Coreplot: Morning After

[simon_doctor]

Sunday morning.

Early sunlight streams in through the window, and completely fails to wake the two figures in the bed, asleep in each other's arms.

A patient observer would see the beam (filtered to a dusty gold by the windowglass) slide slowly across the bed and finally slip to the floor exhausted; would see the two sleeping people quietly breathing, faces smooth and untroubled, secure in each other and in the promised safety of this place.

There's a word for this feeling: Peace. Calm.

Serenity.





Simon feels himself slowly drifting to the surface of consciousness like a bubble, and just ... luxuriates in the feeling for a moment.

And then breathes in deeply, and opens his eyes.

Comments

[river_meimei]

The first thing he sees: River's face, solemn and intent.

She's sitting at the very foot of the bed, absolutely still, watching Simon and Kaylee. Her knees are pulled up to her chest, and her chin rests on them, and her arms are wrapped loosely around her ankles.

The slanting morning sunbeams cast a golden glow across her face, her arms, the rough embroidery on her skirt.

[simon_doctor]

"...meimei? What is it?"

He whispers it, raising his head only slightly from the pillow.

And then glances aside, to see if Kaylee's still asleep.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee may be a morning person most of the time (no matter the time of day), but here's a little fact: she's usually the last one awake.

And she's not awake right now.

[river_meimei]

Silence, and still the solemn, unblinking stare.

And then... a tiny smile.

"Hi."

[simon_doctor]

"Hi."

He begins to echo her smile.

"How're you feeling?"

[river_meimei]

River turns her head, slowly, to look out at the city beyond the window.

Moments pass.

Reflectively, "I can feel the blankets." It's not entirely clear if that's meant as a response or not.

[simon_doctor]

It sounds like it might be a good one.

"Shh," he cautions her, "we'll wake Kaylee."

[river_meimei]

River's eyes slide to him.

And then another tiny smile. This one's faintly conspiratorial.

It stays, as she glances over at Kaylee. And, obediently, she doesn't say anything.

[simon_doctor]

Simon carefully eases his arm out from under Kaylee's, and pulls himself into a sitting position under the covers, with his back against the headboard.

"Is anyone else up yet?"

[river_meimei]

River gives him a very faintly reproachful look. He'll wake Kaylee!

The reproach doesn't last long.

Happily, "Captain's making pancakes."

[simon_doctor]

Simon sniffs the air.

Nothing appears to be burning. Good.

"How long have you been awake?"

[river_meimei]

River tilts her head back, watching the ceiling with absorption. (Nothing's there.)

After a minute, one shoulder lifts slightly. It might be a shrug. Or it might not.

[simon_doctor]

He glances down at Kaylee again.

And then just watches her sleep for a few moments.

[river_meimei]

River lifts one hand, and sets it down on the coverlet, spreading her fingers slowly against the fabric. Then the other hand: right and left, arms spread wide to either side of her body, palms flat on the blankets. Her head is bowed a little.

She's still smiling, very faintly.

[simon_doctor]

On impulse, Simon reaches out to put a hand on Kaylee's hand where it lies curled on the pillow beside her head.

In a whisper: "Kaylee? Xin gan?"

[gonna_live]

Her fingers tighten on his as her eyes squeeze shut more tightly, as though to add emphasis. "Mm."

And then Kaylee's eyes open, slowly.

Sleep-slurred: "We have to be somewhere?" And then she blinks. "Simon? Why're you sittin' up -- oh."

Kaylee grins at River. "Mornin'." And runs a hand through her hair.

[river_meimei]

River ducks her head, and her smile widens.

Solemnly, "Yes."

There's a bubbling joy lurking under that feigned solemnity. Not very hidden at all.

[simon_doctor]

"Good morning, ai ren."

Simon's smile widens, and he leans down to drop a kiss on Kaylee's cheek.

"River tells me the captain's making pancakes."

[gonna_live]

"...guess that means we got somewhere to be, then." Kaylee sits up, and stretches, vertebrae crackling, a little. "Mm. How'd you sleep?" Addressed to both of them.

[river_meimei]

"With syrup."

...Presumably that's about the pancakes.

[simon_doctor]

"Pretty well."

His gaze goes to the window, and the sunlight streaming in.

"I'm a little amazed that didn't wake us."

[gonna_live]

"We needed the rest." Simply. "So -- we gonna let Jayne eat everything before we even get there?"

[simon_doctor]

"The captain wouldn't let him do that."

A pause.

"...But you have a point."

[river_meimei]

River's just watching them, again, and smiling a little more.

There's a word for the effects of these slanting golden sunbeams: luminous.

[gonna_live]

"...I'm the last one up, so how come it is I'm the one herdin' everybody?" Kaylee shakes her head and slides out of bed. "What am I gonna do with you two."

[simon_doctor]

What would I do without you two.

He doesn't say that. Not on this morning.

"Take us to breakfast," he offers instead.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee eyes both of them.

...that innocent look has to run in the family.

She grins, and holds out her hands. "Come on, then."

[river_meimei]

And -- of course -- they come.

(oh, won't you stay)

Mal is, it turns out, a damn good pancake chef. Sallie taught him a thing or two, it seems. And he's made enough that Jayne couldn't eat them all even if he tried -- and, being Jayne, he makes a pretty good attempt at it.

(we'll put on the day)

So: pancakes. And milk, and honey, and a bowl of fresh oranges.

And laughter.

And, from the couch, the sound of tiny hissing snores. (Kaylee saves him a plateful of pancakes.)

There are windows everywhere in this flat, because Crowley can afford them, and the sun pours in like butterscotch until everything glows. It's a beautiful morning.

(And we'll talk in present tenses.)