GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" ACT 24

POSTED BY: CapnRahn
UPDATED: Thursday, December 23, 2004 18:03
VIEWED: 21686
PAGE 1 of 1

CAPNRAHN

Sunday, November 7, 2004 10:44 PM (P)

PREVIOUSLY ON FIREFLY:
ACT 23: http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=7712

CREDITS & BIOS:
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=3498

RPing TOOLS:
Tools and tricks for the hip RPer.
http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=4266

GREEN ROOM:
Storyline work and a place for the acKtors to hang out.
OOC 23

ARCHIVE:
Includes episode synopses and links to all the threads for prior acts
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=3681

MECHANICS OF RPing:
Tips and tricks and preferred RP methods, developed by the Gunrunners and Hitchers themselves
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=4266

DIRECTORIAL STAFF:
Guest DireKtor - DragonflyDireKtor { CapnRahn@aol.com AIM, MSN }
Guest Asst. DireKtor - MercedesTroy { tampa.cyberose@verizon.net AIM}
Co-Director - FrauDirektor { htempe@hotmail.com, MSN, AIM: MissAstriana, Yahoo!: MissAstriana, ICQ: 9592266}
Co-Director - Channain { channain@yahoo.com; AIM}

STUDIO OWNER & RP DISTRIBUTION:
FireflyFans.net produced by Haken

GENERAL POST GUIDELINES
None have been established yet. Each player has a unique style for posting a move that is consistent within itself. You'll catch on!

ACRONYM DEFINITIONS & TERMS
EOM = End of Move
OOC = Out Of Character
POV = Point Of View

Last but not least, the Gunrunners and Hitchers would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Joss Whedon for creating a whole new 'verse for us to play in, and to Haken for giving us a bright, shiny new sandbox theater!

JossGunrunners & Hitchers
HakenGunrunners & Hitchers

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

CAPNRAHN

Sunday, November 7, 2004 10:45 PM (P)

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

BRIDGE: Wash
LAST BUNK ON THE LEFT: OUTSIDE-Zoe and Kaylee; INSIDE- Damon
GALLEY: Inara, River, Jayne, Rowan, Merz
PASSENGER DORMs: Mal & Book
SWIMMING IN THE BLACK: Thorne

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

DECOY

Monday, November 8, 2004 12:47 AM (P)

Wash's Move:
Location - Bridge, deep thoughts

(Over the intercom comes Mal's voice): "Wash, I didn't hear one of my shuttles detach, so which hatch did he swim outta...? And WHEN the hatch was opened ..."

Wash, not looking up from his console, which should have alerted him to the opening airlock he realizes, glances at MRFUCSS, flips a swich over his head, and in a monotone replies. "He took off at 20:30. I didn't know because the airlock alarm seems to be disabled, probably when we were boarded by Early... and you told me to disable both shuttles a few minutes ago, to prevent escaping your wrath, sir." (Wash flips off the intercom, notes that MRFUCSS has 20:37 AMT (8:37 pm) on screen, then goes back to the map.

EOM

Decoy, they make me go first.

MANIACNUMBERONE

Monday, November 8, 2004 3:13 AM (P)

Book's Move
Location: Book's Quarters

-------
MAL - "Well, Shepherd, that was one of the reasons I came here - I wanted you to lead the ground team t'marrow."
-------

"Not a problem, Captain. I'm always glad to lend a hand whenever I can. Book waits a moment to give Mal a chance to say something, when he doesn't Book continues. What else can I help you with?. Book gives Mal a wry grin. ...or do you just need me to lead you to the drink?"

EM

CAPNRAHN

Monday, November 8, 2004 4:11 AM (P)

LOCATION - BOOKs DORM
As ...

Mal looks back at Book and gestures with the 2 1/2 quart sports bottle.

MAL
"Naw, got some premium hooch here. I just needed, ... um ... wanted to check in with you."

Mal looks at Book unwaveringly. Almost challenging him to drop all the pretense and lay everything on the table. It could be told, somewhere in the corner of Mal's eyes: Mal was not sure if he could respond in the same manner. Mal was still licking the self-inflicted wounds from the little tete-a-tete he had with Inara in her shuttle. The Damon thing was not turning out to be too pleasant either. Unbidden, the thought of Simon getting his rear shot-off by Alliance flunkies came crashing through Mal's subconscious.

Enough was enough.

MAL
"Things have gotten a tad off-spin and a man needs to know where his balance is."

EOM

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

MANIACNUMBERONE

Monday, November 8, 2004 5:39 PM (P)

Book's Move
His room

-----
MAL - "Things have gotten a tad off-spin and a man needs to know where his balance is."
-----

Book watches Mal closely. Mal is hanging his head and mumbling under his breath. It's obvious he wants to talk. "That's why I'm here Captain." Book steps to his door and slides it shut. "Have a seat."

Book walks to a cupboard and removes a small leather container. He unzips it and removes a couple glasses. Turning back around, with a glass in each hand, he finds Mal standing exactly where he was before. The sports bottle in his hand lowering from his lips.
Sighing deeply, Book goes to his small table and sets the glasses down. What was that comm call about earlier?"

EM

CRAZYHORSE

Tuesday, November 9, 2004 5:56 AM (P)

Shan's move
Location: New Hokkaido

Shan found himself slumped just inside the mouth of an alleyway against the cool stones of the hospital building, looking blankly at the throngs of people as they made their way between shops, bars, and restaurants. The bright, gaudy lights of the boulevard at the far end of the alleyway seemed to be trying to swallow up the night, but he managed to ignore the beckoning glow over his shoulder, sighing a little glumly. :: No gaming tonight:: he mentally admonished himself. He could almost hear the voice of his mother nagging right alongside his own, and it was almost enough to turn him toward the bright lights and a game of cards. A gentle breeze caressed his cheek and he gave a small shiver, though it didn’t seem to affect anyone else thusly. A few passersby cast a wary fleeting look at a man lurking just inside the ally, and intense green eyes stared back challengingly, but upon seeing his clothes they realized he had no need of pick pocketing. Or perhaps it was the pale cast to his complexion and the gaunt frame and rather hollow looking cheeks he currently sported that labeled him as "not a threat". At any rate he was mostly ignored, which suited him fine.

His clothing was nice, though well rumpled at this juncture. His clean white shirt had been properly pressed at one point, the black trousers cleanly laundered and accompanied by a rather dashing black coat, cut to knee length. Where the dark red waistcoat with well polished silver buttons had been done up impeccably before, it now didn’t seem to fit as well, and the top half hung open to allow him some breathing room.

He tucked a hand into the inside breast pocket of his coat, placed deft fingers lightly on a wad of cash that was depressingly less than it had been a week ago thanks to the same hospital he was leaning somewhat weakly against now. Three mornings previously (and after an eventful night containing cards and lots of money) he had found himself barely able to rise from his bed, feeble, shaking, and cramping every way he turned. The hospital staff had been obviously surprised to learn they once again had a patient afflicted with a particularly nasty strain of flu that had laid the area low for quite a while; one they’d thought they’d seen the last case of at least two months ago. Fortunately they had grown adept at dealing with it at this point, and as much as Shan hated waking up to doctors and nurses prodding and asking questions at all hours, he had to admit they’d done their job admirably.

So here he now stood- pale, weak, tired… and with a still considerably large lump of money burning a hole in his pocket. A small frown creased his forehead, and again the sound of his mother’s chiding voice echoed through his skull. The frown turned fully into a grimace at that, and he turned a little unsteadily toward the illumination at the end of the corridor behind him. ::A couple games couldn’t hurt…:: drawled his own voice in response, and the corners of his mouth turned upward at the prospect.

He exited the shadows with a fairly jaunty swing to his step (mostly to try and hide how weak he still felt) and ran his fingers through dark blonde hair, half-heartedly attempting to straighten it. His customary smile was back in place as he turned into the nearest establishment, the smell of cigar smoke and booze and the warm sounds of humans laughing and talking washed over him. A particular laugh, one sounding like gravel in a bucket, reached his ears and his eyes darted sideways to see a beefy, gray whiskered man slapping another heavily muscled man across his broad shoulders. The door had barely closed behind Shan before he was out it again smoothly. He wanted no trouble tonight, and sharing a bar with those two cretins was asking for trouble. Sure, it had been almost a year… unfortunately some people were particularly adept at holding grudges. And the whiskered man’s right jaw was still marred by a long jagged scar. His own fault, surely, but Shan doubted the man saw it that way. Be

CAPNRAHN

Tuesday, November 9, 2004 4:55 PM (P)

LOCATION - BOOKs DORM
As ...

Book turns away, Mal almost takes a reflexive sip from the sports bottle. At the last second, he remembers that this particular spirits was earmarked for Jayne. As Book turns back he lowers it and moves towards the seat opposite of where Book was retrieving the glasses. Mal sits and fishes his hip-flask out of his pocket.

BOOK
"What was that comm call about earlier?"

MAL
... setting the sports bottle down and then gesturing towards the glasses with the hip-flask and a quirked eyebrow...
"Just some foolishness that took a different twisty. Damon had another angsty attack after attemptin' to eavesdrop. He is coolin' off in Merz's bunk. Nobody's got injured."

Mal nods towards the hip-flask

"This here is a pure blue burnin' stomach twister - 198 on the scale. Makes aviation fuel seem like weak tea in comparison. You interested in a pre-party slug?"

EOM

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

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, November 9, 2004 6:05 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - GALLEY

MERZ: "I am ready for whatever you choose to teach me, mero saathi. Show me how to 'glaze'." As she approaches to watch and learn, MERZ speaks softly for Rowan's ears only. "I have known you are in pain. Do you trust me to run a diagnostic on you?" Again Merz tries out her new, real smile. "I promise to use the machine."

ROWAN (softly): "Bao first, diagnostic later. Tomorrow maybe…once the alcohol is worked out of my system, dong ma?"

Thinking back on their nine-ball lesson - specifically how Merz had the potential to send a ball through the bulkhead if they had been real - Rowan considers another option. She recalls seeing Grandma Huan physically directing one of the servants - and not in any way that would be considered gentle - in the application of the correct spices for one of the dishes.

ROWAN: "And as to the glazing, I got an idea, if you're game. You come and stand in front and I'll direct your hands. That way when I say dash you'll understand my full meaning, and we won't end up with bao that's hotter than the sun. That sound okay by you?"

Feeling Jayne's continued observation, Rowan doesn't acknowledge him. He wants her out of his way. As to the why, that she can't explain precisely, but she can do that. Having such dynamic siblings can give a girl some interesting skills in how to exist in shadows. Running from the Feds has only managed to refine the technique. It may be a small ship, but it's not that small.

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

MERCEDESTROY

Tuesday, November 9, 2004 11:53 PM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - GALLEY

ROWAN
…”You come and stand in front and I'll direct your hands. That way when I say dash you'll understand my full meaning, and we won't end up with bao that's hotter than the sun”…

That is acceptable to MERZ. She suspects that this ‘hands-on’ will be considerably less painful than other training she has had and other trainers she has worked with. And it is far easier to feel some techniques than to observe them.

Stepping forward, between the counter and ROWAN she stops, takes a deep breath and relaxes all of her muscles at once, ready to ‘feel’ her directions.

MERZ
“Ma bujhnu. Show me.”

EOM

Ma Bujhnu = I understand (Nepali)

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

INARAESQUE

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 5:09 PM (P)

Inara's move

LOCATION: Aft corridor/Galley

When her personal com device beeps softly in Inara's pocket, the companion withdraws it, expecting a summons from her client. He'd obviously not heard Mal's summons to the galley, she thinks, and pushes the little button on the side to open the com line.

"This is Ina--" Her voice is cut off by the prerecorded message from Thorne. She listens to him, stunned, unaware or uncaring -- for now -- that his voice filters quite audibly through into the busy Galley.

Quote:
"INARA. I'm sorry, my sweet, but something has come up which I must attend to in person. It is not more important than my promise to you, but is a life or death matter, and more immediate. If I'm not back by the time you are ready to go to Ariel for treatment, call the comm code attached to this message. Everything will have been arranged for your passage and cure, and all you will have to do is get well and stay beautiful.

I enjoyed our time together, brief though it was, more than I can express. You are very dear to me, and I wish you every happiness. I hope that one day the scales will fall from your captain's eyes, and he will see the great treasure which he alone can have. Adeiu, sweetling."

"Shénme?" she murmurs to herself, just standing there, utterly thrown. "Bù kê néng..."

She tries waving Thorne, to no avail. He's long gone.

"Huh," she breathes, confused, saddened and -- in a horrible, private little place inside that cares nothing for propriety or the dignity befitting a companion; the place where her resentment of all her clients sits -- a little relief. Immediately she berates herself for that tiny shard of relief, it's not applicable here, and slips quietly into the small lounge by the kitchen, sitting down on one of the armchairs to regroup.

EOM

SQUEE

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 7:20 PM (P)

River
LOCATION - GALLEY

River watches Rowan and Merz preparing the glaze for the bao with great fascination. When they finish, she reaches over and dips a finger in the glaze and sticks it in her mouth. She smiles up at Rowan.

"It's ready."

Quote:
"INARA. I'm sorry, my sweet, but something has come up which I must attend to in person. It is not more important than my promise to you, but is a life or death matter, and more immediate. If I'm not back by the time you are ready to go to Ariel for treatment, call the comm code attached to this message. Everything will have been arranged for your passage and cure, and all you will have to do is get well and stay beautiful.

I enjoyed our time together, brief though it was, more than I can express. You are very dear to me, and I wish you every happiness. I hope that one day the scales will fall from your captain's eyes, and he will see the great treasure which he alone can have. Adeiu, sweetling."

River looks over to see Inara entering the galley, a mixtire of emotions crossing her face as she sits down in the lounge. Promptly forgetting about the bao and glaze, River picks up the prepared tray of tea that had been abandoned in the scuffle with Damon and walks over to Inara. She sets the tray down on the table in front of her, pours a cup and offers it to the companion with a saddened smile.

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

MERCEDESTROY

Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:52 PM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - MINDSCAPE

Wanting to concentrate on ROWAN, the command voice in the back of her head is an unwelcome intrusion. She fights not to respond to it. But that cannot be. What ‘he’ says is relevant and should be considered. Briefly.

~ You have your back to the room. You have your back to a civilian. Have you forgotten all of your training? ~

~ I forget nothing. I choose. ~

~ You have not turned your back on me since we were eight. ~

~ You betrayed me when we were eight. When she betrays me, I will recompute. ~

~ and if you die, proving your ‘trust’? … ~

~ then none of you need worry about me again … nor I, you … ~

She pulls her mind back to the job at hand …

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Thursday, November 11, 2004 5:10 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - GALLEY

MERZ: “Ma bujhnu. Show me.”

Rowan steps back a little to accommodate the smaller woman. Once Merz is in front of her, Rowan lifts her hands, intending to rest them on Merz's but pauses as Merz takes a long breath of air and visibly relaxes. Well-toned as her musculature is, there's always some ridge of flesh showing somewhere, even when she's at rest. Now smooth and pliable, one could almost get the notion that she was in a position to be taken advantage of. Knowing far better than to make that manner of assumption, Rowan puts her hands over Merz's and lifts them slowly up.

ROWAN: "We'll finish the sauce first, then move into the glazing. Ready?"

At Merz's succinct nod, Rowan begins. It's a little like operating a marionette, only with a verbal interface. Rowan tells her which ingredient to pick up and once she does she carefully instructs her how to add it to the sauce. Using the appropriate amounts of pressure, she indicates to Merz what a dash entails and the difference between blending and mixing. There is a little pause in the midst of it, as if Merz is hesitant to continue, but before Rowan can ask what's wrong, she's back on track. The process is completed relatively quickly and in no time a savory aroma rises from the dark orange sauce.

River watches Rowan and Merz preparing the glaze for the bao with great fascination. When they finish, she reaches over and dips a finger in the glaze and sticks it in her mouth. She smiles up at Rowan.

RIVER: "It's ready."

Smiling back at the girl, Rowan takes a taste herself and encourages Merz to do the same. Seeing the pleasure alighting in her eyes - and intriguing eyes they surely are - Rowan smiles.

ROWAN: "Now we'll cook the protein and start glazing. We need to shift over to the wok."

Releasing her hands, Rowan and Merz both move to the stove with precise steps, almost like a dance. Merz brings the sauce bowl with her while Rowan takes up the protein. They move into their individual positions, then become one again as Rowan takes Merz's hands. She guides Merz through the motions of prepping the protein in the wok first. Then when it's ready, she adds a word of caution.

ROWAN: "Glazing actually happens pretty quick, just to warn you."

Glancing up to where Jayne is standing and staring at them, Rowan figures if he needs to keep watch he might as well make himself useful.

ROWAN: "That offer to help still stand?"

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

MANIACNUMBERONE

Thursday, November 11, 2004 5:43 PM (P)

Book's Move
Location: Book's Room

Book sits on the edge of his bed, and holds out one of the glasses for Mal to pour a drink into. "Damon... again? That's surprising." Book cocks his head to one side and takes a slightly knowing look. "Who threatened him this time?"

Mal and Book share a grin at the quip and Mal pours Book a small drink. Silence follows for an uncomfortable moment and Book watches as Mal pours himself a rather large drink and gulps most of it down. Looking into his own glass and sniffing the contents, Book winces a little as his nostril hairs feel like they're getting somewhat singed. "198, eh? Why do I get the feeling that you want to prepare me for something?"

EM

CAPNRAHN

Thursday, November 11, 2004 8:08 PM (P)

LOCATION - BOOKs DORM
As ...

BOOK
"Damon... again? That's surprising."
...Book cocks his head to one side and takes a slightly knowing look...
"Who threatened him this time?"
...Book inhales the vapor distorting the air above his cup. He grimaces slightly as Mal slugs down his double...
"198, eh? Why do I get the feeling that you want to prepare me for something?"

Again, the intercom crackles to life.

WASH
... Over intercomm...
"He took off at 20:30. I didn't know because the airlock alarm seems to be disabled, probably when we were boarded by Early... and you told me to disable both shuttles a few minutes ago, to prevent escaping your wrath, sir."

MAL
... To Wash on comm ...
"Understood. We need to track down as much of the 'hands on' Early may have perpetrated on Serenity. We don't need no more surprises. Mal out."

Mal turns back to Book, a look of indecision flashes across his features.

Mal
... with irony...
"Demons, padre ...shadow demons threatened ole Damon. He's got some pretty deep rifts in his past an' apparently some real horror-shows are still crawlin' out of it."
...Mal pours another double and swirls the fluid into a mini-tornado within the glass ...
"Yeah, 198 proof..."
... with a wave of his hand he indicates the sports bottle...
"Its mostly for Jayne ... to soften the counseling session I had with him.
...at Book's cocked eyebrow...
" T'was about gettin' all twisty with conspiracy theories. He was thinkin' that Mz. Rowan was of YoSafBridge's stripe."

EOM™

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

MERCEDESTROY

Friday, November 12, 2004 1:43 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION – GALLEY As ...

ROWAN moves carefully behind MERZ, warm breath caressing the back of her neck. MERZ has to admit to herself there is unease in this position … it is against all of her training and inclination. All the more reason to learn, to try, to … deviate. She controls herself, willingly remaining completely dependent on ROWANs directions.

ROWAN
“We’ll finish the sauce first, then move into the glazing. Ready?”

As she learns soy sauce from sesame seed oil, from molasses, from vinegar – the best way to mix the liquids and blend in the garlic and the scallions, there is a dichotomy at work. Rowans warm hands on hers are a comfort. But the presence at her back is disquieting and her unease grows.

MERZ halts for a fraction of time, searching for the problem. And in time, in a pause, she understands – she can see ROWAN in the hands before her, but can only feel CORVAIR behind. And that … spoils … her enjoyment. A false impression, she knows this but inescapable nonetheless. Briefly she closes her eyes, tunes out the scents of their sauce and breathes in ROWAN, feels her warmth, and firmly sets in her mind just who is with her. The moment passes. And then ROWAN stops.

RIVER, who has been unobtrusively watching from the side, comes close and reaches a finger into the bowl. Tasting the sticky liquid she smiles up at them.

RIVER
"It's ready."

ROWAN gently moves both her hand and MERZ’ towards the sauce and dips her own finger in. Merz follows and lifts it to her own mouth. She has no words to describe this taste/sensation/experience. She just looks at ROWAN awestruck.

~ I did this? ~

~ don’t be ignorant. She accomplished this. ~

He cannot spoil it for her. Not this time – she did learn and all the parts she witnessed she can do again. And again, and again until she has it right!

ROWAN
"Now we'll cook the protein and start glazing. We need to shift over to the wok."

In a strange way, she and ROWAN are both together and separate as they move the protein and the sauce to the cooking surface and the waiting pan, ~ wok ~ she tells herself. Taking up their positions, again, one before the other the protein is made ready to ‘glaze’. Before they begin, ROWAN cautions her that it is a quick process and MERZ prepares her attention to be ready for it.

When ROWAN speaks to JAYNE before they begin, a flash of emotion rocks MERZ. It passes quickly, but she chases the feeling down. It is nothing she is familiar with, and it leaves a bad taste in her mind. Searching frantically through the databank she decides … jealousy? Did she resent ROWANs attention being turned to another? How strange.

MERZ waits for the rest of the lesson, both eager and troubled.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

INARAESQUE

Friday, November 12, 2004 2:21 AM (P)

Inara's move.

LOCATION - GALLEY

It was... silly of her to be upset, to have this quiet sense of abandonment creeping over her like a chill. Inara knew that. Inara knew better than that. This had absolutely nothing to do with her. And she had absolutely no real claim on Rosie. He wasn't her father or her lover: he was a client. A warm, kind, generous and charming client to be sure, a gentleman with proper Core manners who treated her with the courtesy she was due as a Companion... someone who had, for a little while, made her feel less alone. But, fundamentally, a client.

And, yes, he'd caused some interesting problems, too -- not the least this new rift with Mal... His empathy and insight had been quite uncomfortable for her at times: she was too used to her veils and masks.

His generosity was still overwhelming, and Inara fervently hoped that Thorne was truly as genuinely kind as her instincts said he was. The prospect of her cure was tantalising, but the thought of losing her hard-won autonomy for it... disquieting.

Wherever he was, she wished him well. Even if she never saw the man again, she knew she'd remember. And that was all there was to it. There was no sense in feeling sad or abandoned.

When she looks up, River is there, with the tea-tray. The girl sets the tray down on the table in front of her, pours a cup and offers it to the companion with a saddened smile.

"Xie-xie, mei-mei," Inara murmurs, sipping the jasmine tea. It's warm, soothing, and quite strong. It hits the spot nicely, and helps Inara pull back into herself. Her dark eyes still have a quiet melancholy in them, but she's bouncing back. Companions are not emotionally self-indulgent or masochistic. She wasn't in love with him. She'll get over this.

"Rowan, baobei, is there anything I can assist with?" She rises, sipping her tea, ready to be useful. To push Rosie's exit and the tension with Mal out of her mind.

EOM

MANIACNUMBERONE

Friday, November 12, 2004 7:55 AM (P)

Book's Move
His Room

"Demons indeed." Preparing his stomach, Book swallows down some of the firewater and then proceeds to cough for twenty or thirty seconds. When he composes himself, he remains looking down at his glass. "Thorne had them too. He attacked me you know, while we were near Serenity Valley." Book glances up to see the effect of his words. "I don't think he knew what he was doing... but he was unstable, especially there. Earlier... tonight, he wanted to know about Simon. He asked me straight out and I wouldn't tell him. He knew why... and now he's gone."

Breathing deeply twice, Book closes his eyes and downs the remainder of his glass. He waits for the steam to shoot from his ears, and after what seems like a few moments pass, he opens his eyes to find himself staring at his ceiling. "Curious."

EM

CAPNRAHN

Saturday, November 13, 2004 6:24 AM (P)

LOCATION - BOOKs DORM
As ...

BOOK
"Demons indeed."

Book shoots back nearly half the glassful in one gulp. An eternity passes before Books lungs spasm at the reflexive clench that follows a good shot of hi-proof. Book's coughing is mild, but seems to last a bit of time.

Mal decides it has been quite a while since the Shepherd had a snootful. While Book composes himself, Mal slugs down another double. In shifting his weight Mal notices he is starting to get that tingly numbness in his legs. A numbness he knew that signified the alcohol was starting to give him his 'sea legs'. He had better slow down, the hip flask was already half depleted.

Book has settled after his fit of coughing. His eyes, remain glued to his now half-full glass.

BOOK
...sadly, with a hint of charitable wistfulness...
"Thorne had them too. He attacked me you know, while we were near Serenity Valley."

Mal tries to keep his face neutral while considering this shock. Thorny jumped Book?!... he is not entirely successful at playing out a poker-face, as if finding out a dandy like Thorne had a human side had taken Mal totally off guard. Not quite true, but the revelation did still unsettle Mal. Damned coot had more layers than a moldering onion.

BOOK
...after a short pause...
"I don't think he knew what he was doing ... but he was unstable, especially there. Earlier ... tonight, he wanted to know about Simon. He asked me straight out and I wouldn't tell him. He knew why ... and now he's gone."

Mal ponders this new bit of information, scattershot thoughts fire across his mind ... could Thorne have had some intricate and insidious plot to secure the Tams for the bounty? ... No, it couldn't be, ole 'Rosie' left River - the most valuable of the two ... Or was Simon really the least valuable ... things did go REAL screwy when that poofta stepped on board ... could be the Academy NOW wanted the genius Doc brother ...

Inhaling twice as if to prepare himself, Book slams back the remainder of the hootch in his glass. His eyes remained closed for so long, Mal begins to worry that the old boy had shuffled off due to alcohol shock.

During that brief quiet, Mal continued to let thoughts roam. ... Nup, one thing at a time ... gots lots to deal with in the here-n-now ... might make things a tad smoother with Thorne gone ... riiiiight ... as Mal laughs silent at himself, Book shifts.

BOOK
...opens his eyes to stare at his ceiling...
"Curious."

Mal
... irony heavy in his voice...
"Yep, first Early and Niska hijack and board us; While we is on hire by an uppity old geezer of a client who can't show any respect to those he needs to rely on; We get a buncha hitchhikers we dint need - A pool playing sharp that asks bunches of questions; an ex-something-er-other that is a nearly a complete spaz-ist, a tetchy twisty superhuman reader - this time with blood-eyes. "And the last: a short ex-solider, purty much OK - cept she has the personality of a nav-computer. Inar .. er the crews actin' all weird and out of true.
... he pauses for a second closing his eyes. Suddenly snapping them up he says...
"Oh yeah, I fergot - Niska escapes us and our Doc flips out nutters and starts a space chase after those who done them un-need cuttin's on his sis."
... his disgust is very evident when he hits the words 'un-needed cuttin's". Mal then sighs loudly in a near bellow while offering the flask to Book...
"Yep, real curious. Makes River look REAL normal-like."

EOM®

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

MANIACNUMBERONE

Monday, November 15, 2004 6:03 PM (P)

Book's Move
Location: Book's Room

Trying to focus his eyes on Mal, who's holding out a flask, Book feels his stomach rumbling and decides it would probably have been a better idea to wait for the cabinet hooch, which he's dealt with before, rather than what he's decided is most likely the devil's own brand of mouthwash. "River seems to be gaining more control of herself every day... certain people seem to bring out things in her, help her to hold on to reality." Book gives Mal a look, and Mal responds by pouring Book another small shot, and quickly pouring and downing another large belt.

"Simon's motives are inexplicable to me. I used to think he was going off to find a scientist... a woman with special knowledge to help River, but now... he's changed. I don't know what to expect from him." Books waits and thinks for a moment as Mal pours himself yet another drink. "I do know that if and when he meets us at the rendezvous point, we will need to be very wary."

Trying to ignore his drink, Book continues to speak. "As for the passengers and the crew acting odd, I think this upcoming holiday on New Hokkaido is exactly what's needed."

EM

CHANNAIN

Monday, November 15, 2004 7:09 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

Jayne stares blankly back at Rowan, neither acknowledging nor denying her request, and moves to the refrigerator. With a quick move, he takes out a can with Blue Sun clearly emblazoned on the brushed silver and cracks it open one-handed while closing the refrigerator door with the other. He moves out to the dining area again and lifts one hip up on the table. Taking a swig of the Blue Sun brew, he winces after swallowing, all the while keeping his eyes on her.

Suddenly feeling like a bug under a microscope, Rowan scowls at him. Apparently he means it. Whatever interaction they may have had is done, but she knows fully well he's not going to let her out of his sight for long. It's looking more and more like he's the one who tossed her quarters earlier, although the list of suspects was slim to begin with. He seems to be harboring some pretty odd notions about her reasons for being on board, and it looks like he'll continue to, since he obviously didn't believe a word she just said.

INARA: "Rowan, baobei, is there anything I can assist with?"

Hearing the tea cup being set delicately back into its matching saucer, Rowan turns to the companion.

ROWAN: "If you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, we'll need help putting the bao together once the glazing's done.

Returning her attention to Merz, Rowan sees the heat rising from the wok and gets her mind focused back on the bao.

ROWAN: "Okay, here goes."

Taking Merz's hands again, she finds them a bit more tense than before and feels a tiny flash of alarm. Glancing around the galley curiously, the only thing that seems to be out there is Jayne who wouldn't pose even a moment's threat. Wondering about it, Rowan moves on ahead and together she and Merz pour the sauce over the protein on one side while stirring and turning the protein on the other. The aroma is overwhelming, harkening Rowan back to the kitchen at her parents' house and the time Ru led the great pineapple cake raid when they were little. That was the last time the three of them went on one of Ru's "missions" together, and Rowan can't remember when those cakes had ever tasted sweeter.

Sniffing the air, Rowan realizes the protein is as done as it's going to get. Releasing Merz's hands, she takes the wok of the stove herself and turns down the flame. Stepping away from the smaller woman, she brings the pan over to the counter where the "bun" squares have cooled.

ROWAN: "All right ladies. Inara, if you'll fill these, then Merz, you watch her and copy what she does - same pressure level used for blending. I'll see if there's something here that will work as a steamer."

Turning around again, she finds a double boiler hanging overhead and reaches up to take the pans down. Looking across the room, she catches Jayne's stare again just as he finishes another long drink from the can. How in the 'verse can he drink that swill and still be worried about being poisoned by her?

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

MERCEDESTROY

Monday, November 15, 2004 11:19 PM (P)

KAYLEEs move

LOCATION – OUTSIDE MERZ DORM

KAYLEE stands there for a while, making sure her little device is going to work, watching ZOË contemplate the closed door. She is not even sure how long she just waited there with her mind almost disconnected. But having things that need to be done, once she is aware again and sure she is no longer needed Kaylee heads back off down to the Cargo Bay, to retrieve the cask and the box and move them off to the dining area for tonight’s shindig.

Walking back up the catwalk, balancing everything carefully, she can smell more cooking coming from the Galley area and it is just – marvelous. She vows to snatch a couple mouthfuls of whatever that is, and take it back down to the cargo area later when it is ready – she still has work to do tonight and really don’t want to party. But that smells too good to give up.

When she reaches the galley there is quite a bustle of activity. Rowan and Merz are in the kitchen, doin’ whatever smells sa good, with River watching from one side. Jayne is perched on the edge of the table with a beer, also watchin’ the proceedings. Inara is just settin’ her cup back in its saucer, and it looks like she’s gonna help too.

Well that’s just about as many people as that little kitchen can hold unless they’s really, REALLY good friends, so there’s no need for her to put her two cents in. Let them cook this time, and she will probably do a share tomorrow when the other folk’s are busy.

Sneaking in behind Jayne she sets her burden down on the table. The spigot is somewhere in the kitchen, reckon either she or Book can find and pound it in later. For right now, she just leaves it there in plain sight. Taking a pencil out of her pocket she marks on the box – Everybody gets ½ of one. Please set one aside for me and Simon for later. K

Done, she turns to go back to the Cargo bay and the rest of her chores.

END LOCATION - GALLEY

EOM

Sometimes chocolate is the only comfort ...

MANIACNUMBERONE

Wednesday, November 17, 2004 6:04 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Location: Slight's ship

Malachi squints his eyes tighter, taking in every measure of this man/monster. "First things first. Who are you?" He says gruffly, his words echoing with a tinny sound off the metallic inner plating, like nails being shaken in a metal drum.

Malachi reaches into a breast pocket, his intentions obvious, and pulls out a slim off-white card with a magnetic stripe on one side and some indented symbols on the other. He holds it up and looks Slight in the eyes, or what he thinks are eyes. "...and why did you have this?"

EM

MERCEDESTROY

Thursday, November 18, 2004 12:55 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION – GALLEY

ROWAN releases her hands and steps back, ready to go on to the next step. MERZ breathes deeply once, and settles her muscles back into a more normal state, and stands ready for the next step. She moves aside, out of everyone's way and faces the Dining room once again, her back to the counter.

With one eye on ROWAN so she does not miss a step and one on INARA to see when she is ready, Merz holds for proper instructions; the rest of her attention divided among the other three persons inhabiting the room. Normal procedure – to be aware of potential enemies at all times.

She almost stops the danger scan. But does not, she is not ready to concede that there is NO danger here.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Friday, November 19, 2004 2:03 AM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

Then suddenly it's the hair on the back of her neck that draws her attention back. Glancing around behind, she sees only Merz standing there, but with a very uniquely studious expression. Almost like a hunter, watching several different things at once. Rowan can remember seeing Li doing that and wondered what went through a body guard's mind.

Hearing footsteps from the direction of the entry way, she turns back in time to see Kaylee come in carrying a box that looks like one of the ones from the cargo bay. With the same look of perpetual cheerfulness, the girl takes in all the activity in the room and rightly surmises that something must be up with Jayne. Or at least the way she creeps up behind him to drop off her package certainly indicates that. Otherwise she would have given him a cheerful greeting and engaged in the usual playful banter. Her just being in the room makes the place feel lighter somehow.

As Kaylee turns to leave, Rowan's gaze turns back up toward the hallway leading to the bridge. No sign of the captain yet, or Zoe, or Damon either for that matter. Damon's time out would likely last the night, but there's a good chance he could have hurt himself during the tussle with Merz. Rowan makes a note to have a word with whoever she has to in order to get in and check his stitches.

Generally, life on board a cargo ship doesn't get quite this... hectic.

As the steamer warms up, Rowan reflects back on that song and absent-mindly begins to hum.

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circle that you find
In the windmills of your mind

Pictures hanging in a hallway
And the fragment of this song
Half remembered names and faces
But to whom do they belong
When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the color of her hair

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

MERCEDESTROY

Friday, November 19, 2004 2:28 AM (P)

MERZ move (supplemental)

Attention on other things, and blissfully unaware, Merz hums along.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

SQUEE

Friday, November 19, 2004 3:09 AM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Brief recap:
Leaning against the bed, arms folded on his raised knees, he tries to swallow the lump in his throat.

“Ai, I wish you were here, Xiang… I need you…

I need help…”

He hangs his head, letting his thoughts wander…

Quote:

Damon’s body hits the floor as soon as the guards release it. He winces slightly as the impact sends a jolt of pain through his wounds and broken bones but otherwise doesn’t move. He hears the guards say something but doesn’t bother give meaning to their words. He doesn’t care. Lying there motionless, his breaths come slow, shallow, reluctant. Fresh blood trickles down onto his lower back from the handcuffs cutting into his wrists but he doesn’t feel any of it any more, numb to everything but the unending pain, the agony of existing. He breathes only because he doesn’t know how not to.

He hears a familiar voice approach and respond to the guards, and opens his good eye to stare blankly at the floor before him. The guards close the door, leaving the two fo them alone, and Damon listens to the silence pass for a few years before he musters up his failing energy and will to speak.

“I can’t do this anymore…”

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

CAPNRAHN

Friday, November 19, 2004 4:50 AM (P)

LOCATION - BOOKs DORM
8:47 PM / 2047hrs
As ...

Book has a tight lipped near grimace on his face. Mal, now feeling a tad warm doesn't even try to guess what the shepherd had on his mind.

BOOK
"River seems to be gaining more control of herself every day... certain people seem to bring out things in her, help her to hold on to reality."

Books look is one of questioning, however Mal has no answers - only deeper questions. Mal inadvertently shakes his head once and refills Book's glass. He remains silent, keeping his eyes on the tumbler he hands back to Book.

BOOK
"Simon's motives are inexplicable to me. I used to think he was going off to find a scientist... a woman with special knowledge to help River, but now... he's changed. I don't know what to expect from him."

Mal dumps the last of his flasks contents into his glass. Book's mention of Simon's motives nearly dried up all the liquid happiness he had already imbibed.
... ha! Dunno what ta expect from a body carrying a purple-belly comm ... but here I am ...
Tossing the last draught of nova-fire down he studies Book through a squint. After it is apparent that Mal isn't going to pick up the thread, Book continues.

BOOK
"I do know that if and when he meets us at the rendezvous point, we will need to be very wary."

MAL
...patting his holster and a mite bleary...
"You know me Shepherd, I am a very cautious man - when't's re'qui'r'd. One step at a time..."

Book nods, as Mal's comment seems to slip him by for the moment.

BOOK
... while NOT looking at the tumbler he rotates in the palm of his left hand...
"As for the passengers and the crew acting odd, I think this upcoming holiday on New Hokkaido is exactly what's needed."

MAL
... smacking the small table hard enough to make it jump a few centimeters up from the floor, the sports bottle twirls merrily until it seems that it will tip over, but with a tiny 'thunk' it settles back on its bottom...
"Gorram key-rect Shepherd! We'z gots to get this bleedin' box of shooters to the next victim in this gunrunnin' version of a bucket brigade. The sooner the better."

Mal stands - too rapidly for his semi-inebriated state. He wobbles on one boot-heel for a second then steadies himself with one hand up on a bulkhead brace. He takes three attempts to slip the now empty flask into his rear pocket.

"Gotta let loose some pressure or another fracas like ole Demon ... uh mean ... Damon ... did ... an sumbody, most likely the boy, is gonna have ta be shoved inta a bodybag."
...Mal suddenly looks very haggard and drawn...and in a near whisper...
"An' 'm tir'd of alwaz havin' ta do up the zip"

EOM®

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

SAINT JAYNE

Friday, November 19, 2004 4:50 AM (P)

JAYNE's move - GALLEY

With a mule-like streak of stubbornness, Jayne keeps his eyes peeled on Rowan as she shows Merz how to make bao. He's finally located the coffee and has a pot of water set to boil, but now he decides he needs to look more nonchalant. He's entirely too... chalant. What did that mean anyhow? Didn't Rowan use some of those in the bao?

Jayne snatches a can from the cupboard, just holding it to make him look more at ease. When Kaylee comes in, he wants to turn and greet her. It's been a while since he'd joked around with her, and now with Simon gone, she looked like she could use cheering up for a change. But... he can't. He has a job to do. Secure the ship. And if that meant sleeping outside of Rowan's room, well...

INARAESQUE

Friday, November 19, 2004 5:25 AM (P)

Inara's move

LOCATION - GALLEY

If one did not know their history, the levels of tension, emotion and constant change aboard this little ship, the name of 'Serenity' would seem hugely ironic and something of a misnomer. But there had been a battle once that had tainted the word, left Mal bruised. Ghost of that battle always hung over the ship a little, an unwelcome shadow. So, instead of 'Serenity' meaning peace, they lived in a 'verse in which Serenity meant struggle, conflict against oppression, a continual fight for freedom, autonomy and a place in the verse to call home. Conflict bred conflict, so the wisdom went, so it was no wonder that tempers and tensions ran high within the firefly.

Knowing that intellectually, however, rarely helped with the emotions of dealing with the reality. It had been a large part of why Inara had once held herself apart from the crew, kept to herself. Tianna, that felt like lifetimes ago... She'd fallen in love with the ship upon first sight, and her rag-tag crew had slowly crept into Inara's heart, too, like family. And some... even closer. Mal had slipped under her radar; he'd been so easy to dismiss at first, with his cruel wit and coarse manners. He had had his moments of kindness, intellect, even nobility, but then no one was irredeemable. By the time Inara had realised what sort of a person Mal really was...

She really needs to get her mind off the men in her life. Really.

"Rowan, baobei, is there anything I can assist with?"

Rowan turns to the companion, "If you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, we'll need help putting the bao together once the glazing's done."

Although the teasing edge in Rowan's voice is plain, it is still an effort for Inara not to flinch. She's too emotional right now. Her reply is equally droll, "I think I can survive it, though my manicure might not."

Inara crosses to the kitchenette and washes her hands carefully, removing her slave bracelet and pocketing it.

"All right ladies. Inara, if you'll fill these, then Merz, you watch her and copy what she does - same pressure level used for blending. I'll see if there's something here that will work as a steamer."

Acknowledging the instructions, Inara begins putting the bao together, standing at a slight angle to allow Merz to observe her actions. "There should be something around. Shepherd Book made us some delicious steamed tomatoes when he first came on board." Again, lifetimes ago. Why is she suddenly nostalgic? Her hands move automatically, her mind wandering in spite of herself; she hopes Merz is getting the general idea, at least.

Inara only notices Kaylee just as the girl is about to leave the room. She seems as small and alone as Inara herself is feeling, and Kaylee actually has a reason for it, with Simon being gone. "Kaylee, mei-mei," Inara calls out, more an acknowledgement than anything else, a way to get the girl to turn around so Inara can try to ascertain how she's really feeling. "I found some ribbons earlier," she offers -- a lie, but nonetheless -- "And I thought they might look pretty braided in your hair. Perhaps when things have quietened down...?"

She realises her error upon receiving curious looks. "Mr. Thorne has left the ship," is all the explanation she offers.

CHANNAIN

Friday, November 19, 2004 5:43 AM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

It enters his mind unbidden. Something she used to sing to herself while she was working on the Revolution. An ancient tune with no historical significance. She said she liked it for its obtuse symmetry. Odd that it should emerge from his memory now.

Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning,
On an ever spinning wheel
As the images unwind
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

XIANG (softly in Chinese): "And when the windmill stops...what then?"

As quickly as it had arrived, he forces the memory back into that part of his mind where he keeps her locked away. Safe.

He cannot think of her. Not now, not ever.

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

CHANNAIN

Friday, November 19, 2004 5:36 PM (P)

Xiang's Move - Supplemental:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

"I can't do this anymore."

A memory more recent, the barest whisper, emerges as if in response to his self-denial.

Quote:
FLASHBACK
The boy is bleeding again, as always when he is returned to the washing room. How long, he wonders, will the master… no, Trihn. The devil's name is Trihn. How long will Trihn continue to torture the boy before he finally rends his plaything useless?

In the weeks since he was first brought to the room, Damon has been able to gather himself to his feet and make his way to the chair under his own power. It is supposed to be the task of his caretaker, to take him in hand, clean him up and tend to his wounds. Damon resisted as well as he could before giving in, but only the first time. He only had to have it explained to him once that if he returned to the mines without being tended to that his wounds could fester and bring his untimely death. As that would ultimately be caused by Trihn's hand, Damon saw it as a matter of continued defiance to comply. He's strong, stubborn, and there is no doubt that he will persevere until the rescue arrives.

Until today. Seeing him there, lying so uncharacteristically still except for his breathing, Xiang can almost see the cracks forming in the bedrock of his defiance. Ten weeks had seemed like nothing at first, after so many years as a slave. Alarmed, Xiang kneels down next to him, mindless of the blood staining his white trousers. He always has to change after tending to Damon.

"You must." Xiang tells him. Taking a chance, he rests a hand gently on the back of Damon's head, sending a violent shudder through the boy's body. The thick hair is still soft from the morning's washing. "Shortly after you went in, I received confirmation. Our rescue is secured."

He has to hold himself back from the exhilaration of it. To obtain release from under Trihn's nose would be a great victory indeed.

Breathing a sigh, Xiang takes his hand back. "I will tell him that you need more time to heal. He has damaged you too well this time. He may be able to call for you only once more before we leave this place. I promise you, it is not much longer."

END FLASHBACK

XIANG (softly in Chinese): "It is not much longer."

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

SQUEE

Friday, November 19, 2004 8:44 PM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Quote:
"You must."

Damon feels his body go ridged in response to the hand on his head. He has to remind himself that it’s only Xiang. Still, Damon wishes he wouldn’t- he’s had all he can take for one day.

"Shortly after you went in, I received confirmation. Our rescue is secured."

Rescue? Yes, rescue… secured, but not guaranteed.

"I will tell him that you need more time to heal. He has damaged you too well this time. He may be able to call for you only once more before we leave this place. I promise you, it is not much longer."

Once more? How many times has he promised himself that? ‘Just once more and tomorrow I’ll end it.’ He’s put up with Crofton’s go se for too many years now, and the last couple months have only gotten worse, as if the hwoon dahn had nothing better to do with his time. Week in and week out Damon’s tried escape after escape, convinced he could always do better the next time. And every time it ended in the same way. Tomorrow? There is no tomorrow. There’s only an eternity of today. There won’t be any escape this eternity.

Still, Xiang’s promise is comforting. Maybe rescue will be different from escape… Damon sighs knowing continued hope will only mean more pain, starting with having to move. He tries to get a leg to push him onto his side but it doesn’t move far before sending a wave of pain though his body, blurring his vision. He stops with a groan, trying to catch his breath.
“How much longer?”

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

CHANNAIN

Friday, November 19, 2004 9:38 PM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

“How much longer?”

There was a time when he thought there was decency in the human race. A time when he believed that change would happen to make the 'verse a better place. During that brief time with Damon, he remembered that sense of hope, tenuous as it was.

Quote:
FLASHBACK
Despair. That is what Damon has become. He has no hope, no memory of what it was to live without pain. Trihn seems determined to put any spark of that kind of pleasantness out of the boy's mind. It was Damon's defiance more than his physical appearance that attracted Trihn's attention, of that Xiang is certain. Recalling what the fire of defiance felt like, Xiang has come to the conclusion that Trihn has a special affinity for it. Or more to the point, for breaking it.

When Damon moves, Xiang nearly reaches to help him. He'll have to this time, but there is no hurry. The floor is spotless - he's seen to that - and the sheet Damon is laying on is sterile. He won't be in danger of infection yet.

"Two weeks," Xiang says in a whisper. "Possibly three, but no more. I am guaranteed of it.

And yet, even to him, it seems an eternity.

END FLASHBACK

Xiang takes another long drag and holds onto the smoke before letting it go. The greenish-gray cloud obscures the star field before him at first, slowly dissipating. Words from an ancient Chinese poem accompany his persistent sense of impending doom.

XIANG (in Chinese): "Those who speak know nothing. Those who know are silent."

EOM

OOC: The poem is a bit from "Lao-tzü" by Po Chü-i (772-846)

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

CHANNAIN

Friday, November 19, 2004 10:07 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

Inara: "There should be something around."

The companion's voice pulls Rowan back. She had been thinking about the good old days, when she spent hours staring at source box screens, plotting the end of the Alliance. Good times. And for once she's able to do it without mind-bending pain. Maybe things are improving. Then again, she wasn't thinking of anyone in particular either. That could be the key. Used to be she didn't think of HIM because it caused too much heartache so she got in the habit, almost to the point where she nearly forgot him.

Hearing Merz hum in key with her, Rowan turns to give her a smile and a quick wink. Resting her hand on Inara's shoulder, she shares a look with her as well as she pulls a plate of completed bao from the counter.

INARA: "Mr. Thorne has left the ship."

At first Rowan isn't sure she heard right. She stops to stare at Inara, waiting for the punch line. It has to be a joke. There hadn't been any alarms to signal one of the shuttles leaving without clearance, and there isn't any other way to get off the ship. Is there?

ROWAN: "Left the ship? How do mean - left? As in…Left? Did we get planet-side and nobody said anything?

Then she turns to Jayne and lifts an eyebrow.

ROWAN: "Or did you figure he was plotting against the ship and crew too and just toss him out into the black?"

Rowan puts the plate down and gently places the expertly prepared bao into the steamer. Covering the dozen or so, she folds her arms and meets Jayne's eyes again.

EOM

OOC: Somebody else needs to post for awhile... I'm starting to feel like I'm abusing the privilege.

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

MANIACNUMBERONE

Friday, November 19, 2004 10:08 PM (P)

Book's Move
Location: His room

-----
MAL - "Gotta let loose some pressure or another fracas like ole Demon ... uh mean ... Damon ... did ... an sumbody, most likely the boy, is gonna have ta be shoved inta a bodybag."
...Mal suddenly looks very haggard and drawn...and in a near whisper...
"An' 'm tir'd of alwaz havin' ta do up the zip"
-----

A concern for every human being. The love for his fellow man. Doing good in the world. These were the things that his life was based upon now, and had been for a long time. "There'll be no zipping up of body bags on my watch, Captain."

Book sets down his glass, with the contents still undrunk and goes quickly to Mal's side, supporting him with an arm and trying to lead him back into his chair. "There's much you and I have to discuss, but may I have your permission to go speak with Damon when we're done? I assume you've put him somewhere... safe."

EM

SQUEE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 12:30 AM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Quote:
"Two weeks," Xiang says in a whisper. "Possibly three, but no more. I am guaranteed of it.”

Two to three weeks… definitely longer than he had been hoping for. He lies still for a long while, thinking, debating. He tries telling himself that he can survive one more day, but he knows it’ll take longer than that. He tries telling himself he just needs to keep going but his desire to end it all has grown passed the point of being able to ignore it. On the other hand… freedom could be just a couple weeks away.

Three weeks. He said three weeks guaranteed. In three weeks, I’ll either be free or I’ll end it. Finished.

Decision made, he tries again. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he gets his legs under him and manages to get up to his knees. Staying up is almost harder than getting up was and he looks ready to fall over again, but he doesn’t. He looks up at Xiang, a spark of light returning to his dark eyes from God knows where.

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

SAINT JAYNE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 2:03 AM (P)

Jayne's Move

"Mr. Thorne has left the ship."

That didn't make a whole heluva lot of sense. "She me¹?" he grunts behind Inara.

"Left the ship? How do mean - left? As in...Left?"

"You mean he's havin' an outta body?" Jayne holds one hand to his temple and flits it away - crazy.

"Did we get planet-side and nobody said anything?"

"Don't care fer havin' his likes around, pokin' into my thoughts."

Then she turns to Jayne and lifts an eyebrow. "Or did you figure he was plotting against the ship and crew too and just toss him out into the black?"

As much as Jayne tried to think in those directions, Rosie always came up smelling like Geraniums. Jayne scoffs. Rowan is directing the conversation his way now. Could be she's trying to distract him.

Rowan puts the plate down and gently places the expertly prepared bao into the steamer. Covering the dozen or so, She folds her arms and meets Jayne's eyes again.

"I try not to kill the passengers", Jayne says slowly as he and Rowan stare each other down. "Ain't that right, 'Nara?"

¹ Huh?

CHANNAIN

Saturday, November 20, 2004 5:13 AM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

JAYNE: "I try not to kill the passengers", Jayne says slowly as he and Rowan stare each other down. "Ain't that right, 'Nara?"

Rowan scoffs back at him, finding the statement entirely too erroneous for words.

ROWAN: "Wouldn't be the first time I've seen it done. I've seen hired men toss passengers into the black just for their shoes. Granted, there was about three million in diamonds in the heels of those shoes, but that doesn't make it any less the case."

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

SAINT JAYNE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 6:43 AM (P)

Jayne's Move

"I've seen hired men toss passengers into the black just for their shoes. Granted, there was about three million in diamonds in the heels of those shoes, but that doesn't make it any less the case."

Jayne is appauled by what Rowan says. Diamond is just too easy to fake - not worth the risk killing a man over. Gold, on the other hand...

"I worked with fellers what'd shoot ya fer fun. Don't mean I dumped no one."

Some people would mind being accused of murder. Jayne didn't really have that problem. On the one hand it wasn't far from the truth, and on the other hand it let everyone see how dangerous he could be. He liked that.

MERCEDESTROY

Saturday, November 20, 2004 7:06 AM (P)

KAYLEEs move

LOCATION - DINING ROOM

INARA
"Kaylee, mei-mei, "I found some ribbons earlier." And I thought they might look pretty braided in your hair. Perhaps when things have quietened down...?"

pause

KAYLEE turns back, towards Inara.

INARA
"Mr. Thorne has left the ship."

That gets KAYLEE’s attention. How on earth-that-was could he leave right here and now, in the middle of nowhere? But that is hardly as important as the look on 'Nara’s face. KAYLEE moves towards her, with a gentle smile.

KAYLEE
“Aw, ‘Nara, I’m sorry. Did he say why? Oh, never mind that, are you OK?”

She crosses the room towards INARA, watching. Does she need a hug or a laugh.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

MERCEDESTROY

Saturday, November 20, 2004 7:20 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - GALLEY As ...

MERZ watches INARA preparing the bao. Watched ROWAN make contact with INARA, touch and smile, as she takes up the plate of completed bao that INARA has just filled.

With the method witnessed firmly in her mind, and the power level ROWAN gave, Merz starts on a second plate. Still watching the room with the portion of her attention not devoted to her cooking; which takes up a surprising amount of her attention to get right.

So she is a witness to the conversation between ROWAN and JAYNE – unsettling as it is. That Thorne is gone strikes her as peculiar behavior even for a civilian. That ROWAN suspects JAYNE of foul play is … well, he does not show any evidence of that to her, but civilians are strange. MERZ knows she can be fooled on some things.

She witnesses the conversation between INARA and KAYLEE, and does not understand. But there really is no danger here; unlike JAYNE, neither Kaylee or Inara seem particularly dangerous.

Merz continues to make bao, to record the words, and to ponder meanings. Still huming softly – that song is… stuck in her mind.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Saturday, November 20, 2004 2:56 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

JAYNE: "I worked with fellers what'd shoot ya fer fun. Don't mean I dumped no one."

Rowan tips her head to one side, thinking back on the succession of ships and planets she's been on since she buried Li in an unmarked grave on Pacquin. How many times has she seen men dropped in the street after a round of gun fire, or a knife in the gut, just for the bag of platinum in their coat pocket? Not as much as one might think, but more than her fair share, certainly. Life is tough out in the black. Get careless and it could be her face-planted in the dirt, her money lifted, her memory forgotten.

Jayne is the type who would kill because he felt like it, but he would probably have to have a better reason than most. Coin would be a motivator, yes, but not just enough to make it to the next port. Rowan has already tagged him as a mercenary with a heart hidden in the back closet somewhere. The part she can't determine is why in the 'verse he would appoint himself as her own personal watch-dog?

FLASHBACK

He was deliberately standing right in her way. A giant mountain of a man, glowering at her the way the warriors in the old Chinese watercolors did. Since he was at least twice as wide as Xiang, there was no way she could step past him, so she just stood there, head tipped back, eyes focused.

"Baobei?"

"Shide?" She turned to see Xiang go on with what he was reading, oblivious to the giant man in his office doorway.

"He won't move."

"It is an all-points alert," Xiang said matter-of-factly. "When it is cleared, he will move."

Rowan turned back to face her husband's new bodyguard and bounced on the balls of her feet. "Could he maybe not move outside the ladies room instead?"

Li gave her the tiniest of smiles.

END FLASHBACK

Rowan closes her eyes, wincing against the pain. She'd grown to love that giant bear of a man and even appreciate his stubbornness. In time she came to see his devotion to Xiang which transferred to her simply because she was Xiang's wife. Once or twice she thought she saw more in Li's eyes than simple respect, but he never spoke of it.

Breathing a sigh as the spasm passes, Rowan decides to add dreaming up conspiracy theories to the list of things to stop thinking about. Lifting the lid on the steamer, she picked up a pair of stainless steel serving tongs and turned the bao.

ROWAN: "Three more minutes, tops. Then I'll need a taste-tester." She meets Jayne's eyes again. "Wouldn't want the captain getting a mouthful of bad bao, now would we da jia huo?

EOM

da jia huo = big guy

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

SAINT JAYNE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 4:46 PM (P)

Jayne's Move

"Three more minutes, tops. Then I'll need a taste-tester." She meets Jayne's eyes again. "Wouldn't want the captain getting a mouthful of bad bao, now would we da jia huo?"

How obvious could she be! And then she could just explain it away as bad chalants. "You gotta taste tester, standin' right there in yer boots. Seems like yer the only one'd know if it tastes right er not."

Jayne glances over to River. If she actually wanted to eat it, it must be fine. She could tell if someone put poison into the food. Unless she also knew what Jayne was thinking and lied to make him eat something that would lessen his life expectancy.

CHANNAIN

Saturday, November 20, 2004 8:35 PM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

It was very much like those extremely rare moments when he would see the spark of learning blossom in the eyes of one of his students. That precious moment of realization, when he knew he'd touched a young person's mind. This was vastly different. That was the spark that had caused the first crack in his conditioning, enlightening him to the idea that serving in Crofton Trihn's household was not in fact what he had been made for.

Quote:
FLASHBACK

Not until they were two days from Dis did their rescuer declare them safe. How Robert had managed to hire this particular individual, Xiang couldn't say, but he must have put himself into utter destitution in order to afford the fee. The man known only as Templar had come into the cramped cabin himself to inform him that they were beyond the point of no return.

"If there was going to be pursuit, they'd be on us by now," Templar said, employing a lazy but sophisticated drawl that reminded Xiang of a Cajun-descended student he'd had a few years ago. Was it his true speech pattern, or part of one of his many disguises?

Templar went on to add, "Best you go tend to that boy, let him know it's safe. Maybe he'll settle himself on down and sleep the night."

Swinging down from the upper bunk, Xiang went out to comply. He found Damon in the small common area, in the usual place. The lounge chair was turned so that he could rest his feet on the bulkhead and tilted about as far back as it would go. Damon was staring out into the black, calmer now than he had been less than an hour ago when he woke up with a start, soaked in a cold sweat. He refused to discuss it, but Xiang knew the nightmares he had suffered were not something new.

"Templar says we are in the clear," Xiang said. Waiting a response, he pushed up the sleeves on the sweater, the first he'd worn in who knew how long. His own college days, perhaps?

Damon remained as he was for nearly half a minute before his eyes finally turned to Xiang. It was as if he was afraid to acknowledge that Xiang had spoken, in case he was still trapped in the torture of his dreams.

END FLASHBACK

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

SQUEE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 11:35 PM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Damon opens his eyes, though it makes no difference in the dark room. He feels a smile on his face, remembering Xiang always made him smile. How many times had he saved his life? Or sanity? Countless. Xiang had been good on his promise. Rescue came 17 days after that day. One man. Damon had been expecting an army, though he didn’t know why, one man made more sense. Maybe because over the years he learned just how impossible escaping from Dis is- the kind of impossibility only an army can conquer.

Maybe that was why it took him so long to believe it.

Quote:
Damon lies back on a chair, watching the black through a window in the lounge on… whatever ship he’s on. Time passes so quickly when he sits here, memorized by the beauty of the stars, lost in thoughts that he can’t make heads or tails of.

He constantly feels like he should be doing something, like watching for guards or making escape plans. But he’s passed that now. It took him a few solid meals before his stomach could hold its food. Xiang did his best to get him to pace himself but Damon didn’t think any amount of pacing would have made a difference.

The silence was what bewildered him most. Waking up in his bunk, a room. The dark was natural, the fading nightmare was too, but it was so quiet. No bells ringing, no guards shouting or slaves moving about… just… silence. And then he would stumble around looking for the light only to find he’s not where he expected to be. Even now, sitting in the lounge was weird, surrounded by metal and glass.

He pulls the blanket tighter around his shoulders. It even looked colder than the rock and dirt he was used to. He hasn’t gotten used to the temperature on this ship, though Xiang says it’s normal. He’s tried wearing warmer clothes but even wearing one shirt feels weird. He doesn’t know how Xiang can stand sweaters. Socks were wonderful though, and kept him a lot warmer in this strange place. He could spend hours just studying the room, telling himself that this is where he is. But he spent the most time watching space pass around him. It looked so much different up here.

"Templar says we are in the clear."

Xiang’s words slowly register, but like so many things he’s seen, heard, felt, smelt or ate in the last couple days, he can’t quite wrap his brain around the concept. It’s not a dream- it’s all too unreal to be a dream. He looks up at Xiang and sits up, words failing him.

For a long few minutes, neither of them say anything, just watching each other. Eventually, a smile spreads on Damon’s face. The smile breaks into giddy laughter that he can’t hold back.

“I wish… I wish I could have seen his face… when he found out…”

He falls back into the chair, clutching his side against the pain of his injuries as he continues to laugh.

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

SQUEE

Saturday, November 20, 2004 11:55 PM (P)

River
LOCATION - GALLEY

River looks up at Jayne when she feels his eyes on her.

"You are being utterly ridiculous, you know that?" She arches a brow like a mother looking at her stubborn child. "But if you want to be that way then maybe you don't need any bao. I'm sure everyone else will be able to enjoy it for you."

She returns her attention to steamer, as if she could see the bao through it.

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

SAINT JAYNE

Monday, November 22, 2004 6:07 AM (P)

Jayne's Move

"But if you want to be that way then maybe you don't need any bao. I'm sure everyone else will be able to enjoy it for you."

The corners of Jayne's mouth flicker slightly as he holds in a smile. "Yes, ma'am." It was odd - now that River had forbade him from having any bao, he suddenly wanted some.

A splash and hiss near Jayne quickly pull his attention back to the pot of boiling coffee. He pulls on a thick baby blue oven mit with a white floral pattern and removes the pot from the heater. "Pardon, 'Nara" he apologises after bumping her with an elbow, his eyes always on the bao making activities.

RAVENWHYTEWING

Monday, November 22, 2004 6:06 PM (P)

Slights move:

Slight shrugs. "Good question. You can ask him yourself. Mean time, might I have some frikkin atmo? I can't hold out much longer. And I'm very cold."

Slight begins to make his way to the airlock, waiting for Malachi to follow.
"Any questions you have shall have to be after I contact Serenity. We need to arrange a rendezvous, if you want to kill this Shepard."
Slight makes sure to stress Shepard, to indicate he's aware of more than a godly view.
Slight begins to consider his options. Killing this pompous fool would be the easiest, but Slight can't afford any vendettas from his friends. Threat of force is out as well. Slight is too weak to maintain a level of control over a hardened killer. Until his body is repaired, he can't continue to use his brain. Whatever Niska gave him in that smoke left a few scars. The filter is still in his pocket, so he can run some tests and find out what exactly is in his body. Until he performs a cleansing rite, he has to be careful. What's more, for his body to be prepared, he needs to be fixed up. Abruptly, his mind creates a vision, as his advanced thoughts put the puzzle together.
There's a person in front of him, as he lays on a med table. The faces change through mechanics and doctors he's known. Finally, the face settles on the mechanic from Serenity. She can fix the parts. But she becomes half the person, as the faces change through the doctors. It finally settles onto Simon, and the two faces meld.
Slight nods to himself. Both of them. Both of them can help him become. . .whole, again.

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:27 AM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

Xiang took another long drag, considering the contradictions.

Quote:
FLASHBACK

He had spent his first life working with young people. His goal had been to show them their past so they might have a better reference point for defining their future. Yet for a young man like Damon, whose personal past presented nothing but strife and the absolute worst aspects of the human condition, what relevance would the ancient past hold? His immediate past was the issue, as was Xiang's own.

Getting him to lie still had become something of an exercise in futility. For Damon, inactivity was a privilege, not a simple basic right. As a consequence, the boy really never stopped moving. Even at rest, his nerves were always active, hypersensitive to any and all possible avenues of escape. Freedom as a privilege was also a new concept for him, whether he chose to admit it or not. He had not been born a slave, as Xiang had not, but he had lived as a slave long enough to be well and completely conditioned toward it. Living free was another condition he would have to grow accustomed to.

Xiang hoped it would be soon. Before he accidentally killed the boy out of frustration, trying to get him to stay still.

Xiang watched the boy laugh in sheer hysterics. How long had it been since he had felt so much pure joy?

“I wish… I wish I could have seen his face… when he found out…”

END FLASHBACK

Yes. To see his face. Not Trihn's, but Damon's. To be able to look the boy in the eye and tell him no one else would suffer as he had. To be able to tell him Crofton Trihn had paid the ultimate price for his actions. To see that light of understanding in Damon's eyes and know this time it would stay.

Xiang stamped out the cigarette and turned to prepare for work.

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

SAINT JAYNE

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 3:35 AM (P)

Jayne's Move

Jayne starts sniffing at the air. What is that? He glimpses behind him to see the cask and box that Kaylee had placed on the counter near the pantry. He flips the box top open and has to really pause and think the last time he'd seen one of these - a candy bar. Lots of them! Well, not enough that one or two missing would go unnoticed, but a good amount.

His mouth instantly waters. Jayne still tastes fish in his mouth, and hocks into the sink to remove the conflicting taste; now his mouth better matched his eyes and nose.

The bars are battered a little, and have a strong smell. He picks up the box and holds it up to his face so he can breath it in deeply while still watching Rowan. "Mmm" he grumbles, then mutters "oh, yeah, that's really good."

INARAESQUE

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 11:09 PM (P)

Inara's move

LOCATION - GALLEY

Quote:
"Mr. Thorne has left the ship."

Rowan blinks. "Left the ship? How do mean - left? As in…Left? Did we get planet-side and nobody said anything?" Rowan looks as shocked as Inara feels. She turns to Jayne, lifts an eyebrow. "Or did you figure he was plotting against the ship and crew too and just toss him out into the black?"

"I try not to kill the passengers", Jayne says slowly as he and Rowan stare each other down. "Ain't that right, 'Nara?"

"Right." Jayne's been kind to her lately: helping her when she needed it, keeping her secret. Inara will back him up on that point, at least. "And we do appreciate it."

Rowan scoffs back at him, finding the statement entirely too erroneous for words. "Wouldn't be the first time I've seen it done. I've seen hired men toss passengers into the black just for their shoes. Granted, there was about three million in diamonds in the heels of those shoes, but that doesn't make it any less the case."

"I worked with fellers what'd shoot ya fer fun. Don't mean I dumped no one."

Inara shakes her head a little. "This isn't that sort of disreputable ship, Rowan. Killing tends to be a last resort around here." Usually. "Mal and the crew understand that life isn't cheap."

At the news, Kaylee moves towards Inara with a gentle smile. “Aw, ‘Nara, I’m sorry. Did he say why? Oh, never mind that, are you OK?”

"I don't know why he left, and I don't know how," Inara admits, wrapping an arm around Kaylee and accepting a hug -- which is truly welcome, tzoo-foo nee, mei-mei, she thinks. The Companion keeps her eyes on the building confrontation between Jayne and Rowan, though. "I'm fine," warm smile, "truly I am." Her hands have bao-fixings on them so she manages the hug with arms and body-contact rather than hands.

Rowan tips her head curiously, and then seems to back down, moving to test the bao. For a moment, Inara thinks Rowan has backed down, that the situation has been averted. Apparently the other woman can't resist getting the last word, though.

"Three more minutes, tops. Then I'll need a taste-tester." Rowan meets Jayne's eyes again. "Wouldn't want the captain getting a mouthful of bad bao, now would we da jia huo?"

"You gotta taste tester, standin' right there in yer boots. Seems like yer the only one'd know if it tastes right er not."

River looks up at Jayne: "You are being utterly ridiculous, you know that? But if you want to be that way then maybe you don't need any bao. I'm sure everyone else will be able to enjoy it for you."

"Yes, ma'am."

A splash and hiss near Jayne quickly pull his attention back to the pot of boiling coffee. He pulls on a thick baby blue oven mit with a white floral pattern and removes the pot from the heater. "Pardon, 'Nara" he apologises after bumping her with an elbow, his eyes always on the bao making activities.

Small smile, and she touches his upper arm briefly, acknowledging the apology.

The room tension seems to dissipate after River intervenes -- Inara smiles at the young girl, grateful to her for defusing the situation.

"So, yes, Thorne's gone. Somehow. Something came up, apparently. That's all I know." She gives Kaylee another warm smile and squeeze before letting the younger woman go, turning to wash her hands.

Jayne then decides to relieve himself of some phlegm -- Inara almost flinches, and imagines how Simo

MERCEDESTROY

Thursday, November 25, 2004 1:11 AM (P)

KAYLEEs move

LOCATION - GALLEY

Inara responds warmly to her overtures, accepting and returning a gentle hug.

INARA
"I don't know why he left, and I don't know how. I'm fine, truly I am."

KAYLEE is not sure what to say, thinking about it she decides that for now, maybe the hug will be enough. She stays by Inara’s side for a time, just listing to the talk. Seems things is darn near as tense in here as it was on the bridge… now JAYNE and ROWAN are faced off like turkey cocks ready to battle over the same hen. She sighs. It’s just sad, really. ‘Specially since she don’t really understand what is between those two. Ain’t seen nuthin’ that should cause that kind of heat.

JAYNEs making coffee, tryin’ to watch ROWAN and MERZ at the same time, and manages to bump INARA in passing. He apologizes without ever shifting his gaze. He’s gonna hurt someone if he is not careful. But when Inara speaks again, Kaylee’s attention is diverted once again.

INARA
"So, yes, Thorne's gone. Somehow. Something came up, apparently. That's all I know." She gives Kaylee another gentle squeeze before turning away to approach the sink and wash the evidence of cooking from her hands.

At nearly the same time Jayne takes it into his head to spit into the sink. Watching him once more she sees him take up the box of chocolate bars and bury his nose in it happily. “Mmm, ‘oh yeah, that’s really good.” He’s almost visibly droolin’. Why that Jing tzahng mei yong duh piece of fei-oo merc is scopin’ out her treat.

With a command voice that might have brought a smile to MALs face, KAYLEE takes that situation in hand.

KAYLEE
“JAYNE You drop that. NOW! That is for the party, and you just stay away from it! You get your share with everyone else.”

EOM

Jing tzahng mei yong duh = frequently useless
Fei-oo = junk

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

MERCEDESTROY

Thursday, November 25, 2004 1:27 AM (P)

MERZ move

She lets the conversations and the tensions pass over her while she concentrates on the bao and the song. She does not know if the song is important, cannot see that it has anything to do with the process at all. But if it is a concentration aid, she is all for it.

MERZ finishes up another plate of the bao and moves it over to ROWAN, who is too preoccupied to notice. Uncertain if she should make more, or wait for further instructions she approaches INARA washing her hands at the sink. Leaning in to wash her own, Merz looks at the woman who has been so understanding to her today and decides to ask her one more question. What JAYNE said earlier that had puzzled MERZ it may be that INARA understood and would be willing to explain to her. As INARA dries her hands, MERZ broaches the subject.

MERZ Inara, can you explain something to me? Jayne said something I do not comprehend. I would like to ask you for an explanation. I understood ‘closed doors’ easily enough. But when he said (as she shifts once more into another voice ) ’Cap'n got lucky with you?’ … I do not know what that means. I cannot answer his question. Can you assist me”?

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Thursday, November 25, 2004 2:26 AM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

INARA: "This isn't that sort of disreputable ship, Rowan. Killing tends to be a last resort around here. Mal and the crew understand that life isn't cheap."

Well, there's a first time for everything isn't there? A captain who might actually care about his crew isn't necessarily so rare. Some ships drifting around the black were generational--owned and operated by the same family, sometimes since the Great Migration from Earth That Was. But a companion defending the hired thug? Now that was something worth noting.

JAYNE: "You gotta taste tester, standin' right there in yer boots. Seems like yer the only one'd know if it tastes right er not."

River nearly bites his handsome off with her little tirade, snipping at Jayne like a Chinese harpy. Surprisingly enough, Jayne even seems to listen, offering a respectful, "Yes ma'am" as if it had been his grandmother giving him what for. Watching him watch her watch him put on that girlish oven mitt, and apologize politely to Inara, Rowan can't help thinking Jayne might be the only person on the boat who doesn't have a hidden agenda. At the very least he certainly isn't very good at hiding it. There's a certain large amount of allure to that manner of sheer earnestness. Somehow he manages to keep an eye on what the women are doing and not burn himself with the coffee at the same time. She was right the first time then--he does have good hands.

Rowan gives a shrug, not too upset about his refusal, nor all that surprised.

ROWAN: "Means all the more for the rest of us then.

Using the tongs, she removes cooked bao from the steamer and arranges them on a platter. Once the first dozen is out, she sets them aside to cool and is about to turn back for another plate when she discovers one sitting right next to the steamer. The little buns are perfectly formed and arranged. She can't even tell one woman's handiwork from the other. Grinning, she looks over her shoulder.

ROWAN: "Nice work ladies. This might be the best batch I've ever made."

Then Jayne spots the box Kaylee left behind and opens it. Whatever manner of treasure she left behind must be something to cause him to all but bury his head in the cardboard. The tone of his voice as he lifts the box and take a deep breath is more akin to a man watching a beautiful woman perform a striptease. The fact that his eyes are on her at the time might be purely incidental. It doesn't take long for the aroma to make it over to her, Rowan feels her muscles go completely lucid in utter pleasure.

ROWAN: "Tianna - is that what I think it is?"

Moving over to him, she stands up on tip-toe and leans over the box herself. Taking a long, deep breath of her own, her exhale comes out with the moan of a woman who has been truly satisfied.

KAYLEE: “JAYNE You drop that. NOW! That is for the party, and you just stay away from it! You get your share with everyone else.”

Rowan opens her eyes to stare at the girl, startled by the uncharacteristic sharpness of her tone. She doesn't seem at all the type - could be she's channeling River's most current mood, could be there's something else amiss. Turning back toward the box, Rowan and spots the note.

ROWAN: "Everybody gets half, do they?"

Turning to Kaylee, she raises an eyebrow at the girl. Getting only a stoic look in return, she determines the little mechanic definitely means what she says. Half a decent chocolate bar would be half again more than Rowan has had since she left the core. Judging by the label, this isn't any Blue Sun lièzhì substitute either. All the more reason to be frugal. Rowan can respect that.

Tipping her head back to look Jayne in the eye, she grins wickedly.

ROWAN: "Wanna split one, da jia huo[/i

SAINT JAYNE

Sunday, November 28, 2004 5:35 PM (P)

Jayne's Move

"Tianna - is that what I think it is?"

Jayne inhales the aroma deeply, taking it in through his nose and mouth, maybe trying to taste it, or maybe just mimicking the way farm cats smell, using their Jacob's gland.

He drops the can on the counter and snags a chocolate bar, dangling it by the corner of the wrapper. "Now this here's worth hoisting someone out of an airlock for!"

"JAYNE You drop that. NOW!"

Jayne turns to Kaylee, reluctant to let the candy go.

"That is for the party, and you just stay away from it! You get your share with everyone else."

"Ain't it time to kick that off yet? Me an' Damon... I's done with my chores", Jayne pleads.

"Wanna split one, da jia huo?"

Jayne settles the box back down where he got it from, but keeps the one aromatic treat pinched gingerly between finger and thumb. "Sounds good. What say I guard this 'till it's time to rip into 'em?"

MANIACNUMBERONE

Sunday, November 28, 2004 6:30 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Same Location

He nods once to the man in front of him and turns back to the hatchway. "I will restore the atmo." Malachi climbs swiftly up the ladder and upon exiting the ship, deactivates the destruct sequence he had set into motion. Still more than 4 minutes till it would have blown, he notes without emotion.

He jets silently through the short space now separating the two ships and boards his own again. He stays only long enough to put a trap-lockdown on his controls, retrieves a black space-worthy case, and another hood compression device to repressurize the other man's ship.

After exiting his own ship, the placement and locking of the hood takes little time and Malachi soon floats through the hatch of Slight's ship into the re-established gravity.

"You heal quickly." Malachi says, as he looks around and takes in the full damage to this ship.

EM

MERCEDESTROY

Monday, November 29, 2004 3:10 AM (P)

KAYLEEs move

LOCATION - GALLEY As ...

JAYNE has a point. Near’s Kaylee can tell, except for riggin’ that conex for the drop, which she is going to handle for herself, all the rest that is needed for tomorrow’s run is already done. Which means, they should be ok to start the shindig any time. If the party food ain’t quite finished, don’t mean the party can’t start while the ladies are finishing up.

‘Sids, if JAYNE wants his treat right now, that’s his privilege. He just don’t get more later …

KAYLEE
“You’re right. I don’t see no reason you all can’t start this shindig now. If you and ROWAN want your treat, go ahead. Just save the rest for the rest of the folks.”

Moving into the kitchen area she goes through drawers until she locates the spigot for the cask, and cabinets until she locates some shot glasses. Moving carefully back into the Dining area and the table where she dropped off the cask, she sets down the handful of glasses on the table and sets the cask on it’s side. Carefully installing the spigot and then triggering the button that will retract the bung, she sets the cask back upright and arranges the shot glasses around it.

Turning and looking at all in the room, KAYLEE announces - ”The cabinet is officially open. Ya drink this stuff at your own risk. Let the shindig begin!”

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

RAVENWHYTEWING

Monday, November 29, 2004 5:03 AM (P)

Slights move:

Slight chuckles, stamping out his cigarette.
"Wouldn't be much use if I took my time about anything."
As atmo is restored he finally begins to breath. It feels cold, and sterile. Just the way he likes it.
Slight stares at Malachi, his eyes almost glowing red. Abruptly, exhaustion washes over him. He needs rest, and he knows it. No time.
"I suppose you'd like to know what in gorram hell is going on here?" He doesn't break eye contact. Best way to set who's in charge, and the oldest trick in nature. Who breaks eye contact first?
As he holds the mans eyes, Slight speaks longer, snooping around. He's careful-if he roots into the emotionally charged memories, the empathic connection could harm him right now.
"Let's see. Currently Malachi, born Robert Malachi, planet of origin. . .Venla. About the last of the Jewish culture resides in the same neighborhood as you. Parents dead, four siblings. Aron, two years senior, an Alliance paper-pusher. Arielle, psychologist, one year junior. Abraham, called Abe, and Alicia, called Ale, twins, both dead from a disease. So far so good?"

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

MERCEDESTROY

Monday, November 29, 2004 12:31 PM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - DINING ROOM to MERZ DORM to DINING ROOM

KAYLEE
“Let the shindig begin!”

Well. This might be interesting. Or possibly instructive. MERZ does not know if she is looking forward to this experience, this ‘party’, ‘shindig’, or whatever. But she has been promised a new experience at least and data is always useful. One thing she does know is that often one can dress or wear something special at a time like this. And while she has no other clothes, something special she has …

MERZ turns to ROWAN, who is still absorbed in JAYNE and the contents of that box of KAYLEEs. MERZ knows what is in there, she can smell it from where she is, chocolate. She does not understand what is so … moving about it and why it elicits such strong reactions in the rest of the crew. But she hopes to find out.

She is about to let them know she is leaving for a moment, but no one is paying any attention to her at this time and MERZ decided simply to sneak out and back. Her errand will take only a moment.

Sliding out the back hatch she enters the dorm where she stashed her meager belongings and pulls her pack out from under the bed. Rummaging around at the bottom of it she comes up with a crumpled piece of trash paper, tattered and dirty like it has been rolling around there for years. She carefully unwraps it and lets the contents lie upon her palm for a moment.

It is a crystal, a three-edged figure with two faces - an inch long on each beveled side, with three facets on each face. It is mounted on a fine gold chain. She takes a moment to work a knot out of the chain, working very slowly and deliberately to avoid breaking the delicate jewelry. Once the chain is freed she holds it up, looking at the play of light through the faceted crystal and the rainbows that roll around its edge. It is the finest item she possesses other than her teacup, and the first present she ever received. She has worn it once; on the day she received it. And now, she can wear it again.

MERZ carefully manipulates the clasp and reached behind her to fasten it. It takes a bit of fumbling to get it on; the first time Maro did it and she has never worked the clasp for herself.

Once she has it fastened she frees her hair from behind the chain and looks in the mirror. She does not see herself, which is not where she is looking or what she is judging. Merz decides – she has witnessed women wearing jewelry many times and this just does not look right on the cloth of her shipsuit, and would suit her exercise clothing even less. With a quick gesture, she holds the crystal out of the way with one hand, and lowers the zip on her suit with the other. The slightly shrunk suit pulls back and leaves her skin bare down to the place where the zip stopped, which is not so very far, maybe eight inches. Letting the necklace drop down onto her chest she considers again, head tilted to one side. Yes, that is good enough.

She closes her pack and slips it back under the bed. Closed the door behind her and slips back into the Galley area, gliding back to the place where she was. She stops once again, with her back to the counter, facing the room and starts her scan again – accessing the tone of the room and seeing if she can pick up hints to anything she might have missed. Curious if anyone even noticed she has been gone.

EOM

OOC: edited for clearer description of the necklace, I did a poor job of describing it. Maybe I'll post a picture ...

Debs

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Monday, November 29, 2004 11:38 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION - Galley

JAYNE: “Ain't it time to kick that off yet? Me an' Damon... I's done with my chores"

He sounds like a little boy asking to open just one gift two full weeks before Christmas.

Jayne settles the box back down where he got it from, but keeps the one bar of chocolate pinched gingerly between finger and thumb. He seems to enjoy dangling the prize before her.

JAYNE: "Sounds good. What say I guard this 'till it's time to rip into 'em?"

Rowan raises an eyebrow at that. What makes him think she would trust him any further than he’s trusting her?

ROWAN: “What say you put it back till everyone’s here, then we divide it amongst witnesses?”

Leaning backward again, she heads back toward the plate of bao, remembering that she has a finer responsibility to uphold. Picking one of the now cooled buns, she gingerly tears it in half and pops the left side into her mouth. Biting off one tender piece, she chews slowly and with flourish. The sauce is just right - sweet, spicy and full-bodied - the protein prepared thisclose to be mistaken for real bread. If she closed her eyes and pretended, she could easily be back in the kitchen at her father’s house.

ROWAN: “Well, I think that’ll do.”

She holds the other half out, and addresses the current population of the Galley, although her eyes are poignantly on Jayne when she speaks.

ROWAN: “Any takers for a second opinion?”

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

MANIACNUMBERONE

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 2:57 AM (P)

Book's Move
Location: His Room

The room is quiet for a moment, then the silence is broken by the sound of Mal's glass clinking against his formidable belt buckle. The smell of fresh bread? is slowly seeping into his room through the cracks in the door paneling. Someone's cooking something delicious. The thought comes unbidden to his mind.

Book's eyes wander to a flash of blue light from behind Mal. He settles his gaze on the spot of the flash and stands abruptly. He knows exactly where the flash came from, but refusing to believe it, he crosses the room to a small loosely woven bag. He takes the bag and dumps it unceremoniously onto his bed pad, quickly searching for and finding what he seeks... a device disguised as a 3-sided crystal that he hadn't intended on using until he went to the pool tournament to watch over Rowan.

The blue light has mostly faded, but looking deep into the crystal, he can still see the faint glimmer indicating that someone else closeby has just activated the preliminary start-up for another identical crystal device. (one of the features of the device)

This is not good. he thinks. What are the options? Someone else has one of these devices and is planning to use it... but why?! Second option, and much more likely considering the very secret nature of these devices... they don't even know that they have it.

EM

SAINT JAYNE

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 5:23 AM (P)

Jayne's Move

"What say you put it back till everyone's here, then we divide it amongst witnesses?"

"More to smell then", Jayne backs up and deposits the chocolate back into it's box, taking a long snort before closing it up again. He then moves to help himself to a cup of coffee, filling the cup to the brim right from the pot which he settles back onto the warm burner.

Picking one of the now cooled buns, she gingerly tears it in half and pops the left side into her mouth.

Boy that looked good. Jayne slurps some of the piping hot coffee, but in his mind he's eating chocolate and spicy bao and chicken dinner. If Rowan's face is any indication, it's every bit as good as it smells.

"Any takers for a second opinion?"

"Right here." Jayne lips are running before his self-preservation knows what hit it. She ate half, right? It must be alright. Unless she knew that... unless only one side of it... Unless... his mind is swimming with fears. "Less'n Merz wants it!" he adds loudly, heralding Merz's re-entrance into the Galley.

SQUEE

Tuesday, November 30, 2004 6:03 AM (P)

River
LOCATION - Galley

ROWAN: “Any takers for a second opinion?”

River's eyes light up when she sees the piece of bao being offered by Rowan. She looks up at the older woman, smiling with a eager 'I'll take it if I'm allowed' look.

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

MERCEDESTROY

Wednesday, December 1, 2004 12:02 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - GALLEY As ...

JAYNE has noticed her return, and fires his next remark in her direction. "Less'n Merz wants it!"

She considers his words, and the context, along with the various actions and expressions of the others in the room. Deciding that she does understand what he is asking she responds.

MERZ
Jayne. If I understand correctly, the purpose of ROWAN sharing a piece of … bao … with me is so that I can assist in determining if the manufacturing process was successfully completed and the result satisfactory. However, as I am unfamiliar with bao, I have insufficient knowledge of what it should be like, rendering me unable make such a determination. She pauses and winks at him, a half-grin on her face. (Or at least that is what she is trying for, having seen it done.) If you are simply offering me a taste, I accept. That way I can learn what is or is not correct, once you tell me if it is sufficiently prepared.

She turns her smile on ROWAN. There. Does that earn me a taste?

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

MANIACNUMBERONE

Wednesday, December 1, 2004 8:32 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Location: Slight's Ship

A twitch in his right eye is all that gives away his action before he takes it. Reaching his hand over to his armpad controls, he pushes two buttons and the destruct sequence answers from the armpad with a soft voice in Chinese indicating 4 minutes 8 seconds to destruct.

Malachi sets down the large black case on a low table set into the port wall and glances up at the man. Moments later a loud, dull metallic boom is heard throughout the ship as Malachi's ship attaches itself to the outer hull with magnetic grappels and pulls itself in. "So far so dead."

EM

SQUEE

Wednesday, December 1, 2004 9:25 PM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Quote:

After a minute, Damon's laughter finally dies down but he can't stop grinning. He looks up at Xiang from the recliner, eyes alert, excited, as if he has much to say and no words to put it in.

Finally he stands, paying no heed to the complaints from his lingering wounds. His stomach tells him he's hungry, but his mind can't understand how he can be. He feels spoiled with three meals a day and completely out of place when he asks: "So is it too early for breakfast?" It sounds more like asking for permission than he intended, which also feels awkward since he can't remember the last time he asked permission for anything.

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

RAVENWHYTEWING

Thursday, December 2, 2004 9:44 PM (P)

Slights Move:

Slight bares his teeth, all patience lost. he grabs Malachi and throws him against the bulkhead. Lifting him up by a grip on the kidneys, the nanytes swarm in an angry buzz, several flying down his throat to pierce in unpermanent, but extremely painful, damage.
His voice exalted, he rages out in a voice that would echo through Malachis mind forever.
"DO NOT TEST ME ANY FURTHER, FOOL! I know your mind, I know your passwords, and failsafes, and swtiches! Were it not for my weakened state, I would kill you now! YOU ARE PROVOKING THAT WHICH IS DEADLY, AND NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH!"
Slights breath becomes constricted. He is being foolish. What did he expect?
In a softer voice, but with no less authority, he continues. "You may have met Blue Sun operatives before. None are like me. You've met the recovery agents, the men with blue gloves, who are claiming what they believe to be theirs. You would not test them as you do me. Any more such aggravation on your part will result in death. I warned you before. I am a puppet, but you do not hold my strings. Quite the reverse. This is your second warning."
With movements bordering on a caress, he types in the code to shut down the sequence. Who is in charge here must be beyond question now.

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

MANIACNUMBERONE

Thursday, December 2, 2004 10:08 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Same location

"Warn me all you wish. It should be obvious to you by now though that I care nothing for my own life. Destroy me." Malachi hangs in the air against the bulkhead for a moment longer, waiting for the man to destroy him or not.

Closing his eyes, he projects his thoughts. Weakened condition... How strong are you now? How pervasive is your mind? If you can still read my thoughts, you know that right now I am considering destroying both our ships and be damned with the consequences. You know that I can reactivate the destruct sequence immediately without using my control pad, and that I can do it without the countdown. You also know that my life-support is directly connected into my ship's destruct sequence. Our deaths are linked together regardless of how fast you act or what you do. So kill me or not, torture me or not. The beginning will be the end."

Malachi opens his eyes again. The calmness of certain death seeping over him.

EM

RAVENWHYTEWING

Thursday, December 2, 2004 10:20 PM (P)

Slight's Move:

Slight slits his eyes. He can make him remember why he was such a surviver. This effort will make him weak, very weak, but he can't take much more of this mans foolery.

With a rush, Malachi has left the ship. He is now in Slight's world, the world of the mind.
Slights tattoo melts, becomes his Raven. Malachi has one mark on him-the mark of a barcode, symbolizing his self-induced expendability. His clothes are gray, reminiscent of a military uniform, but no particular allegiance is marked.
Before the both of them lies Arrielle, Malachis own sister. Slight purses his lips, the raven taking off. "She's still dying, Bobby." His voice is not his own, but the voice of Malachi's brother, Aron. "We need the mony for the treatment. She has the Daplong, and Bodens. She won't live unless we both help her. I can't pay for everything-she's not a dependant as the Alliance sees fit. I know you don't care about yourself-you never did. But we're all that's left, Bobby." He uses the name Malachi hates, the name that reminds him off his heritage, and the father who left him. "Pescalins' too expensive for me to do this on my own. I'm already in debt, to legal and illicet loan sharks. Please. Just do something to save Arielle."
Slight speaks with his own voice. "Neither of us care about ourselves. What we do, we do for others. It's not about us, anymore."

With a resounding boom, both are back in the obs craft. Slight falls back, leaning against a bulkhead as he gasps for air. He can see something shift. The empathic connection is so strong, he trembles as he pulls away a cigarette from the pack, lighting it desperately. In the strained atmo, he has to drag at it heavily to light it. The smoke hangs heavily.
"I'm done with threats. Unless you want to remember why humans hate pain, I suggest you do as I ask. This little trip-it's only the beginning of what I can do. I can make you relive your worst memories, make you remember your hydrophobia, remember the death of your twin siblings, dying one after another in your arms. I can raise the pain of that memory, to the point of which you will cry tears of blood. Believe me, I know the feeling. You think you can tolerate pain-you know nothing of pain. I can feel you're tired. Perhaps, after this, we can work something out." He suddenly remembers Thorne's words-
"You can't make it on your own. All this Lone wolf crap won't fly."
Slight swallows. He honestly couldn't wait to talk to him again. They had much to discuss.

EOM

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

CHANNAIN

Saturday, December 4, 2004 12:52 AM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

Quote:
"So is it too early for breakfast?"

Staring down at the dishes on his tiny table, Xiang shakes his head.

Quote:
FLASHBACK
Any meal was a good one so far as Damon was concerned. Xiang could put a raw block of protein down in front of the boy and he would eat it. He still sounded more like Oliver Twist asking, "Please sir, I want some more," but at least he knew to ask.

"I have heard it said that it is never too early for breakfast," Xiang replied, smiling slightly himself with that tiny reminiscence of Robert. He could eat eggs at any time of the day, kneeling down to declare Rowan a Goddess when…

Rowan. Just her name causes him to stop for a moment and remember what it was. To be a friend, husband and lover to such a beautiful creature seems near unfathomable now. Yet that was the joy of his life before. Before he was taken by the Alliance and all he knew was wrested from him. His life, his future, his identity and to the nearest extent, his very soul.

Realizing Damon is staring at him in confusion, Xiang turns and heads for the small kitchen unit to inspect the inventory. Finding what he needs, he begins to turn yellow-colored protein into something resembling scrambled eggs.
END FLASHBACK

Thinking of her now, he remembers her eyes, and how they would spark with green fire in moments of mischief and other pleasures.

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

SQUEE

Saturday, December 4, 2004 2:55 AM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Quote:
"I have heard it said that it is never too early for breakfast," Xiang replied, smiling slightly.

The change in Xiang's expression is subtle but Damon catches it- a brief flash of... something. He remembers seeing it several times before, while Xiang was cleaning him up on Dis. On most days, the long hours passed in silence, suppressed by dark thoughts and heavy emotions that neither wished to deal with during their precious time away from their enslavers. It was on days like those that Damon sometimes saw it, the distant look in Xiang's eyes. Damon can't put words to the look, but he knows the feeling- usually something that doesn't want to be discussed.

He follows Xiang to the kitchen and watches him pull things together for breakfast. Not knowing what else to do to help, Damon pulls a couple cups from the sink, fills them both with water and sets one down on the counter for Xiang.

"Here's to us, Xiang. To victory..."

He raises his cup and takes a swallow.

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

CHANNAIN

Saturday, December 4, 2004 5:46 AM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

Taking up his dishes, Xiang puts them in the tiny washing unit built in under the netro-wave oven. Holding the plastic cup in his hand, he watches the light gleam on the fluted features.

Quote:
"Here's to us, Xiang. To victory..."

Watching Damon drink from a dirty glass with flourish, Xiang cannot help but respond, He lifted the second glass and tapped it against Damon's as he lowered it from drinking, but did not drink himself. One of the cups had belonged to Templar, and considering his occupation, it would not be entirely beyond the realm of possibility that the cup would have some subversive kind of sedative coating adhered to it. Aside from that, who knew what new manner of diseases could have sprung in the past seven years?

Taking Damon's glass and the other one, he put them back in the sink and took down two new ones to fill, adding ice and processed lemon juice.

"You should think before you drink from a dirty glass, Damon. You never know where it's been."

Turning back to his pan, he finished up the eggs and piles all of it onto a plate, which he set in front of Damon. There was enough for two, but Xiang wasn't feeling hungry. It had struck him in the night - after being awakened by Damon's nightmare - that Robert would have to have a particular reason for sending someone after him now, after all the time that had passed. Robert never did anything for a reason. When he visited the campus on Osiris after being incommunicado for more than six years, he had a reason. When he took Xiang into that room where Ro...where SHE was sitting, he had a reason. When he came up with the plan to get her out of the complex should the Alliance finally invade, there was a reason attached to that too.

Something was about to happen. Xiang could feel it. And he didn't care for it one bit.

Rather like now. Events have been set into motion that he has no control over. Will he simply be able to watch them play out, or will he have to take part again? And if so, what more could he lose in the bargain? He isn't even sure his soul is intact.

Quote:
"Victory," Xiang said, trying the sound of the word. "Yinge shengli."

It didn't sound any better in Chinese.

Not wanting to burst Damon's bubble, Xiang nodded. "That must explain why I'm so exhausted. It was a victory hard-won."

EOM

Yinge shengli = To win a victory

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

SQUEE

Saturday, December 4, 2004 8:43 PM (P)

Damon's turn:
LOCATION - SPARE DORM

Quote:

Damon reluctantly releases his cup when Xiang takes it from him.

"You should think before you drink from a dirty glass, Damon. You never know where it's been."

A slight frown of confusion crosses Damon’s face. Are they dirty? He shrugs it off and accepts the new cup. A moment later, Xiang sets a plate of eggs in front of him.

Damon looks up. “You not eating?”

Xiang shakes his head so Damon picks up the plate, fairly convinced Xiang’s nuts for passing up food. Putting his back to the wall, Damon sits down, places his cup on the floor next to him and looks down at the chopsticks on his plate. He picks them up, clicking them together experimentally. It feels like forever since he last used them. But his interest in the chopsticks quickly fades and he sets to work with emptying his plate.

"Victory," Xiang says, trying the sound of the word. "Yinge shengli. That must explain why I'm so exhausted. It was a victory hard-won."

Damon grunts at the understatement and moves the eggs to the side of his mouth to speak. “Impossibly won…” He continues eating, thoughts of where he had been not even four days ago pulling him into silence. Five years- eight including the three at the factory. Even eight sounded so much shorter than he remembers it. But he did it. They did it.

He swallows the last of the eggs and leans back against the wall to look up at Xiang. “Xiang, did you ever…” He pauses, not sure if he even wants to ask. So many of them thought he was crazy for doing this. Just a silly boy with a naïve sense of hope. “Did you ever think about what you would do if you were free?”

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

ASTRIANA

Monday, December 6, 2004 5:48 PM (P)

ZOE'S MOVE
LOCATION - CREW QUARTERS HALLWAY

Internal musings... Just collatin' data, as they say...

OOC: Just wanted to let folks know I'm still alive. I'll be moving Zoe to the galley shortly.

~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.

MANIACNUMBERONE

Monday, December 6, 2004 6:02 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Slight's ship.

The pain recedes slowly from his head. His head hangs limp against his chest, his breathing ragged. The colors of his induced vision fading to dull washed-out grey, then to blackness, and then the sudden starkness of the bridge of Slight's ship. He blinks his eyes against the sudden change and swallows back the metallic tang of blood in his mouth. "Whom do you serve?" he croaks out in a faint whisper.

EM

CHANNAIN

Monday, December 6, 2004 11:20 PM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

Quote:
Watching Damon wolf down the eggs, it was obvious the boy was preoccupied with something. More than once he looked up thoughtfully and seemed to have an entire conversation in his head, only to return his attention to his plate. Xiang was about to ask what was on his mind when Damon finally came out and said it.

“Did you ever think about what you would do if you were free?”

Free. What did that word mean? When he was sixteen, it meant eventually leaving home and never having to listen to another row between his parents. When he was twenty-three, it meant being able to take the job at the university in Osiris without having to uproot a family to do it. On his wedding day... well, that meant something else entirely.

"I have wondered if there is such a thing," Xiang replied. He had spoken without thinking about it. "To be free. My condition before we met rendered me unable to recall my past, or to see a future--I was simply Chen. It was you, actually, who started the process that freed me from my conditioning. I saw you fighting the guards and the look in your eyes reminded me... it reminded me of the fire I thought I had lost. Of the will to think on my own. We would still be there and you would likely be dead now if I had not been dusting the paintings in the hallway that day."

The fire had actually brought HER image to the forefront of his mind, but Xiang chose to leave that part out. Instead he lifted a chain from under the collar of his sweater. With it came a silver pendant of the yin yang symbol.

"They let me keep this. I did not know what it was, I only knew I had to wear it. It was given to me by someone... very special. Before I saw you, if my conditioning began to fail, I was programmed to look at it and my condition would be restored. Now I look at it and remember... what was before."

"Yin and yang, darkness and light, female and male, me and you."

Hearing her voice in his head causes Xiang's breath catch in his throat, even now.

Quote:
"I am not quite free yet. But when I am, I will find the one who gave this to me and hope I will not end up dead when I do."

EOM

OOC: I need to start writing Rowan again. This is starting to get confuzzling.

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

RAVENWHYTEWING

Tuesday, December 7, 2004 9:58 PM (P)

Slights move:

Slight shakes his head. How could this man understand?

Helsing stand before him, regal and green from the Davis treatments. The screen is man sized-Helsing liked to be intimidating.
"You have not reported for several months, Brink. In fact, the reports concerning yourself have been very disturbing. Whom do you serve, Brink Helsing?"
Slight has audio, but no visual feed. The First Power can only hear him. Brink is shirtless, all of his tattoos finished healing. He is waiting till the right time to reveal his rebellion.
Slight snorts to himself. What is he, some teenager?
"Redemption, father. I am serving whatever can take you down. Destroying your little mom and pop store, and freeing all those poor children you've enslaved. That is my purpose now."
"And this Coyote? He's going to help you?" Helsing looks incredulous.
"The three Critters, as they're called-Coyote, Lizard and Badger-are a means to an end. They are the bottom of the rung, and if you want to topple an empire, you start at the bottom."

We are the same, you and I. We both fight for family. Mine is larger than you could ever know. From your clothes to your weapon, to the very structure of the Core. I won't win. You can save her now, mercenary. I will pay for the genetic treatment necessary to cure her. You could rest, if you wanted. I know you won't, but I also know you will sleep better at night, knowing your mei-mei is safe. And we are wasting time.
Slight moves to the consol within Malachi's ship (Now that he's inside, he identifies the ship as a Neon-class.) and links into the Cortex. He waves Serenity within moments, and waits for the response.

Onboard Serenity, a blue light begins to flash, as a synthetic chime informs the helm of the incoming message.

Slight turns to see Malachi come in, as if in a trance. He blinks for a few minutes, dropping his eyes. I wish this could have been easier for you, I honestly do.

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

CHANNAIN

Thursday, December 9, 2004 7:33 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: The Galley (where else?)

Her offer of the second half of the sampled bao is met with several reactions. Jayne's usual convolution of answers, Merz with her uber-quantifying, which Rowan now understands is her own way of collating all the unfamiliar data she's trying to absorb. Then there's the simple look of outright yearning from River that reminds Rowan of the eyes of a begging cat.

Small wonder as to who wins.

Rowan holds the other half of the bao out to River.

ROWAN: "Never could resist the look."

Beaming, the girl takes it gingerly and licks her fingers when some of the sauce oozes out.

Knowing full well Jayne will keep an eye on the girl just to make sure there isn't anything in the sauce that ought not be there, Rowan takes another from the plate and cuts that one in half as well. Turning around, she holds one half out to Merz, and one to Inara.

ROWAN: "For my intrepid assistants."

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

MANIACNUMBERONE

Thursday, December 9, 2004 8:37 PM (P)

Malachi's Move
Location: Back onboard his ship.

The ship is the same as it was when he left it; small, fast, powerful and ahead of its time. Constant modifications at base equiped it with the best technology, and for such a small and stealthy ship... the most destructive.
Setting down the black case that he had brought to Slight's ship and back again, he opens it and removes the pieces of a large, automatic laser rifle. "Nothing ever is."

Malachi stalks purposefully to a rectangular metal plate inset into the starboard wall, pushes it and opens a concealed weapons storage locker. He places the pieces of the rifle within and retuns to the black case. Three items still remain in this case, the largest, a med bag, he takes in one hand and walks to the console, setting it down next to Slight. Noting the open connection to Serenity, Malachi catches Slight's eye with a questioning look.

EM

RAVENWHYTEWING

Thursday, December 9, 2004 9:41 PM (P)

Slights move:

Slight notes the medbag. He should refill the chemicals in his cartridge belt. He mentally injects himself with endorphines.
Slight notices the questioning look.
My old ride. It's a rickety old Firefly-class, run by someone called Reynolds. He calls it Serenity. Has something to do with. . .
Slight considers the vision he'd had.
It's his graveyard, his haunting. Whenever he thinks of Serenity, the battle he fought in, his mind sees a burning cross. He lost his faith in God, there. Serenity is his way of paying tribute. You ever hear of the Bulletproof Browncoat? One of the Independents' supposed weapon? That's him. Seargent Malcolm Reynolds, now Captain Reynolds.
He's picked up a bit of a ragtag crew. A couple of. . ."heavy lifters," a pilot, a mechanic, a medic-Slight winces at that, the usual. He even got himself a priest. Shepard Book, your little prize and former employer. Whatever mierde you got with him, that's your business.
Slight turns back to the consol, but continues to speak.
What's the medkit for?

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

MANIACNUMBERONE

Friday, December 10, 2004 10:25 PM (P)

Malachi's Move

Malachi picks back up the bag and moves away. He's been on the same ship. "How long were you there?" and he didn't notice anything about Book, or he wouldn't still be calling him a shepherd. He goes slowly to the far end of the ship and replaces the med bag in it's storage area next to a pull-out wall cot used for triage. A small ship, he's still only 25 feet away at the far end. Remaining still for a time, he takes the time to quiet his thoughts. The motion sensitive light clicks off bathing him in soothing shadows. He's probably still in possession of one of the crystals he created. If I can take it, I can free myself forever. For a long time he sits in the dark plotting.

EM

MERCEDESTROY

Sunday, December 12, 2004 6:00 AM (P)

Merz move

LOCATION - GALLEY

Merz takes the offered treat. Before tasting it she looks it over, feels the texture of the “bread” and sticks one finger into the center to touch the filling. Next she lifts it up and smells it – now that it was completed and steamed Merz wanted a comparison for the databank. Finally she closes her eyes and slides the morsel between her lips. One of her trainers had taught her that it was possible, and sometimes even preferable to allow the body to compensate in this fashion – to shut out one sense and increase another one. In this case she eliminated sight in order to concentrate on the taste and mouth feel of the bao.

Merz’ normal diet, for long years, consisted of plain protein and simple vegetation, contrasted with occasional refresher courses in wilderness survival. The last six months had taught her somewhat that there is more to eating than simple fuel for the body. The last two days have taught her that eating can be pleasurable. And this … cooperative effort in the creation of the bite between her teeth … has taught her a new sensation. The bao itself – its complex combination of flavors and textures – is almost overwhelming. Combined with the knowledge that she had in some small way contributed to it’s creation … she experiences some form of emotional response for which she has no name. Merz slowly masticates the morsel, extracting every bit of sensation she can distinguish, before regretfully swallowing it.

She slowly opens her eyes, to find Rowan and River watching her. Merz just looks at them motionless and expressionless, utterly at a loss for words. She has heard so many words used to describe food. And she has no possible idea what the appropriate response should be.

She wants to speak from her ‘heart’, and does not know how …

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

DECOY

Sunday, December 12, 2004 5:06 PM (P)

Wash's (monthly) Move:
Location - Bridge

Mal: "Understood. We need to track down as much of the 'hands on' Early may have perpetrated on Serenity. We don't need no more surprises. Mal out."

(Wash turnes to the security screen, brushes a thin layer of dust off of it, and programs it to begin a self-diagnostic, then... back to the map.)

(Time passes, and Wash quietly pores/frets/manically gestures over the map. Then, something happens... something wonderful. A smell, a smell comes wafting onto the bridge... Wash looks over to Rex, and says): "(sniff) That's funny... (Sniff, sniff) Cooking? (Sniff) Don't look now but I think I must be going insane, I think (sniff,SNIFF) i smell... bao? Oh, gods I don't care that we're going to be killed by Cinammon, Saffron, or Basil, as long as she feeds us a last meal first, I'll go quietly"

(Wash starts to get up to investigate, but a chime sounds and on MRFUCSS, a blue light flashes, trying to alert Wash into realizing that the cortex has an incoming live wave wating for him to ... ackowledge and then accept or eat?... Wash looks up from the map with the friendly yellow and red arrows, and muttering to Rex): "I can't even be starvingly psychotically bored in peace, gotta answer Wave, so..." (Wash grabs Rex, and holds him an inch away from the camera pick-up to the cortex moniter, reading that it's from a Neon-class ship. Slight and a med-bag, and a big fuzzy looking blur appear on the screen.)

Slight (quietly over the wave, which Wash, leaning about two inches from the console speaker can barly hear.): "My old ride. It's a rickety old Firefly-class, run by someone called Reynolds. He calls it Serenity. Has something to do with. . ."

Wash as Rex: "Thank god you've called! We've been boarded by fat fleshy two-legged mammals, and we're running out of condiments, Please help us..." (Wash then leans back and lays Rex down, and says): "Oh, hi Slight, sorry about my disguise, but you know how it is... and hey, if Kaylee or Mal hears you call my lady a 'rickety old anything', I can't be held responsible for what ever happens. What can I Do you for?"

On the cortex screen the display reads: 21:00 AMT (09:00 pm). On board the Supposed 'Neon' class ship, deep inside Slight's healing body, his internal clock goes from 20:59 to 21:09... a nanite squigges over to the '9' and gives it a gentel kick, and it rolles over to '0', and all is right again with the world, and the nanite goes back to more important damage.

EOM

Decoy, they make me go first every month, weather I needed to or not.

RAVENWHYTEWING

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 3:02 PM (P)

Slights move, Supplemental:

Slight turns to see the the wave has been answered. . .by a toy. The toy rattles on, only to be replaced by a shock of blonde hair and blue eyes. It's the pilot. Figures.
"Oh, hi Slight, sorry about my disguise, but you know how it is... and hey, if Kaylee or Mal hears you call my lady a 'rickety old anything', I can't be held responsible for what ever happens. What can I Do you for?"
Slight sighs. This man clearly thinks he's funny. How sad.
Hail, Serenity. I need to speak with the captain. And your sheperd, and your mechanic, and the little girl. I have no problems with you, but I have some news that I think all four will want to hear from me, firsthand. It's about your doctor. . .
Slight winces internally. This is one of the longest days of his life, and it can only get worse.

Wizards Eighth Rule: Deserve Victory

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 4:35 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: The Galley (yup, still)

Hearing Kaylee rummage about for the means to serve the contents of that cask, Rowan pays closer attention to Merz's reaction.

After very thoroughly tasting the bao, Merz's eyes come slowly open, catching the light as they focus, first on Rowan and then on River. As expected, her face shows no evidence as to her reaction to what must be her first taste of bao. Rowan figures the Troys probably weren't treated to the finer things of life in the 'verse, and bao wasn't exactly normal military fare even in peacetime. Finally, a small line forms between her brows and Rowan can clearly see the confusion in her eyes.

ROWAN: "Don't try to over-analyze, yo mei mei. If it's done right, bao is meant for pure enjoyment."

Reaching out, she runs her hand down Merz's arm hopefully to indicate she understands the other woman's inability to form some description that might sound reasonably poetical. Then she grins and turns to include all the women in the kitchen.

ROWAN: "Ladies, I believe our work is done here. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for a drink."

KAYLEE announces - ”The cabinet is officially open. Ya drink this stuff at your own risk. Let the shindig begin!”

Quickly turning off the stove, Rowan moves out into the dining area and picks up one of the shot glasses Kaylee has so kindly filled. Taking a breath to prepare, she tosses back the first shot and swallows quickly. Fire erupts on the way down, delivering a flavor that combines the influence of the wood in the cask with something that almost tastes like engine fuel smells.

For a second, Rowan can't breathe. Her eyes go completely round, and then on a sharp exhale, she looks at Kaylee.

ROWAN (breathlessly): "Smooth."

She holds her glass under the spigot and since she can't speak, waves at Kaylee in a "keep it coming" fashion.

EOM

Yo mei mei - friend sister

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 5:02 PM (P)

Xiang's Move:
LOCATION - ORBOROS: Tantalus Shipping Nexus

It makes no sense. He hasn't thought about Damon in months and now the memories seem to be overflowing the floodgates, refusing to be ignored. He should be focusing on the information he was trying to find so Robert could finally work out a plan. Instead he was making himself late by reminiscing about the first moments away from Dis?

And that song. Now that it's stuck in his mind, he'll likely spend the day trying to keep from humming it. Everyone on the station believes he doesn't speak at all. It makes the important people believe he's less of a security risk.

A strange situation for a man who used to enjoy speaking in front of a room full of students.

“Did you ever think about what you would do if you were free?”

Free. The Independents came together to make men free. Look how that turned out.

EOM

KALENVOR

Thursday, December 16, 2004 7:30 PM (P)

He awoke with a start, taking in everything, then he remembered, the woman, his dead companions... and the casket.

Arms stretching out he checks course, he should be nearing the key soon, a few days, a week at most, the signal it resinated, was getting distinctly stronger, soon he would have it, and then he would have the weapon of the Blue Sun, the mysterious casket, heavy piece of Go se. It was worth it though, they wouldn't have sent his team were it not.

The ship begins making an annoying little beeping noise, glancing over the ship is telling him there is another ship... no wait... two ship nearby, in fact, both in his direct path. he sets the ship to slow, as such the other ships seem to be having difficulties. Letting his own ship stop propulsion for now, this was an annoyance but a tolerable one, for now he would wait and see what happens as he floats towards them slowly.

Everyone has their weaknesses. Some people smoke, I collect stuffed penguins, if you don't tell I won't.

MERCEDESTROY

Friday, December 17, 2004 12:53 AM (P)

INTERLUDE ~ A fight seen from a different viewpoint.

(Those who forget the past are doomed to have to go back through the threads and find it...)

She is behind a screen lifting weights, when she first hears the quiet sounds beyond the door. There are intruders. Good, she could use the workout.

Making no noise she carefully sets down her equipment, flicks off the tiny red illumination that her quarters are fitted with, and quickly slinks out into the dark of the main room. Positioned between the only door, and the only object in the room beside her, Shelby waits motionless for the intruders to show themselves. No need to pick up her weapons - what she needs is ever with her.

Whoever is fiddling the lock is good - not that it was much of a lock at that. Somewhere along the line, someone had decided that the best way to conceal this particular cargo was by misdirection. A depressed neighborhood. A simple lock. And, for at least the last six months - Shelby. Whoever was here before she does not know, does not care. Place smelled like a combo between a brothel and a barracks when she arrived. Now, smells only of herself.

Dark outside. Dark inside. When the door opens neither side can see each other. Shelby takes the time to suss out her opponents before any illumination is used. She uses her senses for data. Three - males. One a fairly average specimen scents slightly of excitement only, along with gun oil and propellant; movement indicates normal reflexes. They enter quickly and ease the door shut. The second man smells odd. Human but ... not right, nothing she has sensed before, nothing in the database. He is also armed with a solid projectile weapon; reflexes seem unusually swift. He is excited, tense and - worried.

Silently she stretches, tenses and relaxes muscles, preparing. Confident they can neither see nor sense her. They are still in the doorway, fumbling for the light - the one she never uses. She closes her eyes - ears and other senses alert, so as not to be caught by the change in illumination. Shelby has a quick recovery anyway, but never take chances.

The third man - he bothers her. He smells of meat, of blood, of sweat but no emotional content at all. He also smells of metal, mingled oddly with his human scents. His movements are strange, abnormal. She can hear ... clicking, creaking ... machine noises... ? Quick, but ... he is just ... wrong. Shelby does not care for the feeling of unease deep inside her mind and bowels. She does not care for feeling ... anything.

The leader has found the light switch and light floods the room. Shelby eases open eyes and waits for them to notice her. Better effect that way. Shelby does not bother to add their appearance to the data already in her mind - once she has disposed of the intruders it will not be necessary to remember them.

She knows she has been seen when the two in front do a classic double take, eyes wide. The third man cannot be easily read - half of his face is missing and the other half shows nothing. She inhales and expands - muscles rippling. She is wearing a cotton tank top and shorts - both came with her to this place. She has all but outgrown them in the intervening interval - so there is very little left to the imagination. Her height is perhaps a bit above average (she is tall for a female of her ... team) but she gives a sense of greater size then her height can account for. Perhaps a combination of presence and bulk.

They seem impressed. She catches their eyes and speaks, badly. Has probably spoken only once or twice in half a cycle - voice does not want to work. Her body's failure angers her and colors her words. "You. Leave! NOW!"

Their reactions are swift, practiced. Not with each other, she notices. They draw their weapons and wheel to one side, and the one in front unintentionally fouls the aim of his companion as they shift. She pulls her own guns from behind her back and the ini

MERCEDESTROY

Friday, December 17, 2004 2:19 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - GALLEY

ROWAN
“Don't try to over-analyze, yo mei mei. If it's done right, bao is meant for pure enjoyment.”

Merz wonders if it would do any good to tell Rowan that she does not comprehend enjoyment … perhaps not just now.

When Rowan reaches out to her, to run one gentle hand down her right arm, Merz controls the need/urge to flinch away. Such a gesture is foreign to her (for the most part) and she has never gotten used to the casual way civilians touch one another. She has tried to learn the rules of such encounters, but always ends up wondering if there are any.

"Ladies, I believe our work is done here. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for a drink."

Her saathi seems to be somewhat distracted. Rowan moves quickly off when Kaylee announces the “cabinet is open” whatever that means. Merz watches her toss back the drink with interest. She can smell the alcohol from where she is and is not entirely sure she likes it. Not as … good? … as bao anyway. This she will try too. In a little bit.

For the moment she holds, still tasting bao and feeling … something.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

INARAESQUE

Friday, December 17, 2004 6:54 AM (P)

INARA's move. (Yes, finally.)

LOCATION - GALLEY

"Inara, can you explain something to me? Jayne said something I do not comprehend. I would like to ask you for an explanation. I understood ‘closed doors’ easily enough. But when he said ’Cap'n got lucky with you?’ … I do not know what that means. I cannot answer his question. Can you assist me”?"

Merz's question throws Inara quite dramatically. On one hand, if she's ignorant, well, then, it's even less likely that anything ...untoward occured. On the other hand, she cannot help remembering Saffron and Nandi and how utterly lost she'd felt at the (very real) prospects of losing him, of having to see him turn his eyes and attention onto someone else...

Something occurs to Merz and she leaves the kitchen, leaving Inara to brood a while...

*

Rowan takes another bao from the plate and cuts that one in half as well. Turning around, she holds one half out to Merz, and one to Inara.
"For my intrepid assistants."

"Xie-xie, dear," Inara smiles, taking a careful bite of the bao, managing to avoid letting the sauce run down her chin. Her mouth waters and she smiles genuinely. "Absolutely delicious," is the Companion's verdict.

After trying her piece, Merz slowly opens her eyes, to find Rowan and River watching her. Merz just looks at them motionless and expressionless, utterly at a loss for words.

"Don't try to over-analyze, yo mei mei. If it's done right, bao is meant for pure enjoyment." Rowan smiles and looks over the kitchen for a moment, before speaking again. "Ladies, I believe our work is done here. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for a drink."

"It's very strong, be warned," Inara remarks good naturedly. "But a drink would really hit the spot, I think."

Kaylee goes through drawers and cabinets, fetching the spigot and glasses. She sets up the cask of moonshine and arranges the shot glasses around it.
Turning and looking at all in the room, she announces - "The cabinet is officially open. Ya drink this stuff at your own risk. Let the shindig begin!”

Smiling fondly at her mei-mei, Inara gathers up some of the mess in the kitchen, taking care of it as the others head for the moonshine. She ponders how best to phrase the answer to Merz's question...

EOM

MANIACNUMBERONE

Friday, December 17, 2004 8:01 AM (P)

Book's Move
Location: His Quarters

Book holds the object in his hands close to his face, peering intently. The blue glimmer of light deep within the facets of the crystal finally fading away to nothingness, signifying that the preliminary sequence did not lead to the actual initiation of the device. He sighs, relieved. So many possibilities... who has it... how did they come to have it... what are they planning to do with it, if they even know how?

Suddenly realizing that he's been ignoring Mal's reaction to his almost insane behavior, Book catches his breath. A sudden intake of air, his eyes shift worriedly from side to side and large lump appears in his throat. He swallows it down audibly, not looking up from his position, and speaks to Mal. "I'm sorry, Captain. My actions must no doubt seem very odd to you, but please, let me explain."

Book pauses, realizing that he's suddenly ready to tell Mal. To tell him. "Years ago, I... I wasn't always... I'm sorry it's taken me so long to be able to talk to you about my past. I know it's worn on your mind... but not as much as it's worn on mine. I need forgiveness, Captain... Mal. I need your forgiveness." Book begins to weep. The tears sliding slowly down his cheeks and catching on the corners of his mouth. The salt taste poignant and memorable. Still looking down at the now somewhat blurry crystal in his hands, he is overcome. Waiting for some encouragement to continue, he glances to his left to find Mal softly snoring, the container of alcohol completely drained and a smile hanging from his satisfied lips.

EM

MERCEDESTROY

Tuesday, December 21, 2004 3:25 AM (P)

MERZ move

LOCATION - GALLEY

Merz picks up the abandoned plate of bao and moves it to the table where people are beginning to gather. It seemed to be the logical choice of location. She hoped Rowan remembers the second batch that is steaming; Merz received no instructions on that part and does not know how to proceed, should it become necessary.

Now that the cooking seems to be done, Merz is ready, perhaps, to try something new. A ‘drink’, with ‘friends.’ Something normally done when work is finished. She approaches the barrel with a certain amount of trepidation and carefully takes the full shot glass that Rowan turns and hands her. She sniffs gently and carefully at the colorless fluid and then looks up at Rowan, head tilted to one side, as if to request information on how to proceed.

Rowan is quick on the uptake and demonstrates how to toss back the shot. It looks like the second one goes down easier.

Merz, still not speaking, follows suit. The result rather catches her by surprise. The liquid is cold in the glass, or at least the same ambient temperature as the room. But in her mouth, esophagus and stomach it burns with an unexpected intensity. Passing thoughts chase through her mind, should she have sipped it first? Is it going to stay in place? She gulps a breath, and looks at Rowan, a bit wide-eyed herself.

MERZ
"Is it" , she coughed gently, "supposed to do that?"

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

CHANNAIN

Tuesday, December 21, 2004 7:43 PM (P)

Rowan's Move
LOCATION: The Galley

Even after knocking back her third, Rowan can still feel the effects of Kaylee's powerful concoction. Might take a bit more than she figured initially to alleviate the burning. Hopefully before any damage was done to her stomach lining. Judging by the cacophony of reactions that barely show on Merz's features - her eyes even go wide, which is a first - Rowan determines that the fact that Merz is showing her surprise at all indicates the hooch could have the potential to blind the unsuspecting.

ROWAN (raspy): "Oh yeah - this is definitely not for the young."

MERZ: "Is it," she coughed gently, "supposed to do that?"

Rowan can only nod. She's had varying degrees of shipboard hooch before. One was so strong that she actually had to stop after five drinks when her teeth went numb. This isn't quite that far and has a nice spicy turn to it...no, wait, that's the bao.

Bao... there's still bao in the steamer!

ROWAN: "Lashî!"

Setting the shot glass down quickly, she darts into the kitchen and lifts the cover on the steamer to find a dozen fully cooked gems waiting to be plucked free from the heat.

Rowan sends up a silent wish of thanks to the Almighty and all the ancestors who just saved her from a hellish visit from the spirit of the craziest grandmother in the 'verse. Setting the cover down, she takes the tongs and starts removing the last of the bao.

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
Minnesota Meetup - join us! http://firefly.meetup.com/45/

MERCEDESTROY

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 1:12 AM (P)

DAMON’s move

LOCATION – SPARE DORM

In darkness, and deep in thought, Damon continues to remember …

DAMON
“Did you ever think about what you would do if you were free?”

Xiang spoke, of his past, of what he was beginning to remember. Of the one he was starting to remember again. And finally …

XIANG
"I am not quite free yet. But when I am, I will find the one who gave this to me and hope I will not end up dead when I do."

Back in the present, Damon muses. Xiang had a purpose beyond escape, something to be free for. ~ What do I have? When I am finally free - what then?~ Somehow he had never really thought that far into the future. What was he going to do when he is free? When this mark is no longer on him and no one seeks him, what comes next?

Lying on his back, hands behind his head, Damon ponders the future. Starting from when he gets out of this room. Or starting with the talk he is going to have to submit to from Captain Reynolds. ~… just let me get through that, and then I will try to see the next step …~

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

MERCEDESTROY

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 1:36 AM (P)

KAYLEE’S move

LOCATION - DINING ROOM As ...

ROWAN (rather breathlessly)
"Smooth."

Kaylee grinned at her as she filled her up again, appreciating her response. Yup, that is a good batch. She filled up a few more of the glasses and left them around the barrel. As she watched Merz drink she lifted one up herself and took a taste. Whoosh, that was harsh. She stifled her grin behind a hand as Merz commented “Is it supposed to do that?” Why, you’d think she never had a belt before.

She finishes up her drink and sets down the glass. Jayne is contemplating the barrel and the beer in his hand, apparently weighing possibilities. Rowan has dashed back into the Galley to rescue whatever she was cookin’, Bao by the look of the plate on the table. Merz is motionless, staring intently at her empty glass like she’s stunned er sumpthin’. River is watching Rowan, maybe pickin’ up some cooking techniques, who knows with her.

For the moment, no one is paying any attention to Kaylee, and that suits her just fine. She sneaks a piece of bao off of the plate and heads for the door. Time to head back to the cargo area and finish the one last chore. Don’t need no help either, by the time they’s done with their shindig, she’s gonna have that box all rigged and ready to go.

She slips out the door without a backward glance. She’ll party later, when Simon has returned.

EOM

If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress

MANIACNUMBERONE

Wednesday, December 22, 2004 2:19 AM (P)

Book's Move
Location: His Quarters

Wiping his eyes, Book turns away from a snoozing Mal, and begins to turn the crystal device over and over in his hands. Book stands and walks uneasily to small counter under his mirror, and opens a small box. Inside his past springs out to meet him... many of the things he'd worn on his uniform, the medals and commendations received while fighting for a cause he never wanted to be a part of.

Glancing at Mal again quickly, he listens to the slow measured breaths that signify sleep. It doesn't matter though, does it? Whether he sleeps or he's awake. A heavy sigh, long and drawn out, then the time had come. "I used to be a part of the Alliance. I did unspeakable things. Things which I am sure may lead me to Hell. I want to tell you why. I need to..." As he speaks, Book paces the room quietly. When he stops and takes his seat again on his hard cot, Mal's eyes are open again, and a look of confusion masks his face.

EM

CAPNRAHN

Thursday, December 23, 2004 5:31 PM (P)

IDEA HOLDER

Mal wakes up from an old nightmare of him crawling through a crow-feild - but the memory has a twist. It started off back before the end of the war. It was on some godforsaken hell hole called Anubis or some such. The dream turns bad as Mal finds himself crawling over the dead and decaying bodies with not only Zoe, but all of the folks that were now on Serenity. The dream takes its twist into unreality as a panicked crewmember screams and freaks out. It starts off as Tracy, but melds into Damon. The screaming and thrashing alerts the brigade of hunting Purplebellies to their presence. Worse yet - the noise actually wakes the dead. As the dead claw and tear at his crew and passengers Mal is paralyzed with indecision. Every putrefied and decaying face on the mobile dead is one that Mal has burned into his memory -- those he has had to shuffle off this mortal coil.

With a huff he wakes up -- and sees Book with the remnants of tears on his cheeks. Mal is mortally sober now - at least mind-wise, his body is still trying to catch up and does not function at 100%

Mal stands unsteady and clasps Book on both his shoulders, his hands unconsciously digging into the muscles in Book's upper arms.

MAL
... voice deep with emotion and steady in its meter and timbre...
"Past is past - are you with ME now? I need you with me, the crew needs you."

His words drift off as his sharp and unglazed focus drives deep into Book's eyes.

EOIH

OOC : Hope that helps ... got more to say, but this will have to do...

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

CAPNRAHN

Thursday, December 23, 2004 6:03 PM (P)

NEW ACT THREAD!!!!

ACT 25: http://fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=17&t=8331

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