(no subject)

[gonna_live]

Once upon a time, Mal gave Kaylee a pink iPod mini.

She has joined the ranks of the headphone-wearing masses, on the couch, curled up half-asleep, a book open on her lap. Even if it's bad for the binding.

Comments

[gonna_live]

Kaylee blinks. "For what?"

[river_meimei]

River looks confused.

[gonna_live]

"What should I be blamin' the cotton for?"

[river_meimei]

River exhales, and slumps a little more against the chair, turning her eyes to the fabric.

"It's inherent," she says to the cloth. "Sub-osseous atmospheric density."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee isn't following.

Mostly because she's looking at River a little more closely, now.

"You sure you're doin' all right?"

[river_meimei]

River's eyes slide down to the chair's arm, and work their way over to Kaylee again.

Soft, "You're worried."

This is not an answer.

[gonna_live]

"Usually am, about somethin'." Beat. "You didn't answer, though."

That first part is a little telling.

The second part...well. Kaylee knows it wasn't an answer.

[river_meimei]

"I'm okay."

She is.

Not great. Not cheerful.

But she's okay.

[gonna_live]

"...okay."

Kaylee tightens her grip on the book.

[river_meimei]

River watches her, or rather the air just in front of her shoulder.

A little troubled.

[gonna_live]

Well, then 'troubled' is two for two.

Because River is perceptive. And that's just about the understatement of the year.

River is also good at keeping things to herself. But River is perceptive. And Kaylee doesn't know what River might know.

And Kaylee isn't supposed to say anything.

[river_meimei]

Silence stretches.

Then, "It's okay."

A little frustrated; a little helpless.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee's eyes flick up.

No it's not, she doesn't say.

It is so long as she's in Milliways.

But that means that everybody else is still back there with Mal, and Kaylee doesn't know what Mal will do.

[river_meimei]

That worry shadowing River's face?

It's not fading.

Not increasing, either, though, at least not for the moment.

[gonna_live]

Very carefully Kaylee wraps the earphones around the iPod and puts it on top of the book.

It's something to do with her hands.

Do you know what it's like when you worry so much your stomach feels like it's twisting up in knots?

Do you know what it's like to feel safe only when you're away from home?

[river_meimei]

River does move, now, a little -- curling in on herself, frustration more visible on her face.

Again, "Okay. It is. It is."

Softer, wearier, "Just gotta know it."

[gonna_live]

Quietly, tightly: "It's not a big deal."

[river_meimei]

River's face twists, and slackens into tired frustration.

She doesn't look up.