Title: Your Loving Son

Characters: Jayne, Book, snippets of River

Pairing: None

Words: 719

Rating: G

Cross posted to livejournal's ff_friday.

Dear Son,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am sending you another hat as you told me you lost the last one in a fight. Try to take care of this one.

Everyone here is well, and Matty’s cough disappeared with the warmer weather. Harvest is coming along and Heck Jackson has loaned us his harvester so we will get it all finished on time this year.

I am thinking of you.

Your loving mother.

Jayne’s new hat is red with two yellow tassels and some sort of fluffy brim. From the expression on his face, it may be too much even for his supremely self-confident head to bear. River, on the other hand, is entranced by it and when he gives it to her she wears it all day.

Book blinks at the sight of the thing crouched on her head, and the wide grin beneath the fluffy brim, and shakes his head. He is, however, impressed that he has finally seen the hat that is too ugly for Jayne to wear.

“That’s an interesting headpiece you got sent this time, Jayne”, he remarks to his companion as the two of them prepare for three sets each at around sixty kilos. Nothing too strenuous today, mostly just action to fill the spaces between sentences as they talk.

Jayne shrugs. “My maw always sends ‘em. I prob’ly got an even dozen by now.” He settles on the bench and does not even grunt as he lifts the barbell above his head. “Guess she reckons it gets pretty cold out here.” Book is stung by the tiniest inflection of longing that Jayne has tried to bury under casual indifference. The man is not a gifted actor.

Book is silent as Jayne completes his set, and reaches out to help set the weight back in the bracket. Jayne’s boots make abrasive noises as he stands up and makes way for the Shepherd.

“And what do you send your mother in return?” Book asks as he trades places with the mercenary. Jayne shrugs.

“Credits when I can spare ‘em. I’d WAVe, but there ain’t but two Cortex connections w