Beginning's End Part 8
Friday, March 2, 2007
Zoe's thoughts on the new passenger, Stephanie comes clean to Mal, and Inara rejoins Serenity. Rated PG13ish for traumatic memories. Thanks a million to all of you who consistently give such constructive feedback (you know who you are!) and keep it coming!!
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 2852 RATING: 9.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
See Part 1 for super duper disclaimer action.
If you haven't, read the first 7 parts first, or this won't make a whole lot of sense.
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“Lakai? As in, here, Lakai?” Wash asked incredulously. Zoe nodded.
“She was part of the Lakaian resistance before the Independents ever united into an army,” she replied. “She was telling me about it earlier.”
“Why’d she do that? I don’t mean to sound harsh, dear, but she hasn’t exactly known you a long time…”
“You know, I really don’t know.” Zoe leaned against the console next to Wash, looking down at him as he sat back in the pilot’s chair. “I just went in to talk to her, kinda get a feel for what she’s lookin’ for. Then all of a sudden, we’re laughing back and forth and tellin’ those stories you hate so much.” She reached out to take her husband’s hand. “Wash, it’s been years since I had a friend like that. I love you. I love you more than anything. But sometimes it’s nice to- to have another female to talk to. And the war and everything… those just aren’t experiences Inara or Kaylee can really understand.”
“And River is River,” Wash filled in.
“It’s just…. It’s nice, is all.”
“Having someone around who’s more like you.”
“Yeah.”
“Have you seen Mal around lately?” Wash asked.
“I caught him in the hallway and told him what Simon said about Stephanie. He was gonna stop in and see her before he went to bed. You need him for something?”
“No, I was just wondering how he’s holding up. Man needs sleep. I hated to wake him up earlier, but it couldn’t be helped.” Wash yawned expansively. “Come to think of it, I could use some sleep myself. Soon as I get this baby on the ground, I’m headed to bed. Couple of days, at least.”
Zoe leaned in to kiss him on the corner of his mouth, still holding his hand, as she left the bridge. “You can wake me up when you get there, bao bei.”
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“Well, look who’s good and awake. How’re you doin’?” Mal asked Steph
You can't take the sky from me
Yay for Zoe having a friend! I'm glad you went that way instead of having the two of them hating each other :-)
It's also nice that Zoe and Stephanie get along, and that Zoe has someone to fill that missing gap.
And I must thank you for the lovely word-picture of Mal holding the sleeping Stephanie in the infirmary.....I treasure any fic that can evoke those warm, adoring feelings that I have when someone writes Mal in-character, sweet, and caring.
Definitely gotta sit with jetflair about Inara's reaction: she's a Companion of the highest order and too skillful for her own good...but she human, in love and blindsided by the mysterious presence of Stephanie in the infirmary. Lay down good money that by the time Mal catches up to her - and he better go after her, damn it! - she will have schooled herself perfectly. Though I don't think this is post-Heart of Gold because you would think seeing Mal with another woman like that would have made her even more upset. That and her waffling over the decision to leave strikes me as something that she would be dealing with before Nandi's death.
BEB
Also, while Inara's first reaction would tend to be jealousy, I think she'd have a brisk conversation with Mal before dashing off to cry... But since you set this after Heart of Gold and before Objects in Space, she's probably a bit tender on the whole subject.
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