001 ✫ Video

[useofaswhat]

Afternoon, folks. – Evenin', now. [The man on screen clears his throat and nods in greeting, a little awkwardly. (And no, he's not actually wearing a floral bonnet. Today.)] This Admiral fella wanted a handful o' help and thought I was the man to give it so wǒ zài zhèlǐ. Name's Captain Reynolds, Mal if you ain't one to stand on ceremony. I'm sure it's fine to meet you all, and if it ain't, you go ahead an' let me know. [There's a smile purely for the sake of decorum, which drops off his face almost immediately as his eyes rake over something off-screen, as if reading.]

Let's see what we got here, then... Prison ship, eight levels and two additional restricted areas, complete with library, common rooms, medbay, an' my personal favorite, fully stocked kitchen. Probably serves better'n protein too. Laundry services, showers, art therapy facilities, and gardens included. Now that don't sound like any prison I ever been to. Hell, y'all even got a bar? Got quite a slick operation here, real nice 'n cozy.

But it still ain't as good as my boat.

Comments

[inhistorybooks]

Nothin's better than your own ship. What's yours like?

[useofaswhat]

Glad to see the folk here talk sense. She's a Firefly, ain't the fanciest vessel out there but she's a tough old bird an' my pilot can fly her like one.

[Video]

[slayage]

[.. Okay, so he looks like Caleb, and apart from the weird mystery language there, he sounds like Caleb too. She gives him a very, very suspicious look.]

Welcome aboard, Mal. [WATCHING YOU VERY CAREFULLY CALEB-CLONE. She relaxes somewhat.] Where are you from?

[Video]

[useofaswhat]

[Ah, less-than-enthusiastic greeting the first. Mal anticipates several of these, though he's not sure what he owes this one to. The girl doesn't look familiar; it isn't likely she's got standing trouble with him.]

Thanks.

Kinda from all over, truth be told. Who's askin' me?

THE RACE TO DEMOTION BEGINS

[yeahscience]

There's a pool table, too.

And a shark.

AND THEY'RE OFF!

[useofaswhat]

Why you got a shark?

Voice

[breakingmyheart]

[There is a gigantic amount of keyboardsmashy flailing you don't get to see and then voice because there's too many feelings occurring for video:]

'Your boat' being Serenity?

Voice

[useofaswhat]

[And cue the suspicion; he's damn sure he didn't mention her name.] How'd you know?

[Warden Filter]

[scentbombed]

Welcome aboard, Captain Reynolds. I'm Captain von Uberwald -- Angua will do. You're a... naval captain? Is that right? Where are you from? [And after seeing Buffy's response, she dearly wants to ask, what are you?, but she refrains for now.]

[Warden Filter]

[useofaswhat]

Thank you, Captain. Angua. I don't fly with no navy, I just got myself a ship and a crew. We're transport, we run cargo where it needs to go. Ain't really "from" nowhere.

Judgin' by that question, I'm gonna go ahead an' guess you're a different kind of captain yourself.

[persuadeyou]

Mandarin? [Sup Mal, you just became interesting.]

[useofaswhat]

What about it?

[truth_is_cold]

I believe that's been the sentiment of every person with a ship that's ever been aboard.

[useofaswhat]

An' in my case, it's right.

[unweeping_willow]

...What was your boat?

[useofaswhat]

Firefly-class ship called Serenity. Best boat in the Black.

[hungryanhorny]

That why you're on this one?

[useofaswhat]

If I could do the work I needed without steppin' foot on this barge, I'd do it.

[impure_tale]

Welcome to our ship, Captain Reynolds.

[useofaswhat]

Appreciate that, Mr. ...?

[thestarspangledman]

Only wardens can get into the bar in theory, but it does exist. There's also a gym, if you're interested.

[And a polite, friendly smile, because this is Captain Puppy you're talking to here, Mal.] Welcome to the barge, Captain Reynolds. I'm Steve Rogers.

[useofaswhat]

Then we better make sure it works in practice, right?

Xièxiè. How long you been here, Steve?

[mattersverymuch]

You don't like cozy?

[useofaswhat]

Nothin' wrong with cozy, it just ain't as good as my boat's cozy.

[hunt4commonwealth]

I see you've already talked to my old first officer. I'm Captain Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant. But feel free to call me Dylan.

[useofaswhat]

Evenin', Captain. – Dylan. I hear you got a helluva ship yourself.

[buildindreemz]

Maybe it's less like a prison ship and more like a... rehab center.

It's nice to meet you, Mal. [You seem a lot... less crazy than the other Mal she knows...] I'm Ariadne. I run the art room.

What kind of boat do you have?

[useofaswhat]

Still better'n any one I ever heard of. [Simon would probably tell him all about the infrastructure of regular rehab centers, but he's kind of relieved the doc isn't around.] Though I guess they don't teach much art in prisons.

I got a Firefly named Serenity. You know the make?

[strangehistorian]

Hello, Captain! Welcome to the Barge!

[useofaswhat]

Appreciate that, ma'am. Who's welcomin' me?

[lesliemonster]

What does your boat have? An air hockey table?

[useofaswhat]

Uh, no, ain't got nothin' like that.

Backdated like whoa?

[maxwells_demon]

[Have this young fella waving at ya through the network.]

Yo, Mal! The name's Duo. Welcome aboard.