010 ✫ Video

[useofaswhat]

[When the feed comes on it catches a shot of the winter landscape in the CES. In the foreground, Mal's stepping out of the room and brushing off his overcoat, singing a song as he does – not exactly well, but enthusiastically and happily enough that it doesn't matter that he's a little off-key, or that he only remembers half the lyrics.]

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
La da something something
When a baker came in sight
And gave the king a dumpling.

[Grinning cheekily, he shakes the snow out of his hair. New flakes take their place nearly immediately and he presses on, occasionally running his hand through his hair as he speaks.] It's been such a spell since I last sang songs this time o' year that I forgot the words. I know one of y'all has to know 'em – own up.

Also, anyone got an extra hat?

[Private to the Admiral]

We got you playin' Saint Nick, huh? If you're really holdin' up your end of this, I got a few requests. Natasha could do with a recording of a ballet – a Russian one, an' not the one about the Firebird – on whatever video tech they've got in her time. Dean's gonna need a compass pretty gorram bad, and... if Steve and the Barnes kid don't have the medals they'd'a gotten, I think they deserve 'em. Ariadne could use a file about buildings from the 2100s onward. [Because friends help friends get ahead by ripping off concepts from other universes, right?] For Wanda... Hell, I feel like that kid needs a month-long supply of whatever treat she best likes. And, uh, a flower for Zev, maybe not a dead one? 'Cause I don't want her green friend makin' me into mulch.

Right.

So xie xie in advance – I'm trustin' you.

Comments

[useofaswhat]

And I'll go on an' sing at the funeral.

[mightymorbid]

Don't do that.

[useofaswhat]

You're really gettin' your pigtails in a twist about this? I think I got a way to fix that – there's this magic button on your communicator, makes all the singing stop.

[mightymorbid]

Who is Wenceslas?

Of what realm was he King?

[useofaswhat]

I don't even remember the song. You think I know?

[mightymorbid]

You should know if you're going to sing it.

What does this king have to do with the holidays that take place around now?

[useofaswhat]

It just gets sung a lot 'round Christmas. I'll bet you we can find ten people on board who know that ditty and don't know who the king in it was.

[mightymorbid]

But it has nothing to do with this holiday.

[useofaswhat]

'cept people sing it for this holiday.

[mightymorbid]

Why?

[useofaswhat]

Why do you got a flying snakefish?

[mightymorbid]

[Xerxes glances quizzically up at Mozenrath, and his fins move as though he's shrugging.]

[Flatly] Conversation piece.

[useofaswhat]

Right.

I'm guessing the reason behind the song's about as solid as that one.

[mightymorbid]

So you're pointedly withholding information, too?

[useofaswhat]

D'you think I am?

[mightymorbid]

No, I don't. [He doesn't think you're that clever.]

[useofaswhat]

Well, who knows. You could be right. [Who's the one who just publicly announced he has hidden secrets?]

[mightymorbid]

I often am. [It's not a secret, Mal. He's just not telling you. You might start singing again :|]

[useofaswhat]

Really. [He's still smiling that shit-eating grin. It's not a challenge in tone, but it might as well be.]

[threadjack with apologies] [video]

[je_suis_avec_toi]

Actually, sirs, the song does have to do with the holiday. In the Catholic faith, the Feast of St. Stephen occurs within days of Christmas.

That is the Feast of Stephen referred to in the carol.

I am sorry I don't recall who King Wenceslas is exactly, but I think he was another saint.

[threadjack with apologies] [video]

[useofaswhat]

See? She knows what she's talkin' about. That good enough for you, Mr. Fishwife?

[threadjack with apologies] [video]

[je_suis_avec_toi]

Thank you.