BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

TUJIAOZUO

Parents, Preachers, & Pistol Skinners: Chapter 3
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

The New Haven Series; Post BDM; M/I, S/K: Kaylee finds times are tougher for everyone in the system, Mal is immersed in Core luxury, someone is looking for the captain, and Simon takes a stand


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2713    RATING: 8    SERIES: FIREFLY

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

Sorry I haven't written back in so long! Things have been awfully busy over here, but life's pretty shiny.

So far the ranch is going pretty good. We don't get paid till after the first cattle drive which is in the second week of spring I think, but that's ok cause we're making money elsewhere. I've been fixing stuff in town, plus I got Serenity a job making cargo runs once a month for the town and Simon doctors too. It puts food on the table, and the cargo run keeps the Captain and Serenity pretty happy as they're made for the sky.

Speaking of the crew, the Captain's pretty tickled nowadays. Ever since he became a daddy he's not so surly, in fact, him and Inara don't fight as much. They have their spats, I guess they wouldn't be the Captain and Inara if they didn't argue some. But if they do it's pretty short and they just make up and baby Meilin seems to smooth it all out.

Inara’s so happy now that she’s got Meilin. She keeps our home all set straight, but mostly she’s all about Meilin right now. There ain’t too many mommas like her, all patient and all love. Meilin can be pitching a fit, but it hardly frazzles Inara, she just moves in without any frustration and cares for her. I guess it’s her companion training, they taught her all that poise and patience.

Meilin's doing great too. She's so adorable and looks just like a little version of her mama from her curls to her toes. She's a good baby too, Simon and I watch her sometimes and she loves to cuddle and listen to us talk, plus she’s gotten to smiling. I sent some captures of her with the letter so make sure to take a peek!

Zoe's doing ok, she got sick a few weeks back and is still on the mend. She doesn't like being fussed over or babied at all, but no one cares. The Captain still worries over her, to him I reckon she's his right hand.

Jayne's actually doing great. He told me to tell you Mama that he loved the almond brittle you shipped, in fact he ate it all (Much to the frustration of everyone else, particularly the Captain, he groused for a day and in the end Jayne mucked the barn stalls). Jayne's not going to be with us for much longer though. After the cattle drive he's heading up to the mountains to be the mayor of some town. Ain't that something? Who woulda thought Jayne would turn out to be some big leader?

River's not with us right now. She's out in the core at some monastery, learning about martial arts and meditation and all sorts of things. I think she's in love with a boy too, but don't tell Simon. I think he's still in denial Little River is mature enough for that kinda stuff.

And we got guests! Some old war buddies of the Captain are staying at the ranch. Pike and Wren (that’s their names) are nice married folk. Simon’s taking a shining to Pike as they’re doctors and grew up during the winter in the same area. Wren’s sweet, she’s a pilot from the war and has got some funny stories about ships and the Captain. In fact, she seems to enjoy poking fun at him.

As for me and Simon, we're really shiny. I know I've written whole letters about him, but I love him so much. He's so kind and thoughtful and sweet and swai and about a thousand other equally wonderful adjectives. I can't wait for you guys to meet him, he really makes me all sorts of happy and I dunno what I'd do without him.

Well I gotta go, it's dinner time and if I don't go sit down Jayne'll probably eat my share. I hope you guys are well, I’m glad you enjoyed the last bit of coin I wired. This Yuletide I can’t send any but I promise something for New Year, I can however send a little tin of cocoa powder. I know it’s hard to get back home, and I came into a little bit of it. I made some brownies already with it for Simon. He wasn’t feeling his old self and was burnt out from workin’ hard, so I spoiled him some for a few days; first with breakfasts, dinners, then some brownies (poor Jayne was drooling when I brought the end product out) and I got to learn how much of a sweet tooth Simon is. Well, everyone gobbled it up, but he couldn’t stop talking about it and praising my baking.

I know I said I had to go, but I really have to go, Simon’s holding Jayne back till I sit down.

Love Your Baby Girl (And Happy Yuletide!) Kaywinnet Lee

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaylee was mighty happy.

She just knew Mal, Inara and Meilin would have a good time on Sihnon. There was no doubt she would miss them, but their trip would help them grow closer together and maybe the captain would get to relax some. Humming whilst throwing a switch, Serenity charged with more energy as she jostled at the impact of the atmosphere they broke through. After she was done, Kaylee went over to her hammock and grabbed her own little satchel. It was an army issued one she had bought for cheap at a military supply shop (the best place for coveralls) and she had decorated the thing with patches, beads and her named inked on the strap in calligraphy. Digging into it, she took out a pouch and allowed the crumpled bills and coins to spill out into her hand.

Her meager savings for the skyplex.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mal stood behind Inara, holding Meilin.

They were at the Royal Transport ticket kiosk, which was manned by a tenant in a garishly colored uniform that reminded Reynolds of an overstuffed sausage casing. They had taken a monorail all the way across the dockyard to the more commercial fleets, where sparse passengers were arriving or departing. As Inara received the cabin under her name, he looked around at the city that had never been so much as a pebble on the landscape of Shadow not even four years ago. It was all Alliance; tall, sleek, white, chrome, spotless, commercialized. Factories sent out plumes of steam, lampposts hung red flags that read 'Welcome to Horus, Gateway to the Grasslands', huge telemonitors blared news, weather, sports and advertisements. It was grand, it was opulent, it was Alliance, it was....

A sore on the backside of a once free and proud planet.

Inara turned, sighing, but obviously accomplished as their bags were whisked away. "The boat leaves in ten minutes." She took Meilin, who was bundled up to the point were she was more blankets then baby, and accepted Mal's arm that linked into her own.

"Alright then, let's do this."

Malcolm Reynolds steeled himself against what was to come.

The Core.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon had repaired the foot with the nail driven through it like a miniature railroad spike.

It had been a difficult procedure as the man had also broken his ankle after stumbling back in pain and hitting it against a fence post. It had required sutures for the nail, and setting and placing a cast on the ankle, as well as a vaccine for tetnus and a bottle of pain pills. He had been paid forty bits by Boss Tigg, which was actually getting the short end of the stick, however Simon didn’t want to argue as he already had a bad relationship with the Tiggs, and packed up his things on Brave and headed out. Trotting down the road, the doctor was flanked on both sides by Tigg property, rolling white hillocks dotted with skeleton trees. Tigg Ranch went all the way to Grassy Branch county, and engulfed a third of Pryor county at that. As he passed snow dusted horses in the fields, he came across a frozen pond. Turning, to see if any foul or wild beasts had come to the pond to find food, Simon was disgusted at the presence of Bailey. There was the man, more manchild than man at that, on his horse yelling obscenities both Anglo and Orient to some poor thing in a thicket of the last reeds. Whatever it was bolted, as he had his reins in a fist and his shotgun across his lap.

Simon's face drew dark with vexation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kaylee was in charge of the non-preordered products.

“What do you mean you double the price?” She asked, blindsided by her vender at the Skyplex.

“I’m sorry Miss Kaylee.” Mr. Fu apologized. “Food is expensive, big farm companies revolting against buhao zhengfu. Food is hard to get, Alliance talks about taking over Gansu, all of the farm land, make farmers work for them to feed gor-ram soldiers and government workers. Because of the threats and strain on farms, prices go up.”

Kaylee mulled it over and gave him sympathy. “How are you holdin?”

Mr. Fu shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “If they take over Gansu, no produce, no coin. My family will go back to Gansu, work in fields. You bi shi meishenme hai wei women.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I am sorry, upset many customers. Alliance takes all the food, what will happen to everyone else? Starve?” He shook his head.

“Any of the other vendors having troubles?”

“Cost of everything gone up.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First class was at the very top of the ship.

The Royal Transport ship they were on was a luxury liner named The Cosmos Princess. To Malcolm Reynolds, a man who had never stepped foot on one of the particular ilk of boat, it looked like a giant catfish on the outside. White with sea green stripes and yellow accents, the front the broad head with a helm across the top and long whisker like antennae that served as receivers for transmissions and sensors. Also, at the front and in the very middle of the bow the ship curved in, like a giant, gaping fish mouth, till it stopped with an inwards curled plexiglass wall as a massive window for guests. The rest of the ship was longer than a rodeo stadium four times over and swelled at the top midway to taper into a tail.

Mal thought his ship was purtier.

The inside was anything but ugly. A world of marble, granite, silk and platinum; beiges, plums and merlots. The lighting was warm and succulent, doing the great entrance they first crossed justice. There were pillars, and a marble fountain in the middle of it all. The water spilled out at the top of the lotus fountain, and into the tediously carved basin where it was funneled under the floor. For part of the floor was glass, a streaming curve of glass that held an aquarium of small sharks and other fish underneath their shoes.

Inara paid the fish no heed, Mal had to stop and look down several times to make sure he was seeing things right.

The bell boys sent them to a platinum gilded elevator, where they showed their passes to the elevator operator and were whisked up twelve levels as the flat screen monitor embedded in the polished rose marble greeted them and listed the stops and days activities as well as the various accomidations located within the Cosmos Princess.

Mal had to refrain himself from blurting out a comment about the opera theatre, and the zoo, and the aquarium, and the botanical gardens, and... well nearly everything.

Meilin sucked on her fingers and whined, she was getting hungry.

They were shown to their cabin, and Mal again had to keep it all in. The cabin, was at least as large as the cargo bay. The living room massive with marble floors draped in rugs fit for the floor of the Londinium palace. The couch was enormous, white suede with plum cashmere throws and pillows adorning it. Next to it were thick chairs and ottomans with brilliantly woven fabrics of silver and emperors purple and centered before the chairs was a hand carved mahogany coffee table. There was a flatscreen as big as their bedroom wall back home in front of the furniture and embedded in the wall itself. Next to it were bookshelves holding various things to read as well as a few vases with arrangements of orchids.

Mal wandered the cabin like a child. He found the bar, a full service top of the line bar made of glass and a rounded aquarium at the base brimming with fish of every shade. A capture note hung on a bottle of scotch, flashing 'Please Call Guest Services To Order Up Your Bartender'.

Aiya, their own bartender.

There was a humidor, with more cigars than one could smoke in a lifetime. There was also a number to call someone to help you select, cut, and light a cigar. Leaving that, Mal went to the dining room, right in front of a kitchen that had a screen that also held the number for a personal chef. Not paying any attention to the kitchen, he prowled the dining room. The table was a granite slab top, the gold flecking in stone glittering in the light. The feet were hand carved wood of a kind so rare Mal didn't know what it was, only that the feet were Chinese dragons with their front paws up and looking like they were actually carrying the weight of the table. On the table was a silken table runner of deep plurple, with a vase of orchids and curly willow as well as a small running capture that said they could call up a house violinist for private playing. To the right, was a huge window that would guarantee a picturesque view of the system once they were in the air, above was a crystal chandelier, and the wall adjoining the view held a massive painting reproduction of High Core Reemergence Art.

Mal twisted his neck at the canvas that depicted early Osiris as a vast, lush pioneer of utopian forests and glowing sunrise. "Huh."

The soles of his boots clicked on the floor, and he went down the hall to their room. The room was a collection of platinum, purples and dark blues. The bed was the largest Mal had ever seen, with pillows that stacked halfway up the wall and a card that started turn down service could be contacted through Guest Services. There was a walk-in closet with their luggage stacked inside, he caught the site of a bathroom that appeared to go on forever, there were couches, a screen, an adjacent office for work related needs, and Mal was beginning to get a headache from all of the detail. Everywhere there were Guest Service cards. Call Guest Services to order up a secretary for business, call Guest Services for a massage therapist, Call Guest Services for a companion.

He heard a noise.

Turning, he was pleasantly surprised to see Inara in a rocking chair with their daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon observed Bailey and his abuse was whatever poor creature he had under him.

“That’s it you useless scrap!” As the thing, a blur of fur burst out of the reeds, he shoved the gun into a saddle holster and grabbed his lariat. Swinging it, he barked. “Ni de huidao zheli!”

Simon stopped the paint and watched as Bailey caught a dog by the legs with his lasso. The canine yelped, letting go of a hare it had retrieved and kept for itself against Bailey’s wishes, and cowered as it was dragged over to the horse. In stupid rage Bailey got down, took his gun out and hit the dog with the butt end of it. The poor dog was defenseless, tied down and crying for mercy as it was unjustly punished for its disobedience.

Horrified, Simon couldn’t stand the thought of the dog eventually dying from being beaten to death. Who knew how many animals he had beaten so severely. Squaring his shoulders, he dismounted Brave. Grabbing his rifle, he jumped the fence and trekked through knee deep snow, face glowing in anger.

Bailey didn’t even see him.

“You sorry, worthless lashi cao de yi gou… you’ll learn ta give…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you Captain Reynolds?"

Zoe turned around, a pen poised as she was signing off on large orders at the skyplex. There, she found a group of men, all dressed in a way she had seen once before, with their long hair tied up, their white collars stiff and showing, and their luggage plain. Furrowing her brows she looked at the small flock of shepherds. "May I question who wants ta know?"

"I'm Shepherd Kouros." A man with a dark beard and hooded green eyes explained in earnest. "We're all from the Southdown Abby, we received a letter regarding one of own, Shepherd Book, and his passing."

Zoe, set the papers on a crate. "May I see the letter?"

Shepherd Kouros handed it to her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Wo lao nishi ji.” Inara untied the sash that held her dress in place as Mal watched. Exposing a breast ample with milk, Meilin pressed herself in and found her spot to latch. Soon the sound of a hungry babe suckling filled the room, along with squeaks and grunts for breaths.

Meilin’s eyes fluttered shut and she concentrated hard on her milk, it wasn’t as easy as it looked to get a full tummy.

“There we go.” She shushed, smiling down at her daughter’s efforts. “That poor belly, it can’t go hungry now can it?”

“Terrible thought, waited any longer she might’ve floated away.” Mal commented. “Just couldn’t wait any longer, what with that impressive tummy of hers and that hole as big as my thumb somewhere in it. Gotta adhere to the schedule or else she just starves.”

“I know, I must say I'm glad I asked for some nursery furniture and the diaper laundering service." She finished affectionately "We both like having a rocker for mealtime. And you can use it too seeing I brought the pump to express some bottles." After a minute, she gazed up at Mal. "Did you see enough?"

"It's sooo..." His jaw twitched.

"High class? Opulent? Expensive?"

"I was gonna go with overkill, seeing as you could probably call someone up ta ca tai pigu, but then again I'm a simple Shadow boy who's not used to such things." He took a seat on the bed, next to her and the bassinet, and watched them. "I suppose I can tolerate it for a time.... not having someone do that for me cause that just ain't right.... but in general I can tolerate it."

"Tolerate?" Inara intoned.

"I'm happier with the simpler life if you haven't noticed."

Inara's eyes formed suggestive slits. "There's a jacuzzi and a shower in the bathroom that both fit two people."

"Well, this will be horribly difficult to tolerate."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon struck Bailey in the back of the head with the stock of his rifle. The man hit the ground and rolled back to see the doctor looming over him with the fuming ridged mien of hate in his face. “Hurts, doesn’t it?” Bending down, he grabbed Bailey’s gun and hurled it far into a drift. Next, he took out his knife and cut the poor, whimpering animal loose. The dog, fearing more abuse, bolted across the snow, turning up clouds of powder in its wake.

With Bailey still stunned by the blow, Simon Tam went back to his horse.

*** *** *** DEFINITIONS/TRANSLATIONS

buhao zhengfu: No good goverment

You bi shi meishenme hai wei women: There will be nothing else for us

Ni de huidao zheli!: You get back here!

lashi cao de yi gou: Shit f***er of a dog

Wo lao nishi ji: I know you're hungry

ca tai pigu: Wipe your butt

****As always, the writer appreciates all comments whether they be positive, negative, or suggestions.**

COMMENTS

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 2:34 PM

WYTCHCROFT


nice chapter:) liked the letter opening but the gear change was handled well as we shifted through to the usual easy to visualise descriptions and smart character actions.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008 8:29 PM

VAFORE


Love your writing. It's always fun to see characters outside of canon settings...like running a ranch. I adore how you've written Simon.
Whatever happened to the series with Gambit and Ru? Do you post anywhere else?

Thursday, July 10, 2008 7:21 AM

TUJIAOZUO


No, I don't post anywhere else and I'm afaid Gambit and Ru have been put on tha backburner until this is done. Not for lack of story, because the rough outline of the entire Gambit/Ru series is plotted out, but for writer's block along with a few other writer quirks.

Glad you like this story though ^_^


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