note: the book seph n dan are readin in this act is 'wuthering heights' by emily brontë. you should read it! not because you have to to understand this, but because it's the best! also, i'm sorry if the first act was confusin (also if it was confusin that it was the first of more acts). hopefully things become more clear in this one =D

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“I wasn’t impressed.”

“Hu?” Daniel didn’t look up from his book.

“By his take-off. I wasn’t impressed.” Sephora was absent-mindedly flicking her knife. “I could have done better, doncha think? Li-wu?”

Daniel gave up and put his book down, slightly exasperated. “It was nothing extraordinary, but what do you expect, it’s just a take-off!”

“River would-“ Sephora paused, plagued by sudden pain. “You didn’t feel a jolt,” she finally muttered.

“Yes, well, River was River.” Oddly this seemed justification enough. “This guy is a bit odd, but we must have just got off to a bad start, do you not think?”

Sephora shrugged. “I dunno. Somethin about him just bothers me.”

“Maybe-” Daniel closed his mouth sharply as his Father stepped into the mess with the new pilot in tow.

“Well, Zuriel, I think that’s about it.” The Captain spotted Sephora and Daniel lurking in the corner. “How about you guys get to know each other?” Mal was conscious that their latest crewmember was worryingly closer to the children’s age than his own.

“Actually, I was gonna go do some weights before bed,” Sephora jumped to her feet. “Li-wu, wanna spot me?”

Daniel caught his Father’s stern eye and decided it was defiantly best to stay. “Maybe in a bit, Seph.”

“Li-wu,” she hissed.

“If you want to go, that’s fine,” Zuriel put in, his tone touching on resentful.

“No, I was going to have a drink. Would you like something?”

Sephoria flounced off before the new pilot could reply.

“I’ll leave you two then… I’ve got… Captain-type things to be doin…” Mal said, slipping out.

“I’d love a cup of tea.” Zuriel sat.

“Urm… We have coffee,” Daniel offered.

“That’d