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Post by Medieval Kevin on May 13, 2017 16:58:42 GMT -8
Mal had to think about that one for a second. He didn't rightly know to be honest. Without even realizing it, Mal leaned forward and started straightening things on the table too... The wrong way. "Well seein' as how he's as welcome as a rattlesnake at a square dance I don't think I'd be calling him over so we can settle our differences."
The Captain stopped fidgeting and picked up a piece of unlit incense and started twirling it between his fingers. There really wasn't anywhere to start. His mind started going down an unproductive path, it wasn't the first time and it sure as heck wouldn't be the last... "Runnin' ain't a plan? Course I suppose that might be bad for business. For more'n a few of us."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on May 13, 2017 19:43:45 GMT -8
Inara didn't shoo his hands away from her table. She was actually glad to have something to arrange as the table had been nearly in perfect order before she'd begun the task and most decidedly not when Mal pitched in.
"Runnin' ain't a plan? Course I suppose that might be bad for business. For more'n a few of us."
Now that everything was organized straight and orderly as soldiers on her table, she was left with no choice but to face the conversation without distractions. Inara sat back, gracefully brushing a strand of hair off her face with the back of her fingers before folding her hands in her lap.
"Running is definitely a good plan right now," she stated obviously as Niska knew their location and had tried to take advantage of that. "Business won't matter if we are..." she paused, thinking of a polite way to cover all aspects of what might have happened to her today and what could happen to all of them if they didn't run, "taken out of commission." Inara spoke casually, though inside, she was still raging over what Niska had said in his message.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jul 16, 2017 14:40:51 GMT -8
"Business won't matter if we are... taken out of commission." Inara spoke casually. Too casually... who knew what was really going on in her mind. Like that time she 'fell and hit her head' when she had a run in with Saffron. Mal leaned back and slapped his hands on his knee's. "That right there brings me to my next point. The Captain stood up. "I don't mean for us to be..." He started pacing back and forth as he searched for his words. "Taken out of anything."
He contined around the table and skirted the companion's bed as he stared off into space. "Another option would be to take that old crook out of commission first." He stopped moving then. Slowly he turned back to face Inara. He let his guard down somewhat. "Jus don't know how. Had a mighty fine chance back at the skyplex and now... He's holding the cards."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 16, 2017 17:12:27 GMT -8
Inara appreciated these rare moments when Mal was taking her seriously and seeking her input rather than taking swipes at her profession. She afforded him the same respect and abandoned her casual seat to face him on the same level and eye to eye as this discussion warranted.
Inara started to voice the idea that had been bumping around her mind since returning to her shuttle as she walked over to where Mal had stopped. "Niska may be powerful but he can still be taken down," she began, stopping in front of him at a respectable distance, their proximity to her bed, however, perhaps not so much.
She lightly crossed her arms, keeping a strong stance. Inara figured his mind was most likely catching up to her idea and knew he wouldn't like it so she quickly continued in case he had it in mind to shut her down. "Simon, River... none of you need to be involved. Just get as far from Niska as you can. I can find transport to the nearest Alliance base and report his offense against a registered Companion."
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jul 16, 2017 17:51:52 GMT -8
"Niska may be powerful but he can still be taken down," Inara began, stopping in front of him. Mal folded his arms across his chest, lifting his right hand up to stroke his chin. "Mmhmm," he mumbled in responce, his signal for her to continue. She lightly crossed her arms as well. "Simon, River..." His mind started to race, Mal wasn't expecting her to bring them up, where was she going with this? Nevertheless... "Mmhmm," came his answer.
There was only the slightest pause before she proceeded. "...none of you need to be involved." Mal absentmindedly replied, "Mmhmm". Without missing a beat the Companion continued right over him. "Just get as far from Niska as you can. I can find transport to the nearest Alliance base and report his offense against a registered Companion."
Without a tick, "Mmhmm," the Captain muttered but his eyes went from far away to extremely focused on her. "Wait, what!? Absolutely not!" He burst right back into his pacing again. "Inara..." His lips moved but nothing came out but a small serious of grunts that fought his words out of his mouth. "Inara, no! You'd be servin' yourself right into his filthy hands. Look what he's done. But despite that, it's me he wants. You do that'n you're just as much a real target as I am." His mind was starting to come very quickly to a different plan with that thought...
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 16, 2017 18:38:59 GMT -8
Despite the gravity of the situation, the corners of Inara's mouth momentarily twitched in amusement as Mal paced and struggled for words. It was a rare sight for a man who always gave strong, assertive speeches that, admittedly, were quite moving at times.
She regained her composure as quickly as it had cracked. Inara had an argument against his but knowing she'd be wasting her breath, she kept it herself. "If you have a better idea, I'm all ears," she encouraged.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jul 16, 2017 19:05:23 GMT -8
And just like that his mind went blank, somehow she always knew the wheels were turning. But he wasn't about to suggest it. He didn't like the idea either, but he would turn himself over before ever letting her put herself in danger like that. "All I was saying was the amount of time they'd tie you up for a trial like that. You'd be looking for a new line of work. That'n assuming you get to just ride it out. Those people... They can be bought. Not like any of us here." An image of Jayne popped into his head. "Not any of us that matter."
Mal reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. "I-we wouldn't do anything like that to you." He realized his hand rested on her exposed shoulder. Quickly he snatched his hand away and into his hair as he tussled it a might bit. "Hell I'll be honest. Runnin' is about all I can muster until an opportunity presents itself. Wait for him to make a mistake. Hope'n its before we make another one ourselves." He started to slowly move towards the door. But not too fast. "Maybe we should join up with the others. See what's what..." He didn't want to just yet but he was getting tired of being truthsome. Especially when it made him feel so weak, so unprepared. so... vulnerable.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 16, 2017 20:08:38 GMT -8
Though his hand was gone, her shoulder still felt its presence. The care she saw in his eyes and heard in his voice sent a swirl of warmth through her.
As he passed her, she turned and took hold of his hand to stop his progress to the door. "Mal," she began as she waited for him to turn and face her again. "If there's no other way, if it comes down to it..."
The realization that she still held on to his hand gave her a distracted pause. They'd accidentally stumbled deeper into this restricted territory than ever before. Beyond the very conscious avoidance of physical contact to subconscious physical contact of a more intimate nature. A touch of the shoulder. The holding of hands.
Inara released his hand and spoke with calm resolve. "I fully accept whatever the risks when it comes to the well being of the people on this ship."
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Aug 5, 2017 19:40:55 GMT -8
She was holding his hand. Stopped him on his way by so as the Captain turned to face her. He could almost feel her breath on his cheek. Those cheeks which at that moment were a might bit warm. "I fully accept whatever the risks when it comes to the well being of the people on this ship." And the moment was gone, along with her hand.
He went from warm to burning. Reynolds fixed Inara with a determined stare. Why did they have to play this game? Just for a moment he was going to do the old lean-in too, he thought, shaking his head. Having spent far too much time entertaining that thought his shoulders just slumped.
"Nǐ èr dàyé de, don't even have any control of what goes through my mind these days," Mal cut himself off at the same time he realised he had said that out loud. "Why should you be doing the risk taking? My ship, my crew. And like I said, I'm the prize," he left his previous comment to himself in the dust. "I should put myself out there. N'fore you think it, I ain't being all noble like. I fully expect you all to come save me when he plays his hand."
Nǐ èr dàyé de = damn on your second uncle.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Aug 5, 2017 20:37:38 GMT -8
They faced each other in one of those rare, fleeting moments. They stood again at the top of a spiraling slide and like the times before, they took the cautious way out and climbed back down the ladder. Each time it happened, it was harder and harder to resist the slide and each time they'd reached it, it seemed to result in a wedge between them, placing them right back on the ground where they proceeded to start the climb again, each round at a quicker pace. Inara was finding it exhausting. Climbing back down safely to the ground was a relief the first few times but when that relief started to mix with disappointment, regret, curiosity and more recently, a yearning for the thrill of the slide, that was when she'd made the decision to leave.
"Nǐ èr dàyé de, don't even have any control of what goes through my mind these days,"
With her feet back on the ground, Inara chose to believe he was referring to captain-y related thoughts, despite the way he was looking at her.
"Why should you be doing the risk taking? My ship, my crew. And like I said, I'm the prize,"
She could argue it, but spending another hour alone with him heatedly debating was not wise.
"I should put myself out there. N'fore you think it, I ain't being all noble like. I fully expect you all to come save me when he plays his hand."
Inara chuckled as she headed for the door and opened it, standing back to let him pass through first. "As if we'd let him keep such a prize," she said in serious tone though a smile played on her lips.
And already, she'd placed her foot on the first rung of the ladder.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Aug 5, 2017 21:09:11 GMT -8
"I aim to take a few trophies of my own away from that meetin," the captain mumbled somewhat bitterly to himself. He followed Inara to the door on autopilot but he got the hint as she slid the door open and stood expectantly. Of course she wasn't about to walk out ahead of him and leave him in the shuttle by himself. Even if her foot rested on the top step leading down into the ships main hold.
Mal decided to maintain some dignity if he was being given the boot, so to speak. "I'm not usually afforded such courtesy. You sure know how to make a man feel... escorted." He was proud of himself, he managed to keep that one fairly ambiguous. He couldn't keep the childish smirk off his face though as he dipped into a bow before slipping past her. It was a tight squeeze through the hatch, not a lot of wiggle room. Keeping his mind professional he proceeded down to the catwalk and waited for her to latch the door behind them.
Once Inara had joined him below he started walking again. "Can't tell me you wouldn't jump at the opportunity to turn the tables on the old man. Just like you did with Saffron?" He continued to lay the proverbial bait for her all the way to the kitchen.
**Mal and Inara exit to the Kitchen**
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 16, 2017 15:17:04 GMT -8
The day Niska's men then the Hands of Blue had attacked finishes out, luckily without any further fanfare.
It is now mid day of the following day.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 17, 2017 14:53:04 GMT -8
Inara had kept to her shuttle most of the day, only pulling a silk blue robe with flowers over her peach silk nightgown to step out in the very early morning and make herself breakfast and tea, which she took back to her shuttle.
Mal may have shut down her plan but she was sure they both knew by now that that wouldn't stop her from proceeding as she wished. This was Niska they'd come up against. They needed any and all ideas for a plan. If someone came up with something better, then so be it. So far though, she hadn't heard another but she was determined to either work out the details of the plan she'd mentioned or see if she could come up with another one. Inara planned to go check on Wendy sometime later but took advantage of everyone's distraction with the Hands of Blue tablet to work on their Niska problem.
She sat in front of her monitor, nearly lunch and still slumming it in the comfort of her nightgown, no make-up, hair wild and free as she idly swiped through her contacts. As each face passed before her, she considered what they did, their connections, any favors owed to her or the crew.
There were a couple clients amongst the contacts that she knew would do anything for her. Ones that had wanted to 'take her away from it all' as they generally put it, but Inara was not one to take advantage of wayward hearts. It was more her nature to gently persuade them away from that kind of an emotional connection. She'd do anything to keep her Serenity family safe though, so she mentally logged away their names, should they be left with no other options.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 6, 2018 2:51:51 GMT -8
River walked down the ship's floors, on the search for her brother. Or maybe on the search for that woman, she had met just yesterday? Something made her feel uncomfortable since they had come apart in the late evening. She clearly felt the loss of something. Of something that had been able to ease the chaos in her head for at least a while. And now she was alone again. Maybe not alone literally, but alone mentally. She didn't want to be alone.
Shades of blue were coming closer to her...
Light blue. She started her third round of walking. Greenish blue. River's steps became shakier. Grayish blue. Her arm reached out to the wall next to her. A feeling of sickness expanded in her. Navy... blue...
River took hold of something at the wall, while her fingers slowly slid over it. The knob of a door.
***River enters Inara's Shuttle***
She shut the door behind immediately and so locked the blue outside. Here she was safe. For now.
River turned around. A wild unfamiliar appearance was looking straight back at her. And before it could have said anything, River burst out screaming the hell out of her all of a sudden. Probably loud enough to not get overheard by anyone onboard the ship.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 6, 2018 16:45:08 GMT -8
Inara was just swiping onto the next contact in her list when her door burst open and shut just as quickly. The sense of alarm in the gesture sent alarm through Inara. She turned quickly, her screen and content completely forgotten as she stared with wide-eyed shock at a screaming River.
"River!" Inara said, trying to be heard over the screams as she cautiously approached. "River, shh, it's okay," she added, keeping an arms distance in case River struck out. "Mei-mei, everything is okay." Inara carefully reached out, placing a hand on one of River's upper arms, then the other waiting for the girl to quiet enough to get through to her. "Shh, mei-mei, you're here with me. You're with Inara." Inara pulled the girl into a hug, soothingly smoothing her hand over River's hair.
Inara pulled away enough to look at River's face, Inara's own face reflecting concern and love. "What's wrong, bao bei? What happened?" She smoothed River's hair back out of her face, waiting patiently as if she had all the time in the world.
There were no other signs of distress coming from the ship so Inara's own alarm had lessened considerably, figuring River had had an episode. Inara buried the bit of fret that remained in order to provide as strong and stable of a rock for River to draw comfort from.
________________________
bao bei = sweetheart
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 14, 2018 18:49:23 GMT -8
*** Simon enters from elsewhere ***
After leaving the bridge, Simon had checked the usual hiding places frequented by his sister but hadn't found her. She could certainly have discovered a new spot; Serenity offered plenty of places to retreat. Some by design, some added by her captain to aid in smuggling. And River seemed attuned to every inch of the ship.
He found the second shuttle empty, so his next stop was Inara's shuttle. He just hoped she wasn't busy. "Inara," he began, lightly knocking on the door. "Pardon the interruption. I was just looking for River."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 15, 2018 22:19:19 GMT -8
Normally, Inara would open her door for a guest, the ones who actually knocked, but her hands were quite literally full.
"You may enter," she called out just loud enough to carry to the other side of the door. Relieved to have the extra support, Inara smiled down at River, still keeping an arm around the girl. "Your brother's here," she said with cheery calm.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 16, 2018 0:39:31 GMT -8
"You may enter ... Your brother's here."
Simon pulled open the door and entered to see River in the companion's arms. "I'm so sorry, I hope she didn't interrupt you," he said, quickly moving over to them. He placed a hand on River's shoulder and tried to extricate her from Inara's embrace. Seeing her so distressed and being unable to help, it reminded Simon why they needed to find this doctor.
"Mei-mei, what's wrong?" he asked, searching her wide eyes.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 16, 2018 3:56:43 GMT -8
River was still screaming, when Inara tried to calm her with the soothing voice of hers. The Blue was everywhere and it was coming for her. The clouds and flowers were all gone by now. She knew they haven't been more than an image, a vision. She was no idiot. But their colors, that warm feeling coming from it, had been able to fight back the Blue.
River cried in Inara's arms, as the screams were dying down at least. But she didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want them to hear her. Deep caught in the fear of her own mind, River didn't even take notice of the knock on the shuttle's door or the exchanged words through it.
"Your brother's here,"
Simon! River panicked again, as she saw the door behind stood wide open, not even allowing her brother's touch to soothe her mind.
"Mei-mei, what's wrong?"
Instead of meeting eyes with him, she still was staring at the door. "THEY'RE COMING IN! THEY'RE COME TO GET ME! Simon!" Her struggling made it even harder for them to get her back into a steady condition. She didn't want to act like the crazy person, it was the things she saw that made her.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 18, 2018 0:51:33 GMT -8
"THEY'RE COMING IN! THEY'RE COME TO GET ME! Simon!"
"No, no, River, they're not," he said emphatically, placing his hands gently aside her face. "Those men are gone, and they're not coming back. They'll never hurt you again, I promise. And you know I keep my promises."
When he felt that she had calmed somewhat, he turned his gaze to Inara. "Wendy and I found a doctor on Newhall," he informed her. "One who might be able to help."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 21, 2018 18:09:20 GMT -8
There was a slight raise of her eyebrows signifying her surprise. "Already? Impressive."
Inara smiled, still running her hand over River's hair as she addressed her. "You hear that, bao bei? Your brother and your new friend found someone who might be able to help you two."
Inara spoke with a calm, even voice giving the impression that she had all the time in the world for them. Not there was anything pressing in her schedule but even if there had been, she'd always make time for the good Doctor and his sister. "Why don't we have a seat." Arm around River, she started to lead her in the direction of the couch and gave Simon a nod of warm invitation. Inara sat on one end leaving space on the other side of River for Simon so she'd have either or both to lean on.
Inara wanted to ask more questions about the doctor on Newhall and what it would entail to get to him but preferred not to discuss it in front of River in case the outlook wasn't good. Instead, she addressed another concern that had been on her mind. "How is our guest fairing?" she asked Simon.
________________________
bao bei = sweetheart
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 22, 2018 5:01:06 GMT -8
Right in that moment, River wasn't even able to catch every word of their voices. All her attention laid at the door, till finally, someone hurried to close it. But still, that didn't calm her mind completely. They could have sneaked in. How could she know with all the blue already in the room? But she also could feel her brother's and Inara's worries. And so River tried to calm herself.
Clouds and flowers. Clouds and flowers...
"... hear that... bei? ... brother and your new friend found someone... able to help..." River raised her head a little, seeable fighting with her own concentration, as she gave a slight nod.
Clouds... and flowers.
Like in trance she followed Inara's steps over to the couch, feeling her mind slowly calming down. Clouds. She took one deep breath. "How is our guest fairing?"
"Flowers.", she suddenly spoke out loud.
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Jan 23, 2018 0:47:22 GMT -8
"How is our guest faring?"
Simon followed Inara's lead in ushering River to the couch and taking a seat beside her. "As well as can be expected," he answered. "The neural inhibitor I gave her seems to stabilize her condition, but she said she wasn't able to sleep. It doesn't impair her cognition, though; she was easily able to find Nakamura using the cortex on the bridge. But I'm unable to treat something that I can't diagnose."
"Flowers."
Simon felt a sense of deja vu from the previous night. "She mentioned 'flowers' when Wendy was talking to her last night," he remembered. "Do flowers have something to do with Miss Carter?" he asked River, aware that he was unlikely to get a coherent answer.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 6, 2018 20:16:37 GMT -8
"As well as can be expected," "The neural inhibitor I gave her seems to stabilize her condition, but she said she wasn't able to sleep.
Inara looked sad to hear that. Put in the same position, she doubted she'd be able to sleep either.
It doesn't impair her cognition, though; she was easily able to find Nakamura using the cortex on the bridge.
A bit of hope lit up Inara's features. "Already? That's impressive."
But I'm unable to treat something that I can't diagnose."
Inara didn't let that dim the beacon of hope. They'd be able to get insight from this Nakamura but before she could comment, their attention was drawn to River.
"Flowers."
"She mentioned 'flowers' when Wendy was talking to her last night," "Do flowers have something to do with Miss Carter?"
Inara had been observing their guest closely when she'd been calming River and recalled it as well. She nodded to Simon before looking to River. "And clouds," she said, giving River a warm smile as she held River's hand. "Is it a place?" she guessed.
A happy memory. A safe place. Perhaps a moment in her life Wendy had felt calm and serene. It was a common practice she used herself when meditating or trying to center herself after a bad situation.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Feb 8, 2018 4:39:05 GMT -8
"Do flowers have something to do with Miss Carter?"
River looked up at her brother in slight confusion. Oh, did the flowers blossomed out her mouth? She smiled at the thought of a flower literally blossom out of someone's mouth. That would be beautiful, wouldn't it?
"And clouds,""Is it a place?"
River raised her head to look over at Inara, still a slight smile on her face. "It is safe.", she eventually answered, her head lowered again. A place to be safe. They weren't able to enter a place like that in her head. Her head vault, so to speak. And Wendy had given her the number combination for it. Or had she given her the number combination for her own safe place?
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 11, 2018 13:27:37 GMT -8
**Mal enters from the bridge**
Mal continued to follow his round about route from the bridge to Inara's shuttle. He didn't take the ramp down from the cockpit to the hold because he didn't want anyone knowing where he was going. Especially Jayne. But the companion had not left her ship all day or at least hadn't been seen. This was probably a bad idea but they hadn't really finished things yesterday.
Mal had to admit, with the exception of Zoe, people just went with the flow. Even his second in command would differ to him. Inara never did, at least not because of an order or to avoid an argument. She told it like it was. And right now he needed that in order to make a fool proof decision on what to do next. Wendy could fiddle with that satalite but she said it herself, it was old. What if crossing its processes shut it down, came crashing down on their heads. Or there were systems in place that weren't broadcasting to it. Like perimeter alarms?
His paranoia was diverted to a different course when he heard screaming. Snapping out of it he ran forward and through the mostly closed hatch to Inara's shuttle. In an attempt to both open the hatch for himself and reach for his sidearm he failed to do both. Crashing his shoulder into the bulkhead and dropping his pistol he swirled into the room like some kind of circus act bursting into the center ring. With a painful expression on his face Mal scouped up the gun but held it at his side, favoring that shoulder with his free hand. "What the hell is going on in here? And open or close the hatch please, that kind of carelessness gets a guy all spun about and confused." Holstering old faithful he rose both hands and his mouth was left somewhat agape. As he saw Simon and River beside Inara on the couch his expression was like that of a man walking into a party he had not been invited too.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 11, 2018 14:15:18 GMT -8
Door crashing open, Inara instinctively threw her arms around River, shielding her.
"What the hell is going on in here? And open or close the hatch please, that kind of carelessness gets a guy all spun about and confused."
Hearing Mal's voice, Inara released her hold on River and started to turn toward him. "Mal! What in the world..." she began before composing herself. Inara caught big, tough Mal's pouty expression toward her company that hadn't included him and couldn't help being thoroughly amused by it. "You're going a little overboard with your dramatic entrances."
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 11, 2018 14:33:36 GMT -8
"You're going a little overboard with your dramatic entrances." Mal dropped his hands and now looked offended. "That's what one usually does when they hear screaming. Although I think its warranted and not so much... dramatic." Putting his hands on his hips he took in the general mood.
"Kaylee's up to her elbows in monkeys so what was it? Spiders?" He looked a little more thoughtful as it had to be something bigger. "Snakes?" Not likely, River would probably make them dance. He started a slow arc around the far side of the table they were seated behind as his brow furrowed. Making a quick stop and his expression brightened. "Bears?" he guessed with a hand open and extended in their direction. That's when his eyes locked onto the screen on Inara's terminal. Her contacts she had referred to yesterday still up and clearly visible...
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 11, 2018 15:07:40 GMT -8
"We just calmed her down," she started to say, then noticed his attention start to turn toward her screen. 'Gos se,' she thought. In all the chaos, she'd hadn't had a moment to shut down or at least pull the curtain cover over her screen. Inara added with a double meaning, "Let's not drudge up the past."
__________
gos se = crap
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Post by Kristi Lynne on Feb 11, 2018 18:05:45 GMT -8
"She'll be fine, Captain. Thank you for your concern," Simon replied. Not wishing to be a spectator to whatever discussion Mal and Inara were about to have, he tried to extricate River from Inara's embrace and guide her to the door that the captain had just come crashing through.
"You should eat something, mei-mei," he instructed River softly. He paused and addressed Mal before leaving the shuttle. "I trust we'll talk later."
*** Simon and River exit to the Kitchen ***
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