pearl_o made me do it.
Apparently, she has powers or persuasion even I cannot resist. Also, it really is a perfect match, no?
***
Maybe Someday
River sees her sometimes, out of the corner of her eye - a flash of multicolored hair, the swirling blue-green of her eyes, and, one time, bubbles and fish scales gleaming in the light of Persephone’s sun.
I know you, she says, and, would you like a balloon?
River smiles. "I like to dance."
"I know you do, honey," Kaylee says, patting her knee. "But not right now, okay? I have work to do."
The words are meaningless, because it is always right now for River, every moment that’s ever happened to her is happening right now but she can’t explain. Kaylee wouldn’t understand.
I understand, says the girl with one green eye and one blue one. I have ice cream made of ashes, and marmalade made from music.
She remembers ice cream, sweet on her tongue and cold sliding down her throat. But that was before--
"Everything tastes of ashes now."
"River? Ni meí shì bà?"
"Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, Simon." Of course, Kaylee doesn’t make him leave the engine room. She wants to touch him, wants him to touch her. She doesn’t want River touching her. River sees the way she recoils, even though River saved her life.
Because River saved her life.
Nobody wants River’s touch.
"Mei-mei, you should go."
Not even Simon.
I have brothers. Three. Though one left home and one died, but another took his place. There are always three. Even when there aren’t.
River understands, even when she doesn’t.
She asks, "Are you Serenity?"
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes scrunches up her face, thinking. I was Delight once. When I was younger. But now I’m not.
"So maybe someday I can be Serenity?"
The captain strokes her hair, gentle, even when his voice is angry. "Maybe someday," he says, and though she knows he's lying, finally, she sleeps.
end
--
Ni meí shì bà - are you all right?
***
comments/feedback/etc. always welcome.
***
Maybe Someday
River sees her sometimes, out of the corner of her eye - a flash of multicolored hair, the swirling blue-green of her eyes, and, one time, bubbles and fish scales gleaming in the light of Persephone’s sun.
I know you, she says, and, would you like a balloon?
River smiles. "I like to dance."
"I know you do, honey," Kaylee says, patting her knee. "But not right now, okay? I have work to do."
The words are meaningless, because it is always right now for River, every moment that’s ever happened to her is happening right now but she can’t explain. Kaylee wouldn’t understand.
I understand, says the girl with one green eye and one blue one. I have ice cream made of ashes, and marmalade made from music.
She remembers ice cream, sweet on her tongue and cold sliding down her throat. But that was before--
"Everything tastes of ashes now."
"River? Ni meí shì bà?"
"Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, Simon." Of course, Kaylee doesn’t make him leave the engine room. She wants to touch him, wants him to touch her. She doesn’t want River touching her. River sees the way she recoils, even though River saved her life.
Because River saved her life.
Nobody wants River’s touch.
"Mei-mei, you should go."
Not even Simon.
I have brothers. Three. Though one left home and one died, but another took his place. There are always three. Even when there aren’t.
River understands, even when she doesn’t.
She asks, "Are you Serenity?"
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes scrunches up her face, thinking. I was Delight once. When I was younger. But now I’m not.
"So maybe someday I can be Serenity?"
The captain strokes her hair, gentle, even when his voice is angry. "Maybe someday," he says, and though she knows he's lying, finally, she sleeps.
end
--
Ni meí shì bà - are you all right?
***
comments/feedback/etc. always welcome.