realityshiftyed application
Character: River Song
Series/Fandom: Doctor Who
Deviance: None, pulled directly from the Data Core. Much like those from within episode restored at the end, her physical body is saved as a data signature that is utilized whenever she visits the Plane.
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Canon Used: Pulled directly from the Silence in the Library and the Forest of the Dead
Appearance: Trim and fit, with short, well kept nails that are required in her profession. Nothing that will hurt or damage any of her work. There is often dirt and dust underneath them, something in her quiet moments River might reflect over. Everything about her physical presence suggests activity, and she rarely wears cosmetics of any kind other than lip balm or facial moisturizer -- a shield against the harsher elements she works in. River very rarely 'dresses up', much more comfortable in her work clothing. However when the situation requires it? A department fundraiser, or presentation -- she cleans up quite well.
All of this is topped off with a riot of ginger hair. Long, she is most likely seen with it pulled back from her head, or in slightly unkempt braids around her face. She really can't be bothered with it, and it is much more conducive to work that way. Yet she is oddly vain about it as well. During one of her early interactions with the Doctor, at the age of 19, they had an exchange about ginger hair. Since then, River became determined to hold on with it. Secretly, because she thinks in some way it might please him. Publicly she claims because, on record, it is something he wants that she has. She is known to comment on it.
The night they visited the Towers, River wore her hair down.
She is hardly ever seen without her diary.
Psychology: River song is an extremely intelligent individual. Very much her father's daughter, she was raised in an environment where that intellect was valued and encouraged. To the point that she can sometimes seem smug to those that do not know her, and even those that do.
Despite this, she is an excellent teacher. A believer of the hands-on approach, her lectures are famous within her university, and there is often a waiting list for her classes. Very few of the excursions are ever planned, or on the syllabus. Classes will merely find themselves whisked to a location, and the lesson for the day presented. She enjoys seeing how her students respond, and how they learn and accepts failure as part of the path to success. Even if she does not deal well with her own failures. All this stemming from her own sense of adventure that was only enhanced by her experiences with the Doctor.
Anita was one of hers. Her students that she watched learn, and grow -- and was a particular favorite.
Though traveling with the Doctor on a great many adventures in the TARDIS (including the end of the Universe) she is never what might be called an active companion. He only asked her three times to formally travel with him, and each time River refused. She valued her freedom far too much, as well as her career. She has her own things she wishes to know, and see, and be.
River knows very well that she cannot be everything to the Doctor, but she in turn refuses to allow him to be everything to her.
Other Skills/Abilities: River Song minored in electrical engineering, and she is highly adept at working with the various electrical equipment that her career choice requires. She is also excellent shot, something that is a bone of contention between her and the Doctor. She removed Jack's old gun from the TARDIS without the the Doctor's knowledge or permission. She also throws one vicious right hook.
Other Weaknesses: Extremely stubborn, River has difficulty altering her decisions even once she knows they might not have been the best ones. Also, ultimately, River is human. She can die by any number of the traditional ways, though that never causes her to be overly cautious. She throws herself headlong into any number of life threatening situations, often without consideration to her physical self. Despite that she's been remarkably lucky. Cuts, scrapes and bruises are some of the worst she's encountered, aside from two major bouts of illness.
History: River grew up something of a 'tom boy', though she is comfortable enough interacting with box sexes(and androids) and has many dear female friends that she maintains contact with through the years. Her mother died when she was young, and so it fell to her father to raise her. An anthropologist, they debate would often ensue as she grew older of what shaped the other. The body or the environment. Her three best friends at university were male, and it was through them that she learned many of her more colorful phrases. One of them, Peter, introduced her to Lux.
Her interactions with the Doctor began when she was thirteen. After that a series of out of order adventures followed that included a picnic at Asgard, being present for the crash of the Byzantium, traveling to the end of the Universe, a visit to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, and a visit to the Singing Towers of Darillium. Oh yes, and he missed her college graduation. She never quite forgives him for that.
An trip on the TARDIS gone astray is what initially forced River an the Doctor to marry in the local custom. Somehow, instead of immediately finding a way dissolve the union, marriage initially becomes another lark --another adventure between them. They tease about being domestic, something neither ever envisioned for themselves. 'Is this what a husband does, what a wife does?' It is a subject of much laughter, and they never manage to unmarry themselves to the other.
River eventually purchases a cottage near the ocean, separate from her university lodgings. Sometimes she stays there on her own, and the Doctor visits by himself in his own time as well. Sometimes, they are together.
It is on one of those nights, when he would like to pretend River sleeping, he whispers his true name to her -- making the marriage that much more real. But he knows that she is awake, and that she will remember.
She does.
The night they visit the Towers together, he gives her his screwdriver. He does not let he see he is crying, instead she feels the wet in her hair, where he holds her from behind -- listening to the song of the tower together.
Following the night at the Towers, River proceeds to a prearranged trip to the 'Library' built by the Felman Lux Corporation with its surviving heir. At the point she contacts the Doctor with her own psychic paper, requesting that he meet her there, River is unconcerned. This will merely be another adventure. Traveling with her and Lux are Anita, proper Dave, other Dave and Miss Evangalista.
However, when River finally encounters the Doctor, it does not take her long to discern that something in wrong. He came to early. He is too young. The diaries do not match.
The Doctor does not know who River Song is.
Recovering fairly quickly they all set about solving the mystery of the Library, and how 4022 people could have just vanished a century before. The Doctor eventually determines the place to be infested by the Vasta Nerada, swarming shadows that feed off flesh. It does not matter if it is dead, or alive. Miss Evangalista is consumed by them, but now before she 'ghosts' for several moments through her com link. Ghosting is wear the com maintains a mental link with the dead for several moments allowing their thoughts to be heard before they fully drift away. Or as the Doctor would explain to Donna, footsteps on the beach, and the tide is coming in.
When the Doctor is obviously thrown at River's ownership of the sonic screwdriver that looks just like his own, and swaying towards distrust she is forced to trade the one thing she knows will gain his attention.
His name.
After a moment to recover, the Doctor and River both declare themselves 'good', and proceed about the business of escaping the Library.
Proper Dave and Other Dave are subsequently lost, as the Doctor determined the spores for this Vashta Nerada swarm were captured within the Library when the trees were cut down to create all the new editions of the books held within. They also determine that all 4022 people were 'saved' to the harddrive somehow (including at this point Donna), and travel to the core of the planet to find the hard drive. Under the strain of the events of the day, the entire drive is threatening to wipe clean in only twenty minutes, losing all the souls within
There Mr. Lux's secret is revealed. 'Cal', the computer core and largest hard drive in the universe is actually built around the mind of one small girl. Ten year old Charlotte Abigail Lux, his ancestor. When it was discovered she way dying her living mind was placed within the core of the computer to be surrounded by all the books she loved so. At the arrival of the Vasta Nerada she attempted to save everyone with the aide of the Dr. Moon, her virus checker and support system. There was no where to send them but the core, while their bodies remained data signatures. A copy of every chapter of every book was also within the core, and subsequently an expansive virtual reality was created for everyone saved to inhabit.
The Doctor presented a plan. To beam everyone out of the core and allow the computer to reset. Since CAL's memory space was insufficient he announced that he would connect himself to the computer, allow the transfer to complete itself. She knew that the strain would kill the Doctor, forcing him into regeneration at best. Even as she discovered that Anita too was lost, she brought the Doctor down with a single punch, knocking him unconscious.
She used that time to organize her belongings, pulling handcuffs from her sack to lock the Doctor firmly to safety. Knowing that he would eventually be freed she placed her diary, and both of their screwdrivers within easy discovery. Then using her own extensive electrical knowledge, she wired herself to the computer for the time when a blip in the command flow would occur. Allowing for the cleanest download.
As the Doctor awakens he demands that she allow him to do this, and take her place. But as River cleanly explains, doing so would mean they never met. And that all of their times together would be erased. And she refuses to see that happen, not one moment. Not one line. She attempts to sooth him by reminding him he will still have everything to come, and then finishing her task. Dying as her heart burns out.
Only sometime she will awaken within the virtual reality of the core, one that the Doctor has somehow 'fixed' according to Charlotte, to allow for their continued safety. And even though her entire home is with her, and River quickly deduces just what occurred, she will come to resent her sterile live within the core.
Reality Description:
River comes directly from the computer core, where she has been taking care of Donna's 'children' and Cal. She often has tea with Doctor Moon, and enjoys debates with every member of her team. She even continues to teach. But River knows as well as anyone, her life is not real. And after the fullness of what preceded she thinks of it as walking through watercolors when she once ran through brightly pigmented oil canvases. It is not what she would want for herself.
And she would expect the Doctor to know that too.
The core itself is 'CAL', or the mind of Charlotte Abigal Lux placed within the single largest computer ever built. The history of all of human existence can be found within the information stored there. And even explored in subsequent, historical fashion as the texts are explored in order. The virtual reality created by that knowledge is extensive, if idealistic.
The mind of a child created it, and it is often green, lush and idealistic. There River is surrounded by her team, but she often longs for real dust, dirt and true imperfection.
First Person Speaking Sample: [there is the sound of new footsteps on the Plane, deliberate and assured of themselves. Used to stumbling into the unknown, and facing it down with a tilted smile.
The long white down created for her when she arrived at the core traded for much more practical slacks, a long sleeve shirt and a sturdy pair of boots.
Her hair is down]
And just when I think I've explored every corner of this place.
[the hands that trace over the bar explore it, looking for any
divits or messages worn into its surface. Something that was left behind]
Life never stops being full of surprises.
Even here.
Third Person Writing Sample:"Did that hurt?"
The Doctor's gaze snapped towards her. Face twisted and hair even more askew he appeared every inch the petulant school boy that had just been informed he would have to play better with others. A school boy that had just kicked his beloved TARDIS. Hard.
"Good."
Oh. Oh but wasn't he pleased with that. His gaze darkened by several measures. When she remained seemingly unimpressed? He darkened it several more, as if it were just another dial on the glittering console.
"I am not one of your things that go bump in the night Doctor." River reconsidered that and let her smile tilt almost rakishly, taking over her features. "All right, all right. On occasion I'm just that. But don't think you can stare me down." The dramatic whisper was not much of one at all, and she did not bother to hide the affection brimming there. "It won't work."
To that she added --
"I need my own space again."
"I just don't see why you can't stay here. There's plenty of room."
River shook her head. Because the man in front of her was so bloody smart, so ridiculously intelligent. But there were some things he just failed to understand.
"I didn't say rooms though. I said space. Do you know what they call places with lots of rooms, hallways after hallway of them all dedicated to remembering specific places and times? People? Filled to the brim with artifacts and relics and memories? They're called museums Doctor, and they always have their ghosts. Somehow I don't think you want me doing to them what I do, any more than I like being here to watch you do what you do with them."
He was silent now, watching her. But River didn't allow that matter. There was a point to be made.
"You aren't ready for me to go rummaging through their lives, cataloging and researching. And I want to, you see. I want to do just that. And I shouldn't, because it would be for the wrong reasons. I'll always want to. But it should be when I want to learn about them, not more about you."
"So what? Back to the 51st century? Back to a house with windows and doors. No more adventure and travel, no more --"
"No more you?" River finished the idea for him, because she didn't think he would. "I didn't say that. I never could say that. This?" She held up her battered diary between them. "It still has a lot more pages left to be filled. There is no way I am ever close to done with you, Doctor."
River paused, shoving the small bit of blue leather into the napsack that also carried the majority of her tools.
"But yes. I do need that. A house with windows and doors and dust beneath my feet that maybe, just maybe yours haven't touched. Dust that I don't have to feel guilty kicking up, for wanting to explore. Because I do feel guilty. I do want to explore. And?"
"And."
His said the word like it was a dead thing, like he had already heard and accepted her argument before she even said it. Like there was nothing else to say. It was times like this? That she hated him, at least a little.
"And I need some more time." It was always a strange word between them, River thought. Always meaning more or less than it should and somehow never landing on exactly right. "I need to live in that house. To open and close its shutters and doors. I need to work. To leave my own mark, my very own footprint in the dust."
"But why."
He thought this was about him. In a way it was. But mostly, it wasn't.
"Because I am an archaeologist," River explained cleanly. "How good of one would I be if I left nothing of myself behind for the next one to discover." She took a moment to pull her bag up squarely between her shoulders, and adjust its straps.
"I can't be everything to you Doctor. That isn't how this works. But you can't be everything to me either."
His gaze shuttered itself, like a light turning off. The bright that was not there to begin with, and the dark too. But then he looked at her. That pulled, distant look that River always felt before she saw it. The one that he most often cast at her back, or when he thought she wasn't looking.
"Fine," he managed. "Go."
She did.
Series/Fandom: Doctor Who
Deviance: None, pulled directly from the Data Core. Much like those from within episode restored at the end, her physical body is saved as a data signature that is utilized whenever she visits the Plane.
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Species: Human
Canon Used: Pulled directly from the Silence in the Library and the Forest of the Dead
Appearance: Trim and fit, with short, well kept nails that are required in her profession. Nothing that will hurt or damage any of her work. There is often dirt and dust underneath them, something in her quiet moments River might reflect over. Everything about her physical presence suggests activity, and she rarely wears cosmetics of any kind other than lip balm or facial moisturizer -- a shield against the harsher elements she works in. River very rarely 'dresses up', much more comfortable in her work clothing. However when the situation requires it? A department fundraiser, or presentation -- she cleans up quite well.
All of this is topped off with a riot of ginger hair. Long, she is most likely seen with it pulled back from her head, or in slightly unkempt braids around her face. She really can't be bothered with it, and it is much more conducive to work that way. Yet she is oddly vain about it as well. During one of her early interactions with the Doctor, at the age of 19, they had an exchange about ginger hair. Since then, River became determined to hold on with it. Secretly, because she thinks in some way it might please him. Publicly she claims because, on record, it is something he wants that she has. She is known to comment on it.
The night they visited the Towers, River wore her hair down.
She is hardly ever seen without her diary.
Psychology: River song is an extremely intelligent individual. Very much her father's daughter, she was raised in an environment where that intellect was valued and encouraged. To the point that she can sometimes seem smug to those that do not know her, and even those that do.
Despite this, she is an excellent teacher. A believer of the hands-on approach, her lectures are famous within her university, and there is often a waiting list for her classes. Very few of the excursions are ever planned, or on the syllabus. Classes will merely find themselves whisked to a location, and the lesson for the day presented. She enjoys seeing how her students respond, and how they learn and accepts failure as part of the path to success. Even if she does not deal well with her own failures. All this stemming from her own sense of adventure that was only enhanced by her experiences with the Doctor.
Anita was one of hers. Her students that she watched learn, and grow -- and was a particular favorite.
Though traveling with the Doctor on a great many adventures in the TARDIS (including the end of the Universe) she is never what might be called an active companion. He only asked her three times to formally travel with him, and each time River refused. She valued her freedom far too much, as well as her career. She has her own things she wishes to know, and see, and be.
River knows very well that she cannot be everything to the Doctor, but she in turn refuses to allow him to be everything to her.
Other Skills/Abilities: River Song minored in electrical engineering, and she is highly adept at working with the various electrical equipment that her career choice requires. She is also excellent shot, something that is a bone of contention between her and the Doctor. She removed Jack's old gun from the TARDIS without the the Doctor's knowledge or permission. She also throws one vicious right hook.
Other Weaknesses: Extremely stubborn, River has difficulty altering her decisions even once she knows they might not have been the best ones. Also, ultimately, River is human. She can die by any number of the traditional ways, though that never causes her to be overly cautious. She throws herself headlong into any number of life threatening situations, often without consideration to her physical self. Despite that she's been remarkably lucky. Cuts, scrapes and bruises are some of the worst she's encountered, aside from two major bouts of illness.
History: River grew up something of a 'tom boy', though she is comfortable enough interacting with box sexes(and androids) and has many dear female friends that she maintains contact with through the years. Her mother died when she was young, and so it fell to her father to raise her. An anthropologist, they debate would often ensue as she grew older of what shaped the other. The body or the environment. Her three best friends at university were male, and it was through them that she learned many of her more colorful phrases. One of them, Peter, introduced her to Lux.
Her interactions with the Doctor began when she was thirteen. After that a series of out of order adventures followed that included a picnic at Asgard, being present for the crash of the Byzantium, traveling to the end of the Universe, a visit to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, and a visit to the Singing Towers of Darillium. Oh yes, and he missed her college graduation. She never quite forgives him for that.
An trip on the TARDIS gone astray is what initially forced River an the Doctor to marry in the local custom. Somehow, instead of immediately finding a way dissolve the union, marriage initially becomes another lark --another adventure between them. They tease about being domestic, something neither ever envisioned for themselves. 'Is this what a husband does, what a wife does?' It is a subject of much laughter, and they never manage to unmarry themselves to the other.
River eventually purchases a cottage near the ocean, separate from her university lodgings. Sometimes she stays there on her own, and the Doctor visits by himself in his own time as well. Sometimes, they are together.
It is on one of those nights, when he would like to pretend River sleeping, he whispers his true name to her -- making the marriage that much more real. But he knows that she is awake, and that she will remember.
She does.
The night they visit the Towers together, he gives her his screwdriver. He does not let he see he is crying, instead she feels the wet in her hair, where he holds her from behind -- listening to the song of the tower together.
Following the night at the Towers, River proceeds to a prearranged trip to the 'Library' built by the Felman Lux Corporation with its surviving heir. At the point she contacts the Doctor with her own psychic paper, requesting that he meet her there, River is unconcerned. This will merely be another adventure. Traveling with her and Lux are Anita, proper Dave, other Dave and Miss Evangalista.
However, when River finally encounters the Doctor, it does not take her long to discern that something in wrong. He came to early. He is too young. The diaries do not match.
The Doctor does not know who River Song is.
Recovering fairly quickly they all set about solving the mystery of the Library, and how 4022 people could have just vanished a century before. The Doctor eventually determines the place to be infested by the Vasta Nerada, swarming shadows that feed off flesh. It does not matter if it is dead, or alive. Miss Evangalista is consumed by them, but now before she 'ghosts' for several moments through her com link. Ghosting is wear the com maintains a mental link with the dead for several moments allowing their thoughts to be heard before they fully drift away. Or as the Doctor would explain to Donna, footsteps on the beach, and the tide is coming in.
When the Doctor is obviously thrown at River's ownership of the sonic screwdriver that looks just like his own, and swaying towards distrust she is forced to trade the one thing she knows will gain his attention.
His name.
After a moment to recover, the Doctor and River both declare themselves 'good', and proceed about the business of escaping the Library.
Proper Dave and Other Dave are subsequently lost, as the Doctor determined the spores for this Vashta Nerada swarm were captured within the Library when the trees were cut down to create all the new editions of the books held within. They also determine that all 4022 people were 'saved' to the harddrive somehow (including at this point Donna), and travel to the core of the planet to find the hard drive. Under the strain of the events of the day, the entire drive is threatening to wipe clean in only twenty minutes, losing all the souls within
There Mr. Lux's secret is revealed. 'Cal', the computer core and largest hard drive in the universe is actually built around the mind of one small girl. Ten year old Charlotte Abigail Lux, his ancestor. When it was discovered she way dying her living mind was placed within the core of the computer to be surrounded by all the books she loved so. At the arrival of the Vasta Nerada she attempted to save everyone with the aide of the Dr. Moon, her virus checker and support system. There was no where to send them but the core, while their bodies remained data signatures. A copy of every chapter of every book was also within the core, and subsequently an expansive virtual reality was created for everyone saved to inhabit.
The Doctor presented a plan. To beam everyone out of the core and allow the computer to reset. Since CAL's memory space was insufficient he announced that he would connect himself to the computer, allow the transfer to complete itself. She knew that the strain would kill the Doctor, forcing him into regeneration at best. Even as she discovered that Anita too was lost, she brought the Doctor down with a single punch, knocking him unconscious.
She used that time to organize her belongings, pulling handcuffs from her sack to lock the Doctor firmly to safety. Knowing that he would eventually be freed she placed her diary, and both of their screwdrivers within easy discovery. Then using her own extensive electrical knowledge, she wired herself to the computer for the time when a blip in the command flow would occur. Allowing for the cleanest download.
As the Doctor awakens he demands that she allow him to do this, and take her place. But as River cleanly explains, doing so would mean they never met. And that all of their times together would be erased. And she refuses to see that happen, not one moment. Not one line. She attempts to sooth him by reminding him he will still have everything to come, and then finishing her task. Dying as her heart burns out.
Only sometime she will awaken within the virtual reality of the core, one that the Doctor has somehow 'fixed' according to Charlotte, to allow for their continued safety. And even though her entire home is with her, and River quickly deduces just what occurred, she will come to resent her sterile live within the core.
Reality Description:
River comes directly from the computer core, where she has been taking care of Donna's 'children' and Cal. She often has tea with Doctor Moon, and enjoys debates with every member of her team. She even continues to teach. But River knows as well as anyone, her life is not real. And after the fullness of what preceded she thinks of it as walking through watercolors when she once ran through brightly pigmented oil canvases. It is not what she would want for herself.
And she would expect the Doctor to know that too.
The core itself is 'CAL', or the mind of Charlotte Abigal Lux placed within the single largest computer ever built. The history of all of human existence can be found within the information stored there. And even explored in subsequent, historical fashion as the texts are explored in order. The virtual reality created by that knowledge is extensive, if idealistic.
The mind of a child created it, and it is often green, lush and idealistic. There River is surrounded by her team, but she often longs for real dust, dirt and true imperfection.
First Person Speaking Sample: [there is the sound of new footsteps on the Plane, deliberate and assured of themselves. Used to stumbling into the unknown, and facing it down with a tilted smile.
The long white down created for her when she arrived at the core traded for much more practical slacks, a long sleeve shirt and a sturdy pair of boots.
Her hair is down]
And just when I think I've explored every corner of this place.
[the hands that trace over the bar explore it, looking for any
divits or messages worn into its surface. Something that was left behind]
Life never stops being full of surprises.
Even here.
Third Person Writing Sample:"Did that hurt?"
The Doctor's gaze snapped towards her. Face twisted and hair even more askew he appeared every inch the petulant school boy that had just been informed he would have to play better with others. A school boy that had just kicked his beloved TARDIS. Hard.
"Good."
Oh. Oh but wasn't he pleased with that. His gaze darkened by several measures. When she remained seemingly unimpressed? He darkened it several more, as if it were just another dial on the glittering console.
"I am not one of your things that go bump in the night Doctor." River reconsidered that and let her smile tilt almost rakishly, taking over her features. "All right, all right. On occasion I'm just that. But don't think you can stare me down." The dramatic whisper was not much of one at all, and she did not bother to hide the affection brimming there. "It won't work."
To that she added --
"I need my own space again."
"I just don't see why you can't stay here. There's plenty of room."
River shook her head. Because the man in front of her was so bloody smart, so ridiculously intelligent. But there were some things he just failed to understand.
"I didn't say rooms though. I said space. Do you know what they call places with lots of rooms, hallways after hallway of them all dedicated to remembering specific places and times? People? Filled to the brim with artifacts and relics and memories? They're called museums Doctor, and they always have their ghosts. Somehow I don't think you want me doing to them what I do, any more than I like being here to watch you do what you do with them."
He was silent now, watching her. But River didn't allow that matter. There was a point to be made.
"You aren't ready for me to go rummaging through their lives, cataloging and researching. And I want to, you see. I want to do just that. And I shouldn't, because it would be for the wrong reasons. I'll always want to. But it should be when I want to learn about them, not more about you."
"So what? Back to the 51st century? Back to a house with windows and doors. No more adventure and travel, no more --"
"No more you?" River finished the idea for him, because she didn't think he would. "I didn't say that. I never could say that. This?" She held up her battered diary between them. "It still has a lot more pages left to be filled. There is no way I am ever close to done with you, Doctor."
River paused, shoving the small bit of blue leather into the napsack that also carried the majority of her tools.
"But yes. I do need that. A house with windows and doors and dust beneath my feet that maybe, just maybe yours haven't touched. Dust that I don't have to feel guilty kicking up, for wanting to explore. Because I do feel guilty. I do want to explore. And?"
"And."
His said the word like it was a dead thing, like he had already heard and accepted her argument before she even said it. Like there was nothing else to say. It was times like this? That she hated him, at least a little.
"And I need some more time." It was always a strange word between them, River thought. Always meaning more or less than it should and somehow never landing on exactly right. "I need to live in that house. To open and close its shutters and doors. I need to work. To leave my own mark, my very own footprint in the dust."
"But why."
He thought this was about him. In a way it was. But mostly, it wasn't.
"Because I am an archaeologist," River explained cleanly. "How good of one would I be if I left nothing of myself behind for the next one to discover." She took a moment to pull her bag up squarely between her shoulders, and adjust its straps.
"I can't be everything to you Doctor. That isn't how this works. But you can't be everything to me either."
His gaze shuttered itself, like a light turning off. The bright that was not there to begin with, and the dark too. But then he looked at her. That pulled, distant look that River always felt before she saw it. The one that he most often cast at her back, or when he thought she wasn't looking.
"Fine," he managed. "Go."
She did.