[ it takes a moment for river to realize eddie is covering for her. she didn't ask him to - didn't even think of it, really, but she's grateful. so when the assistant skeptically asks how they could possibly know they were sisters with the state of their bodies, she decides to lean into it.
maybe a little harder than eddie, though; her voice doesn't change in pitch, still contrite and thick with emotion as she stares at the body and outright lies. ]
They were neighbors. Saw them all the time in the Primary Settlement. They liked to set up at the same booth in the market, next to a plot of flowers and downwind from the bakery.
[ never mind that she's never been to solvunn. if he pays close enough attention, eddie might recognize the description - from the last time he was at the market himself. she isn't reading their memories but his, weaving the story of a life that never was based on what he knows and selling it as the honest truth.
she sounds fond, wistful, and devastated, the way anyone might witnessing the gruesome end of their "friends." ]
Their family was so sad when they were taken. Oh god, what are we going to tell them now?
[ she turns into eddie, hiding her face against him as she quietly sobs. the morgue staff seem to shrug it off at that point; they've seen enough emotional breakdowns over these horrible deaths already. they don't have the time to be moved, so the assistant just tells them not to go out of bounds of their assignment again, or else they'll be asked to leave.
river doesn't respond beyond a nod as she continues to cry. it's only once she's certain they're gone that she pulls away from eddie, her eyes red but dry as she smiles at him like all is well in the world. ]
no subject
maybe a little harder than eddie, though; her voice doesn't change in pitch, still contrite and thick with emotion as she stares at the body and outright lies. ]
They were neighbors. Saw them all the time in the Primary Settlement. They liked to set up at the same booth in the market, next to a plot of flowers and downwind from the bakery.
[ never mind that she's never been to solvunn. if he pays close enough attention, eddie might recognize the description - from the last time he was at the market himself. she isn't reading their memories but his, weaving the story of a life that never was based on what he knows and selling it as the honest truth.
she sounds fond, wistful, and devastated, the way anyone might witnessing the gruesome end of their "friends." ]
Their family was so sad when they were taken. Oh god, what are we going to tell them now?
[ she turns into eddie, hiding her face against him as she quietly sobs. the morgue staff seem to shrug it off at that point; they've seen enough emotional breakdowns over these horrible deaths already. they don't have the time to be moved, so the assistant just tells them not to go out of bounds of their assignment again, or else they'll be asked to leave.
river doesn't respond beyond a nod as she continues to cry. it's only once she's certain they're gone that she pulls away from eddie, her eyes red but dry as she smiles at him like all is well in the world. ]
Ràoguò tiān kēng, that was close. Thank you.