'Verse-isms by Grizwald

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

'Verse-isms

POSTED BY: GRIZWALD
UPDATED: Thursday, July 13, 2006 16:08
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 7561
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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 4:56 AM

Dontcha love how you can recognize another Browncoat by the 'Versisms that creep into their speech?

I am active on the eBay discussion boards, and I frequently spot 'Coats when they end their posts with "not so much." It just happened again. The lady didn't know what I meant when I asked if she was a Browncoat, but she quickly Googled and got all excited when she realized that she really is one--watched the show when it first aired, watches it on Sci-Fi when it's on.

"Shiny" doesn't do it for me. Too common. I like the more subtle 'Versisms.

___________________________________________________
* If you're a leaf on the wind
* If you aim to misbehave
* If they can't take the sky from you
* If you are going to the Special Hell
* If you like the taste of Mudder's Milk
* If you carry Serenity with you everywhere you go
then you are a Browncoat, and you're with family.

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 4:58 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Excellent! I hope you told her about us!

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:01 AM

FOLLOWMAL

Grizwald!

Did you by any chance mention the Firefly marathon this Friday and remind her to let others know about it and TIVO it!?
Actually, posting it over there on the ebay forums would be nice.

Also, what FMF said... I hope she knows about us now.

And On Topic:

I use shiny way too much and "not so much" is a staple in my conversations. As is mei mei and dong ma.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal

Click here www.fireflyfans.net for info about the Serenity Summer Campaign and how you can help!

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:02 AM

MICJWELCH

I asked my brother-in-law yesterday if he got a discount on account of his intimidating manner.

"We may experience some slight turbulence, and then... explode."

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:04 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

They do creep into my speech, but I try to repress it because of all the blank stares/long awkward pauses.
'Course I don't have to on the net!

**********************************

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:07 AM

SPACEANJL

My (non-Browncoat) husband was cooking the other day, and having a 'mare. When I asked if he needed help, he called back, "No, everything's shiny." There was a pause, and then he went "Gaah!"

I have corrupted him. Mine is an evil laugh...

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:11 AM

DRACONUS

Congrats! I actually got a coworker to say "You are damaging my calm" the other day. I just stood there and grinned.

---------------------------

May you have enough.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:16 AM

NANITE1018

Quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAnJL:
My (non-Browncoat) husband was cooking the other day, and having a 'mare. When I asked if he needed help, he called back, "No, everything's shiny." There was a pause, and then he went "Gaah!"

I have corrupted him. Mine is an evil laugh...

lol, that's hilarious! By the way, i don't think "not so much" is a 'verse-ism. I mean, i used it before i ever heard of Firefly.

I don't know what 'verse-isms i say. "Shiny" for sure. Don't really swear much so i don't make much use of the Mandarin or "gorram". Although i have used madarin and "gorram" before but only speaking to myself. I don't swear much.

So what other 'verse-isms are out there? I think i've used "on account" a couple times. 'Course, i'm newer so it's not like i have them deeply ingrained yet. When school starts my friends will probably look at me weird from the strange wording and/or words i'll use.

Isn't Firefly great?

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:20 AM

TRISTAN

My speech is so peppered that everyone around me has gotten used to it. I try to stay "professional" when dealing with clients, but "shiny" and even "dong ma" have slipped out. The wife has taken a few of the 'versisms into her vocabulary, and I love her for it.

______________________________________

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:23 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

I use "conjure" a lot now. As in "#1 that ain;t you car and you drive it only if I conjure you do"

LOL!

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:24 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

OK, I am just gobsmacked at the "my husband was cooking".

Stunned is what I is. I KNEW they existed! Or rather I HOPED they did!

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:24 AM

RUGBUG

Quote:
Originally posted by Grizwald:
and I frequently spot 'Coats when they end their posts with "not so much."

Hrmmm, I don't attribute this to Firefly, but it's possible that was the start. I feel like I've been saying it forever, but with the way any of Joss' shows get into my head, it could've come from Firefly without me knowing it.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:09 AM

BELUGASMOM

These days (months, years) I find "Gorram Feds" escaping my lips alot. I just told the dog, who is having a meltdown because he lost his toy, "You are damaging my calm."

Life is short, brutal, and unpredictable. EAT DESSERT FIRST.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:17 AM

GRIZWALD

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Hrmmm, I don't attribute this to Firefly....

In my best Operative voice:

"I do."

I mean, these are old expressions, so old they haven't been in common use, at least in the USA, in... well, a long time. Like "gorram." It's real, just archaic and colloquial. Maybe that's why the 'Versisms sound so natural and are so easy to pick up - they are real.

___________________________________________________
* If you're a leaf on the wind
* If you aim to misbehave
* If they can't take the sky from you
* If you are going to the Special Hell
* If you like the taste of Mudder's Milk
* If you carry Serenity with you everywhere you go
then you are a Browncoat, and you're with family.

Click on my profile for my Annoyingly Long List of Firefly Links.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:24 AM

MSG

the other day we were at the movies and someone started talking and without missing a beat my husband and I looked at each other and went..."special hell"
I will also admit to memorizing and using a few chinese swear words, because I am prone to swearing and don't want to do it in front of my students and I figure it doesn't count if they don't know what I said

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 11:03 AM

CYBERSNARK

I try to be more careful, since many of the people I interact with are "nonfans" (not just non-fans of Firefly, but lacking the nature that would make them a "fan" of anything --no empathy, creativity, patience, or sense of artistic merit). They have enough trouble understanding textbook English.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 11:42 AM

RMMC

I tend to use phrases like "all manner of things," and "damaging my calm," "dong ma" and "that's a mite disturbin.'" Then there's random swearing, "gorram," "ruttin'," "gos se" and "Ta ma duh."

I'm sure there's more, but I can rattle 'em out of my brainpan just now. *!* Oh, yeah, "Brainpan!"

******
RMMC

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:24 PM

PAGANPAUL

I just started a new job at the FCC Headquarters in Washington, DC this morning. I used the phrase "Shiny" just once and discovered that the people I work with are all closet Browncoats!

They'd never heard of this site, and were completely unaware of the SN/EN campaign last month, and didn't know that we are all trying to get a sequal made, but they are Browncoats never the less (or at least they will be once I'm done with them! Bwahahahaha!).

* - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * -

流口水的婊子和猴子的笨儿子。
Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh bun ur-tze.
"Stupid son of a drooling whore and a monkey."

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:29 PM

MSG

PaganPaul- that rocks!! nothing like seriously compatible co-workers to make the day go round:)

I choose to rise instead of fall- U2

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:33 PM

My friends have been known to say, 'That's why I never kiss 'em on the mouth.'

-------------------------------------------------

'It's Braedan. With an A.'

'Shiny moments aren't a destination any of us get to, and stay put forever. They're unknowable, brief flashes in time. That's what makes them shiny.' -GorramReevers

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 12:57 PM

BLACKSHAMROCK5

I have known to use the occasional "shiny" and "gorram" but the oddest to me was once I touched a hot seat belt and yelped in pain, my mother asked "what happened?" and "my hand touched metal" just popped right out of my mouth. Thats when I realized what a huge dork I am...and I'm ok with that.

Shamrock

Remember that a kick in the ass is a step forward.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 1:14 PM

PHOENIXSTARS

I try to avoid it since most people I know are not firefly fans, or have watched it and enjoyed it but would still be confused by any 'versisms.

Shiny does slip out often though. And I sometimes call a good friend of mine, who is also a firefly fan, mei mei.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 2:37 PM

MORWEN112

Meimei, gorram, dong ma and shiny are my most common. I've got it in my head to learn some Chinese swears too. I say "sheh sheh" and I used to get lots of wierd looks but my family's sort of gotten used to it by now. Just today, I had to get a tetanus shot and all I could think of was Mal saying "Guess I gotta get innoced before we hit planetside."

Sometimes I just slip into the pattern of speech...you know, saying stuff like "You want that I do this?" and instead of "I don't think it is" saying, "Don't conjure it is." It's so much fun!

Mine is an evil sugar high laugh! Bwahahahaha!

Morwen

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 2:59 PM

SHINYYUKARI

I tend to use 'I never credited (insert name here) with an overabundance of brains' a lot.

"Well next time you be the bait!"~Andy Hurley
"Okay! Everybody not talking about sex, in here. Everybody else, elsewhere."~Wash
Browncoats are the coolest fans I've ever seen.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 3:07 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Permaybehaps I do use a few 'versisms now and then.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:33 PM

FLORALBUNNY

FCC???

OMG, PaganPaul, bring 'em on!!
Tear down that closet door!!

Strawberries for all.

Do we dare ask which parts of FF
would bring fines if aired in 2006?

bun
~2006~Firefly Summer~2006~
------Hide the rum!------

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 5:54 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

I have to mutter most of my 'verisms under my breath as my coworkers have resisted my efforts at conversion.

Mostly I use gosei and fei uh in reference to those gorram machines such as computers, fax machines and postal meters that don't work right.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 6:19 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Shiny and gorram escape my lips almost before I can even think about them any more. "Not so much" is another favorite, but I tend to credit The Daily Show more for that one - it's just the way Jon Stewart delivers it...

I've been heard saying things like "not 'less I conjure you do" or "well... that does change the landscape a bit" on occasion. In a meeting, I went through the whole "lemme do the math... nuthin' from nuthin'... carry the nuthin'..." spiel. It wasn't exactly a hit, but did get a few chuckles from a couple flans at work.

Oh, and my boss was telling me about his "plan" one day, when it just slipped out: "Yeah, but what you plan and what take place ain't ever been exactly similar!" He didn't get it. Not even a bit amused.

I try to fit 'verse-speak in wherever and whenever I can, but being that I'm a Texan, most folk just conjure that's the way I always talk. ;)

Mike

A baby seal walks into a club...

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 10:15 PM

SUZFROMOZ

Actually, Paul Reiser says "Not so much" a lot (Mad about you) and it seems to be him, rather than the character, as it often appears in other things he does, including the written word....I have been using that one for years, long before our beloved Firefly.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 11:49 PM

CHOO1701

don't really do many "Verism's", (mainly shiny and Goa Se) but Frak and Frell have creeped into my vocab.

As has "Friggin'"!?! I have no idea where THAT came from!

(found out. I'm a coward to afraid to say f*ck. still have no idea where i heard it....)

-----------------------------
"Remember, always be yourself. Unless you suck."-Joss Whedon

ITES RULE!!!!

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 1:43 AM

FLATTOP

I've goten a bit of use from,
"My days of not takin' you serious have definitely come to a middle."
"Sheh sheh" gets used alot, but most folk think it's because I eat at chinese owned restaurants alot and it's polite & all.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 2:30 AM

SPACEANJL

I use 'I reckon' and 'a deal' or 'a mite' more than somewhat, now.

If I have had a day or so writing, then my speech is quite...affected. I think 'Versism creeps in 'cos Joss based it on collective cultural patterns and syntax. Just seems kinda natural, is all

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 3:56 AM

ELOISA

The admin department of my company just moved offices halfway across London. Unpopular doesn't describe it. I had a semi-formal conversation with my boss when I described it as "nio-se" (spelling bad, I know). In this country at least I've got less of a chance of being understood than if I swear in French.

***
http://forums.ffonline.com/forumdisplay.php?f=19
Creative Writing

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:17 AM

RIDAN

I use a few 'verse-isms, though not so much as others here. 'Shiny', mostly, and 'not so much' much more since I began to watch Firefly.

Every cloud has a silver lining. But that lining is usually tarnished.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:42 AM

MAVOURNEEN

I was in a meeting last week and was VERY quiet throughout as people around me were arguing the pros and cons of a new marketing plan. Literally, arguing. "If this happens" "If that happens" etc- and of course, when things calmed down a bit, my boss turns to me and asked me what I thought of the plan. You guessed it:
"I smell a lot of if comin' off this plan."

Everyone laughed, it broke the tension, and my boss realized he is off his nut for assuming the American consumer is so bright.

Later, a new co-worker came up to me and said, "I thought I was the only browncoat in this company!" I nearly fell over...and promptly invited new co-worker to lunch.

"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:29 AM

SMARTBUTDUMBBLONDE

what does sheh sheh mean?
I always use the chinese swear words and gorram, as my mum really frowns on swearing, so she can't understand. it also comes in handy for insulting my sister during on of our many fights.

Currently searching for the planet of the hot, rich yet appropriately hygenic man.
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:33 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Yay you!

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:40 AM

MAVOURNEEN

Quote:
Originally posted by Smartbutdumbblonde:
what does sheh sheh mean?
I always use the chinese swear words and gorram, as my mum really frowns on swearing, so she can't understand. it also comes in handy for insulting my sister during on of our many fights.

Sheh Sheh means thank you. It's pronounced "sh-yeh sh-yeh"

"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 7:59 AM

SMARTBUTDUMBBLONDE

sheh sheh!

Currently searching for the planet of the hot, rich yet appropriately hygenic man.
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:26 AM

AZHEA

I use "whinge" when describing someone whining or complaning. I get strange looks, but oh well.

My children, who indulge Mom's obsession with rolled eyes and heavy sighs use "Shiny" all the time. I just smile at them.

*************************************************
I mean to confound these bungers!
http://www.freewebs.com/liadanfirefly/index.htm

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:47 AM

COSMICFUGITIVE

I actually used 'we're all doomed! Who's flying this thing?!' today, when an important health and safety induction had been posponed. (Due to understaffing.)

I tend to use 'Yup, that went well'. I always use: 'were there monkeys?' whenever a lot of mess has been made.

Um... 'Not so much' and 'gorram' are known to slip into my vocab too.

I've used 'whimsical in the brain pan' on occasion, 'You're the boss, boss!', 'I can be terse', 'Mine is an evil laugh!' and 'shiny' also.

[img]

[/img]

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:50 AM

AGENTRUSCO

I adore Joss-lingo. I tend to make up words anyhow, but using his really makes my day.

Before ever watching Firefly I used 'whinge' cos it is really a word used accross the pond. I was estatic when Mal used it. Also 'not so much' and 'pretty much.' I think that those are really just common phrases.

Now I've added things like 'gorram', 'ai ya', and 'shiny'.

I am not in any way a 'closet' browncoat. I don't care who I confound with my random lingo. I draw Firefly paralells from anything. Seriously.

About a month ago, I had to use the porta-loo at work and I heard a clink on the floor. I said this to myself, aloud: "Did the button just fall of my gorram pants for no apparent reason?" Then I aswered myself: "Looks like" and burst into laughter. I feel sorry for anyone who had to occasion of listening to the tram operator laughing like an idiot in the loo. Not that I'm ashamed.

The next thing I do continually is quote Firefly (and the extras.) Again, every instance. I say things like 'can't. sentence. properly.' when someone is having difficulty speaking.

All in all, I've noted a general decline in my grammar abilities. This could be bad considering I'm an English major at uni. However, my distinction (excuse) is that I DO know proper English. I just choose to ignore it.

That said. I'm proud. Very proud and I will never quit.

_______________________________________________
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 1:52 PM

KWICKO

Quote:
However, my distinction (excuse) is that I DO know proper English. I just choose to ignore it.

THAT is what I love most about Joss's writing, I think. That seems to be the thing that caught me up in Buffy at first, and that kept me interested - the whole idea that Joss knows the language and literature so damn well that he CAN abuse them and still get his point across, often hilariously.

Honestly, who else could come up with a line like Buffy's "I tried a new cream rinse; it was neither creamy nor rinsey." Pure genius, I tell ya!

Mike

A baby seal walks into a club...

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 2:04 PM

CYBERSNARK

Exactly. As I saw someone on Usenet say:

Poetic License: What you get when you prove you can handle the language without wrecking it.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 3:01 PM

MAILMANX

I drop a few backbirths daily

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 3:19 PM

TEACHDAIRE

Do what I do then. When I start swearing, I switch between languages. I start in Italian, then usually move on to french, German, Russian, Italian (that's a good one for swearing in)and usually end up with Gaelic. The good thing about FF is that by adding chinese into my long, rambling bouts of swearing, is that it adds a whole new dimension to insulting diatribes.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:56 PM

REDLAVA

The two weeks ago during my company's softball game, I was up to bat with a runner on third (who I ended up hitting in). Just before I left the dugout I picked up my bat and just had to say, "Time for some thrillin' heroics."

I have also refered to people as being "whimsical in the brainpan" and "not having an overabundance of schoolin'" before as well.

I use shiny, ruttin', and gorram everyday, mostly in place of swear words. My sister caught me using shiny in one of our e-mails and asked what it meant. For a while everytime she heard me say it she would call me a dork. She has gotten used to it now and doesn't think anything of it.

And of course "mine is an evil laugh" is just too ruttin' funny not to say on occasion.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:20 PM

RCAT

I use gorram and go-se quite a bit. I've also found quite a few times to throw out a fake laugh and "mine is an evil laugh". Not special to the 'verse but a co-worker (browncoat) always cracks up when I answer w/ a Wash-like "looks like" and "not so much".

I work at a steel fab. plant (mostly male employees), as part of the safety-team I'm always watching out for people not wearing their gear (gloves and the like). I usually get great reactions when I use "if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonet, I will end you". I can only hold my stearn look for so long at their confusion before I crack up.

I hope she does the soup thing. It's always a hoot, and we don't all die from it.

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 4:08 PM

MIRCEA

Not real sure I consider most of the language in the show to be versisms, except maybe shiny and a few others. Too much of it was part of my normal speaking habits long before Firefly was made.

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