8/10 video; un @facelikeyours

[facelikeyours]

[It takes him a moment to get the phone to balance well enough so that it shows his face, instead of just the ceiling. He's managed to prop it against a few cans of food, and seems satisfied with the result.]

Uh, hello. I guess if I'm showing my face, I might as well introduce myself, even if this channel isn't secure. Which it probably isn't, but -- anyway.

My name is Doctor Simon Tam. I just arrived here a day or so ago. I'm still... adjusting to this place. It certainly is interesting. I guess... if any of you require medical help -- I don't have my kit with me, but I'll do the best I can. I'll be around, if you need to find me.

Um, thank you? [Not knowing what else to say, he ends the video.]

Comments

[enchangement]

A sunset or two, [ she says, burrowing herself into his arms. She'd had a nightmare, or maybe a memory, of a low tech hospital and Simon's name on a medical chart she didn't read, and that had left her feeling what she'd thought were just echoes of her brother's thoughts and feelings.

Instead, she's discovered that he's actually here, and she's simultaneously very glad and very distressed about this. To wit, she makes a small sobbing noise and curls even further into her brother's arms. ]

Nothing new broken or harmed. [ She pulls away a little to wrinkle her nose at him. ] We might be on Earth-that-was.

[facelikeyours]

[At the distressed noise, he holds her tighter, rubbing her back, petting her hair. Pressing a kiss to her forehead. Anything he can do to help soothe her.] I've got you, River. I'm here now, and nothing is going to happen to you.

[Though her comment makes him blink, confused.] Earth-that-was? But it dried up centuries ago.

[enchangement]

Promises you can't keep are dangerous, [ River murmurs, because Simon can't stop anyone from hurting her, not really. She's not sure she can, she's been hurt so much and so often. ]

But that's where the person said we are. The tech is old and weird. [ She takes her phone out of her pocket. ]

[facelikeyours]

The person -- do you mean the pamphlet? [He'd given it a glance, but he'd been more concerned with finding his sister than anything.]

I noticed that, about the tech. But it works, at least. It helped me find you.

[enchangement]

[ River frowns and shakes her head. She knows nothing of a pamphlet. ]

It works. But how does it work? How can this still work in the now? [ She opens her phone to the post she made and points out the messages with user: @OA. ] They said it's probably Earth.

[facelikeyours]

[People have the strangest names here. But there are more important issues to deal with. Like the fact that they're on a planet that was abandoned centuries before they were born.]

So... we've what. Gone back in time, somehow? We woke up in the past, and on a different planet?

[enchangement]

Unknown and unquantifiable? [ She shrugs. ] A hole in space/time, maybe, to bring so many people from so many verses here.

[facelikeyours]

Oh this is... fantastic. [It's dry as anything, and Simon looks like he might resort to swearing at some point soon.] To what purpose?

[enchangement]

It's not shiny. [ River closes her eyes and shakes her head. ] Nothing good for us.

[facelikeyours]

[The use of the word shiny makes him smile a little, and he presses a kiss to River's temple.] Shiny, huh? Someone's been spending some time with Kaylee.

But you're unfortunately probably right. Nothing good for us. [She usually is, and that's what troubles him.]

[enchangement]

Kaylee is good. Sunshine and an afternoon breeze through a window, a sweet just cool enough for eating.

[ Kaylee likes her. Well. Mostly. When she's not being disturbed or scared by River, anyway. She misses the mechanic, suddenly, the ship and its certain uncertainties. She felt safe there.

She doesn't feel safe here. Even in Simon's arms. ]

[facelikeyours]

Kaylee... certainly is all that. Though I don't think she'd like being eaten.

[If someone knew Simon well, like River does, they'd notice the blush at the tips of his ears, the heat at the back of his neck when she talks about Kaylee]

[enchangement]

Wouldn't like it if she tried. You - different tale for telling.

[ River pinches the edge of his ear with a smirk. She knows that Simon likes Kaylee. She also knows that his way of courting a girl is too...froofy for the kind of girl Kaylee is. One day they'll get it together. ]

[facelikeyours]

I thought we agreed not to resort to cannibalism right away. [His voice cracks, betraying the direction he's trying not to let his mind go in. Pure thoughts. Good thoughts. Kaylee working on the engine.

... no that's not helpful.]

[enchangement]

Mmhmm. [ River makes a knowing sound and pats her brother on the cheek. ]

One day you'll tell her, and she'll be happier for it.

[ Not this her. Kaylee her. ]