[There's a new noise from upstairs, a voice Diego doesn't recall ever hearing before. Confused, lost, a little upset. He's heard that occasionally new...transplants...replace the drones, but he'd grown accustomed to this being the case for other people, never himself. Silly to think that idyllic life could last forever. Still, he supposes he owes the new arrival something of a crash course in Mayfield life, especially if it's young enough to be his daughter, which from the sound of her voice it is. What sort of man would he be if he left a little lost kitten to fend for herself? The smell of coffee grows stronger as he approaches the door to his drone-daughter's room, wary of what he'll find inside. He knocks, sipping his newest brew and leaning one arm up against the doorframe.]
[Someone is coming. There's a very unusual silence there, because she's grown so used to it being so loud. Like she said, she's been blinded, third eye is gone, sixth sense is no longer there. It's making her dizzy. Vertigo. Everything is moving and staying still at the same time
[The look of the girl isn't much of a shock. His drone-daughter had hair like that, though quite a bit shorter. Her eyes, though...something else entirely. He wasn't sure what they were saying, only that they were speaking volumes, betraying a confusion beyond words. Something waiting to break loose, held together by only the briefest of pauses. His voice is gentle when he speaks, like calming a tiger.]
Words of comfort. Familiarity. A nice nickname. A charmer of women, but not the sort Simon says to stay away from. - Not the sort he means it for, at least.
He smells like coffee. Maybe addicted. Professional in something. Business?]
We're all a little lost, here. Some of us just fake it better. [A closed look passes across his face for the briefest of seconds, before it is replaced yet again by a cautious compassion.] Do you mind if I come in? If anyone's going to explain to you what's happened, it may as well be me.
I FORGIVE YOU. Because you're playing River and that's awsm and I really have no room to talk xDwaitingforjavaJanuary 31 2010, 18:12:02 UTC
[Underdressed? he looks at her again, more carefully, and notices she's still in a nightgown. His eyes quickly find a home in the pictures on her wall, noting how they've changed to show this girl instead of the drone daughter he'd had hours ago.]
If it will make you more comfortable, I can let you get dressed first. But you're not going to find your usual clothes in that closet, I'm afraid.
[Looking back at this strange new daughter, he stalls for time, taking another long pull from his mug. The caffeine barely touches him anymore, but the comfort he derives from it is immense. Stepping in and shutting the door behind him, he takes up a place against the wall.]
[There's an earring on the right lobe. His hair looks a little wild. But the beard is well trimmed. She's taking in every inch of his face, extracting all the details she can without her third eye.
He speaks. She forgot they were talking. Rephrase the question in the answer.]
My name is River.
[He acts like she is safe here. But she feels naked and scared.]
[His voice is soothing, the kind of voice one would use on a scared and injured animal. Calming.]
You're in Mayfield, in what looks like 1950s America. There's a lot of people in this town who aren't from here. We showed up one day, just like you did--from different countries, different times, and different worlds. It's okay to be confused. I was, at first.
[If you bent some of the laws of physics. Just a little. Not break. Assume some other things. Put everything in it's place. Her eyes start to drift off of his face, taking in the room. Outside her window there's a tree and a bird singing and the sun shining.]
[He waits patiently for her, eyes fixed on her vague expression over the lip of his mug.]
In Mayfield, life is supposed to be a certain way. Keeping up appearances, and all that. There are rules upon rules, kitten, and not obeying them can have consequences. I'm not about to let anything happen to a young lady like yourself, though, so don't worry. I'll make sure you know what's what.
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knock knock.]
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Common courtesy dictates that one must answer it.
She moves towards it, trying to feel past it. Nothing. Is there no one there? Is it a ghost?
She opens it.
Not a ghost. A tall, tall man. Dark skin, coffee cup.
She won't know anything else unless he speaks.]
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Easy, kitten. I'm not gonna hurt you.
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Words of comfort. Familiarity. A nice nickname. A charmer of women, but not the sort Simon says to stay away from. - Not the sort he means it for, at least.
He smells like coffee. Maybe addicted. Professional in something. Business?]
I think I'm lost.
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River steps backwards, not as though in danger, but in nervousness.]
I'm very under dressed.
[But she sits gently on the bed and waits for him to continue.]
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If it will make you more comfortable, I can let you get dressed first. But you're not going to find your usual clothes in that closet, I'm afraid.
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She draws her knees to her chest. It's a little more covering. And then her eyes glue onto his face.]
Waiting for you.
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What's your name, kitten?
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He speaks. She forgot they were talking. Rephrase the question in the answer.]
My name is River.
[He acts like she is safe here. But she feels naked and scared.]
I don't know you.
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[His voice is soothing, the kind of voice one would use on a scared and injured animal. Calming.]
You're in Mayfield, in what looks like 1950s America. There's a lot of people in this town who aren't from here. We showed up one day, just like you did--from different countries, different times, and different worlds. It's okay to be confused. I was, at first.
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Suppose she doesn't mind being called pretty.
It's okay to be confused.]
Theoretically...possible...
[If you bent some of the laws of physics. Just a little. Not break. Assume some other things. Put everything in it's place. Her eyes start to drift off of his face, taking in the room. Outside her window there's a tree and a bird singing and the sun shining.]
On Earth.
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[He waits patiently for her, eyes fixed on her vague expression over the lip of his mug.]
In Mayfield, life is supposed to be a certain way. Keeping up appearances, and all that. There are rules upon rules, kitten, and not obeying them can have consequences. I'm not about to let anything happen to a young lady like yourself, though, so don't worry. I'll make sure you know what's what.
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[Slowly, understanding.]
Playing house...
[He's very kind. Nothing like Simon, but at the same time. Keep you safe.
She sort of unfolds and stretches, fluidly, reaching for a picture on the bedside table. Family portrait.]
And these are our roles....you keep me safe.
[Looks up at his face, for confirmation.]
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