Firefly, Serenity, and all related proprietary characters are the intellectual property of Joss Whedon and corporations with whom I have no affiliation. Said property does not belong to me, and the fictional story below is of my own creation. (I don’t own ‘em, just like to play with ‘em!)

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River woke up in a daze, fearful and crying. Straining to shut her eyes and avoid the bright light, she tried to move her arms without success. She quickly realized they were tied, not to a table, but behind her back. Her legs were also restrained, and her torso was also bound. After a few seconds, she realized she must be in a chair in Serenity’s kitchen. Searching with her mind, River quickly discovered everyone was in very close proximity and quite upset. She tried without much success to calm down, but after a moment the tears began to subside. “Why is everyone so angry? And who used her safe word? It hurts ! Burns her mind, and the hands of blue can chase her for hours, and she can’t stop them, and they won’t leave her alone!” River cautiously opened her eyes, still trembling in fear.

“Hurts, huh? You don’t have any idea why everyone is upset?” Mal’s voice was icy calm, the one River recognized as his ‘I am seriously pissed off’ voice. “Maybehaps it has something to do with being confined to their bunks for no reason. There better be a gorram good explanation for this, or you will not appreciate the repercussions.”

River’s eyes went wide. “But she had to! She tried to think of other plans, but it wasn’t working. She’s sorry, it’s important, and she thought everyone would figure it out and understand. Please, let her explain, she’ll try to make it clearer. She’ll do whatever you want, but don’t use her safe-word again! Please please don’t! It hurts sooooooo much, and she can’t make it stop!” River looked around the room, verging on hysterical. She was sitting at the head of the table. Mal must have been behind her. Simon was sitting on one side, Inara on the other. Zoë and Jayne w