love keeps her in the air

[soulmakingsound]

Who: River Tam (soulmakingsound) & Open To All
What: Starting a new life
When: Anytime during September
Where: In and around Olympia
Warning(s): Possible trigger warnings for past psychological abuse



[i. The Simwe Institute: The Library in Evras's Research Centre]

Now that they're more settled and have found a house, River has decided that she should contribute to the house funds. Though housing is free for a month, there is still food and clothing to consider, and rent past the first month. So after a bit of hunting around and dozens and dozens of questions asked, she's managed to find herself a position as a Cataloguer.

Which is all well and good, but also a bit distracting, because she's found several books that interest her. These are stacked next to her at the reference desk. She'll answer your question in a moment, let her finish this page.


[ii. The Housing District: Possibly Your House]

It seems as though she's talked to so many people, now, that live in Olympia. But talking over the network and meeting face to face are very different things. So River, thinking logically, figures that if she systematically knocks on doors of the houses nearby, she will surely find someone she's spoken to.

Or maybe someone entirely new.


[iii. The Market]

She hasn't seen a marketplace like this. Not since Osiris, where resources were more plentiful. Most of the planets she's visited had backwater little towns with tiny tourist shops attempting to sell homemade goods. But this? This is fantastic. Almost overwhelming.

She wanders from booth to booth, touching fabrics, dipping her fingers in bags of grain or seed just to enjoy the sensation of it. She may not buy anything, but she can still appreciate.


[iv. Wildcard]
If you have an idea, hmu on my ooc inbox or on plurk at wherethefigslie

Comments

iii. The Market

[companioning]

Just like River, Inara had decided that she needed to find a job. She had lots of skills to draw upon, but she didn't think that being a Companion in such a place would be looked upon favorably. Back home it was one thing to be a Companion, it was a respectable occupation. It was prestigious and well, she knew that in many worlds, it would not have been kindly looked upon.

It wasn't that she was embarrassed by what she had done, in fact, she was rather proud of her profession. She just knew that building a client base and then getting around mindsets would take time, time that she perhaps did not have.

And so she had found a job at a small stall in the marketplace that sold loose herbs and a small selection of teas. She'd already began mixing different herbs together for a larger assortment of teas and business had started picking up.

She had just finished helping a customer find a mixture that would help them sleep at night when she saw River a few stalls over. She smiled at the customer and then wiping her hands on the apron she wore over her pretty dress, she stepped out from behind the stall and moved to meet her young roommate.

"River, darling. What are you doing?"

[soulmakingsound]

"Exploring." She currently has her fingers in a bag of rice and is wiggling them. Which she feels doesn't matter, since they're going to be cooked anyway. But she'll buy it, she supposes, if she must. Rice is a safe food.

"Owning a business suits you well. Though you've always been your own boss, to some extent."

[companioning]

"And have you found anything of interest?"

Inara's eyebrows lift a little and she shook her head. "I don't own this stall... Though I think I've managed to bring more business to it." She sighs and looks back to it. "But, I think I might have to open my own shop because I have a lot of ideas and the stall's owner isn't exactly open to them all."

[soulmakingsound]

"If you bring more business to it, it should be yours." Her logic is infallible. Numbers do not lie.

"You should. Once we're further settled and established, you should break out on your own. Bring customers over from this stall. If they're loyal, they'll spread the word."

i.

[warhorns]

[... Robb has patience, but it only extends so far. He's been told to wait once already, but he's trying again.]

Are you here to help or not?

[soulmakingsound]

[Well, not if he's going to be rude.

She turns the page slowly, making a show of marking it with a sheet of notebook paper before she closes the book at looks up.]

And how can I help you?

[warhorns]

[Robb folds his arms, frustrated with this girl.]

I'm seeking a map. Of this land.

[soulmakingsound]

More specificity is required. Of Olympia as a core city, or of Olympia and the surrounding lands, or of the isles as a whole... [She trails off, spreading her hands in question.]

ii

[seeingscarlet]

River...?

[Maybe she should ask how River found out where she lives, but instead Wanda's stepping out of the doorway and beckoning her into her apartment.]

Are you all right?

[soulmakingsound]

[Oh, she's enchanted. Especially by the fairy lights. They make her think of Kaylee's bunk, and she's peering past Wanda to try and get a better look]

I am introducing myself to new neighbours. But I know you already, so hello again. Your apartment is lovely. It looks like a home.

[seeingscarlet]

In Olympia? Or did you move into this building too?

[She smiles warmly - this is a place she feels safe now, and she's tried so hard to make it feel like home. One day Pietro will wake up, but until then it's her job to make a place for them. She can keep going as long as the Natha keep him safe.

There's always a strand of sadness in her mind as long the twins are kept apart, but she's filled the house with things that make her feel cozy and safe. Like the fairy lights.

...and the little cat that comes trotting out of her bedroom to investigate the new arrival.]

[soulmakingsound]

One of the starter houses, with a friend. I work at the library. [The moment she sees the cat, River is on her knees, reaching past Wanda's legs to great the curious little creature with a pleased coo.]

It seems as though you have a friend, as well. I haven't seen a cat since -- [Since before everything. Her expression falls a little, but she concentrates on softly touching the top of the cat's head.] You don't get many cats on Rim planets. More of a Core luxery. The Rim has working animals. Cattle, horses.

ii.

[america]

[ Well, the apartment is kind of a half-wrecked mess as of present-day (due to dragon antics and their neighbours disappearing), but at least the front door still works.

And hey, Steve Rogers just so happens to be home when River knocks on the door. ]

Hi. [ He doesn't recognize her, and he gives their general surroundings a very quick scan in case there's some less benevolent reason for this visit. ] Can I help you?

[soulmakingsound]

[Oh, how odd. Obviously, Bucky had said that he'd be living with someone, with some friends, but for some reason she hadn't expected someone else to open the door.

She squints, wary and suspicious, as she lingers by the door.]

Bucky said he was living with people. By process of elimination, you must be Steve. Unless Peggy is a boy's name, where you're from.

Jayne is a man's name, I've ceased questioning gendered naming conventions.

[america]

No, no, you got it right the first time. I am Steve.

[ The fact that she knows Bucky has him relaxing his shoulder a little, but he remains by the door unmoving. ]

I'm afraid Bucky isn't in right now. He might be at one of his usual haunts, if you're looking for him.

[soulmakingsound]

A friend will suffice for the time being. I wanted to meet you all, too. See who Bucky's been talking about. [She offers her hand, stiff and formal, the gesture awkward and unpracticed. It's been a while since she's met anyone new, at least properly.

Being startled out of cryo while naked isn't conducive to proper greetings.]

River Tam. I'm glad Bucky has people.

iii.

[mollymocked]

[It's impossible to miss a horned purple person in a gaudy coat even if he wasn't being loud and excitable, but he is... doing that. He seems to be in the process of charming a very flustered woman selling pretty cloaks.]

It's a gift, you see, and it would be very helpful if you'd just try it on. She's about your size. I just want to- [She stammers that it would be inappropriate and her mother would kill her if she caught her, and Molly is about to give up when he notices River, looking about as enthusiastic as he is about all of this.] Tell you what. If you'll indulge me for just a moment... [He calls out to River.] Darling, would you mind coming over here, please?

[soulmakingsound]

I'll come over there if you promise to stop harassing the poor booth owner. She's clearly telling you no.

Unless the purple of your ears translates it differently.

[mollymocked]

[Molly looks between the owner and the girl for a few seconds, chews the inside of his cheek, and then, with less exuberance, shoves more than the amount for the cloak across the booth and is handed the cloak. Rather than River coming over, he saunters up to her and passes it over to her.]

Here. A reward for keeping me from embarrassing two people. I was going to buy it for her, since the poor thing looks like she has nothing, but you're right. She clearly wasn't into it. And you look like you could use one, yourself.

ii

[lednikovyy]

It's always nice to see a friendly face and Bucky's finding the number of friendly faces here has been growing. River's among his favorite ones, so when he opens the door, there's a quick smile on his face when it's her.

He's been spending a lot of time at the apartment, between cleaning up and keeping Steve company while they wait for Peggy to (hopefully) wake up again soon. The apartment looks a lot better than it did when he first saw it, but there's still some damage they haven't fixed yet and they're still working on the "guest room" that will be Bucky's for as long as they'll let him stay in it. There's also the matter of Bucky's new abilities, which seem to give him a headache in busy places, but he can weather a headache just fine if he has to.

"River!" He starts to move like he's going to pull her into a hug and then thinks better of it. Touch seems to trigger whatever the hell it is that he can do now.

[soulmakingsound]

Absolutely not, he will not be escaping hugs. She clings tight to him and leans up to press a kiss to his cheek, positively beaming.

"I knew I'd find you. Inara agreed that a lack of dragons was a good selling point for Olympia, so we live here too. In one of the free houses for now, but we'll make it our own. She has a booth at the market, and I work in the library.

You're settling?"

[lednikovyy]

He doesn't fight the hug once it's coming and when their skin makes contact it's a little overwhelming, but what he feels is positive, at least, and he hugs her back, because he'd rather weather a little discomfort than hurt her feelings. The kiss has him smiling and ushering her inside with a gesture as he pulls back.

"I'm settling. No job yet, but Steve and Peggy are letting me stay with them for now. You'd like them. They're good people." And he believes that more fully than he believes anything else in the world. They're good people, good for each other and better than Bucky deserves, but he loves Steve and his fondness for Peggy isn't weak, either. It's more than he could have hoped for.

"When we're done cleaning this place up, I'll have a whole guest room to myself."

ii Not his house

[ukase]

Rumlow found means to get by, doing odd jobs here and there. Enough that he fed himself and he could afford new clothing now and again, but no more than that. He didn't actually live anywhere, just made his way around and found particular spots that wouldn't involve him being shivved in the dead of night. It was a reach back of his roots more or less.

However, he was inventive when it came to self care and personal hygiene. He knew enough of certain areas of town to be able to sneak in for a shower, a shave and general upkeep. He never took anything, but he made full use of the facilities for a spare hour or two when people were at the market or working somewhere.

When the knocking started, he ignored it. Not his house, not his problem. Instead, he gathered his pack of belongings and simply went out the window, quietly replacing it close and then heading out to the street to spy the girl - oh her - and snorted.

"No one's home. Move on."

[soulmakingsound]

There's a level of familiarity in the greeting, in the snort and the look that's cast her way. Since she's seen her other friends, communicated to them through video or voice, or met them in person, that leaves one person this could possibly be.

"Are you spangling someone's stars?"

[ukase]

Guessed him in one go, huh? He supposed that his approach was far more crude than anyone else's, but come on, there were plenty of assholes in this place. He couldn't be the only one stealing his way into people's houses and using their stuff.

"I'm wearing pants, aren't I? If I wan't I'd definitely be spangling something."