(no subject)

[river_meimei]

It was late last night when the heartsick group poring over astrogation charts disbanded to try to get some sleep. (Last night's dishes were still in the kitchen, piled on the counter. Food left for the hungry ghosts; the gates of hell are open for two months, the story goes, and the dead can wander. They're probably still there this morning.)

River stopped by Simon and Kaylee's room, sliding the door ajar and listening. But they were both asleep, and she didn't wake them.

It's morning now.

So she slides the door all the way open, and just stands there for a long moment, watching them sleep. The room is dim, but light spills in from the hallway, slanting across Kaylee's shoulder and Simon's face.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

Kaylee shifts slightly and settles back into the pillow. Simon blinks, and sees River at the door, and raises his head.

"Meimei? What is it?"

[river_meimei]

River looks down for a minute as if searching for words, her gaze shifting, but in the end she doesn't say anything.

It's early for her to be up and dressed. The hall light silhouettes her, backlighting her too much for Simon to see the redness of her eyes, but her shoulders are slumped, and her fingers twitch restlessly.

[simon_doctor]

Something's clearly wrong.

He slides out of bed (careful not to wake Kaylee), reaches for his shirt, and moves silently across the room to River.

[river_meimei]

River looks past him at Kaylee, who mumbles something and subsides into the pillow, and then up at her brother's face.

She can't hold his eyes for long, or doesn't want to try.

[simon_doctor]

He puts a hand on her shoulder.

"River, look at me. What's wrong?"

[river_meimei]

Obediently, she tips her face up, and meets his eyes.

"Everything's in circles."

She's not crying, but unshed tears are heavy in her voice, making it waver.

[simon_doctor]

"I don't understand."

He's starting to be uneasy, now, but keeps it out of his voice as best he can.

"Tell me what's happened, meimei."

[river_meimei]

River glances at Kaylee again, and takes half a step back -- not retreating from Simon so much as moving them both out into the hallway. Kaylee's still asleep.

"Wash has to go away," she says, and then her face crumples.

[simon_doctor]

(we're not going anywhere)




"...what?"

[river_meimei]

One arm wrapped around her stomach, fisting in her shirt; the other hanging stiff with stress, her fingers working. "Not forever."

"She's there and -- limited duration." She's crying now; she may or may not have noticed that fact. "Inherent."

[simon_doctor]

"River--"

Simon takes her arm gently and steers them both to the nearby couch; spends a few seconds sitting her down, digging out a handkerchief for her.

Finally, quietly: "Tell me again. Start at the beginning.

"What's going on."

[river_meimei]

"Reclamation." Dully. She's slumped against the back of the couch, fingers twisting around the handkerchief. (It's white. Linen.)

"After-dinner conversation with the Lady."

[simon_doctor]

"..."

There's only one person River refers to as the Lady, in that tone of voice.

"Tianna."

[river_meimei]

"He'll come back," River says fiercely, jerking up straighter.

There's a hint of pleading underneath, and tears still swimming in her eyes: tell me I'm not lying. Please.

"Circle the line and dot it. Limited duration. It's philosophical consensus of the human condition."

[simon_doctor]

He remembers Wash talking about the time he spent in Death's realm, last year.

It was ... no, it wasn't funny at the time either. But they were able to pretend it was.

"When?"

[river_meimei]

River closes her eyes. Another tear trickles down.

(It's not going to be sudden. Not like last time.)

"Soon."

[simon_doctor]

He reaches to brush away the tear, to tuck her hair out of her face.

"Do we know how soon?"

[river_meimei]

River nods, a little.

[simon_doctor]

"Tell me."

[river_meimei]

River's face twists briefly, before she opens her eyes again to stare tearily at (or through) Simon's forearm.

"Four days."

"The numerology is traditionally formulated," and on that sentence her voice twists away from her too.

[simon_doctor]

... four days.

Four days?

"How is that even --"

Simon's not aware that he's shaking his head, a tiny unconscious motion, no and no and no.

[river_meimei]

River flinches.

Not really away from Simon.

[simon_doctor]

He swallows.

"Where is he?"

[river_meimei]

"It was bedtime," River mutters, after a minute.

"Clocks chime. You can't hear them."

[simon_doctor]

He leans forward.

"River, please. Do you know where Wash is now?"

[river_meimei]

River shakes her head. Rakes her hair back with one hand, messily, and shakes her head again.

Another tear spills over, and she sniffles for breath. Muttered, "I'll look."

[simon_doctor]

"It's okay. Meimei, it's okay, I'll look for him."

He touches her shoulder. "Have you slept at all?"

[river_meimei]

River gives him a Look.

[simon_doctor]

Which gets a small, almost involuntary smile.

"...all right. I ... I'll see you at breakfast, then?"

[river_meimei]

River nods.

Swallows. Whispered, "It's an accord."

[simon_doctor]

"Good."

He gives her a quick hug, stands up, and starts for the stairs.

By the time he reaches the upper level, the smile's completely gone.