GR RP "Adventures in GunRunning" ACT 23
POSTED BY: CapnRahn
UPDATED: Sunday, November 7, 2004 21:02
VIEWED: 20468
PAGE 6 of 10
Inara's Move.
LOCATION - GALLEY
"Cap'n! Looks like Damon an' Rowan are a little nervous 'bout seein' ya. You wanna come down here with Zoe 'nstead, or should I drag 'em up there?"
Jayne calls for Mal as Inara stands with Damon, trying to soothe the boy's terror. 'An entrance any moment now would be lovely, Mal,' she thinks. Damage control can only be so effective when there is something that desperately needs to be resolved. She can possibly hold this scene together a little while longer, but if Mal doesn't get his pigu down to the --
"I'm right here!" Mal's voice, instead of making her tense up as it has of late, is a welcome relief. Inara doesn't look to the voice, to the footsteps on the stairs, she's holding Damon's gaze, offering what reassurances she can without saying a word.
"WhaHuhWho ... I only wanted Damon. Needed to talk to him. Bout him joining the crew."
'Joining the crew'? There had better be more to this little stunt than that, Inara thinks. She thought Mal above stupid, sadistic little pranks -- particularly the kind that could end with someone getting hurt. Merz, for example, seems to be straining with the struggles of the larger figure she's restraining. There must be more to it...
She feels Mal's approach as much as she hears it, as much as she knew it was inevitable. Facing Damon and Merz, she tries to keep the mixed emotions from playing on her face. Then... his hand on her shoulder. Gentle. Strong. She can feel the warmth of him through the silk robe she wears, and feels the ache inside return full-force, shrugging aside anger and indignance.
Inara lifts her eyes to Mal's -- they're as intense and emotional as she's ever seen them, wild, almost, drowning-deep as ever.
Although his gaze is intensely locked on the boy before them both the silent communication between them is not interrupted. Trust me, he seems to say, let me at the kid. Little nod: Just trust me, 'Nara. The communication is silent, but as plain to her as if he'd spoken aloud.
Wordlessly, she returns the nod, and moves a little to his side, letting him approach Damon. Inara stands just at Mal's elbow to back him up or to play advocate for Damon, if necessary.
Mal examines the knife in Damon's hand closely, too closely, and leans into the younger man. A sudden, horrible vision flashes in her mind: Damon freeing his hand, slashing out at Mal. Cry of pain, blood spattering. She exhales deeply, slowly, pushing the vision away and refocusing on the moment.
Although Mal is whispering, Inara is close enough to hear what's being said:
""Been pokin' yer ears where they ought not be? Heard stuff that could be misunderstood have ya? Then panicked ... Panic is a liability. You a liability?" He doesn't allow Damon to answer.
"I don't know a GORRAMED thing about you ... knew you were there dragging you ears where they wernt invited ... and I lied. I HAD thought I saw a spark of potential in you - I suppoz I was wrong."
This was a test, she realises. What seemed dangerous and a little cruel was merely Mal's protectiveness asserting itself. She relaxes that last little shred of anger at the Captain -- for this incident anyway -- and stands at his side.
He seems genuinely upset at Damon's panicking and proving himself a potential danger to Serenity and those on board: Mal might be a sadistic boor sometimes, but he had a real sense of justice and nobility. If he could help Damon without endangering the ship and crew -- home and family to most of them, herself included if the truth were known -- he would do it. But no one and nothing endangered the little piece of sky Mal had claimed as his own.
She stays where she is, a breath away from Mal, offering silent support.
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JAYNE - GALLEY
Jayne stays put, guarding the forward exit of the galley and keeping a firm eye on Rowan since everyone else seems concerned with Damon. He is relaxed - almost leaning up against the wall - and his expression is blank.
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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - GALLEY
Damon’s kicking and yelling slows to a quick stop when he sees Inara approaching with her hands held up empty. His whole body stiffens as one of them move toward his face, his dark fearful eyes meeting hers. He tries to pull back, but can’t. He tries to shrug it away but can’t. His breath catches in his lungs as her cool, soft hand meets his hardened jaw. His knuckles around the knife handle are white, though he seems to have forgotten it’s there.
Inara: "Damon... calm down." She modulates her voice as though speaking to a skittish horse. "Let's wait and see what Mal wants. There's no reason to panic, dear. No one's going to let anything happen to you without very just cause."
He slowly releases his breath as Inara removes her hand, his heart feeling like its about to burst from his chest. But the tension between him and Merz remains constant.
"You have plenty of advocates here, no matter what Mal has gotten into his head. Just calm down... and give me the knife. No one's going to hurt you..."
Before he has time to much more than pull a few more lungfuls of much-needed air, Mal’s voice sounds from behind him.
MAL: "I'm right here!" Only a brief moment of silence before he continues: "WhaHuhWho ... I only wanted Damon. Needed to talk to him. Bout him joining the crew."
Confusion flashes across Damon’s face mixing in with the rest of the turmoil. He turns his head to see Mal on top of the steps, watching him. Damon’s gun in his left hand.
This doesn’t make any sense… What the hell is he talking about?
The whole room seems riveted on Mal. He steps down the stairs slowly and with care. Striding over slowly he lays a gentle hand on Inara's shoulder and nods at her. She moves aside just enough for Mal to face Damon.
Damon locks his eyes onto Mal’s and braces himself. For a moment, nothing happens as Mal inspects the knife gripped in Damon’s hand. Again, Damon’s body tenses as Mal leans closer, fear pouring off in the beads of sweat soaking into his shirt, again he tries to move/pull away and again he can’t. Again, again, again… it’s become an automated response, expecting the same result… His gaze meets Merz’s, pleading for her to let him go, and then drops to the floor over Merz’s shoulder as Mal whispers in his ear.
Mal: "Been pokin' yer ears where they ought not be? Heard stuff that could be misunderstood have ya? Then panicked ... Panic is a liability. You a liability?"
What’s he talkin about? Think gorramit! He forces his mind to focus.
Mal: "I don't know a GORRAMED thing about you ... knew you were there dragging you ears where they weren’t invited ... and I lied. I HAD thought I saw a spark of potential in you - I suppoz I was wrong."
Damon feels Mal move away, though his gaze hasn’t moved from the floor. Something is… different, something’s not right. Think… Can’t think… Everything’s too screwed up right now… He takes a long few seconds to glance around, trying to figure out the situation. His breaths slow the slightest bit. Most everyone is standing in front of him or behind Mal and Inara- to Damon’s left. Jayne guards the door to the front hall. Too crowded, all he can think about is getting space. Out of more desperation than anything else, he drops the knife and releases the tension between him and Merz to a gentle pull toward the wall to his right.
“Let me go…” His voice is quiet and all but solid, but his breathing has slowed considerably. He looks at Merz and then Mal, though doesn’t take any more than a few nervous glances. He tries his voice again, sounding more controlled the second time. “Please, just let go…” Merz is the one holding him, but it’s obviously Mal he’s asking.
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Mal sees the confusion on Damon's face. Those demons the boy holds onto like family heirlooms must be powerful indeed.
The knife drops to the floor. Mal ignores it.
Damon soft, but more focused calls out to be released.
Mal decides.
"Zoe, please take our young charge in hand fer a moment. Be kind."
He turns to Merz "Move yer stuff to the passenger dorms fer a bit, Spazzer here needs some alone time to collect up his scattered wits. Bunks can be secured."
"Jayne, help Merz shift her gear, the speedier the better, dong ma," a statement, not a question. Mal glances at the gun satchel still in Damon's hand.
"Also, you may want to retreive your property."
Without looking - "Mz. Rowan, hows that bao comin'?"
EOM
OOC: still on autopilot - will fix all my "Idea holders" tomarrow.
"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"
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MERZ move
LOCATION - DINING ROOM
MERZ desires desperately that INARA would have stayed away, remained out of reach of DAMON and his weapon. But DAMONs reaction to her approach is not that of one who would harm her. When she makes contact with him, he freezes, does not so much as exhale until she removes her hand from his cheek. Merz was not listening to her words really, they were not meant for her. But she makes careful note of her pheromones and the tone and rhythm of her voice. Information for the database – that could be very useful sometime.
The tension in the room does a subtle shift. MERZ knows the captain has arrived a split second before he speaks.
MAL
"I'm right here!"
She is obscurely relieved by his entrance. This situation will now be contained. He approaches their little tableau. DAMON continues to struggle. MAL moves closer to them, slowly and confidently. His next words cause a different reaction in DAMON. “... I only wanted Damon. Needed to talk to him. Bout him joining the crew.” She is aware of the impact of those words on DAMON. He is confused now, less certain of the whole situation.
DAMON fights on as MAL eases INARA away, and then comes close, too alachina close to the knife in Damon’s hand. If it had been possible, MERZ would have intensified her grip even further, she has a sudden and unfounded … fear … that Damon would free himself and do Captain Reynolds a hurt. She suddenly realizes the level of trust the captain has just shown her. Interesting.
DAMON moves his gaze to her face, looking deeply into her eyes. She knows what he wants. She cannot give it to him. Until she is released from this duty by a higher authority she will hold until her muscles give out. DAMON knows, and looks away.
The Captain speaks. She listens and records, but her main concentration is on her prisoner, and his reactions. When he releases the knife, she knows a decision has been made. He ceases to fight against her restraint. ”Let me go …” His voice is soft, pleading, and MERZ is aware of … feelings … “Please, just let me go…” She turns her attention to MAL.
MAL
“ZOË , please take our young charge in hand fer a moment. Be kind.”
Turning to MERZ he continues. “Move yer stuff to the passenger dorms fer a bit, Spazzer here needs some alone time to collect up his scattered wits. Bunks can be secured. Jayne, help Merz shift her gear, the speedier the better, dong ma.”
The word is given. Merz releases Damon and steps back. She loses Mal’s next few words as she shifts and puts pressure on her left foot. Just at the moment, Merz rather wishes she had put her boots back on after her bath. She will have to take a look, access the damage he might have done stamping down like that. Nothing she cannot deal with, but should be examined ASAP.
She turns away and moves towards the forward hatch and her bunk. Not sure she needs help – not that much to shift. May want Jayne out of the room for other reasons. Before leaving the room MERZ glances back at ROWAN. … I will return … she mouths at her. There is still cooking to be done and Merz desires to continue to help.
Merz leaves the room and moves towards her bunk, confident that Jayne will follow.
EOM
alachina = unholy, damned in this usage (Nepali)
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - GALLEY
"Zoe, please take our young charge in hand fer a moment. Be kind."
He turns to Merz "Move yer stuff to the passenger dorms fer a bit, Spazzer here needs some alone time to collect up his scattered wits. Bunks can be secured."
The second Mal turns his attention else where, Merz releases him. For a moment, this seems to be more confusing than anything else that had happened in the last 5 minutes. He let me go? This is definitely a first…
Damon slowly backs up until his back touches the wall, feeling a weight lifted from him in a wave of relief as he gets more room. He rubs his aching wrists, relishing the circulation returning to his hands. He notices the satchel still in his hand, he had completely forgotten it. Jayne approaches and Damon hands it to him without comment. He can feel Jayne’s eyes on him, but he doesn’t look up at him- he’s not ready to deal with them yet. One step at a time…
The last of his adrenaline spent, exhaustion kicks in, but sleep is the last thing he’d be able to do right now. Taking slow, deep breaths, he works to smooth everything out. I’m okay… everything’s fine… If there was ever the smallest doubt as to whether he was awake or not, it’s gone now; dreams never end this good. A slight twitch of a smile crosses his lips for the briefest of moments- maybe someday he can look back on all this shit and laugh. Not today, probably not tomorrow, but someday, hopefully…
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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JAYNE - GALLEY to FORE HALL
Jayne leans forward from his wall and falls into a casual stride around the table. He keeps his stare locked on Rowan as he walks by her, then snaps his head forward and targets his gun satchel. He collects it silently, giving Damon a disappointed look before returning to the fore hall, following Merz.
Once out of the Galley, he speaks. "Did he hurcha much? Maybe I oughta take you to the infirmary. Jus pack up; I'll take yer bags to yer room. You should be keepin' offa that foot."
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Rowan's Move
LOCATION - GALLEY
INARA: "Rowan, dear, you're not Jayne's size."
Rowan gives Inara a clear look of understanding that basically says no kidding, but the companion is already focused on trying to calm the wildcat. Too late, Rowan realizes she should've just stayed back where she was. Tianna - what would Ru have done? He always knew exactly what to say and when to say it; when to step between his volatile sisters and when to leave well enough alone. Apparently, he was the only recipient of that particular gene in the Fa-Zhou clan.
Hearing the pop of the holster strap and the snap of the safety, Rowan stays right where she is. No sense making the situation any worse than Damon seems determined to make it be. Inara's right, there is no reason to panic. Rowan herself still can't escape the idea that Merz is entirely on target with this situation - it still feels like some manner of set up, or even a test. Reynolds is more direct than this. If he's having issue with one of his "hitchhikers", he's the kind of man who would face it himself. No doubt about it, he's definitely a fighter and a leader, the kind that leads by example not arrogant expectation. And wouldn't a leader want to put his people through tests now and again, to assess their skill levels and temperaments?
Rowan waits until Merz is occupied trying to restrain Damon, who actually tries a couple of schoolyard moves to break free. Stomping on feet and kicking shins is no way to break away from anything, Troy or no Troy.
Once attentions are focused elsewhere, Rowan pulls out the hand held, quickly accesses the sourcepad via remote signal and pulls up Spyhopper. Two touches on the tiny screen and the galley microcam is activated again, set to record. Once again, she missed catching Troy-like reflexes, but then again, who knows what else might happen. Seems like something does sooner or later on this ship. Quickly, she tucks the hand-held away again, just as Jayne looks back at her.
ROWAN: (Inwardly) Tianna - did he see?
JAYNE: "How's about you back on up outta there an' let us handle this all quiet like."
Folding her arms, and setting her weight on her right, Rowan returns a look that should tell the big brute that she's staying put. He can do whatever the hell he wants, but she's watching him.
JAYNE: Cap'n! Looks like Damon an' Rowan are a little nervous 'bout seein' ya. You wanna come down here with Zoe 'nstead, or should I drag 'em up there?"
MAL: "I'm right here!"
As those moody eyes take in the entire situation in the galley, Rowan surmises that her information-gathering instincts seem to be bang on after all. Then he focuses on Damon. Inara managed to calm him somewhat - probably more like she put him in shock when she touched him - but he's still on edge. Thank God for Merz - when Reynolds leans in close, Merz is the only thing between Damon getting himself into a worse predicament by maiming the captain. Rowan can't hear what's being said, and hopes that later on she can use the vid from the microcam to figure it out.
As Reynolds moves back, Rowan can see the change as it happens. Damon's confused at first. The flight instinct that had gripped him is still there, but it wanes more quickly than she expected. Slowly, but surely, he manages to relax. Not much, but just enough to lower the tension in the room. Then finally the knife drops with a resounding clang to the deck.
DAMON: “Let me go... Please, just let go…”
Never met a boy so desperate to be free of something, not since the war. In those days it was the fresh-faced boys with dreams of the freedom promised by the shiny dream of independence. This is something else - something infinitely more important. It's as if his life and his very soul depend upon it.
And it's not entirely lost on Reynolds either.
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Rowan's Move
LOCATION - GALLEY
Watching Damon back up slowly, Rowan can't escape the notion that she's watching someone with a severe case of claustrophobia coming down from a particularly nasty panic attack. As he rubs his wrists she also takes note of some pretty aggressive scarring, which causes her to frown. It reminds her of the same marks on the wrists of a ship's cook she met about three years ago who had been in prison. If Damon's spent time behind bars - and fairly recently at that - that might explain a thing or three.
Seeing that Merz is about to leave - as ordered - Rowan catches her eye as Merz turns back and easily reads the message that she will return. Giving Merz a warm smile, Rowan nods her own acknowledgement.
Glancing at Reynolds who seems to be watching to make sure everyone's doing what they're supposed to, Rowan decides to go back to the kitchen. Once she's away from everyone, she takes out the hand held and checks the status of the microcam.
SPYHOPPER: Running.
With the memory available on the sourcepad, she could just let it go through the shindig. That's an awfully tempting notion too. There used to be a time when she would have done it and not thought twice about it. After some thought, she touches the screen
SPYHOPPER: Holding.
Slipping the hand held away again, she moves to get the pan Jayne had loaded with "bun" sections and puts them into the oven. She sets the timer for three minutes - just enough to set the protein and make it easier to work with. Getting the tin of scallions, and the garlic she sets them near the wok. Considering she only has garlic powder to work with, however, and not fresh, she decides to go hunting for more. Checking the cupboards again, she comes up with peanut butter, white vinegar, molasses and a true prize - hot sauce bearing a good quality Chinese label. Rowan smiles, her mouth already watering.
ROWAN: "Grandma, eat your heart out."
EOM
Fans come and fans go...but zealots are with you until the bitter black end.
I draw...therefore I am.
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
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MERZ move
LOCATION - DINING ROOM to MERZ (former) DORM
As they clear the hatchway into the forward hallway, JAYNE says, softly. "Did he hurcha much? Maybe I oughta take you to the infirmary. Jus pack up; I'll take yer bags to yer room. You should be keepin' offa that foot."
MERZ is confused by his words. Jayne is not a teammate, why should her condition concern him? She cogitates and then thinks back. The A.P.E.’s were a team. And they were a crew. And there was a dynamic between them that almost resembled … well no, nothing she has ever seen really resembled her experiences with the TROYs, but …
Can it be that a crew can become - family? What really constitutes ‘family’? She turns these thoughts over in her mind while answering his question.
MERZ
Thank you Jayne, but it is of no consequence. I will verify, but it appears only to be bruised. Your concern is appreciated. This will not take long. I am … packed.
She does allow him to step ahead of her and open the entrance to her dorm for her, and she descends carefully as he steps aside to allow her to precede him. Once down the ladder she moves towards the bunk and frees the floor space for him to follow. She reaches under the bed and places the alicepak and the other bag on the bunk. She places her sunglasses in her left breast pocket, her hat on her head and the gun and belt around her waist. She dons the vest with the long rods nestled in their pouches on the back. That is the extend of her packing and her belongings.
She looks up at JAYNE. That’s it. Ready to go.”
EOM
OOC: small edit to account for one additional belonging, affects no one.
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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