useofaswhat | 015 ✫ Video

[Switch on, focus on Mal Reynolds. He looks tired, frustrated, and the half-smile he gives in greeting doesn't reach his eyes.]

Ain't much for goodbyes, but I ain't much for stayin' around in a hellhole ship seems designed to turn everyone on board crazy. I get enough of that back home an' at least there I got work to do.

[Warden filter]
Headin' off tonight, 'cause treatment like this don't work with POWs and it won't work for rehab. Now I know I look like a rat jumpin' ship, and maybe that's what I am. But I ain't enough of a rat to block the way.

You got any way to do it, you get yourself an' your inmate off this ship. If the Admiral lets me I'll take up to five more passengers on board Serenity and fly 'em to a world. [He figures he owes at least that much.]

[Private to Dean]
Didn't rack up any debt with anyone on board, so don't even think about offerin' to pay 'em off. You ever want a ride on a real ship, you look me up.

[Private to Chris]
You're gonna hold in there. [It's an order.]

[Private to Zev]
You... you feel up for one more walk?

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[If it's what Chris needs it's what he needs, and Mal isn't opposed to hugging him. He even rubs Chris's shoulder soothingly – little circles, the way his ma did when he ran to her for comfort.]

...You need a minute?

[Shit. No. He's a grown man, he doesn't need to be crying all over Mal when he's trying to go home. Chris pulls back suddenly, a little pale but otherwise dry-eyed]

No. No, I'm fine. Sorry.

[No you ain't, Chris. That's plain to see.]

You sure about that?

Yeah. Yeah, I just. It wasn't what I was expecting.

[understatement of the year]

I suppose you really miss your ship? [She can't help but sound forlorn. She crosses her arms, trying to keep her eyes from welling up as she glances away.] Will you tell me about it again while we walk?

Always do. [Gorrammit, this is supposed to be the easy choice. He steps a little closer, hesitating over whether to reach for her hand. After an awkward moment he returns his to his pocket.]

You, uh. Could come see it yourself if you want.

No kidding.

Look – [Reaching into a pocket, he takes out a leather holster (the one he got for Christmas last year) with a small box of ammunition stuffed into it, and holds it out] I may be leavin', but I ain't givin' up any chance of checking in. Next time the Admiral opens up the lines I'll send you a wave.

So if I tune in and find out you used that on yourself, I'm never giving you anything again.

You can do that? The Admiral just doesn't boot you off and say sayonara?

[Chris takes the holster and ammo in hand, looking it all over. It's a pretty impressive load and he's obviously awed by it]

I don't know what you've heard but I'm not suicidal, man.

It did. Couple of months back I hailed my first mate and then some crazy folk from around your time started yapping at me.

I can't take responsibility for my time's crazy fuckers.

So I can write you, right?

[She might otherwise have considered taking him up on it then, but with Rassilon's current trouble abandoning him would be foolish.] I would like that. One day. [But that one day isn't today, and they both know that. At least she's sure when he goes, maybe he'll live.

That doesn't happen to the men she knows often.

She fidgets with her long nails.] But maybe I can just hear what I have to look forward to? Maybe?

You can at least once in a spell.

Cool. Then I will.

And I'll remember about the gun, I swear.

[Not the answer he wanted, but it's better than the one he expected to hear. This time he does reach out to take her hand and once again stops before he's actually holding it, awkwardly laying his fingers on hers.] She ain't much to write home about once you've been living on a vessel like this. Serenity might be a little fancier than this one now, though. Last I checked, least the heat worked right.

She'll fly through anything.

You watch your back 'round here, okay? Don't need you gettin' killed, especially by some idiot just gets a lucky break.

I can shoot, and there's a guy I know who practices in the firing range. I'm not going to die.

[Again. He's not going to die again, because it's already happened once]

Admiral took the firing range too.

[Argh. Mal. But Dean gets it, and besides, their... friendship... has always been highly unique.

He's wrinkling his nose now.]

Yes you did, but it's not like I'm gonna punch myself in the face.

You ever wanna see a real beauty of a machine, you give me a holler.

[She has to make at least one last terrible jab.] I've heard its not the size that counts, anyway. [He gives his hand one a squeeze. Unintentionally it's a manly strong level of squeeze.]

[Everything's easier if you ignore your manly feels.] Well you oughtta. Someone's gotta do it.

We ever get a chance, I'll race you.

Wouldn't know, apart from ships. [Sure, now he can kind of flirt back. And that hurts, but it's a good kind of hurt.]

Come with.

I can't.

Rassilon attacked Davros. He's responsible for the mental harm done to him. I can't leave him now, not when he's about to go through a backlash.

Davros destroyed his world. And I want to keep trying. [She leans against his shoulder then.] I should have tried sooner.

What do you mean, tried sooner? [Oh, that is – yes, that's definitely touching. The response is to run his fingers through her hair, right?] I've seen you try a helluva lot harder'n half the wardens here.

No, I mean this.

[She turns more towards him, lifts a hand to the back of his head, and pulls him into a kiss.]

You don't know how to take people with you, though? [Because Christ, that's tempting. If he could just take Arya off... Five people, who would he pick? Arya and someone to take care of her. Maybe... Lua and her inmate? That new kid Kevin?

Jesse, he knows he has to stay right where he is, but if he could get them all off...]

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