005 ✫ Video

[useofaswhat]

Looks like someone decided it's autumn, even though it ain't autumn 'cause we're not spinning round a sun and don't have seasons. Anyone got an idea why the Admiral thinks we all need t'be showered with dead plants?

The way I see it, there ain't any use for raining down magic leaves outta nowhere except to crunch when you walk on 'em. Seems we might as well get some use outta them. Any of you folks ever build bonfires back home? Wouldn't be too hard to rake up a pile and light it in the CES. Don't sound like a bad time, specially not if someone saved any of the rotgut from that last history-time break. [Duo? He's looking at you.]

Comments

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

[Oh hello, good to hear that voice again. It feels almost like home.] Better'n anyone setting things on fire below deck.

[useofaswhat]

[Worse still, he's barely familiar with these rules of engagement.] What're you playin' at, lady?

[scarlet_discord]

Um, hey, actually uh...I could create a stone firepit in a clear spot away from anything living.

[It is giving away part of what she can do now, but...she likes him and it will be good practice.]

[useofaswhat]

Yeah? You have that kind of power? [He'd seen her throwing around boulders in the CES before, but he didn't know she could make things as well.]

[maxwells_demon]

Remind me what 'rotgut' is?

[love_slave]

I'm teasing you because you're attractive when you're uncertain.

[Bushes? Beating around them? No, Zev just plows right through.]

[yeahscience]

Forget it, yo, wake me up in January.

[scarlet_discord]

Yeah, I uh...have been teaching myself to make cool stuff with stone. Let me in and keep the Fozzie occupied and I'll take care of it.

[useofaswhat]

Liquor, specially the really harsh stuff.

[useofaswhat]

Yeah, no problem. What's a Fozzie?

[useofaswhat]

If we all gotta suffer through it, you do too.

[useofaswhat]

Ah. [He doesn't quite understand, so he'll be attractive for a little bit longer.] Do you mind not doin' that?

[love_slave]

Do you have a girl you like very much? [Because most of the time when guys say they things like that, they are either really into a special girl, or like boys.]

[useofaswhat]

No. [It's said a touch reluctantly. There's Inara – but Inara left Serenity for the Companion's House back on Sihnon and made it painfully clear she didn't plan on returning.] Just – most ladies figure pretty quick that whatever they're looking for, I ain't it.

[love_slave]

Oh... Well if it helps, all I ever want is people to treat me like a person. I didn't have that very much before I came here. I only had two friends- the people that I stole the ship with. [And they became friends afterwards.]

[Private]

[anidiotchild]

[Now all they need is a trained ape to go through Simon's stuff whenever it looks like he's been carried off by hillfolk.] Do you have a plan in case this gets out of control?

[useofaswhat]

People didn't give that to you before? Why? What the hell sort of place were you living in?

[love_slave]

Not a very good one. [Her understatement of the century.] But I wasn't allowed anywhere on my own until I escaped, so two friends in a very short period of time I think is doing very well. [Hush, she's proud of herself.]

But if you promise you will be my friend, I won't tease you anymore. Agreed?

[scarlet_discord]

[She smiles slowly and then whistles. There is a deep voiced bark, and then a black blur and a huge wet nose is snuffling at the camera. Wanda wrestles him back so Mal can get a look at him.]

This is a Fozzie.

[useofaswhat]

You ain't kidding about that. [The only people in his 'verse who get treated that badly are slaves, and even some of them got all right treatment from their owners. Looks like his hunch is correct; her 'verse is probably worse.] – Yeah, better'n plenty of folk could do. But not till then? For your whole life? Tā mā de yīgè yúbèn de mǔgǒu de érzi what did – What is wrong with that place?

[That's all it took?] All right. Friends is somethin' I can agree to. I'm Mal.

[love_slave]

I didn't know there were places where people weren't treated like that until I came here- but I knew it was wrong there, at least.

[She's pretty easy, mostly in the good ways (except it gets her lied to sometimes).]I'm Zev Bellringer of B3K. What did what you said just mean?

[useofaswhat]

Well there are! There's plenty! You end up in a place like that, you do what you gotta to leave and you don't stop till you find a world where they treat people like people.

Oh, that? [He chuckles a little nervously.] Just somethin' you probably don't want me to translate.

[useofaswhat]

[He smiles down at the blur of fuzzy and nose and dog, "awww"ing as he does so.] Lookit, he's cute. No, seriously, what's a Fozzie?

[Private]

[useofaswhat]

Doc, you've been on my boat awhile. You've worked with me. Do I ever not have a plan?

[love_slave]

That's what my deal was for. We never found one aboard the Lexx, but my deal with the Admiral is for a good home where mostly good things happen.

I won't say all good things- no place is perfect. But mostly.

Then it probably fits the League of 20,000. [That place should get all the swearing, even if it's mostly gone.]