(no subject)

[badinlatin]

After the events of the day, Mal had pretty much made a beeline for the bottle of sake Inara had promised him.

This particular bottle happens to follow Mal into Milliways.

The quiet "Gorramit" one could overhear as he enters would be due to the fact that Mal hadn't exactly meant to come here. However, why pass up the chance for booze and artery-clogging food products?

Mal can't think of a reason either, and he slumps in a booth after ordering something called 'Disco Fries'.

Comments

[unique-moments.livejournal.com]

"Those look to be like yummy, artery clogging foods, Mr. Reynolds." A very pregnant Samantha slides into the seat across from him. :D?

[badinlatin]

"Why they quite possibly are," Mal replies flatly, "And while you bein' all pregnant-like probably puts you in a position o' wanting to swipe some, I'd recommend the opposite."

Might as well be blunt.

[unique-moments.livejournal.com]

"Aren't you snippy tonight, Mal." Samantha frowns at him. "As you will notice I have a banana."

See? She holds it up.

"And I am quite content."

[badinlatin]

Mal winces, but doesn't apologize.

"Bananas is nice."

And he takes another swig of sake, and from the sound of the remaining liquid in the bottle, he might need a refill soon.

[unique-moments.livejournal.com]

Sam frowns at him again, and flags a waitrat down. "Another beer for Mal, please."

She watches him for a moment, then: "Haven't seen you in a while."

[badinlatin]

"Been keeping rather ridiculous amounts o' busy, Samantha," Mal reins in his tone, slightly. "No worries though."

Hypocrite.

"You got better things to be payin' attention to though, I think," gesturing to her belly.

Pregnant women always are willing to talk about their soon-to-be child or children, Mal finds.

[unique-moments.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, like not dying." She nods. "But that gets boring."

She cocks her head. "You sure you're alright?"

[flybywash]

Once they're locked on a steady course, he's joined by his pilot and an additional glass of beer.

(For Wash. He figures Mal's not going to have any trouble finding alcohol tonight.)

Quietly: "Wei."

[badinlatin]

Mal looks up to his pilot, and actually manages something in the range of a genuine smile. "Wèi. We're set somewhere?"

A ridiculous question; Wash wouldn't be here otherwise.

Eyeing the beer, "What kind is that?"

[flybywash]

"Yep." The handle of his cane clunks against the table. "'Somewhere' defined here as 'anywhere but Hera,' but ours becomes a non-detail-oriented society after certain points in the day."

He flicks a finger against his glass.

"I don't know, the alcoholic kind?"

A connoisseur he is not.

[badinlatin]

Mal raises his sake bottle to touch against Wash's glass in a mild toast. "Good enough for me."

Another swig, and accompanying grimace. "Ruttin' hate sake."

[flybywash]

"You know, you could order something enjoyable," he points out, sipping his beer. "It doesn't completely defeat the purpose. Just tramples on it a little."

[badinlatin]

Pointing to the bottle: "This was free."

Mal feels this trumps taste. Just a little.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack's sitting in the bar and looking around for his granddaughter when he spots Mal. There's something about Mal's expression that doesn't bode well, and though he knows he's as likely to get a monosyllabic answer as a straight one, he feels like he should still ask.

He heads over to Mal's booth, walking casually, as though he hasn't noticed anything amiss. "Hey, Mal. How're you?"

[badinlatin]

"Fine."

Jack's instincts = right on target.

He does however swipe an extra glass from a passing waitrat and give it to Jack, motioning to the nondescript opaque bottle.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack gives Mal a nod in thanks, pouring a glass without glancing at the label. With that kind of response, Jack's not sure that whatever's causing the silence radiating off Mal is something he really wants to poke into. But he considers Mal a friend, and the least he can do is give him a chance to talk if he wants. If he doesn't, well...that's all right too. Jack's hardly the one to throw stones in that area.

"So what have you been up to?" he asks, taking a small sip of the drink just in case it's another one of those weird alcohols from Mal's world. Luckily fir him, it's something more familiar.

[badinlatin]

"I told you 'bout Serenity Valley, didn't I?"

Mal certainly feels like he told a large number of people before actually going there.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods, his expression not changing, but if there was every any doubt, he now knows this really isn't going to be anything good.

"Yeah, you did," he says, tonelessly.

[badinlatin]

"Came and went."

This seems to be, from Mal to Jack, a detailed enough explanation.

"Death came along too, apparently."

[young_tmriddle]

Tom passes by, and then turns around and comes back to the slumped man in the booth. "Mal? Are you quite alright?"

[badinlatin]

"Hmm? Oh. Tom. Yes, I'm fine."

Liar.

"Just, havin' some..." One look to the plate of angioplasty, "...disgustin' potato products. Have a seat."

[young_tmriddle]

He does, and as he does he gets a good look at the fries. "Dear Lord, those look horrid."

He also gives Mal a look. Fine? Oh Mal. You'll have to lie a little better than that. However, Tom is not one to pry.

"Ingress delighted us all with a brilliant story about space monkeys and dinosaurs. She thinks it's the finest story she's heard in 'a really, really long time.'"

[badinlatin]

"How long is a really, really long time, anyway?"

Mal'd love to know a little girl's perspective on the phrase.

[young_tmriddle]

"As far as I can tell, it's about two weeks. Depending."

[badinlatin]

Mal nods, keeping a slight lilt of a smile. "Sounds about right, yes."

"Ingress invited 'Nara and myself over for tea one o' these days, though I think it was more 'cause I mentioned Inara dresses like a princess."