5th floor Common room, Tuesday morning

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River had acquired some fresh fruit, something she'd missed a lot on Serenity. She'd filled a large bowl with apples, oranges, grapes and pineapple, and started with an apple, cutting it into neat wedges before eating it.

[Open. Fruit for all.]

Comments

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

Eve was passing through the common room when ooh, hey, fruit. She plopped down on a couch and reached out to snag a sprig of grapes. "Hey," she said to the other girl.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Hello, I'm River," she said. "New or not so new?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

Cedric wandered up a floor and, when he spotted a familiar face, stopped and changed his destination.

"Hello," he said. "You're back."

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"Eve." She plucked a grape from the sprig. "Semi-new. First summer session was my first."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"I am," River replied, smiling at him. "Returned yesterday. Want some fruit?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"New for me then," River said with a smile. "I've been home." Out of habit, and not really thinking about it, she listened as much to the girl's mind as to her words.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Welcome back," Cedric said. "And please, if you've enough to share. Was your time away good?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River picked up an orange at threw it at Cedric, expecting him to catch it. "Time away was good. New experiences. Felt longer than it actually was." She tilted her head. "How have you been?" she asked carefully.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He caught the orange out of the air, rolling it around in his hand for a moment. "I've been well. Nothing to complain about."

Nothing really to rave about either.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Have a seat?" River gestured at the couch and handed him a fruit knife, looking into his mind. "New friends?" she asked.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He took the offered seat and said, "Some. I seem to have become a hermit during this summer. Practicing spells and reading up on textbooks I ignored last semester."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"I met another wizard yesterday at the picnic," River said. "No broom though. What spells have you learnt?" She put an apple slice in her mouth.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Brooms are better," he said and grinned. "Nothing very significant. A few smaller spells on healing, some transport spells, and some combat spells."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Without having personal experience, brooms seem useful," River replied, returning the grin. "I'm learning to fly spaceships."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Are you?" Cedric grinned. "How're you doing with that?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Good. Am a fast learner." Having finished her apple River picked up an orange and began to peel it. "I'm planning to get the Acorn flying again if I can." She looked up. "You have any plans for the rest of the summer?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I don't," he said, peeling his own orange. "Besides workshops. I might start flying a few times a week."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"Show me sometime?" River asked. Her smile faded a little. She'd only experienced broom flying through Jack's memories, and now that was something she'd rather not think about. Shaking her head, she began to pull the orange peel of in regular pieces, creating a pattern.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he said, catching the change in expression. "Everything all right?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River made herself smile again. "Yes," she said. "All right." She tilted her head to one side. "Was a big change, learning to fly, helping during jobs. I'm not longer the crazy little sister." She shrugged. "So strange to be back."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Good for you," Cedric said geniunely. "Now, you can boss your friends around!"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"So I can," River replied, a wide grin on her face. "Did before occasionally as well. Being considered crazy has some advantages. Of course, they still think I am, so no change there. Just more reliable."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"What are your friends like, if you don't mind me asking?"

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly wandered out to the common room and smiled when she saw River. "Hey! You're back!"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"My brother Simon and I ended up on Serenity by chance," she replied. "Simon saved me, gave up everything he had for me. Now he's uncertain what to do, when I don't need him as much." She thought for a moment. "Then there's the crew on Serenity. Good people, most of them. Make a living on slightly illegal activities." She smiled as she spoke. "What are you friends at home like?"