The Heirs (-Invisible- & Brookgirl) 1x1

[fly away.]

Jason was focused, but he looked up for a moment, and saw River was the only one still working. "You can stop, you know, everyone else is gone. It must be break time." He hadn't heard the whistle either. He stood up, and walked over to her. He gave her a sad smile. If he could take her torc off himself, he would do it in a heartbeat. But somehow he would have to convince Drake to do it. Without her getting hurt. He was sure it was going to take a while. But he had to get her free, even if he didn't get everyone else free.

[Black Velvet]

"I know...", sighed River, "but I suppose I better get used to it, anyways." Smiling jokingly at him, she asked, "What say the two of us grab us some lunch?", and fluttered her eyelashes at him. It felt good to joke arund; she wouldn't have anyone to joke to once he was gone. More seriously, she told him, "I will help you to escape however I can... no matter WHAT the consequences." When she spoke, she knew what she had said was true. She WOULD help him in any way she could... even if it got Drake upset.

[fly away.]

Jason laughed, however quiet and short it was. If felt good to laugh, but then his face got serious again. "Don't even think about it, River. I'm not leaving without you." He said, shaking his head. "Come on, we really should get some lunch." He started to walk, picking his way around the mines, and soon found the way out. He walked out onto the mining path, and looked around. Slaves were eating, besides the ones who's meal had been taken away.

[Black Velvet]

River smiled, but it was a short, dis-believing smile. He doesn't know what he's saying, she thought, so don't get your hopes up for nothing. River followed Jason, staying close by his side. She felt her feelings for him growing, sub-consciously, but she didn't really know how far they would extend. Or how far they COULD extend. River noticed the slave who had had his food taken away, and silently gave him the larger half of hers, leaving before he could even realize who had given the food to him. He looked around, wondering, for about a second before he gulped it down. Then River went to rejoin Jason, hoping he hadn't noticed- in the mines, it could be considered a weakness.

[fly away.]

Jason smiled at her, "That was nice," he said simply, but that was all he said about the exchange between River and the guy. He picked at his food, taking a small bite occasionally. He wasn't really hungry, but he didn't want to waste the food. Finally he gave up, and gave the rest of his food to River, to make up for what she had gave the guy. "I'm not hungry, just eat it." He said, shaking his head. He watched her for a moment, before looking at the ground again, running over the spells in his mind. He made sure that the healing one, and the imbolization one were always on his toungue.

[Black Velvet]

River had already wolfed down most of her food, and she was really very hungry, but she shook her head. "No", she said firmly, "you need to eat. If you don't eat yours, I won't eat mine", and she shoved her food away, ignoring how famished she felt. She had felt much worse before, after all. Silently, she hoped that he would agree. She knew she ould give the food to another slave otherwise, and it wouldn't go to waste, but she also knew that without eating properly Jason would have less of a chance of escape. She didn't have a chance without him, and, besides, a feeling she couldn't quite place took over when she thought of Jason staying under Hestia's- and, indirectly, Drake's- control forever.

[fly away.]

Jason looked at her, shaking his head. "You gotta be kidding me, River." He said, though he started to slowly eat the food. Even though he wasn't hungry. Because what went on down in the mines made him lose his appetite. He shook his head, still eating the food slowly. As soon as she had finished hers, Jason was giving his food up to someone who didn't have any. Because there were plently of people. He didn't want them to go hungry, he shook his head again. He blew his hair from his face, taking another tenative bite out of his food. His thoughts were swirling around in his mind, getting jumbled. He couldn't think straight, with all of the spells and plans.

[Black Velvet]

"Listen to me", River spoke with new conviction, not caring what he said, "I KNOW that you care about these people- so do I. But you can't feed them all... you can't help them all. If you die, that's 10 more slaves that are BEATEN when they don't work. You ARE helping people- a lot more people than you know. You're giving them HOPE. They know that not all wizards are bad, now. They know that, someday, they will be free.. or at least there children will." Then she lowered her gaze, speaking softly, "...and I don't want anything to happen to YOU." Glancing up at him quickly, then getting up and begining to walk back to the workstation, she was amazed at what she had said... and worried. What if he took it wrong? Had she just ruined everything? Sighing, she sat against the wall, waiting for the others to come so she could get back to work.

[fly away.]

Jason listened to her, shaking his head. When she left, he stood up, and gave the rest of his food to someone who wasn't in his crew, but looked expectianoly weak. He walked off, before the girl could say anything to him. He wasn't hungry. One meal wasn't going to cost him his life. Sometimes he wondered about River, what was going on inside of her head. He walked to where she had gone, and sat next to her. "I don't want to help only ten people, River. I want everyone to be free. Because, none of them want to be here. I'm guessing if Mason doesn't. They're all slaves."

[Black Velvet]

River nodded, "I know. I know. What can we do for them though? They won't be free, even if we release them. How many of them want to hide for the rest of their lives?", then she turned her face away, "...but how many of them want to be slaves?", she muttered, almost to herself. Finally admiting it, she whispered, "I'm scared...", then turned her face away, embarassed about th tears that were pooling in her eyes. How could she be so weak? He had to go through this, too.. so did all the other slaves.