one ☆ text

[enchangement]

the music is gone and with it
the small favors and familiars they brought
do you miss it?
do you miss them?
the colors were brighter
the sounds were louder
and some trick of the mind forgot
we were in a cage
or didn't and just
observed the decorations on the bars

Comments

[hippocratical]

[He texts back, despite their proximity; sometimes, it's the little things that matter. Sending waves back and forth to one another at family dinners on tablets held on laps. Conversations within conversations. Maybe she remembers.]

Do you miss it?

[enchangement]

miss the clothes on the pig

[ She remembers. Layers upon layers. Sometimes their conversations she felt were all that kept her sane at meals with their parents.

Then she learned the true test of her own sanity. ]

would've liked to keep it, and the colored wax for steve

[hippocratical]

Steve. Another friend you've made here?

[He's met Steve, but didn't realize that River had made friends with him. He hadn't seemed her type, but then, he was fairly intoxicated. Maybe there's another Steve.]

[enchangement]

yes

[ She used italics; it must be serious. ]

you've met him. he doesn't usually drink.

[hippocratical]

[Well. There must be something to him, if River's bringing out italics. He's not sure if he should be proud or suspicious.]

I could tell. Presumably he made it home okay, since he didn't turn up in the clinic the next day. How did you meet him?

[enchangement]

his brother in arms took him home

[hippocratical]

Good. I'm glad he got there. He seemed pretty stubborn about staying and drinking.

...you didn't drink any alcohol there, did you

[The question occurs to him far too late. She wouldn't. Would she? Tell him this pit isn't the place she decides to try being a normal teenager.]