At Aphrodite's Apple...

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Hello?" River calls tentatively, standing in the doorway of the establishment. The entry parlor is sumptuously furnished, with sofa and chairs upholstered in what looks like exceedingly comfortable velvet. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Parker said this would be a good place to look, to see if I could find something to ... distract me from Adama. River glances around again, hoping that someone will appear. Hopefully it will be.

Comments

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

Hello?

*smiles at the girl*
How can I help you?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Um, hello." River looks momentarily flustered, then stands straight. "Someone told me this might be a good place to... um..." She pauses, then says all in a rush, Finished, the girl gulps back a breath and stands there trying to look calm and non-naive.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

*amused, but sympathetic look*

oh dear....

*gestures for her to come into the "living room" area*

Come in, I will get you some tea, and we will talk, allright?

My name is Satine... and you are?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"River, ma'am... and yes, thank you, I'd like some tea." River looks relieved at this reception, and follows Madam Satine into the living room.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

*pages up through an inhouse system that tea is needed in the lounge, and sits down, offering a large comfortable chair to River*

Now, first of all, tell me how old you are, just so I can begin to see what *kinds* of help I can offer you.

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"I'm seventeen, ma'am. Are there... age limits on this kind of thing? The same as for buying alcohol?" River wrinkles her brow. "There are so many strange local ordinances..."

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

Well.. I cant legally let you have time with one of my boys...

but... We are opening a shop in the next few days... a store...

perhaps I could give you something to help you out... if you would be willing to bring in a few friends once its opened?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

River cocks her head to one side and nods. "I'm sure there would be some others where I'm living who would be interested in stopping by."

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

sweetie.. lets go look at my toys, then, shall we?

Do you want to just see what we have, or do you want to see *my* collection... and go from there?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Maybe... if you tell me which of your collection are meant for what purpose, and I could judge from that?"

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

*takes her upstairs, and gives her a detailed explanation of enough toys so that she can make a good decision, but sticks to stuff that she would already have on hand for the store, and not things she would have to special order in*

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

River listens attentively, then makes a choice and selects one of the items the Madam has described. Something not wholly battery-powered, that's what Parker said.

"Oh, also... do you have any scented massage oils?"

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

heavens yes... any particular scent your looking for?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"I was considering honey almond, and raspberry, and possibly something kind of cinnamon-y?" River looks hopeful.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

almond, cranberry/cinnimon, and a berry mix... those I have.

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Those, then, and..." She takes one last look over the selection of vibrators. "This one here (http://www.holisticwisdom.com/female-ejaculation-hitachi-magic-wand.htm)."

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

And that one I *know* we have in stock downstairs, let go and find the boxes for you, ok? *rather bright smile*

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

River smiles back amicably, and very deliberately does not think of Lee Adama.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

*takes her into a back storage room where presently, there are roof high boxes stacked, waiting to get moved into Pandoras Box*

*hopeful smile*

Hopefully, this wont take too long.

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

*quickly and efficiently makes her selections, then looks at Madam Satine* How much do I owe you?

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

Sweetie.. Ill let you take them...just for the free advertising...

did you still want that cup of tea?

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Yes, please." River's somewhat surprised by how helpful and understanding the Madam has been, and silently resolves to recommend the shop to others on the floor who might have similar needs. After all, she can't be the only one with guy troubles, can she?

She sips at the cup of chai delicately, making what conversation she can. Her experiences don't have a tremendous amount of crossover with the proprietress's, but -- Any chance to learn something new should be approached with equal interest.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

*is just thankful for someone to visit with, and enjoys the young girls company*

You are a very intelligent woman, River.
If I can give you any advice whatsoever... stay away from places like this and people like myself. As much as I enjoy your company, *sighs*

You remind people like me of what I could have done with my life, what they could have done. Most of us tend to react violently to such things.

*sips tea*

Life... is a funny thing dear... I wish you well.

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"But..." River holds herself back, intentionally not dipping into the foremost thoughts that Madam Satine has. The madam has a quiet, well-ordered mind, which makes doing so easier, but all the same... "What do you mean? What happened to you?"

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

Dont you have homework to do? *is half teasing, and half not wanting to go there, but River would know how lonely she is*

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"Not at all. I took care of that before I walked into town." River leans forward, intensely curious about the swell of memory and emotion she can feel beneath Madam Satine's calm expression.

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

So what coarses are you taking? What goals do you have? *leans forward herself, interested*

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"I'm ... not entirely sure, yet." River pauses, considering. "I only arrived here a short while ago. To be honest, a few weeks past I believed Earth-that-Was to be nothing but a long-lost myth. And when I found myself here, I wasn't initially certain that it was anything more than another delusion." She looks briefly worried. "So I decided to enroll in definitive science classes -- geology, physics, mathematics practice and theory, just to see whether or not I could prove it to be true."

"As for goals..." She shrugs, a frown tugging at one corner of her mouth. "I spent the last few years being prepared as part of someone else's goals. For now, I just want to learn what I can and find a path for myself."

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

I wished I could have been tought in a school like yours...

I was.... an actress, I suppose? I died, then I woke here.
I still caugh, however, it scares me.

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"You... died?" River asks, astonished. "There was a time I thought I might be dead, being smuggled out in cryo-storage, but..."

[madam-satine.livejournal.com]

It wasnt pleasent. It was a horrible situation.
I perfer this time, this place... but I miss...
I miss *Him*...

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

"So... er..." River bites her lip. "What would you recommend?"

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

[OOC: *Makes Popcorn. Dims lights. Sits back in comfortable chair to watch. Hopes bluemanoncampus brings soda. ]

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

[[ooc: hey, Inara just got online - she's willing to help River]]

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

[ OOC: Ack! Alas, I just got back from the city about twenty minutes ago... so looks like I missed much of the evening's activities. Including the slumber party, for the most part. Darn it.

We'll have to connect sometime in the future! :) ]

[serra-inara.livejournal.com]

[yes. yes we do. :D]

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

[ OOC: But for right now... *yaaaaawn* Must sleep. : ) ]

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

[OOC: Exsqueeze me? I'm the perv? I read that whole thing you did to Parker and...

*coughs*

"I'll be in my bunk"

Just thought I'd follow up on this post once it was finished.

Will be looking forward to further posts about...

All right. I guess am a perv.
]

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]