GR RP "Adventures in Gunrunning" Act 20
POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Wednesday, September 8, 2004 13:24
VIEWED: 18914
PAGE 4 of 10
Thorne's Move
Location: Inara's Shuttle
Rising to her knees, and grasping the cup in her palms, Inara raises it in a toast to Thorne, "gan bei" then waits for him to take the first drink.
At her invitation, he bows, lifts the bowl of tea, and places it on his upturned left palm. Turning it slowly, he admires the artistry of the potter who threw it, and faces the ‘front’ edge of the cup away from himself. Slowly and deliberately, he raises the cup to his lips and drinks. Emptying the cup, he lowers it, rotates it to its original alignment, and sets it on the mat in front of him. As ever, the choreographed movements of the tea ceremony clear his mind and set him at ease.
The ritual of greeting is over, and the two sit for a few moments in relaxed meditation. Inara moves to a cubby to retrieve a light silk robe. In the background, the music changes from neo-traditional Japanese to ‘Variations on Jethro Tull’s Wond’ring Aloud’, by Luddites at Large.
"I've been told my massages are even more relaxing than my tea ceremonies, Mr. Thorne...would you care to partake?"
“That would be wonderful, my dear. I’ve developed a few kinks over the last couple of days, and would love to relax them.”
Inara can't help but raise an eye and smirk impishly at the mention of Thorne's "kinks", as she moves to help him remove his clothes. His shirt comes off and she can see that he carries a few extra pounds around his middle, but she senses that the softness hides well-toned muscle. A couple of old wounds that have healed without medical attention furrow the skin of his chest and thigh. A tattoo of an outraged Daffy Duck covers his right shoulder.
Inara chuckles and pushes Thorne onto his back on the light cushions. She traces her fingers along his neck…chest, feeling the springy hair there...rubs her fingers lightly over his scars, up to his tattoo, where she pauses and looks at the marking with a childlike smile.
She asks “Is this ancient fowl some strange fertility symbol?”
Thorne thinks of how, long ago, his troopers talked him into getting the tattoo. “No, sweet one. My old…friends used to tease me for my foul temper, so I wear an image of the foulest-tempered fowl in the ‘verse in remembrance of them.”
At her request, Thorne lies facedown on the cushioned portion of the floor. Inara gently straddles his back, shift puddling around her knees. She retrieves the small bottle of scented oil she'd previously placed on the side table. Dabbing a few drops into the center of one palm, she rubs her hands together and smiles as the oil heats. Reaching down slowly, not wanting to rush the first touch, she lightly presses her fingers into Thorne's back.
As she expertly works her way from shoulders to lower back, he thinks, “This is heaven. How does she to know where every knot of tension is, and just how to relieve it?” His muscles relax and even his bones seem to turn to butter under the ministrations of her gentle fingers.
Inara leans forward. She presses a kiss to the left side of his neck, and then to the right.
Lightly caressing the wound where Thorne's right ear once was, she asks, "Was it terribly painful?"
“Oh, I had dealings with our mutual friend Niska once before. It’s nothing.”
Inara stiffens momentarily, fighting her rising anger at hearing Niska's name. Her legs tighten almost imperceptibly on Thorne's sides. He feels the change as she tenses for a second, and then relaxes.
She takes up the massage once more, using a perfect combination of softness and force. Although he thinks he’d want this to go on forever, her last touch on his neck is the perfect grace note, leaving him feeling relaxed but revitalized. After a few contented moments he sits up and dons his robe.
“Alright.” He says, “My turn to do you now.”
“Massaging a client has a very relaxing effect on me, there is really no need.”
“Yes, but I want to. I’d enjoy returning the favor. Besides, it’s my dime.”
“What’s a dime?”
“Never mind.”
Yielding t
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LOCATION - MALs DORM As ...
Finally finished with the paperwork, Mal sits up and stretches. His back creaks and pops and finally settles down, relieved of the strained position.
He glances at the clock and sighs. Other things await his attention this day, and putting them off will not make anything easier. Reaching for the intercom once again he announces.
MAL
“Damon. After you finish your chores please come to my bunk. We have some … discussin’ to do.”
Mal flips off the intercom and sits back. Suddenly remembering that Book still has Damon’s pistol, Mal makes a sour face. … "Gorram it! Better take care of that too … He hopes that he does not have to use Damon’s pistol as a carrot to lead him to talk truth. But in order to do so if need be, he’d best get it back from Book. He reaches for the intercom once again.
MAL
“Preacher; next time you pass an intercom, give me a yell. Sooner the better.”
EOM
"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"
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Book's Move
Locale: Bay
Book moves forward and with the practice of years enfolds River in his caring Shepherd's arms. "It's ok River, It's ok." Looking over River's shaking shoulders to a point in space somewhere beyond the walls of Serenity, he hopes that the words are true.
Following his momentum, Book leads River out of the bay, into the common area and on to a cushy chair, where she continues to sob and direct obscure warnings to Simon through his communicator. Not so obscure. he thinks as he listens to her. "Who's coming for Simon, River?"
EM
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River
LOCATION - COMMON AREA
River lets herself be led by Book, not really aware of where they go.
Quote:
Originally posted by ManiacNumberOne:
"Who's coming for Simon, River?"
She stares blankly at the empty infirmery, her voice taking on a distant tone. "Following standard procedure for continued illegal use of an underground Operative's indentity in and through restricted areas."
Her gaze falls down to the the communicator in her hand. "Hours early. Didn't wait." She gives Book the communicator and looks up into his eyes. "Voices must be stopped."
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Damon's turn:
LOCATION - BRIDGE
Damon had only just started cleaning when Mal's voice starts talking from the intercom.
MAL
“Damon. After you finish your chores please come to my bunk. We have some … discussin’ to do.”
Not two seconds later, he comes on again.
MAL
“Preacher; next time you pass an intercom, give me a yell. Sooner the better.”
"Oh, juh jun shr guh kwai-luh duh jin-jun... "
He sighs and mutters something about stupid mistakes being the end of him.
Oh, juh jun shr guh kwai-luh duh jin-jun = Oh, this is a happy development...
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Book's Move
Location: Common Area
Book's numb hands receive the miniature comm from River as her words roll over and over in his mind. Following standard procedure for continued illegal use of an underground Operative's indentity in and through restricted areas.
Stumbling backwards toward the open infirmary door, River's face locked into his gaze, Book trips and falls over the doorjam of the infirmary and lands on his back. A grunt of air expells from his chest and he's left breathless, floating. Following standard procedure for continued illegal use of an underground Operative's indentity in and through restricted areas.
Staring blankly through the ceiling, the reality of the situation stabs him through the heart. I sent the boy to his doom. My past has caught up to him. Book hears River's soft feet patter across the floor, and soon her face appears leaning over him, the tears still fresh, but her look of worry is forgotten for a moment and replaced by one of curiosity, as is so often the case. Following standard procedure for continued illegal use of an underground Operative's indentity in and through restricted areas. The words smash into him again.
Book rises and walks haltingly to the comm. "Captain. This is Shepherd Book. I'm here."
EM
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MERZ move
LOCATION – PASSENGER AREA TO OUTSIDE INFIRMARY
MERZ turns back around and watches BOOK and RIVER pass. The girl is still in distress, and MERZ is reminded of times past and stormy seasons with the twins. Different in degree perhaps, but still familiar. She drifts behind the pair of them, remembering Veila and the ways of comfort she never had a chance to practice.
RIVER's words have almost as great an impact on her as they do on BOOK, although MERZ believes she hides it better.
RIVER
Following standard procedure for continued illegal use of an underground Operative's identity in and through restricted areas.
... Underground operative ... underground operative ... She fades back out of the way as BOOK falls into the infirmary, a shocked expression on his face. … He lied to me. I trusted him, told him secrets ... Intelligence ... Spook ... Enemy ... Danger ... Danger ...
RIVER bends over the fallen Shepherd with what appears to be curiosity. MERZ still does not understand the child at all, all the more so since she is still so interested, so curious and concerned about BOOK. Is he not a danger to them all?
Over the Comm: MAL
Damon. After you finish your chores please come to my bunk. We have some … discussin' to do.
And once again almost immediately.
MAL
Preacher; next time you pass an intercom, give me a yell. Sooner the better.
Recovering a bit from his shock, BOOK rises to his feet and addresses the nearest comm.
BOOK
Captain. This is Shepherd Book. I'm here.
RIVER is still watching BOOK; tears remain in her eyes. MERZ stalks behind BOOK silently and waits for MAL to be done with him. She holds out one hand to RIVER, attempting to project the image of comfort to her, to pull her out of range, out of danger, and waits for BOOK to turn around.
EOM
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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River
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
River seems somewhat comforted now that Book finally understands what she's been trying to tell him for the last five minutes. She looks down at him on the floor wondering if he'll finally call the voices and set things right. He gets up and starts talking to Mal on the infirmery intercom.
Out of no where, Merz appears in the doorway of the infirmery behind River. River, unaccuston to being snuck up on, gets a start and jumps back a step into the infirmery.
Quote:
MERZ stalks behind BOOK silently and waits for MAL to be done with him. She holds out one hand to RIVER, attempting to project the image of comfort to her, to pull her out of range, out of danger, and waits for BOOK to turn around.
River frowns at Merz, paying no notice to her attempted comfort. She slowly steps up to Merz and stands on her toes to stare Merz in the eye, her face only an inch away. "I can't see you. Where did you go?"
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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MERZ move
LOCATION - INFIRMARY
RIVER ignores MERZ outstretched hand. Approaching MERZ very closely, she forces her to divide her attention between BOOK and the girl before her.
RIVER stares her in the eye with that same unsettling gaze MERZ has seen before; the one that makes MERZ feel the child is staring at the inside of her skull. RIVER is frowning at her. Once they are nose-to-nose and eye-to-eye, River speaks.
RIVER
I can’t see you. Where did you go?
MERZ opens her mouth, because a question requires a reply. But no reply is forthcoming. She concentrates on the question and quickly comes to the conclusion that once again, she has failed to understand. Frustrated, she sighs.
MERZ
Child, I am right here. I can see you. Why can you not see me?
A strange thought crosses her mind. Does it have some relevance here?
SLIGHT Quote:
But you, Merz, are a blank. It's like you're immune to me.
She had answered him rather absently then, telling him he did not want to be in her head. Yes, that is what she had said, but MERZ had not believed BRINK to be telling truth. It is possible that she had been mistaken?
MERZ
River, is it my thoughts you cannot see?
Unsettling, unpleasant thought. MERZ was never taught such potential existed, or that she could be located by such blankness. It may not be something she can correct. How then can she learn to blend in with such a glaring flaw? How many people can 'see'? How can she recognize them?
EOM
OOC: edited to correct a word usage in her last line.
If Justice is the dish, then I am your waitress
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LOCATION – MALs DORM As ...
Mal sits back in his chair after putting a call out for the Shepherd. His mind is still full of grim foreboding. Everything feels skewed right now, on the edge of being out of control.
He is still sitting quiet, brooding when he gets a response.
Quote:
Captain. This is Shepherd Book. I'm here.
With a weary hand, he toggles the comm on again.
MAL
Preacher, can you come to my bunk? Please bring Damon’s property with you.
His voice is tired, and there is something in his speech Book has never heard before. Mal sounds almost as if he has given up, as if his very confidence in himself has fled.
EOM
"Remember, there is only ONE absolute - There ARE NO absolutes!!!"
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