Still muttering and straightening his suspenders, Mal strode into the mess, looking for Simon. He found him at the table, sharing breakfast with Kaylee and Inara. They were all trying their best and failing to suppress grins. He glowered at the bunch, daring them to make any sort of comment. He headed for the galley. “You ladies mind if I have a word with the doctor?” he asked as he poured water from the kettle into his cup. The question was really an order. Inara politely rose, took her breakfast, and exited without a word. Kaylee gave Simon a quick peck on the forehead.

“Not a problem…” she paused at the doorway, “Cap’n Pansy-pants.” She bolted for the engine room before Mal could shout anything at her. Simon stifled a laugh and quickly tried to reorient his face into a semblance of seriousness. Mal scooped some tea into his cup and stirred it before settling down at the table opposite Simon.

“Wanted to have a quick talk about River,” Mal started.

“She’s a teenage girl,” Simon defended.

“Not about the paint,” Mal cut him off. “I wanted to tell you that she’s comin’ with me to the meet.” Simon’s mouth opened, but Mal silenced him a gesture. “Now before you get all riled, hear me out. I know things didn’t go quite so well last time she came ‘long on a job. Some unpleasantries were exchanged afterward,” Mal flexed his jaw, remembering one in particular. “But all that’s long past.”

“Captain, you threatened to throw us off if I didn’t let her go, and you all nearly got savaged by Reavers.”

“Well, things is a might different now, if you hadn’t noticed. For one, y’all are part of my crew, and you weren’t before. But that also means you gotta take my orders, whether you like ‘em or not.” Simon simmered a little, but knew the captain was right on that point. “Two, she’s eighteen years old now. That’s legal adult. You can’t tell her what to do no more if she don’t wanna do it.”

“But she still needs someone to look after her. She doesn’t know enough about crime and the circles you mo