(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

It's late.

Simon's heading into the kitchen, to rinse out a mug; it's not his turn to do dishes tonight, but since he left this one in his room this morning, he's decided it wouldn't be fair to leave it for someone else.

Comments

[badinlatin]

It's never really Mal's 'turn' to do dishes.

There are days where he is gracious enough to relieve someone else of their duties.

Yes.

Right now he's picking out under his thumbnail with a chopstick.

Don't worry, he'll wash it before putting it in the strainer.

[simon_doctor]

One hopes.

Simon pauses in the doorway, mug in hand, and then continues into the room a touch slower.

[badinlatin]

Hard not to notice.

"Give it here," Mal calls, holding out a hand palm upward for the mug Simon carried into the kitchen.

"Least you bring yours back; Wash always ends up collecting 'em."

[simon_doctor]

"I was going to wash it myself, but ... xiexie." He closes the distance between them, and hands the mug over.

[badinlatin]

"Still got at least five hours left on that day o' yours."

[simon_doctor]

A small pensive smile.

"Thank you for that, again. Especially on such short notice. I ... it's very much appreciated."

[badinlatin]

"I have a good memory."

Not that Simon didn't already know that.

Or that Simon leaves him more or less alone on August 1st.

[simon_doctor]

It's as close as they've come to actually articulating the reason for the day off; for this particular day off.

Simon drops his gaze after a moment.

"I was going to make tea," he says. "Did you want any?"

[badinlatin]

"Sure. Lemme finish up."

He did indeed wash that chopstick before placing it with the other dishes; they can get towel-dried later.




Later, after Mal's positively polluted any semblance of tea in his own mug: "I debated asking what you both would do."

[simon_doctor]

Simon looks up from stirring honey into his own tea.

"With today, you mean."

[badinlatin]

"Shi a."

Of course, he didn't. And hasn't.

Except for how he just did.

[simon_doctor]

"I appreciate your discretion."

Which may mean he's not about to answer the unasked question, but is also sincerely meant.

[badinlatin]

"Is that something that's surprising?"

[simon_doctor]

He swallows the sip of tea he's just taken, and idly continues stirring, more for something to do with his hands than anything else.

"Not really."

A beat. "Is that surprising?"

[badinlatin]

More tic than smile.

"No."

Thank God.

[simon_doctor]

Simon takes a long breath, and lets it out slowly.

"I think we're okay," he says to his tea, very quietly.

[badinlatin]

"Good."

Don't matter if it's Simon, Kaylee, Simon and Kaylee, or Simon and Kaylee and the whole rutting crew.

Mal exhales strongly, like there's something to add but the time isn't right for it.

"Gettin' a little late," he throws out eventually.

[simon_doctor]

"Yes," he agrees. "I'm probably going to turn in once I've finished this."

[badinlatin]

"Same here, if I can get Inara to put down that damn novel she's been readin' lately. Even when she's reading in the cockpit, the light keeps me up."

It's prattle.
Y'ain't weak, I'll give you that.
But it is so much easier than other things that he doesn't think Simon will mind.

("...I was lookin' forward to playing uncle.")

[simon_doctor]

He doesn't mind. In a way it's obscurely comforting.

"I'll take care of the washing-up," he offers.

[badinlatin]

"Works for me."

That's the best part about being gracious enough to do the dirty work.

If you're lucky, someone helps you out in the end.