(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

Visits are nice, when you're convalescing.

Even if they can only happen over a vidscreen.

Comments

[badinlatin]

Beeeeeeep.

Beeeeeeep.

Eventually, Mal's face appears.

"And how are we feeling today?" Very solemnly.

[simon_doctor]

Simon just looks at him for a moment.

"You know, I've known you for ... years now ... and there are still times I can't tell whether you're joking."

(The vid angle is quite close to his face, but it's still readily apparent that he's in bed, propped up against a bank of pillows. He's pale, except for some fairly deep shadows under his eyes.)

(His voice is considerably more raspy than usual, and weaker.)

[badinlatin]

"Old men don't know any good jokes."

It's not an answer, and Mal's trying to read the details of Simon's complexion through the crap vidlink in Mal's bunk.

"I would visit -- "

[simon_doctor]

He shakes his head before Mal's even finished speaking. "It isn't a good idea. Really. That's -- why the vid link."

The pause is to suppress a cough.

[badinlatin]

"I know."

Mal then bends out of frame, picking up and waving a book at the camera lens.

"I brought a book to read. I'm not much for entertaining elsewise."

[simon_doctor]

"What book?" Simon sounds at least faintly interested. "I can't read a lot right now, it's ... not advisable. Too much of a strain."

And if he sounds just a little stiffer on those last words, well, he's got cause to.

[badinlatin]

"It's called..." Mal opens the book -- paperback and rough, cracking the spine, "Shogun. Got it from the bar. About Earth-that-Was Japan and whatnot.

"I also have romance novels from Inara's shuttle."

[simon_doctor]

Blink.

"...I refuse to believe that Inara reads romance novels."

[badinlatin]

"Good answer. Besides, I just said they came from the shuttle, not who was the last person to read 'em."

Mystery!

"Don't strain your head on that one." The book gets put down out of frame. "Or I could...talk at you."

[simon_doctor]

"I wouldn't mind that," he says, with a small smile.

"How is everybody?"

[badinlatin]

"Well enough I suppose. River wants to check on you something crazy, but she knows not to go. Jayne is itching to punch somebody lately. I'm not sure what's up on that score."

Mal readjusts in his seat; presumably he is at the foot of his bunk. "Wash and Zoe have been in Naomi-quarantine. Maybe that's why Jayne is jumpy."

[simon_doctor]

His brow furrows in some concern. "Naomi's better, though, isn't she?"

(I have to --)

[badinlatin]

"As far as I can tell, yes. Is that going to stop Wash from keepin' her swaddled in safety-plastic?"

[river_meimei]

Beeeeeeeeep.





It's customary to begin a vidcall with a greeting.

River (staring hard through the screen, shoulders tensed as if her hands are pressed against the console somewhere out of sight, silent and intense) seems to have forgotten that part.

[simon_doctor]

He smiles, tired but genuinely pleased.

"Hi, meimei."

[river_meimei]

At the first word, River's body hunches a little more forward -- as though she could pass through the monitor and the distance, if only she focused hard enough.

"Simon."

[simon_doctor]

"Yes."

He misses her suddenly, fiercely.

[river_meimei]

"Simon."

Abruptly, her eyes fill with tears. River, staring fiercely at the screen, doesn't seem to have noticed.

"You're okay." It's hot, a declaration of firm fact -- it is, underneath, a tremulous question.

[simon_doctor]

"I'm okay," he repeats, even more firmly; there's no question under it. "I was just a little sick. And I'm much better."

[river_meimei]

"Pneumonic bronchiolitis. Infectious inflammation of the bronchioles -- standard expectation is mitigated by juvenile immune reaction."

Beat.

Her face twists, a faint shadow of her usual duh; this one is directed as much at herself as Simon. "I know."

[simon_doctor]

"And I'll be home soon," he offers.

[river_meimei]

"Promise?"

[simon_doctor]

"I promise." Soft. "Home for the weekend one more time, and then the next time we come home it'll be to stay."

[river_meimei]

River's smile is wobbly, and very small, and the effort behind it is clear.

But she does manage it.

"We'll make crackers."

[simon_doctor]

He smiles back, both saddened and heartened.

"In the meantime ... are you behaving yourself while I'm gone?"