River Tam (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
river_meimei) wrote2007-08-16 01:36 am
river_meimei) wrote2007-08-16 01:36 am
Galadan-River, shortly after Galadan-Gabriel
There are three places River spends most of her time nowadays: Serenity, the lake and forest of Milliways, and her father's hospital room.
Only one of them is free of grief and guilt and strain. Free except for what she might bring, of course. It's that one she's in now: curled on a rock set a few feet into the lake, damp bare feet tucked under her skirt. Her boots wait on the shore, haphazard and abandoned.
Only one of them is free of grief and guilt and strain. Free except for what she might bring, of course. It's that one she's in now: curled on a rock set a few feet into the lake, damp bare feet tucked under her skirt. Her boots wait on the shore, haphazard and abandoned.
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Most of them are a good deal less personal than the burdens River carries.
Save, perhaps, for a bare few.
"River."
He is standing on the shore, by her boots, waiting.
Some places it is wiser not to intrude, if it can be helped.
The Wolflord knows that well enough.
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A breath passes before her head turns, but when it does she meets Galadan's wintery eyes.
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Galadan often begins as he means to go on.
When he can afford that choice.
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"Lucifer," she says softly, and her eyes don't drop.
"It's a name."
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Galadan has his own opinions on the subject--though that is all they are.
For the moment.
"Your father tells me he has a particular interest in you."
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"Got an interest in everybody. Fingers in the dumplings."
That's not a no.
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Galadan does not raise his voice at all.
"Are you certain it's not more than that?"
Her father seemed to think it was. Is.
Could be.
Galadan would rather know for sure.
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There's a rare focus there: distant, weighing. Self-contained.
She says nothing, not yet.
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"I know what I would have done, were this a scant few months ago."
River knows, too, most likely.
He has taken few pains to hide it, after all.
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A statement, or a question.
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He sounds certain of that.
"Should you prefer to be sure?"
There is an invitation there, strange as it may seem.
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And then, "He's Lucifer."
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"And I am the Wolflord."
And, very carefully, he cracks open his shield.
It is entirely possible that he is not always sure of himself.
Redemption, such as it may be, is rarely a straight and short path.
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What River sees, she doesn't say -- but, then, that's nothing new.
"Yes," she says finally.
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He is once more entirely self-contained, no stray wisp of thought snaking into the ether for her to read.
"Will you?"
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Soberly again, "Timelines are a complication."
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"And there?"
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Then, "We haven't met."
"Did. It's in the nature of linear progression. The tenses are inherently flawed."
"I don't know."
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One that will, doubtless, be difficult to take entirely into account.
Fortunately Galadan has always enjoyed a challenge.
"You will tell me, should you find out?"
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Beat.
Her eyes flick up to Galadan's. "I'll remember."
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"And so will I."
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There are many things Galadan takes no pains to hide.
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He regards her in silence for a moment or two.
Waiting, perhaps.
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Some of the distance is gone from her regard; the scrutiny isn't, entirely.
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After another few moments, one corner of his mouth curves in the barest of smiles.