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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"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.)

Kaylee hears cymbals.

The cymbals are attached to a monkey wearing a hat.

She picks it up, and holds it for Simon's perusal. "Yeah?"

He looks over at it -- and starts to grin uncontrollably.

"Yes."

"Good, then let's get it and get out." Lower. "This place gives me the creeps."

He glances sideways at a clockwork rabbit, which appears to be eyeing him beadily. "...I really have to agree."

The proprietor of the stall is a small balding man with glasses; he doesn't negotiate too stringently, but they still wind up paying slightly more than the toy's worth to get the haggling over with.

Kaylee looks up at him once they emerge back into the sunlight. "Does that do us?"

"I think so," he says cheerfully. "Do we want to take the other way back to the hotel? Just to vary the scenery?"