taxonomites | [holo] if you tell me where you're going i'll tell you where you're bound

Simon is dragged into Taxon mid-eyebrow raise. "Yes, of course, captain." There's no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone. "And would you like me to--"

He breaks off, looking around. It only takes a moment for his expression to shift from barely contained irritation and impatience to worry. "River?"

That worry is slowly ratcheting up into panic. "Mei mei, answer me."

When no answer is forthcoming, Simon sags just a little, his face going grey. They can't have captured them. There had to have been a warning of some kind; it's not as if the Alliance can simply... take them, without anyone realizing. He has to push away the thoughts of what they did to River, the havoc they wreaked on her mind; if anyone could do it, it would be the Alliance. But he can't have failed her again.

"Tiānsà de èmó," he mutters, panic hardening into anger and resolve. If the gŏushĭ bùrú Alliance is behind this, he'll find a way to get her out, again. He'll do anything to keep River safe.

Glancing around, he sees the tablet, and slips it in his pocket before heading down the steps and towards the door.

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She will not go quietly into that good lap.

River is thrashing and straining, mewling like a cat dumped in a full bathtub and kicking the air. Doing what she can to get up and break things, "I have to, Simon. She's out there, she's there and everything she sees is fire. Everything is--" Nothing she does would hurt him at all, though there's a thought that bubbles up from the bottom (move just so, jab back, knock him out) concerning it that terrifies her.

Eventually, though, she sags back against him, still muttering, "Waves, it comes in waves and when she screams the walls of Jericho could fall," through tears and rocking her head back against his chest. Still straining, still anything but still, but she's resigned now.

Simon's prepared for her to accidentally hurt him; the lack of, say, elbows to the face is comforting, however.

He strokes her hair, still rocking River gently, whispering comforting nonsense until she's somewhat quieter.

"I'll keep us safe. I promise you."

There isn't even an accidental elbow in his ribs. All her efforts involve pushing arms out and torso back. It doesn't do much good, but that matters less by the time she's settled and slumped against him, arms and legs and back slack even though her muscles are still tensing with anxiety.

"Bù néng," and River whimpers it more than says it. She doesn't want to sit here and tear down his promises like tissue paper, but it's already said and she just shakes and tries to turn her head so her face is against his shirt. Just like the ones she made, but better.

River isn't sure why she's crying at this point. Shame or relief or guilt or gladness or fear, or all of it chewed up and spit in her face. Maybe it's just the pain in her foot as bruises blossom on heel and arch and toe. Whichever it is, she's going to curl up there and wait for it to pass.

Edited 2009-07-25 09:31 (UTC)

"Yes, I can. I will." He holds her tighter, one hand clasped to the back of River's head like he can force her to believe it through simple force of will. "We'll stay here until it's safe, River."

The crying makes Simon ache, makes him need to shut his eyes for a moment and just breathe-- this is what he's done, leaving her alone-- before he just tightens his grip again, kissing the top of her head.

"I'm here now."

One day, he can have it clarified for him for the sake of easing his sister-crushing guilt, that getting taken by aliens doesn't mean he left her.

That day is not today.

Minutes pass, and at this point River's mumblings can probably be counted as her just saying words even for the common themes. Ants, fire, destruction, empty, fakefakefake... But she clings and the minutes pass and eventually it all dries up and Simon has a pile of River in his lap. Not exactly calm, but she's still and that's something.

And after that day, he will continue to feel guilty regardless. Sorry, River. Your brother is a big dummy.

That River pile is just fine. Simon rocks her a little, sighing. Whatever has happened, it's not good. And despite the obviously urgent need for medicine, he can't (won't) leave her alone like this. Serenity and Inara can wait a bit longer.

He is. Ginormous dummy, in fact. She will have to remind him of this multiple times and in many different languages.

There are another few minutes of stillness, of blessed quiet after what can most kindly be called screeching, and River twitches and tenses through them well enough before choking out another, "duì bu qǐ," as she tries to rearrange herself into less of a pile and more of a sister. A girl that sits and is sorry for being a pile of unhelpful and crazy.

Because obviously what these two need more of between them right now is guilt and apologies.

Oh, joy. Onto the castigation portions of tonight's show.

"Dummy." Simon whispers it softly, still stroking River's back and rocking her gently, sighing a little as the uncooperative bundle of limbs is less bathed cat and more little sister again. "I'll always take care of you."

Oh, obviously.

[holo] if you tell me where you're going i'll tell you where you're bound

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