Twitterpation: Doug and River (with Simon)
May. 2nd, 2015 04:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
om_cypher posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
om_mainRiver turns into a gazelle. Simon texts instructions. Doug finds out that whatever form she's in, River's still in charge.
It was a Saturday morning like any other, until River shifted into a baby gazelle.
Not that she realized it immediately. The book tumbled from her grasp, and her entire sense of physicality changed. She had no arms, but four legs that seemed to barely be able to hold her up when she tried and move from the bean bag she had been reading in, in Doug's lab.
She tried to call out for him, but nothing passed her lips but an odd sort of bleat, not entirely unlike a goat. She tried again, and this time the bleat sounded more panicked.
Engrossed in what he was working on, the first sound River made barely registered - or rather, it registered amidst the code Doug was puzzling over, and drifted into a category of "things to process in a moment". The second, however, definitely drew his attention, and he spun around in his chair. "Are you-" his voice broke off and he blinked at the sight of a baby gazelle trying to climb its way out of the bean bag chair.
"Oh my God," Doug mumbled, nearly falling out of the chair. He scrambled up and half walked, half crawled over to her. "River? Is that you?"
He seemed so tall now, and River sort of froze where she was when he scrambled towards her, big doe-like eyes staring at him. It took her a second before she realised what he had asked, and she nodded, trying to keep all of him at bay or she really might panic.
Okay. It was her. Doug sank down on the floor with mingled confusion and relief. He didn't have any idea what was going on, but it was her, and she was answering. Well, kind of. "Okay, I'm going to text the Professor," he explained as he pulled out his phone. "There's got to be some kind of an explanation for this. Everything's going to be okay." Maybe there was a new student who did...random transformations? There had to be. It was the only thing he could think of that made any kind of sense.
River settled down some when he stopped reaching for her. She let him turn to his phone, let his thoughts wash through her as they settled into confusion and his usual urge to figure things out. Familiar and settling. She huffed out a little, then tried to stand again, taking stock of new limbs and new muscles. Her balance was off, and it took her a few attempts before she managed to climb out of the bean bag, and come nose at Doug's hand, her legs wobbly but, for now, under her. That was something.
Doug finished sending the message, then smiled as he felt River's nose nuzzling his hand. "There. We'll hear back in a minute, okay? And find out what happened." He stroked his hand over her head and smiled crookedly. "I don't suppose it's a lot of consolation, but you look really cute?"
She poked her nose at his hand at that, then very tentatively figured out how to fold her legs to lay down in front of him, legs curled beneath her. It did help, not because of her vanity, but because of the feelings inside him. Warmth and affection. Those always helped.
Doug smiled a little, then leaned down and gave her a very careful hug. "It's going to be okay," he told her again, then winced at the sound of the Professor's voice in his head. Training accident, right. Once that would fade back to normal in time. God, only at Xavier's. "Did you get that?" he asked River.
River nodded again. Loud and clear. She huffed out a little, annoyed at losing the ability to speak for quite so long. She could feel the panic and the fear permeating the mansion as people realized what had happened to them, and after a beat, she struggled back to her feet, and nosed at Doug's hand before taking a few wobbly steps towards the closed door, stopping to look back at him expectantly. She needed to get out.
Doug got to his feet and followed her. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, obviously concerned. "We don't - well, we don't know what the other students have been changed into. Or where they were when it happened." He left unspoken the fact that she wasn't in any position to defend herself, and he - well, there was only so much he could realistically do, himself.
The baby gazelle actually rolled her eyes at Doug, doing her best to ignore his concern as it washed over her. She still had her own mind, and so would they. And she trusted him. She wasn't spending her time as a gazelle cooped up inside. Gazelles were meant to run, or were they gazelles at all.
Doug chuckled at the sight of his girlfriend the gazelle rolling her eyes. "Okay, okay. Excuse me for worrying." He winced and pulled his phone back out "Which reminds me - hang on just a minute, and we'll go out, okay? If I don't text Simon, neither of us are ever going to hear the end of this."
That was very true, and River took that time to try and find her feet in this odd body, stamping the ground in front of the door, waiting for him to be done.
Simon - just an FYI. River's fine. Well, she's a gazelle, but she's fine otherwise. Figured you'd want to know. ~Doug Doug finished typing, and hit send. "There, all set," he said, and went over and opened the door for her. "Stay close, okay?"
River leaned against his calf for a moment, in agreement and thanks, then tentatively walked out into the corridor, wide brown eyes looking about for any threat, animal instinct.
Doug pocketed his phone and followed her into the corridor, glancing around as well. "Upstairs?" He grinned a little. "We could go see what Harley turned into. My bet's on a ferret."
A squirrel, River thought immediately, and wished that she could say so. She stopped walking long enough to shake her head - she didn't trust her muscle coordination to do both at once, for now. But upstairs was right, at least, and she resumed walking towards the elevator. There would be no negotiating the stairs just yet.
"Alright, not checking on Harley," Doug said aloud as he followed along. Upstairs was apparently right, though, and once they reached the elevator, he pressed the up button. "First floor?" This was, most definitely, the one time he really wished she could project instead of just hear what he was thinking. It would've made this a lot easier.
This time, River looked up at him and nodded. It felt so wrong, how tall he was, but at least he felt like himself, and that was something she could count on, and focus on right now, to keep everyone else at bay.
First floor it was. The elevator door slid open and he held it to make sure she'd get in before it closed. Once inside, he crouched down and brushed his fingers over her head. "You doing okay?" he asked quietly, offering a crooked smile. "Because I'm pretty sure if it were me, I'd definitely be freaking out by now."
She just nosed at his knee, in a futile attempt to explain that he was making it alright. She was used to focusing on him when the world shifted into a blur of panic, and this was easier than other things. The panic came from outside and found no echo inside her, because she trusted the Professor.
Doug let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "I'm not sure what you mean," he admitted, rubbing at the back of his neck. Which was...strangely disorienting, actually, considering that he nearly always did. "I guess slacking off on trying to understand Diaval when he's shifted is coming back to haunt me, huh? He always said it would."
River huffed out in a way meant to convey agreement, and leaned against him until the elevator doors opened again. She tentatively walked out, looking everywhere around herself and slowly but steadily heading for the front door.
The text from Simon had been slow to come, as he'd been preoccupied with his own situation, but he finally responded, Where is she? Keep her contained. Whatever you do, do not let her go outside.
"Hang on a sec," Doug said, and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He read it, then winced. Oh yeah, this was going to be fun. "Umm...Simon says we're supposed to stay inside?" he said awkwardly, having noted where River was heading.
River hadn't been very far ahead of Doug; she was sticking by him, because she trusted him and because she needed him. He was the way she could withstand everything else, right now, but at his words, she turned back to him and wondered if it showed, on gazelle features, that she was frowning. She pawed at the ground, trying not to let the panic overwhelm her now, but she couldn't stay inside forever and stay calm, not with how strongly everybody was feeling right now, animals and humans both.
Doug watched River carefully, trying to make sense of her reaction, and grimaced and nodded. He wasn't sure if it was his powers or just knowing River, but it was obvious what she wanted, and he was pretty sure he knew why. "Right. Lying to your brother." She's with me, he typed. We're just taking a walk around on the first floor.
River wasn't sure how she felt about Doug lying to Simon on her behalf, when she herself would have told him the truth if she could have. But she got to go outside, and it was best not to focus on that for now. Instead she focused on Doug again, and his easy acceptance and understanding. She walked around him while he typed, eager to go outside and trot away from the confusion and panic threatening at all sides.
"Okay, heading out," he assured her, re-pocketing his phone. He'd pay for this later, but River needed to go outside now, and he wasn't going to stand around arguing with Simon about it. He headed towards the outside door and opened it wide. "Can you handle the steps, or do you need a lift?"
River walked cautiously to the edge of the steps, tried to figure out how to get down them safely, then gave up and looked up at Doug with wide, expectant eyes.
"Got it," he assured her. He closed the door and came over, eyeing her to try to figure out the best way to lift a gazelle and not do any damage. Finally, he just wrapped his hands under her stomach and lifted her up. "Okay, not groping here," he joked, grinning crookedly as he carried her down the steps. "But I didn't exactly have a chance to do research on this." He set her down on the ground and stroked his hand over her back. "So, where to?"
The phone buzzed in Doug's pocket again. How is she? Is she panicked? Just try and keep her as calm as possible. Jean-Paul is a cat. As soon as I can figure this out, I will come and see her. Just let her know I love her and we'll figure this out.
Doug pulled out his phone and chuckled softly. "I'm supposed to keep you as calm as possible," he read aloud for River's sake. "Also, Simon loves you, and Jean-Paul is a cat. Which seems like it kind of fits, huh?" I told her. She's not at all panicked - she seems calmer than you do. Tell Jean-Paul I said to have fun with that.
River huffed out a breath, and nosed at Doug's knee again before taking a few steps away from the mansion, then pausing to wait for him. She didn't want to go too far from him, but she wanted to get away from everybody else.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Doug said, grinning a little as he followed along behind her. "Impatient much?" he teased as he followed along.
River huffed out again, but was too busy trying to figure out how to trot. Something practical, and physical, to keep her mind off of everything else, until it was safely faded to the background of her mind. After a few attempts, she managed something like a slow cant, headed further away from the mansion.
"Y'know, I'm starting to think this might be some diabolical plan to make sure I get more exercise," Doug pointed out as he jogged along side her. "I mean, it sounds a bit bizarre as evil schemes go, but I could definitely see you as a criminal mastermind."
River looked at him, almost lost her footing, focused back on what she was doing and, for her only answer, picked up the pace.
"Yeah, okay - y'know, it's not exactly easy to carry on a conversation with myself," he complained, upping the pace. "Be careful though, okay? No breaking your leg. Or arm. Or...well, anything that they won't be able to put in a cast until this wears off." Damn, what would they do about that? Temporarily immobilize it until they could do something else? He wasn't sure, but he was positive he didn't want to find out.
River bleated in protest at the turn his thoughts were taking, but slowed down her pace. For now.
Ramsey, this is my sister we are talking about. If you do not take this seriously and keep her safe from all harm - including any new predators stalking the halls, you will regret having met me, Doug's phone announced.
Doug fished his phone out again, relieved that River'd slowed down a bit, and winced as he read the message. Right. Pissed off Simon, always fun. I'm taking this seriously. he typed, feeling more than a little annoyed. She's FINE. Would you like me to lie and say she isn't so you can freak out more? He paused for a moment, then erased the last sentence before sending it. Damn it, why couldn't Simon have been changed into something? Jean-Paul was a lot easier to deal with.
River turned around Doug, waiting for him to stop to lean against his leg in comfort.
Doug crouched down a little and stroked his fingers over her head and offered a faint smile. "He means well," he acknowledged, pretty sure he'd managed to follow River's likely train of thought. If not, she'd know what he was talking about anyway.
River stepped back when he crouched down, then pushed into his hand, closing her eyes as she did.
"Hey, it's okay," he assured her, his fingers stroking between her eyes and back over her head. "I'll explain it all to him later." He grinned crookedly. "And then he can threaten my life, and you can head butt him or something. It'll be fun."
River pawed at the ground in protest at the thought of headbutting anyone, never mind Simon, but there was a twinkle in her eyes that suggested she understood the joke.
"Fiiiine, okay. No head butting." His grin turned a bit mischievous. "Though y'know, you'd look really fierce at it." Which was to say, not at all. Adorable, though, definitely.
River pushed against his hand again, and just leaned there, focused on all of him and what he was feeling.
Doug pushed aside lingering annoyance with Simon and relaxed, idly petting his girlfriend's head as he looked around the grounds. "Y'know," he said finally, "it's really not a bad day for a run." Somehow, spring had apparently come while he wasn't paying attention. Imagine that.
If a gazelle could have smiled, River would have, then. She nosed gently at his palm, then took a few steps away and looked back at him as if to ask, 'shall we?'
Chuckling, Doug got to his feet. "Just take it easy on me. I don't do this often." Or at all, really. With the weather getting nicer, he might just have to invest in a new bike.
Not often was better than never, which was how often River had done this. She shook her head in good humour, then started with a slow, hesitant cant again, getting a feel for how to do this.
Doug jogged along side her, half focused on the motion, half on scanning the area, though he suspected River would pick up on any threats long before he did. Still, whether Simon wanted to believe it or not, he was taking this seriously. It was "not serious" that he generally had more trouble with.
River did not want to get dragged on in concern; with concern came fear, and from fear stemmed panic. As she learned how to run in this odd body, she picked up the pace, beginning to run circles around Doug.
"Are we far enough away from the school? Or do you want to keep going?" Doug asked, pausing for a moment to watch River run, amazed by how graceful she already was in this form. Not that he should be, he supposed. It was River, after all. No matter what she looked like, she'd be amazing.
River stopped running, head tilted to the side slightly as she took stock. Then she nodded, thumping one of her forehooves twice on the ground, to say that this was alright.
"Great." Doug grinned and plopped down on the ground, gesturing for her to keep running if she wanted to. "I'm just going to answer your brother's last couple of texts," he explained. "Should I tell him you say hi?"
River nodded assent, then took off running again. Getting used to the new set of muscles, the new balance, the new everything, was so all-encompassing that it became freeing.
"Will do." Doug fired off a text to Simon that included River's greetings, and leaned back on his hands to watch his girlfriend the gazelle run circles around him. Only at Xavier's.
It was a Saturday morning like any other, until River shifted into a baby gazelle.
Not that she realized it immediately. The book tumbled from her grasp, and her entire sense of physicality changed. She had no arms, but four legs that seemed to barely be able to hold her up when she tried and move from the bean bag she had been reading in, in Doug's lab.
She tried to call out for him, but nothing passed her lips but an odd sort of bleat, not entirely unlike a goat. She tried again, and this time the bleat sounded more panicked.
Engrossed in what he was working on, the first sound River made barely registered - or rather, it registered amidst the code Doug was puzzling over, and drifted into a category of "things to process in a moment". The second, however, definitely drew his attention, and he spun around in his chair. "Are you-" his voice broke off and he blinked at the sight of a baby gazelle trying to climb its way out of the bean bag chair.
"Oh my God," Doug mumbled, nearly falling out of the chair. He scrambled up and half walked, half crawled over to her. "River? Is that you?"
He seemed so tall now, and River sort of froze where she was when he scrambled towards her, big doe-like eyes staring at him. It took her a second before she realised what he had asked, and she nodded, trying to keep all of him at bay or she really might panic.
Okay. It was her. Doug sank down on the floor with mingled confusion and relief. He didn't have any idea what was going on, but it was her, and she was answering. Well, kind of. "Okay, I'm going to text the Professor," he explained as he pulled out his phone. "There's got to be some kind of an explanation for this. Everything's going to be okay." Maybe there was a new student who did...random transformations? There had to be. It was the only thing he could think of that made any kind of sense.
River settled down some when he stopped reaching for her. She let him turn to his phone, let his thoughts wash through her as they settled into confusion and his usual urge to figure things out. Familiar and settling. She huffed out a little, then tried to stand again, taking stock of new limbs and new muscles. Her balance was off, and it took her a few attempts before she managed to climb out of the bean bag, and come nose at Doug's hand, her legs wobbly but, for now, under her. That was something.
Doug finished sending the message, then smiled as he felt River's nose nuzzling his hand. "There. We'll hear back in a minute, okay? And find out what happened." He stroked his hand over her head and smiled crookedly. "I don't suppose it's a lot of consolation, but you look really cute?"
She poked her nose at his hand at that, then very tentatively figured out how to fold her legs to lay down in front of him, legs curled beneath her. It did help, not because of her vanity, but because of the feelings inside him. Warmth and affection. Those always helped.
Doug smiled a little, then leaned down and gave her a very careful hug. "It's going to be okay," he told her again, then winced at the sound of the Professor's voice in his head. Training accident, right. Once that would fade back to normal in time. God, only at Xavier's. "Did you get that?" he asked River.
River nodded again. Loud and clear. She huffed out a little, annoyed at losing the ability to speak for quite so long. She could feel the panic and the fear permeating the mansion as people realized what had happened to them, and after a beat, she struggled back to her feet, and nosed at Doug's hand before taking a few wobbly steps towards the closed door, stopping to look back at him expectantly. She needed to get out.
Doug got to his feet and followed her. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, obviously concerned. "We don't - well, we don't know what the other students have been changed into. Or where they were when it happened." He left unspoken the fact that she wasn't in any position to defend herself, and he - well, there was only so much he could realistically do, himself.
The baby gazelle actually rolled her eyes at Doug, doing her best to ignore his concern as it washed over her. She still had her own mind, and so would they. And she trusted him. She wasn't spending her time as a gazelle cooped up inside. Gazelles were meant to run, or were they gazelles at all.
Doug chuckled at the sight of his girlfriend the gazelle rolling her eyes. "Okay, okay. Excuse me for worrying." He winced and pulled his phone back out "Which reminds me - hang on just a minute, and we'll go out, okay? If I don't text Simon, neither of us are ever going to hear the end of this."
That was very true, and River took that time to try and find her feet in this odd body, stamping the ground in front of the door, waiting for him to be done.
Simon - just an FYI. River's fine. Well, she's a gazelle, but she's fine otherwise. Figured you'd want to know. ~Doug Doug finished typing, and hit send. "There, all set," he said, and went over and opened the door for her. "Stay close, okay?"
River leaned against his calf for a moment, in agreement and thanks, then tentatively walked out into the corridor, wide brown eyes looking about for any threat, animal instinct.
Doug pocketed his phone and followed her into the corridor, glancing around as well. "Upstairs?" He grinned a little. "We could go see what Harley turned into. My bet's on a ferret."
A squirrel, River thought immediately, and wished that she could say so. She stopped walking long enough to shake her head - she didn't trust her muscle coordination to do both at once, for now. But upstairs was right, at least, and she resumed walking towards the elevator. There would be no negotiating the stairs just yet.
"Alright, not checking on Harley," Doug said aloud as he followed along. Upstairs was apparently right, though, and once they reached the elevator, he pressed the up button. "First floor?" This was, most definitely, the one time he really wished she could project instead of just hear what he was thinking. It would've made this a lot easier.
This time, River looked up at him and nodded. It felt so wrong, how tall he was, but at least he felt like himself, and that was something she could count on, and focus on right now, to keep everyone else at bay.
First floor it was. The elevator door slid open and he held it to make sure she'd get in before it closed. Once inside, he crouched down and brushed his fingers over her head. "You doing okay?" he asked quietly, offering a crooked smile. "Because I'm pretty sure if it were me, I'd definitely be freaking out by now."
She just nosed at his knee, in a futile attempt to explain that he was making it alright. She was used to focusing on him when the world shifted into a blur of panic, and this was easier than other things. The panic came from outside and found no echo inside her, because she trusted the Professor.
Doug let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "I'm not sure what you mean," he admitted, rubbing at the back of his neck. Which was...strangely disorienting, actually, considering that he nearly always did. "I guess slacking off on trying to understand Diaval when he's shifted is coming back to haunt me, huh? He always said it would."
River huffed out in a way meant to convey agreement, and leaned against him until the elevator doors opened again. She tentatively walked out, looking everywhere around herself and slowly but steadily heading for the front door.
The text from Simon had been slow to come, as he'd been preoccupied with his own situation, but he finally responded, Where is she? Keep her contained. Whatever you do, do not let her go outside.
"Hang on a sec," Doug said, and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He read it, then winced. Oh yeah, this was going to be fun. "Umm...Simon says we're supposed to stay inside?" he said awkwardly, having noted where River was heading.
River hadn't been very far ahead of Doug; she was sticking by him, because she trusted him and because she needed him. He was the way she could withstand everything else, right now, but at his words, she turned back to him and wondered if it showed, on gazelle features, that she was frowning. She pawed at the ground, trying not to let the panic overwhelm her now, but she couldn't stay inside forever and stay calm, not with how strongly everybody was feeling right now, animals and humans both.
Doug watched River carefully, trying to make sense of her reaction, and grimaced and nodded. He wasn't sure if it was his powers or just knowing River, but it was obvious what she wanted, and he was pretty sure he knew why. "Right. Lying to your brother." She's with me, he typed. We're just taking a walk around on the first floor.
River wasn't sure how she felt about Doug lying to Simon on her behalf, when she herself would have told him the truth if she could have. But she got to go outside, and it was best not to focus on that for now. Instead she focused on Doug again, and his easy acceptance and understanding. She walked around him while he typed, eager to go outside and trot away from the confusion and panic threatening at all sides.
"Okay, heading out," he assured her, re-pocketing his phone. He'd pay for this later, but River needed to go outside now, and he wasn't going to stand around arguing with Simon about it. He headed towards the outside door and opened it wide. "Can you handle the steps, or do you need a lift?"
River walked cautiously to the edge of the steps, tried to figure out how to get down them safely, then gave up and looked up at Doug with wide, expectant eyes.
"Got it," he assured her. He closed the door and came over, eyeing her to try to figure out the best way to lift a gazelle and not do any damage. Finally, he just wrapped his hands under her stomach and lifted her up. "Okay, not groping here," he joked, grinning crookedly as he carried her down the steps. "But I didn't exactly have a chance to do research on this." He set her down on the ground and stroked his hand over her back. "So, where to?"
The phone buzzed in Doug's pocket again. How is she? Is she panicked? Just try and keep her as calm as possible. Jean-Paul is a cat. As soon as I can figure this out, I will come and see her. Just let her know I love her and we'll figure this out.
Doug pulled out his phone and chuckled softly. "I'm supposed to keep you as calm as possible," he read aloud for River's sake. "Also, Simon loves you, and Jean-Paul is a cat. Which seems like it kind of fits, huh?" I told her. She's not at all panicked - she seems calmer than you do. Tell Jean-Paul I said to have fun with that.
River huffed out a breath, and nosed at Doug's knee again before taking a few steps away from the mansion, then pausing to wait for him. She didn't want to go too far from him, but she wanted to get away from everybody else.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Doug said, grinning a little as he followed along behind her. "Impatient much?" he teased as he followed along.
River huffed out again, but was too busy trying to figure out how to trot. Something practical, and physical, to keep her mind off of everything else, until it was safely faded to the background of her mind. After a few attempts, she managed something like a slow cant, headed further away from the mansion.
"Y'know, I'm starting to think this might be some diabolical plan to make sure I get more exercise," Doug pointed out as he jogged along side her. "I mean, it sounds a bit bizarre as evil schemes go, but I could definitely see you as a criminal mastermind."
River looked at him, almost lost her footing, focused back on what she was doing and, for her only answer, picked up the pace.
"Yeah, okay - y'know, it's not exactly easy to carry on a conversation with myself," he complained, upping the pace. "Be careful though, okay? No breaking your leg. Or arm. Or...well, anything that they won't be able to put in a cast until this wears off." Damn, what would they do about that? Temporarily immobilize it until they could do something else? He wasn't sure, but he was positive he didn't want to find out.
River bleated in protest at the turn his thoughts were taking, but slowed down her pace. For now.
Ramsey, this is my sister we are talking about. If you do not take this seriously and keep her safe from all harm - including any new predators stalking the halls, you will regret having met me, Doug's phone announced.
Doug fished his phone out again, relieved that River'd slowed down a bit, and winced as he read the message. Right. Pissed off Simon, always fun. I'm taking this seriously. he typed, feeling more than a little annoyed. She's FINE. Would you like me to lie and say she isn't so you can freak out more? He paused for a moment, then erased the last sentence before sending it. Damn it, why couldn't Simon have been changed into something? Jean-Paul was a lot easier to deal with.
River turned around Doug, waiting for him to stop to lean against his leg in comfort.
Doug crouched down a little and stroked his fingers over her head and offered a faint smile. "He means well," he acknowledged, pretty sure he'd managed to follow River's likely train of thought. If not, she'd know what he was talking about anyway.
River stepped back when he crouched down, then pushed into his hand, closing her eyes as she did.
"Hey, it's okay," he assured her, his fingers stroking between her eyes and back over her head. "I'll explain it all to him later." He grinned crookedly. "And then he can threaten my life, and you can head butt him or something. It'll be fun."
River pawed at the ground in protest at the thought of headbutting anyone, never mind Simon, but there was a twinkle in her eyes that suggested she understood the joke.
"Fiiiine, okay. No head butting." His grin turned a bit mischievous. "Though y'know, you'd look really fierce at it." Which was to say, not at all. Adorable, though, definitely.
River pushed against his hand again, and just leaned there, focused on all of him and what he was feeling.
Doug pushed aside lingering annoyance with Simon and relaxed, idly petting his girlfriend's head as he looked around the grounds. "Y'know," he said finally, "it's really not a bad day for a run." Somehow, spring had apparently come while he wasn't paying attention. Imagine that.
If a gazelle could have smiled, River would have, then. She nosed gently at his palm, then took a few steps away and looked back at him as if to ask, 'shall we?'
Chuckling, Doug got to his feet. "Just take it easy on me. I don't do this often." Or at all, really. With the weather getting nicer, he might just have to invest in a new bike.
Not often was better than never, which was how often River had done this. She shook her head in good humour, then started with a slow, hesitant cant again, getting a feel for how to do this.
Doug jogged along side her, half focused on the motion, half on scanning the area, though he suspected River would pick up on any threats long before he did. Still, whether Simon wanted to believe it or not, he was taking this seriously. It was "not serious" that he generally had more trouble with.
River did not want to get dragged on in concern; with concern came fear, and from fear stemmed panic. As she learned how to run in this odd body, she picked up the pace, beginning to run circles around Doug.
"Are we far enough away from the school? Or do you want to keep going?" Doug asked, pausing for a moment to watch River run, amazed by how graceful she already was in this form. Not that he should be, he supposed. It was River, after all. No matter what she looked like, she'd be amazing.
River stopped running, head tilted to the side slightly as she took stock. Then she nodded, thumping one of her forehooves twice on the ground, to say that this was alright.
"Great." Doug grinned and plopped down on the ground, gesturing for her to keep running if she wanted to. "I'm just going to answer your brother's last couple of texts," he explained. "Should I tell him you say hi?"
River nodded assent, then took off running again. Getting used to the new set of muscles, the new balance, the new everything, was so all-encompassing that it became freeing.
"Will do." Doug fired off a text to Simon that included River's greetings, and leaned back on his hands to watch his girlfriend the gazelle run circles around him. Only at Xavier's.
