simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

The weather's good this morning; the air's chilly but the sun's bright and warm, and the sky is a clear translucent blue with no hint of rain.

The major marketplace of Logan City is spread out ahead of them, a thousand bright colors and a cacophony of voices, swarming and busy and alive. It doesn't feel like starting over, because you can't start over, but it's good enough for now. And they have things to accomplish.

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"We could wrap it up and take it with us," he suggests.

"No -- " She's shaking her head. "I mean the birds could have it. Or at least part of it."

He looks from Kaylee to the birds milling around the foot of the bench, and smiles. "Up to you."

She keeps a portion for herself; the rest of it gets broken up and scattered.

A little wistful: "I bet it's hard to be a bird."

"Less hard somewhere like this, maybe," he offers. "Between the crumbs people drop by accident, and the people who like feeding birds...."

She turns and gives him a crooked smile. "You're just tryin' to make me feel better."

"Maybe a little," he admits.

A beat.

"Look at it this way: you made some of their lives at least a little easier this morning."

"I guess."

She leans against him briefly. "And I couldn't've eaten all that, and it would've been a pain to haul around."

He puts his arm around her, and gives her a quick squeeze.

"Ready to move on?"

Kaylee looks down.

"Think I need to wash my hands." Dry.

He glances around, and then points.

"There's a water fountain that way."

Kaylee nods. "Watch this?" Gesturing to the bags.

"Shi a."

He reaches into his pocket and brings out a handkerchief, offering it to her.

"Look who's a gentleman." He gets a warm smile. "When I get back? That way it won't get all sticky when I bring it over."

"That works."

He sits there with the bags and watches her slip off through the crowd, unashamedly enjoying the picture she makes.

"Am I to take it you see somethin' you like, Simon Tam?" As she comes back, with dripping hands.

It sucks getting caught.

He offers her the handkerchief again. "Possibly?"

"Next time, go for a little more ogle?" She dries off her hands, and gives him a sidelong look (the kind that spells a lot of trouble). "It makes me feel all benevolent. For later. In case you needed a hint."

He laughs, getting to his feet and starting to pick up their purchases.

"I'll keep that in mind. Where to next?"

"Mm." She glances down at their haul. "One or two more things, maybe? And then some stuff from you-know-where?"

Because Jordie is still getting mudder's milk. Because they hate him.

"Sounds good."

He transfers the last bag to his other hand, and offers Kaylee his arm.

They wander down the thoroughfare for a few moments, nothing catching their eye.

The sound of clockwork is audible from several booths away.

Simon glances at Kaylee, and raises his eyebrows.

"Creepy," she says, but wanders closer.

It's clockwork toys. Hundreds of them. Some of them extend into Rube Goldberg machines. Kaylee eyes them warily, but with interest.

Simon's staring, bemused, at what appears to be a clockwork miniature of a carousel. Tiny figures are riding the painted horses, waiting in line, waving at intervals to other tiny figures; tinny calliope music plays as it turns.

(One unfortunate tiny figure is standing just off the carousel and bending over at the waist, clearly having ridden around a few times too many.)