GR RP "Adventures in GunRunning" ACT 22 by CapnRahn

LOCATION - FORE HALL
As ...

Jayne is uncharacteristically quiet and his eyes never stray from Damon's piece that Mal is waving about. Mal decides to shorten this bit of comedy.

MAL
... holding the gun at his side and suddenly serious...
"Jobs?"

JAYNE
... simply and with an air of caution...
"Finsihed. The drop arm, and the 'xplosives are checked. I was just headin' down to clean up."

With a barely perceptible curt nod, Mal acknowledges Jayne's report. As Jayne moves to his bunk and boots the door open, he locks eyes with Mal.

JAYNE
... innocent and profanely casual...
"Headin' up to the bridge? Looks like somethin's going on up there."

MAL
... his back to the bridge, Mal's brows knit, but his tone is also casual...
" Yep, I got ta yap at Kaylee for the mess she had Merz and Damon make in the Cargo Bay. I'll check into whatever else is a'boilin' on the Bridge too."
...wrinkling his nose...
"...And the quicker you get de-skunk-a-fied, the better."

Mal catches sight of Inara lurking in the Galley 'lock as he turns and strides over to the stairs. He attempts 'not' to see her, but his head betrays him. Its turn is interrupted by her visage. Jerking the offending extremity around with a nearly audible growl, he leaps up to the third step. Unfortunately for Mal, it is slick with copious amounts of Jayne's oily sweat. His left hand descending to grasp the rail is overtaken by his rapidly rising arse. Instinctively clutching the rail, he half flips and is forced to change his grip onthe rail. His landing is punctuated by a wet slap and gong of the stairs. His arm is wrenched a tad and he is now facing the Galley.

Again Mal's luck flees him as his eyes lock with Inara's at the very moment of Impact. Her features flicker from amusement to genuine concern as she begins to step forward. However, Mal's features harden to tool steel and despite the pain, he jerks himself upright. He focuses the pain into a "Don't" look that he fires towards Inara. Not wanting to see her reaction, he throws Damon's pistol to his left hand and uses his good one to spin him around and drag his body up. Burning off pain, anger and embarrassment as physical energy, he yanks himself up the gangway with his good arm. Continuing quickly up to the Bridge, he is relived that Jayne had already descended below deck level before his pratfall - he hoped.

MAL
... thundering in his best Cap'n Ahab growl...
"KAYLEE GIRL ... WHERE'N THE GORRAM HELL ARE YE!!!"

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Saturday, October 23, 2004 1:54 PM

JAYNE - HIS BUNK

Jayne hastily descends into his quarters and lets the door clang shut above him. Ignoring the commotion outside, he pulls open the sink unit , soaks down the cloth that he finds inside, and starts mopping down his torso, arms, and head with cool water.

This quiet time allows Jayne to reflect on his run-ins with Mal today. He was used to receiving nothing more than a minimum of respect on this boat, but there was still something off about him. He was very physical today. Jayne knew he could beat Mal in an arm wrestle easy, assuming Mal didn't cheat somehow and turn the tide in his favour.

Quote:
Eight months previous:
KAYLEE
"Jayne's strong, yeah. I seen him lift a bag I couldn't even budge onto his shoulder 'n walk off with it like it were nothin' but feathers. But Mal's got... I dunno, spirit. And smarts. He just got a way of, you know, finding a weakness and never giving up."

JAYNE
"Spirit? Spirit ain't always a help. Sometime's nothin' fer it but to use raw power. An' I figure I could take anyone on this ship when it comes to strong armin'."

Mal, sitting next to Jayne, pushes his empty plate away from him, the scraping and clattering drawing the attention of everyone seated at the dinner table. They might as well have issued and accepted a challenge, and Jayne falls silent at this realization.

MAL
"You show me a time where muscle is the only way to get something done then, Jayne."

JAYNE
He chews and swallows the bread in his mouth as he thinks. "Arm wrestli'", he answers. Now there was something he knew he could beat the captain at.

MAL
"All right then, we arm wrestle." Mal's right arm take position on the table top. Jayne's moves in to meet his with a clap, and still other hands clear the table around them of empty plates and cups.

Jayne cracks an evil grin. Mal is about to get a schooling. From his point of view. But that point of view is not the popular one at the table that night. Kaylee rushes over to cover the clasped hands, and with a cry of "go" she lets them free. All eyes watch the initial wavering, then the slight teeter against Mal's push. Jayne's smile only grows in satisfaction.

MAL
"Eehhhhrgh... This is such a drain on my weak... uh... little arm." Uh oh. Mal was talking. That was just as bad as cheating. "I'm not going to be able to... to polish all them... floor panels. After... you win, Jayne..." Their eyes lock together. Jayne doesn't have a good feeling about this. "I guess... you'll have to... urgh...do that... for me."

Jayne's smile has faded, and his arm hangs motionless against Mal's. Seconds pass while Jayne studies Mal's expression and pieces his options together. Like his daddy always said, being a winner is fine, but what are you really winning?

Jayne's arm snaps backwards and clubs against the table top. He immediately pulls it back with a sour look, snatches his dishes, and walks them over to the kitchen.

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 4:10 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

First his head was there, then it wasn't. Hearing the resounding clang and scuffle in the hall, Rowan frowns at the same time as Zoe. As the first mate turns, Rowan and Wash both lean forward again, trying to see what all the commotion was about. Did the captain take a tumble on the steps?

MAL ... thundering in his best Cap'n Ahab growl..."KAYLEE GIRL ... WHERE'N THE GORRAM HELL ARE YE!!!"

And now he sounds liquored up besides. Since she didn't see him imbibe anything during his talk with Merz, Rowan is left wondering yet again what manner of captain she's signed on with this time. Every one she's ever worked with has had some quirk or other. Most ran along the lines of the objects they collected, the clothes they preferred and in one case an mightily odd affection for a snake of all things. Reynolds doesn't seem to have any of the more odd fetishes, just some pretty erratic and extreme mood swings and a wit sharp enough to cut glass. Was it the effects of living in the weightlessness of space that did it? Or maybe it's some kind of 'versal pre-requisite; all captains of long-range cargo ships had to have some little bit of crazy in order to keep themselves sane.

Plus, he's a browncoat besides. Now there would be an interesting little research project. Just how far did he go while in the service? Since they actually set down on Serenity Valley, Rowan thought maybe he may have escaped that awful episode. Although, if he had been part of that, and the appalling conditions afterward, it would go a long way toward explaining things.

As if answering her questions, the sourcepad sends up a signal indicating the reception of a masque query for contact. Smiling slowly, Rowan touches the screen to acknowledge it, well aware that it could only be one thing. It will be nice to finally have some real data to work with.

ROWAN (loudly enough to carry into the Galley): "No engineers up here, Captain. Sounds like you started the pre-landing party without us."

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 2:15 PM

INARAESQUE

Inara's move...

LOCATION - GALLEY, moving to the BRIDGE

Inara's amusement at the comical scene playing out in the hallway dies as Mal falls on his backside -- their eyes meet and she sees the pain flash in his stormy blue eyes. She's barely aware of the fact that she's already moving toward him until Mal's dangerous glare brings her up short. She recoils a step, stung, feeling the ice of that glare like a knife-wound, and dropping her gaze to keep him from seeing the hurt in her own eyes.

He's gone -- up onto the bridge, bellowing -- when Inara looks up again.

She turns back to making tea, planning to bring it down to River and Thorne. But her thoughts keep turning to the mean-spirited hundan on the bridge... who might have actually hurt himself.

Stupid, stupid man. Stupid, stupid her for letting him get to her. She should return to Roosevelt and River... but she would only worry if she didn't check up on Mal, and that would be unfair to the gentleman to whom she had committed her evening.

Inara pours a cup of green tea from the pot and heads to the Bridge. She stands silently watching Mal for a moment, reassuring herself that he hasn't damaged himself seriously... Her original thought was to press the cup into his hands, sit him down and have him drink it... but with his mood of late...

Her 'excuse' suddenly feels a little flimsy. It always was a flimsy excuse, but now it felt obviously flimsy... And walking away now would make her look even more foolish... perhaps --

"Would anyone like some tea? I just made a pot."

EOM

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 4:44 PM

MERZ move

LOCATION – TRAVELING: CATWALK to FRONT HALL to BRIDGE?

She is some time just standing on the catwalk. Events claim her attention. Confusion paints her mind. People pass, conversations occur … Inara slows in passing her to smile. Merz does not externalize her impressions enough to acknowledge it. But she is still, as always, absorbing every observation, impression, and conversation going on within her scan radius. Overloaded as she is right now, Merz still cannot justify any attempt that she could make to cease the dataflow. ~’all data is useful’~; She does not have a clear idea when they first started drilling that into them. Memory, true memory, requires speech or some reliable communication method. Her earliest training began before that. Spoken language planted into their impressionable brains, to be accessed later when the language was learned…

One thing does come through clearly, to her conscious thought. ROWAN is indeed on the bridge, she has spoken; location verified. But between Merz and Rowan are too many people … fresh from her confrontation with Mal and with the memory of her last interaction with River far too recent, MERZ cannot bring herself to walk through that crowd. Not just yet.

Merz moves forward to the foot of the stairs up to the front hallway. She sits on the steps and waits for events to finish, for people to move on. She will talk to Rowan soon, yes, soon. But not now.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 4:57 PM

KAYLEE’s move

LOCATION - FRONT HALL As ...

Kaylee moves as briskly as she can up the stairs. She is not sure why she lugged the toolbox along – a vague notion not to leave it in a walkway to trip people, is the best reason she can arrive at.

She reaches the hallway in time to watch MAL do a splendid double-take on something in the direction of the galley, slip on the bridge steps and dump himself on the deck. Stifling a giggle she moves forward as MAL throws himself onto the bridge.

MAL
“KAYLEE GIRL … WHERE'N THE GORRAM HELL ARE YE!!!”

~OK,~ she thinks, ~that is not a happy captain.~

KAYLEE
“Coming, she calls, and hurries towards him. She sets the toolbox carefully against the wall in the hallway before running up the steps to the bridge.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 6:01 PM

JAYNE - HIS BUNK

Jayne screws up his face in the mirror. That was pretty terrifying. He flexes his arms and holds them up menacingly to his own reflection. What backwater scum wouldn't be slipping on his own shi running away from that?

Jayne's ego built back up, he pulls a clean shirt on and flattens his hair down with both hands. He hesitates before leaving his bunk, though, and instead walks over to his bed while thinking about the captain. What was his problem? Maybe Jayne was outstaying his welcome. Maybe Damon was right and Mal had decided to go with the cheaper labour. Those explosives - they might not even work! Damon might be trying...

Woah there, Jayne thinks. Tain't no reason to be flippin' out like this. Take 'er easy.

Jayne breathes slowly and stares at his weapon collection on the wall. He grabs a leather satchel and packs it with three small arms and his cleaning kit.

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Sunday, October 24, 2004 7:56 PM

River
LOCATION - COMMON AREA

THORNE:"But to find him, we need to understand why he left, and why he's getting into so much trouble. Why would such a cautious man get so reckless all of a sudden? RIVER, did he seem himself the last time you saw him? Was there anything out of the ordinary about his actions or demeanor? Have you sensed anything strange since he left?”

River is quiet for a long time as she looks down at the jacks on the floor with diminishing interest. As the others start to wonder if she heard the questions, she picks up a few jacks and starts placing them on top of each other.

“He left to help me.” She frowns slightly, trying to piece together the garbled information she was getting from her brother before he left. “Wasn’t thinking again- was trying to help but something went wrong.” She looks up at Book with that penetrating gaze. “He knows.”

The last jack is placed on what has turned into a small pyramid.

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:05 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

SOURCEPAD TEXT MESSAGE: "Message received. Security sweep completed. Code TAP. Awaiting playback."

ROWAN (Internal): Well I will be gorramed. Thal finally got back--about time too.

Holding back a delighted smile, Rowan checks Serenity's diagnostic, and finds absolutely no sign that the sensors have detected Thal's little messenger, hovering somewhere outside the ship. Too bad he isn't close enough for a live feed. She would have welcomed a face-to-face. The diagnostic is nearly finished, then she can track down Merz and play back Thal's message. Knowing Thal, the little messenger is programmed to await a response. He's nothing if not thorough.

Movement at the hatchway has her glancing up, then looking again. Inara is standing on the threshold, more than a little uncomfortable, as if the bridge was unfamiliar territory. Or maybe--seeing how Inara's entire focus is on Mal--it's just the man standing in front of her.

Well now. That is indeed an outstanding thing to witness. Companions aren't generally prone to letting themselves be undone by a man, any man, for even a fraction of a second. Aside from the Guild laws against such things, there is the matter of the comprehensive training designed to specifically curtail such things.

FLASHBACK
"So you can't fall in love." She stared at her sister, doing her best to comprehend. "Not ever?"

Aislin smiled gently, "It's not so much a matter of can't, but that I won't, no."

"Not EVER ever?" She frowned. "What, did they do some kind of procedure or hypnosis or some such to twist your brain against it? I mean how do you not get even a little emotionally attached with any man you grapple with?"

Breathing a sigh of infinite patience, Aislin reached over and took her teenage sister's hand. It confused her--Aislin had never been so eerily calm. In their lives together, one would have thought she were the dragon rather than her baby sister. How could three years at a companion academy have such a profound affect?

"What good would it do, to allow an attachment to every man, or even to one?" Aislin asked. "I would constantly be comparing everyone who came after and torturing myself with the notion that I should be with HIM. It would stain the focus I need to maintain with the one I'm engaged with at the time, and that would be unfair."

Put that way, it made some modicum of sense. Companions weren't exactly being trained to go husband hunting, which is the romantic notion she used to harbor when she was little and didn't know any better. Finally she sighed and shook her head slowly. "I couldn't do that," she declared. "I couldn't re-wire myself like that."

Aislin gave her hand a squeeze. "I know. You're an all or nothing girl. You always have been."

"Gorram straight." She saw her sister wince ever so slightly over the crass anglo vernacular she had picked up from a friend at school, and gave Aislin a smile. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's all you wanted it to be. I just see things differently."

Aislin laughed. "Of course you do--you're Rowan the Fearless." All too soon, her enthusiasm dimmed. "Promise me one thing, xiâo long."

"Anything."

"If you ever find the resources available to you, find out anything you can about that Academy. I'll keep my ears open too, and then maybe, between the two of us--" Her voice caught and she had to carefully compose herself again. "Between us, maybe we'll finally find out what happened to Ru."

The sisters sat together in silence, brushing away each other's tears as the spirit of their beloved older brother hovered between them.

END FLASHBACK

Inara watches Reynolds for a long moment--longer than is entirely proper for a companion. Rowan has to wonder if it's as obvious to Wash or Zoe, or if it's just because of her own experience with Aislin. It's odd that Reynolds can't feel it--he seems sensitive enough, as much as any male can ever be. Such abject anxiety is a rare thing to inspire in a companion, and it certainly implicates more than a simple passenger's regard for her captain's welfare. No, Rowan knows what unrequited adoration looks like, all too well.

FLASHBACK

"I've been watching you."

She jumped and slid her chair over, away from Robert who had whispered right into her ear. Her heart was pounding a light year a minute. Not because he'd frightened her, but because she'd been caught. "You shouldn't sneak up on a girl like that."

Robert just grinned. "When are you going to tell him?"

Playing dumb was ridiculous when they both knew better, particularly when her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. "Who?"

Robert's grin took on his trademark mischief as his eyes turned to the office not eight feet away. She resisted looking for herself. She didn't really have to anyway, since she'd spent the last five minutes watching a man read. How could she be so easily entrapped by just a little frown of concentration, or the way his fingers touched the keyboard in front of him to advance pages. How could he look so bored and so gorgeous at the same time?

Instead, she slid back to her own station and pretended to resume her work. Robert didn't move. "Tell him what?"

The little laugh at her left ear indicated he wasn't fooled. "Right. Then as his friend, let me just say if you don't, I'll be extremely disappointed."

She managed to stay focused on her work until Robert's hand moved away and she didn't feel him behind her anymore. She glanced up toward the office again, just as he finished reading. She watched him rub his face in utter relief, then look aroudn his office as if to refocus. Inevitably, their eyes did meet and she felt her breath catch in her throat. He gave her a hint of that boyish grin and her heart did a flip-flop dance.

END FLASHBACK

Rowan takes a long breath as the flash of pain sears across her eyesight, fading mercifully quick this time possibly due to her current preoccupation.

So, is it possible after all for a companion's heart to flip-flop? Out here in the black, away from the Guild and its oppressive laws, could a companion find some justification in tossing years of conditioning and training out the airlock? Rowan checks out Reynolds herself , wondering again what manner of man he is to inspire that kind of extreme perspective adjustment.

INARA: "Would anyone like some tea? I just made a pot."

Rowan's hand flew into the air.

ROWAN: "Love some!"

EOM

xiâo long = baby dragon

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:05 AM

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION: BRIDGE

ZOE pauses for a slight grin.

ZOE (to ROWAN): "Well, since WASH don't seem interested in how you got into the ship's systems, why don't you explain it to me?"

ZOE turns her head as she hears the clang and scuffle of MAL's fall and frowns.

MAL: "KAYLEE GIRL ... WHERE'N THE GORRAM HELL ARE YE!!!"

ZOE (internal): "Cap'n could be called a lotta things, wouldn't say clumsy was one of 'em, though. Better check this out, 'fore anyone takes it into their head to..."

ROWAN (loudly enough to carry into the Galley): "No engineers up here, Captain. Sounds like you started the pre-landing party without us."

ZOE inwardly winces at ROWAN's words. With the mood MAL's been in the past couple o' days, he's not likely to take kindly to that remark. Turning to the Asian woman, ZOE quirks an eyebrow.

ZOE (to ROWAN, soto voce): "You may've noticed his demeanor since you came on board. He ain't normally one for hollerin' and such, and with the job comin' on, now might not be the best time for baitin' him."

MAL's entrance to the bridge, followed closely by INARA, jumps up the level of tension a few notches, until INARA speaks.

INARA: "Would anyone like some tea? I just made a pot."

ZOE takes an inward breath of relief at ROWAN's hand shoots into the air.

ROWAN: "Love some!"

ZOE places her hand back on WASH's shoulder and nods slightly.

ZOE: "I could use some, and I'm sure WASH could too, couldn't you, dear?"

ZOE's tone shifts slightly to one that WASH instantly knows that he's not to make any witty remarks... tensions are just too high.

END MOVE.

{{OOC: Woo hoo! An actual, interactive post!!

}}

~Astriana~
~Mostly-Invisible Long-Winded Goddess of Inter-Board Communication and Diplomacy a/k/a El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:55 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

ZOE: "Since WASH don't seem interested in how you got into the ship's systems, why don't you explain it to me?"

Rowan isn't surprised by the question. Zoe's a fighter, no question about that, and pretty defensive too when it comes to the captain--two of the best qualities any first officer can have. Meeting Zoe's dark eyes, she considers taking her feet down off the gunner's console--and looking less like she owns the place--and settles for an eyebrow quirk of her own.

ROWAN: "Since you asked, I haven't done anything that Serenity requires an access code for - the Solo Systems package is set up that way. All the codes are set in the system. That's one of the reasons why it takes so long to complete a diagnostic - Serenity has to go through each system one at a time, using a different code for each system, and each code is reset about once every six months. If you want some advice as to how to go about changing that, I'd be happy to help you out.

Accepting the cup from Inara, she gives the best bow she can given the reclined position she's in and takes a sip of green tea with cinnamon, perfectly brewed. Wondering how bright the captains first mate is - whether she'll buy the Solo System story - she pauses when Serenity speaks into her ear.

SERENITY (in Rowan's earpiece): "Diagnostic complete. Power assessment complete. Helm modifications justified. All power connections are sound. Interface with secondary systems is complete. Diagnostic of firing system is complete with no incidence. All systems are ready."

ROWAN: "And Serenity's self-diagnostic is complete. I'll send the results over to you, Wash. Seems all's well."

A few quick touches, and the entire tally of Serenity's results is sent over to Wash. Rowan sets the sourcepad to idle as she blows over her cup.

ROWAN: My work's done here, Captain. If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the Galley, see if there's fixings for bao."

ROWAN (inwardly): And have a quick visit with Merz, if she's around someplace.

EOM

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Monday, October 25, 2004 3:14 PM

Damon's turn:

Post hold

Damon followed Kaylee up and is now standing in the rear of the front hall, quietly watching/listening to the stuff going on.

I'll fill in the details when I'm not catching up on reading, writing an essay, studying for a mid-term or running late for class

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Monday, October 25, 2004 3:37 PM

MERZ move

LOCATION: SHIFTING

Still listening to/for Rowan, she hears her say:

ROWAN
... I'd like to go back to the Galley ...

~ah. i think no one is there now, at least i hear nothing there~

Silently, stealthily, Merz rises, crosses the catwalk, and circles around to enter the galley area from the aft entrance. With any luck, Rowan will simply find her waiting there, as if all has been quite ... normal, since Merz saw her last.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 9:31 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

Thorne's Move
Location: Common Room

RIVER looks up from the jacks, but her hand continues to balance them, one on another.

RIVER:“He left to help me. Wasn’t thinking again- was trying to help but something went wrong.” THORNE follows her eyes as she turns towards the Shepherd. “He knows.”

THORNE had been trying to stay away from BOOK after his blowup back on Hera. Something about the man just made him uncomfortable, but he wanted to help RIVER, and BOOK had information he might be able to use. Picking up the world-ball, he balanced it atop the pyramid and spun it.

THORNE:[to BOOK]"Well, Padre? Care to enlighten me?"

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:58 AM

LOCATION - BRIDGE
As...

As he enters the bridge, Mal massages his shoulder a bit while the others are yappin'.

ROWAN
...loudly enough to carry into the Galley...
"No engineers up here, Captain. Sounds like you started the pre-landing party without us."

MAL
"Only "landing party" I was privy ta was landin' on my aft thrusters, I just got my keister hoist by my own petard."
... shakes his head wryly and grins lopsidedly...
"Sneakin' up and poppin' Jayne on his fool noggin' must not'a been a kindly thing ta do. I just 'bout split my aft section a crack further than it nature intended it ta run."
...Looks over to Rowan with an air of pesudo-secrecy...
"Seems like you mite got a stalker Miz Rowan. Ole Jayne was peering at ya from the hall gangway all sweaty and spylike. Speakin' of that..."
...he looks over to Zoe...
"Jayne sez all is finished, could you be so good as to do a follow-up? He's been actin' weird, like he seen Early or Niska hobblin' about Serenity and I ain't too sure where his head is at.""

Behind Mal Inara enters and speaks.

Inara
"Would anyone like some tea? I just made a pot."

Suddenly his mood is again tainted by Inara's presence. Why can't he them gorram feelings she elicits under control. It is like the woman bypasses all his good sense and dives directly to the core of him. Gritting his teeth Mal waits a few moments as the tea is passed around. Staring at Rowan while she talks about the Solo Systems program, he stifles the overwrought tensions he feels towards Inara.

ROWAN
"My work's done here, Captain. If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the Galley, see if there's fixings for bao."

Feeling a bit like he has missed something important, Mal purses his lips and fakes a scowl just to buy a few seconds.

MAL
... light heartedly, yet with a hint of REAL secercy...
"Sure. We'll all have time to yap about security systems and the like tomarrow. Now, time to work the tension out!"

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:58 AM

MANIACNUMBERONE

Book's Move

------
THORNE:[to BOOK]"Well, Padre? Care to enlighten me?"
------

Book considers Thorne's question as he watches the small ball spin atop the pyramid of jacks. With a calculated tap of his foot on the floor, the pyramid tumbles and the ball bounces once to the tiles and then into his outstretched hand.

"Not particularly." Book says as he walks closer to Thorne and River, sets the ball down on a low table and walks to the edge of the room. "I see no reason to endanger him further by telling more people of his situation... I'm sorry Mr. Thorne. I believe you're a good man, but... I'm sorry." Book turns away from Thorne and River and walks down the short corridor and into his room.

EM

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:59 AM

WAS a gorram double-weird-post - NOW a potential place holder!

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 11:36 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

MAL: "Only landing party I was privy ta was landin' on my aft thrusters, I just got my keister hoist by my own petard." ... shakes his head wryly and grins lopsidedly... "Sneakin' up and poppin' Jayne on his fool noggin' must not'a been a kindly thing ta do. I just 'bout split my aft section a crack further than it nature intended it ta run."

Huh - he seems in a decidedly better mood than his tone implied. It only reinforces Rowan's earlier determination over Reynolds' particular captainy quirk. All in all, a captain with mood swings is an infinite improvement over dealing with one who spoke to a pet snake like it was a human. Just thinking of it makes Rowan shudder. Reynolds' got himself a gift for vivid description too, not to mention a sense of sarcasm that could bite a nice hunk out of a support beam.

Then there's the little matter of his pining. Having seen the muscles hard at work in Reynolds' jaw when Inara came on the bridge, Rowan surmises that the heightened tension on the bridge isn't just her imagination. Two people who can bring that much energy into a room just by being near each other, yet neither one seemed inclined to explore their situation? It's either smart or insane, depending on the point of view.

Could be they were better off. The torture they're already putting themselves through--the bittersweet awareness of mutual attraction--is nothing. Rowan would like to find who ever it was that coined that phrase "better to have loved and lost…" and shoot him dead in the face. Just for fun.

MAL ... light heartedly, yet with a hint of REAL secrecy... "We'll all have time to yap about security systems and the like tomorrow. Now, time to work the tension out!"

Translation: You and I will be having words about how it is you can manipulate systems you've never laid hands on before. Right. So Reynolds isn't as inept as he may like to let on. Not so up on his shipboard mechanics, but he knows a fabrication when he hears one. Rowan makes a mental note to watch herself in the future. As to the subject of her very own personal stalker? The idea was laughable, but might need addressing sometime in the near future.

Putting the sourcepad under her arm, Rowan drops her feet to the deck and stands, taking the teacup with her as she approaches the captain.

ROWAN: "I did notice Jayne looking at me funny. If you see me plying him with fresh bao later, don't be alarmed. I won't hurt him... too much."

Winking is getting easier. The eye seems to be healing up pretty well. And why, she wonders, haven't either he or Zoe realized they've seen her peculiar shade of green before? They both had the bearing of former browncoats, both the sort who would have fought--surely they had followed The Revolution broadcasts. Then again, if they were both ground troops--privy to only the audio transmissions and not the video presentation they were able to bleed into the core planets--that would explain everything. Relaxing again, she meets Reynolds' gaze, appreciating the deep twilight blue.

ROWAN: "Should we set up a time in the morning to meet, captain? Or perhaps early afternoon?"

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 1:02 PM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - FRONT HALL

Damon leans against the wall near Mal's room, casually listening to the chatter drifting down the hall from the bridge. Most of it doesn't seem to concern him- though the mention of bao certainly peaks his interest.

His thoughts wander to what the rest of the evening will hold in store. Getting smashed on Kaylee's hooch is tempting- he hasn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks- but he knows he shouldn't. Hopefully he'll get by without needing it tonight- assuming of course, things go well with Mal.

With any luck, the conversation won't go any further than: 'No drawing guns on my boat.' 'Yes, sir- won't happen again.' Case closed. Oh, and a: 'can I have my gun back please' too if necessary.

Knowing my luck, it's not likely to be that easy.

Worst case senario: someone needs getting hurt, in which case, he'd be up shi creek. Unlikely, but it's not like it hasn't happened before. But most likely, it'll fall somewhere in between.

Damon sighs hoping Mal won't be long so he can get this over with.

shi = shit

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 1:06 PM

MERZ move

LOCATION - DINING ROOM

She had missed that Thorne and River were using the common area as a meeting place. From where she had been, sound did not travel well from this area. Something she would remember.

Here she could hear them, but hopefully they would not notice her.

Quietly she considered her options. ROWAN was coming to the Galley. She needed to speak to her. She wanted to give her the test results and request Rowan accede to a physical exam. Therefore she needed to remain here, to wait for her.

MERZ approaches the table once again. Pulls out a chair. Sets herself on it, back perfectly aligned, hands on knees, feet together.

And waits.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:00 PM

DECOY

Wash's Move
Location - Bridge

Zoe: "I could use some, and I'm sure WASH could too, couldn't you, dear?"

Wash (glancing at Zoe, and then down to his console screen): "Oh, yes please... and thank

you for brewing it!"

Rowan: "And Serenity's self-diagnostic is complete. I'll send the results over to you, Wash.

Seems all's well."

(Wash reads thru the list, and sees nothing out of the ordinary): "Thanks to you too"

Rowan: "My work's done here, Captain. If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the Galley,

see if there's fixings for bao."

Wash: "I shurly hope there is..."

The time is= 19:10AMT (7:10pm) Yes only one minute has elapsed.

Decoy, they make me go first.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 6:51 PM

JAYNE - HIS BUNK to GALLEY

Jayne makes his way towards the galley, pulling and stretching his shirt. Damn thing must have shrunk or something! This T-shirt was the newest in Jayne's collection, featuring a sleek metal, futuristic rail cannon held by a sleek metal girl-type robot half its size.

He gives Damon a concentrated look and a nod as he ambles past him and into the galley. Merz has just set herself onto a chair opposite the one the Jayne approaches. He lays his leather satchel on the table.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 2:15 AM

LOCATION - DINING ROOM As ...

JAYNE enters from the opposite side, carrying a satchel, which he sets on the table. MERZ can smell leather, and steel and gun oil. JAYNE just smells of himself; male, sweat, soap and a hint of paranoia.

Still mostly internalized, and peripherally aware that JAYNE is not who she is waiting for, MERZ makes no reaction to his presence.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 2:48 AM

JAYNE - HIS BUNK to GALLEY

"Yer quiet", Jayne says low across the table to Merz, who hasn't even looked up at him. "Hey, but you got off 'thout so much as a grill mark on yer face, so 'sider yerself lucky."

Jayne heads for the food preperation area to find something a little more substantial to eat. Something nice and sealed and tamper proof. And nothing that needs to be cooked in the pots - they could be laced with something. Now, knock it off! Jayne scolds himself.

Still, better safe than sorry. He settles on a tin of dou fu nao¹ and Yu² sticks.

¹ Beancurd soup
² Fish

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 2:53 AM

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

placeholder
{{OOC: I suspect ZOE'll have some things to say/do once WASH has spoken/moved. Then she'll head on down to check on JAYNE's work... And nope, she didn't miss MAL's veiled warning...

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 6:15 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up

THORNE's Move

Location: Common area

BOOK:" I'm sorry Mr. Thorne. I believe you're a good man, but... I'm sorry."

As BOOK enters his room, THORNE nudges the low table, causing the ball to roll into his hand. He idly opens and closes his fist, making the ball disappear from his palm and then reappear over and over again as he speaks to RIVER.

THORNE:"Well, that went about as expected. Our Shepherd is pretty untrusting for a man in his profession. Must be a carry-over from his former job...if it is a former job. I can feel that he's hiding things in his past, and present, from us. You probably can too. What I can't get is his intent. He manages to mask that."

Making the ball disappear one last time, he reaches behind RIVER's ear, pulls the ball from thin air, and, with a softly whispered "ta-da", holds it in front of her.

THORNE [in a Bert Lahr/Cowardly Lion voice]:"So. You wanna play some more? Do ya? Huh? Just one more. Huh? Come on. Come on, tough girl. Put up yer dukes."

THORNE bobs and weaves, jabs and covers up, shadow-boxing as he sits on the floor.

EOM

"Keep the Shiny side up"

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 6:50 AM

LOCATION - BRIDGE
Appox 1930/7:30 PM AMT
As...

ROWAN
"I did notice Jayne looking at me funny. If you see me plying him with fresh bao later, don't be alarmed. I won't hurt him... too much....she winks, with a bit more of a pained twitch than she probably intended...
"Should we set up a time in the morning to meet, captain? Or perhaps early afternoon?"

As Rowan finishes, Kaylee comes trouncing on to the Bridge and gives Mal a wallop on his left shoulder.

KAYLEE
...forced jovial, and not noticing Mal's eyes popping out in sudden pain...
"What choo going 'round bellern' like a piss-mad bear, Captain-O-my-Cap'n?"

Mal holds his breath a bit from the jar to his separated shoulder. He quirks a questioning eyebrow at Rowan and then hands her Damon's pistol. Upon empting his hands, he whips about and begins to tickle Kaylee unmercifully about the ribs. Of course taking care that his left arm is not strained -- too much.

MAL
...growling like an injured bear and in a gruff 'story-telling' voice..."
"rrrgh, whatchoo doin' havin' yer minions fark up my cargo bay with all sorts of rubbery devices, me pretty! snaaaarl..."

Mal can only hope that this tiny intimacy will allow Kaylee a brief respite from the dark cloud that has been hovering over her. Hovering ever since the Doc had his tete-a-tete with that Brink fellow, went weird and scarpered off.

Leaving Kaylee to cackle madly and recover her wind, Mal turns back to Rowan. On his way around, he gathers Zoe's attention by eye.

MAL
"rrrgh ... stops and clears his throat... Um, sure. Jayne ain't nuttin' but a dingus at times and deserves what ever he trolls fer,...chuckles lightly...though, I might'a overloaded punishment system already....gets serious again...
As to meetin' about security stuff, we'll ... Mal flickers a look Zoe's direction... do it before noon t'marrow - hour or two before the drop. Now off with ya and prepare yerself for some hard-core relaxin' - Serenity style."
...grins lopsidedly while he nods at Zoe, Wash and then Rowan. Looking to Inara, his grin falters only for a split-second as Mal over-quickly turns to Kaylee ...
"Now, you me pretty - are 'bout a pins-width from walkin' the plank. What gives with the coils of bungees in my hold?"

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 8:17 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

KAYLEE ...forced jovial, and not noticing Mal's eyes popping out in sudden pain..."What choo going 'round bellern' like a piss-mad bear, Captain-O-my-Cap'n?"

Mal holds his breath a bit from the jar to his separated shoulder. He quirks a questioning eyebrow at Rowan and then hands her Damon's pistol. Upon the trade, he then whips around and begins to tickle Kaylee unmercifully about the ribs. Of course taking care that his left arm is not strained -- too much.

Seeing the pain in Reynolds eyes, Rowan frowns with concern. Before she can question him about it, though, she has to juggle the teacup to the left hand while nestling the sourcepad in the crook of the same arm, before she finds herself staring blankly at the gun he so casually placed in her hand. Not the heftiest firearm she's ever handled, and pneumatic delivery system could probably use a cleaning. The fact that he didn't think twice about giving it to her speaks volumes as to his regard. Either he hasn't taken into account the idea that she could place each bullet in the chamber in any strategic location she wanted, or he already made that determination but also has come to the conclusion that she's not prone to it.

Watching Reynolds tease Kaylee the way a brother would pester a kid sister brings Ru's face to mind. He was more prone to trying to aggravate Aislin most of the time, to see how far he could go before her veneer cracked and she smacked him on the chest. She also notes how he's favoring his left arm. Could be the captain did more than just land on his bum out in the hallway.

ROWAN: "I'll be sure to be conscious before Noon tomorrow. Looks like you've done yourself a harm, Captain. Need me to take a look at that?"

As Reynolds returns to his odd questioning of Kaylee's doings in the cargo bay, Rowan turns to look at Zoe. Holding up the pistol, Rowan raises her eyebrows as well, quietly asking the other woman a poignant question.

ROWAN (quietly): "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 8:36 AM

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

ZOE notes MAL's discomfort, figuring its connection with the loud thud heard earlier. Watching MAL hand DAMON's sidearm to ROWAN, ZOE's brow puckers slightly in confusion.

ZOE (internally): "Not something he'd normally do, but then he ain't exactly been actin' right lately. Maybe I outta sit 'im down 'fore the job tomorrow - and after we talk to ROWAN about that fei hua* she tried to feed us about the op system."

ZOE also notes the way MAL favors his left arm in his roughhousin' with KAYLEE, just a ROWAN speaks.

ROWAN: "I'll be sure to be conscious before Noon tomorrow. Looks like you've done yourself a harm, Captain. Need me to take a look at that?"

MAL continues teasing KAYLEE and ROWAN turns to look at ZOE, who meets her look. Holding up the pistol, ROWAN raises her eyebrows, quietly asking the other woman a poignant question.

ROWAN (quietly): "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"

The corner of ZOE's mouth lifts a little in acknowledgement of ROWAN's question. She steps toward ROWAN, hand outstretched.

ZOE (equally quietly): "Sure does seem this thing's made its rounds since that boy got here. I'll take it for now."

Receiving the fun from ROWAN, ZOE tucks it into the back of her waistband - the same place she put it after confiscating it from DAMON on his arrival.

ZOE (internally): "Ironic, that... May have to look into makin' sure the boy's got it back 'fore the job starts in earnest. Seems to be eager to make himself useful."

(aloud to ROWAN): "Think you're up for showin' me how to make that bao you been talkin' about? I seem to recall a time not too long past that my husband was covetin' that very thing."

ZOE turns to grin at WASH, then looks questingly at ROWAN, tilting her head toward the door off the bridge and out to the galley.

END MOVE.

~Astriana~
~Mostly-Invisible Long-Winded Goddess of Inter-Board Communication and Diplomacy a/k/a El Jefe Magnifico's Mistress... of Communications and Harems~

...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:14 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

ZOE (equally quietly): "Sure does seem this thing's made its rounds since that boy got here. I'll take it for now."

Relieved of the firearm, Rowan takes hold of the sourcepad and feels the mild vibration of the messaging system, reminding her of unfinished business. How long would Thal's little messenger pod be set to wait before returning?

ZOE: "Think you're up for showin' me how to make that bao you been talkin' about? I seem to recall a time not too long past that my husband was covetin' that very thing."

Rowan smiles, but lifts an eyebrow in an exaggerated show of hesitation.

ROWAN: "Well, I don't know. It's my grandmother's recipe. I may have to consult the ancestors, see if they'll let me without having to have to kill you after."

Seeing Kaylee's smile and hearing her laughter does wonders to lighten things up in the bridge. Seems almost a shame to leave. Glancing over her shoulder, she catches a the silent communication passing between husband and wife, then nods her head forward to indicate she's heading out as she speaks.

ROWAN: "And there's the trouble of not knowing whether you have all the fixings. Without scallion, there's really no point to it. Then again, it's a hell of a process and I can always use a couple more hands."

Pausing, she turns back to look at Kaylee and Inara.

ROWAN: "I don't suppose either of you have experience in putting bao dough together?"

EOM

OOC: I did find a recipe for Bao...

sounds yummy! Jayne might even break down and have to have one.

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:15 AM

LOCATION - BRIDGE
As...

While waiting for Kaylee to get her breath back, Mal notes the interaction between Rowan and Zoe. On her way out, Mal zips Damon's pistol out of Zoe's belt. As she turns to give him a startled glare...

MAL
...with a playful lilt in voice and waggles his eyebrows at Wash...
"Gonna need that di'rec'tly, 'Lamby-toes'"

EOM

"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:25 AM

River
LOCATION - COMMON AREA

THORNE:"Well, that went about as expected. Our Shepherd is pretty untrusting for a man in his profession. Must be a carry-over from his former job...if it is a former job. I can feel that he's hiding things in his past, and present, from us. You probably can too. What I can't get is his intent. He manages to mask that."

It’s Thorne’s turn to get the look now, the one that reaches in with the: ‘I know more than you think I do’. “Everybody has a former job, everyone has secrets, everyone wears a mask.” She leans in and whispers as if sharing a secret with a playmate. “It’s not fair to be trying to take other people’s masks off when you’re wearing one yourself.”

Making the ball disappear one last time, he reaches behind RIVER's ear, pulls the ball from thin air, and, with a softly whispered "ta-da", holds it in front of her.

THORNE [in a Bert Lahr/Cowardly Lion voice]:"So. You wanna play some more? Do ya? Huh? Just one more. Huh? Come on. Come on, tough girl. Put up yer dukes."

River smiles and reaches for the ball only to have it pulled out of reach at the last second. He brings it back and she reaches for it again, only this time when he pulls it back out of reach, she grins a proud look of triumph and holds up the handkerchief she snuck from his pocket with a giggle.

“Got you.”

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:54 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

Lamby toes?

Seeing Zoe's look, Rowan decides to move before the ass-whuppin' gets underway. Zoe isn't the mutinous sort, but she isn't afraid to give her captain what for when he needs it--Rowan would stake part of her tournament stash on that.

Looking over her shoulder at Zoe again, she meets the woman's dark eyes.

ROWAN: "When you're done mangling him, I'll be down in the galley."

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 10:20 AM

Damon’s turn:
LOCATION - FRONT HALL

From his place in the hall, Damon can only see part of what’s going on, but he can hear it all just fine. Mostly chatter. He tunes it out and returns Jayne’s nod when he passes. A short while later, he hears another mention of bao and looks over to see Rowan and Zoe heading out of the bridge. On her way out, Mal zips something out of Zoe's belt.

Damon frowns slightly when he recognizes his gun. Since when did she have it?

As Zoe turns to give Mal a startled glare...

MAL
...with a playful lilt in voice…
"Gonna need that di'rec'tly, 'Lamby-toes'"

For a moment, Damon isn’t sure he likes that statement but he quickly reassures himself that if Mal intended on shooting someone, he wouldn’t need Damon’s gun to do it.

There is a few seconds of silence between the three in the bridge doorway- Damon can’t tell if it’s tension or confusion.

ROWAN (to Zoe): "When you're done mangling him, I'll be down in the galley."

Damon watches Mal and Zoe as Rowan turns and walks toward him.

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 10:41 AM

ZOE'S MOVE:
LOCATION - BRIDGE

ZOE turns when MAL plucks DAMON's gun from her waistband.

MAL (with a playful lilt in voice): "Gonna need that di'rec'tly, 'Lamby-toes'"

ZOE's jaw clenches imperceptibly. Her look is one of pure ice.

ROWAN (to Zoe): "When you're done mangling him, I'll be down in the galley."

ZOE nods at ROWAN, still glaring icicles at MAL.

ZOE: (internally): "Time enough for dealin' with this later... "

{{OOC: Oooooh, Mal's in trouble!

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 10:52 AM

MANIACNUMBERONE

Malachi's Move
Location: Outside the shattered window of the target ship.

Small jets of compressed gas expel from ports on the front of Malachi's black suit to slow his approach on the square starboard window. The stream link from the second deployed msr flowing data directly through a neural implant. No possible visual data by this means, but no motion data either. He's dead.

Slowly unhooking from a tether a large metallic hood with a few odd devices attached to it, Malachi places the hood over the comparatively small hole of the window, covering it, and begins to turn a large clamping device on its' back side. Malachi feels the hood suctions itself to the metal of the ship with a heavy, unsettling noiselessness, and he engages a locking mechanism.

Satisfied, he pulls himself along the ship to the hatch, and is almost surprised when he finds it unlocked. He climbs down the short ladder to the entry chamber closing the hatch behind him, and is pleased to see that the ship automatically turned on the gravity when he "patched" the hole. That makes things a little easier and a little harder.

Making immediately for the bridge, he spies the body on the floor near the shattered/patched window, surrounded by random items thrown around in the certain madness that followed the explosion. Examining it closely, he pauses. What's this... some sort of machine? Malachi's eyes tighten with uncertainty. No matter. It comes with me. Pulling a folded black section of rubbery-looking material from a small pack on his hip, he snaps it out it front of him and unrolls a body bag on the floor, then moves to search the pockets of the body.

EM

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:09 AM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE to Front Hall

Stepping out of the bridge hatchway, Rowan sees Damon as she heads down the steps. He seems a bit pensive, but otherwise in good spirits. He hasn't relaxed too much since they came on board, but at least he's stopped glowering at everybody. He has a little five-o'clock shadow darkening his jaw, lending a bit of rakishness to his lean good looks. She smiles as she approaches, keeping a friendly distance between them, and she pauses by his shoulder.

ROWAN: "Hey, Xiao di di. How did the rest of your day turn out?"

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:19 AM

JAYNE - GALLEY

Not wanting to risk using cutlery, Jayne slurps down the soup directly from the opened can and feeds himself fish sticks by hand. He smacks his lips on finishing the dou fu nao and muffles a belch as politely as he can with a lady around.

The tin tumbles into the recycler with a clatter. Jayne fishes out another yu stick and slurps it down.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 11:43 AM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - FRONT HALL

Still leaning casually against the wall, Damon watches Rowan slow to a stop beside him.

ROWAN: "Hey, Xiao di di. How did the rest of your day turn out?"

His gaze flicks over to Mal and Zoe before returning to Rowan. "Not sure yet. How'd the diagnostic go? Cannon functioning okay again?"

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 12:04 PM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: BRIDGE

Damon's gaze flicks over to Mal and Zoe before returning to Rowan.

DAMON "Not sure yet. How'd the diagnostic go? Cannon functioning okay again?"

ROWAN: "Serenity says it is. She should know, right?

He seems nervous about something, the way he's watching the bridge. Choosing to stand outside the crew quarters might be coincidental. Then again, considering Reynolds' recent conversation with Merz, it could be the captain's finally getting around to interviewing all the hitch hikers he managed to pick up on Hera.

ROWAN (quietly): "Your turn in the principals' office?"

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 12:24 PM

INARAESQUE

Inara's move.

LOCATION - BRIDGE

Inara pours tea for all takers -- more than she expected, making her feel somewhat less foolish -- and watches Mal from under inky lashes. He's obviously hurt himself a fair amount and refusing to admit it, the wángzù bèn dàn. She watches him play with Kaylee, though, and smile and she relaxes a little, feeling the tension dissipate...

Looking to Inara, his grin falters only for a split-second as Mal over-quickly turns to Kaylee...

... only to twist painfully in her gut again mere seconds later. It's almost dizzying how easily that man can turn her inside out and leave her raw with the least effort. She knows better -- she knows far, far better -- so how is it that he can leave her on the brink of tears time and time again?

'You know the answer to that, nuòfu.' The thought comes unbidden, but it's not wrong.

Inara refocuses as she realises Rowan is talking to her, at least in part. "I don't suppose either of you have experience in putting bao dough together?"

Inara takes the remaining cup of tea and presses it defiantly into Mal's hands, looking up into his scowling face for a long moment.

"I wish I could help, dear." A smile for Rowan, and Inara turns for the door. "However, I have... things I need to attend to."

She leaves the Bridge with a whisper of silk, and heads to the Galley to refill the teapot.

EOM

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 1:22 PM

LOCATION - BRIDGE
As...

Inara presses a teacup into Mal's left hand, saucer and all. She gazes into his eyes for an eternity. Before he can react...

INARA
... turning towards Rowan, words haloed with slight tinge of tight anger...
"I wish I could help, dear." ...smiles at Rowan... ""However, I have... things I need to attend to."

Mal involuntarily stiffens at the mention of Inara's session with Thorne. Unbidden, fantastical visions of Inara and Thorne intertwined in a slippery embrace skip and swim in his vision. His back hardens with anger and regret. This muscle flex tears at his damaged shoulder, causing him to clench his hand violently. The saucer shatters and the tea cup spins in a lazy arc to the deck, tea spiraling out in a morbid slow motion parody of his pent up emotion.

As swiftly as it had slowed, time resumes its full on march and the crash of the cup is absorbed into the white noise of the Bridge.

EOM

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 1:26 PM

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - FRONT HALL

ROWAN (quietly): "Your turn in the principals' office?"

Quote:
Damon sits slouched in the big chair across from the even bigger desk, looking somewhere between bored and pissed off. Principal Hall sits straight, hands folded on his desk, looking down at the eight-year old with a stern frown as he continues his spiel…

"...completely inappropriate language in this school, especially to your teacher. Now this is your last warning young man, the next time you..."

Damon suppresses a sigh. How many times has he heard this go se from this guy? So he nearly made Mrs. Klein pass out- so what? He wishes he could tell this guy exactly how much he doesn't care but that would only result in getting his parents involved- a disaster waiting to happen. So he sits quietly and holds his tongue.

"...is that understood?"

"Yes, Mr. Hall, never again."

Damon can't help but chuckle as he looks down at Rowan, mischief dancing in his eyes, accompanied by the slightest hint of pride. "Yeah, I think I went and got myself in trouble." The word 'again' floats by, unspoken but noticeably there.

He knows it’s not really very funny- he could be in a serious mess. This isn’t about getting detention for cussing, or loosing dinner for stealing from cellmates, or even dealing with broken bones from fighting one too many guards. This is about possibly getting caught or killed, about survival. No time to be goofing around when so much is at stake.

Sobered by his situation, his smile has faded, along with the good-natured sparkle in his eye. Time to try to change the subject again. “I heard bao is on the menu.”

From down the hall, a crashing tea cup draws his attention. A second later, Inara passes him and Rowan, not looking back.

I'm not broken, in my dream I win...

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 2:32 PM

KAYLEE’s move

LOCATION - BRIDGE As...

MALs got his hands full, or at least one. But when KAYLEE bounces up and gives him a smack, he turns to ROWAN and dumps off the gun he is carryin’ around for no apparent reason. Then he whirls around and growling playfully, tickles her ribs.

KAYLEE giggles madly and a bit breathlessly, pushin’ (none to hard or effectively) at MALs hands. She hardly catches what he is sayin’ between growls.

MAL
"rrrgh, whatchoo doin' havin' yer minions fark up my cargo bay with all sorts of rubbery devices, me pretty! snaaaarl...”

He breaks off his attack, and goes back to discussin’ matters with the other people on the bridge. ~good thing too,~ Kaylee thinks. ~girls gotta breathe sometime.~

She leans up against the doorframe, recovering and waiting for his attention to turn to her again. Whole lotta stuff goin’ on just now. She looks from face to face. WASH and ZOË are sharing something between ‘em, but Kaylee’d be blessed if she can snatch an idea of what. Now MAL and ROWAN talking to each other and she can just tell there’s a lot going there that they are sayin’ without words … MAL lapses into some strangeness ‘lamby-toes’ indeed … he must be lookin to get damaged er somthin’.… INARA pourin’ tea for all and sundry.

Suddenly between all the false smiles and polite words, KAYLEE just knows nothing is happy right now. She wants to just stand in the middle of the bridge and shout something, anything, so’s to make everything OK again. Isn’t hardly anyone sayin’ what they’re thinkin’. She feels a twinge in her stomach muscles, feels a bullet pass into her again, and her face falls. So mad at one another.

ROWAN leaves the bridge. INARA leaves. ZOË and WASH are tied up mostly in each other as usual, although ZOË has one eye on MAL and a tense look about her mouth.

As INARA sweeps from the room, MAL tenses suddenly and the tea saucer fractures in his hand. The cup spins to the deck, shattering before KAYLEE could hope to catch it.

On the verge of tears, KAYLEE speaks. She is answering MALs question, whether he is listening or no. Just sumthin’ to change to mood. To catch his attention. Anything but this painful silence.

KAYLEE
"I was thinkn' about what Mr. Thorne said. Bout the conex-thingie not being able to take a beatin'. All-o-sudden-like I remembered a game me an my pals used ta play we called 'jump-n-cut."

Mal looks at her quizzically, like she has suddenly gone quite mad.

KAYLEE …ignoring Mal’s silly look…
"There was a rail bridge 'round 300 meters above the Whitewash River near the homestead. Me an a buncha others used to use bungee cords and qik-releases and jump offa the bridge. Jes before the cords snapped back – at that moment of ..pauses, searching for a word... of antigravity, we'd pull the releases and drop – nice as you please, in'ta the river – no fuss, no muss. ...at Mal's disbelieving scowl..."It was only a coupl a' meters drop at the end of the cords – we measured 'em real precise after Teddy fell nearly 60 meters and durn near broke his back."

“Ya see. We anchor one end of that cord to a structurally sound point in the Bay, and the other end is secured to the conex. That conex is poised to fling out the door. WASH brings Serenity into place; I checked out the map and I know just where, if the cargo bay doors are open and he does a fast stop, that box is gonna go flyin’. Put a quick release on the end fastened to the bay – as soon as it reaches full extension there’s gonna be one instant where it’s got no relative motion. One of the landing party pulls the quick release, the cord heads out of the bay follerin’ the box which is already gone. Away team goes out the bay, drops about 5 feet to the dirt, and WASH takes the rest of us for a nice flight. Dong ma? Easy as pie.”

Having said her piece. KAYLEE waits for a reaction. Hoping she really isn’t a pin’s width from walking some plank.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 4:22 PM

INARAESQUE

Inara's move

LOCATION - GALLEY

The crashing of a teacup sounds, and Inara ducks instinctively, more than half-expecting to feel the droplets of tea fly over her head and into her hair.

Pause.

No, apparently Mal vented his temper without throwing things at her.

She continues into the galley, offers Rowan, Damon, Jayne and Merz a tight smile, and sets to refilling the teapot. She doesn't want to return to Rosie and River empty-handed.

EOM

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 4:27 PM

i DO aim to misbehave

Rowan's Move:
LOCATION - FRONT HALL

DAMON: "Yeah, I think I went and got myself in trouble."

Rowan lifts an eyebrow both at his grin and the gleam of mischief that sparkles there ever so briefly. He's a bad boy all right. No wonder she likes him so much.

All too soon that sparkle dims and the dazzlng smile fades, much to Rowan's disappointment.

ROWAN: "You should smile more often, you know that?"

He shruges, then deftly changes the subject.

DAMON “I heard bao is on the menu.”

The sound of china crashing on the deck causes them both to turn to the bridge. Inara descends with her usual ethereal grace, movng smoothly but swiftly down the hall. She offers the bare modicum of acknowledgement, straining the usual companion courtesy protecol. She doesn't turn back.

Rowan breathes a sigh, wondering how the tensions arched so sharply within fifteen seconds.

ROWAN: "If I can find at least one scallion, it will be. When he's done and you smell bread when you come up, you'll know.

Turning to see Damon looking back up toward the bridge again, Rowan lifts a hand to touch his shoulder, only to think better of it at the last second. Still, she leaves it there, hovering in the air between them.

ROWAN: "And if it makes you feel any better, I'll get my talking-to tomorrow. I happen to know he talked to Merz too, so I think he's just making sure he didn't hire any mass murdering lunatics. Do me a favor and behave yourself, huh? you don't want to go for a vacuum swim, dong ma?"

Giving him a teasing look and a quick crook of her eyebrow--since winking still feels more like agonized twitching-- she turns to follow Inara's path into the galley and finds a contrasting scene. First there's Jayne eating something out of a Blue Sun package with the relish of a man who had been fasting for days. Then there's Merz, sitting at rest in a chair like someone had told her to stay there.

ROWAN: "Hey, Merz. I was just going to send out a call for you. Did you get those test results?"

EOM

Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 4:42 PM

LOCATION - DINING ROOM

She can hear ROWAN and DAMON quietly talking in the hallway. She can hear Inara approaching, the sound of her clothing as unmistakable as a voice print. Jayne is still in the room, eating with great gusto, like some kind of savage.

There is a lot of tension in the air; it rings in the voices she is hearing, it wafts through the air currents in mingled pheromone trails. There is almost a pre-drop feel - tomorrow’s run causing anxiety among these civilians. MERZ does not know if that is the case. And she is not easy with the pre-battle feeling. Danger is her forte, not theirs.

Once again they speak to her, the inhabitants of her mindscape, bringing to the forefront of her thoughts those things she is trying so very hard to push aside. Even here, her family is forever present.

~ your presence is a danger to them ~ Corvair snarls.

~ i know … ~ she responds.

~ they will bleed for you ~

~ I am aware of that …

Bem-Wa whispers, ~ friendship is … interesting. it should be studied further. ~

~ at the risk of their lives?

~ who are you to choose their path for them…? ~ Or’Sha counters. ~ would you make of them what we are? ~

The mind MERZ shakes her head. The meat MERZ mirrors the gesture. ~ NO! ~

~ take what they have offered you. learn from them, this new form of relationship. all data is useful ~ Bem-Wa’s voice is tainted with the smile she never saw him use. ~ they are less helpless than we are taught. you have learned that for yourself. as did I …~

~ yes. but … i have decided, i will leave at the next stop.~

Corvair sneers ~ coward … ~

The mind MERZ straightens and raises her head in defiance. ~ No! civilian … it is what one of them would do. I learn my lessons well, daaju … ~

~ don’t learn it too well, bahini. retain your identity, you are worthy too … ~ Bem-Wa’s voice trails off into distance.

MERZ takes a deep breath. Yes the decision is made. As soon as it is possible for her to leave she is gone. Right after Rowan’s tournament. After.

She is aware then, that ROWAN has entered the room and spoken to her. Playback reveals her words.

ROWAN
"Hey, Merz. I was just going to send out a call for you. Did you get those test results?"

MERZ looks up at her, reaching into the breast pocket she had slipped the test results into. Fingering out the small slip of paper, she wordlessly hands it to ROWAN.

EOM

daaju = elder brother (Nepali)
bahini = younger sister (Nepali)

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

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Wednesday, October 27, 2004 5:16 PM