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[ Wanda leaves River to explore the new rooms once she has the immediate problem of food and clothes sorted. The apartment has windows; it's on the smaller side but quiet. Not too far from the city; anything can happen in Hadriel. She would know from the broadcast of minds, but it is better to rely on many sources of input. ]

[ She knocks, calling into the house, ]

I brought lunch. You should eat while it's hot.

[ River has been twirling around in a circle until she's dizzy, waiting for the world to right itself again. Is it real? Is it true? Wanda seems too good to be, but there's Simon here too, his worry like a smooth stone in her hand.

She hears him asking for information, being told the words on the pages mean little to nothing, she hears him speak to Wanda, she hears and it's good. It's really good that they met, that River has this weight of knowing in her hands, that this place is real.

Everything about it feels impossible, and yet here they are.

When Wanda calls inside River comes running. ]

We should feed Simon too.

[He's been nothing but worried for so long now it seems like it's just his natural state. Worried about the Alliance coming for them, worried about her and what they did to her, worry for what might happen if something happened to him--it's hard not to worry. And even though he sees how good this has been for her, how good Wanda has been for her, there's still worry. Of course there is. She's his little sister.

But then, he does like Wanda, and he likes the way River is around her. Even if they're having a conversation he can't ever really listen in on, even if it makes him a little jealous, he's still even more relieved for her. It shows in the way he walks into the first room of the house as Wanda calls inside, a few steps behind River as always.]

I'm touched you remembered I need to eat, too.

Wanda, thank you. You didn't have to.

[ Simon's worry announces him. Wanda is pulling away lightly on the cloth covering the basket, to let the aroma drift through the house. It's bread and soup, a very simple meal, but there's enough portion to last them the entire day. ]

[ She shoots Simon a mock-admonishing look, but it fades away; it is difficult not to smile around River and the deluge of joy that is bearing down on Wanda. She returns it. ]

You're welcome. There should be plates in the cupboard.

[ River gives Simon a rather unimpressed look. ]

Sometimes the necessity of it all is forgotten in a wash and a chime. Depends on the southeasternly winds.

[ Besides, the soup smells good and River tilts herself forward a bit to sniff at it, 100% certain that tasks such as gathering dishes are best left to her brother. ]

[There's the tiniest wave of chagrin from him. She's right. There have been enough times that he's so lost in work he forgets to eat. He remembers long nights studying for finals during the Before, when the only times he ate was when River brought him a plate, the way she'd taken care of him the way he takes care of her now.]

[It does smell good, though; he's with River on that. Beckoning them to follow him back to their smallish kitchen and dining area, he leads the way.]

Speaking of washing--River, why don't you wash up while Wanda and I get the table set?

[See? He already knows what to do.]

[ Their love for each other is strong, and Wanda is trying not to eavesdrop, or be envious. It is a small chance Pietro will show, after all, and she has never set much of herself into hoping. She picks up the basket and follows Simon to the kitchen. ]

[ At mention of washing up, River runs off to do just that; once her hands are dry, instead of making a beeline for the food she rushes up to Wanda and wraps thin arms around the other woman's waist. Knowing the other woman makes her so happy for so many reasons, it hurts to know she's unhappy at the loss of her brother.

Understandable. But hurts.

River radiates love for Wanda of the same color and strain as that for Simon, but it is also different. River wants to be like Wanda, to be powerful and sure (sometimes) and beautiful always. She doesn't want her jiě jie to be sad. Not for anything.

Then Simon gets a hug too, because she's glad he's here. As much as she's sure his being here is her fault. ]

Edited 2016-08-15 06:22 (UTC)

[Simon looks up from his fetching of flatware in time to see River hug Wanda, enthusiastic and affectionate as she so rarely is. There's a brief flash of jealousy--how could he not, seeing Wanda manage in days what he's been unable to do in years--quickly followed by a spasm of guilt and shame at the knowledge that both women feel every part of it. It's not very doctorly of him. It's not very brotherly, either.

But then River's hugging him, too, and how could that not help? How could he ever feel those kinds of things? She's his sister, and even if he can't help in his ways, he'll be there regardless. He won't leave. Even if the sky falls and the stars go out.

He's conscious of the silence in a way that neither of the other two are.]

So. Hungry?

Oh —

[ Abrupt surprise and delight suffuse Wanda as she hugs River back, and tucks away stray strands of hair to kiss her forehead. The grief will always be in her, but there are moments where it feels pared down into atoms, something that exists instead of swallows. ]

[ It may not be very charitable of him, but Wanda expects no one to be charitable. ]

I will get the glasses. The water I brought is boiled, so do not worry.

[ They're both so sad, for reasons she can't control; River can't even begin to explain how this place is different from being at home, how meeting another Reader or Telepath or whatever people like her might be called has made things...more real, more centered and cemented and allowed her to focus on the outside instead of the inner turmoil in her brain.

She doesn't want Simon to be envious, but she understands. She doesn't want Wanda to be sad, but her brother isn't here, and won't be there when she goes home. ]

There was a suggestion - a promise? To show Simon the bridging of the minds. Can we? Today?

[ She looks over to Simon, and nods. ]

If he wants. Perhaps it is not a good idea to do it after a meal.

[ She can't predict any of the effects, but she also certainly doesn't want him throwing up all over the floor. ]

[He might not understand the how of it all, but he can't argue with the results, and he can't deny how glad he is seeing some measure of the sister he knew beginning to surface again. She's there in all the little things, and Wanda has helped to bring her back, and he can never ever be mad about that. He just...wishes he'd been able to do more to help. That he could ever do more than stabilize, offer narcotic support. River is special. Wanda sees that, is special in her own right. He respects and appreciates that.

Looking up from setting their places, from waiting for the two of them to settle in (he'll never be the first to sit, not when there's guests), he looks between the women, following a conversation he already knows is out of his depth.]

Why? Are there...side effects I should be concerned about?

[Not for them, obviously. They're fine with it. He's just...not like them.]

That is it: I don't know. I've never done it before.

[ She flashes Simon a brief smile. ]

I do not know if it will be painful for you to experience. Or how disorienting.

[ Simon isn't hers to keep safe, but he's River's, and River is Wanda's, so Simon is Wanda's, too. ]

One reality overlapping another lived sensation of thinking and being, the connection between memory and thought...

[ River's expression is more rueful. ]

You might be sick.

Ah.

[Plain words. A translation of what's being said between the lines. Simon always appreciates that from River. Taking a breath, he gestures.]

Well, if I am, it wouldn't be the first time. But it might be rude to waste your gift, Wanda. You're right. Maybe before we eat? Or wait a bit after?

[Like the old myth about waiting thirty minutes to go swimming after you eat, he thinks.]

I am in no hurry. What would you like to do?

Food is important. [ River is fairly nonplussed at the idea of Simon being sick. Maybe if he kept his eyes closed it wouldn't matter. ] Family is important and the balance hangs between the new and old idea of what it is to be. Family.

After?

[Could be just like a fair ride. One of the ones where they put on an optical illusion. There's tricks to surviving those, he thinks. Maybe they'll work the same.]

I'll be fine, River.

[He may not be psychic, but he knows her expressions.]

After is fine. If it's important, it's important enough to do properly, right?

[ Maybe. The sensation was overwhelming for her at first, perhaps there'll be an opportunity to accustom him to it. ]

Then, let's eat.

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