The Losing Side, Chapter 46
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Wash gets back from solitary confinement, and Mal gets some of his questions answered when the two of them talk.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3029 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
Remembering Wash's self-assured treatment of Straaker, Mal picked up a blanket and walked back outside, offering it wordlessly to Wash. Wash's eyes softened gratefully, and Mal helped him wrap it around his shoulders and bury his face in the figment of shelter. Unlike Straaker, Wash wasn't crying. His haunted expression was far too tight and - numb - for tears.
"Khiloh left this for ya'," said Mal quietly, perching the puppet on Wash's shoulder, the soft fleece near his face. He figured even a grown man might find it a comfort after spending a week in a concrete cell. Wash rested his head against it with a tiny smile and closed his eyes.
Mal sat beside Wash, both of them disinclined to talk for a good while. He was profoundly grateful to have Wash back in one piece, and the presence of a friend had a soothing effect. Worrying over someone else was a good deal easier than having to focus on his own situation.
Mal trickled the small pebbles of gravel through his fingers as he remembered his one trip to solitary confinement. In a fit of boredom, he’d managed to turn the tables on one of his dull-witted interrogators and gotten him to reveal the administrative override code for the prison access controls.
The fury of his captors had done nothing to spoil his glee, and getting tossed in solitary had seemed a mild punishment. Determined to simply accept the situation and not let the psychological barbs get to him, he found the days passed easily enough. Dark and quiet are peaceful.
Finally Wash opened his eyes and shifted position. He was squinting painfully, bright daylight stinging eyes accustomed to dark.
“Looks like you’ve been having a pretty rough time, kinda makes my theory that you were on a tropical vacation fall apart,” said Mal, giving Wash an understanding grin and keeping his voice quiet so as not to grate on ears habituated to silence. Wash didn't smile back, venture a humorous reply, or even bite Mal's head off.
“Might help ta' think ahead to a time when you
AMDOBELL: I don't think I'll break your heart…..or at least I hope not. I'm fundamentally too fluffy a writer to not give this a happy ending. Well, actually, I have already….Mal getting his beloved ship, Wash and Zoe finding true love……I'm looking forward to writing those very much.
Katesfriend: Yes, this has indeed been a learning experience!
Slumming: He's been confounding and not making a lot of sense because, well, I don't/didn't know how to write original characters, and up until very recently, I didn't even know how I might change him to be a better, more believable character without destroying what I wanted him to be. Thanks to everyone's input, I think I'm finally figuring that out, so I'll know what to do if I do end up re-writing parts down the road.
NCbrowncoat: Thanks!
Guildsister: "The scene between Mal and Khiloh was spot on. The reversal of the kindness/cruelty aspect was very well handled. It was *Khiloh* who was more cruel to Mal than Lambert via Khiloh's attempt at kindness through forced submission. Excellent. The aspect of Mal approaching this as a sergeant who's dealt with such men and issues before was really good way to deal with the scene and the character. It brought to the surface a part of the 'real' Mal that the prison and defeat experience had squelched and left floundering."
I am sooooo happy that worked! I wanted it to very badly :) Re: Mal and God….I agree with you completely. Just put up with me for a little bit ;) I do have a very firm grasp on the ending….and I'm looking forward to it greatly.
HeWhoKicksALot: The darkness and what it says about me is probably my deepest insecurity about this story. There are parts of it I'm not entirely comfortable with having written, knowing they came from my head.
BlueEyedBrigadier: I would be insanely flattered if you were to use that as your tagline! Thrilled to death. Regarding Mal and God, I echo what I said to Guildsister. I agree…..and patience, dear readers :) Thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts and insights. Seeing what people are thinking about the story and where it's headed is the most valuable learning tool ever.
Mal4Prez: Heeee! :snickers:
You can't take the sky from me
This was definitely all kinds of brilliant stuff here, I have to admit. The dichotomy between Mal and Wash over Wash's perspective about his supposed "weakness" was beautifully played and we really get to see just how the characters are coming along to where they were at the start of the BDS. Though I do have to admit that Mal's remarks to Wash about how his actions with giving Mal comfort after he originally got dumped into general housing reminding him of what Zoe did for him during the war seem odd, since I would think this kind of knowledge would have helped Wash be LESS jealous of what Mal and Zoe have rather than the same or more. But that's just me;)
BEB
Post Your Comments
You must log in to post comments.