Corresponding notes: part two : River

[bookaddict43]

Title: Corresponding notes: part two: River
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: River, Crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Timeline: post OIS through the comic
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its characters are the property of Joss Whedon
Comments: Because Ma started writing to Kaylee and River too I had to write this off-shoot from the Letters series

Word count: 627

Dear River, My name is Ellen Im Jaynes Ma. I want to tell you how brave I think you are out there so young. I guess its strange my writing to you but Jayne says you dont hear from your parents Im sure hes wrong but if you need an older person to speak you can write to me. I figure a girl likes to get post her ownself now and then. Yours Ellen Cobb

Dear Mrs Cobb,
I was so grateful to receive your letter. It has made me immeasurably happy. You are correct in assuming I would enjoy being like the others and receiving mail.

The lion has informed you accurately as to my lack of parental figures. There is an absence of my biological authority figures; they are missing, as is my home and all that was familiar. Serenity is home and the figures on board both less and more parental.

I would welcome both writing and speaking to you, Mrs Cobb but I often ramble, digress am inexplicit and vague.

Thank you again for writing to me

Yours River Tam

Dear River, I will write to you no matter how your letters sound thats what you meant isnt it? Friends do that you know. Is Jayne a lion to you is it meant kindly I know he aint always treated you good he told me bout his wrongdoing. Your parents should be ashamed but Im glad you feel homelike on Serenity Yours Ellen Cobb

Dear Mrs Cobb,

Jayne is a lion alternately growling and purring; I like wild beasts. I’m wild, so everyone used to say. Not fitting, different, wildness should be controlled. The dark place tried it, did they succeed? Who knows – not I said the fly.

He did do wrong, but both Simon and I provoked him. We’re all faulty, broken, words and thoughts leaking. He’s sorry I see it, the appeasement was delicious. There have been many happenings since then, merging with ships and such.

The bad one came and did not conquer. I am calmer but no more understandable for that.

Yours River Tam

Dear River, Girl being wild or different like you are or were is not wrong or bad and anyone who says so isn’t worth listening too. Controlling folk is wrong people should just be accepted I think I understand you just fine don’t worry none bout that. You fought that Early fella didnt you brave girl? Yours Ellen Cobb

Dear Mrs Cobb,

Bravery is subjective. I behaved badly. Two bad ones came and I disappeared, didn’t fight, gave up. There is no help for me.

The Shepherd and his symbol are gone. They were interesting, archaic, thoughtful, kind. The flock of one misses them and the mysteries they contained. I miss also the other so aptly named Companion; she has been so to me.

Kaylee as always speaks and includes me in all. I hamper her; don’t speak as I should am silent, absent. The lion doesn’t like it. Cautions her as to my behaviour, perhaps he is right.

Soon there is to be another job and coin for all, you included. He is already calculating what should be sent. You’ve listen to my troubles Ellen. I know some of yours – his thoughts are loud. If you want to discuss things I would listen and so would Kaylee.

Yours River Tam

Dear River, youre a good kind girl don’t let no-one tell you different. Not fighting is sometimes what must be done it dont mean you arent brave or behaved bad put that out of your head. Jayne never did trust folk dont worry over it I know youd do the right thing always. Are you really a Reader what a wonderful thing Yours Ellen

Comments

[noandwhere.livejournal.com]

Wow. The juxtaposition of River's ramblings vs. Ma's straight-forward common sense is really beautiful. Yet it's clear Ma understands everything River's saying even though she's using some big words that Ma's probably never seen before. I hope you keep going with these too!

Man, I need a River icon. And a paid LJ account so I can have more icons. *g*

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I was so nervous about this one, whether I got River right or not! You liked it! *dances* I am hoping to keep going with these, they've sort of taken on a life of their own...

[xx-squish-xx.livejournal.com]

Your River is really good! I loved how you could tell exactly what she was speaking about but it was in that cryptic way she has.

I am so happy that Ma Cobb decided to write to the girls!

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

You know Ma - she wants to Mother everyone!! I'm happy you thought I was crytic enough!

[frogfrizz.livejournal.com]

I love the epistle form of this story and the way you write River. River has that wonderful bit of cryptic-ness that appeal to those who (have seen the show and) know what she's talking about. I like how Ma Cobb entertains her and is all mother-like. :)

Cheers!

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

I find River a bit difficult to write so I'm happy you think I got her! Ma is a very mothery person isn't she??

[mercsgoodgirl.livejournal.com]

This continues to be a delightful, fresh format, BA. I like that you've branched out to include Ma Cobb's letters to River and how hauntingly poetical River's ramblings are. Is it bad that they make perfect sense to me???

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

It's not bad at all! *grins* It shows I did my job right I hope! hauntingly poetical? Thank you :)

[guinny-hamilton.livejournal.com]

Oh... I love how reassuring Mrs Cobb is and how River is aware of the fact that she might not be the most coherent pencil in the box... They would get along great!

Is Ma Cobb going to ship River/Jayne? *gigglesnort*

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I'm not sure who Ma is going to ship - cause I don't know!! I love the most coherent pencil in the box comment, it made me giggle!!

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

I was wondering how you were going to handle this (letters from River) and I must say you've exceeded my expectations: The way she struggles to express herself in a way that others can understand, when inside her mind she's making connecetions that no one else can see, but that would make perfect sense if she could find the words the express all the intermediate steps, just seems spot on. As always, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Wow! Thanks for the lovely comment and I'm glad you think I hit the nail on the head!!

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

I do! This totally fits my current ideas of how River should be written, which have been shaped by the fact that I'm currently reading The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes. (Bear with me for a second - it may be that I'm a total moonbrain, but at least read to the end of the comment before you decide.) You see, in most of the Sherlock Holmes stories, there's a scene where Holmes says something that one would think he could only know if he had psychic powers ("Ah look, a doctor is coming to see us, and he's had quite a long journey" or something to that effect), but that is shown to be perfectly reasonable once he explains the process to Watson step by step. To my mind, River is rather like that, except that:
A. She's far smarter than Holmes could ever hope to be, allowing her to make longer chains of deductions and to make them more quickly.
B. She actually is psychic, so she can see more than Holmes could.
C. She has an intuitive, emotional side that Holmes seems to lack.

However, thanks to the Acadeny mucking about in her head, she's not always able to express her thoughts in terms that make sense to the rest of us (even if she could dumb it down enough that we could understand). So whenever River says something, one is left wondering if it's a result of genius, psychic power, madness, or (most like) a combination of the three.

(Thanks for bearing with me here - I've had this building up in my head for the past few days and needed to share it with someone.)

[cantonheroine.livejournal.com]

The difference between core- and rim-world dialects are very evident here. Excellent River voice! I love the idea of Jayne as a lion... ROWRRR!! :)

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Jayne has always seemed very lion like to me - rawrrrrr!! I love that you think I got the contrast down...

[ladytalon1.livejournal.com]

That's so neat that Ma Cobb understands what River is trying to get at as she rambles her way through the letter :)

[maureen.livejournal.com]

I just now found this River one.... my checking fic has been spotty at best these days.

ANYWAY...great River voice and my favorite part was Ma Cobb's bit at the end where she tells River being a reader is a gift. What a great way to look at it instead of 'River is broken.' Such a good mom!

[ceslas.livejournal.com]

Oh darlin'! This was beautiful! Ma Cobb is the voice of wisdom we all wish we had in our lives! And River... oh, River, you are perfect as you are >Hugs