(no subject)

[river_meimei]

River sits in the copilot's chair, staring at the blank impassive screen. It's switched off, even the brief WAVE DISCONNECTED light dark now. Around her, the ship is silent, but for the hum of the distant engine.

She doesn't look to see if there's a log of that call.






After several minutes, she reaches for the controls again. A few quick taps connect her to the Cortex, and bounce the signal through the appropriate buffers; this call is outgoing, to a number she doesn't need to look up.

Comments

[river_meimei]

"Said to wave."

What River knows, or doesn't know, is often hard to tell. There's gentleness in her gaze, when the exasperation fades again -- but then again, she likes Crowley, and he's looking pretty clearly exhausted anyway.

(And this is a wave.)

"I did," she adds earnestly, and unnecessarily.

[aj_crawley]

"I can tell," he replies, something honest tugging at the corner of his mouth.


"Swing by sometime, and you can buy me one in person."

[river_meimei]

River makes a face at him.

It is a face that clearly says that beer is gross, and she is too young to drink (even though she technically isn't), and Crowley can buy his own beer.

(She might buy him terrifying fruit juice.)

[aj_crawley]

"Alright," he says, looking away and raising his hands, palms outwards. "Was worth a shot, anyway."

[river_meimei]

River studies him.

"I'll pick a surprise," she says.

Instead of beer.

[aj_crawley]

His eyes flick back up to River's face. After a moment:

"Something that's actually meant for drinking," he warns.

[river_meimei]

River heaves a dramatic, and entirely fake, sigh.

"You're very picky."

[aj_crawley]

"Well," he says, lowering his hands before one comes back up to scratch at the back of his neck. "Comes from tasting more than a few things that aren't meant for drinking."

[river_meimei]

"I promise."

It's meant to sound mock-grudging; it doesn't, quite.

[aj_crawley]

"Too kind," Crowley replies, creakily inclining his head.

It's meant to sound mock-grateful; one out of two isn't bad.

[river_meimei]

I know, River would probably say, smugly, at some other time.

Instead: "I'm very generous," she says, and it's teasing, except that the concern and fondness both still lurk underneath.

[aj_crawley]

There's a quiet cracking sound as Crowley rolls his shoulders, after which (swallowing a tiny yawn) he leans sideways, against the corner where the Cortex hub is set deep in the wall.

He looks at River, long and considering.


"You actually make it in to buy it, maybe I'll tell you why you're supposed to be doing it."

[river_meimei]

"I will."

After a moment, she smiles, just a little.

(I'm one of the ones)

[aj_crawley]

"Uh-oh," Crowley says, cracking a grin.

(Cracking: a good word for it.)

"Then I should probably make up something interesting to make it worth your while."

Maybe. Maybe not.

It might be... good. A good thing.

Maybe he wants to.

[river_meimei]

River sticks her tongue out at him.

Amicably.