milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Kaylee is sitting at the bar with a cookbook and a beer.

Because there's a nice kitchen at her disposal at Southdown Abbey, and no doubt the Shepherds wouldn't mind if she did a little bit of cooking practice. Especially if they got to eat the results.

And if she's a little bit distracted by the whole getting-married-in-a-few-days thing...suppose that's forgivable.

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"No. If you mess with me. 'Spect he'd agree with you on the caution part."

"Good to see we agree," he says, leaning back on his stool. One boot's hooked under the bottom rung. "Got no plans to stir things up, here."

Faintest stress on the word here.

"Then I guess we're fine," says Kaylee, and turns another page.

"That so?"

More water, and a dainty bite of protein.

"Any reason why we ain't?"

Warily.

"The question troubling you?"

"...well, yeah."

Early's not stupid.

Early smiles.

And eats his rice.

Kaylee looks a little exasperated, and then shakes her head.

Jubal Early is never going to be nice.

Early ~~PLOTS HER IMMINENT DEMISE!!!~~ pauses to wash down his food with more water, and says, "How's the doctor doing?"

Aaaaand we're back to wary.

"...fine."

"Did him a favor," Early says reflectively. "Glad it's worked out. Man should know what he's dealing with on the operating table."

He pushes some rice together. "Cap'n doing okay, too?"

"Shiny," says Kaylee.

A little darkly.

"Good to hear." Early is all genial and shit. "And the grandfather?"

"Whose?"

Kaylee's are dead, and have been for a while.

"Old man. Passenger. Still with you?"

He has no interest in shepherds, but that ain't a shepherd.

Kaylee looks at him for a moment.

A long moment.

"He never married."

Early wrinkles his nose.

And says, "Huh?"

"He weren't nobody's grandpa."

He looks puzzled.

And, after a moment, back down at his rice.

Least it don't give him nonsensical answers.

Kaylee drinks her beer.

At least her beer's not a mean bounty hunter.

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