Title: Tea – Darjeeling

Author: Sage Darkwoods

Fandom/Pairing: Firefly; canon

Rating: G

Word Count: 1700

Genre: gen

Spoilers: set after “Serenity” the movie

Disclaimer: Firefly and Serenity belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made.

Comments: The “Tea” series continues, and this time it’s River’s turn. Thanks to beta Arkaidy, who pointed out some crucial things.

River’s tap on the shuttle door was unexpected, as was her request. “I would like to participate in a tea party,” she stated matter-of-factly, standing straight and poised at the doorway. “Ladies of proper upbringing are required to attend afternoon teas as part of the socializing process of maturity.” Her hair, normally a tangled mess, had been tamed slightly with water, and she wore a deep pink filmy dress that hung to her knees. It was one she wore when she went to dance in the cargo bay, as the overlay twirled about her like wings. But she didn’t look like she was ready to dance; the expression on her face was a study in seriousness, one that didn’t quite fit.

Inara beckoned her in, slightly bemused expression kept in check. “What prompted this, River?” She motioned to a cushion on the floor near the bed, where she had been in the process of meditating. River padded over on bare feet, and half-fell, half-curtseyed onto it.

River’s serious expression broke, and she stared at Inara with a doleful look, all doe eyes gone round. “I just turned seventeen!”

Biting her lower lip, Inara bent down to the teenager and smoothed a hand across the top of her head, unruly hair refusing to be smoothed. “Mei mei, your brother didn’t tell us it was your birthday.”

River stuck out her tongue. “Simple Simon had no penny, so could not get any pie,” she grumbled. “Doesn’t mean no one else can have any. Fishing for whales, fishing for compliments, fishing for an excuse. He has no dates on his calendar.” She had come a long way since the incident on Miranda, but she still enjoyed sp