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Post by River Tam on May 28, 2011 10:42:16 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
She leans against the wall behind her, one foot on the ground, the other leg bent at a ninety-degree angle, foot on the wall. River listens, standing just out of sight of the senior, as Robin makes her dealings. It seems almost like a drug deal, the way her roommate handles it. Handing the girl money and energy for snow… Odd.
River flinches as Sara’s roommate screeches from inside the room. God, do all teenage girls have to be so loud and shrill? Sara wishes Robin a merry Christmas, and then the door swings shut. The barefoot brunette drops her right foot back to the floor and pads over to her friend.
“Okay, it’s snowing. What now? Any other plans for your Christmas Extravaganza? Maybe a musical, complete with dancing mice and singing cats?” Every word simply drips with sarcasm, but River wouldn’t put it past Robin to actually round up some animals and have them put on a full-blown production of ‘The Nutcracker Suite’. That might be interesting to see-- Christina Ann Robins trying to get a hundred or so mice into matching little costumes without having the cats gobble them up.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on May 28, 2011 10:57:23 GMT -5
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“Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.”
::::::::::::::::: Robin, slightly tired now from helping Sara out, puts a thinking face on at River's words. Mice... musical... hmm... "Nope, no time," Robin said, cheerfuly, but with a slight sense of mourning. That'd be way too difficult, although very, very, cool. Now was the time for... "Now, since Christmas is the time to spend with family, and since our families are way too far away-- we must spend it with our adopted family," Robin said solemnly. Not able to stop herself, she grinned momentarily, saying, "Well, actually, more of friends. These people at this academy are definitely interesting. Geez," Robin shook her head mockingly. "One day, we're going to blow ourselves up or something-- but not today!" And with that, Robin pulled out a huge bag from seemingly nowhere, and reached inside, pulling out a wrapped present from the bottom. "Merry Christmas, River," she said cheerfully, handing the older girl the wrapped gift. |
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Post by River Tam on May 28, 2011 11:07:48 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
If no time really was the only reason for not putting on a show, then she’d like to see what Robin does with her spare time. Well, besides jumping off roofs, that is.
Inwardly, she flinches at Robin’s mention of ‘family’. For just a moment, she wonders what her parents are doing right now. Eight hours in the future means that they’re probably doing something like going out to lunch, opening presents, etc. Or maybe nothing at all.
River half-laughs. “Yeah, I wouldn’t put it past you to make a bomb out of newspaper and string. Or maybe even just newspaper.”
“Where’d you get that bag from?!” She walks around Robin, looking for a hidden door, a gap in the wall, even a trap door in the ceiling. Nothing. When she completes her slow circle, she finds herself face-to-face with a brightly wrapped box. With a bow, no less. River looks warily at it. “This isn’t going to blow up, is it?”
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on May 28, 2011 11:39:39 GMT -5
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“A true friend never breaches the trust of his companion or stabs in his back. He is trustworthy and reliable. One should therefore always try to be a true and reliable friend. ”
::::::::::::::::: Robin stared down at the present, tilting her head to the side as she examined it-- thinking for a moment. Shaking it for a second, listening, Robin glanced back up at River shaking her head. "No, I'm pretty sure that it won't explode." But she considered it, and that made Robin smile slightly. "Go on," She handed it to River who had been eying it it nervously. "Open it. I promise it won't..." She thought about bite, then dissagreed with herself inwardly. "...er, hurt you badly?" Thinking about how weird that sounded, Robin quickly added as she folded her hands behind her back, dancing on the balls of her feet from one foot to the other, "If you don't like it, I'll take it back. I just thought you needed a companion. Someone who could understand you, when you don't want to talk to anyone else." |
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Post by River Tam on May 28, 2011 15:22:35 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
Still not quite sure that it’s not going to detonate, she takes the package, feeling guilty for not getting Robin something (and vowing to go out and buy her something as soon as she can slip away). She’s not good at the whole “meaningful home-made gift” thing.
The bow comes off first, with a gentle snap of tape. She then slides her fingers underneath a corner of wrapping paper, wondering what in the world it might be. A companion? Hard to wrap up a person…
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on May 28, 2011 18:45:10 GMT -5
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“My dog, she looks at me sometimes with that look, and I think maybe deep down inside she must know exactly how I feel. But then maybe she just wants the food off my plate.”
::::::::::::::::: River had never talked about having any family, and Robin had never intruded or gotten any new information-- except for a moment of weakness from River a long time ago in September, Robin recieved a nasty bruise on her head from the sheer wave of emotion that had taken a swing at her while reaching for a mug in a top shelf. So, Robin assumed that either one.) River didn't have any family. two.) she couldn't go to her family. So, Robin was going to add to this temporary family of one-- with a puppy! She had carefully cut holes in the bottom of the present, and kept the small no-shed-dog well concealed in her room, although there had been several close calls when Robin simply couldn't help not loving on the cute fluffy thing and taking it outside. The breed-- well, River would know. This dog would grow up to be quite big, friendly, didn't shed-- and, well, Robin had one herself so she knew that they were friendly! Tersly watching River open the box, Robin danced on the balls of her feet, cheerfully and nervously adding, "Well, if you don't want her, I'll take her!" |
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Post by River Tam on May 29, 2011 8:53:32 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
River snaps off the last piece of tape and the paper falls to the ground. She wiggles her fingers under the cardboard flaps, feeling something warm, furry, and-- oh, hello there-- wet. Now extremely curious, she pries open the box…
“Oh my god, Robin!” she squeals, a very un-River-ish sound. Looking up at her with large, warm brown eyes sits the tiniest, most absolutely adorably puppy she’d ever seen. The chocolate-brown labradoodle puppy sticks out her tongue and licks the tip of River’s nose, bringing a laugh from the girl.
“Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” Mission accomplished, Agent Robins. Christmas Cheer restored. River scoops the pup out of her box. “Wait here.” she says to her friend, and, without waiting for an answer, dashes off with the dog in her arms.
Stop one-- dorm! River wraps a ribbon around the bog’s neck as a collar, then fastens a belt to the ribbon as a leash. From underneath her bed she pulls fifty dollars, then races out of the room.
Stop two-- store! You haven’t had good hot chocolate until you’ve tried Cadbury Drinking Chocolate. But it’s hard to find, unless you live in England. Luckily for River (and, in turn, Robin), there’s a little hole-in-the-wall place that sells it, and cheap.
River races out of the school and hails a cab at the street. She directs the balding cabbie to the street, and in just a few minutes, the taxi pulls up outside of the shop. After thanking the cabbie, she goes inside and buys the largest tub of hot-chocolate powder in the place, which the salesgirl happily wraps.
Back outside, River is pleased to see the cabbie still there. After a quick jaunt back to the school, she stands in front of Robin, handing her the colorful package.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on May 31, 2011 16:11:33 GMT -5
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“People get so in the habit of worry that if you save them from drowning and put them on a bank to dry in the sun with hot chocolate and muffins they wonder whether they are catching cold.”
::::::::::::::::: Yay~! She liked it! Robin had been personally scared River would be politely enthusiastic, and not want a dog at all. After all-- some dogs can be expensive-- and grumpy. But after carefully analyzing all the auras of the different pups in the pound, and squealing when she realized that she knew the breed of this particular dog-- it looked like this was going to be a great match-up. And the squeal from River was a bonus. Half wishing she had video-taped this so the community of you-tube could see this normally sullen girl's face light up-- Robin flashed a grin, the moment of Christmas spirit restoration instantly spiking the blonde's energy levels again. "So you like her-- River?" River was gone, racing down the hallway. Er, okay. Leaning back against the wall and crossing her arms patiently, Robin smiled and closed her eyes-- living in the Christmas spirit. It was the most wonderful time of the year, no joke. It took Robin about two minutes to get too hyped up to sit there, and start to bounce around the corridor and look out the windows-- excitedly eying the gradually growing amount of snow, and wondrous crowds of sleepy kids emerging from their dorms only half-dressed. Wow. I will get River in an official snow-ball fight, Robin thought determinedly. And maybe Nik, if I can wing it.Then River was back, boots barely soaked from the snow outside. "Aw, you went outside for me?" Robin clapped, looking touched-- not noticing the present. "It's a wet start-- and I'll take it." Hugs. |
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Post by River Tam on May 31, 2011 19:29:10 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
“Well, I wasn’t out for long.” she says, slightly impatiently. Why doesn’t she take the present? It’s like two feet from her face. Yoo-hoo! Robin! You in there?
And as for the wetness on her feet… She’s fighting hard-- really, really hard-- not to drop to the floor right then and there, rip the leather boots off of her feet and peel off her socks. The wetness disgusts her. But she knows that with people waking, they’re bound to track snow (which will melt into water) into the halls, which she will then step in, which will be entirely awful on her bare feet.
River shakes the present slightly, hoping the gentle schick of the powdered mix will bring Robin to attention. Just in case her friend doesn’t get the hint, River lifts the thing, holding it up to about two inches from Robin’s nose.
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Post by Christina Ann Robins on Jun 2, 2011 17:13:35 GMT -5
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“It (mercury) could be taken internally, for example: one eighteenth-century recipe called for mixing the liquid metal with hot chocolate, though the author cautioned against this exotic beverage because he felt that the "chocolate" was too dangerous.”
::::::::::::::::: Blink. Wow, sudden colors. Robin blinked rapidly as the lines of the extremely bright colors of the present blurred into a shape of a present. Oh. Present! How could she have not noticed it before? And the girl probably would not have noticed it if River hadn't put it rigth in front of her face. Yeah. Robin took it, slightly suprised that River could have gotten out that fast and come back with wrapped present. Maybe she got it from the room? Or maybe she just knew the town really well, or--okay, FOCUS, Robin. Mentally smacking herself for not being able to stay on topic for more than two seconds, Robin slid her fingers under the crease in the box-- the clear thin plastic tape giving a snap as she poped the lid off the box. Okay, huge cylinder. This was strange, although slightly familer. Cadbury Drinking Chocolate, it read-- along with a fancy picture of a mug with swirly colors in it. Drinking chocolate? Was this liquified chocolate or something? Or... or... think, Robin, think--Ooooooooooooohhhhh! Robin's eyes widened, and she raised her eyebrows. This was one huge bucket of hot-chocolate, aka drinking chocolate. Must be British."Thank you!" Robin raced over and hugged River as hard as she could. " YAY~! I'm going to make some now, this'll last me forever." And Robin darted back down the hall, all previous thoughts about trying to drag River outside or perhaps something like that gone. Yay for Prioritization. |
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Post by River Tam on Jun 2, 2011 17:27:10 GMT -5
RIVER TAM
I’ve seen all of creation, but to it I’m incidental
But there’s more to this automaton than they will ever know
I’m more than just alloys and circuits, I have soul
And I’ve got dreams just like everybody else
I could conquer the world if I could conquer myself
“You’re welco--“ Her words are cut off as Robin’s arms practically squeeze the life out of her. River awkwardly pats her friend’s lower back, as her arms are trapped by her sides.
She beams as the blonde dashes off, gigantic tub of powder looking completely normal in the school hallway. Robin seems to like it-- good.
River reaches down and rubs the top of her pup’s head, still unsure of what to name her, and then starts off behind Robin, albeit at a slower, more relaxed pace.
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