Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL

The Fish Job: Chapter 7

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Unhappy trails…

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 4563    RATING: 9.0 (G)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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Mal stopped in the corridor to make sure his shirt was tucked in straight and his clothes as little disheveled as possible. He wasn’t looking forward to commentary from the rest of the crew. It simply wasn’t possible that no one would notice where he had spent the night; he couldn’t be so lucky.

He started when he noticed River sitting with her back against the bulkhead, staring at him with sad eyes. She mouthed a few words, but there was no sound.

“Uh, what was that again?” Mal asked.

She kept talking silently, and a few tears slid down her cheeks.

Mal wiggled a fingertip in his ear, but it didn’t help. “You need to actually speak,” he told her. “As in, use sound.” River pressed her lips together in frustration, then just looked at him with her sad eyes.

“River, there you are!” Simon said from the dining room. He stepped through the hatch and noticed Mal. “Oh, good morning Captain.” He took River’s arm and pulled her to her feet. “You need your medication,” he told her. River let Simon guide her down the corridor toward the infirmary, but she stared over her shoulder at Mal the whole time. As the Tams turned the corner, Mal thought he heard her whisper: She cares.

Mal stared after River for a long moment, then he shook his head. “Crazy girl.” He checked his shirt and his fly one last time, took a deep breath, and walked into the lion’s den.

Kaylee, Jayne, and Book were sitting at the dining table, already at breakfast. Jayne whispered and nudged Kaylee as soon as he saw Mal come in, and Kaylee hopped up. She trotted into the kitchen to top off her mug while Mal poured one for himself, and she chucked him on the shoulder. “Nice goin’,” she whispered with a big grin.

“Nice goin’ what?” Mal asked belligerently. Book kept eating, but with his head slightly cocked to the side so he could hear. Jayne turned a

Comments
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:13
I hate to be the horrible punner, but somethin' fishy's goin' on. Great bit of writing.
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:16
Oh good gorram, Mal's words to Inara really hit the nail on the head - "when did you become cruel?" I am going frantic with worry but the one bright light on the horizon of hope is knowing River is keeping an eye on him. I think she'll be the only one to help him out of this nightmare in his head. Absolutely brilliant writing, Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:19
Huzzah, it was brilliant. Although, it reminds me strangely of an episode of Farscape, where Crichton gets subjected to the Scaran brain washy thing. Normal situations just get weirder and weirder until Mal goes completely insane. Tell me River's going to save him before then? Her “That was bullshit,” line was a masterpiece. Keep up the good work! I want to know what's actually happening to Mal, and not just what he thinks is happening.
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:20
Had me going there for a while. A well written, gripping story.
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:23
Kinda sad that everyone is leaving Mal. :D

Another Great Chapter. :D Can't wait to see what happens next.
Thursday, 19 January 2006 21:44
My favorite bit: That River is talking clearly in this hallucinatory mindscape. That she is able to express herself in this realm that is more hers than Mal's. I love what you're doing with her in this scenario.

Still with the pitch-perfect crew voices, even when they're an evil incarnations of their true selves, they still speak like they should in that situation. (And it's hilarious when you neglect the chilling sadness of it all.)

And how is it that you made me take a liking to Evil!Inara?? Spunky and bitchy, but in such an over-the-top way that it's adorable again.

I delight in Mal's screwed up mind and I so so so cannot wait to see how this will spin further. Mal seems to be slowly coming around to the truth of the situation.

Thursday, 19 January 2006 22:43
Goodness, you are just doing a brilliant job with this. Half of me is enjoying the pace you're taking, the way you're leading us -and Mal- along, the way you're strip-mining his psyche, and introducing River's role. The other half of me wants to promise to be your best friend forever if you'll just give me the whole rest of the story, right now, because I can't stand it!
Thursday, 19 January 2006 22:46
Aww wow! :D Really liking this, please post more soon!
Thursday, 19 January 2006 23:21
Good use of River's character I was wondering how you were going to get that aspect of 'guide' into it.
Some of the scenes can really be pictured. Great use of character speech.

Don't keep us waiting to long for the next chapter... and the next... and the (you get the idea.)

Thanks
Taya
Friday, 20 January 2006 00:17
I really liked getting two installments today. This is great! Thanks so much!
Friday, 20 January 2006 03:06
I loved the two installment eliment of today, this is shaping up to be my favorite series around (no offence folks I still love everyone)
Although what is Inara thinking- she's cutting out poor captain's heart out here!
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 20 January 2006 05:16
OH THANK BUDDHA. "That was bullshit." For a minute there, before River stepped in as guide, I thought that was the real Inara, acting like a stone-cold ho. Whew. That was scary. Now I'm certain it's all a drug-induced trip and Mal is in a cell somewhere, with the whole crew looking for him, like it ought to be. My relief is immense. This whole story is trippy!! And nervewracking!! I like how we're kind of exploring Mal's messed-up psyche.
Friday, 20 January 2006 12:14
What's going to happen next? I can't wait to find out. two more great chapters and an intriguing story.
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 20 January 2006 18:23
Don't...Stop!...don't, stop...DON"T STOP!
Wednesday, 01 February 2006 06:04
And the mind-fuck continues. . . .
Wednesday, 12 July 2006 14:27
Jayne snorted. “You two been so tens-ual with the sex’sion it’s makin’ my own balls turn blue.”
Great Jayne line, you write him really well.

I absolutely love River's part in this chapter, trying to warn him of what is really going on in her usual cryptic way. Very good stuff.

The bit with Wash at the end was a little sad.

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