Totally actually in Milliways

[river_meimei]

River's lying on her back on a table, her feet against the wall. She's watching the room upside-down.

It's very comfortable.

Apparently.

Comments

[howling_laugh]

"You are almost as cryptic as Raven sometimes, sweet River. It pleases me that you have friends, but how should I remember them, even when they are not?"

Perhaps she is being thick on purpose. Hard to say.

[river_meimei]

River looks up at her.

This look -- this moment -- her focus is clear and direct, and right on Coyote. (Or, perhaps, right through Coyote.)

Softly, "Don't you?"

[howling_laugh]

There is a woman sitting across from her again. Something about that look makes Coyote tilt her chin up and meet River's gaze head on.

"I do not currently congress with the dead." Her last ghost rarely shows himself, and she is fine with ignoring him.

Anything else is not worth mentioning.

[river_meimei]

"Everybody does."

This is distant, and almost gentle. You'd never know she was talking to a being thousands of years older than her; if anything, you'd think she was talking to herself, or the empty air.

[howling_laugh]

"Do you, then?" It's a snap now, Coyote's mood swiftly changing to sullen.

[river_meimei]

Seriously, "Yes."

[howling_laugh]

"Tell me."

[river_meimei]

"I remember."

River sits up in a slow, smooth motion, and tucks her legs underneath herself. Her gaze slips distant again; her voice, too.

"All of them." Soft. "Gone to the Lady, but they're not. Inside her."

Beat.

"Got an elevator," she adds, with another glance at Coyote.

[howling_laugh]

Coyote stands, slamming her hands down on the table and staring at River.

"You saw her?"

[river_meimei]

River doesn't flinch; just looks a little startled.

Yes, says her face, of course, what did you think we were talking about?, even before she nods.

[howling_laugh]

Coyote had by now, convinced herself it was a dream.

She tears herself away from the table and heads quickly toward the door.

[river_meimei]

River starts to lift a hand, worried and bewildered --



and then her eyes drop abruptly, and her face shadows, and her hand falls slowly to her lap.

"Everybody does," she says, low and a little choked, to no one.