003 ܀ video ܀ unfiltered

[learneditall]

[The girl staring at the crystal is silent for a moment. She's not actually staring at the crystal, of course, but rather sort of... through it at nothingness that happens to be in the proper direction. There's something very muddled and mildly afraid about the way she's holding her shoulders. It's clear she wants to speak, and also clear that her

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AUDIO ||

[lightning_fists]

[ Because she's one of the few Tifa's met here and the first that she's heard from since the end of the battle. ] River?

[ Do you hear that bit of maternal concern? Good, because you're meant to. ]

AUDIO ||

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[It take a moment before there's a sigh of recognition.]

I didn't mean to.

AUDIO ||

[lightning_fists]

[ And in that moment, Tifa's left waiting in anticipation and scared shit-less; don't keep mommy waiting to hear if you're ok.

Isn't sure what the other's talking about, but those string of words have never meant anything good in Tifa's experience. All the same, prodding about it will only make matters worse, she thinks. So we're going for the soothing approach. ] It's ok... [ And she has to stop herself from using any terms of endearment because they haven't known each other for long and River's not exactly a little girl... physically, anyways. ] ...as long as you're not hurt.

AUDIO ||

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[Oh good, because the little monster is pretty eager to be soothed. The reward is one of those calm little sighs that children make when someone smooths their hair after a nightmare.]

I'm not. It's just...

[How to describe the crushing feeling that's lingering over her brain that the missing chunk of time was time spent slaughtering? A slight whimper? Yes, that's it.]

AUDIO || *really needs to finish that log with you, huh?*

[lightning_fists]

[ That works, because Tifa's pretty ready to do some soothing. She's been in care-taker mode since the beginning of the battle, with a dash of fight in there for those who just had to make it difficult for her to pull out the weakened and recovering. So you'll forgive her for sighing in relief when the words 'I'm not' finally register. She can deal with the rest one step at a time as long as those words are strung in there.

The whimper, though? Is completely breaking her heart and she can't really stand by and let it continue. ] ...Where are you?

AUDIO || *h-has faith it'll happen*

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[A moment of tired consideration and the light tap of River's fingers against the crystal.]

...under.

[By which she means under her bed because she can't actually crawl into her brother's as he hasn't got one here to crawl into as he's just a memory of a person who would understand. But, from River's unguarded tone, she's willing to give Tifa a shot at understanding properly as well.]

Just in case.

AUDIO || *i-is working on a reply to it now*

[lightning_fists]

[ But they're on audio, so there's no way Tifa could discern 'under the bed' from just one word. She would think it was oh so endearing and cute if they were... and will just as soon as she decides to switch to Video mode.

Glances around at her own living quarters, wondering still how she got there, but settles that there'll probably be a lot of popping around if the trend continues. Sigh. The gods are cruel to its minions no matter what side you're on. ] Are you in your room?

AUDIO || *tiny grabby hands at momma-bear*

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Duì.

[A slight pause, and then a slightly guilty tone.]

But I didn't lock the door.

AUDIO || slfkjaslfjsldjf - come to mommy, baby-bear ;w;

[lightning_fists]

[ Perfect. Now it's only a matter of finding her room amongst the hundred of others. Can you feel Tifa smiling at the helpless amusement? Can you?

This part's said mostly to herself, but since it's pretty quiet in their collective rooms and they're on audio only... feel free to have River overhear. ] How will I know which one's yours...?

AUDIO || no you come under the bed into our fort D:

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[Of course she can. River is a genius. Besides, hearing people's faces is a very useful battle skill.

The tone shifts in a split second--doesn't it always?--from childishly brooding to completely impetuous.]

It's the one I'm in.

AUDIO || ...yes, honey. forts are much more safe. ♥

[lightning_fists]

[ ...And pardon me for a second while the mun laughs at how childishly endearing that was. Like a whiny brat of cute what has just scrapped their knee and needs mommy kisses. Tifa, on the other hand, is taken back a moment due to not realizing River could hear her.

Let's see how well this goes. ] Yes, of course. Obviously.

[ River's good hearing will, then, probably pick up footsteps and a doorknob being turned. And then the sounds shift to being slightly more echo-y as Tifa starts down the long hallways in search. See what mommy does for you? ]

AUDIO || but also hugs. DDD: *resumes grabby hands*

[learneditall]

[It comes with the territory of having a mind like trail mix--every bite is delicious, but sometimes there's a raisin when you're expecting a chocolat chip.

Like now, for instance, as River's voice melts into a more introspective tone.]

She used to be very good at hiding, before. It's not as easy now. Not like this. Only... only when she's been very bad.

AUDIO || hugs come with the package, sweetie, mommy's on her way

[lightning_fists]

[ She can only hope that the slightly crisper sound in the transmission meant that she was getting closer to the source. Who was sure how exactly these crystals worked, anyways? Certainly not her, this would've been Cid's department if he were here.

All the same, she wants to keep River calm enough until she got there. So this is Tifa playing along as if she understood what all that actually meant. ] But if she were too good, I wouldn't be able to find her.

AUDIO || *sitsstays like a good girl*

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...sometimes, that's better.

[Perhaps the crisper audio will allow the quiet sound of River gnawing her lip to travel, then.]

You wouldn't always like her.

AUDIO || *pets the good girl*

[lightning_fists]

[ The footsteps stop suddenly and Tifa has to think about what to say next. From what little of River she's seen, there's plenty of room for chaos and confusion for anyone to handle. But underneath it all, River is still a young and vulnerable girl, one who, sometimes, needs help. And that's all that really matters. ] But... I like her now.

AUDIO || :3

[learneditall]

[There's a rather extended silence. River is probably still breathing, but it's the slow quiet breathing that comes with years of learning how to be silent.]

...my door is a sort of... brownish colour.