02 || River Tam || Day 55

[enchangement]

The air tastes strange. [ River knows the video is on but she's not looking at it, allowing instead for the broadcast to show the hallway of house seventeen in the waning afternoon light.

An arm reaches out and a door swings open to a bedroom. Bed rumpled and several books scattered around but otherwise empty.

They took him and she doesn't know when. They took a note, the whole song is wrong now.

[ River sounds exhausted. ]

The air tastes strange. All the notes should be careful and keep themselves in tune.

Comments

( video )

[rigging]

[ Warily: ] Be careful of what, though?

( video )

[enchangement]

Changes in the dynamic. Painful ruptures in continuity. A strong wind from the West.

[rigging]

... So we're talkin' something's gonna fuck us up soon, then. [ Sigh. ] Did y'get that from - from yer Spidey sense kinda thing?

video;

[facilitated]

[ Worried Laura is worried, so she replies quickly to this. Within seconds her feed flicks on, and she's locking curiously at the bedroom. ]

River, are you okay? Who's gone?

video;

[enchangement]

Mmmmmnrh. The worst question you know better than that.

They took Darwin.

video;

[mentis]

[ He doesn't have to be close to sense her distress. He'd like to be though, it's easier to stay on the same wavelength as she is in person. But still, he's frowning when the feed starts, mouth turned down slightly. ]

River, what's the matter?

video;

[enchangement]

Theystolehim and I didn't even notice. Rotten sense of sight.

video

[nevermindtherunning]

[He doesn't know this girl, hasn't met her yet, but can't help feeling a bit disturbed by her message. It hit far too close to home for him, Your song is ending, Doctor - that was his prophecy. Could she possibly be referring to it? Did she know something he didn't?]

I'm sorry, did you say song? In what relation do you mean 'song'?

video

[enchangement]

My song don't you dare ruin this for me my song with all your dissonant imperfect notes they ruined it!

( video )

[retrograding]

They took him. [ He repeats it. ] Who is him?

( video )

[enchangement]

Darwin.

He called her baby girl. He built himself from the dust by dust to dust he returned?

[video]

[tryingitall]

[That's an odd one. Balthazar can't even begin to determine what to make of the message itself. It's poetic, and angels aren't really built for poetry. Still, he can dimly gather distress or maybe grief from the words.]

Hello. Are you all right, darling? Anything I can help with? [It's a wary offer, but sincere, even in light of the possibly-unwelcome pet name attached.]

[video]

[enchangement]

Nooooooooooooot a good question, useful question, tick tock the brain is locked and nobody else can pay.

[ She doesn't seem to mind being called darling, at least. ] Can you make them give him back? What can you do? Truth, hark, or she'll find the note and sing it.

[dowhatisays]

Something wrong, sweetheart?

[enchangement]

Thieving lying huàidàn took her friend and she didn't even blink to notice. Did she fall asleep? Did she forget?

[video]

[designedtoparty]

Well, I see you're still weird as ever. What is this, a metaphorical kidnapping or a real one?

[video]

[enchangement]

Why would she turn it into a fable?! Your bulb shorts out just to start again, does it keep any light in there?

[undomesticated]

[The view didn't seem to be of someone's face, instead looking as though she was seeing it as the person walked, perhaps with their arm at their side. Riley didn't quite understand what the girl was saying, but she sounded tired and upset.]

Who took who?

[enchangement]

They took Darwin.

[video ; private]

[nedofpies]

River? Are you alright?

[video ; private]

[enchangement]

Noo. They stole him Ned. They stole him and she didn't see it.

[bonesandskin]

[ A soft frown as he follows the metaphor. Admittedly, he doesn't listen closely to most voices lately but River's is unique. ]

A note, as you say, can't help if it's spoke broke from the music box, love.

[enchangement]

They snapped it.

[ She takes a shaky breath and the camera gets buried in cloth as she covers her eyes. ]

They took him away.

[theassassin]

[Hello River. Natasha's expression is mostly neutral, though kind enough.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[enchangement]

Should've heard it coming, should've known, what use is measuring the damage once the damage is done?

Why...