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

[love_slave]

[She's going to laugh and throw on her best grin here.] I've not met many Captains into that. I will have to remember for future reference.

[useofaswhat]

[Did he just blush? No, it's your imagination. He returns her grin with a crooked half-smile, wondering if she's her universe's equivalent of a Companion.] Do you ask all the captains that?

[love_slave]

[She has a pretty good imagination. She's something like that, even if she mostly uses it for herself now.] Only the ones with nervous smiles.

[useofaswhat]

[Yep, that's the kind of talk he assumes happens between Inara and her clients. It's alien territory for Mal, and this entire situation is getting a little uncomfortable.] Right. Okay. And... you run into a lot of those?

[love_slave]

Actually no. They're few and far between. [Poor Mal. He had no warning for that ambush.]

[useofaswhat]

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

[love_slave]

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

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

[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.]

[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?

[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.

[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.]

[useofaswhat]

Good. [He still looks shocked by her universe's social standards. It's worse than the go se Saffron fed him about Triumph.] Though a world like that shouldn't be so hard to find.

Yeah, well, I'll pride myself it's accurate then.

[love_slave]

This ship has been the best I've found so far. I don't like that it's a prison, but comparably it's been the best.

[useofaswhat]

[For a second he just stares, then shakes his head.] Now that just ain't right.

[love_slave]

I'm hearing it more often, but I'm still pleasantly surprised when I hear someone say that they what's happened wasn't right. Thank you.

[It's the strangest thing to say and mean. And look! She's not even used wiles in a whole minute!]

[useofaswhat]

Well, it ain't right. You hear anyone tell you otherwise you keep away from them, understand? [That explains why Mal is more comfortable and less attractive now.]

[love_slave]

Only one person has.

He's gone now. [Blake. There's a sort of tone there.] If he came back I'd just hit him, though.

[useofaswhat]

Good! Hitting's just the start of what qīngshuài de èbà – what sorry excuses for people like that deserve! Might teach 'em a little bit about respect.

[love_slave]

I'm a very nice person, but if someone makes me angry I can do much more than hit.

[There's that confidence again- except that's not a tease. That's a promise.]