simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

[After this.]

He reads through the personal ones first, sitting at the small writing desk in his bunk. Skims them, really: the letter from Dunash, the formal but (he feels) sincere note from one of the head doctors from his residency, the worryingly few words of congratulation from Liz. He'll want to reread those later, in all likelihood, taking more time.

Second, he turns his attention to the stack of letters to River.

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"It's likely. I don't know for certain -- they don't even know yet when it's going to be."

Beat.

"We don't have to decide yet. And if we decide we don't want to ... it's okay if we don't. I just, I wanted ... I thought I'd ask."

"I'm okay with it, if he's comin'." Pause. "And if -- if I can talk to him some beforehand."

Softly: "All right."

A pause.

"I should probably mention," and his voice is suddenly wry, "that the prospect of attending a high-society dinner party at my parents' comes very close to filling me with terror."

That gets a smile that skirts the borders of relieved. "Good to know it's not just me."

He presses her hand, and then lets go of it to straighten the letters in his lap and set them down on the bedside shelf.

"So," a little briskly, "tomorrow: answer those, and bring River hers. And talk to the captain about ... things." A half-beat. "Anything else on our schedule?"

"Don't look at me," says Kaylee, airily. "I'm not your public relations person."

Look at that sweet and innocent face, Simon. How can you be mad at that face.

Especially when Kaylee is trying hard not to laugh.

Simon ... is also trying hard not to laugh.

It's a futile struggle, really. Doomed in the end.

Oh good.

Kaylee waits a suitable three-second interval before saying, "'Course, I could go get Jayne right now..."

... yeah, he's lost it.

And thus it is with a cheerful sense of satisfaction that Kaylee reaches over Simon's head to turn off the lights.

"But I'm thinkin' it can wait until mornin'." She settles back. "Night, ai ren."

As the laughter subsides, he leans in to kiss her, and then stretches out under the covers.

"Goodnight, xin gan."

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