The Gym, Monday morning

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

Movement of the body often grabbed hold of wandering thoughts and turned them focused on the present, and River knew she needed that. After her meeting with Adah last week she had decided on her course of action; no further plans were necessary. With a low kick she brought her thoughts away from those decisions and back to here and now, to a room filled with imaginary enemies that fell as her fists and feet hit them. She was good at this. She had a purpose.

[open]

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[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra stepped into the gym and looked around. It took only a few heartbeats to pick out what River was doing, and only a few more to see where her imaginary enemies were standing.

Friends helped their friends fight when it was neeeded, so Cassandra stepped forward to strike out at the nearest person who wasn't there.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

The walls around her mind had been up, so it wasn't until Cassandra stepped into her field of vision that River became aware of her. The enemies, although imaginary, required most of her attention though, and as it was clear that Cassandra was aware of the threat, River didn't need to worry. She lashed out to one transparent fighter creeping up behind Cassandra though.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Getting non-existent enemies off her back was enough of an acknowledgment for Cassandra. She didn't waste time nodding or waving, she simply stepped forward to return the favor and catch another one in the throat.

One nice thing about invisible enemies is that you didn't feel bad using killing blows.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

With Cassandra explanations were rarely necessary, and River appreciated that, more than ever. As she punched another opponent she could almost feel his neck break. Yes, with invisible enemies there was no need to worry about later guilt.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

The two of them moved well together. It was another dance, really. Covering each others' backs, seeing the same imaginary enemies, and killing them all.

Eventually they stood back to back, all the imagined threats taken care of. Cassandra breathed just a bit more rapidly than usual. It had been a good workout after all.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

"All gone," River said, a small smile appearing. She took a step closer to Cassandra. "Thank you."

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra nodded back, face serious as she kept a wary eye on River. Fighting always brought back the old habits, and that meant expecting everyone to try to hit her. Still, she managed an almost-smile, "Welcome."

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River let her hands fall, the gesture meant to say that she had no intention of punching Cassandra. No offence was taken by the reaction though. River understood too well the cause behind that.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

With a swallow Cassandra nodded. "Old habits," she explained, even though she knew River understood already. She reaches a tentative hand forward. Hands, at least, are pretty safe.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River reached out to take Cassandra's hand, still smiling. Hands when extended in friendship were safe.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

"Something happened?" Cassandra asked as their fingers brushed. River was... carrying herself differently. Not much, just a bit.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

She tilted her head. "Adah prefers the company of Lee to mine in bed," she explained. The words didn't quite bring back the emotions from before the fight though.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Cassandra blinked, frowning. She stared at River trying to read enough from her body language to figure out what was going on. "I... don't understand," she admitted.

Serious emotional stuff was still way beyond her capacity.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

There was a slight tenseness and perhaps a conciousness of movement stronger than usual. "We're lovers. So's she and Lee. She prefers Lee." River paused. "In other circumstances too."

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Oh. Cassandra slumped just a bit. "Sorry." Maybe for the situation, maybe for asking about it, maybe for both.

"Anything...?" that she could do?

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

River shook her head, smiling a little. Not apart from being her friend and helping with the fight against imaginary opponents. That was good enough.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

That, at least, was well within Cassandra's abilities. "Okay."

Then she tilted her head, "Dance?"

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

As a reply River took a few steps, then spun around, inaudible music appearing in her mind.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

Dancing. Another thing that they could share. Cassandra took a few steps and spun herself, matching her steps to River's.

[moonbrain-tam.livejournal.com]

No effort was needed. River's steps could flow, assured that Cassandra could find her own to match.

[iseewhatyoumean.livejournal.com]

No effort from either of them. Just getting lost in the rhythm of movement, at least as lost as they can get.