we're all just kids who grew up way too fast;

[thoughts]

CHARACTERS: river tam and you! this is open to everyone ever.
LOCATION: the gardens
WARNINGS: only the general creepifyin' stuff for this one, i think!
SUMMARY: when the going gets sleepy, the insomniacs get going. river has more time on her hands and that means more time to explore the gardens and collect "supplies" for questionable things. this is a good place to be.
NOTES: this a catch-all for garden interactions in september. give me a nudge if you want to plot something specific out, but they can totally just bump into each other as well!


[ she doesn't mind the sleeplessness. to the contrary, she's happy for it, so terrified was she last month of going to sleep and never waking up again. this is the opposite and her body aches for it, it groans in the mornings and tenses at night and her brain reminds her that neither are really happening. time is lost between sleep cycles that never come, which means time is all they have left.

which is fine by her. she can hunt down her wayward fox, assuming it would look for something natural to burrow into. she can seek out flowers for her delusions of grandeur, because nothing is ever going to be as good as it has been. or, alternatively, she can just sit and watch and wait for nothing.

nothing is fine. nothing is better than the monsters that are waiting around the corner. join her for a bit of rest without resting. it's what all the cool kids are doing these days. ]

Comments

[thoughts]

[ river follows the source of sound ( like always, because sound comes from everywhere by mostly from within ) and looks up from the flowers when she hears a happy nibble. there's an automatic smile for merlin, because merlin is good and bright and she loves the moon so much more than the sun. but there are dark sides on him too, little craters under his eyes - a lot like hers, because it seems like no one is sleeping lately and isn't that brilliant? ]

My Lord.

[ she stands, stumbling into a shaky curtsy he might not even be able to see, and then ducks her head to watch the horse eat. ]

You're always taking care of troubles - troublesome brats. I think he likes it.

[ a lot like someone else in that respect. ]

[servant]

My Lady.

[Merlin returns their playful greeting, bowing his head before he does a subtle assessment of her. She looks tired - exhausted, really. But she also looks happy. He starts when she wobbles a little, gradually relaxing when she doesn't fall down.]

It is my fate. And possibly my recompense.

[He smiles as he watches her.]

Now I know how my mother must've felt.

[Merlin crouches down, stroking Llamrei's neck idly.]

How're you feeling?

[thoughts]

[ she laughs lightly, imagining hunith's chiding tone and seeing eyes full of love and adoration. merlin is magical in a thousand different ways; she watches him soothing the horse for a second before looking up to respond. ]

Better. Today is a good day.

[ because it's no different from all the rest. a return to normalcy in its wrongness. ]

Even if he ate my flowers.

[servant]

Blóstma.

[He can give those back to her. The flowers bloom, delicate pinks and reds that spread around them.]

There we are. At least I can still right one wrong on this ship. Do you mind if I ask why this is such a good day for you?

[thoughts]

[ she inhales audibly as the flowers bloom, eyes lighting up like the night sky. slender fingers brush the petals gently, like she's afraid to break the spell, and then she smiles up at merlin absolutely delighted. ]

Because you're here.

[ she picks on of the ones that survived llamrei's feasting, a faint rouge somewhere between pink and purple, and offers it to him. ]

And there are flowers.