paradisalogs | Run little girl, as fast as you can.

Who: River, anyone but eventually Simon
What: River runs through the castle, exploring the two place and getting to know the world with her feet.
When: Most of Monday 3/18
Where: basically everywhere she ca get into.
Rating: PG

River is running.She's not running from anything, she's just running. Her feet drag her through the castle, racing up and down hallways and through the library and anywhere else her body decides to go.

She's grinning wide and when she's not actively ruing, she's dancing her way through the rooms and corridors.

Since she arrived, it's been a decent few days. She's found places to find and people to trust and people who may not be trustworthy but are interesting.

Which, while not perfect, is good enough for her.

She'll eventually find herself at Simon's door, having run around for most of the day, but that won't be until late in the night. She'll stand there for a while, unsure of the proper ways to enter the room of the man who should be her brother.

Eventually, she'll just enter, pushing open the door and, if he's not there, she'll settle on his bed, closing her eyes and just existing amongst his things until he gets back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Simon places his hands on the side of his sister's head, looking into her eyes, resolving then and there to do everything he could to find a way to remove the block on her mind, the empty space where he once was.

He then leans in and softly kisses her forehead.

"Sleep," he whispers. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

She smiles a little, studying is face and nodding her head. "You too. Dream sweet."

She densest pull away until he does and then she curls up in the bed, closing her eyes and letting herself sink into his thoughts.

And Simon pulls a chair up to the bed and watches River sleep for a while, knowing he probably won't be getting much sleep himself tonight, before he finally finds himself leaning against the bed and dozing off- which is where she will still find him, fast asleep, the next morning.

She stirs, waking up slowly for once. It's a strange thing, to not be woken with nightmares but the castle filled her head with thought,s pushing out her own in the night.

Staring at him for a moment, he smiles softly, shaking her head and slipping out from under the covers. She doesn't wake him, not at first. Instead she takes the time to look at how he fits with the rest of the room, how he's a perfect match to everything else in here.

Finally, she moves close to him again, reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder, an attempt to gently rouse him so he an, at the very least, get on the bed properly.

Simon moans softly, but it's a moment before he stirs awake, wondering briefly why he feels a little uncomfortable before remembering... yes.

He opens his eyes, sits up, and gives his sister a small, weary smile.

"Did you sleep well?" he asks, his voice a groggy murmur.

"Well enough," she informs. Then she proceeds to tug lightly at him, her gaze going between her brother and the bed.

"You should go to bed."

Simon is rubbing his eyes tiredly as she says this, then stops and shakes his head.

"...I'm fi-" He then stops himself, because, well, there's no point in lying to her, he realizes. "... Okay. I'll sleep a little more. I don't have to work until later, anyway..."

He stands up, stretching his cramped muscles some more, before quickly changing into his pajamas, sitting back down next to his sister, smiling softly at her.

"Are you going to stay with me?"

She considers the question, then nods. It's safe where she is, peaceful and although he doesn't feel like her brother, she can feel that she feels like his sister.

"If it's all right." She knows it will be but she's giving him a chance to say no, just in case.

"Always." He then pulls back the covers and climbs in beside her without further hesitation, feeling strangely content after the whirlwind of emotions of the previous evening. "I just want you to feel comfortable and happy, River. That's all I could ever desire."

She nods, curling up next to him and getting comfortable. "I can try," she says quietly. "Not great at being happy tut I can always try."

"I know, meimei."

He accompanies his words with a soft kiss on her forehead. It's the first time he's used that affectionate term for her, hoping it will spark something inside of her, even though he knows things that are lost can't be recovered so easily.

Simon then closes his eyes.

"Nobody can be perfect or happy all of the time. All we can do is try our best- and know that no matter what happens, if we have good days or bad days, if it sometimes doesn't work... I will love you just as much as I always have, from the first moment I held you."

She nods her head, listening to his words and letting them wrap around her. There's so much love there, so much care and honesty that it makes her want to cry. She wants to be what this man needs, wants to give him his sister back but she doesn't think she can,.

"You're a good man," she says quietly, nesting close. "You are always worth remembering."

Even if she can't, even if he's lost to her forever, he has to know that she didn't do it intentionally.

"Thank you, River," Simon whispers, already beginning to feel himself drifting off again. He was tired, bone-weary, but as usual, taking care of- worrying about- River had come first. Had to.

But this time, his own tiredness is making him fall asleep right here, as much as he tries to stop it.

"I love you," he murmurs, his voice thick.

She moves, kissing him on the forehead, lingering there afterward. "Sleep," she whispers against his skin. She knows he's tired and knows he needs it. She'll be there until he stirs again and they can try learning how to be a family.

Run little girl, as fast as you can.

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