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[river_meimei]

No notebook today. No scribbled tangle of equations and layouts and plans.

River listens to advice, sometimes. Even reluctantly

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[neverswimalone]

There is a private!

With a fish.

Okay, so-the fact that he stands several inches tall and has a silly and stupid grin on his face shouldn't phase you.

The fact that he's accompanied by Rico who is performing a rather interesting juggling act with a pair of kitchenknives should draw some attention.

Rico...is juggling and chortling happily to himself while the Private-

Bumps into the table.

Ooops.

"...Terribly sorry about that!"

[river_meimei]

River stares at them.

...Penguins. Yes.

"Okay," she says blankly.

[neverswimalone]

Rico continues to juggle. Chortling to himself, "Slicey dicey, slicey dicey-"

"Rico!"

Private grabs at his colleague, "...Stop it! you might hit somebody!"

[river_meimei]

"Just an object," River murmurs, watching them.

"You can take away the air."

[neverswimalone]

Private blinked, "...Huh?"

Rico for his part nodded frantically at River. For all we know, he might think that River is offering him a treat. Or perhaps he's commenting on the deep severity of her statement.

[river_meimei]

River ignores Private to watch Rico.

That's not quite a smile on her face, but all the same she looks the slightest fraction more relaxed than she did before.

[neverswimalone]

Nobody watched Rico. That was the thing. There was the Nam incident that gave the poor guy his facial tic.

Rico...doesn't notice. Instead he begins to busy himself with a large ball of string.

[river_meimei]

String is nice. Good for cat's cradles.

And garottes and tripwires. Depending.

River looks at them both, and is silent.

[neverswimalone]

"......KNOTS!"

Rico's voice is triumphant. Ahah! He's found....Nope. No knot.

That's the nice thing about the core. There can be the folks who...only follow orders.

Compelled, Rico nudges the ball of string-watching it unravel and hit the strange tall girl in the feet.

[river_meimei]

She's not tall as adult humans go. But she's certainly taller than the penguins, even sitting down, so it counts.

She bends over her knees with a dancer's effortless flexibility, and turns the same calm, steady regard on the ball of string. It's a moment before she lifts a hand, slow and smooth, and brushes her fingertips across the string.

[neverswimalone]

Rico claps his flippers together.

"....KNOTS!"

[river_meimei]

Only River's eyes lift.

"Daisy chain," she says softly. "Pull the petals free."