[001; video/action; open]

[perceptum]

[ It's not certain at first whether the video has been switched on intentionally. There isn't any direct addressing of the network. There's just the spinning image of a hallway (the fifth floor, for those of you playing at home) the occasional glimpse of long, brown hair and the unmistakable sound of delighted laughter. It slows down, eventually, comes to a complete stop and the laughter abruptly cuts off. Instead of the walls, the feed shakes and jerks as she turns it around and River's face is visible, peering directly at the little device. ]

Curious name and curious nature. The walls have secrets and she doesn't know what they are.

[ She frowns a moment, then turns to eye a window with a clearly suspicious look. ]

They're hiding something.

[ She stares for a moment or two longer, then starts to skip off down the hallway again. It takes a while for the feed to cut out, in the end it only happens because she decides to sit down outside a door in one swift movement, and drops the little tablet thing in the process. ]

Comments

[action]

[righteously]

[So, granted, Dean's not really the best when it comes to, you know, social networking or technology. It's hard to miss this particular entry, though, mostly because it makes no goddamn sense.

Also because he's pretty observant, and he can tell by the wallpaper and the carpet that the floor she's dancing through like a lunatic is his.]

What the...

[He mumbles it to himself, screwing up his face and squinting at the screen. Whatever it is, there is no way he's touching it. Not with a ten foot pole. This time, he is so not getting involv-

Thump.

His head jerks toward the door, it takes him half a second, and then he puts it together.]

Ah, crap.

[If it sounds resigned, that's only because it is. Of course. Freakin' inevitable. He's a weird magnet. With a sigh, he shoves off of the bed and tugs his door open suddenly.]

[perceptum]

[ Don't take it personally Dean, this just seems like a really comfortable patch of floor to sit in. The particular hallway is no coincidence, this is where the angel lives and that's clearly a good enough reason to be lurking around in the area.

When the door jerks open she's ready for it though. One does not simply sneak up on River Tam. She just sits up a little straighter and tips her head back until she can see Dean. ]

He's not impressed.

[ She's just going to stare for a minute, still looking at him upside down from her position on the floor. When that's over she does move though. Just...not really from his doorway. She turns slightly to lean against the frame instead, effectively killing any chance of him shutting the door again. ]

Did you think this life would be any quieter?

[righteously]

[A really comfortable patch of floor that just so happens to be in his domain. She's coming this close to messing up the carefully laid salt line on the inside of the door, too, which isn't really helping her case at all. He just hovers there for a second, face disbelieving, one hand gripping the edge of the door.

...Because what?

Okay so Dean's not stupid, that question's probably deep and meaningful and shit, but he's not going to bother taking the time to puzzle out that cryptic ass Dumbledore bullshit.]

Well, it was pretty quiet until about ten second ago.

[That's not even true a little. It's just sort of meant to be a please go away and take the hint statement. Somehow, it feels like he's not gonna be that lucky.

This is gonna end up with him morally obligated to watch out for a newbie, isn't it? He can already tell.]

[perceptum]

[ She drops her head back to lean on the door frame, but her eyes don't break contact with Dean's face for a second. New people are always interesting. Mostly they're just distracting though, until their presence settles down and she can tune them away into the static of overwhelming thoughts and feelings and echoes of lives she's never lived.

He's interesting though, and she narrows her eyes slightly. He's interesting and slightly different. Congratulations, Dean has just earned himself one tiny stalker. ]

And now she's interrupted his hard earned peace. So sorry. [ She doesn't really look it sorry. Not at all, in fact. She's still staring, because he's interesting and that's what she does, but she does lighten up slightly on the suspicious glances being cast his way. ]

What's the puzzle piece, where did he lose it? She can't figure it out.

[action]

[freetobe]

[Castiel has been meditating. His Grace is slipping away more and more everyday, what once was brilliant and vast now suddenly so very limited, and he is trying to conserve that energy somewhat.

The wanderings of his mind are interrupted when there is a thump in the hallway. He leaves the room the human way, through the door, and finds River sitting against Dean's door one room down. Castiel's expression doesn't change, although looking closely one might detect a softening around his eyes even through the stoic mask.]

River.

[perceptum]

[ River's expression on the other hand, changes almost completely. She smiles brightly as he says her name, stretches her legs out comfortably in front of her and tips her head a little to the side as she points to the nearest reflective surface.

It's something that has been weighing heavily on her mind since her arrival, though the grin and light hearted riddles don't say as much. It's just something that has been there since the beginning. If there's someone she can rely on getting a straight answer from, it's him though. Or at least, that's what she believes already. Strange how little time it took for that piece of faith, however small it may be, to set in stone. ]

Why do they whisper behind my back? I don't like secrets.

[freetobe]

[Castiel follows her finger and frowns, then casually positions himself between River and the mirror. They really don't need to spy on his charges, and that apparently includes the girl now. He will need something other than 'his human' to call her, of course, seeing as that term is reserved for Dean already.

Slowly he's beginning to understand why angels aren't meant to form close social connections. They apparently require a lot of effort.]

The Queen created alter egos of ourselves. They can spy on us with the mirrors. They're evil.

[Obviously. Well, Castiel's mirror is evil, and therefore he just assumes they all are.]

[not_apriest]

... Are you all right, Miss?

[perceptum]

All right? No.

[ As if that hadn't been clear to begin with. ] How many secrets does this place hold? They're so...curious.

[not_apriest]

I'm not sure that anyone really knows.

[video]

[appealingavarice]

Believe it or not, I'm aware that I have an unusual name.

[Sure, there was absolutely no indication that she was talking about Greed, but, well... he's vain.]

[video]

[perceptum]

Maybe he should learn to have an unusual name elsewhere.

[ Oh, snap. Yes, Greed, River did just sass you. Mark the date. She's trying to work something out here, and anyone who isn't helping is apparently hindering. ]

Will his unusual name help reveal their secrets, or is he going to scare the whispers away.

[appealingavarice]

[Fortunately, Greed's ego can survive a little sass.]

Depends whose secrets you're talking about.

[Video]

[pottershotter]

[James Potter loves a good riddle and curious people, so he can't help but respond, really.]

What do you suppose they're hiding?

[It's not condescending, or at least not intentional - he'd love to know what the walls are hiding as well]

[Video]

[perceptum]

Still can't tell. Listening, but they're quiet now. They know we're watching.

[ She is definitely speaking to James, but it's not like she makes it all that obvious. She's staring at the wall across from her, voice soft and faraway. After a moment she tears her gaze away from the wall and back to the feed though. ]

Do you know?

[Video]

[pottershotter]

I'm not sure. There's something in the walls though? Or someone, I guess?

[He looks over at his own wall. Of course, he can't hear any secrets or whispers coming from it, but he doesn't doubt her either. But he does give it a good, long look, as if staring at the brick of his bedroom walls will give him some idea. Something in the walls, watching...]

...Actually, I might have an idea. Maybe. I know there's people that can watch us.

[They aren't in the walls exactly, but...it's close?]

video;

[eatsyourscience]

Are you worried?

video;

[perceptum]

No.

[ Short, yes, but honest. She's not worried - not yet anyway - just curious. ]

Whispers don't pose a danger until they turn to screams.

video;

[eatsyourscience]

What if they do?

[video]

[no_eels]

[Toothless stares. What is the female Viking talking about? Names? Things with secrets? He wonders if he's missing something. Either way, there's a pair of giant green eyes blinking at River over the comm.]

[video]

[perceptum]

[ Staring? Staring River can do. It's okay Toothless, everyone is missing something with this particular ramble.

She blinks back at the eyes, slightly confused frown crossing her face. ]

You're something new. Been from one side of the stars to the next, and she's never seen this. Who are you?

[video]

[no_eels]

[Rumble, rumble. He tilts his head to the side, continuing to stare right back. Another Viking that hasn't seen a dragon?]

[video]

[runningfromhell]

[ She knows what floor River on - the awesome camera work at least gives her a glimpse of the hallway that Meg is currently calling home - but she doesn't venture outside. This girl is pretty Cuckoo's Nest, and she's sure to draw attention from the others living on the floor. Meg would prefer to avoid them for the time being after the whole holy water ridiculousness that was the last event.

She's intrigued, though, since River does seem to have some psychic intuitiveness and it's entirely possible she might sense something about the place that could be helpful.

So, she'll just turn on the video for a little chat. ]

I don't think you're gonna find anyone who knows all the secrets of this place, kid. They're locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

[video]

[perceptum]

[ The slow grin that creeps across River's face before she responds could almost be considered smug. Almost. ]

Locked away like perfect little prisoners, but one of them escaped. One has run away and she found it, and now she knows. [ It's not exactly a secret - most residents here seem to know about the 'whispers in the walls' that River is rambling on about, but she's clearly relieved to have had the mirror people explained to her. It's far less distressing to understand the added layer of information that she's not quite got access to. ]

The whispers, they're me and you. Me and you and him and her, but flipped. We're positive, they're negative, always repelling and never meeting - such a shame.

[ Don't get your hopes up, Meg. Psychic intuitiveness is only helpful if you know how to decode. ]

[video]

[runningfromhell]

[ She should have known better than to engage but too late now. Her expression grows from semi-interested to annoyed as River rambles and at the end she rolls her eyes. ]

Okay, number one really look into making that glossary of yours. Number two are you talking about the assholes in the mirrors?

[ Not that she's personally encountered them, but she knows enough. ]