river_meimei | (no subject)

(no subject)

The room is tidy and cozy, walls and ceiling a very pale tan, with a thick green carpet covering the floor. A few pieces of exquisite Chinese calligraphy hang on the walls in simple wood frames -- "Peace," and "Love," and a poem about stillness and ponds at the heart of a forest -- and a delicate screen stands in one corner. The beds are tucked into niches in the walls, and in the center of the room is a low table with a small lamp, and a huge comfortable couch.

Simon unlocks the door and opens it, only vaguely noticing the decor. He leads River across the room to one of the beds, and gently pushes her to sit down on it, sitting beside her with an arm still around her shoulders. She follows obediently and silently, like a tired child, and when they sit her hands fall limply into her lap as she leans into him.

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It is a measure of Simon's sudden exhaustion that it takes him nearly half a minute to notice Ted's rapidly expanding-and-contracting pupils.

When he does, he sits up sharply, and pulls River a little away from Ted's hand in an unconscious gesture.

"Sir, are you...?"

"Fine," says Ted absently. "It's part of it."

(rest now you're safe peace)

River does not even startle at Simon's sudden movement, though almost any other times she would. The adrenaline of pure terror has all drained away now, with Ted's help, and so she just relaxes bonelessly and rather sleepily against Simon.

"What ... exactly is it you're doing?"

He keeps his voice down. And calm, though that's harder, especially with the drained exhaustion slowly settling on his shoulders.

Absently: "Soothing her. Some images, but more feelings. Of safety."

River says nothing. Her breathing is deep and even, now, instead of panicky gasps, and her eyes drift closed and blink open slowly as she rests her head on her brother's shoulder. The mouse makes its way across her knee, and curls up in the palm of one hand; River shifts a fraction of an inch to make it more comfortable, and then both hands are motionless.

He looks down at River, and though the questions of what and how do not go away, they sink quietly down to a lower priority: whatever this man is doing, it's working.

There is peace in his sister's face, and a feeling of safety in this quiet room, and for now that may be enough.

"Thank you."

Equally quiet: "I'm glad to help."

Experimentally Ted takes his hand away from River's shoulder and waits to see her reaction. If she needs more help, he'll give it to her.

River's shoulders hunch, just a little, and her hands curl a little around the mouse. But her face stays relaxed, and she is still half-asleep on Simon's shoulder.

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