simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

It's fairly late in the ship's night when Simon steps into the kitchen in search of tea.

River's already there, rummaging through one of the cabinets.

"River? I thought you were asleep."

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River glances at him, hands stilling on a packet of soup mix.

"They forgot to file the tea. I'm on a quest."

He smiles. "A quest for tea? Sounds like a risky undertaking. I'd better go with you."

She smiles back, and for a second it's all the impish little sister he remembers.

"We'll be knights errant. You can carry the flashlight."

"We have a flashlight? Isn't that an anachronism?"

"Torches aren't safe on the ship. I won't tell if you won't."

"All right."

He opens the cabinet next to hers and glances inside.

"Where've you looked?"

A vague gesture at about half the cabinets, as she returns to shuffling through soup mixes.

"They're all unsatisfactory."

He moves to her other side, and opens one of the cabinets she hasn't yet searched.

"Maybe we've run out."

An impatient look. "That's not an adequate ending to the story. I'll confiscate your flashlight."

She opens another drawer.

Success!

"--There it is."

He beams.

"So now we ride home in triumph?"

River nods happily.

"You can borrow Mal's horse. It'll be a tight fit in the hallway."

"Mmm, true. Maybe we should just walk, then."

Resignedly, "It might be more practical."

River has been carefully sorting through options. Now she pulls out the box of decaf green tea.

He moves to fill the kettle, and start the water heating.

There's something soothing about the tea-making process itself. It's one thing you don't get at Milliways.

River perches on a spare bit of counter, bare heels dangling, and watches him.

She's smiling faintly.

Two teacups from the cabinet, and the small teapot for brewing.

Simon still isn't quite aware of just how tense he's been over the past day or two; not even now, as the tension's slowly receding.

River's been in a good mood, mostly, the last few days. It's holding steady.

She starts to pull her feet up, remembers (for once) that everyone else fusses about feet on the counter, and resignedly lets them fall again.

"So how was your day, meimei?"

He checks the water; it's close to boiling but not there yet.

"I overslept," she says seriously.

"So I followed the hallways instead."

"Did you go to the bar?"

He gets a slightly impatient look. Very slightly.

"No. I just said."

"...Ah."

He peers at the water in the pot. Almost there.

"Maybe we'll go tomorrow."

River looks cheerful again.

"It has to be early," she says to her toes. "We can work out the algorithm for chronal correspondence."

"Why early?" He looks curious.

"Liam said to remember."

One hand is idly running over the counter, feeling its way over a scattering of spoons someone forgot to put away.