(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

It's midmorning in Logan City on Praxed -- early afternoon, ship's time -- when Serenity touches down at the spacedocks. There's supplies to take on, and cargo to unload ... and two members of the crew to go ashore.

Simon and Kaylee are standing by the gangplank, next to the float pallet bearing their luggage. They've put in a call for a rental skimmer; it should be here sometime in the next twenty minutes.

This isn't goodbye forever. But it's still goodbye.

Comments

[river_meimei]

River's been scarce, this morning. Quiet.

(Hidden, for a while. Ship's got a lot of nooks and crannies.)

But now -- now she's here, drifting silently down the ramp towards Simon and Kaylee.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee looks up.

Quiet, and warm: "Hey, you."

[river_meimei]

River's smile is tiny, and a little belated, and more than a little wobbly. But it's still there.

Kaylee gets one, even now.

"Hi."

[gonna_live]

"When you come visit, we're gonna put your room together." It's easier for Kaylee to keep it together like this -- because she can be reassuring, for River. "Right?"

[river_meimei]

Kaylee's New Year's present to River was a catalog and a note. To pick out things for her bunk, it said, and for her room in their house.

River hasn't opened the catalog yet. But it's under her pillow.

"It's a deal," she says, low -- trying to sound firmer than she really manages, because Kaylee's a lot better at that kind of thing than River is. (Most people are.)

She swallows, and tries another smile. "Got a scheme."

[gonna_live]

"With lots of ribbons and ruffles. And sparkles." Teasing, lightly.

[river_meimei]

River can't quite match it, but she musters a slightly better smile for that sally.

"I'll add the fringe."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee tilts her head. "Serious?"

[river_meimei]

River wrinkles her nose.

Another time, she'd extend the joke further; another time, she'd laugh. But this is as close as she can get right now.

(She might actually do it. But only on a pillow or two.)

[gonna_live]

Kaylee laughs. "Oh good. I was gettin' worried for a minute."

[river_meimei]

"Call it a consultation," River says, and on the last word her voice wavers, and the syllable chokes off; she steps forward abruptly, arms rising as her face twists.

[gonna_live]

"Oh, honey." Kaylee steps in, catching River and holding her close. "It's okay. It's gonna be just fine. You'll come visit. You got a place with us, you know that."

[river_meimei]

"I know it."

River swallows, and nods -- just a tad damply -- against Kaylee's hair and shoulder. "Reciprocity. It's a plan."

[simon_doctor]

He looks up.

And tries to smile. "Hey, meimei."

[river_meimei]

River tries to smile back.

It probably works about as well as Simon's.

[simon_doctor]

Simon holds out an arm to her.

[river_meimei]

River goes to him, immediately and in silence.

[simon_doctor]

He wraps both arms around her, equally silent, and rubs her back gently.

[river_meimei]

River's not crying. Not today.

But she rests her face against her brother's shoulder wordlessly, leaning into him, and her hands curl into his shirt at the small of his back.

[simon_doctor]

"You'll come visit us," he murmurs. "And we'll come back to see you. All the time."

[river_meimei]

River nods firmly against his shoulder, without lifting her head.

You better, dummy.

[simon_doctor]

"And, hey."

He draws back, just enough to look her in the face.

"You'll look after the captain for us?"

[river_meimei]

River manages a watery half-smile, for Simon.

"I promise."

He takes so much looking after.

[simon_doctor]

His own smile isn't much better. Put them together and they've got one whole smile between them.

"I know you will."

[river_meimei]

Abrupt and low, and almost fierce: "You too."