(no subject)

[river_meimei]

The rafters have a few advantages.

They're comfortable, for one thing! (If you're River Tam.) And interesting. And sometimes you find candy. And they provide a fun change of perspective.

And sometimes they're a good way to find people.

Comments

[river_meimei]

River's grin flashes, and as always it changes the whole look of her face. "It's a deal."

[nita_callahan]

It's infectious; Nita grins right back.

"C'mon up, then."

Room 63 is conveniently nearby, on the first floor up. Peach doesn't live in there anymore, but the furniture shows signs that she once did. Technically Nita doesn't live here at the moment, either, but there's some detritus on the desk -- papers, pens, a couple of books -- that suggests she's been up here recently.

There's also garlic hanging over the door.

"Should I soundproof the door?" Nita asks, as she shuts it behind them.

[river_meimei]

"It's a safeguard."

So that's a 'yes, if you would be so kind.'

[nita_callahan]

Nodding, she lays a hand on the door.

"Hi. Could you do me a favor? I need you to not let any sound out of this room for a while. If you could have a word with the walls as well, that'd be great. I'll let you know when you can go back to normal." She hesitates, then adds, "And please don't let anything in, either. No mist, no sound. No shadows, if you can." Another pause. "Thank you. No, that's fine, thanks."

[river_meimei]

"I'm a messenger," River says softly, when Nita's turned back to her.

She's watching the door with some interest, but it's absent; her focus is on Nita, even if her eyes aren't.

[nita_callahan]

Equally soft: "From who?"

[river_meimei]

Oh right, says River's face, she has to say that part aloud.

"Puck."

[nita_callahan]

Nita straightens up.

"What kind of trouble is he in?"

[river_meimei]

"He's a doofus."

This is at least partly affectionate, though.

...Also exasperated. But that's not wholly at Puck.

"Build a lattice in the quasi-legal framework."

[nita_callahan]

She groans.

"Oh, God. Doofus is too kind."

[river_meimei]

River is a kind soul!

Um.

"Can't talk. It's an oppositional course."

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah, we -- Havelock and I were getting that sense."

[river_meimei]

"Exactly."

[nita_callahan]

"He's bound some way, right? Did he manage to tell you how?"

[river_meimei]

"Got a deal. Reciprocal obligation is in the foundations -- keeps the walls up."

[nita_callahan]

She frowns. "What's Puck getting out of it?"

[river_meimei]

"He's okay."

Beat.

"You are. Too. Services rendered are the chronological roadmap."

"Pick a card, the house falls down."

River's fingers shift against the air in small, irregular motions, and her body is held a little too tightly with effort. Communicating clearly is hard, and she's never completely sure if she's managing.

[nita_callahan]

"So he's doing something in exchange for not getting hurt."

A chronological roadmap--

"And there's a time limit?"

[river_meimei]

River's chin moves up slightly at the first comment -- and, after an uncertain pause, tentatively sideways at the second.

"Call it the results."

[nita_callahan]

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite follow that."

She sounds sincerely apologetic. This obviously isn't easy for River, and Nita gets the sense that asking for clarification makes it harder. But she's got to understand this as clearly as she can.

[river_meimei]

River breathes in, and tries again.

(If she's frustrated, it's not by Nita. And it's a frustration she's very used to.)

"It's a variable. Time's not relevant."

[nita_callahan]

She replays the last few lines of the conversation.

"--Oh! You mean Puck's released when he finishes whatever he's doing for the other party?"

[river_meimei]

River's eyes had skidded away, midway through that sentence; they return at the end, and she hesitates for a second. (Getting her bearings, perhaps.)

Then she nods firmly.

[nita_callahan]

Nita gives her a quick, triumphant smile before sobering.

"Did he manage to tell you what exactly he's doing? What the task is?"

[river_meimei]

River hesitates again, and for longer.

Communication with River is an uncertain science in all sorts of ways, and that's even more true of her conversation with Puck than of this one with Nita.

"Time to go to ground," she says, half a question.