(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

He's not quite ready for bed when he hears the very faint sound of River's door sliding open and shut again.

"River?"

He steps out of his own door and across the hallway to open hers, peering in.

"Meimei, what's wrong?"

Comments

[river_meimei]

She shakes her head, eyes closing.

Whispered, "Nothing."

River is a really bad liar sometimes.

[simon_doctor]

"River, talk to me --"

He sits down on the bed next to her, and brushes a trailing strand of hair out of her face.

"Were you crying?"

[river_meimei]

She leans into him, just slightly.

She doesn't answer.

She doesn't really need to, though; her face is blotchy, streaked with tears and snot. Someone's made a good effort at wiping them away, but it still shows.

[simon_doctor]

It was a good effort. Simon repeats it, with a corner of River's blanket, and hugs her.

"It's okay, meimei."

[river_meimei]

Her arms wind around his neck.

(One person can't just fix another.)

A shaky sigh, and a small, uncertain nod.

[simon_doctor]

After a few moments, he draws back enough to look her in the face.

"Did something happen?"

[river_meimei]

She's shaking her head, not quite looking at him.

"Look in the dictionary. Just words. Rewrite the sentences and nothing changes."

And then she brightens a little, and does look him in the face.

"Simon. Fixed it."

[simon_doctor]

"...fixed what, River?"

[river_meimei]

"Jubal Early." Duh.

Her cheer is a little wan, but it's genuine.

"Anthy helped."

[simon_doctor]

"...I see. What, ah, what did she do?"

[river_meimei]

River brightens a bit more.

"He makes a very nice frog." Smugly, "I was right."

[simon_doctor]

Simon chokes.

"He what?"

[river_meimei]

River waits patiently for Simon to recover.

[simon_doctor]

"Anthy."

Pause.

"Turned him."

Pause.

"Into a frog?"

[river_meimei]

"He's much less intimidating. He croaks."

[simon_doctor]

Another pause.

And then Simon begins to laugh helplessly.

[river_meimei]

River beams proudly.