(Untitled)

[river_meimei]

River's perched on a barstool, her ankles wound around the rungs. In front of her is a mug of hot chocolate, piled precariously high with whipped cream and foam. There are sprinkles of something green on top

Comments

[the_h_star_r]

You thought there would be no more Homestar but guess what there's Homestar!

Guess River just brings him out, don't she?

He was also visited by Santam'n, which leads to holiday hat wearin' and not holiday badge of freak out ability wearin'. Awarded for freaking out this very patron, in fact.

"Oh. Martha." he says in staccato, making it clear that Martha is an expression instead of her name. "Some hot jones would be good after that Decemberween of death-defying stunts and visits with the philosophy department. And you got some gooooooooooood jones!"

[river_meimei]

River blinks at him.

Uh.

"Bar's helpful," she tries.

The hard part with conversations in general is picking out the coherent thread to figure out what people are really saying. The hard part with conversations with this guy is figuring out whether any of that was meant to be coherent.

[the_h_star_r]

Oh, all of it was meant to be coherent. It's a matter of speaking English.

......with a Free Country, USA dialect.

"She is," Homestar gushes. "And she doesn't force you to go to brunch with her mom and her mom's latest husband!"

[river_meimei]

"It's not in the standard etiquette."

[river_meimei]

It is, and very tasty! Bar's good at this.

River doesn't seem to have noticed yet; she's studying the Rubik's cube, head cocked slightly sideways.

But her eyes darted Elle's way, just once, and back to the polished maple of Bar.

[river_meimei]

"It's New Year's."

River means that as an explanation, and it's clear in her tone; this is meant to be helpful.

This, too, might be a gesture. Or perhaps it's only River being River.

[plays_chess]

John's been scanning the room, and he caught sight of her pretty quickly.

She's acting--different than he's used to, thought that might be part of the disguise. And she's dressed more like a hippy chick than a cheerleader, which--disguise, right. (She looks different, but he's to nervous to compute and catalog the differences, so he ignores them.)

John ducks his head and walks over naturally, though he still keeps a careful eye on what's going on. He leans his back against the bar, and crosses his arms.

"Cameron, what's going on?" In a quiet and earnest voice, trying to keep his posture casual.

[river_meimei]

Contentedly, "Got hot chocolate."

Beat.

River's head turns sharply; she blinks at John, her confusion transparently visible.

[plays_chess]

John's head swings over at the same time--that's not Cameron's voice.

..and that's not Cameron. She looks like her, but more like her sister than like her twin. Maybe a stunt double. Or another of the same model.

John stiffens. "Oh?" he asks, with false casualness, levering himself away from the bar on his elbows. "You're not Cameron," he swallows, glances away, adopts a smile, and glances back. "Sorry, I thought you were my sister."

[river_meimei]

"I'm not."

River genuinely means this to be helpful.

"Individualistic distinction."

[theunsmiling]

There's another girl, lanky and dark-haired, perched on a nearby barstool.

River may have just noticed her. Angels are impossible to see unless they want you to. It's a useful skill.

"You like puzzles."

Or so the Rubik's Cube would suggest, at least.

[river_meimei]

It really is a useful skill. River's head turns sharply: not quite startled.

It's a moment before she replies -- too long for normality, and her eyes don't track quite right towards Michael.

"It's a present."

That's not a no, though.

[theunsmiling]

"There's value in those."

It's something she and River probably both know.

"Above and beyond a mental exercise."

[river_meimei]

River's face says: Duh. But it's pretty friendly.

"It's traditional for the New Year," she says, as if she's reminding Michael of something they both already know.

[nneverwas]

[ooc: this still open? *evil*]

[river_meimei]

[OOC: Ahahahaha. I won't be home until tonight, so at least 11 EST; this is just a fly-by comment as I run out the door. But if that works for you, go right ahead! :D]

[nneverwas]

[ooc: it does, it does! PREPARE FOR WHITETEXT.]