I don’t know what’s going on, but I ain't enjoying it. It’s making me feel all peculiar and I want it to stop. There’s something up between Inara and Freya, and no-one’s talking, literally. For the past few days they’ve not said more’n a couple of words to each other, even tried to avoid being in the same room. When they do have to be, like dinner tonight, they’ve been so … proper. I’d laugh if it weren’t so off-putting. There they were, asking each other to pass the potatoes, and all the time I swear they would rather have killed each other!

And the Cap’n ain't much better. He’s been stalking around Serenity like someone’s taken away his favourite toy, and he’s been shouting at people something bad. I tried to talk to him just this morning and he damn near took my head off. He apologised straight away, but that ain’t the point. He’s acting like he’s trying to make up his mind about something, only it ain't going right. He ain't been sleeping much, either, sitting up all hours on the bridge, just staring out at the black.

Jayne says it’s ‘cause of ‘Nara and Freya, that they’ve been fighting over him. But that can’t be the truth. I mean, I know Inara’s sweet on him, it’s not as if that’s changed. And Freya, well she’s known the Cap’n for a long time, since during the war, and she don’t hide how she feels. But he ain't sleeping with either of them, so … I don’t know. I just want everyone to be friends, for everyone to get on, to be happy. I like folks being happy.

Jayne can’t be right. I’ve known Freya a long time too, since I came on board more or less … just after Mal offered me the job of mechanic. I remember his standing there, talking to me, Bester next to me more or less buck naked … still makes me smile to think of the Cap’n walking in on us. Just glad he didn’t take it into his head to tell my folks. And the only reason I took up with Bester was because he worked with machinery. He weren’t very good, I know that, and I can’t help but feel if he’d stayed on board instead of me Serenity’d just be a heap of wreckage somewhere, but knowing he poked around her innards, handled those tools … it made me hot. And then the Cap’n finding out … weren’t too happy with him calling me Bester’s prairie harpy, but I forgave him. How couldn’t I? I love my captain.

Anyway, weren't long before I met Freya, and me and her hit it off fast. For all that she’s a fighter, been through the war, come out the other side more or less intact, she’s girlie enough for me to talk to. I talk to Inara too, but that’s kinda different. Can’t imagine me and Inara going to look at engine parts, but I’ve done that with Freya. Only now neither of them is talking to the other.

River knows, but she ain't telling. She just looks at everyone with those big eyes o’ hers, and just reads the thoughts from the back of their minds, but she ain't passing it on. Simon’s tried, I know ‘cause I asked him to, but she just said it was none of his, and walked away from him. Wash would’ve known: he knew everything that went on around here, and if he didn’t he could make it up. But I ain't gonna ask Zoe. She’s still … wouldn’t be right to talk about this with her, somehow.

So I guess I’m just gonna have to wait. Ain't like I got nothing to do – that catalyser’s been playing up a little, so I need to tweak it somewhat, and Simon keeps me warm at night. But I just want everyone to be happy. Whatever’s goin’ on, I want it finished so we can get back to normal.