(Untitled)

[river_meimei]

River steps through the door cautiously, resting her weight hesitantly with each step. She only relaxes when she's several steps into the room -- perhaps because, at the end of those steps, she's still human and not a mongoose

Comments

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Eventually, a man comes around the other side of the couch and sits down on it, watchful and quiet.

"River Tam?" he asks, after a moment. "We met once."

[river_meimei]

River's head lifts, a few moments too late for normalcy.

"Yes," she says, giving him a serious look. She's still bent over her drink, and her hair falls about her face.

"Twiceborn," she adds, after a moment.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul nods.

"Yes."

He hesitates, and then says, "You don't know that name from the Wolflord."

He's making sure, but he's fairly certain anyways.

[river_meimei]

"Galadan."

River's head tilts slightly sideways, and she pulls a knee slowly to her chest, still studying Paul.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

"Galadan," Paul agrees. His voice is a little gentler as he accepts the correction.

"You two are friends, I have heard."

He hesitates just a little over the last word; it's exceedingly strange to think of Galadan having friends.

[river_meimei]

River nods slowly, watching him.

There's nothing wary in her manner, but she is sober, and more focused than often.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

There are a number of people in Paul's mind right now: Lisen, and Amairgen, and Jennifer Lowell most of all and always.

But what he says is, "I am glad. That he has someone he will allow so close, and that you find him deserving of friendship."

[river_meimei]

After a moment, "Do you?"

If she expects one answer or another, it isn't apparent in her manner.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

Paul's voice is steady, as he answers. "The history between myself and Galadan is, perhaps, too complex to allow a simple answer to that."

[river_meimei]

River makes a slight face at him.

Way to not answer the question, Paul.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

That almost earns her a faint smile in response, though his face doesn't quite get there.

"Does it matter?"

[river_meimei]

River considers that for a moment, seriously.

Then, "You tell me."

[pwyll_twiceborn]

That's fair.

Paul takes a moment to consider this, and then says, "My own opinion of him shouldn't matter, no. Not to you or anyone here, not now."

The time when that mattered is past.

"What matters are his actions. Now, and in the future, and you are better acquainted with those than I am."

[river_meimei]

"I'm listening," River says softly.

There's a certain gravity to the words; what she's listening to is, perhaps, not Paul.

[pwyll_twiceborn]

There's something about the way she says that . . .

Paul has a brief moment of wishing that Kim were here - but business of Galadan is his; always has been.

"And looking?"

[river_meimei]

"Got eyes."