Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL
BANDIAGARA (09) Part (03)
Friday, November 4, 2011
Keeping Books
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3602 RATING: 10.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
BANDIAGARA (09)
Part (03)
Follows . Precedes . The series so far: Keeping Books | * * * She couldn’t find Mal on the bridge. Inara looked all over the boat, and finally found him in his bunk, sitting at his desk hunched over a set of books. He was biting the end of his stylus, running the fingers of his other hand through his hair, and he looked dog tired. Mal had been working indefatigably ever since Serenity had lifted off from the surface of Beylix. First he helped Kaylee install some engine parts. Mal only visited the bridge to confirm course settings, leaving the piloting to River and Zoe, and letting Zoe take over executive functions until the top priority engine repairs were complete. The repair work continued on the bridge with rep
Comments
ZOESMOM
Friday, 04 November 2011 13:46
Yes, Mal, you should ask her!!!
Friday, 04 November 2011 15:05
That was interesting and shows why Mal understands River so well, cause he's crazy too.
Friday, 04 November 2011 17:10
Ummm....Nutluck...you do know all these conversations with Book are just taking place in Mal's head, right? He sorts things out by having a mental confab with his idea of Book...but yeah, he's also a bit crazy. :-)
Friday, 04 November 2011 19:28
Although I'd laugh pretty hard if Inara is really the one having "Book's" side of the conversation with confused half-awake Mal here.
Yep, sleep marriage proposals. Good goin' Mal.
Yep, sleep marriage proposals. Good goin' Mal.
Friday, 04 November 2011 19:31
Though most of it is probably coming across as incoherent mumbling. Possibly about "trees" and "shovels."
Friday, 04 November 2011 22:11
I was wondering if Inara was listening to Mal's dream conversation, too:)
I like Mal's musings on the crew, and his insecurity when the conversation turns to Inara toward the end.
I think Inara would be very efficient with the books and has a good sense of enterprise, plus she needs to feel fulfilled on the ship beyond what Mal defines as useful; of course I don’t think Mal really cares what she does on the ship as long as she doesn’t leave him.
I like Mal's musings on the crew, and his insecurity when the conversation turns to Inara toward the end.
I think Inara would be very efficient with the books and has a good sense of enterprise, plus she needs to feel fulfilled on the ship beyond what Mal defines as useful; of course I don’t think Mal really cares what she does on the ship as long as she doesn’t leave him.
Friday, 04 November 2011 22:56
To sort out the confusion: Mal is asleep. He is dreaming. In his dreams, he imagines what Book would say. Inara may or may not still be in his room at this point. She doesn't hear what's going on in his head. I never thought this would come across as so confusing. Maybe I should re-write the lead-in, but I did say he fell asleep! What else should I add to make this clear? ~:-o
Saturday, 05 November 2011 00:16
Platonist, thanks for your comments. It's nice to do a round-robin on the crew, and I think that Mal (asleep or not!) would periodically think about the situation of every one of his crew. Of course he focuses most of his attention on Inara, and of course that's where the situation is most confusing to him. ZoesMom--so you're with Book (or is it "Book"?) in thinking Mal should just say what he's thinking? Do you think Inara would go for it? Platonist--VERY good point about Inara. She is not a person who feels comfortable just sitting around being ornamental. She wants to have a purpose and do something significant. Mal hasn't really figured this out yet, as he kind of has blinders on as far as WHY she is a Companion. Bytemite--Foreshadowing--yeah. Trees???? Nutluck--and they say River's the crazy one.
Saturday, 05 November 2011 00:58
Oh, I know he's asleep. That's why dream conversation but with her in reality would be hilarious.
When my brother used to sleep talk, he used to say the most random things, like talking about shovels and trees. I'm wondering if Mal might be the same way.
When my brother used to sleep talk, he used to say the most random things, like talking about shovels and trees. I'm wondering if Mal might be the same way.
Saturday, 05 November 2011 01:11
That would be funny, to have a scene in which Mal's asleep and talking randomly, and Inara's in reality. Maybe I'll have to write it some time. Or maybe YOU can write it, Bytemite! :-)
Sunday, 06 November 2011 20:37
Loved the chapter ebfiddler! I was just able to catch up!
So, opening the books could also be seen as opening up to BOOK? The Shepherd sitting there struck me at first as being a little odd, then I thought that this may a time before the BDM….. then I came to see that it was his spirit, or maybe Mals’ conscious. I didn’t think the preacher would just budge in on Mal in his private quarters. The Shepherd was always full of surprises but not those kind like invasion of privacy. Good job!
Mal & Inara’s relationship during the Firefly series was always one that intrigued me. Always knew they’d take it slowly, it’s one of the things I really liked.
Glad that they are making strides with one another though…. I like that too.
Looking foreword to more…BPZ
So, opening the books could also be seen as opening up to BOOK? The Shepherd sitting there struck me at first as being a little odd, then I thought that this may a time before the BDM….. then I came to see that it was his spirit, or maybe Mals’ conscious. I didn’t think the preacher would just budge in on Mal in his private quarters. The Shepherd was always full of surprises but not those kind like invasion of privacy. Good job!
Mal & Inara’s relationship during the Firefly series was always one that intrigued me. Always knew they’d take it slowly, it’s one of the things I really liked.
Glad that they are making strides with one another though…. I like that too.
Looking foreword to more…BPZ
Sunday, 06 November 2011 20:59
Thanks, BPZ, glad you had a chance to catch up. Good catch on the book/Book stream-of-consciousness thing. Everybody seems a little confused about Book just dropping into Mal's bunk to chat, so I'll just say that it isn't the first time...Book (or rather, Mal's imagining of Book) made an appearance in Break Out, my fifth story (not that anyone but me would remember! *grin*). It's my way of working Book (and Wash, too) back into the story from time to time. Nothing supernatural or magical or time warp going on here...just Mal (always when he's asleep, tired, or just kinda spaced out and mentally drifting) having an internal dialog with one side of the conversation projected onto his memories of one of his lost crew members. If you watch closely, you'll find that Dream-Book (and Dream-Wash, in his segments) doesn't really say anything that Mal might not say or think for himself. Dream-Book doesn't reveal anything stunning that Mal doesn't already know: he just makes Mal confront things that he tries to hide from himself.
I have lots of plans for Mal and Inara...over the course of lots of stories. Hope you'll like the journey.
I have lots of plans for Mal and Inara...over the course of lots of stories. Hope you'll like the journey.
Monday, 07 November 2011 02:33
I wasn't confused by the Book scene. i always knew Mal was crazy. :)
Monday, 07 November 2011 15:59
Okay, reading over this string of comments and responses, it seems to me I've just been WAY too earnest about reacting to all this Mal's-crazy-and-talks-to-dead-people stuff. And I bethought me of the Joss Whedon principle of "get your characters into dark and dire and serious circumstances--and then for god's sake, tell a joke." So. In compensation, I hereby pledge to quote The Importance of Being Earnest in Chapter 5 of this fic, and I have written a scene for story #12 in which Mal admits publicly that he is crazy and talks to dead people. ;-)
For Nutluck: (in anticipation) TWO MORE DAYS. ;-)
For Nutluck: (in anticipation) TWO MORE DAYS. ;-)
Monday, 07 November 2011 20:49
"Okay, reading over this string of comments and responses, it seems to me I've just been WAY too earnest about reacting to all this Mal's-crazy-and-talks-to-dead-people stuff."
Hey, don't worry about it. I write along those lines myself, only in my case, RIVER talks to them too.
Hey, don't worry about it. I write along those lines myself, only in my case, RIVER talks to them too.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011 01:17
Good advice for Mal though Book really should try answering a few questions his own self. Never know what interesting little facts might pop up. Ali D :~)
"You can't take the sky from me!"
"You can't take the sky from me!"
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