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[kassandraloxias]

Kassandra is downstairs.

A copy of The Wind in the Willows dangles half-forgotten from her fingertips as she trails through the bar. She found it somewhere

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[river_meimei]

There's another girl, in the rafters a short distance away. Tangled dark clouds of hair, small round face; she's watching the air with interest.

Her eyes light on Kassandra. After a moment's contemplation, she smiles, just a little.

[kassandraloxias]

*Kassandra smiles back. It is perhaps a distant smile, but she remembers.*

So many birds.

[river_meimei]

River, for once, does not contest this. Or maybe she assumes it refers to something else.

The rafters are full of ravens, these days.

Her smile widens.

Then it fades somewhat. "I'm out of chocolate," she apologizes. "I haven't found them yet."

[kassandraloxias]

When you find them, will you tell me?

What do you up there? Do you mean to fly?

[river_meimei]

River nods seriously to the first question.

Then her face breaks out into a sudden smile, more private and more happy than the previous ones. A smile like a secret half-shared.

"Change the perspective. You can look. Walk where the ground is air."

[kassandraloxias]

I know not how to fly, friend, for all I have a great love of wings.

I am making a map. Do you know the way?

[river_meimei]

River's head slowly tilts, as she leans over to peer at the paper.

"Some of them."

Blink. She focuses on Kassandra's face, then, sharply.

And a faint returning smile. "It's hide and seek. Where's the goalpost?"

[kassandraloxias]

*she points.*

Up there. Somewhere. I do not know the way; it is not where my gods lived, when they lived.

The rest of me is hiding, yes. Where the sleepers are.

[river_meimei]

River's face sobers completely.

Softly, "Maybe it's." Fingers wind absently in the ends of her hair. "Not where you think."

"Change the signs and pretend it's outside. Until you can't find what you don't know you've got."

[kassandraloxias]

Is it not where I think?

But I can't remember anything.

That's the problem, you see. Days and weeks and months go by and I am still there, still half Kassandra and half asleep.

[river_meimei]

River is subdued, and her face is etched with compassion.

Or maybe it's empathy.

Her gaze slides away, sideways to nothing. Whispered, "They take away bits. When you weren't looking."

"Get them back. The, the memories and -- you can. She will. Gonna get better."