Choices of Serenity - Part 1
Monday, July 3, 2006
Since taking River and Simon on board the crew is finding it difficult to make ends meet. Mal is starting to feel the pressure on him to keep his crew together.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 2542 RATING: 9.0 (PG) SERIES: FIREFLY
Locating the principal of depravity on any rock used to be very easy. All one had to do was spread the word they were crewing a smuggling ship, or had a gun hand for hire, and within a few hours you’d hear the toll of reprobate boot heels landing on the ramp. Serenity had been relishing its part in this dance; choices about work to come were easy to make. Jobs that afforded the opportunity to slide a tack under the heel of the Alliance were accepted, with little thought. The only real choices came if the job didn’t pay much, or put innocents at risk.
Mal rarely struggled with choices; he saw things as pretty much black and white, right and wrong. He fancied himself as a bit of a gangster, but when confronted with a moral dilemma, the gangster vanished, revealing the benevolent nature of his inner being. Bringing Simon and River Tam on board was the natural choice; the ship needed a doctor, even better, a doctor who could pay.
Mal’s decision to allow the young doctor and his sister to refuge on board Serenity was costing the crew dearly. The Alliance had been alerted to stop all Firefly class transports, in search of two very important fugitives from justice. Any captain of a Firefly was finding it hard to move anything that wasn’t completely legitimate.
Badger knew Mal was a keen enough smuggler boss to keep his cargos hidden from even the most prying Alliance eyes. However, the turn of events that spotlighted Firefly’s for extra attention gave him the opportunity to change the contract rules to his own advantage. Even if the Alliance didn’t take chase, he’d tell Mal the shipment had been devalued, and then offer payment at a substantially reduced rate. Badger had Serenity by the cullions; he was one of the few, wang da ban still willing to procure the services of the Serenity crew.
***
Burning skyward away from Persephone, Badger’s prized consignment strapped to the deck, Serenity got humped. Routine called for Simon and River to suit up and take residence a step away
"Locating the principal of depravity on any rock used to be very easy." and "slide a tack under the heel of the Alliance": you are a gorram ruttin' genius, Spaceman.
"Badger had Serenity by the cullions": I'm loving the use of the archaic word for male gonads, *smirk.*
"Burning skyward away from Persephone, Badger’s prized consignment strapped to the deck, Serenity got humped."--Mmmm so much goodness in this line. All beauty.
And once again you give me my Jayne at his most Jayne-ish best: “Mal turned tail an' went all sissy again!” Jayne blurted. “Let that scum-bag take an extra 20 off the top, didn’t even haggle with 'im!”
No better description of Simon in love exists than this one: "Simon felt in heaven, he loved the attention Kaylee gave him, but he never knew how to respond. All of the answers in his head were programmed, “doctor speak”, the romantic emotion cut from the words he tried to say. But oh how he loved the way she spoke, it turned him inside out. She bested him every time she opened her mouth to speak, her slang hitting him on the lips, causing paralysis, breaking his thoughts as he fumbled for a response."
Here's a piece that Charles Dickens coulda written, and would have, if he'd known about Whedon's 'verse: “Here we go!” Simon announced quirking his head to the side, as the trio came up on the bustling parlor. Curious little faces pressed against the glass of the cases, while older hands passed credits across to the vendors on the other side. All the while, scions running around, reaching to their parents for the prized treat, lapping at cones in complete contentment.
Let's talk about River now. Whose first thought upon seeing happy children would be the idea that they're undamaged...? Why, River's! Of course she'd feel that way about kids. Sigh. I was saddened at the realization and yet I agree with you 100%. "River loved children; they fascinated her. Her own childhood had been stolen from her, and she seemed to revel in the sight of the youngsters, so innocent, and undamaged."
You already know how I feel about your way with the wandering Shepherd, but again, here you are doing absolutely gorram right by him: “Mal, you always end up on the right side, it’s a part of you. Even when you try not to, you end up there.” Book continued to counsel. “It’s why you have the crew you do, its why you carry two fugitives on the ship, it’s why you put up with Jayne. You are good at the core Mal, your heart is gold, and the worm can’t penetrate.”
I love your new character. His name is perfect, his intentions are made manifest by the first sentence you type about his interaction with Mal: “My name is Jobe Dyer, I’m in need of a gun hand.” He looked the captain in the eyes."....Any new customer who will look the captain in the eyes has to be one I want to know more about.
Spacie, I love your work. Give me more and tell me quick how the daughter stealing is gonna happen. I don't want her dad to have to wait one minute longer than he has to.
You can't take the sky from me
Hehehe crates marked 'Novelties'
LOL @ Jayne being so concerned about the money, well written.
Book preaching to supplement their income = good call. Finding Serenity was probably one of the best things that happened to the man, and I am glad that you wrote him as thinking of it as home, as I know he did.
BWAHAHAHA @ Jayne wanting a 'sister' for Vera.
*'minister of public relations'*
HAHA so many good lines here man, wonderful stuff.
Aight, hurry up with chapter 2. :)
well, i LOVED this paragraph:"Mal rarely struggled with choices; he saw things as pretty much black and white, right and wrong. He fancied himself as a bit of a gangster, but when confronted with a moral dilemma, the gangster vanished, revealing the benevolent nature of his inner being. Bringing Simon and River Tam on board was the natural choice; the ship needed a doctor, even better, a doctor who could pay." you have a great way with words! (it shows throughout the whole piece)
and the "minister of public relations"!! that ALWAYS cracks me up. I totally agree with Washie about your portrayal of River, and it reminds me a lot of how she was in "Dead or Alive" the unaired script (and yes, you need to read that!) annnnnnnnnnnnd, I agree with Washie about, um, well, everything else! She's taken my words from me!! *snatches back the words and gives them to you as a present from herself* :D hee hee
great story spacie! a total ten! keep it up, I can't wait to read the next installment. now to go back and read about jayne in a thong....muah ha ha!!! >:D
Oh...and I loved your River/Kaylee/Simon digression from the plot, as Simon's mental description of his love for Kaylee and River's love of small children as a way of dealing with her own traumatized childhood really explored the unique and fascinating aspects of the characters that never had a chance to be explored:D
BEB
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