(no subject)

[river_meimei]

This city's never fully dark. There's no star-spangled black in this sky, not even the close second-best that a clear atmosphere sometimes arches overhead; here the light pollution is ubiquitous, and the sky's a hazy humid grey under sulfurous street-lamps.

But it's night. Night, and growing later.

When there's nowhere else to go, you keep

(flying)

running. One step behind, one step ahead.

River's looking for something. A key, a rose, a door.

But here, in the city that (as they proudly say) never sleeps, it's anyone's guess what she might find. And what she won't.

Comments

[river_meimei]

River's eyes flick sharply to him.

[stilljustandrew]

*Over the phone, Andrew's voice is now exasperated.*

So how have you not figured out yet that anytime you say 'not now' to somebody twice in succession, it's always important?

[bloodandnicotine]

"I don't listen to the dialogue." Spike says, while making what he hopes is a placating, non-nunchuck-using, please-don't-run-away-I'll-be- done-with-the-nonsense-babbling-bloke-in-a-minute face.

"Wait. I don't know what you're talking about," he says to Andrew. He looks at the girl. "I don't know what you're talking about." He hands her the phone. "You're perfect for each other."

[river_meimei]

River catches the phone on unthinking impulse, staring at Spike.

"Your conclusions are fallacious," she says blankly, over the top of the phone more than into it.

[stilljustandrew]

...

*There's a rather startled pause.*

Um.

Hi.

Who's this?

[river_meimei]

Beat.

And then River's eyes widen, and she jerks the phone up to her ear.

"Andrew."

Her voice is strained and tight -- with stress, with urgency, and maybe with suppressed hope.

"The teeth ate the doors. All the intervals. I need an exit."

[stilljustandrew]

*Beat.*

*Incredulous:* River?

[bloodandnicotine]

"You know him?"

Andrew obviously had a more interesting social life than Spike thought.

[river_meimei]

"She's not supposed to be here."

Her eyes are fixed on Spike, fierce and desperate, but it's the phone she's talking into.

"City's wrong. It's a twin but they cut the umbilical cord."

[stilljustandrew]

Okay, River -- you can trust Spike, okay? He's a friend of mine. I'm gonna ask him to bring you here, and then I'll try and take you through to Milliways. Okay?

[river_meimei]

River's jaw tightens, and she sucks in a quick breath.

She doesn't answer, but she shoves the phone at Spike. The gesture is sudden, swift and almost fierce, and in nearly the same motion she slips the crossbow bolt into her coat pocket.

[bloodandnicotine]

Something just happened. Spike puts the phone to his ear as if it might bite.

"Yeah?" he says cautiously.

[stilljustandrew]

I'm heading home. Bring River and meet me there.

*Andrew doesn't get that clipped businesslike tone often.*

I don't know how she got here, but that can wait.

[bloodandnicotine]

Spike grins at River -- nice name -- across the handset. "Doesn't strike me as the sort of bint you bring anywhere unless she wants to come, mate. But I'll try."

He flips the phone shut and drops it in his pocket and then, in a parody of the manners of his human days -- offers her his arm. "May I walk you home?"

[river_meimei]

River blinks at him.

And then -- sudden, lopsided, and a little private -- there's a smile.

"Okay," she says very seriously, and steps forward. She doesn't take his arm, but she does move within reach for the first time, letting Spike lead the way.