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tamingthemuseTitle: Missing Persons Report
Fandom: Firefly
Prompt: Flummox
Warnings:
Rating: G (so far)
Word Count: 571
Summary: The crew is making new friends and taking new jobs.
*****
Mal kept one eye the rapidly emptying street as he headed back to the ship, keeping a bit of distance between himself and Simon, Jayne and the contact. Mal could practically see Simon’s guard go down when the client said his son had been kidnapped. Before Simon could start babbling offers of assistance, Mal whispered urgently into the comm. Jayne, for a wonder, did exactly as Mal instructed.
Jayne shouldered his way through the crowd with ease, slapping a meaty hand on Simon’s shoulder. Simon flinched in surprise and finally stopped talking. Jayne grinned down at the client. Mal groaned to watch. Jayne’s grin wasn’t exactly confidence inspiring, even for those that knew him well. For those meeting him for the first time, it was downright frightening. But at least it encouraged everyone to do exactly what they were told.
It didn’t take long for Jayne to shepherd everyone back to the ship. Mal followed right after, but by the time he closed the bay doors, all he could see was the client following Kaylee to the guest quarters. He almost reached for the comm, but he felt the slight shudder of River warming up Serenity before he even lifted his hand. Handy as it was to have a psychic on board, every once in a while it’d be nice to give the order before it was carried out.
They’d been out of atmo for about an hour before he headed to the galley. River was waiting at the door to his bunk. He stood close in front of her, looking down at the tiny young girl. “’Lo there, little Albatross. I suppose you’re here to tell me what I’m supposed to say before I say it?”
“Primitive reactions.”
Flummoxed, Mal just stared. River gave him a tiny push and he rocked back a step.
“Using your superior height and weight and… masculinity… to intimidate is primitive behaviour. Like a baboon. Like Jayne.” River’s moue of distaste took none of the sting out of her words. “Besides, doesn’t work on me. Stronger than you, even if I am smaller. Must use intellect.”
“From what I understand, you’re smarter than me, too.”
“Well, it wouldn’t work on me.”
Mal blinked a few times. “I do love our conversations, River girl. You here to tell me what to expect when we talk to the client in a few?”
River stuck her tongue out and spun away with a giggle.
“River? Albatross?”
Mal got settled in the galley just as Kaylee brought the client in. He rose with a smile and an outstretched hand. “Right pleased to meet ya. I’m Captain Reynolds. Kaylee given you the grand tour and introduced folk?”
“Yes, sir. She’s been a lovely guide.” Kaylee blushed prettily under the compliment. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give my name before. I’ve had to be very careful. I’m Norton.”
“Well, Mr. Norton, I heard a bit from our doc here about what you need help with. I’m not rightly sure why you came to us though. We’re not exactly known for our negotiating ability, and most people in your situation wouldn’t want… well-armed folk like us.”
“Actually Captain, you are exactly what I need. Or at least, Dr. Tam is. You see, my son was taken by the Academy. I’ve heard Dr. Tam had some success in rescuing his young sister.”
“Not speaking true.” River stood in the doorway, looking sorrowfully at Norton.
Fandom: Firefly
Prompt: Flummox
Warnings:
Rating: G (so far)
Word Count: 571
Summary: The crew is making new friends and taking new jobs.
*****
Mal kept one eye the rapidly emptying street as he headed back to the ship, keeping a bit of distance between himself and Simon, Jayne and the contact. Mal could practically see Simon’s guard go down when the client said his son had been kidnapped. Before Simon could start babbling offers of assistance, Mal whispered urgently into the comm. Jayne, for a wonder, did exactly as Mal instructed.
Jayne shouldered his way through the crowd with ease, slapping a meaty hand on Simon’s shoulder. Simon flinched in surprise and finally stopped talking. Jayne grinned down at the client. Mal groaned to watch. Jayne’s grin wasn’t exactly confidence inspiring, even for those that knew him well. For those meeting him for the first time, it was downright frightening. But at least it encouraged everyone to do exactly what they were told.
It didn’t take long for Jayne to shepherd everyone back to the ship. Mal followed right after, but by the time he closed the bay doors, all he could see was the client following Kaylee to the guest quarters. He almost reached for the comm, but he felt the slight shudder of River warming up Serenity before he even lifted his hand. Handy as it was to have a psychic on board, every once in a while it’d be nice to give the order before it was carried out.
They’d been out of atmo for about an hour before he headed to the galley. River was waiting at the door to his bunk. He stood close in front of her, looking down at the tiny young girl. “’Lo there, little Albatross. I suppose you’re here to tell me what I’m supposed to say before I say it?”
“Primitive reactions.”
Flummoxed, Mal just stared. River gave him a tiny push and he rocked back a step.
“Using your superior height and weight and… masculinity… to intimidate is primitive behaviour. Like a baboon. Like Jayne.” River’s moue of distaste took none of the sting out of her words. “Besides, doesn’t work on me. Stronger than you, even if I am smaller. Must use intellect.”
“From what I understand, you’re smarter than me, too.”
“Well, it wouldn’t work on me.”
Mal blinked a few times. “I do love our conversations, River girl. You here to tell me what to expect when we talk to the client in a few?”
River stuck her tongue out and spun away with a giggle.
“River? Albatross?”
Mal got settled in the galley just as Kaylee brought the client in. He rose with a smile and an outstretched hand. “Right pleased to meet ya. I’m Captain Reynolds. Kaylee given you the grand tour and introduced folk?”
“Yes, sir. She’s been a lovely guide.” Kaylee blushed prettily under the compliment. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give my name before. I’ve had to be very careful. I’m Norton.”
“Well, Mr. Norton, I heard a bit from our doc here about what you need help with. I’m not rightly sure why you came to us though. We’re not exactly known for our negotiating ability, and most people in your situation wouldn’t want… well-armed folk like us.”
“Actually Captain, you are exactly what I need. Or at least, Dr. Tam is. You see, my son was taken by the Academy. I’ve heard Dr. Tam had some success in rescuing his young sister.”
“Not speaking true.” River stood in the doorway, looking sorrowfully at Norton.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-12 04:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-12 04:30 am (UTC)