(no subject)

[gonna_live]

Sometimes you feel like you're going to go stir-crazy if you're in too large a space.

Besides, somebody's got to make sure Niska's not prowling around the bar.

And Kaylee's in charge. For now, anyway.

So she's at a table near the middle of the room with a cup of coffee -- untouched -- and a pensive expression.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

He tilts his head at her. Yes?

[gonna_live]

"What's gonna happen when Niska's up and around." Very calm. Too calm. "And starts talkin' to folks."

[simon_doctor]

"...And what did you conclude?"

[gonna_live]

"That we got to have a plan by the time that comes around. Lots of folks know you and River. And it's gonna be damn hard for 'em to keep a secret. All that's got to happen is they got to start comparin' 'verses and somebody'll come out with, 'Oh, do you know -- ?' and then -- "

"You get the point."

[simon_doctor]

He lets out a long breath, and nods.

"We're not going to be able to keep this secret."

And very, very quietly: "Damn."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee's silent for a moment.

"Captain's thinkin' on it. There's got to be dirt on him we can find somewhere. To blackmail him into not sayin' anything."

Dark. And completely serious.

[simon_doctor]

He looks up at her.

There's something about the set of her face that reminds him of when she faced Early, that last time.

"That won't be easy," is all he says, finally.

[gonna_live]

"Better than gettin' you and River brought in by the feds," is all Kaylee says.

With finality.

[simon_doctor]

"I'm not saying we shouldn't do it. I'm just not clear as to how. Most of the things we know about Niska that we'd be in a position to prove ... well, they're things that would incriminate us just as badly, if we reported them."

[gonna_live]

"So what happens if it was an anonymous tip? And you know captain's got the connections to do it."

Beat.

"So do we, come to think of it."

Andronicus Crowley.

And Gabriel Tam.

[simon_doctor]

"An anonymous tip might get him bound by law. But it wouldn't get him convicted. I'm not sure that would be more than a major inconvenience for him."

He pauses, and glances at her.

"Who're you thinking of?"

[gonna_live]

"He gets bound by the right folks, he gets the fear of captain's dear and fluffy Lord put in him, he leaves us the hell alone."

Very matter-of-fact, as she returns his glance.

"Crowley and your daddy."

[simon_doctor]

Simon's mouth opens a little.



"...That's got possibilities."

[gonna_live]

"Don't it just," Kaylee agrees.

Instead of pleased, it's grim.

[simon_doctor]

Part of him's quietly relieved by that.

"All right," he says, his gaze steady. "So we have that option if it looks like we need it."

[gonna_live]

"Figure I'll wave Crowley some time in the next couple of days. To give him a heads up."

Her right hand is resting on the table; one finger taps silently up and down on its pad. A restless gesture.

[simon_doctor]

Simon's hand slides over to hers, turning palm up in silent invitation.

[gonna_live]

Her hand stops.

A quiet sigh; her shoulders slump, a little.

And when Kaylee moves again it's to rest her hand on Simon's, palm to palm.

[simon_doctor]

"Do you want to think about something else for a while?"

[gonna_live]

"You got somethin' in mind?"

Said without much hope.

[simon_doctor]

He looks around the room.

"This is Milliways. I'm sure we could find something."

[gonna_live]

"Probably," she agrees.

There's always doing something that'll get them arrested.

[simon_doctor]

Or there's ...

... watching the waitrats dancing, a few tables away. In synchronized patterns.

The music in the background is possibly recognizeable as being from the Nutcracker ballet.

Simon catches Kaylee's eye, and tilts his head in their direction.

[gonna_live]

...

...headtilt.

[simon_doctor]

Yes, they are quite definitely dancing.

As they watch, one -- with a white napkin cleverly fastened about its midsection and fluffing out in approximation of a tutu -- pirouettes prettily and flits off in a series of tiny graceful leaps, all without spilling the glass it's carrying.