(Untitled)

[river_meimei]

River's been out with the horses. Her cheeks are flushed, and her fingers are cold, and there are black hairs from Boukephalos's winter coat scattered over her sleeves and skirt and the long tails of her coat.

And she's glowing with the fun of it.

River likes horses.

Comments

[e_delmar]

Ennis can smell the horse on her from where he sits. It's like home, almost. He tips his hat in greeting.

[river_meimei]

River grins at him, winter-flushed and happy.

[e_delmar]

"Been out, then?"

[river_meimei]

"There's sunlight."

River's beaming.

"See the sky and remember the straight road."

[jack_f_twist]

It looks as though Jack has been putting his new harmonica to good use, for there's a cowboy sprawled on the couch by the fire, playing an old country tune, something cheerful and rambling.

And when he sees River come in, he winks at her from under his hat, clearly in a marvelous mood.

Might be even happier, learning about the horses.

[river_meimei]

River beams right back at him, just as clearly happy.

[jack_f_twist]

He plays a cheerful little ditty, nodding his head at the unoccupied seat of the couch with raised eyebrows.

[river_meimei]

River perches on the arm of the couch instead, and bends with a dancer's easy flexibility to begin unbuckling her boots.

He'll probably notice the faint smell of horses, now that she's close enough.

[gabriel_tam]

It's been a long day, full of events.

When Gabriel steps back into the bar from the staff corridor, he's not looking around. He's tired, and looks it, as he starts across the room toward the front door.

[river_meimei]

River's settled on a couch, blocked from her father's easy sight by an occupied table and a chance of furniture arrangement. She's cradling a heavy, handmade mug -- empty now, but still warm from the tea it recently contained -- and looking altogether content with this moment of life.

Just because she's not in Gabriel's line of sight, though, doesn't mean he's not in hers.

Her brow furrows, and her face draws into lines of worry.

A moment of studying him -- his face, his slumped shoulders -- and then she abandons the (thankfully empty) mug to the couch cushions and stands. Moves towards him, a slim shape drifting between tables.

Her boots are abandoned beside the couch, like the mug. Probably she'll remember that at some point.

[gabriel_tam]

He doesn't see her at first, as she's moving quietly through the crowded room, passing silently by people on her way to intercept him, moving with a dancer's delicate grace.

It's that movement at the corner of his eye that draws his attention, however. He turns his head, and then straightens.

A half-rueful smile plays over his lips.

"Ni hao, River. I didn't realize you were here tonight."

[river_meimei]

"I am," she says seriously.

Then a tiny, answering half-smile.

"Outside."

She's still drifting closer. If she was outside, it was a while ago; her hair is tangled, perhaps by wind, but she doesn't look cold.