Kaylee is absolutely in love with the city. It didn’t take her very long to figure out, and now with all the people and the smells and, of course, the fashion. So pretty soon she’s transfixed with that one dress, because she’s never owned anything like that. It’s always been work clothes, because what kind of mechanic needs a ruffled dress? And then, while she fawns over it, Mal decided to read her thoughts out loud. He’s impatient, she knows that, but does he have to point out that she doesn’t need it? He might as well say she’d never look good in a dress like Inara while he’s at it.

She walks off, holding back the tears that always seem to come. He starts to watch her go when Zoë gives him one of those icy looks that speaks for itself and he sighs. He’s done it again. Why is he always doing that?

They’re back on the ship and he’s found her where he knew he would. She is, he chides himself mentally, an engineer, after all. “Kaylee,” he begins, determined and commanding, like he always is.

“I’m not speaking to you, Captain,” she replies, realizing as she says it how little sense it makes.

“I’ve got a job for you,” he says and begins to walk away, determined enough to ignore her iciness. She’s not impressed and turns back to her work, but he knows she’ll follow soon enough.

When they walk into that fancy room she wonders what would happen if she acted all offended by him more often. He looks awkward, but at that point she’s past caring, really, and then he’s holding his hand out to her like a proper gentleman, looking a little less awkward as she takes his hand.

“Do these seem kinda tight?” He asks, sounding uncomfortable once again as she stares at the glitter and the glam and, of course, the chandelier. He is uncomfortable, in the clothes, in the room, heck, just being in the building makes him cringe.

“Shows off your backside,” she responds easily, hardly looking at him, and he wonders briefly when she had a chance to check. She’s grinning at the room as a whole as he’s about to ask why she