Giving and receiving [active]

[rivetingly.livejournal.com]

Character(s): River, Oogie and Betelgeuse~
Content: Arriving at the Paradisio
Setting: in front of Paradisio, M4
Time: late afternoon
Warnings: none yet~


The journey was unpleasant. It had started raining buckets when she ran towards the station, it matted her dress and hair and it was very cold. After picking up some flowers in the heavy rain, River walked into the station and bought two tickets using the flowers; for Oogie and herself. While he doesn't have the best of intentions, he didn't tell her to bugger off and even followed her. She has to do something for him in return.

"We have to put it together," was all she told Oogie before boarding the train and looking out the window for the rest of the journey. Of course, she did look away from the window sometimes; like when it started to hail as if the world was ending. River crawled under her seat then, crouching in fear while fiddling with her fingers worriedly.

Then the hail abruptly stopped and the wind howled for a moment before dying away just as soon as it came. River had peeked out from below the seat when it dropped silent. Crawling back onto her seat, River glued her eyes at the smiling sun as if she would die if she were to tear her eyes off of it. She was fascinated by the brightness and the heat of the artificial sun. The temperature rose even within the train but River still kept by the window.

She wished silently that the sun would scorch her brain away so she wouldn't have to know anything.

At the third stop after the Central Station, River quickly got up from her seat and motioned for Oogie to follow her and get off the train. "He is here," she tells him earnestly before walking away to a specific destination. Oogie will be happy to see an acquaintance from the same world.

Shepherd told her that she will receive if she would give. She hopes Oogie will help her find Simon afterwards.

Comments

[averyspecialguy.livejournal.com]

That "he" stepped out of the hospital not two minutes after the question was asked, looking up with mild dismay at the torrential rain that greeted him; there was a distinct, steady patter of rain falling through his eye sockets and into his skull, which created a small waterfall down his spine, further drenching his suit. Even if his outfit and what he'd stuck inside himself for safekeeping were thoroughly soaked, he himself remained surprisingly dry--a good coating of wax is wonderfully water repellent, and the stuff just beaded up and rolled right off whatever bone was exposed. "Goodness, I certainly hope it isn't raining this hard outside of the domes, or that trip of ours might have to be postponed."

This comment was offered to Blue and Gaston without much real surprise; the book had a chapter on weather in the domes, after all, even if it didn't say anything about how it was controlled or produced. So why not have erratic weather, if it wasn't being controlled for the comfort of the occupants? It wasn't so much less likely than any other sort of weather. Besides, violent storms were stock-in-trade for horror industry--this was more a flood than a thunderstorm, but it seemed close enough to him. Hopefully the streets wouldn't be too slick to use that rickshaw he'd picked up....

Jack had to smile at the sight of a little girl--a very pretty one, even in this downpour--running towards the hospital, barefoot and carefree, laughing, dancing.... It was strange to see in such a rain, and he couldn't help but wonder why she did it, but it warmed his nonexistent heart nonetheless. Unfortunately for him, that lift in spirits died almost immediately as he saw the squelching burlap behemoth that followed her. "Oogie Boogie." He murmured, expression grim. What on earth was he doing here? Not so much here in Paixao, but at a hospital? He didn't look hurt at all, and neither did that girl--was she a captive? Being manipulated by him? It seemed almost.... incomprehensible that she would be with him because she wanted to be. Still, there were Lock, Shock, and Barrel....

Whatever he was here for, Jack didn't like it. Sure, he'd always tried to make every effort to be civil and as accommodating as possible, but.... well, he just didn't like the Boogieman, that's all, and not only for that incident where he'd tried to take over Halloweentown. He could feel the mantle of Pumpkin King settle down over him, a thousand times heavier and more oppressive than his wet clothing could ever hope to be, sighing as he steeled himself for the potentially hostile encounter. "I hate to leave just as things are getting interesting, but there's someone I have to speak with; feel free to move on without me, if you'd like." Jack told his companions, forcing himself to keep a neutral, even pleasant expression as he moved towards River and Oogie.