The dining area was becoming slowly populated. Simon and Kaylee entered first, moving around the kitchen preparing dinner while occasionally distracting themselves with more pleasant undertakings. Mal and Zoe came in next from the general direction of the cockpit. Though Zoe stayed and began setting places at the table, Mal lingered only long enough to confirm dinner was indeed almost ready before exiting the opposite direction of his entrance. On his way out he passed Jayne and they exchanged a silent nod of greeting before continuing on their separate courses. Jayne grabbed himself a drink and quiet conversation began to lull around the room. There wasn’t much in the way of speaking, but there was a sound that felt of occupied space and of companionship.

By the time Mal returned with River, Inara, and Krys just behind him, dinner was set out and Jayne and Zoe were discussing guns.

“I’m not saying nothing against the newer Raz-A.C.s,” Jayne insisted, tilting his glass towards Zoe to make a point. “They just don’t got flair, is all. I like something with a bit of a…” Jayne trailed off, his eyes turning and focusing on the group entering the room. His glance immediately caught Krys, and it took him a moment to place her as the dirty barmaid who had boarded the ship. The clip holding her hair away from her face glittered subtly in the light, and Inara’s dark blue apparel was much more complimentary to Krys’s figure than her wench’s garb.

“Kick,” Jayne finished absently, setting his drink onto the table without taking much notice of it. Jayne’s flighty attention was not the only one fixed on the newcomer. The earlier comfortable noises seemed to have dulled as they all took stock of the figure standing just inside the door. While the sleeveless dress may have been good for her general appearance, it also showed the worst of the marks on her arms and legs, though it thankfully covered the worst of the scars and the brand on her shoulder. Mal, Zoe, and Jayne were able to look past these without much recognition