fandomhighdorms | Second floor common room: Friday evening

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Second floor common room: Friday evening

Jack, in his rather pleasant new body, had been for a

handwavy

run around the island, and now he was was sprawled on the couch in the common room, shirtless. Seeing as he'd promised Karal he'd behave, he was avoiding temptation by staying away from Cedric, at least for the moment.

Flipping through the channels on the TV, he couldn't settle on anything, but he had the remote, so, "Channel surfing it is."

[ooc: *cough* Ignore that brief timeslip that temporarily hurled the common room forward one day. It's been fixed now.]

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"River?" Jack sat back, looking at her intently. "If you're not happy here, maybe it's time to move on."

She met his eyes. "Have considered it, but am unsure where to go." She shook her head. "Serenity is not an option, and yet Simon is waiting for me." She hesitated. "I have friends here and they care about me, but since you left I've been alone." She looked down. "Was alone before, should be it again."

"That doesn't mean it's right," he said, but he couldn't help feeling sad, because he knew there was nothing he could do to make her happy. "And you can go wherever you want, River. Anywhere in the universe."

She smiled a little. Jack couldn't see it. "Anywhere Simon will go with me," she corrected him. "He doesn't dare brave the empty space between realities. At least not further than here." Which meant her option was being a fugitive unless the government was overthrown. "Little use for anything but being a weapon or a crazy sister. Without Simon the former takes over, with him she goes into hiding."

This was pointless and River shook her head. She had wanted to tell him because of the closeness they had had, but that feeling had been due to both of them not talking about the things that hurt. Laughing, she said: "No use." She reached for the remote control and began to switch through the TV channels, seemingly with an intent.

Jack kept watching her, ignoring the TV, wishing he had a way to help, and knowing he didn't. He couldn't stop the thought, and he didn't really try, that she might have been better off if they'd never gotten together.

But he couldn't bring himself to regret it; she'd made him happy, and he'd enjoyed knowing he'd done the same for her.

River heard his thoughts, of course, but made no sign of listening. She finally found a channel with music that suited dancing and she got to her feet, extending an arm towards Jack. "Don't think Karal would mind this kind of dancing."

Jack laughed and leapt up, glancing down at his feet while he slid his fingers through hers. "I'm not sure the kid knows how to dance, but we'll see what happens."

"I'll be patient and follow," River replied solemnly, placing one hand on his shoulder.

Grinning, he rested his other hand at her waist and led her into a dance.

Sort of.

His brain knew how to move, but these feet really weren't sure about it.

The lack of connection between what his mind wanted and how this body chose to interpret it made even River stumble. She muttered something in Chinese, then giggled.

Jack flashed her a quelling look, but seeing as he was laughing as well, it wasn't very effective. "I swear, I'm teaching him how to dance if I get the chance. Here, let me try this."

And he closed his eyes, smoothing one hand down River's back, using the once-familiar motion to orient his sense, and make his feet behave. "Better?"

River closed her eyes too, enjoying the touch and the movement. "Better." Still, she had a feeling that any improvisation she could come up with would ruin it. "No added detail necessary today." It didn't matter.

"No, anything complicated might end up with us in a pile on the floor," he muttered, settling into the movement, guiding her forward, and smiling as he opened his eyes. "There. Got it. I'm used to being taller."

Opening her eyes too, River looked up at him, refraining from making any comments about ending up in a pile on the floor together. She followed with precision, making no elaborate turns, and smiled, saying nothing. Then suddenly, in the middle of a step she let go of him and took a step back. "Goodbye, Jack." She turned towards the door.

He didn't go after her, just let his hands fall to his sides, watching her intently. "Goodbye, River."

She threw a quick smile at him over her shoulder, then disappeared out of the door.

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Second floor common room: Friday evening

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