Truthsome
Monday, April 3, 2006
Semi-AU one-shot set after Objects in Space. Mal/Inara. NC-17
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3627 RATING: 9.0 (NC17) SERIES: FIREFLY
Truthsome
By Kaynara
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Semi-AU one-shot set after Objects in Space. Mal/Inara. NC-17
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My thanks, as always, to Grimlock. It’s Joss’s ‘verse....
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“Go to Hell.”
Those were the last words I said to her. I guess it’s fitting: something honest to remember me by.
In earnest, Lil’ Kaylee’s the one to blame. Girl came down to my quarters after the evening meal, sat on my bed, all, “I gotta talk to ya, Cap’n.” She wasn’t cryin’; I learned long ago not to cave to womanly tears. Cryin’ females can be held, hushed with soft words and assurances. They ain’t the ones to scare you breathless. It’s the ones that try to be brave, stifle the sniffles. Their eyes go big and their lips quiver--the lip thing about kills ya--and you end up promisin’ ‘em all manner o’ crazy in a desperate attempt to prevent the waterworks. Trust me on this: I been tortured a time or two. Dread ain’t bein’ tied to a bed while some psychopath sharpens his surgical tools. Dread ain’t tryin’ to figure whether the paring knife or the scalpel will hurt more when it slides into your gut. Dread, true dread, is wondering which word flung loosely from your lips will be the one to start the torrent. Most men would rather be horsewhipped than make a woman cry.
“If you don’t tell me what’s wrong, how my gonna kill Jayne and fix it?”
Not even a chuckle. I guess we’re past the point of comedy. Or maybehaps my humor ain’t so shiny as I thought.
“Tell me what’s what, mei mei.”
She gazes up at me, big brown eyes glistening in the lamplight.
“Cap’n.” Her voice is uneven. “I just don’t think I can bear it if she goes.”
“I see. Don’t ‘spose the rest of us is any consolation? Zoe and Wash and me stayin’ put. Doc and lil’ sis ain’t spoke of travel plans neither. Think I heard a rumor you liked him well ‘nough....”
I nudge her shoulder, hoping for a smile. She just shakes her head. One of her hair buns is come loose and piecy bits fall in her eyes.
“Ain’t the same, Cap’n. Don’t get me wrong: I love you, and Was
Your one shots are as good as your series. Any way to convince you to write a S/K story? I know, I know, about as likely as I am to write a strictly M/I centered piece, right? :)
Either way, keep writing. This one was excellent.
As always, very well done!
~K
Keep it up!
~Wanmei~
And this:
“You could have had me.”
“Shuh muh?”
“Not for hire. In truth, you couldn’t afford me. But I would have given myself, Mal. I would have given myself to you. All it would have taken was a kind word, your hand cupping my cheek. What stopped you? Was it hatred? Do you hate me for making you want? The righteous Malcom Reynolds, lusting after a lowly whore. Is it revulsion, then? Does it disgust you, knowing how many I’ve lain with, how many I’ve let love me? Or maybe--maybe, Mal, you’re just incredibly insecure. Do you suspect I’ve had better? Do you doubt your own ability to satisfy me? Hell, even a whore has standards, desires. Do you fear you can’t fulfill them?”
“Go to Hell.”
I just about died when I read that! Oh, Gods!!! so painful! so, so MUCH... ahhhh...
Loved it, wonderful, wonderful stuff, as usual...
Now I have to go to bed, and I'm just gonna cry my little tears into my pillow and let my heart try to put itself back together...
Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
You write them so well. With so much pain and longing all wrapped up together. *bows*
The first person POV was done particularly well - that's a hard thing to capture and make it seamless. You did. I'm not really surprise.
[A minute ago we were cuddling, not talking or arguing, just holding on to each other. Later I’d have a tougher time believin’ the snuggling than the sex.]
Pain and sweetness all wrapped up together. Essence of M/I.
I also loved Inara asking Zoe to take care of him. Nice little touch that rang true for both characters.
*sighs happily*
Thanks for this. I get so happy every time you post new M/I.
Still...this some highly believable Mal/Inara UST (cuz the sex really just added to the problem), but I wonder if what you had Inara say about Mal could have had her much earlier.
I just get the feeling that a declaration like that seems a bit...false, I guess. Inara certainly had the conflict between her feelings for being a Companion and her feelings for Mal...that isn't under debate my lil' ole me.
No...the issue comes with the fact that I just feel Inara hadn't quite reached the stage yet where she would utter that comment by the time she left Serenity. Dunno if she's quite at the stage now, canonically, after the BDM.
Guess while I saw and recognized the "AU" label for the story, I still got thrown off by one thing seeming to be more "alternative" than the events portrayed here.
BEB
I think we need to get you a patron so you can write for us full-time and keep us in angsty, beautiful happiness!
You can't take the sky from me
That was an awesome line.. and so befitting Mal. I really enjoyed that one... Great job!
I absolutely love it. Your thoughts inside Mal's head are perfect and so in character it's almost astonishing - you really have a gift for writing him.
I love your M/I - write some more!
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