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[retrorsum]

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text.

[oddbod]

They took Jim.

[And Frank, and Bobbie, all in the last week, but Jim...

She really wanted to save him.]

[retrorsum]

( jim. jim. it takes her a moment to place the name, she's rubbish with them unless she cares about the person but she's got a slight reference. clara.

shit. the man they were talking about before, the man she'd encouraged and cautioned clara about regarding her feelings. and now-- )

Where are you?

[oddbod]

[She's hesitant, for a second; she didn't contact River because she needs company, or some kind of empty consolation. This is about the people who need saving, not the lonely person they left behind.]

Observation deck.

[Dammit.]

[retrorsum]

( river is terrible with loss and grief, though the emptiness that it leaves behind is something very familiar to her. comfort and kindness are different, though -- they're feelìngs that she has very rarely been on the receiving end of, especially when she hides everything, but giving it--

coming to clara is probably a really bad idea. she's messed up every conversation that they've previously had but she has to try and hopefully not make clara feel any worse.

she's brought a bottle of alcohol with her, filling one of the glasses as she walks on to the obseevation deck )

You'll find him again.

( river offers it out as she gets closer, trying for hope rather than comfort. hope could be comforting, right? and river did hope that they'd find him )

[oddbod]

[Clara reaches for the glass, barely turning her attention towards River. Her face is still and bleak, utterly worn, and the checked pajama pants bagging around house shoes is nearly as unkempt as the woman gets.]

He's dead, back home. Properly dead. [One sip of the disgusting liquor. She barely wrinkles her nose, this time.] I said I'd take him with me when we got out, if he wanted.

[It's not meant to stir up sympathies. If anything, it's evidence of her own foolishness. Proof that her skin isn't near thick enough for this terrible, infinite life she's acquired.]

[retrorsum]

( ouch. and now a little more of what clara had said but not wanted to say made sense. she was dead, he was dead... they had something in common and that loss now, knowing that if he wasn't here he'd be dead )

I don't believe that he's gone.

( it wasn't simply hope, at least that's what river would say. they may have been able to bring them in but calibrating their return back... unless you were familiar with timey wimey mechanics was difficult. even the doctor got it very wrong. she didn't believe anyone in this century had it better )

We're still locked out of a great portion of the station, there's also the planet. ( river's pouring herself a drink as she speaks ) I wouldn't count him out yet.

[oddbod]

[That had certainly been part of their bond, the distinct sort of loss that came from being the one who'd died, the one who'd left everyone to mourn. His sudden absence hurts more than she wants it to, for what little time they had together.]

I know. [There are so many places he could be, even within their reach. So why does this feel so overwhelming? Why does she feel utterly lost right now?] And I'm trying to believe he's okay, but-

[But it's bigger than him. Bigger even than the others, than Frank and Alex and Amos and Bobbie. Because this isn't going to stop, she's realizing. People are always going to be taken from her, whether it's by time or by peril, and she can't do a damn thing.]

... I shouldn't have gotten close to him. I can't keep doing that.

Fasti - letter

[ex_one_shot695]

[A note is found slipped under the door of River's room the next time she returns:]

I talked to Adam, and he's interested in the idea. Let's see what you can do. Stop by the clinic. Adam will leave a list of merchants and things he needs for the clinic, along with some money for the purchases. I hope you can bargain for more than just perfume.

- Frank

fasti: action

[wolfofdunwall]

[ he made a mistake.

or, no, it was something deeper than a mistake. was a step back into the man he used to be (the man he still in many ways is; the man he may never entirely escape), and it was so easy. worrisome, as well.

whatever the case, the woman hadn't deserved his snide treatment. not after sharing a secret that obviously held meaning for her. and while river has been a persistent pest, daud hadn't exactly been reciprocal in his demands for information. at all.

so he owes her. if anyone owes anything... yes. he needs to speak to her.

which is why he approaches her room that same night, bottle of liquor in hand. which is why he knocks on the door - three sharp raps - and waits, expression unreadable. ]

[retrorsum]

( she's not expecting anyone which, given her state of semi-undress as river opens the door, may be why she's a little annoyed at the interruption. when she sees that it's daud that is the cause of it--

well, not best pleased is a little bit of an understatement in this case )

What are you doing here?

( it's almost hissed, river keeping herself between the door and frame, not giving him any room to look past her. though she suspects that her almost nudity will keep his eyes averted enough as it is )

[wolfofdunwall]

[ he gives her just enough of a scan to note the state she’s in,then fixes his gaze on her eyes, managing not to shake his head. of course she’d be half-dressed right now, looking put out for whatever reason. of course this couldn’t be easy.

(she doesn’t want him looking into the room. that means something; he’s not certain what.)

he adjusts his hold on the bottle, cocks his head slightly. ]

Is this a bad time.

[retrorsum]

( her stare his icy. of course. of course he couldn't take a hint. not that being almost naked or hiding your room may mean too much but it would certainly imply that this was a bad time.

also he didn't answer the question. just a tiny bit annoying also )

Why are you here?

[wolfofdunwall]

I wanted to speak with you.

[ 'about—' he should continue. he knows he should continue, but the words catch in his throat at the sight of her irritation. he hadn't come here to be warded off, treated like some bother. she ought to listen, she ought to be grateful he's—

he's doing it again. by the fucking void, he's doing it again.

daud looks away, takes a breath. ]

If you have a moment.

[retrorsum]

( she debates. she debates pushing, getting an answer out of him or even insisting that she doesn't have time. but river isn't rude -- or at least not currently )

Give me five minutes.

( she ducks back into themroom, closing the door behind her. if he's listening he might hear a muted conversation before, a few minutes later, river emerges clothed again, the door closing quickly behind her as she leaves, starts walking towards the outside )

Come on.

( she hoped this was important )

deer; text

[oddbod]

Are you getting restless yet?

[retrorsum]

Try weeks ago.

( she's almost as bad as the doctor )

[oddbod]

At least I felt useful the first few days.

[Testing berries for people to see if they were poisonous turned out to be a lucrative investment to the little camp.]

If I had my bike, I would have tried to leave already.

[retrorsum]

We could walk.

[oddbod]

I'll meet you by the wood pile.

[retrorsum]

( excellent. time to wait and... hope their conversation/investigation doesn't get weird.

this time.

maybe )

Clara.

( she'll start friendly )

Action lmk if this works for you!

[justkind]

[ He's late.

Only a bit. He's not used to fussing over his appearance like it matters; it takes longer than he expected to tame his curls, and smooth most of the wrinkles out of his clothes. (He's accumulated more than the outfit he turned up in, by now, but - well, he wants to feel as much like himself as he can, with her.)

Then he has to find the cafe. He hasn't actually roamed the Up very much, because it means having to put his collar on. (Its sheer existence is bad enough, but of course it's a very particular shade of purple.) So that's a little more wasted time, that he can't even track properly because the city is still blurring his senses.

By the time he stomps inside, he's deeply aggravated - with himself, with Duplicity, with Time itself. With River for pretending she didn't know him, for getting ensnared by this hideous place and making him feel even more helpless.

It melts away the moment he sees her sitting there. Not an echo, not an illusion, not a memory. ]

Hello, sweetie.

<3

[retrorsum]

( she'd left her diary at home, and whilst it would have been a lovely piece of literature to read whilst she was sat there it was particularly more complicated now with multiple doctor's there. too dangerous.

besides, she had lied and told him she didn't have it. oops?

but there's enough to see as she sits and waits for him, knowing when he turns up without having to check that he's late. it's him, of course he's late )

Now just what time do you call this?

( though it's a little fonder than a real admonishment, her smiling as she sees him and-- )

Did you--? ( she's got to stand up now to get a better look ) You did. Oh, for me? You romantic.

( she's absolutely talking about the hair. she knows effort when she sees it )

[justkind]

Tell no one. [ The stern tone is just a little undermined by the downright giddy smile on his face, by the way he dips his head.

It's one thing, for her to say she knows him after all. It's another to really experience it.

He raises his left hand, and the gemstone of his ring catches the sunlight as he reaches for her, both awkwardly cautious and desperately yearning.

It's been so, so long. ]

[retrorsum]

( her hand easily slips into his, a smile that's more of a promise than anything else. the secret of his hair is safe, the gesture tucked between her hearts, loved )

So, where shall we start first? I've heard rumours about some of the shops here that would have made bow tie blush.

( of course she's nicknamed them. she's met so many, got to keep them straight )

[justkind]

As though you'd need the help. [ He says it with a smirk, but his hand tightens in hers and his gaze is desperately tender. ] So, you want to see what it takes for this face?

[ He could just ask if she's seen him blush before, as he suspects, but he knows she won't say. She's infuriatingly good at keeping the important secrets. ]