh, wouldn't he, wouldn't he be proud?
Lost in this moment, Gabriel closes his eyes once more and strokes his daughter's hair as though she were a child again, safe at home with him, long before all of this had happened.
still proud of you...
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-19 06:13 am (UTC)He's looking down at his father and sister, and it's possibly not clear which of them he's speaking to.
"Please let's get this over with."
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:24 am (UTC)He doesn't look down at her, nor does he say a word to Simon. Instead, he turns to look at Zoe, Roland, and Cuthbert in turn.
"I think I've taken quite enough of your time this evening." A pause. "I don't foresee this being a problem in the future, however."
"Gentlemen, ladies, I wish you all the best. Goodbye, and good luck." It's very professional, very smoothly corporate. Get the deal done, then walk away.
And walk away is just what Gabriel Tam does, heading for the door.
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:33 am (UTC)Her face is hidden. Her shoulders shake -- perhaps with tears, or perhaps only with tremulous deep breaths.
She doesn't move.
She looks very small, curled in the open center of the circular couch.
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:35 am (UTC)Gabriel Tam stops. And stands for a moment, and turn slowly to look at his son.
Who is already lowering his gaze.
"Zhùyì."
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:39 am (UTC)After everything that's happened, River Tam still remembers the face of her father.
Then, as Roland walks to the window, turning away from the scene and staying that way even as River sits curled up, his brow furrows.
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:44 am (UTC)Then, as Gabriel walks toward the door and River huddles where she's been left...
Someone else might hesitate. Might wait for Simon to go to her, or hold back on the thought that she might flinch away, not accepting comfort.
Zoe crosses to River's side without hesitance and bends down, smoothing her hair back with one hand.
"Hey. It's gonna be okay, kid."
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Date: 2005-07-19 06:53 am (UTC)"I will."
A pause. "You'll take care of her." It's as near as he can get to a request, but there's a clear certainty in the statement as well.
Gabriel turns to leave once more, but stops when Cuthbert says firmly, "We'll see you out."
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Date: 2005-07-19 07:00 am (UTC)Icarus' sister, she's a gap in the tale
She's not crying, now.
We don't know where she went
A bleak grief pulls at her shoulders and adds years to her face.
We can only make guesses about her
Silently, she moves to join the others, to see her father to the door. To see him walk into the hands of the Alliance, and into post-hypnotic amnesia.
Left the old man spinning in free fall...
She doesn't look at anyone.
Icarus' sister - still proud of you
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Date: 2005-07-19 07:06 am (UTC)Simon doesn't see Kaylee until she's right beside him, looking up into his face with searching concern. He says nothing to her either, but takes her hand. Clutches it, really.
Please let's get this over with.
The front door opens in front of Gabriel Tam. And closes again behind him.
There is no goodbye.