Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL

The Fish Job: Chapter 19 (the end!)

Monday, February 6, 2006

So long and thanks for all the… well, you know

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 5101    RATING: 10.0 (PG)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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Mal stretched lazily. Why in the hell did he feel so good?

He was sprawled on his back under warm covers, eyes closed, still half-asleep, wondering if there was something he was supposed to be doing. A contact to make, goods to deliver, or maybe just a little old-fashioned bossing around of his crew. Ah hell, he figured, it could wait. He was too warm and comfy to get up. He rolled to his side, bunched up the pillow under his cheek, and pulled the soft blankets tighter around his shoulders.

It felt like a couple of hours later that he approached waking again, dimly surprised that no one had come knocking at his bunk or hollering over the comm about whatever impending disaster the new day brought. Maybe it was time for him to check in. Well, almost time, he decided. He rolled to his other side, planning to curl up for another hour or two, but he felt something in the bed that wasn’t quite right. He opened his eyes and lifted his elbow to find a slender white arm. Huh. He slid back a bit, his gaze followed the arm to a shoulder, a mass of curly dark hair, and a pretty sleeping face. Inara?

Mal was suddenly very awake. And very aware of being naked in soft silky sheets. “Shensheng de gaowan!” he swore as he sat up.

“Mal?” Inara looked up sleepily. “Oh, I must have drifted off.” She rubbed her eyes.

He threw his legs over the side of the bed, clutching a blanket around his middle, and looked around with eyes still fuzzy from sleep. “Where’re my clothes?” he asked.

“Next to the bed.” She gave him a confused look.

Mal realized that “next to the bed” meant next to Inara’s bed, not his own. “O, zhe zhen shi ge kuaile de jinzhan,” he muttered as he grabbed his pants and tried to pull them on without losing the blanket.

“Mal, it’s all right…”

“No.” He held a warding hand out toward her and shook his he

Comments
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:24
I was so worried something was going to happen at the end! I was perhaps overly tense...hmm...I'm going to read it again incase I missed something! Excellent conclusion to a fantastic series.
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:26
Fantastic stuff, Mal4Prez. A benchmark fic!

Even while working flat-out on my own story, I've been keeping up with this one. Perfect characterisations, and a twist-and-turn storyline - for a long time I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, just like Mal.

Now, what else you got in the locker for us? *bounces up and down expectantly*
ANONYMOUS
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:34
Nice! The kind of conclusion that concludes, but we all know there are a few things left hanging. Coupla months for the next installment? Or have you already got something up your sleeve? Whichever way, I can't wait to see it.

My small nitpick for today: Book needs to peek inside the saucepan, not peak inside it.

Errbrr
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:43
Maybe he was adding a new, special ingredient? O.o ... Okay that was just gross!
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:44
I always like the dinner room scenes - glad you put in such a good one.

Thank you for all the work you put into The Fish Job. It has been such a "pick me up" these past weeks.

Thanks!
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:46
Thanks so much for this fic; I enjoyed every twist and turn, and love the warmth of the ending, particularly the very end. Well done.
ANONYMOUS
Monday, 06 February 2006 13:53
outstanding :)
Monday, 06 February 2006 14:11
hurray! Thank you for writing The Fish Job and sharing it with us. I hope the literary bug bites you again sometime as you're very good at this...
ANONYMOUS
Monday, 06 February 2006 15:06
*whew* what as job it was! I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I loved how you drew everything to a close

great work!

Syzg
Monday, 06 February 2006 15:22
Very, very good story!

Thank-you for sharing!!

As far as I'm concerned, our little series is one episode richer.
Monday, 06 February 2006 16:02
A satisfying conclusion to an enjoyable story. Thanks!
ANONYMOUS
Monday, 06 February 2006 16:43
Heh, awesome!! It's so good to have a happy ending!! With lobsters for everybody!!
Monday, 06 February 2006 16:50
This has been an excellent story. As a relatively new Firefly convert, I've been scouring the web for fanfiction to give me my fix. This is definitely a favorite. Everyone was kept very in character (everyone outside of Mal's head, that is), and I particularly loved the interactions in this chapter as the dining room scenes with all the characters always make me warm and fuzzy. Like safeat2nd said, I think this was a wonderful "episode," and even justified a reason why Mal was a little bit darker in the movie. Thanks for all your hard work!
Monday, 06 February 2006 18:04
Brilliant, I loved this fic to itty bitty pieces and then some. Such a lovely way to round it off but oh I am so sad the journey is over! As Book would say, "It's how you get there that's the worthier part" and this is so gorram worthy! Well done and thanks for a shiny story. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
Monday, 06 February 2006 18:24
Thank-you for a great series. Strange how seeing each new chapter atomatically made me smile.

Looking forward to your next project!

Taya
Monday, 06 February 2006 18:35
Great finish! Mal4Prez, you are very talented and you had better write more, soon. Please accept my apologies for missing peak and peek as your beta! oops. Even us beta readers get caught up in the story sometimes. Great work, keep it up.
Monday, 06 February 2006 22:21
I have to say right off the bat, mal4prez, that it was an honour to beta for ya, if only for the first half of this magnificent tale. Sorry I kinda crapped out on the job, but RL took a bite outta me :(

Now...onto the story! This is definitely Jossian. Yep. Can't offer a bigger complement I think than that. It has all the hallmarks of Lord Whedon, especially since overall it reminds of me of the episode of Buffy (can't recall the name right now) where Buffy thinks she's a patient in a mental hospital and being the Slayer's a dream she has.

On a final note, have to chime in too about hoping for some more goodness with our BDHs in the future from ya. And hopefully this time, I will be able to stay the course with beta-reading if you'll allow the honour;)

BEB
Tuesday, 07 February 2006 03:19
There seems to be just enough loose ends to warrent a sequel... *grins*

Am I right? Please?

This whole story was wonderfully crafted and I'm in complete awe. Great work!
Tuesday, 07 February 2006 03:37
Well, I've been checking the site daily (or more often) for this chapter, and it was worth the wait. I'm just sad the series is over.

Favorite line:
“Mal. I drugged you, undressed you, put you in my bed, and gave you a sponge bath. Just how did you take advantage of me?”

I swear, sometimes you are channeling The Master himself--you write lines that sound like something out of an episode.

I love how you end with a feast, the classic happy-ending scenario (other than a wedding) that brings everyone together and heals rifts. This one was particularly delightful, although I shudder to think of 9 lobsters being boiled in that kitchen.

Most of what people recommended for my Picky Reader thread fell flat; I skimmed and dumped about 90 percent of the stories. This, on the other hand, was a gift. Thank you for sharing your creativity and talent with us.
Tuesday, 07 February 2006 06:13
What can I say that hasnt allready been said. I waited to read the last few parts up until they were all posted. And even with the tension of waiting... It was soooo worth it. Im eagerly awaiting your next installment/qhatever. Just dont stop!
Tuesday, 07 February 2006 11:23
Great ending to the story. I agree with Rinny looks like there could be a sequel in the making?

*beg, beg*

I love Jayne's lobster eating method.

“Door’s shut, no monsters,” River declared. “But Simon, just to be safe, no playing with wires.” love this line.



Tuesday, 07 February 2006 11:53
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to read this but mal4prez that was AWE-INSPIRING!!
I reiterate every good thing myself and others have said about your series, and times it ten-fold.

If I ever meet you- I owe you chocolate brownies
Thursday, 09 February 2006 16:47
Great ending. What a wonderful story. Thank you!
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 10 February 2006 01:34
That was great. Thanks. Felt like movie length or double episode at least - with a ready made break in between delusion and liberation. I said it before, we've not seen the last of the mysterious prefect...
ANONYMOUS
Friday, 10 February 2006 03:20
Sorry I didn't comment on any of the other chapters, but this was an outstanding fic. While you may not get into the nitty-gritty details like ScrewtheAlliance, your writing is completely in line with the original series, sketching the characters with precision as they act out the solid vision you've created for them. This is excellent writing--I commend you for it, and hope someday to do half as well as you have.
Friday, 10 February 2006 03:21
Stupid thing didn't let me log in--last commend was othromas.
Sunday, 12 February 2006 13:27
Aww, a happy ending!

And it feels so deserved, too, after all the torture and heartache and adventure. Good food and family. Awwww. *g*


Also, I cannot decide what is funnier. Mal's little freak-out or his smugness later on. Hee! Inara, she puts up with so much... *g* But oooh, he apologized...

So pretty! Lovely ending to a wonderful series!



And yay, you're going to write more! Happiness abounds!
ANONYMOUS
Sunday, 12 February 2006 13:28
A lovely conclusion to a tough story. I especially love the part where Mal comforts Kaylee - I have a real soft spot for those two. It's so wonderful to finally see Mal getting some comfort after all he's been through......may he continue to find solace.
ANONYMOUS
Thursday, 16 February 2006 02:47
Wow, that has truely inspired me to do something this well-put together. *works on one*
Saturday, 01 April 2006 05:00
I printed all 19 chapters, as sitting at a screen reading such yummies kills a bit o' the joy for me, and I'm only at 14, but I just HAD to post a comment here.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me captured right along with Mal.

Thank you. I'll be lookin' up more of your workin', you're a craftman of a hight order.
Thursday, 13 July 2006 12:01
*So long and thanks for all the… well, you know*
-BWAHAHAHA !!

All of the Chinese in this chapter is really funny, I have used a couple of those myself in my fics.

Mal had to clear his throat again. “I’m afraid I took advantage of you.”
“Mal. I drugged you, undressed you, put you in my bed, and gave you a sponge bath. Just how did you take advantage of me?”
-Yeah, Mal got that one completely backwards. Good exchange between the two though.

All of Wash's words and actions at the dinner were classic, and hi-larious as well.

“You could try bein’ a li’l grateful. It’s called manners.”
-LOL @ Jayne admonishing Simon for manners

Thanks for rectifying the situation with the Prefect as well.
Wednesday, 27 December 2006 23:56
How perfect - the whole thing. Not a foot wrong ever, through the whole 19 chapters.
Thursday, 21 August 2008 22:24
Okay, I saved up all my comments for the last chapter, because quite frankly, it was a roller coaster ride from hell..... In a good way. I haven't been this excited about a series in a while. And though it was heart aching and terrible at times for the characters, it was still one of the best stories I have ever read. It was amazing. It was Mal as Joss imagined him, and you still gave him a way out. Which was beautiful. Just lovely. I have to read more, so expect a comment when I reach the end of the next series.

Joanna

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