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

[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.)