四次: [visual | location: another hatch in Central]

[biverbam]

River, in a misguided attempt to once again work the hatches (hush, she is determined), is stationed in front of one near Serenity, between the ship and the new tram tracks. Since her brother's arrival, she's managed to make a friend, dance with Book's god knows how many people, face the Academy for an admittedly brief moment, catch the attention

Comments

[Location: On the ground beside said hatch]

[slasher_slayer]

There is no Cassie to be seen anywhere, but the Most Loyal Pooch is stationed a couple steps away from River, sitting on the ground, a half-melted ice planet precariously held between his paws. He tries to gnaw at it with his exposed teeth, but he only succeeds in pushing the planet away from him a little, causing him to tighten his hold on it.

"Curious River Tam, this frozen confection is most troublesome," He comments, between licks and attempted bites of the treat.

[Location: The hatch]

[faderbroderson]

When Godric stumbles upon the strange scene, he isn't sure what to make of it. For a moment he almost moves on, but Pooch is there and Godric has some small fondness for Pooch. He's also curious to know why the girl is throwing so many of the strange treats (ice cream?) away.

"Are they not satisfactory?" He asks her before giving Pooch a friendly look. "Hello, Pooch."

[Location: The hatch]

[suckmychest]

And where there is Godric, Eric isn't far behind. Like, seriously, he's about a step behind his maker. He's entitled to hover, don't judge him. So when Godric stops, the bigger, blonder vamp does the same, taking in the strange scene.

"Feeling picky, tiny dancer?" His tone is teasing as he recognizes the slim girl from Dawn's ballet escapades. Turning the grin to the hellbeast (because who couldn't recognize him), he nods. "Pooch."

[Location: The hatch]

[biverbam]

"The mechanisms are complex," and River looks at Pooch as she shifts to nudge the treat back toward his head.

But then there are others, blank as Extras but with a snake's hiss in their heels. River, at least, makes an attempt to look away before she rolls her eyes. It's mostly a success. Mostly.

"Making sure they aren't poisoned."

She has issues, okay? Don't judge the crazy too harshly.

[visual]

[ltnuhura]

Uhura happens to have her tablet on and sees the mess before she sees River, which causes her to raise her eyebrows. She wonders what the hell River is doing, but at the same time, knows how disappointing replicated food can taste.

"They don't have your favorite?"

[visual]

[biverbam]

"Not looking for favorites," she says simply. River doesn't even acknowledge surprise that someone is talking to her without knowingly broadcasting.

Hatch, lick, toss.

Then, as if in explanation, "It can hide in anything."

[visual]

[ltnuhura]

"What is it you're looking for?" she asks, wondering briefly what kind of treats River's hatching - she hasn't seen anything like it before.

[visual]

[biverbam]

"A lack."

She's not going into detail on what it is she wants the ice planets to not have. That would take too much explaining that River isn't quite up to the task of.

[visual]

[tothelibrary]

Holy crap, Dawn and River are spending five minutes apart! So this comes from Dawn's bedroom.

"Those look good. What are they?"

[visual]

[biverbam]

And here River thought she could surprise Dawn with ice cream. Now she actually does sound a little disappointed that she's broadcasting this whole thing.

"Ice planets."

[visual]

[tothelibrary]

She still can!

"Are those like... strangely spherical popsicles?"

[visual]

[biverbam]

But it's ruined now! There will be no shocked faces or explaining what it is as Dawn tries to eat it! Though, yes, there will still be a River showing up at the Summers' residence eventually with a few of these, un-melted and un-garbaged.

For now, though: hatch, lick, can.

"Ice planets." That means 'yes.'

[visual]

[tendstoramble]

Fred had actually watched the screen for a bit, trying to sort out exactly what River was doing, and had finally decided that the girl really wasn't doing anything complicated. But that was hardly polite to say!

"Some kind of ice cream experiment?" She finally asked, smiling absently. "Find anything good?"

[visual]

[biverbam]

"Yes," she says, followed by the thwhud of another one going into the trash.

"None are yet fit for human consumption."

[visual]

[machinesgoping]

Topher is watching. And confused. But those look kind of awesomely delicious.

"Heyy, you're the 'Swan Lake has 32' girl, right? What are those?"

[visual]

[biverbam]

"River," she corrects, firmly but not meanly. Having Topher pop up reminds her that she needs to find an empty warehouse with copious glowsticks so as to test his dancing skills later.

"Ice planets. Frozen confection of iced cream formed into a sphere on a string first marketed to the Allied planets in 2515." She pauses as she hatches, licks, and tosses another one. It looks like it was strawberry. "Weeding out the bad apples."

[machinesgoping]

Oops, he hadn't meant to remind her.

"Right, River, sorry."

"Wait - Allied planets? Like, all over the galaxy? Space travel? We're not quite there yet, in my time, but that is cool."

[biverbam]

Too late.

It takes her a moment, but she stops with the hatching and trashing to pick up the tablet and give Topher a Look. "In Taurus, left the was to become is," she says. Be careful. She might give an entire history of Earth-that-was and the migration and terraforming.