(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 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."

[gonna_live]

"Long as it's a plan. I'm okay with that." Gently. "You okay with that?"

[river_meimei]

River nods again, more decisively.

If the gesture is deliberate -- well, it's true too.

[gonna_live]

"Okay." She holds River a little tighter. "You look after 'em, okay?"

[river_meimei]

"I promise."

That doesn't need deliberate effort to be firm.

[gonna_live]

"Thank you." Low.

-- there's a little bit of pressure behind her eyes, and Kaylee blinks fast, steels her shoulders, pulls back a little. (But only a little.) "And you know -- we're gonna have the door, you ever just want to talk or anything -- you just send a wave and I'll be right there."

[river_meimei]

"It's a trade."

River pulls in a shaky breath, and meets Kaylee's eyes. Her own are teary, but if her vision's blurred it doesn't show. "You too. Mutuality. It's a promise."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee nods. And looks over her shoulder. "Okay." And takes a breath. "I'll see you soon, okay? And we'll send a wave later on tonight."

[river_meimei]

River pulls in a shaky breath, and takes half a step back. Her arms rise to wrap around her stomach, a stiff clumsy gesture.

She nods. There's effort there, and her eyes are damp again, but she doesn't look away from Kaylee -- and she nods.

[gonna_live]

Quieter, and more gently: "It's gonna be okay. Promise."

[river_meimei]

River nods again.

"Gonna," she echoes.

She knows. But --

maybe not yet.