Even Roses Have Thorns, chapter nine
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
River gets a surprise she doesn't want, and a that present she does. PG13 for grown up topics. Somewhat fluffy. ish.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3010 RATING: 9.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
Chapter Nine: In loco parentis (in the place of a parent)
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The first two chapters are here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14482 three and four are here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14503, five is here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14520, six is here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14545, seven is here:http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14554& and eight is here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=14561
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As Simon lay in bed, reviewing the events of the day, he noted that while Kaylee still wasn’t talking to him, she’d started to acknowledge his presence, and that cheered him unreasonably, even though it was clear that she wasn’t over her nearly week long snit (so far) just yet. Nonetheless, Simon tried to look on the bright side. It might not be much, but as Mal would say, it was enough – for the moment, at least.
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Later that night Simon awoke to the sound of River’s frantic whispering, “Simon, wake up! I’m bleeding!”
She’d turned on his lights and was kneeling by his bed, near his face. He was instantly alert. “Where, River? Can you walk to the infirmary?”
River suddenly looked down at her hands, wordlessly. Insight dawned that she was embarrassed, which meant – . He spoke gently. “River, are you bleeding from a place only girls have, or a place that girls and boys share?”
“Girls,” the seventeen year old whispered.
“River, this is good news. It means you’re finally at a healthy weight, Mei-mei. Please don’t be scared.”
“Simon, it’s gross. There’s ichor!”
“It’s not ichor, Mei-mei, it’s just old blood. In a day or two it will be fresher blood, redder. You’ll see.”
“Make it stop!”
“I can’t. And shouldn’t, either. When you have a few normal cycles – say three – then we can have a look at birth control and menses suppression options. Okay?”
“I want it to stop!”
“Come on Mei-mei, let’s get you in the shower. When you’re clean and dry, you’ll feel be
Is fluffy the correct word for this?
We're going to get a convo between Simon and Kaylee soon, right? They need one so badly!
I, too, thought it would be Kaylee that River runs to, as the most "approachable" female onboard - angry or not, Kaylee wouldn't leave River hanging. Extra points to Simon for actually sucking it up and trying to explain it, though.
Am I reading too much in to say that Zoe had another motive for helping? If she thinks Simon's up to something, chances are good River's in on it, too. Zoe didn't grill her while she was in the bath, right?
Rotf! Yeah, it does the same to me when it keeps losing my comments and I have to re-login and retype everything.
Loved the everyone-helping-Kaylee part of things. She's an ungrateful wretch, not thanking folks for their help.
Like the Simon/Zoe thing that seems to be happening. Y'know, your characters may be suggesting a direction you didn't intend to have happen ... hint hint
Love that Simon had a gift for River. Despite his putting River before anyone else, he would make an excellent husband.
And I gotta give you props for River's reaction, girlfan...a lot of us would have ignored the concept of menstruation except for his absence indicating pregnancy or made River analytical and calm about the whole process. The choice to have her freak out - though still remain within the characterization Joss & co. established for River - is an excellent one, as it allows River to have human moments where things she missed out on for one reason or another occur;D
BEB
Given River's height, and her weight as given in the movie (possibly changed for dramatic purposes), her extreme altheticism (which would ensure she had as little as possible fat on her body), and the diet she's been on since boarded Serenity (likely to maintain, but not increase, weight), and given the fact that these are factors that the Academy likely enhanced - I think it's really more likely than not that she's never had a period.
She might have had one before she went - but she was fourteen, but it wouldn't be unlikely that she didn't - and I doubt the Academy would have even considered putting up with menstrating teenage girls - they'd probably have chemically or surgically inhibited it if she had started.
So, that was my logic.
River kissed Simon’s cheek in an answer to his question. - how very River
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